Doctrines of Orthodox Baha'i Faith

The Orthodox Bahá’í Faith has its early roots in that of Islam.  A young Muhammadan Man announced in Persia on May 23rd, 1844, that He was the forerunner of the Promised One of all the previous religions.  It created uproar in that area of the world.  No less than 20,000 of His followers, known as Bábi’s, were martyred.  In 1850, the Báb was publicly executed.
One of the Báb’s followers became known as Bahá’u’lláh.  That title roughly translates as “the Glory of God”.  Bahá’u’lláh announced that He was the One foretold by the Báb.  He began his ministry in 1853, and publicly announced it in 1863.  Bahá’u’lláh was banished successively from Persia to Baghdad to Constantinople, to Adrianople, and finally to the prison city of Akka located across the bay from Haifa, Israel.  He later pitched His tent upon Mount Carmel.  He passed away in 1892.
`Abdu’l-Bahá, another title meaning “Servant of Bahá’u’lláh”, was the appointed successor and Center of the Covenant and Interpreter of the Word.  Released from imprisonment, He traveled to Europe and America in 1911 – 1912.  He passed away in 1921.
Shoghi Effendi, the eldest grandson of `Abdu’l-Bahá, was appointed by Him to be Guardian of the Faith, and under his leadership the Faith expanded to over 250 different countries.  Shoghi Effendi passed away in London in 1957.
Shoghi Effendi, in the only Proclamation he ever issued, appointed Charles Mason Remey as the Head of the International Bahá’í Council, the embryonic Universal House of Justice.  Mason Remey remained silent until 1960, as he tried to preserve unity among the believers.  In 1960 he publicly announced that Shoghi Effendi had appointed him second Guardian of the Faith.  The appointment being in the known fact that only a Guardian can be the Head or President of the Universal House of Justice, whether fully formed or in embryonic condition.  With the passing of Shoghi Effendi the embryonic House of Justice, provisionally designated as the International Bahá’í Council, which had never been activated, had immediately become the active organ, and Mason as its president, the Guardian.
Mason himself both appointed in writing, and by appointing to the second International Bahá’í Council as President, Joel Bray Marangella third Guardian of the Bahá’í Faith.  When Mason activated the Council in 1965, Joel, as its President and Head, became the Guardian.
The Orthodox Bahá’í Faith teaches the unity of God and His Prophets, the unity of the human race, the independent investigation of the truth, elimination of all forms of prejudice, the fundamental agreement of science and religion, equal opportunities, rights, and privileges for both sexes, abolishes extremes of poverty and wealth, establishes the need for an international script and language, universal education, a universal system of currency, weights, and measures, and promotes the establishment of world peace. Read full article of "I'an RoeBuck."