As a youth, you are now in the transition between childhood and adulthood. Life becomes more complex as you grow in capacity and responsibility. This exciting period of growth will bring new thoughts, emotions, and experiences. Your world will expand beyond yourself and your family to include friends and other communities. You will come across diverse opinions and influences. The Bahá’í Faith can provide guidance as you gradually form your own worldview.
Featured Stories
Friendships and Dating
I grew up in Florida with Bahá’ís parents and siblings. I had a close group of friends and was well liked in middle and high school…
Pulled by the Current
I grew up in North Carolina and left home to go to a Bahá’í high school in Shawnigan Lake, BC, Canada. While there, I was surrounded by Bahá’í youth…
Fun Fast
I grew up in Maryland with Bahá’i parents and sibling. My parents made the Fast appear fun by approaching it happily and making great food…
The Bahá’í principle of independent investigation of the truth means that we are each responsible for learning our own beliefs and deciding our own actions. Bahá’u’lláh, the prophet-founder of the Bahá’í Faith, says we should strive for betterment each day: “Let each morn be better than its eve and each morning better than its yesterday.” You might not control your circumstances, but you can control how you react to your circumstances. In life, you will constantly be changing and growing. Each choice you make can positively affect your direction, and each day allows new choices.
According to Bahá’í writings, a key part of life’s purpose is to develop spiritual qualities. These include generosity, intelligence, compassion, courage, perseverance, and reverence. Achieving spiritual qualities can be challenging because of competing influences. Bahá’í principles, prayers, and meditation, as well as the Bahá’í community, can assist you in achieving the spiritual qualities that will lead to a fulfilling and spiritually satisfying life.
Featured Book: Rules of the Road
Rules of the Road is a novel that shows how alcohol addiction affects the people around the addict. Jenna Boller, an awkward sixteen-year-old, has a great job at Gladstone Shoe Store…
Featured Movie: Easy A
East A is a comedy that reinforces Bahá’í principles by demonstrating how it is best to avoid bullying and gossip. Olive feels anonymous in her high school. That changes when she tells a lie about losing her virginity to impress some friends…
Bahá’u’lláh emphasizes the importance of moderation when he says “In all circumstances they should conduct themselves with moderation.” Moderation is important to balancing the influences in your life. Valuing other’s opinions more than your own can be harmful in the long-term. Focusing too much on belongings can erode character. The period of youth is when you learn to balance family, friend, and cultural pressures with your own beliefs. Using moderation to find a balance between these influences can lead to greater happiness, satisfaction, and personal growth.
This website provides insights into experiences you might have as a Bahá’í youth and how to make them enrich your life. The Bahá’í Faith can help you grow into the person you want to be by providing purpose, perspective, direction, focus, optimism, meaning, morality, appreciation for the good in the world, and quidance on certain challenges.
You must be 13 years or older to use this form. Please get permission from your parents if you are under 13 years old.
About
The Illumine website is primarily for Bahá’í youth (12-21 years old) growing up in the United States. It is also for their parents and community members. Growing from a child to an adult is one of the most exciting times of life. It includes increased freedom and exploration of new thoughts and actions. Meeting new people and gaining more freedom opens the door to the true diversity of the world. Every day, youth confront social and cultural expectations that challenge Bahá’í values. Confronting these pressures can feel overwhelming and stressful rather than empowering and liberating.
While everyone has challenges, Bahá’í youth are likely to face some specific types. And since Bahá’í communities are often small, not having a group of friends who share your beliefs can feel lonely and isolating.
You are not alone in this exciting, often challenging period of your life. Bahá’ís around the country are experiencing similar transitions, and many Bahá’ís have already grown through this stage of life. Illumine shows how Bahá’í principles can assist with the transition to adulthood by sharing the knowledge and experience of those who have already grown into Bahá’í adults. Book and movie recommendations allow you to further explore a topic.
This website seeks to encourage and guide Bahá’í youth so they may see the Bahá’í Faith as an invaluable aid for a meaningful, rewarding, and happy life. Whether you learn through Bahá’í writings, through your own first-hand experiences, or through others’ experiences, you will determine which beliefs guide your life.