The Bahá’í community is building a meeting center in Tempe to provide tutoring and other community services for students.
The faith, which originated in Iran in 1844 and is considered one of the fastest growing religions in the world, accepts all other religions with the belief that they are part of a greater universal religion that will one day free the world of prejudice and hatred.
The Bahá’í Center, located at the northeast corner of Rural Road and Spence Drive, is set to open in December.
In the past, members of the ASU Bahá’í Association, on campus since the 1950s, has not had a set meeting place to practice their faith. The new building, which cost approximately $300,000, is being built from money raised within the Bahá’í community. Construction began in March.
In accordance with the teachings of the religion, which has more than 6 million followers worldwide, the money to build the center came from the Bahá’í community itself, not from outside donations.
When complete, the center will provide tutoring services that will be available to children from low-income families in the Tempe area and to ASU students who need help with their schoolwork.
Chula Eslamieh, senior program coordinator for two grant programs at ASU and an adviser to the ASU Bahá’í Association, said providing services like tutoring to the community is one of the teachings of the faith.
Jay Calhoun, a second-year ASU law student, said she converted to the faith because of the diversity of its followers.
“The Bahá’í faith is one of the few examples in the U.S. where people from different backgrounds come together for a common cause,” she said. “As a black woman, it is one of the places I feel least oppressed.”
Jason Eslamieh, an ASU campus architect and a Bahá’í for almost 30 years, said he was initially drawn to the religion because the teachings were the most forward thinking of any religion in existence.
“Because the Bahá’í faith teaches the equality of men and women and the elimination of all prejudice, I really felt that it was the religion most up-to-date with today’s lifestyle,” he said.
Eslamieh added that in light of the World Trade Center tragedy, a religion that accepts the beliefs of everyone has the capability to unite the world under one banner.
“All religions should have tolerance and not exclude anyone,” she said. “At the center, all religions will have the opportunity to join us and prayers from every faith will be said.”
Reach Dana Brody at dana5286@aol.com.