THE BAHÁ'Í FAITH IS THE YOUNGEST OF THE WORLD'S INDEPENDENT RELIGIONS. ITS PROPHET FOUNDER, BAHÁ'U'LLÁH (1817-1892), IS REGARDED BY BAHÁ'ÍS AS THE MOST RECENT IN A LINE OF MESSENGERS FROM GOD TO ALL PEOPLE.  THE CENTRAL THEME OF BAHÁ'U'LLÁH'S MESSAGE IS THAT WE SHARE A BIOLOGICAL AND A SPIRITUAL UNITY.  HUMANITY IS VIEWED AS A SINGLE FAMILY AND THE TIME HAS COME FOR ITS UNIFICATION INTO ONE GLOBAL SOCIETY.  ACCORDING TO THE 1991 BRITANNICA BOOK OF THE YEAR, THE BAHÁ'Í FAITH IS THE SECOND MOST GEOGRAPHICALLY WIDESPREAD RELIGION AFTER CHRISTIANITY AND IS ESTABLISHED IN OVER 200 COUNTRIES. THERE ARE 6 MILLION BAHÁ'ÍS IN THE WORLD; OVER 25,000 LIVE IN CANADA.

Science, Medicine and Religion
    Bahá'u'lláh taught that religion and science can be seen as the two wings of a bird, both of which are necessary for flight. Religion that contradicts or is opposed to science is ignorance, for ignorance is opposite to knowledge.
    When ill, Bahá'ís refer to competent, conscientious physicians and follow their advice. Healing is seen to consist of both material and spiritual processes; both are essential and complementary.
    As a health care professional, it may be important to understand how the teachings of the Bahá'í Faith may affect your patient.

Support for Bahá'ís
    The Bahá'í community is governed locally and nationally by elected councils called Spiritual Assemblies, and any municipality where there are nine or more adult Bahá'ís elects a Local Spiritual Assembly each year. These Assemblies are responsible for overseeing the affairs of the community in their jurisdiction and, in particular, serving the Bahá'ís in their area. Spiritual Assemblies can officiate at marriages and funerals. They can also provide counselling services and support to patients.

Who to Contact
    The phone number of the nearest Spiritual Assembly can be found in the telephone book or you may contact the

     Bahá'í National Centre
     7200 Leslie Street
     Thornhill, ON L3T 6L8
     Tel: 905 889-8168
     Fax: 905 889-8184
     E-mail: <secretariat@cdnbnc.org>

Spiritual Life
    There are few rituals in the Bahá'í Faith and no clergy.  Bahá'ís believe prayers with and on behalf of others will assist in healing. Individual Bahá'ís read the sacred writings morning and evening.  Community meetings, called "Feasts", take place every nineteen days. There are eleven holy days in the Bahá'í calendar. Work or study should be suspended on nine of those days. On these days the Bahá'í community holds observances that are open to all.

Alcohol And Drugs
    The consumption of alcohol, intoxicants and habit-forming drugs is prohibited unless prescribed by a qualified physician. When used for other than medicinal purposes these drugs are thought to interfere with our spiritual well-being as well as posing a threat to our physical health.

Smoking
    Bahá'ís are strongly encouraged not to smoke tobacco; its use should be subject to considerations of courtesy for the rights of others and the well-being of their own bodies.

Diet
    There are no dietary restrictions in the Bahá'í Faith. Bahá'ís recognize the vital importance of diet and nutrition in promoting health and preventing illness. They are encouraged to be moderate in what they eat. Furthermore, they understand that current knowledge of the role of nutrition in preserving health and treating illness is still incomplete.

Fasting
    Each year from March 2nd to March 20th, Bahá'ís over the age of fourteen abstain from food and drink between sunrise and sunset.  The purpose of the fast is spiritual -- a symbolic reminder of the ease with which we fulfil physical desires and, perhaps, neglect spiritual ones.  Exemption from fasting is allowed for those who are over 70, are ill, pregnant, nursing or menstruating.

Marriage
    The institution of the family is seen as the foundation of human society. Baha'u'lláh describes marriage as a divine institution -- "a fortress for well-being" -- a physical and spiritual union.  Consequently, divorce is resorted to only in exceptional circumstances where intense and irreconcilable antipathy exists between partners.
    Men and women are recognized as equal in the family and in society. Marriage is seen as a natural and normal way of existence and is encouraged, but it is not an obligation.  Sexual expression is valued but is restricted to marriage partners.

Childbearing, Family Planning And Abortion
    Bahá'í marriage is perceived to have the dual purpose of contributing to the spiritual development of both partners and ensuring the perpetuation of the human race. In this context, bringing children into the world and raising them is an important responsibility. Each couple may decide on the size of their family and are free to choose a method of contraception. Because Bahá'ís believe that the soul comes into existence at the time of conception, they use contraceptive methods which prevent conception, not those which precipitate a miscarriage. At the present time, the Bahá'í institutions do not legislate on the issue of abortion and it is left to those concerned to decide on the best course of action in light of the general Bahá'í teachings on the sanctity of human life, and taking into account the medical advice of doctors on the case.
    An operation to render a person permanently sterile is permissible only when there is a pressing medical reason for such an operation and then it is the partner who suffers from the medical disability who should undergo the operation.
    Couples having difficulty conceiving can use artificial insemination and in-vitro fertilization provided that the egg of the wife is fertilized by the sperm of the husband, and that the child is brought to birth from the womb of its natural mother.

Circumcision
    Bahá'ís see no religious significance in the circumcision of males. It is regarded as a purely medical question and parents are free to decide on it or not, as they wish.  Circumcision of females amounts to mutilation; it is against Bahá'í principle and, in societies where this practice is prevalent, Bahá'í institutions strive to progressively eliminate its use among Bahá'ís.

Death
    Bahá'ís believe that the soul is eternal and that the physical body that remains should be treated with respect. Embalming and cremation are prohibited unless required by law.  The body should be buried within one hour's journey from the place of death.

Donation of Organs and Blood
    Organ donation is allowed.  Bodies donated for research must be eventually buried within one hour's journey from the place of death.
    Bahá'ís can donate blood and receive blood transfusions.

Prolonging Life
    The Bahá'í writings do not advise about withholding or removing life support in disabling or terminal illnesses where intervention prolongs life. It is also left to the conscience of the individual whether or not to subscribe to a "living will".
 

Prepared by the
Bahá'í Medical Association of Canada
Revised July 1996

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