On Oct. 21, millions of Baha’is residing in virtually every nation of the world will be celebrating the bicentennial of the birth of the founder of their faith.

Baha’u’llah (The Glory of God) was born in 1817 into a noble family in Persia (now Iran). His ancestors can be traced back to Abraham and Jesse of the Old Testament.

The essential message of Baha’u’llah is that the unification of humankind is the strongest foundation by which we can solve the problems afflicting our world. He taught that there is only one God, one human race, and that all the world’s religions represent stages in the revelation of God’s will and purpose for humanity. In this day, Baha’u’llah explained, humanity is collectively coming of age. As foretold in all the world’s Scriptures, the time has arrived for the uniting of all peoples into a peaceful and integrated global society, the kingdom of God on earth.

Proclaimed by Baha’u’llah in 1863, his message of global unity and peace, the essential unity of religions, the equality of women and men, the elimination of all forms of prejudice and the harmonizing of science and religion, disturbed the clergy of Persia and beyond. They unleashed an intense crusade aimed at silencing Baha’u’llah. As a result, he was brutally tortured and for 40 years he and his family suffered imprisonment, the loss of their homes and possessions, numerous physical attacks, a series of banishments to Bagdad, Constantinople and Adrianople and many other persecutions. Eventually they were confined in the prison city of Akka, Israel. All the while, Baha’u’llah remained serene and confident, revealing his message to mankind.

During his confinement Baha’u’llah wrote letters to the kings and rulers of the world, summoning them to resolve their differences or face the destruction of catastrophic wars and the loss of their earthly power. Of these rulers, only Queen Victoria gave a positive response and, as foretold by Baha’u’llah, her royal line is the only one to endure the ensuing collapse of monarchies throughout the world.

According to the World Christian Encyclopedia and the Encyclopedia Britannica, the Baha’i Faith is the world’s second-most widespread faith, surpassing every religion but Christianity in its geographic reach. Baha’is reside in more than 100,000 localities around the world, an expansion that reflects their dedication to the ideal of world citizenship. The faith has had a presence in Minot since the 1950s.

The Baha’i Faith’s global scope is reflected in the composition of its membership. Representing a cross section of humanity, Baha’is come from practically every culture, profession and social or economic class, with more than 2,100 ethnic and tribal groups represented. Since it also forms a single community, free of schism or factions, the Baha’i faith comprises what is likely the most diverse and widespread organized body of people on earth; a remarkable achievement by a faith that has no clergy. The faith is spread by Baha’is who voluntarily move to areas where no members reside and assume the responsibility to teach whomever may be interested in Baha’u’llah’s message.

For further information about the Baha’i faith go to bahai.org or call 1-800-22-UNITE (1-800-228-6483).

Jim Knudsen is from Minot.