The Baha'i religion originated quite recently, sometime in the 19th century. It was started by an Iranian noble who was a religious visionary. His name was Mirza Ali Mohammed. Mirza Ali Mohammed later changed his name to “Bab”, which means “the gate”.

After he was executed by the Persian government, Babs’ place was taken by his pupil, a man who called himself Baha Ullah meaning “Glory of God”. Baha Ullah was among the first to spread this new religion. His teachings spread rapidly, but he himself was imprisoned and later exiled from the country.

Baha Ullah taught that religious truth is not absolute but relative and that each age has to modify and adapt the teachings through new wisdoms. These ideas were quite unusual, so Muslims began consider the followers of the Baha'i as traitors to the so-called “real” religion of Islam. Baha'i followers are prosecuted because they believe that the Messiah has already come and they also criticize many of Mohammed’s teachings by calling them outmoded. Among the things they scorn are the legal inequalities of the sexes and the prejudice against music.

Because Baha'i followers criticize Islam, the religion is not tolerated in Iran and has actually been prohibited. Followers of Baha'i religion are prosecuted and have had to flee to other countries, such as India.

But similarly to Islam, the Baha'i religion is monotheistic, or based on the belief of one God. They also honor various prophets starting from Moses, Mohammed and ending in the religions’ founder, Bab.

But unlike Islam, the Baha'i religion teaches that men should worship God by serving other people, regardless of race, nationality or religion. It emphasizes that good deeds are a way of showing your faith in God. Baha'i followers strive for the unity of all mankind, for the unity of all world religions, and for worldwide peace.

An interesting thing is that the temples in which Baha'i followers worship are usually built in a very unusual shape – that of a closed lotus flower bud. Baha'i temples are open to all people regardless of their religion.

Even thought the Baha'i religion doesn’t have many followers and even thought it is prosecuted in its home country, Iran, The Baha'i religion is interesting and far from insignificant. The striving for peace and unity is useful these days, when such things are rare…