`Abdu'l-Bah&aacute wrote:
The differences among the religions of the world are due to the varying types of minds.
Regarding the relationships and station of the various founders of the worlds great religions, which Bahá'ís refer to as "Manifestations of God" Bahá'u'lláh writes:
God hath ordained the knowledge of these sanctified Beings to be identical with the knowledge of His own Self. Whoso recognizeth them hath recognized God. Whoso hearkeneth to their call, hath hearkened to the Voice of God, and whoso testifieth to the truth of their Revelation, hath testified to the truth of God Himself. Whoso turneth away from them, hath turned away from God, and whoso disbelieveth in them, hath disbelieved in God . . . They are the Manifestations of God amidst men, the evidences of His Truth, and the signs of His glory.
Since the founders of all the world religions are essentially the manifestations of one God, it follows that the religions themselves are from the same source, and have the same goal, Bahá'u'lláh has therefore urged the followers of the different religions to put aside their differences.
The Great Being saith: O ye children of men! The fundamental purpose animating the Faith of God and His Religion is to safeguard the interests and promote the unity of the human race, and to foster the spirit of love and fellowship amongst men. Suffer it not to become a source of dissension and discord, of hate and enmity.
Bahá'u'lláh urged the elimination of religious intolerance. `Abdu'l-Bahá expresses the same idea even more emphatically in his Will and Testament.
"Consort with all the peoples, kindreds and religions of the world with the utmost truthfulness, uprightness, faithfulness, kindliness, good-will and friendliness, that all the world of being may be filled with the holy ecstasy of the grace of Bahá, that ignorance, enmity, hate and rancour may vanish from the world and the darkness of estrangement amidst the peoples and kindreds of the world may give way to the Light of Unity. Should other peoples and nations be unfaithful to you show your fidelity unto them, should they be unjust toward you show justice towards them, should they keep aloof from you attract them to yourself, should they show their enmity be friendly towards them, should they poison your lives, sweeten their souls, should they inflict a wound upon you, be a salve to their sores. Such are the attributes of the sincere! Such are the attributes of the truthful."
Bahá'ís often refer to this concept as "Progressive Revelation", meaning that God's will is revealed to us progressively, as we mature and are better able to comprehend the purpose of God in creating humanity.

Social principles
The following 12 "principles" are frequently listed as a quick summary of the Bahá'í teachings. They are derived from transcripts of speeches given by Abdu'l-Bahá during his tour of Europe and North America in 1912. The list is not authoritative and a variety of such lists circulate.

The Oneness of God
The Oneness of religion
The Oneness of mankind
Equality of women and men
Elimination of all forms of prejudice
World peace
Harmony of religion and science
Independent investigation of truth
The need for universal compulsory education
The need for a universal auxiliary language
Obedience to government and non-involvement in politics
A spiritual solution to economic problems (elimination of extremes of wealth and poverty)
Another Bahá'í principle is that of moderation in all things (specifically liberty, civilization, religious zeal and scriptural literalism.) The Bahá'í teachings also reject asceticism and monasticism.

Bahá'ís believe that although the current age is quite dark, the future of humanity is gloriously bright and that world peace is inevitable. This bright future is generally seen by Baha'is as the fulfilment of prophecies in various older religions. Many Bahá'í beliefs are in harmony with those of the emerging global civilization (such as support for international organisations, universal standards of human rights, and the free movement of people and trade between countries). At the same time, the Bahá'í teachings differ in important ways from many values associated with westernization and its harmful effects (rejecting, for example, cultural uniformity, materialism, economic injustice and "loose" moral standards).

To be a Bahá'í means that a person believes that Bahá'u'lláh is the manifestation of God for this time. A Bahá'í strives to follow his teachings and observe his laws.

Rituals
There are very few rituals or traditions in the Bahá'í Faith, and rigidity is seen as a quality that must be avoided. However, there are a few basic religious observances that the Kitáb-i-Aqdas holds as obligatory:

There is a specified set of marriage vows.
There are a few specified funerary practices.
Bahá'ís are enjoined to
recite an obligatory prayer each day, facing in the direction of the Qiblih (the Point of Adoration)
read the sacred writings of their faith each morning and evening
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Other laws and ordinances
Bahá'ís in good health between the ages of 15 and 70 observe a nineteen-day sunrise-to-sunset fast each year March 2 to March 20, during the Bahá'í month of `Alá.
There are no dietary restrictions, but Bahá'ís are forbidden to drink alcohol or to take recreational drugs, as these interfere with an individual's spiritual growth and progress. The use of opium is particularly condemned in the Writings. Tobacco is not forbidden but is discouraged.
Bahá'ís are generally expected to make a financial contribution to the faith, but soliciting of funds from individuals is prohibited and contributions from people who are not registered Bahá'ís are not accepted. Distinct from the general Bahá'í funds is the law of Huqu'u'llah ("Right of God"), which requires Bahá'ís to pay 19% of their net income (after subtracting all necessary expenses). In the case of both Huqu'u'llah and the general funds contributions are confidential and the amount paid is a matter of individual conscience.
Family life is, in the Bahá'í view, a cornerstone of society. Marriage is encouraged. Marriage is permitted only between a man and a woman; homosexual relationships are forbidden in Bahá'í law.
Couples wishing to marry must obtain the consent of all living natural parents, as the Bahá'í teachings state that marriage is more than a union of individuals; it is the union of families.
Interreligious marriages are permitted, and interracial marriages are encouraged.
Chastity is required, i.e. sexual intercourse only within marriage.
Divorce is permitted, although regarded with the utmost seriousness, and is granted if, after a year of separation, the couple is unable to reconcile their differences.
Parents are required to provide an education to their children. If resources permit for only one child to be educated, the Bahá'í Faith says that a daughter should receive this education, as she is the first educator to her future children.
Bahá'ís should obey the decisions made by their elected local and national spiritual assemblies (elected religious councils) and the Universal House of Justice. If they continuously fail to do so in a way that endangers the faith they may be sanctioned: national assemblies are authorised to remove "administrative rights" (to vote and be elected, attend meetings with an administrative function and make financial contributions); the Universal House of Justice has the authority to expel members from the community and declare a person a "Covenant-Breaker". In accordance with the instructions given by `Abdu'l-Bahá, Bahá'ís are expected to "shun" covenant-breakers, i.e. avoid personal contact. Most people who disobey the laws or institutions of the Faith are not considered "covenant-breakers", however.
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Calendar
The Bahá'í calendar was established by the Báb. The year consists of 19 months of 19 days, and 4 or 5 intercalary days, to make a full solar year. The New Year (called Naw Rúz) occurs on the vernal equinox, March 21, at the end of the month of fasting. Bahá'í communities gather at the beginning of each month at a meeting called a "feast" for worship, consultation and socializing. While the name may seem to suggest that an elaborate meal is served, that is not necessarily the case. Sometimes refreshments are plentiful, but they can be as simple as bread and water. Bahá'ís observe 11 Holy Days throughout the year, with work suspended on 9 of these. These days commemorate important anniversaries in the history of the Faith.


Mashriqu'l-Adhkár
Most Bahá'í meetings occur in individuals' homes, local Bahá'í centers, or rented facilities. Worldwide, there are currently only seven Bahá'í Houses of Worship, with an eighth under construction. The name used in the Bahá'í writings for a House of Worship is Mashriqu'l-Adhkár (Dawning-place of the Remembrance of God). The Mashriqu'l-Adhkár forms the center of a complex of institutions of the Bahá'í community.