Baha’i Center, 502 Dayton St. Yellow Springs, Ohio 45387
Who is Bahá’u’lláh? | Baha’i Writings: Oneness/Unity in Diversity/Elimination of Prejudice | Baha’i Writings on Justice | Baha’i Statements on Global Issues | Equality of Women & Men | Abdu’l-Baha’s Call for Race Unity in America – 1912
Ohio Baha’i Host Community
Welcome to the Yellow Springs Baha’i community website. We are once again hosting in person meetings at the Baha’i Center. For information on the monthly devotionals and other events at the Baha’i Center in Yellow Springs see: Yellow Springs Events. For other events in the area see: Miami Valley Baha’is. To connect with other Baha’is in Ohio and around the world go to: Ohio Baha’is: Communities. (All blue text are links.)
Prayers for Guidance, Protection & Spiritual Resilience
Prayers with Musical Renditions: This collection of prayers, from the Baha’i Holy Writing, were created during the pandemic that perchance they might offer a source of comfort and spiritual resilience during the apprehensive times we were called to endure. (Guidance, Protection, Spiritual Resilience, Freedom from Anxiety, Healing, Children, Humanity etc.)
“Be anxiously concerned with the needs of the age ye live in, and center your deliberations on its exigencies and requirements.” ~ Baha’u’llah
Baha’is reflect on the current global crisis:
Forging A Path Toward Racial Justice article
A Principled Approach to Solving Global Challenges video
Collective Threats Require a New System of Global Governance video
Blog: A Whole New World: 7 Virtues for the Great Reset article
Building a World Federation: The Key to Solving Our Global Crises video
Can Global Crisis Lead to Global Unity article
Reflections on the Coronavirus and the Oneness of Humanity article
Income Disparity In a Time of Global Crisis article (additional videos)
Programs that Nurture Spiritual Growth, Virtue Development, Amity and Unity
The Baha’is of Yellow Springs invite you to join with us in our efforts to strengthen the foundation of society through programs that nurture spiritual growth and virtue development, foster amity and unity, and lead to joyful, purpose-oriented lives. These programs focus on transformation, empowerment and service. People of all ages and backgrounds are invited to participate. We offer programs for children, junior-youth, youth and adults. These programs offer a world-embracing vision of the oneness of God, of religion, and of humanity. As this vision grows, it is our hope that participants will develop a love for humankind, an appreciation for diversity, and a desire to serve the world. Programs for Spiritual Growth These programs are inspired by the sacred writings of Bahá’u’lláh, Prophet-Founder of the Baha’i Faith.
“This is worship: to serve mankind and to minister to the needs of the people.” ~ ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
Locally Created Initiatives:
INTER-FAITH & NEIGHBORHOOD COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS
Vitalizing Our Virtues – a virtue development support group for adults created by Baha’is in Yellow Springs. We will offer our support for you to start your own group among neighbors or friends or connect you with others. We currently have a woman’s group that has been meeting for seven years and experience from a neighborhood group. (this one included an interfaith devotional with a focus on virtues.)
Community Reflections on Racial Harmony and Justice a neighborhood initiative to host a simple series of inter-faith community reflection gatherings to elevate our conversations about the imperatives of unity and justice. The beginnings of this effort occurred in 2015 in the aftermath of the John Crawford shooting. What efforts could be mounted to build commitment to a unified community with justice, security, dignity and liberty for all? Contact us for support if you are interested in starting a group. See supporting documents.
PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN
For forty years Yellow Springs resident, Linden Qualls, offered children’s classes and summer virtue camps which were enjoyed by many of the children in the surrounding area throughout the years. Our Education Resource page provides links to articles by Linden Qualls, 12 FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES FOR the SPIRITUAL & MORAL EDUCATION OF CHILDREN: A BAHA’I PERSPECTIVE or the shorter version Mining the Gems of Virtues in Our Children, as well as her webpage full of all her creative ideas she has developed over the past 40 years.
The Refuge – A special environment has been created at our Baha’i Center by those who were locally involved in the Refuge Research Collaborative. Here is a quick look into our Approach & Discoveries for the spiritual education of children.
Some former Yellow Springs Street Fair and Juneteenth Offerings – Sustainable Development | World Citizenship | Elimination of Prejudice
World Citizenship: An Ethical Foundation for Sustainable Development For several years we had an environmental themed booth at the Yellow Springs Street Fair. Passerby would often stop to participate in our World Citizen activity by making a commitment to reduce their carbon footprint and take the World Pledge. More Photos
Our Heart of Humanity Gardening Game is about removing rocks of prejudice (negative attitudes) from the garden of humanities heart. One must first decide which seeds (virtue) to plant that will push that negative attitude out of the heart. Remove a rock of prejudice by planting the seeds of a virtue. Receive a sticker: “No Room In My Heart For Prejudice”.
Baha’i Writings on Elimination of Prejudice | Forging a Path Toward Racial Justice – a message from the Baha’is of the United States, June 2020 | Abdu’l-Baha’s Radical Approach to Race Unity – 1912 | Race Unity in America: an Oral History | A Vision of Race Unity America’s Most Challenging Issue – 1991
