Bahá'í Faith (mainstream)
Founded by Bahá'u'lláh (1863), the Bahá'í Faith is a global religion teaching unity of religions and humanity. Administered through elected institutions (Local and National Spiritual Assemblies, the Universal House of Justice). Forbids partisan politics, alcohol, premarital sex, and homosexual practice.
CLCI radar
BITE breakdown
0 — globally administered religion with elected institutions; some patterns warrant moderate-low score.
In context
The Bahá'í Faith has no clergy and is administered by democratically elected Spiritual Assemblies and the elected Universal House of Justice in Haifa, Israel. The faith forbids alcohol, premarital sex, partisan politics, and homosexual practice. Members deemed seriously violating community standards may have voting rights removed (a form of 'covenant-breaker' shunning that is the most severe sanction). Severely persecuted in Iran since 1979.
Key control doctrines
- Authority of the Universal House of Justice
- Covenant-breaker shunning policy
- Manuscript review for authors
- Parental consent for marriage
Notable public ex-members
- Juan Cole (academic critic, formally a covenant-breaker)
- Karen Bacquet
Legal cases & controversies
- Iranian state persecution of Bahá'ís (ongoing since 1979)
- Internal disputes around manuscript review and academic freedom
Timeline
- 1844The Báb declares his mission in Shiraz
- 1863Bahá'u'lláh declares his mission in Baghdad
- 1963First Universal House of Justice elected
- 1979Persecution of Iranian Bahá'ís intensifies after Islamic Revolution
Sources
- Moojan Momen, 'The Bahá'í Faith: A Beginner's Guide' (2008)
- Universal House of Justice publications
We cite sources by name and outlet rather than fabricating links. Search the source title plus the group name to find the original.