It is always heartwarming to see how the bonds of friendship and fellowship extend far beyond the boundaries of our local communities. Two of our members recently had the opportunity to visit the Bahá’í Centre… More
August 2026 Prayers & Pancakes: Our Shared Humanity
Our August Prayers & Pancakes gathering was a beautiful opportunity to come together and reflect on what connects us as human beings.
This month, we explored the theme of our shared humanity and why it matters so much in today’s world. With people from different backgrounds, ages, and walks of life, we shared our thoughts on what it means to look beyond the things that separate us and recognise the common hopes, challenges, and aspirations that we all share.
At a time when division and misunderstanding can feel so present in the world around us, we reflected on the importance of seeing one another with compassion, listening to different perspectives, and remembering that we are all part of one human family.
As always, thank you to everyone who joined us, shared their thoughts, and helped create such a warm and meaningful space. We look forward to coming together again next month for more prayers, conversations, and, of course, pancakes! 🙏🥞
Can Humanity Live Without Faith?
The religious landscape of England and Wales has been changing for decades. The Census offers a striking picture of this transformation: 59.3% of the population identified as Christian, while 25.1%—around 14.1 million people—described themselves as having “no religion.” Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, Jews, Buddhists, and followers of other religions together form part of an increasingly diverse society.
These figures raise an important question: What place does religion have in the modern world? And what happens to a society when people gradually lose their connection with it?
For many, religion may seem outdated or associated with division, conflict, or rigid institutions. Yet the Bahá’í teachings invite us to consider religion from a different perspective—not simply as a collection of beliefs and rituals, but as a powerful force for transforming individuals and society.
From a Bahá’í point of view, religion awakens human capacities, develops moral character, and provides a foundation for collective life. Throughout history, the great religions have transformed human consciousness and contributed to the development of ethics, culture, community, and civilisation.
The Bahá’í Faith teaches that humanity has received divine guidance through a succession of Divine Messengers, including Abraham, Krishna, Moses, Buddha, Christ, Muhammad, the Báb, and Bahá’u’lláh. Their teachings are understood as part of progressive revelation: a continuing process of spiritual education suited to humanity’s changing needs.
Religion, therefore, is not simply a legacy of the past. It can be a force for the future.
The Bahá’í writings suggest that religion has a unique power to unite people around values that transcend individual interests. Scientific and material progress can tell us what we can do, but religion can help us ask what we ought to do.
This does not mean returning to outdated forms of religious authority. Rather, the Bahá’í vision calls for a renewal of religion, one that is compatible with science and reason, promotes equality, rejects prejudice, and inspires service to humanity.
Perhaps the growing number of people who identify as having “no religion” should lead us to ask not only why people are leaving religion, but also:
What kind of religion does humanity need today?
The Bahá’í answer is a religion that unites rather than divides, and that helps humanity discover its shared spiritual purpose.
