Following the Baha'i sponsored Race Unity Day last Sunday, The Royal Gazette took the opportunity to speak with members of the Faith's National Spiritual Assembly to gain a better understanding of the religion.

Derick Symonds explained that the word Baha'i comes from Baha which means "glory''. The Faith was introduced to Bermuda 51 years ago by Mrs. Pauline Campbell, the wife of a member of the US Air Force stationed at the Base in St. David's.

Mary Walker, also a member of the National Spiritual Assembly, said: "The Baha'i Faith is currently the most widespread religion in the world after Christianity.'' The Baha'i Faith has a three-tier administrative structure at the local, national and international levels. A total of 181 countries around the world now have National Spiritual Assemblies. The goal of the Baha'is is the lasting peaceful cooperation of all the peoples of the earth.

In Bermuda, the Faith has experienced steady growth in its numbers, especially since the 1970s. It now has approximately 150 members.

The religion was founded in 1844 by a Persian nobleman called Baha'u'llah who the Baha'is believe was the latest in a line of messengers from God who include Abraham, Moses, Buddha, Christ and Muhammad.

Baha'u'llah wrote more than 100 volumes and his overriding message was of unity -- "The oneness of God, the oneness of religion, the oneness of humanity.'' Mrs. Walker said: "Baha'u'llah said that the religions of the world are simply different chapters of the same book, a book of progressive spiritual revelations from God.'' She further explains that all religions have spiritual and social teachings.

The essence of the spiritual teachings of all religions are the same. The social teachings of each religion vary according to the time and place the religion was revealed.

The Baha'is also believe that everyone is a child of God and that the personal transformation taking place in people's hearts will show its effect in the lives of families and communities.

Equality and justice are also central tenets of the Baha'i Faith, a truly modern religion stressing the equality of women and men and of all races, ethnicities and cultures.

Unlike some religions which dictate a troubled future for humanity, the Baha'is believe that now, more than at any other time in history, world peace is within the reach of nations.

The Baha'i Faith has had an office with consultative status at the United Nations since 1948. On UN day in 1985, "The Promise of World Peace'' -- a statement by The Universal House of Justice, the Baha'is international governing body, was presented to the UN.

This statement is addressed to the peoples of the world and has been translated into many languages and dialects and given to heads of state.

"It is Baha'u'llah's plan for the achievement of world peace,'' said Mrs.

Walker. It states: "Whether peace is to be reached only after unimaginable horrors precipitated by humanity's stubborn clinging to old patterns of behaviour, or is to be embraced now by an act of consultative will, is the choice before all who inhabit the earth.'' The Baha'is believe that the present chaos is a natural stage in our planet's progress toward unity, as humanity grows into adulthood. They say that the old world order is being rolled away at the same time as a new world order is taking its place, one which will lead eventually to the establishment of peace.

The Universal House of Justice cites examples of signs that there is a trend towards the unification of all people. The creation of intra-national organisations in a wide variety of human endeavours such as science, education and economics and perhaps more importantly the impact of modern day technology on communications.

The Baha'is also recognise that today the world is experiencing serious problems including war and terrorism. Such conduct represents "a distortion of the human spirit'' they say. A true reflection of human nature is the drive to "harmony and cooperation and away from war and conflict''.

According to the UHJ, "no serious attempt to set human affairs aright can ignore religion'' because of the central role that it plays in the spiritual development of mankind.

The statement of the Universal House of Justice also says that: "The teaching that we should treat others as we ourselves would wish to be treated is an ethic variously repeated in all the great religions.'' This teaching represents "the peace-inducing aspect extending through these religions irrespective of their time or place''.

The social teachings of the Baha'i Faith relate to the achievement of peace through the establishment of a world government.

The Universal House of Justice says: "A genuine universal framework must be adopted'' in order to implement peace. When world leaders are prepared to subordinate national self-interest to the requirements of world order, then peace will be attainable.

In the Baha'i Faith, a local spiritual assembly is created wherever there are nine Baha'is. In Bermuda, seven parishes have local spiritual assemblies.

Members of the local assemblies meet regularly every 19 days, usually at someone's home.

There are also meetings at the Baha'i National Centre on Cedar Avenue which is open at various times throughout the week. Bermuda has had a National Spiritual Assembly since 1981.

The Baha'i Centre was recently renovated and extended and was officially opened in November last year by the Governor Thorold Masefield and Mrs.

Masefield. Premier Jennifer Smith and other dignitaries were also present.

The Baha'is spiritual gathering takes place on Sunday mornings at the Centre at 11 a.m. and is open to the public. During these gatherings, there are readings of prayers from various religions and music.

On Monday nights, a radio programme called "Baha'i Live'' airs on FM 95 from 8 to 9 p.m.

Anyone wishing to obtain further information on the Baha'i Faith is invited to contact the Baha'i National Centre on 292-2723. Their e-mail address is nsabda ynorthrock.bm and the website is located at www.bahai.org Golden dome: The Shrine of the Bab in the heart of Mount Carmel in Haifa, Israel is the spiritual and administrative centre of the Baha'i Faith. It is surrounded by beautifully landscaped terrace gardens and is one of the best known landmarks in Haifa. The Bab was the Martyr-Herald of the Baha'i religion.