Baha'ism

Practices

Declaration

The Baha’i declaration which gives admittance into the fold of believers, does not have a specific form, but basically involves believing in Baha’ Allah as the manifestation of God for today and agreeing to follow his teachings. New Baha’is are usually handled by local Spiritual Assemblies who may ask the believer to sign a declaration card which signals their acceptance and commitment to the religion. The children of Baha’is are themselves considered Baha’is, but become religiously mature at the age of fifteen. In many countries they may choose to sign a reaffirmation card at this time.

There are exceptions to the usual process of entering the Baha’i community, however. Residents and citizens of Israel may not enrol as Baha’is while living in Israel, nor may Baha’is even attempt to introduce the faith to Israelis. This was the policy adopted at the time of Baha’ Allah’s residence in Palestine and continues today.52 As well, Muslims from oriental backgrounds are subjected to closer scrutiny if they express a wish to enter the Baha’i community, due to fear of enemies of the faith ‘infiltrating’ the religion and gaining access to sensitive information.53

In less developed countries with low rates of literacy, the administrative process of enrolling Baha’is may be much simpler with verbal declarations of belief accepted. There have been cases of mass enrolments after inspirational speeches given by Baha’i missionaries, although the degree to which individuals are aware that they are actually joining a religion may be questionable.54

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References

52Department of the Secretariat, The, “Untitled”, 23 Jul. 1995, 6 Jun. 2003, .

53Lights of Guidance 429.

54Garlington, William, “The Baha'i Faith in India: A Developmental Stage Approach”, Jun. 1997, Occasional Papers in Shaykhi, Babi and Baha’i Studies, no. 2, 7 Jun. 2003, .

Next > Baha'ism: Practices: Prayer