I still have not heard what happened in court with the Iranian Baha'is. (see my post yesterday) http://open.salon.com/blog/mimetalker/2010/06/11/dejavu-_honoring_iranian_bahai_prisoners 

So for "Good News Sunday", I decided to give a glimpse my Baha'i Family around the world.

We have built Houses of Worship. They are built by Baha'is for the world. All are welcome. They are to each have nine sides (the number symbolic for unity) and a Dome.

Baha'i House of Worship in Uganda.

New Dehli, India

 A Samoan man offers a song at a gathering outside the Samoan House of Worship. The King of Samoa became a Baha'i.

House of Worship in Wilmette, IL. just north of Chicago. This is where I first learned of the Baha'i Faith. A Franciscan Brother took me here when I was fifteen and said if I ever got over my problem with God, I should look into this religion. My son now works here. 

Baha'is are about building community based on the spiritual and social teachings of Baha'u'llah ("Glory of God" in Arabic). The central theme of these teachings is unity. All are welcome to participate in the Baha'i community. You do not have to be an "official" Baha'i. These beautiful teachings are for the world.

We have no clergy. So we study the Writings of the Baha'i Faith individually and with friends...

Study circle in Columbia...

...and in Rowanda

and Cambodia

We pray

Sometimes alone (Native American Baha'i Institute, Hoock, AZ)

Sometimes a few gather (New York)

Sometimes there are many. (Sidney, Austrailia)

We offer children's classes. We teach them they were created noble beings. And God loves them.

We try to find ways to be of assistance to others.

Literacy class in Nepal...

And in the Congo

An agricultural project in India to help women become equal partners.

We work together on projects of all kinds...this is an art project in Croatia

I could go on and on and on. From helping neighbors to working with the United Nations.

When people become Baha'is they discover their former enemies are now "family". People are coming into this Faith from all cultures, religions (or no religion), and economic backgrounds. Long held beliefs and prejudices about race and gender and class are being eliminated.

And because I have seen this with my own eyes, I know peace is possible. I think it has already started. 

"So powerful is the light of unity that it can illumine the whole earth."

Baha'u'llah

Pictures here are from the baha'i world news website