Catholic Habitus and Bahá’í Identity in Europe: Continuity, Conversion, and the Lived Experience of Progressive Revelation

The Bahá'í Faith, founded in mid-19th century Iran by Bahá’u’lláh, is one of the fastest-growing global religions, with a unique theological framework centered on progressive revelation. This principle positions all religious traditions as successive stages in a unified divine plan, offering a non-exclusivist approach to religious truth. My research examines how first-generation Bahá’ís from European Catholic backgrounds experience religious transition, demonstrating how their conversion is shaped not by rupture with past religious beliefs and affiliations but by continuity and adaptation. Through life story interviews and participant observation, this study explores how these individuals engage with the teachings of the Bahá’í Faith while maintaining connections to their Catholic heritage, both theologically and culturally. By examining these narratives, this paper contributes to Bahá’í studies by providing an ethnographic account of how first-generation Bahá’ís embody the principle of progressive revelation in practice, negotiating their religious identities through personal and communal experiences.

Drawing on my research within the Bahá’í community in Ireland, this paper extends the analysis by incorporating perspectives from other European contexts, particularly Italy. It explores how first-generation Bahá’ís navigate their religious identity within predominantly Catholic societies, where conversion often carries significant familial and social implications. Unlike other religious traditions where conversion entails a formal break with previous affiliations, the Bahá’í Faith allows for a more fluid transition. The absence of clergy enables personal interpretation of scripture, allowing first-generation Bahá’ís to maintain a spiritual relationship with Jesus while integrating Bahá’í theological perspectives. Bahá’ís from Catholic backgrounds often continue participating in cultural and national religious celebrations, such as Christmas or St. Patrick’s Day, reflecting a form of religious adaptation rather than strict separation.

Methodologically, this study employs ethnographic fieldwork, including life story interviews and participant observation, to examine how first-generation Bahá’ís understand and articulate their religious transformation. Theoretical perspectives inform the study of religious habitus, conversion narratives, and lived religion. They provide a framework for analyzing how individuals reshape their religious identities while sustaining elements of their former faith. The concept of habitus, particularly as theorized by Pierre Bourdieu, is central to understanding how Catholic socialization continues to inform the spiritual practices and ethical frameworks of first-generation Bahá’ís. This research highlights how religious habituation, rather than being abandoned, is reinterpreted within the Bahá’í framework of progressive revelation, allowing for theological and cultural continuity.

This study contributes to the study of the Bahá’í Faith by engaging with Bahá’í theology and religious identity. It provides an anthropological perspective on how Bahá’ís incorporate theological concepts, particularly progressive revelation, into their lived religious experiences. Additionally, by focusing on the intersection of Catholic and Bahá’í traditions, the research offers insight into the ways Bahá’ís approach religious pluralism and identity negotiation. 

By examining these narratives, this study challenges conventional models of religious conversion that emphasize rupture and exclusivity. Instead, it presents a model of religious progression in which theological adaptation and cultural continuity coexist. The findings suggest that rather than entirely abandoning their previous faith, first-generation Bahá’ís from Catholic backgrounds reinterpret their religious identity in ways that reflect both personal agency and broader doctrinal principles within the Bahá’í tradition. In highlighting these dynamics, this paper advances scholarly discussions on religious transformation, pluralism, and the evolving nature of belief in contemporary society. The resulting study offers a meaningful contribution to the field of Bahá’í studies and the broader anthropology of religion.