wfn.org | BWNS -- New official Baha'i Web site launched

[Bahá'í World News Service <bwns@bwc.org>]

Baha'i World News Service
See story on BWNS site at http://news.bahai.org
For more information, contact editor@bahaiworldnews.org

New official Bahá'í Web site launched
HAIFA, Israel, 20 April 2005 (BWNS) -- A new official Web site has been
launched by the Baha'i International Community to provide an
introduction to the Baha'i Faith for general inquirers, researchers, and
journalists.

The Web site, titled "The Baha'is," is also a portal to the family of
official Web sites of the Baha'i International Community.

This site at http://bahai.org replaces the previous site at the same
address, "The Baha'i World," as the main official site of the Baha'i
Faith on the Internet.

The content of "The Baha'i World" will continue to be available as the
"Baha'i Topics: An Information Resource," http://info.bahai.org

 The new site gives visitors concise initial summaries of aspects of the
Baha'i Faith, said Douglas Moore, director of the Baha'i International
Community's Office of Public Information at the Baha'i World Centre in
Haifa, Israel.

"The visitors then have the option of obtaining more comprehensive and
better integrated information on those topics," Mr. Moore said.

It also provides access to the latest Baha'i news and feature stories,
he said.

"The inclusive feel of the site demonstrates the Baha'i belief that the
teachings of Baha'u'llah are for everyone and not just those who have
joined the Faith," Mr. Moore said.

"Those who read about the current main activities of Baha'is will see
that all are welcome to participate in them, whether they be study
circles, children's classes, or devotional meetings," he said.

A map assists visitors to find the official Baha'i Web sites of their
respective countries.

The site acts as a portal to the family of official sites of the Baha'i
International Community including:
* Baha'i Topics: An Information Resource (http://info.bahai.org) ; a
comprehensive collection of articles about the Baha'i Faith, its
teachings, history, and community.
* Baha'i World News Service (http://news.bahai.org) the latest Baha'i
news and feature stories.
* One Country (http://www.onecountry.org); a news and features magazine.
* Baha'i Reference Library (http://reference.bahai.org); the
authoritative online source of the Baha'i sacred writings.
* Baha'i Statement Library (http://statements.bahai.org) an archive of
statements by the Baha'i International Community.

The Baha'i International Community will launch two more official sites
in the near future: a media library that includes a collection of Baha'i
images for use in publications and Web sites, and a glossary, which will
offer definitions and a pronunciation guide to key Baha'i terms.