Welcome to The Hills Shire Bahá’í Community Website

The Bahá’ís of The Hills Shire are followers of Bahá’u’lláh (meaning the Glory of God) and are working to apply His teachings to their lives and communities. With the arrival of Bahá’ís from the early 1960s the Bahá’í Community of The Hills Shire was established. Since then, they have striven to demonstrate their belief in the oneness of humanity, a core principle of their faith, by seeking to eliminate prejudice, advancing the equality of women and men, and learning how to build vibrant spiritual communities that reflect the human family, highly valued by its diversity. They endeavour to align themselves with Bahá’í teachings such as the oneness of religion, the oneness of God, universal peace, universal education, the harmony of science and religion, and walking with all on a path of service. They strongly believe that by serving together, there is an empowerment to persevere and make a difference.

A new understanding of religion

Bahá’ís believe that religion is the primary underlying cause of the material and moral progress of civilization throughout history, and that it enables individuals to mine inner resources of courage, vision, and high endeavour. Religion allows individuals and communities to explore reality together and forge a common vision and purpose. When harmonised with science, religion is a force that drives the advancement of civilization.

According to Bahá’ís, the teachings of all Divine Messengers from God are tailored to suit the needs of the time and the place of their appearance. Bahá’u’lláh, the latest of these Divine Messengers, brings teachings which are specifically suited to the needs of mankind in its present stage of evolution.

“There can be no doubt whatever that the peoples of the world, of whatever race or religion, derive their inspiration from one heavenly Source, and are the subjects of one God. The difference between the ordinances under which they abide should be attributed to the varying requirements and exigencies of the age in which they were revealed.” – Bahá’u’lláh

Our Commitment to Progress of Society

Bahá’ís believe that the progress of society depends upon balanced relationships between the individual, the community, and institutions, each of which has its own responsibilities and roles to further social progress. Social change involves both individual transformation and the creation of just social, economic, and political institutions.

Bahá’ís in the Hills Shire, and across the globe, in the most unassuming settings, are striving to establish a pattern of activity and the corresponding administrative structures that embody the principle of the “oneness of humankind” and the convictions underpinning it.

Effecting a transformation at the level of the individual and laying the foundations of suitable social structures, is no small task, to be sure. Yet the Bahá’í community is dedicated to the long-term process of learning that this task entails, an enterprise in which increasing numbers from all walks of life, from every human group, are invited to take part.

What should be stated plainly here is that Bahá’ís do not believe the transformation thus envisioned will come about exclusively through their own efforts. Nor are they trying to create a movement that would seek to impose on society their vision of the future. Every nation and every group—indeed, every individual—will, to a greater or lesser degree, contribute to the gradual emergence of a united and peaceful world civilization towards which humanity is irresistibly moving.

In the words of Bahá’u’lláh:
“All men have been created to carry forward an ever-advancing civilization.”