In English and Farsi
The three basic spiritual foundation units of the Ruhi Institute: “Understanding the Bahá’í Writings,” “Prayer,” and “Life and Death.”
(see the Ruhi Book 1 outline for more information)
In English
This book prepares new teachers of the Faith to take their first steps in the arena of service. Includes the units “The Joy of Teaching,” “Deepening Themes,” and “Introducing Bahá’í Beliefs.”
(see the Ruhi Book 2 outline for more information)
Bahá’ís are people who have recognized Bahá’u’lláh as the Messenger of God for this age, and who accept His teachings, laws, and the administrative institutions He established for the unification of humankind.
People become members of a Bahá’í community by signifying such belief and commitment, orally or in writing, to the responsible Bahá’í institution.
To live one's life as a Bahá’í is to regard humanity as a single family, to strive to be free of all prejudices, to act in accordance with the highest moral principles, to attempt, through prayer, education, and self-evaluation, to continuously better oneself, and to work for the betterment of the world.
Bahá’u’lláh wrote:
We exhort mankind in these days when the countenance of Justice is soiled with dust, when the flames of unbelief are burning high and the robe of wisdom rent asunder, when tranquillity and faithfulness have ebbed away and trials and tribulations have waxed severe, when convenants are broken and ties are severed, when no man knoweth how to discern light and darkness or to distinguish guidance from error.
O peoples of the world! Forsake all evil, hold fast that which is good. Strive to be shining examples unto all mankind, and true reminders of the virtues of God amidst men. He that riseth to serve My Cause should manifest My wisdom, and bend every effort to banish ignorance from the earth. Be united in counsel, be one in thought. Let each morn be better than its eve and each morrow richer than its yesterday. Man's merit lieth in service and virtue and not in the pageantry of wealth and riches. Take heed that your words be purged from idle fancies and worldly desires and your deeds be cleansed from craftiness and suspicion. Dissipate not the wealth of your precious lives in the pursuit of evil and corrupt affection, nor let your endeavours be spent in promoting your personal interest. Be generous in your days of plenty, and be patient in the hour of loss. Adversity is followed by success and rejoicings follow woe. Guard against idleness and sloth, and cling unto that which profiteth mankind, whether young or old, whether high or low. Beware lest ye sow tares of dissension among men or plant thorns of doubt in pure and radiant hearts.
O ye beloved of the Lord! Commit not that which defileth the limpid stream of love or destroyeth the sweet fragrance of friendship. By the righteousness of the Lord! Ye were created to show love one to another and not perversity and rancour. Take pride not in love for yourselves but in love for your fellow-creatures. Glory not in love for your country, but in love for all mankind. Let your eye be chaste, your hand faithful, your tongue truthful and your heart enlightened. Abase not the station of the learned in Bahá and belittle not the rank of such rulers as administer justice amidst you. Set your reliance on the army of justice, put on the armour of wisdom, let your adorning be forgiveness and mercy and that which cheereth the hearts of the well-favoured of God.
By My life! Thy grievances have plunged Me into sorrow. Regard not the children of the world and all their doings but fix thy gaze upon God and His never-ending dominion. Verily, He calleth to thy remembrance that which is the source of delight for all mankind. Drink thou the life-giving water of blissful joy from the chalice of utterance proffered by the Fountainhead of divine Revelation — He Who hath made mention of thee in this mighty stronghold. Endeavour to the utmost of thy powers to establish the word of truth with eloquence and wisdom and to dispel falsehood from the face of the earth. Thus directeth thee the Dayspring of divine knowledge from this luminous horizon.
— from “Lawh.-i-H.ikmat (Tablet of Wisdom),”
Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh Revealed after the Kitáb-i-Aqdas
That is the short answer — that everyone may be a Bahá’í; there are no requirements or restrictions of nationality, race, ethnicity, lineage, prior religious affiliation, or other identity factor, of any kind, for membership in the Bahá’í Faith.
People of virtually all nationalities, ethnicities, races, tribes, religions, and no previous religion, from all over the world, have embraced Bahá’u’lláh and the Bahá’í Faith.
Atheists who become Bahá’í are not special cases, since Bahá’í conceptions of the Supreme Being and spiritual reality are free from dogmas of the past, and since the Bahá’í Faith recognizes science as the authority regarding physical reality. Many have found it easy to accept Bahá’u’lláh’s teachings because they had already shed inappropriate conceptions.
The only requirement is belief in Bahá’u’lláh and acceptance of His teachings. This naturally entails a certain level of understanding. Please see the other sections of this learning center for more information.
Phone: 904-646-9813
email: 
www.BahaiJax.org
The Bahá’ís of Jackonville
2140 St. Johns Bluff Rd. S.
Jacksonville, FL 32246
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