Bahá'í Faith in Iceland

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The Bahá'í Faith in Iceland (Icelandic Bahá'í samfélagið á Íslandi) began with Bahá'ís first visiting the Iceland in the early 20th century, and the first Icelandic Bahá'í was Hólmfríður Árnadóttir. The Bahá'í Faith was recognized as a religious community in 1966 and the first Bahá'í National Spiritual Assembly was elected in 1972. [1] Currently there are around 400 Bahá'ís in the country and 13 Bahá'í Local Spiritual Assemblies. The number of assemblies is the highest percentage, by population, in all of Europe. [1]

Iceland island republic in Northern Europe

Iceland is a Nordic island country in the North Atlantic, with a population of 348,580 and an area of 103,000 km2 (40,000 sq mi), making it the most sparsely populated country in Europe. The capital and largest city is Reykjavík, with Reykjavík and the surrounding areas in the southwest of the country being home to over two-thirds of the population. Iceland is volcanically and geologically active. The interior consists of a plateau characterised by sand and lava fields, mountains, and glaciers, and many glacial rivers flow to the sea through the lowlands. Iceland is warmed by the Gulf Stream and has a temperate climate, despite a high latitude just outside the Arctic Circle. Its high latitude and marine influence keep summers chilly, with most of the archipelago having a tundra climate.

Baháí Faith Monotheistic religion founded in 1863 by Baháulláh in the Middle East; promotes the unity of mankind; sees major religions as unified in purpose; faces persecution in Iran

The Bahá'í Faith is a religion teaching the essential worth of all religions, and the unity and equality of all people. Established by Bahá'u'lláh in 1863, it initially grew in Iran and parts of the Middle East, where it has faced ongoing persecution since its inception. It is estimated to have between 5 and 8 million adherents, known as Bahá'ís, spread out into most of the world's countries and territories.

Contents

Early phase

The first mentions of Iceland is when `Abdu'l-Bahá, the son of the founder of the religion, wrote a series of letters, or tablets, to the followers of the religion in the United States and Canada in 1916-1917; these letters were compiled together in the book titled Tablets of the Divine Plan. The seventh of the tablets was the first to mention several countries in Europe including beyond where `Abdu'l-Bahá had visited in 1911-12. He wrote

`Abdul-Bahá Son of Baháulláh and leader of the Baháí Faith

`Abdu’l-Bahá', born `Abbás, was the eldest son of Bahá'u'lláh and served as head of the Bahá'í Faith from 1892 until 1921. `Abdu’l-Bahá was later canonized as the last of three "central figures" of the religion, along with Bahá'u'lláh and the Báb, and his writings and authenticated talks are regarded as a source of Bahá'í sacred literature.

United States federal republic in North America

The United States of America (USA), commonly known as the United States or America, is a country composed of 50 states, a federal district, five major self-governing territories, and various possessions. At 3.8 million square miles, the United States is the world's third or fourth largest country by total area and is slightly smaller than the entire continent of Europe's 3.9 million square miles. With a population of over 327 million people, the U.S. is the third most populous country. The capital is Washington, D.C., and the largest city by population is New York City. Forty-eight states and the capital's federal district are contiguous in North America between Canada and Mexico. The State of Alaska is in the northwest corner of North America, bordered by Canada to the east and across the Bering Strait from Russia to the west. The State of Hawaii is an archipelago in the mid-Pacific Ocean. The U.S. territories are scattered about the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, stretching across nine official time zones. The extremely diverse geography, climate, and wildlife of the United States make it one of the world's 17 megadiverse countries.

Canada Country in North America

Canada is a country in the northern part of North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic to the Pacific and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering 9.98 million square kilometres, making it the world's second-largest country by total area. Canada's southern border with the United States is the world's longest bi-national land border. Its capital is Ottawa, and its three largest metropolitan areas are Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver. As a whole, Canada is sparsely populated, the majority of its land area being dominated by forest and tundra. Consequently, its population is highly urbanized, with over 80 percent of its inhabitants concentrated in large and medium-sized cities, many near the southern border. Canada's climate varies widely across its vast area, ranging from arctic weather in the north, to hot summers in the southern regions, with four distinct seasons.

"In brief, this world-consuming war has set such a conflagration to the hearts that no word can describe it. In all the countries of the world the longing for universal peace is taking possession of the consciousness of men. There is not a soul who does not yearn for concord and peace. A most wonderful state of receptivity is being realized.… Therefore, O ye believers of God! Show ye an effort and after this war spread ye the synopsis of the divine teachings in the British Isles, France, Germany, Austria-Hungary, Russia, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Switzerland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Holland, Portugal, Rumania, Serbia, Montenegro, Bulgaria, Greece, Andorra, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, San Marino, Balearic Isles, Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily, Crete, Malta, Iceland, Faroe Islands, Shetland Islands, Hebrides and Orkney Islands." [2]

Following the release of these tablets a few Bahá'ís began moving to or at least visiting countries across Europe. The first Bahá'i in Iceland was Amelia Collins who visited the country during a cruise in 1924. [3] During that trip she met Hólmfríður Árnadóttir, who became the first Icelandic Bahá'í, [4] and became good friends. [3] Later in 1935 Martha Root visited the country for a month and with the help of Árnadóttir proclaimed the religion in the press, during lectures, and on the radio. [4] [5] In 1936 a Bahá'í, Nellie French, made her first visit to the country while on a trip to Norway and distributed literature. [6] Amelia Collins continued to support the spread of the religion in Iceland as she supported the publication of the first translation of Bahá'í literature, John Esslemont's Bahá'u'lláh and the New Era, in Icelandic in 1939. [3] By 1949 there were still just two Bahá'ís in Iceland. [7] In February 1956 the first pioneer arrived in Iceland from Canada [8] Marguerite Allman, this pioneer, later sent word of the first native Icelander joining the religion by 1957 [9] - her name was Erica Petursson. [10] These first contacts with Iceland returned few visible results except for Árnadóttir becoming a Bahá'í [11] but by 1963 there was a registered group of Bahá'ís in Reykjavík [12] including two American pioneers. [13] In 1964 a Canadian Bahá'í visited all the members of the community including a long trek to visit Jochum Eggertson who lived several months of the year in a remote location - that land he later willed for the Bahá'í community and it became a site for a summer school and an endowment. [14]

Amelia Engelder Collins was a prominent American Bahá'í from a Lutheran family. She became Bahá'í in 1919. She made large donations to several Bahá'í projects in Haifa, Israel, such as to the building of the Western Pilgrim House, the superstructure of the Shrine of the Báb the International Archives building and the purchasing of the land for the future Bahá'í House of Worship on Mount Carmel.

Martha Root travelling teacher of the Baháí Faith in the late 19th and early 20th century

Martha Louise Root was a prominent traveling teacher of the Bahá'í Faith in the late 19th and early 20th century. Shoghi Effendi, then head of the Bahá'í Faith, called her "the foremost travel teacher in the first Bahá'í Century", and named her a Hand of the Cause posthumously. Known by her numerous visits with Heads of State and other public figures, of special importance was her efforts with Queen Marie of Romania, considered the first royal to accept Bahá'u'lláh.

Bahá'í literature, like the literature of many religions, covers a variety of topics and forms, including scripture and inspiration, interpretation, history and biography, introduction and study materials, and apologia. Sometimes considerable overlap between these forms can be observed in a particular text.

Growth

The first Bahá'í Local Spiritual Assembly of Iceland is elected in 1965. [15] Its members were Asgeir Einarsson, Kirsten Bonnevie, Florence Grindlay, Jessie Echevarria, Carl John Spencer, Charles Grindlay, Liesel Becker, Barbel Thinat and Nicholas Echevarria. [16] The Bahá'í Faith was officially recognized as a religious organization by the Icelandic government on September 29, 1966, which gave it the right to legally perform marriages and other ceremonies as well as entitle it to a share of the church tax in proportion to its number of adult members. [17] Until 1973, when Ásatrúarfélagið was founded, the Bahá'í Community was the only non-Christian religious organization in Iceland and it remained the largest such organization until 1999 when it was passed in numbers by the Buddhist Association of Iceland. [18]

The Ásatrúarfélagið is an Icelandic religious organisation of Heathenry. It was founded on the First Day of Summer 1972, and granted recognition as a registered religious organization in 1973, allowing it to conduct legally binding ceremonies and collect a share of the church tax.

Buddhism in Iceland

Buddhism in Iceland has existed since the 1990s after immigration from countries with Buddhist populations, mainly Thailand. As of 2008, there are three Buddhist organizations in Iceland officially recognized as religious organizations by the Icelandic government. The oldest and largest is the Buddhist Association of Iceland, a Theravada group, which was recognized in 1996 and had 880 members in 2010. Another group, Zen in Iceland – Night Pasture, a Zen group, was recognized in 1999 and had 75 members in 2010. The most recent group is, SGI in Iceland, a Soka Gakkai group, which was recognized in 2008 with 135 members. Together, these three organizations represent approximately 0.3% of the population of Iceland. This is more than the Islamic groups but less than the pagan groups.

On August 16, 1967, a Bahá'í wedding took place in Árbæjarkirkja, a church belonging to the Lutheran Church of Iceland. The bride was Icelandic and the groom Italian. The officiant was Ásgeir Einarsson, the man recognized by the government as head of the group (though individual Bahá'ís hold no leadership roles). Ásgeir Einarsson commented that the Church of Iceland had been more friendly to the Bahá'í community than state churches in other countries and that Bishop Sigurbjörn Einarsson had given them a "favorable and sympathetic" evaluation when they applied to the government for recognition. [19] When word of the wedding ceremony reached the bishop, he expressed surprise that it had taken place in a Christian church and commented that he would have recommended against such an action. [20] Suffragan bishop Sigurður Pálsson went further and suggested that the church would need to be reconsecrated before Christian ceremonies could resume in it. [21] Bishop Sigurbjörn Einarsson disagreed, stating that the Bahá'í ceremony had been "a mistake, but not sinful action" and that the church had "not been defiled by it". [22] In Dec 1970 Canadians Bahá'ís sponsored a Victory Conference anticipating the 1972 formation of the National Assembly. At the conference 30 people enrolled in the religion, doubling the number of Bahá'ís in Iceland. [15]

Bahá'í marriage is union of a man and a woman. Its purpose is mainly spiritual and is to foster harmony, fellowship and unity between the two partners. The Bahá'í teachings on marriage call it a fortress for well-being and salvation and place marriage and the family as the foundation of the structure of human society.

Church of Iceland Lutheran Church of Iceland

The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Iceland, also called the National Church, is the officially established Christian church in Iceland. The church professes the Lutheran faith and is a member of the Porvoo Communion.

Sigurbjörn Einarsson 20th-century Icelandic Lutheran bishop

Sigurbjörn Einarsson was an Icelandic clergyman and doctor of theology who served as the Bishop of Iceland 1959–1981. His son, Karl Sigurbjörnsson, later served as Bishop of Iceland 1998–2012.

Three additional local assemblies were formed in Iceland in August 1971. [23] In September 1971, the Bahá'ís of Reykjavík were the host of the North Atlantic Bahá'í Oceanic conference. Through the first half of the 1970s Iceland was the only country in Europe that has planned and systematically carried out, year by year, a program of proclamation that has taken the Faith throughout the entire country, north, south, east and west. [24] Hands of the Cause John Robarts and Paul Haney were in attendance at the oceanic conference [25] along with seven Continental Counsellors and some 700 Bahá'ís from 35 countries. Tributes were held for Amelia Collins and Martha Root at the Einar Jónsson Museum. The conference began with a unity feast. [26] [27] [28] [29] A Bahá'í from Egypt, Abdu'l Rahim Yazdi, gave a talk recalling meeting `Abdu'l-Bahá. Representatives of the national leadership from 19 countries shared reports on their progress. Busloads traveled to the site of Þingvellir and meetings were held by youth nearby. A delegation of five from the conference called on the Prime Minister of Iceland Ólafur Jóhannesson. A reception was held for diplomatic representatives and notables of Iceland at the Saga Hotel. The conference ended with news of the passing of Hand of the Cause Musa Bánáni and a memorial was held. A public event closed the conference at the University of Iceland with singing and piano by Norman Bailey, Sylvia Schulman, Seals and Crofts, and Alfredo Speranza, a pianist originally from Uruguay. [30] The Bahá'í National Spiritual Assembly of Iceland was established in 1972 [1] with Hand of the Cause Enoch Olinga representing the Universal House of Justice at the first national convention. [31] Its members were: Liesel Becker, Svana Einarsdottir, Barbara Thinat, Carl John Spencer, Petur Magnusson, Johannes Stefansson, Roger Lutley, Baldur Bragasson and Larry Clarke. [32] In 1973 all members were able to travel for the international convention to elect the Universal House of Justice. [33] In July 1975 Hand of the Cause William Sears and his wife visited Iceland and marked the anniversary of the martyrdom of the Báb followed by attending a youth conference. [34] And later in 1975 various leaders of the Bahá'ís met as a delegation with the President of Iceland as well as the Bishop of Iceland and Rev. Arelius Nielsson. [35] The December 1977 [36] and February 1979 [37] Adib Taherzadeh presented workshops to Bahá'ís of Iceland in his role as a Continental Counselor. In 1978 a revised translation of John Esslemont's Bahá'u'lláh and the New Era published as Bahá'u'lláh og nýi tíminn : kynning á Bahá'í trúnni by Edvard T. Jónsson. [38] The 1979 convention noted there were nine assemblies in the country. [39] In 1980 more than 50 Bahá'ís from Iceland and the Faroe Islands gathered for a winter school at Olfusborgir. [40] In 1981 Bahá'ís from Iceland traveled to the Faroe Islands for a conference on the progress of the religion on the islands. [41] In August 1982 following a Native American Council of Bahá'ís [42] Hand of the Cause Rúhíyyih Khanum then traveled across Canada and into Greenland and Iceland visiting civic leaders and Bahá'í communities. [43] In February 1983 Baha'u'llah, His Life and Revelation was published, the first book on the religion to be written by an Icelandic Bahá'í (Edvard T. Jónsson), in the Icelandic language. [44]

Reykjavík capital and largest city in Iceland.

Reykjavík is the capital and largest city of Iceland. It is located in southwestern Iceland, on the southern shore of Faxa Bay. Its latitude is 64°08' N, making it the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state. With a population of around 123,300, it is the heart of Iceland's cultural, economic and governmental activity, and is a popular tourist destination.

John Robarts Canadian politician, former Premier of Ontario

John Parmenter Robarts, was a Canadian lawyer and statesman, and the 17th Premier of Ontario.

Einar Jónsson sculptor

Einar Jónsson was an Icelandic sculptor, born in Galtafell, a farm in southern Iceland.

Modern Community

Since its inception the religion has had involvement in socio-economic development beginning by giving greater freedom to women, [45] promulgating the promotion of female education as a priority concern, [46] and that involvement was given practical expression by creating schools, agricultural coops, and clinics. [45] The religion entered a new phase of activity when a message of the Universal House of Justice dated 20 October 1983 was released. [47] Bahá'ís were urged to seek out ways, compatible with the Bahá'í teachings, in which they could become involved in the social and economic development of the communities in which they lived. Worldwide in 1979 there were 129 officially recognized Bahá'í socio-economic development projects. By 1987, the number of officially recognized development projects had increased to 1482. In 1984 the national assembly began a forestation project on the land of its endowment, (containing the birthplace of Matthias Jochumsson and see above in 1964.) [48] In 1986 Bahá'í Icelandic youth published a special magazine for the International Youth Year. [49] In 2000, Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, then president of Iceland, his family and a delegation of about 30 Icelandic dignitaries visited the Bahá'í House of Worship in India, known as the Lotus Temple. He became the first head of state to visit the Lotus Temple during an official state visit. [50] In November 2006, the small community of Iceland joined with twelve other faith groups and collaborative partners to form the country's first national interfaith forum. [51] Also, Icelandic Bahá'ís were among the attendees at a regional conference called for by the Universal House of Justice - this one happening in London in January 2009. [52]

Demographics

Membership in the Baha'i Community as a function of time Membership in Icelandic Baha'i Community.svg
Membership in the Bahá'í Community as a function of time

Government registration of the Bahá'í community showed 412 Bahá'ís by the end of 2008. [18] Iceland has the second most number of Bahá'ís per capita in Europe at 1493 per million population, and has the most number of Bahá'í Local Spiritual Assemblies at 49 per million. [1] The Association of Religion Data Archives (relying on World Christian Encyclopedia) estimated some 616 Bahá'ís in 2005. [53]

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 Hassall & Fazel 1998 , pp. 35–44
  2. ↑ `Abdu'l-Bahá (1991) [1916-17], Tablets of the Divine Plan (Paperback ed.), Wilmette, Illinois, USA: Bahá'í Publishing Trust, p. 43, ISBN   0-87743-233-3
  3. 1 2 3 Francis, Richard, Amelia Collins the fulfilled Hope of 'Abdu'l-Baha , retrieved 2009-05-07
  4. 1 2 Universal House of Justice 1976 , p. 205
  5. ↑ "News of the Cause", Bahá'í News (94): 1, August 1935
  6. ↑ "News from Norway", Bahá'í News (104): 8, December 1936
  7. ↑ "The Home Front; Briefs", Bahá'í News (227): 4, January 1950
  8. ↑ "Canada; Tell achievements in Samoa, Iceland", Bahá'í News (303): 13, May 1956
  9. ↑ "Canada; First Native Baha'i Enrolled in Iceland", Bahá'í News (319): 11, September 1957
  10. ↑ "Bahá'í History of Iceland", Bahá'í News (487): 20, October 1971
  11. ↑ van den Hoonard, Will C. (1994-03-09), Circumpolar Regions (Arctic) — History of the Baha'i Faith , retrieved 2009-05-07
  12. ↑ Compiled by Hands of the Cause Residing in the Holy Land, The Bahá'í Faith: 1844-1963: Information Statistical and Comparative, Including the Achievements of the Ten Year International Bahá'í Teaching & Consolidation Plan 1953-1963, p. 89
  13. ↑ Jack Boyd, Memories of Niagara Peninsula
  14. ↑ "The Gift of Love", Bahá'í News (536): 17–20, November 1975
  15. 1 2 Cameron, G.; Momen, W. (1996), A Basic Bahá'í Chronology, Oxford, UK: George Ronald, pp. 368, 385, 386, ISBN   0-85398-404-2
  16. ↑ "First Local Assembly Formed In Iceland", Bahá'í News (417): 10, December 1965
  17. ↑ "Baháis - ný trúarbrögð hér á landi". Vísir. January 19, 1967, page 16.
  18. 1 2 Demographic data as published by Statistics Iceland, found online for the period of 1990 and later Hagtíðindi for the years 1973-1989 Archived 2009-06-07 at the Wayback Machine ..
  19. ↑ J.H.A (1967-08-17), "Bahai-brúðkaup í Árbæjarkirkju", Morgunblaðið , p. 5, retrieved 2009-05-09
  20. ↑ "Undrandi að slík athöfn skyldi fara fram í kristinni kirkju", Morgunblaðið , p. 28, 1967-08-18, retrieved 2009-05-09
  21. ↑ "Það ætti að endurvígja kirkjuna", Morgunblaðið , p. 28, 1967-08-22, retrieved 2009-05-09
  22. ↑ "Árbæjarkirkja ekki saurguð af Baha'i-um, orð biskups", Þjóðviljinn , p. 10, 1967-08-25, retrieved 2009-05-09
  23. ↑ "The six Baha'is from Iceland …", Bahá'í News (485): 6, August 1971, ISSN   0195-9212
  24. ↑ "First conference held Arctic, sub-Arctic region", Bahá'í News (525): 8, December 1974, ISSN   0195-9212
  25. ↑ "Conference - Reykjavík, Iceland, September 2–5, 1971", Bahá'í News (488): 19, November 1971, ISSN   0195-9212
  26. ↑ "Highlights of the North Atlantic Oceanic Conference", Bahá'í News (488): 20–23, November 1971, ISSN   0195-9212
  27. ↑ "About the North Atlantic Oceanic Conference - Reykjavík, Iceland", Bahá'í News (488): 24–26, November 1971, ISSN   0195-9212
  28. ↑ "An impression of the Icelandic Conference", Bahá'í News (488): 26, November 1971, ISSN   0195-9212
  29. ↑ "Impressions of the Icelandic Conference", Bahá'í News (488): 27, November 1971, ISSN   0195-9212
  30. ↑ "Music Lends Prestige to the Faith", Bahá'í News (491): 20, February 1972, ISSN   0195-9212
  31. ↑ prepared under the supervision of the Universal House of Justice. (1986), "In Memoriam", The Bahá'í World, Bahá'í World Centre, XVIII: 629, ISBN   0-85398-234-1
  32. ↑ "Third International Convention", Bahá'í News (508): 5, July 1973, ISSN   0195-9212
  33. ↑ "First National Spiritual Assembly of Iceland", Bahá'í News (495): 17, June 1972, ISSN   0195-9212
  34. ↑ "Around the World; Mr. Sears visits temple site and Youth Conference", Bahá'í News, 52 (8): 18, August 1975, ISSN   0195-9212
  35. ↑ "Around the World; Faith proclaimed to Icelandic leaders", Bahá'í News (537): 15, December 1975, ISSN   0195-9212
  36. ↑ "Around the World; Counsellor presides", Bahá'í News (566): 10, May 1978, ISSN   0195-9212
  37. ↑ "Around the World; Faith proclaimed to Icelandic leaders", Bahá'í News (580): 16, July 1979, ISSN   0043-8804
  38. ↑ "Bahá'u'lláh and the New Era" editions and printings held in Bahá'í World Centre Library Decade by decade 1920 - 2000+
  39. ↑ "Victory Messages", Bahá'í News (581): 10, August 1979, ISSN   0195-9212
  40. ↑ "Around the World; Iceland", Bahá'í News (599): 14, February 1981, ISSN   0195-9212
  41. ↑ "The World; Faroe Islands", Bahá'í News (612): 14, March 1982, ISSN   0195-9212
  42. ↑ "Canada - Third North American Native Council", Bahá'í News (620): 8–9, May 1984, ISSN   0195-9212
  43. ↑ "Canada; Rúhíyyih Khanum's historic journey", Bahá'í News (624): 1–3, March 1983, ISSN   0195-9212
  44. ↑ "Around the World; Iceland", Bahá'í News (628): 16, July 1983, ISSN   0195-9212
  45. 1 2 Momen, Moojan, "History of the Baha'i Faith in Iran", draft "A Short Encyclopedia of the Baha'i Faith", Bahai-library.com, retrieved 2009-10-16
  46. ↑ Kingdon, Geeta Gandhi (1997), "Education of women and socio-economic development", Baha'i Studies Review , 7 (1)
  47. ↑ Momen, Moojan; Smith, Peter (1989), "The Baha'i Faith 1957–1988: A Survey of Contemporary Developments", Religion, 19: 63–91, doi:10.1016/0048-721X(89)90077-8
  48. ↑ "Social/economic development - Part II of our world-wide survey (section mentioning Iceland)", Bahá'í News (661): 13, August 1986, ISSN   0195-9212
  49. ↑ "United Nations", Bahá'í News (669): 16, December 1986, ISSN   0195-9212
  50. ↑ President of Iceland visits Baha'i Temple in New Delhi, Bahá'í World News Service, 2000-11-14, retrieved 2009-05-07
  51. ↑ Baha'is help found Interfaith Forum in Iceland, Bahá'í World News Service, 2006-12-24, retrieved 2009-05-07
  52. ↑ The London Regional Conference, Bahá'í World News Service, 2000-01-04, retrieved 2009-05-07
  53. ↑ "Most Baha'i Nations (2005)", QuickLists > Compare Nations > Religions >, The Association of Religion Data Archives, 2005, retrieved 2009-07-04

See also

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The Bahá'í Faith in Costa Rica begins when `Abdu'l-Bahá mentions it as one of the places Bahá'ís should take the religion to in 1919. However the first pioneers began to settle in Coast Rica in 1940 followed quickly by the first Bahá'í Local Spiritual Assembly being elected in San José in April 1941. The National Spiritual Assembly was first elected in 1961. As of 2009 Bahá'ís sources indicate the national community includes various peoples and tribes and over 4,000 members organized groups in over 30 locations throughout the country. The Association of Religion Data Archives estimated some 13000 Bahá'ís in 2005.

The Bahá'í Faith in Uruguay began after `Abdu'l-Bahá, then head of the religion, mentioned the country in 1916. The first Bahá'í to enter the country was Martha Root in 1919. The first pioneer to settle there was Wilfrid Barton early in 1940 and the first Bahá'í Local Spiritual Assembly of Montevideo was elected in 1942. By 1961 Uruguayan Bahá'ís had elected the first National Spiritual Assembly and by 1963 there were three Local Assemblies plus other communities. By 2001 there was an estimated 4,000 Bahá'ís in Uruguay.

The Bahá'í Faith in Senegal begins after `Abdu'l-Bahá, the son of the founder of the religion, mentioned Africa as a place the religion should be more broadly visited by Bahá'ís. The first to set foot in the territory of French West Africa that would become Senegal arrived in 1953. The first Bahá'í Local Spiritual Assembly of Senegal was elected in 1966 in Dakar. In 1975 the Bahá'í community elected the first National Spiritual Assembly of Senegal. Bahá'ís claimed there are 34 local assemblies in 2003. The most recent estimate, by the Association of Religion Data Archives in a 2005 report estimates the population of Senegalese Bahá'ís at 24700.

The Bahá'í Faith in Angola begins after `Abdu'l-Bahá wrote letters encouraging taking the religion to Africa in 1916. The first Bahá'í pioneered to Angola about 1952. By 1963 there was a Bahá'í Local Spiritual Assembly in Luanda and smaller groups of Bahá'ís in other cities. In 1992 the Bahá'ís of Angola elected their first National Spiritual Assembly. The Association of Religion Data Archives estimated some 2,000 Bahá'ís in 2005.

The Bahá'í Faith in Guyana was first mentioned in Bahá'í sources as early as 1916, the first Bahá'ís visited as early as 1927 but the community was founded in Guyana in 1953 with the beginning of the arrival of coordinated pioneers and from Guyanese converts. The community elected the first Bahá'í Local Spiritual Assembly in 1955 and an independent National Spiritual Assembly in 1977. The country has experienced large migrations and the size of the Bahá'í community has also dramatically changed. In the most recent cycle the 2002 national census showed about 0.1%, or 500, Bahá'ís mostly in three of its Regions though Bahá'ís were noted in every Region. However, by 2005 the Association of Religion Data Archives estimated there were some 13,000 Bahá'ís. Bahá'ís are now widely distributed across Guyana and are represented in all major racial groups and regions. The Bahá'í community, while relatively small, is well known for its emphasis on unity, non-involvement in politics and its work in issues such as literacy and youth issues.

The Bahá'í Faith in Spain begins with coverage of events in the history of the Bábí religion in the 1850s. The first mention of Spain in Bahá'í literature was `Abdu'l-Bahá mentioning it as a place to take the religion to in 1916. The first Bahá'í to visit Spain was in 1930 and the first pioneer to stay was Virginia Orbison in January 1947. Following some conversions to the religion the first Bahá'í Local Spiritual Assembly of Madrid was elected in 1948. As of 1959 there were 28 Bahá'ís registered in Spain. Following the spread of the religion the first National Spiritual Assembly was elected in 1962. Following the election the breadth of initiatives of the community increased privately until 1968 when the national assembly was able to register as a Non-Catholic Religious Association in the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Information and Tourism allowing public religious events and publication and importation of religious materials. Following this the diversity of initiatives of the community significantly expanded. Bahá'ís began operating a permanent Bahá'í school and in 1970 the first Spanish Roma joined the religion. In 1981 the Bahá'ís held a separate school in the north central region of Spain to which over 100 people form 26 communities attended and the Spiritual Assembly of Mallorca held several month long classes in computer usage in 1985. Fifty years after the first local assembly there were 100 assemblies. The Association of Religion Data Archives estimated some 13300 Bahá'ís in 2005. In 2008 the Universal House of Justice picked the Spanish community to host a regional conference for the Iberian peninsula and beyond.

The Bahá'í Faith in Mozambique begins after the mention of Africa in Bahá'í literature when `Abdu'l-Bahá suggested it as a place to take the religion to in 1916. The first know Bahá'í to enter the region was in 1951-52 at Beira when a British pioneer came through on the way to what was then Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe. The Mozambique Bahá'í community participated in successive stages of regional organization across southern Africa from 1956 through the election of its first Mozambique Bahá'í Local Spiritual Assembly by 1963 and on to its own National Spiritual Assembly was elected in 1987. Since 1984 the Bahá'ís have begun to hold development projects. The Association of Religion Data Archives estimated just over 2,800 Bahá'ís in 2005.

The Bahá'í Faith in Italy dates from 1899 - the earliest known date for Bahá'ís in Italy. Bahá'í sources currently claim about 3,000 adherents in Italy in over 300 locations. The Association of Religion Data Archives estimated some 5000 Bahá'ís in Italy in 2005.

The Bahá'í Faith in Madagascar begins with the mention by `Abdu'l-Bahá, then head of the religion, who asked the followers of the Bahá'í Faith to travel to Madagascar. The first Bahá'í to pioneer to Madagascar arrived in 1953 and following native converts the first Bahá'í Local Spiritual Assembly was elected in 1955. By 1963 in addition to the one assembly there were groups of Bahá'ís living in four other locations. In late July 1967 Rúhíyyih Khanum became the first Hand of the Cause to visit the country. In 1972 the Malagasy Bahá'ís gathered to elect the first National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Madagascar. By 2003 there were 33 local assemblies and the Association of Religion Data Archives in 2005 estimated there were about 17,900 Bahá'ís in the country.

The Bahá'í Faith in Hungary started in various mentions of the religion in the 19th century followed by `Abdu'l-Bahá's trip to Hungary in 1913 when Hungary's first Bahá'í joined the religion. The community suffered from World War II and communist rule until the 1980s. The National Assembly was elected in 1992 and growth since then places 2002 estimates by Bahá'ís at between 1100 and 1200 Bahá’is in Hungary, many are Roma. However, according to the 2005 Association of Religion Data Archives data there are close to some 290.

Baháí Faith in France

The Bahá'í Faith in France started after French citizens observed and studied the religion in its native Persia in the 19th century. Following the introduction of followers of the religion shortly before 1900, the community grew and was assisted by `Abdu'l-Bahá's trip to France in 1911 and 1912. After growth and tribulation, the community established its National Assembly in 1958. The community has been reviewed a number of times by researchers. According to the 2005 Association of Religion Data Archives data there are close to some 4,400 Bahá'ís in France and the French government is among those who have been alarmed at the treatment of Bahá'ís in modern Iran.

The Bahá'í Faith in Bolivia begins with references to the country in Bahá'í literature as early as 1916. The first Bahá'í to arrive in Bolivia was in 1940 through the beginning of the arrival of coordinated pioneers, people who chose to move for the growth of the religion, from the United States. That same year the first Bolivian joined the religion. The first Bahá'í Local Spiritual Assembly was elected in La Paz in 1945 and the first Indian formally joined the religion in 1956 which soon spread widely among that subculture. The community elected an independent National Spiritual Assembly in 1961. By 1963 there were hundreds of local assemblies. The Bahá'í Faith is currently the largest international religious minority in Bolivia. The largest population of Bahá'ís in South America is in Bolivia, a country whose general population is estimated to be 55%-70% indigenous and 30%-42% Mestizo, with a Bahá'í population estimated at 217,000 in 2005 according to the Association of Religion Data Archives.

The Bahaism in Papua New Guinea begins after 1916 with a mention by `Abdu'l-Bahá, then head of the religion, that Bahá'ís should take the religion there. The first Bahá'ís move there in Papua New Guinea arrived there in 1954. With local converts the first Bahá'í Local Spiritual Assembly was elected in 1958. The first National Spiritual Assembly was then elected in 1969. According to the census of 2000 showed that the number of Bahá'ís does not exceed 21000. But the Association of Religion Data Archives estimated three times more Bahá'ís at 200.000 or 6% of the nation were Bahá'ís in 2015 Either way it is the largest minority religion in Papua New Guinea, if a small one.

The Bahá'í Faith in Botswana begins after `Abdu'l-Bahá wrote letters encouraging taking the religion to Africa in 1916. The first Bahá'ís pioneered to Botswana about October 1954 where they befriended many Africans. By 1963 there were two assemblies; seven groups, and one isolated member. The first election of Botswana's Bahá'í National Spiritual Assembly was in 1970. The Association of Religion Data Archives estimated some 16000 Bahá'ís in 2005.

References

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