World Religion Day
World Religion Day was created by members of the Baháʼí faith to promote religious unity and emphasize the ways spiritual practice can be a unifying force globally.
World Religion Day was created by members of the Baháʼí faith to promote religious unity and emphasize the ways spiritual practice can be a unifying force globally.
Renee Harleston
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The first World Religion Day was celebrated on October 19, 1947 in Portland, Maine. It was celebrated under the name “World Peace Through World Religion.” The Baháʼí community sponsored a talk on religion, featuring speakers from Stanford and Harvard, at a local hotel.
In 1950, World Religion Day was officially established at the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baháʼís in the United States. World Religion Day emphasizes the similarities between religions around the world and promotes religious tolerance. World Religion Day aligns with a central Baháʼí spiritual tenet: the oneness of humanity.
The holiday began in the United States, but has spread across the globe. The Baháʼí World News Service reports the Republic of the Congo and Sri Lanka have both issued commemorative stamps in honor of the holiday.
When it is observed
Most communities celebrate on the third Sunday of January. Baháʼí Blog, a non-profit run by members of the Australian Baháʼí community, says some communities in the United States celebrate World Religion Day on an alternate date, so as to not interfere with Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Traditions
Since its founding, World Religion Day has been celebrated with interfaith talks, discussions and education. Many religions participate, hosting interfaith celebrations in various houses of worship. Some schools take advantage of World Religion Day to teach about the various religions of the world.
What to say
There is no traditional greeting for World Religion Day, but “Happy World Religion Day” is a fine greeting. To celebrate, reflect on the similarities between religions. Take time to learn about other faiths. The Toledo Lucas County Public Library in Ohio suggests books like Christianity: A Very Short Introduction by Linda Woodhead, Judaism: A Very Short Introduction by Norman Solomon or Hinduism: A Very Short Introduction by Kim Knott.