IRANIAN BAHA'IS FROM JEWISH BACKGROUND: A PORTRAIT OF AN EMERGING BAHA'I COMMUNITY

IRANIAN BAHA'IS FROM JEWISH BACKGROUND: A PORTRAIT OF AN EMERGING BAHA'I COMMUNITY

The Bahá'í Faith was founded in Iran in the middle of the nineteenth century and from there it spread to all corners of the world. The Bahá’í Faith is among the fastest growing independent religions of the world and the second most widely spread religion after Christianity.In the early stages of its development most of the converts to the Bahá'í Faith were from among the members of the majority religion of Iran, Shí’i Islám. Soon members of Iranian minority religions, such as Jews, Zoroastrians, and Christians joined this newfound religion.Jews have lived in Iran for more than twenty-six centuries. A large number of them embraced the Bahá'í Faith during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The conversion of the Jews to the Bahá'í Faith was an act of faith and out of their own free-will. The conversion of the Jews to the Bahá'í Faith out of their own freewill is indeed unique in Jewish history.This book presents a fascinating look at the history of early Iranian Bahá’ís who recognized the promised Messiah and the resulting effects on their lives—including severe hardships and stunning achievements. The gradual emergence of a Bahá’í identity among believers of Jewish background is explained. It shows the organic growth of faith and identity—a process that all new adherents to the Faith undergo. The book provides a wealth of information to lovers of Bahá’í and Jewish history.