At present, the official name for the religion of the followers of Bahá'u'lláh is simply "the Bahá'í Faith." The phrase "the Baha'i religion" is also sometimes used, or more rarely, "the Faith of Baha'u'llah." A frequently used shorthand is the word "Baha'i" all by itself. The term "Baha'ism" is almost never used by Baha'is themselves, but is sometimes used by others.
In its early phases in North America and Europe, the Baha'i Faith was often referred to as "the Baha'i Movement," but this usage faded out around the 1930s or 40s. "Baha'i World Faith" was another term frequently used, partly because a compilation of Baha'i sacred writings in English translation was widely distributed under that title. This term lasted until the 50s or 60s before being replaced by the simpler phrases in use today.
The single most important Baha'i belief is in the essential unity of all humankind. For this reason, Baha'is strive constantly to eliminate prejudice from their community, whether based on religion, race, economic or social class distinctions, or national origin.
Baha'is believe that God has revealed a single true religion to humanity, but through multiple sources. Baha'u'llah is not the only true Manifestation of God, but is simply the most recent in a long line of Messengers which stretches back long before recorded history, and will continue for as long as human beings continue to exist.
At intervals of approximately one thousand years, a new Messenger has been sent to provide guidance suited to the level of development which humans have reached. Baha'is believe that the creation of a global civilization, combining world peace with universal freedom and prosperity, is the stage we are about to enter. According to this belief, the specific details of Baha'u'llah's Message are designed to make our transition into that stage occur more quickly and less painfully.
Because of this strong emphasis on unity and peace, Baha'is are directly forbidden to do anything that will make religion into a cause of conflict. This prohibition is so emphatic that 'Abdu'l-Bahá, regarded by Baha'is as the Perfect Exemplar of their faith, stated that it would be better to abandon religion entirely than to use it as an excuse for conflict or violence of any kind.
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