What is the Baha’i World View?

What is the ultimate purpose of the Baha’i Faith—and how do Baha’is apply that purpose in their communities for the betterment of the world?

The fourth video in the new documentary series “A Rich Tapestry,” created by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of the United States, explains the purpose of the Baha’i Faith and the steps Baha’is take to tackle the issues of the world today.

As the forces of disintegration begin to dismantle the once reliable structures and moral frameworks of human society, Baha’is everywhere—in neighborhoods, villages, towns and cities, in small groups and great masses, with varying degrees of complexity—work to create peaceful, unified community life with the people around them:

All down the ages we see how blood has stained the surface of the earth; but now a ray of greater light has come, man’s intelligence is greater, spirituality is beginning to grow, and a time is surely coming when the religions of the world will be at peace. Let us leave the discordant arguments concerning outward forms, and let us join together to hasten forward the Divine Cause of unity, until all humanity knows itself to be one family, joined together in love. – Abdu’l-Baha, Paris Talks, p. 123.

The ultimate purpose of the Baha’i Faith—the oneness of humanity—inspires Baha’is to believe that the unity of all people, regardless of race, religion or background, is not only necessary, it is inevitable:

So powerful is the light of unity that it can illuminate the whole earth. – Baha’u’llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 14.

Of one tree are all ye the fruit, and of one bough the leaves. Let not man glory in this that he loveth his country, let him rather glory in this that he loveth his kind. – Baha’u’llah, Tablets of Baha’u’llah, pp. 127-128.

This latest installment of “A Rich Tapestry,” titled “The Baha’i World View,” outlines Baha’u’llah’s mission for a united world, through the words and experiences of Baha’is and their friends dedicated to developing their capacity to serve humanity.

The video shows snapshots of Baha’i endeavors around the United States and the world: interfaith prayer gatherings, classes for children, youth groups for community service, and groups that study spiritual topics, along with social action projects aimed at addressing local issues.

While no ten-minute video can fully display the magnitude of Baha’u’llah’s mission, or the great diversity of activities carried out by Baha’is around the world, this short film makes a great starting point for those interested in the Baha’i Faith, but who don’t quite know where to begin.

It offers a promising vision for a unified future—a future that will take hard work to achieve, but which is undoubtedly possible.

You can watch the video below, or see it on the official website of the National Assembly of the Baha’is of the United States at Bahai.us