Equality of women with men. Elimination of prejudices of all kind. The oneness of humanity. Common foundation of religion and science. Spiritual solutions to economic problems. A universal compulsory education. An international auxiliary language. Universal peace upheld by a world government.

These are all essential teachings of the Baha’i faith.

But perhaps its most unique contribution to the world is the divine governmental system established by Baha’u’llah.

Imagine if Christ had, in His own pen, written down a world embracing system, a divine government. Imagine if He had left to the world, in His own Will, an institution that would have given perfect guidance on all matters until He returned again.

This is what Baha’u’llah has done. He established in His own writings a divine governmental system protecting His Faith from disunity. Baha’is throughout the world all follow the same governing system and are busy building a world embracing structure that creates an environment in which the spirit, mind, emotions and body can heal and draw ever nearer to their true selves — the reunion with their Creator.

Functioning akin to the spirit of true democracy, elections are held each year at the local level to elect Local Spiritual Assemblies in each locality where at least nine members are found. There are only secret ballots, and there is no campaigning or the mentioning of names who you would want to win the elections.

Just the qualities of people are contemplated and these qualities are the foundation of how a person votes. There are no vested interest groups and only Baha’is are allowed to donate to the Faith. Then, each year, members of the National Spiritual Assemblies are elected in the same democratic way by delegates from all the Local Spiritual Assemblies. Every five years the members of the all National Spiritual Assemblies worldwide go to Israel to elect the Universal House of Justice. The international Baha’i Center is on Mount Carmel in Haifa, where the Universal House of Justice is located.

This divine government was written down by Baha’u’llah and His appointed Successors. So wherever one goes in the world, Baha’is are all on the same page with regard to the writings and the administrative structure.

Baha’u’llah wrote 100 volumes of divine revelation in His 40-year ministry, and His successors wrote almost the same. Whatever they have not written down is decided on by the Universal House of Justice, which was established by Baha’u’llah and given perfect guidance from God.

As to how this Universal House of Justice works, if one year it decides on a certain decision and if in, say, 25 years conditions have changed, they can do away with their first decision and change it to another. This gives great flexibility. Baha’u’llah has written that this Universal House of Justice would be free from error.

Along with this democratic form of voting, Baha’u’llah also left in His will and testament that His son, Abdu’l- Baha, would be the perfect interpreter of His writings and was also the perfect embodiment of all His teachings. Then Abdu’l-Baha named his grandson a perfect interpreter.

Before becoming a Baha’i I was very confused and felt like I didn’t know what my purpose was. Now I have absolute confidence that I have found what I believe to be perfect guidance in the world and that there will be until the next Messenger of God comes. And my love for all people increases every day.

Tim Wilson lives in Harpswell.