MAIN LINE BAHÁ'I COMMUNITY

The history of the Bahai Faith in the Western Suburbs of Philadelphia dates back to early nineteen hundred with Dr. Leslie Pinckney Hill, the president of Cheyney University and one of the founders of the West Chester Community Center (now known as the Melton Arts & Education Center). Dr. Hill worked with Alain Locke, an influential figure in the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s, on the National Baha'i Race Amity Committee.

Now there are Bahá’ís in virtually every town along the Main Line and westward, and they undertake various community-building initiatives aimed at raising capacity among the residents of their neighborhoods to take charge of their own spiritual, social, and intellectual development.

Every individual is a member of the human family and makes a contribution to the life of society.

This concept of serving humanity is taught from childhood. Small-scale service projects are often initiated in children’s classes, where participants explore ways to contribute to their family, school and community.

Other activities that drive the process of community building include meetings that strengthen the devotional character of the community, classes that nurture the hearts and minds of children, groups that empower youth to serve their communities, and study circles aimed at applying Bahá’í teachings to individual and collective life.

Everyone is invited to fully participate in these activities, regardless of belief or background.

Principles of the Baha’i Faith

• The oneness of mankind.
• Universal peace upheld by a world government.
• Independent investigation of truth.
• The common foundation of all religions.
• The essential harmony of science and religion.
• Equality of men and women.
• Elimination of prejudice of all kinds.
• Universal compulsory education.
• A spiritual solution to the economic problem.
• A universal auxiliary language.

To gain a fuller appreciation of Bahá’í beliefs you may wish to visit the Bahá’í Reference Library where you can read the Writings of the Báb, Bahá’u’lláh, and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá as well as volumes written by Shoghi Effendi and a selection of statements and communications of the Universal House of Justice.