Edinburgh Bahá’í Community
What Baháʼís Do
Baháʼís hail from all walks of life. They share a common goal of serving humanity and of striving to establish a vibrant pattern of community life that reflects the teachings of Bahá'u'lláh.
Gatherings of prayer and worship, acts of service and educational programmes for young and old alike are all important parts of Baháʼí community life.
The Baháʼí community is one of learning and action, free from any sense of superiority or claim to exclusive understanding of truth. It is a community that strives to cultivate hope for the future of humanity, to foster purposeful effort and to celebrate the endeavours of all those in the world who work to promote unity and alleviate human suffering.
For more information on Bahá’í activities in Edinburgh or how you can participate, please contact the Bahá’í community – or just chat with Bahá’ís you may know!
Devotional Gatherings
Prayer and worship are central aspects of Bahá’í life, both as individuals and as a community. The Bahá’í Writings state that prayer, in its highest form, is an expression of love and gratitude for one’s Creator. Prayer can be likened to food for the soul and is a means of attracting divine assistance and blessings. Prayer is not limited to words, but is a state of being that, ultimately, finds expression in our deeds.
Prayer and worship cannot be divorced from service to humanity and action, since both are vital to fostering a vibrant and dynamic community life that seeks to build greater material and spiritual prosperity for all.
The Bahá'í belief in the inherent nobility of each human being is intimately connected with the conviction that education, both material and spiritual, has the power to manifest the potential nobility within each person and, most importantly, benefit society.
Over the past few decades, the worldwide Bahá'í community has developed an educational programme that seeks to cultivate the vast and powerful potentialities inherent in every human being. Guided by the principle and goal of universal participation, this educational programme combines personal reflection and group study with acts of service in the community.
Children's Classes
Empower
Growth
Bahá’ís consider children as the most precious treasure in the community. They embody the promise and assurance for the future. This promise relies on the quality of education provided to our children.
Beyond academic pursuits, the Bahá’í community prioritises nurturing children spiritually, and developing virtues such as truthfulness, generosity, and kindness.
If you would like your children to take part in classes that help them to develop spiritual qualities or would like to be involved in the running of children’s classes please get in touch here.
Junior Youth
The period between 12-15 years old can be a challenging phase for adolescents as they embark on self-discovery and begin to process their place in the world. Baháʼís emphasise that the positive contributions this age group can make to the world are frequently underestimated.
The Junior Youth Spiritual Empowerment Program (JYSEP) strives to assist young individuals in realising their potential by enhancing their moral identity and fostering intellectual and creative abilities.
If you're interested in enrolling your Junior Youth in the JYSEP or wish to contribute to the running of these groups, please contact us here.
Life in Society
The Bahá’í Teachings make clear that the process of establishing universal peace and prosperity will require the participation of the whole of humanity. Bahá’ís, therefore, do not consider themselves to possess the answers to every challenge facing society. Rather, Bahá’ís seek to work with like-minded individuals and organisations to explore how we can work together and identify the needs of our society as it continues to evolve.
At the local level, Bahá’ís across the UK are involved in a range of social action initiatives which are often informal. These can range from initiatives preserving the natural environment, promoting interfaith relations or supporting refugees. Wherever they reside Bahá’í communities are concerned with the wellbeing and unity of their neighbourhoods and villages. Bahá’ís seek to foster an environment of inclusivity by promoting a culture of visiting one another's homes and of inclusive reflection on the needs of their communities.
Edinburgh Interfaith Association
The Bahá’í Community is a keen member of Edinburgh Interfaith Association (EIFA) which aims to promote the religious (and cultural) harmony and diversity in Edinburgh by bringing peoples of all faiths and none together. All of the events, projects and efforts seek to advance mutual understanding, trust, respect, cooperation and peace between the communities of Edinburgh.