World Religion Day

Gather ye together, and for the sake of God resolve to root out whatever is the source of contention amongst you. Then will the effulgence of the world's great Luminary envelop the whole earth, and its inhabitants become the citizens of one city, and the occupants of one and the same throne.

Date: January 18, 2026
Time: 2:00-3:30 PM
Location: Vault 405, 10 N Broadway, Edmond, OK 73034
Website: Vault 405

Program

Introduction and Welcome

Unity Prayer

Musical Selection: "This Great Human Garden" by New Creation

"This Great Human Garden"

Readings

Reading 1

"O contending peoples and kindreds of the earth! Set your faces
towards unity, and let the radiance of its light shine upon you.
Gather ye together, and for the sake of God resolve to root out
whatever is the source of contention amongst you. Then will the
effulgence of the world's great Luminary envelop the whole earth, and
its inhabitants become the citizens of one city, and the occupants of
one and the same throne. This wronged One hath, ever since the early
days of His life, cherished none other desire but this, and will
continue to entertain no wish except this wish. 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. All of them,
except a few which are the outcome of human perversity, were ordained
of God, and are a reflection of His Will and Purpose. Arise and, armed
with the power of faith, shatter to pieces the gods of your vain
imaginings, the sowers of dissension amongst you. Cleave unto that
which draweth you together and uniteth you...."

— Bahá'u'lláh, in Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 217

Reading 2

"The foundation of the religion of God is one. The same basis which
was laid by Christ and later on was forgotten, has been renewed by His
Holiness Baha'u'llah. Each divine revelation is divided into two
parts. The first part is essential and belongs to the eternal world.
It is the expression of the love of God, the knowledge of God.
This is one in all the religions, unchangeable and immutable.
The second part is not eternal; it deals with practical life,
transactions and business and changes according to the
evolution of man and the requirements of the time of each prophet."

— 'Abdu'l-Bahá, Divine Philosophy, p. 150

Musical Selection: "The Baha'i Writings on the Station of Jesus Christ"

"The Baha'i Writings on the Station of Jesus Christ"

Musical Selection: "Luke Slott - Have You Heard?"

"Luke Slott - Have You Heard?"

Reading 3

"Note thou carefully that in this world of being, all things must
ever be made new. Look at the material world about thee; see how it
hath now been renewed. The thoughts have changed, the ways of life
have been revised, the sciences and arts show a new vigor, discoveries
and inventions are new, perceptions are new. How then could such a
vital power as religion -- the guarantor of mankind's great
advances, the very means of attaining everlasting life, the fosterer
of infinite excellence, the light of both worlds -- not be made
new? This would be incompatible with the grace and loving-kindness
of the Lord.

Religion, moreover, is not a series of beliefs, a set of customs;
religion is the teachings of the Lord God, teachings which
constitute the very life of humankind, which urge high thoughts upon
the mind, refine the character, and lay the groundwork for man's
everlasting honor."

— 'Abdu'l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 52-53

Reading 4

"It is clear and evident to thee that all the Prophets are the
Temples of the Cause of God, Who have appeared clothed in diverse
attire. If thou wilt observe with discriminating eyes, thou wilt
behold Them all abiding in the same tabernacle, soaring in the same
heaven, seated upon the same throne, uttering the same speech, and
proclaiming the same Faith. Such is the unity of those Essences of
Being, those Luminaries of infinite and immeasurable splendor!
Wherefore, should one of these Manifestations of Holiness proclaim
saying: "I am the return of all the Prophets," He, verily,
speaketh the truth. In like manner, in every subsequent Revelation,
the return of the former Revelation is a fact, the truth of which is
firmly established...."

— Bahá'u'lláh, Kitab-i-Iqán, pp. 152-153

Reading 5

"The prophets of God have been divine shepherds of humanity. They have
established a bond of love and unity among mankind, made scattered
peoples one nation and wandering tribes a mighty kingdom. They have
laid the foundation of the oneness of God and summoned all to
universal peace. All these holy, divine Manifestations are one. They
have served one God, promulgated the same truth, founded the same
institutions and reflected the same light. Their appearances have
been successive and correlated; each one has announced and extolled
the one who was to follow and all laid the foundation of reality.
They summoned and invited the people to love and made the human world
a mirror of the Word of God. Therefore the divine religions they
established have one foundation; their teachings, proofs and evidences
are one; in name and form they differ but in reality they agree and
are the same.** These holy Manifestations have been as the coming of
springtime in the world. Although the springtime of this year is
designated by another name according to the changing calendar, yet as
regards its life and quickening it is the same as the springtime of
last year. For each spring is the time of a new creation, the effects,
bestowals, perfections and life-giving forces of which are the same as
those of the former vernal seasons although the names are many and
various."

— 'Abdu'l-Bahá, Foundations of World Unity, pp. 14-15