The Bahai perspective

Young members father to evaluate their faith and mark birth day of their prophet.Their nearest house of worship is 2,000 miles away. So local followers of the Bahai faith chose another location -- the home of a Newport Coast family -- to commemorate the birthday of their prophet.

More than a dozen NewportMesa youth from ages 10 to 16 took charge of the Friday evening ceremony, which was attended by about 50 people. They selected readings from Bahá’u’lláh, who Bahai followers believe is the messenger of God.

Some of the young participants were born into the Bahai faith. Others were friends of Bahais. They all studied the life of Bahá’u’lláh with Pooneh Khazei, a 35-year-old Corona del Mar resident.

“It’s important for them to take ownership of this ceremony and of the teachings,” Khazei said. “Many of them have told me that it makes sense to look at the world from the Bahai perspective.”

The faith is founded on principles of religious acceptance and the oneness of humanity, Khazei said. Its origins are in 19th century Persia, around the time when Bahá’u’lláh set forth a vision to combat what he considered to be a decaying social order.

The vision of unity and commonality of mankind is summed up in the Bahai mantra: “The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens.”

Nima Mehr, a 17-year-old Newport Coast resident, said he is drawn to that concept.

“The biggest thing that I agree with is unity of the whole world,” Mehr said.

There are no clergy in the Bahai faith. Guidance is provided by a democratically elected national and local-level governing council.

According to Bahai literature, more than 5 million people follow the faith across the world. There is one house of worship per continent, and North America’s is located in suburban Chicago. The places of worships have nine doors -- representing the different paths to God, Khazei said.

When members of the faith turn 15, they are asked to evaluate their interest in the practices and teachings. Khazei, who was born into a Bahai family, said she has always believed in the religion.

“To me, the hopeful message of Bahá’u’lláh -- that there is the inevitability of world peace and unity -- makes it possible to raise my child in this world,” she said.

The theme of acceptance came through in the words uttered Friday night by the young event organizers.

They added their own touch to the celebration by reading a spiritual passage over a song by rock band Green Day and showing a PowerPoint slide show about Bahai history.

“They played me the [Green Day] song, and I said, ‘How are you going to do that?’” Khazei said. “When I heard the whole thing, it worked.”

Nicole Nosrat, a 15-year-old Newport Beach resident, said the celebration gave her a chance to study up on the life of Bahá’u’lláh.

“I enjoy listening to the stories of his life,” Nosrat said. “He’s such a good person.” 20051112iptu15knDOUGLAS ZIMMERMAN / DAILY PILOT(LA)Chloe Haddad, left, Nicole Nosrat, Elisa Namdar, Natasha Nosrat, and Kiana Rowshan, young members of the Bahai faith, celebrate the birthday of the Bahai prophet Bahá’u’lláh by singing one of his prayers to the tune of a Green Day song. Shant Ahuja accompanied on guitar Friday.