Bahaʼi House of Worship

About

Begun in 1912, the Baháʼí House of Worship in Wilmette, IL, is the oldest surviving Baháʼí temple in the world. For those unfamiliar with the faith, the Baháʼí essentially teaches that all Gods, religions, and people should be viewed as a unified whole. There’s no right or wrong God, just different practices and interpretations. To this end, the Baháʼí House of Worship isn’t so much a church as a public gathering place. The building blends mathematical lines, with elements ranging from a Renaissance dome to Islamic arabesque tracery and hints of minarets. The nine pillars (a sacred number in Baháʼí) are adorned with carvings from various world religions, like the Star of David, crucifixes and the Islamic star and crescent. Even the grounds, with both rectangular approaches and circular gardens, blend Eastern and Western influences. Along with admiring the beautiful building, you can have no-pressure chats with volunteers about the faith, which honestly is quite fascinating.