Welcome to Moreton Bay Baha’i Community

Let your vision be world embracing . . .

Throughout history, God has sent to humanity a series of divine Educators—known as Manifestations of God—whose teachings have provided the basis for the advancement of civilization. These Manifestations have included Abraham, Krishna, Zoroaster, Moses, Buddha, Jesus, and Muhammad. Bahá’u’lláh, the latest of these Messengers, explained that the religions of the world come from the same Source and are in essence successive chapters of one religion from God.

Bahá’ís believe the crucial need facing humanity is to find a unifying vision of the future of society and of the nature and purpose of life. Such a vision unfolds in the writings of Bahá’u’lláh.

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Who are the Baha'is?

The Bahá’í Faith is a world religion whose purpose is to unite all the races and peoples in one universal Cause and one common Faith. Bahá’is are the followers of Bahá’u’lláh, Who they believe is the Promised One of all Ages. The traditions of almost every people include the promise of a future when peace and harmony will be established on earth and humankind will live in prosperity. We believe that the promised hour has come and that Bahá’u’lláh is the great Personage Whose Teachings will enable humanity to build a new world.

“That which the Lord hath ordained as the sovereign remedy and mightiest instrument for the healing of all the world is the union of all its peoples in one universal Cause, one common Faith”

Bahá’u’lláh taught that throughout history God has revealed Himself to humanity through a series of divine Messengers, whose teachings guide and educate us and provide the basis for the advancement of human society. These Messengers have included Abraham, Krishna, Zoroaster, Moses, Buddha, Jesus, Muhammad, the Bab, and Baha’u’llah. Their religions come from the same divine source and are successive chapters of one religion from God.

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Administration

The affairs of the community are looked after by 9 people democratically elected (by secret ballot) from the Baha'i community each year. This group is known as the Local Spiritual Assembly.

Contact Details

Email: secretary@moretonbaybahai.org

Regional Baha’i Council for Queensland
National Australian Baha’i Community
International Baha’i Community

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The elected Local Spiritual Assembly office bearers:

Chairperson: Armon Rostami
Vice-Chairperson: Farasheed Golbarani
Treasurer: Bonny Cronin
Secretary: Sitarih Muaulu Saili
Regional Baha'i Council for Queensland
National Australian Baha'i Community
International Baha'i Community

Our Basic Principles

Baha’is believe that regardless of religion we are all spiritual in nature, that God’s creation is essentially good and we are all meant to be happy. Our purpose on earth is to grow to know and love God and “adorn ourselves with His attributes” (virtues). Many people who take the time to read our writings find that deep down they are already a Baha’i – they just didn’t know about us!

A Spiritual Approach To Life Leads To The Following Basic Principles:

The oneness of humankind.

A fundamental teaching of Bahá’u’lláh is the oneness of the world of humanity. Addressing humankind He says, “Ye are all leaves of one tree and the fruits of one branch.” By this it is meant that the world of humanity is like a tree, the nations or peoples are the different limbs or branches of that tree and the individual human creatures are as the fruits and blossoms thereof.
Although in former centuries and times this subject received little attention, it has become the paramount issue and question in the religious and political conditions of the world. History shows that throughout the past there have been continual warfare and strife among the various nations, peoples, and sects, but now…. hearts are inclined toward agreement and fellowship and minds are thoughtful upon the question of the unification of humankind.
What incalculable benefits and blessings would descend upon the great human family if unity and brotherhood were established! In this century when the beneficent results of unity and the ill effects of discord are so clearly apparent, the means for the attainment and accomplishment of human fellowship have appeared in the world.

Universal peace upheld by a world government.

The world is in greatest need of international peace. Until it is established, humankind will not attain composure and tranquility. It is necessary that the nations and governments organize an international tribunal to which all their disputes and differences shall be referred. The decision of that tribunal shall be final.
He (Bahá’u’lláh) exhorted them (rulers of the world) to peace and international agreement, making it incumbent upon them to establish a board of international arbitration; that from all nations and governments of the world there should be delegates selected for a congress of nations which should constitute a universal arbitral court of justice to settle international disputes.
Warfare and strife will be uprooted, disagreement and dissension pass away and Universal Peace unite the nations and peoples of the world. All humankind will dwell together as one family, blend as the waves of one sea, shine as stars of one firmament and appear as fruits of the same tree.
True civilization will unfurl its banner in the midmost heart of the world whenever a certain number of its distinguished and high-minded sovereigns–the shining exemplars of devotion and determination–shall for the good and happiness of all humankind, arise, with firm resolve and clear vision, to establish the Cause of Universal Peace. They must make the Cause of Peace the object of general consultation, and seek by every means in their power to establish a Union of the nations of the world.
They must conclude a binding treaty and establish a covenant, the provisions of which shall be sound, inviolable, and definite. They must proclaim it to all the world and obtain for it the sanction of all humanity. This supreme and noble undertaking–the real source of the peace and well-being of all the world–should be regarded as sacred by all that dwell on earth. All the forces of humanity must be mobilized to ensure the stability and permanence of this Most Great Covenant. In this all–embracing Pact the limits and frontiers of each nation should be clearly fixed, the principles underlying the relations of governments towards one another laid down, and all international agreements and obligations ascertained. In like manner, the size of the armaments of every government should be strictly limited, for if the preparations for war and the military forces of any nation should be allowed to increase, they will arouse the suspicion of others. The fundamental principle underlying this solemn Pact should be so fixed that if any government later violate any one of its provisions, all the governments on earth should arise to reduce it to utter submission, nay the human race as a whole should resolve, with every power at its disposal, to destroy that government. Should this greatest of all remedies be applied to the sick body of the world, it will assuredly recover from its ills and will remain eternally safe and secure.

Independent investigation of truth.

God has given everyone the eye of investigation by which they may see and recognize truth. He has endowed us with ears that so that we may hear the message of reality and conferred upon us the gift of reason so that we may discover things for ourselves. This is his endowment and equipment for the investigation of reality. We are not intended to see through the eyes of another, hear through another’s ears nor comprehend with another’s brain. Each human creature has individual endowment, power, and responsibility in the creative plan of God.

The common foundation of all religions.

The foundation of all the divine religions is one. All are based upon reality. Reality does not admit plurality, yet amongst humankind there have arisen differences concerning the manifestations of God. Some have been Zoroastrians, some are Buddhists, some Jews, Christians, Mohammedans and so on. This has become a source of divergence whereas the teachings of the holy souls who founded the divine religions are one in essence and reality All these have served the world of humanity…. All have guided souls to the attainment of perfections, but among the nations certain imitations of ancestral forms of worship have arisen. These imitations are not the foundation and essence of the divine religions. Inasmuch as they differ from the reality and the essential teachings of the Manifestations of God, dissensions have arisen and prejudice has developed. Religious prejudice thus becomes the cause of warfare and battle. If we abandon these time-worn imitations and investigate reality all of us will be unified. No discord will remain; antagonism will disappear. All will associate in fellowship. All will enjoy the cordial bonds of friendship. The world of creation will then attain composure. The dark and gloomy clouds of blind imitations and dogmatic variances will be scattered and dispelled; the Sun of Reality will shine most gloriously.

The essential harmony of science and religion.

Religion must conform to science and reason, otherwise it is superstition. God has created man in order that he may perceive the verity of existence and endowed him with mind or reason to discover truth. Therefore scientific knowledge and religious belief must be conformable to the analysis of this divine faculty in man.

Equality of men and women.

There must be an equality of rights between women and men. Women shall receive an equal privilege of education. Likewise, men can learn from women’s knowledge, skills, and abilities. This will enable them to qualify and progress in all degrees of occupation and accomplishment. For the world of humanity possesses two wings, man, and woman. Until the wings are in balance, full flight will be impossible. Therefore, the completeness and perfection of the human world is dependent upon the equality of women and men.

Elimination of prejudice of all kinds.

Prejudice of all kinds, whether religious, racial, patriotic, or political is destructive of our divine foundations. All the warfare and bloodshed in human history have been the outcome of prejudice. This earth is one home. God has created humankind with equal endowment and right to live upon the earth. As a city is the home of all its inhabitants, although each may have his individual place or residence therein, so the earth’s surface is one wide home for all races of humankind.

Universal compulsory education.

Inasmuch as ignorance and lack of education are barriers of separation among humankind, all must receive training and instruction. Through this provision the lack of mutual understanding will be remedied and the unity of humankind furthered and advanced. Universal education is a universal law. It is therefore incumbent upon every father to teach and instruct his children according to his possibilities. If he is unable to educate them, the body politic, the representative of the people, must provide the means for their education.

A spiritual solution to the economic problem.

Among the results of the manifestation of spiritual forces will be that the human world will adapt itself to a new social form, the justice of God will become manifest throughout human affairs and human equality will be universally established. The poor will receive a great bestowal and the rich attain eternal happiness. For although at the present time the rich enjoy the greatest luxury and comfort, they are nevertheless deprived of eternal happiness; for eternal happiness is contingent upon giving and the poor are everywhere in the state of abject need. Through the manifestation of God’s great equity the poor of the world will be rewarded and assisted fully and there will be a readjustment in the economic conditions of humankind so that in the future there will not be the abnormally rich nor the abject poor. The rich will enjoy the privilege of this new economic condition as well as the poor, for owing to certain provision and restriction they will not be able to accumulate so much as to be burdened by its management, while the poor will be relieved from the stress of want and misery.

A universal auxiliary language.

Bahá’u’lláh has proclaimed the adoption of a universal language. A language shall be agreed upon by which unity will be established in the world. Each person will require training in two languages, his native tongue, and the universal auxiliary form of speech. This will facilitate intercommunication and dispel the misunderstandings which the barriers of language have occasioned in the world.

Devotional Gatherings

The Moreton Bay Baha’i community holds regular devotional gatherings where the writings of Baha’u’llah and other Messengers of God are recited and sung. Devotional gatherings aid to strengthen social fabric of the community and are a source of nourishment to each of our independent and collective activities. All are welcome to attend these gatherings. Please contact the secretary of the the Local Spiritual Assembly at secretary@moretonbaybahai.org for more information.

Children's Education

Children’s classes are held regularly and children of any religious background (or none) are welcome to attend (with parents’ permission). For an outline of the accredited course curriculum materials contact the Secretary at secretary@moretonbaybahai.org

What is taught in Baha’i Children’s Classes?

Children learn about:

The oneness of God – that whether a Buddhist, a Christian, a Muslim or a Baha’i, we worship the same God – only the name and the form of worship differ.
The oneness of religion – that all the world’s major religions are chapters of the one book – a book that is still unfinished. So the children learn about the life and teachings of Moses, Krishna, Christ, Zoroaster, Buddha, Baha’u’llah etc – but looking at their similarities rather than their differences.
The oneness of humanity – the need for the eradication of prejudices of race, class, creed, nationality, sex.
The equality of women and men.
Collective decision making through the process of consultation.
The importance of fostering good character and the development of spiritual qualities such as honesty, compassion, justice and service which form the foundation of a peaceful world. The teaching of virtues is based on a book called The Virtues Guide which draws its inspiration from the spiritual teachings of all the world’s religions.
An understanding of the spiritual nature of human beings is cultivated through the teaching of methods of prayer and meditation and through stories.

Junior Youth Groups

The Moreton Bay Baha’i Community currently holds two, weekly Junior Youth Groups: in North Lakes and in Samford. The purpose of the Junior Youth Program is to empower younger youth (11-15 years of age) to take charge of their own spiritual developement and contribute to a positive transformation in society.

The Baha’is in Moreton Bay are ready to open new areas to the program. For more information about the program follow the link: Junior Youth Spiritual Empowerment Program

Study Circles

The purpose of Baha’i study circles is to provide participants with the knowledge, spiritual insights and skills to enable them to contribute to the betterment of society, starting with their own neighbourhood.

The first in the sequence of seven books is called Reflections on the Life of the Spirit. It examines spiritual matters such as prayer, meditation, life and death, and the development of the soul.

Study circles, open to all, are held in an uplifting environment conducive to the spiritual empowerment of individuals, who come to see themselves as active agents of their own learning.

Please contact the secretary at secretary@moretonbaybahai.org

Aboriginal Spirituality

Aboriginal and Baha’i: Merging Traditional and New

Ready to join us?

Most people will investigate the truths of the Faith before they decide that they would like to be a Baha’i. People come into the Faith from all walks and backgrounds of life.

Baha’is acknowledge that we are all endeavouring to grow towards God, which means you don’t need ‘to be perfect’ before you can become a Baha’i. God’s love and grace is big enough for all. For more information, simply email the Secretary at secretary@moretonbaybahai.org