Introduction

This part introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters. The part reviews its theology concepts of God, revelation, Manifestation, the nature of religion, and the purpose of physical reality. It explores the oneness of humankind, human nature, diversity, the afterlife, mysticism, and spirituality. The part explores the Bahá’í teachings as they relate to social change: education, work, family life, world peace, economics, gender, sustainability, law, and artistic expression. The Bahá’í Faith is a small but remarkably widespread and diverse religion with a growing prominence in the world. Perhaps ten percent of the writings of Bahá’u’lláh, its prophet-founder have been translated into English to date. The long and remarkable—and little researched—history of the Bahá’í Faith in the former Soviet Union is absent from the volume. It is hoped that articles on these and other subjects can be commissioned in the future and published elsewhere in order to fill some of the gaps.