BAHA'I RELIGION `WORLD-EMBRACING'.

Byline: HOLLY J. ANDRES Staff Writer

ENCINO -- In the spirit of one of their practices -- the independent investigation of truth -- members of the Baha'i faith will lead a tour Sunday of the Baha'i Faith Center.

The evening is the latest in a series of ``sacred space'' tours and conversations with members of a designated faith that have been arranged by the interfaith relations committee of Valley Interfaith Council. Past tours have included an Islamic center and a Sikh temple.

``You're not `born into' it. It has to be of your own personal choice. When you're 15, you can decide for yourself. I actually did grow-up Baha'i,'' said Kate Folb, an entertainment producer. ``The Baha'i faith is who I am. I use it daily. It infiltrates my life.''

It's easy to sum up the Baha'i faith, said Folb: the oneness of God, the oneness of mankind and the oneness of religion.

``We believe that all prophets are equal. All of the major religions proclaim one God so there can't be more than one religion,'' Folb said. ``You can think of the different religions as chapters in a book.

``The teachings that are different are a reflection of the state of humanity of the time. The social teachings are the differences.''

Mirza Husayn Ali, a Persian who came to be known as Baha'u'llah, ``Glory of God,'' founded the Baha'i faith in the mid-1800s. Baha'u'llah was a prolific writer and his Kitab al-Aqdas, ``The Most Holy Book,'' is the main sacred writing of the Baha'i faith.

There are close to 6 million Baha'is worldwide, with an estimated 150,000 adherents in the United States. India has the largest Baha'i community, more than 2 million.

Iran, where Baha'is have been persecuted for their faith, comes in second with an estimate of 350,000. The Baha'i faith is the second most widespread faith, after Christianity, in countries around the world.

The Baha'i faith has no clergy. There is a Baha'i calendar consisting of 19 months with 19 days. Instead of meeting weekly, Baha'is come together in private homes or centers for a feast once a month in accordance with the Baha'i calendar.

During the feast, prayers are said, there is a discussion of local concerns and a social time.

Baha'is keep a fast annually from sunrise-to-sunset for 19 days prior to the vernal equinox when Baha'i New Year is celebrated. Although the Baha'i annual fast recalls the sunrise-to- sunset fast of Islam's Ramadan, the Baha'i faith, contrary to misconception, is not a sect of Islam.

``Global unity is the central theme of the Baha'i faith. One of our teachings is, let your vision be world-embracing,'' said Randy Dobbs, a Baha'i since the 1970s. ``The Baha'i faith believes that the earth is one country and mankind its citizens. There is one race, the human race. The equality of men and women is core to Baha'is.''

Followers of the Baha'i faith practice daily prayer and refrain from gossiping, alcohol, drugs and gambling. Baha'is believe that the purpose of life is to know and worship God, to become virtuous and to promote the oneness of mankind.

The informal event on Sunday will include a film screening on the Baha'i faith, a short talk and a question-and-answer session.

Sacred Space Tour will be held at 7 p.m. Sunday at the Baha'i Faith Center, 4830 Genesta Ave., Encino. For information, call [phone], Ext. 3001 or see www.vic-la.org.

holly.andres(at)dailynews.com

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Randy Dobbs poses in front of a portrait of Abdu'l Baha at the Baha'i Faith Center in Encino. The facility will host a Valley Interfaith Council sacred space tour Sunday.

Andy Holzman/Staff Photographer