While the Baha'i Faith is lesser known, it is growing in awareness. These teachings were originally given by Bab and was expanded upon by Baha'u'llah. However, we have lost, or more accurately put, all that was revealed to Baha'u'llah was not kept by His own edict. Several times Baha'u'llah commanded that some of His writings be destroyed because none was found worthy to hear. While I use the word 'some', in complete honesty, it was hundreds of writings that were destroyed on several different occassions.
The Baha'i Faith teaches us to have a Universal outlook to the entire creation. When we limit ourselves in these things, we surley are in effect saying that those others are not my concern. We are responsible for each other in all aspects. When a huricane destroys an island in the Pacific, do not the countries around the world send aid? This is the same approach we should take in all aspects, especially Spiritual. We should teach others on how to study Scriptures, meditate, and reach Pure Consciousness. We can not reach there alone, the first shall be last and the last first.
Bab taught that all religions came from the same Source, God. So all were relevant, important and unified. It was Baha'u'llah that revealed that it was necessary for the establish two structures that would carry forward the Will of God. One was the House of Justice, this House was to be the highest court in the world which would insure equlality between the sexes and races. There would be three levels of the House of Justice, they are the international, regional, and local; it is their task to maintain equality. The other was the concept of the Guardian.
The Guardian is the only one who could interpret the Scriptures for all of humanity. The last Guardian was Shoghi Effendi, the eldest great-grandson of Baha'u'llah. Shoghi Effendi left this earth in 1957 without naming a successor as the next Guardian. This has left the members of the Baha'i Faith to interpret for themselves the Scriptures of God. However, the House of Justice has created a committee to oversee the Guardianship. This is an elected group of 9 to 13 people who, without an electioneering process, accumulated the highest votes of those within the House of Justice. Unfortunately, as we can see throughout history, humanity continually selects it 's leaders from what can be seen on the outside, not from what is within. God demonstrated this when He selected David as the King of the Hebrews. We should always follow this example in selecting our leaders. As for those who have no choice in their leadership, have faith in God that this will change in His time. God has revealed His setup of governance through Maitreya (GIWH), and His Will, will be done.
There is one downfall within this Fifth Seal (Revelation), it is that there is nothing else to to acheive in their Spiritual progress. As God revealed in Revelation 3:2-4, He has not found their works perfect before God. They are gudied to recall how they had first received, repent and watch for His return. However, the are some who are worthy and shall walk with Him in white.
