User:Gazelle55/sandbox 5

Reworking the lead section for Baháʼí House of Worship. Based on a version copied from the article on 23 October 2023 (so check back for edits at the article).

New version (shortened)

Note: I copied this version into the article on 18 July 2024.

A Baháʼí House of Worship or Baháʼí temple is a place of worship of the Baháʼí Faith. It is also referred to by the name Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, which is Arabic for "Dawning-place of the remembrance of God".

All Baháʼí Houses of Worship have a round, nine-sided shape and are surrounded by nine pathways leading outwards and nine gardens, reflecting the number nine's symbolic significance for Baháʼís. Inside, there is a prayer hall with seats facing in the direction of the Shrine of Baháʼu'lláh. The Houses of Worship are open throughout the week to both Baháʼís and non-Baháʼís for prayer and reflection, and some also have scheduled weekly devotional services. Scriptural texts from all religions may be recited inside, but sermons, ritualistic ceremonies, and readings from non-scriptural texts are not allowed. In addition, several Houses of Worship have formed choirs that sing music based on the Baháʼí writings, though musical instruments may not be played inside. At present, most Baháʼí devotional meetings occur in individuals' homes or local Baháʼí centres rather than in Houses of Worship.

The first Baháʼí House of Worship was planned during the lifetime of Baháʼu'lláh (1817–1892) and completed in 1919, though it was later destroyed. Next, eight Houses of Worship designated as continental Houses of Worship were completed between 1953 and 2016. They are located in the United States, Uganda, Australia, Germany, Panama, Samoa, India, and Chile, and some have won architectural awards. All other Baháʼí Houses of Worship are designated as either local or national Houses of Worship. The Universal House of Justice announced seven more in 2012, of which six have since been completed, and announced another three in 2023. The Baháʼí Faith envisions that Houses of Worship will be surrounded by dependencies dedicated to social, humanitarian, educational, and scientific pursuits, although none has yet been built up to that extent.

New version (longer)

A Baháʼí House of Worship or Baháʼí temple is a place of worship of the Baháʼí Faith. It is also referred to by the name Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, which is Arabic for "Dawning-place of the remembrance of God".

All Baháʼí Houses of Worship have a round, nine-sided shape and are surrounded by nine pathways leading outwards and nine gardens, reflecting the number nine's symbolic significance for Baháʼís. Inside, they have a prayer hall with seats facing in the direction of the Shrine of Baháʼu'lláh. The Houses of Worship are open throughout the week to both Baháʼís and non-Baháʼís for prayer and reflection, and some also have scheduled weekly devotional services. Scriptural texts from all religions may be recited inside, but sermons, ritualistic ceremonies, and readings from non-scriptural texts are not allowed. In addition, several Houses of Worship have formed choirs that sing music based on the Baháʼí writings, though musical instruments may not be played inside. At present, most Baháʼí devotional meetings occur in individuals' homes or local Baháʼí centres rather than in Houses of Worship.

The first Baháʼí House of Worship was planned during the lifetime of Baháʼu'lláh (1817–1892), the Baháʼí Faith's founder, and completed in 1919, though it was later destroyed. Next, eight designated as continental Houses of Worship were completed between 1953 and 2016. They are located in the United States, Uganda, Australia, Germany, Panama, Samoa, India, and Chile, and some have won architectural awards. All other Baháʼí Houses of Worship are designated as either local or national Houses of Worship. The Universal House of Justice, the governing body of the world's Baháʼís, announced plans for seven more Houses of Worship in 2012, of which six have since been completed, and announced plans for another three in 2023. Furthermore, Baháʼí communities own over 120 properties intended for future Houses of Worship. The Baháʼí Faith envisions that Houses of Worship will be surrounded by dependencies dedicated to social, humanitarian, educational, and scientific pursuits, although none has yet been built up to that extent.

Original version as copied

A Baháʼí House of Worship or Baháʼí temple is a place of worship of the Baháʼí Faith. It is also referred to by the name Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, which is Arabic for "Dawning-place of the remembrance of God".

Baháʼí Houses of Worship are open to both Baháʼís and non-Baháʼís for prayer and reflection. All Baháʼí Houses of Worship have a round, nine-sided shape and are surrounded by nine pathways leading outwards and nine gardens. Baháʼí scripture envisages Houses of Worship surrounded by a number of dependencies dedicated to social, humanitarian, educational, and scientific pursuits, although no Baháʼí House of Worship has yet been built up to that extent. At present, most Baháʼí devotional meetings occur in individuals' homes or local Baháʼí centres rather than in Baháʼí Houses of Worship.

As of 2023, fourteen Baháʼí Houses of Worship have been completed around the world (including one that was later destroyed). Eight of the thirteen that are currently standing are continental Houses of Worship, located in the United States, Uganda, Australia, Germany, Panama, Samoa, India, and Chile. The continental Houses of Worship in the United States, India, and Chile have won architectural awards. Of the other five standing Baháʼí Houses of Worship, four are local Houses of Worship and one is a national House of Worship. Work on another two Baháʼí Houses of Worship is ongoing, and Baháʼí communities own over 120 properties intended for future Houses of Worship.

Needs to be added

• Explain distinction between continental, national, and local?
• More on the architecture?
• More on what does (and doesn't) take place inside?
• Funding (voluntary from Baha'is, none from non-Baha'is)

Other to-do's

• See if lead section needs to follow same organization as article body