A Lost History Of The Baha I Faith

In the mid 1800s, a Persian nobleman in exile claimed to be a new messenger of God. He called himself Baha'u'llah ("The Glory of God") and taught that all nations, races, and religions should come together to build a global civilization of peace and justice for all. Baha'u'llah's progressive teachings have inspired millions of people around the world. But his own family was torn apart by schism and authoritarian interpretations of the religion. Most of his descendants are remembered today as heretics or have been forgotten by Baha'is. This book tells the story of the Baha'i faith through the eyes of some of the children and grandchildren of its founder, and others who knew Baha'u'llah personally. Despite their sincere belief, they were excommunicated and shunned by their own relatives and fellow believers after the prophet's death. They called themselves Unitarian Baha'is and stood for a broad-minded faith based on reason and individual freedom of conscience. Shua Ullah Behai, the eldest grandson of Baha'u'llah, led a Unitarian Baha'i denomination in the United States and compiled an introduction to the Baha'i faith in the 1940s. This historically significant manuscript was preserved by the author's niece and is published for the first time in this annotated volume.

Its History and Teaching This book is a breath of fresh air. There are millions of adherents to the Bahai Faith. Mr. Miller provides insight and primary sources giving the reader information about the history of the Baha'i Faith. Where the official and authorized Baha'i histories are sanitized and revised. Mr. Miller, who lived for years in Iran and fluent in Parsi, provides access to the westerner into events occurring during the early years of this world religion. The reader learns about the initial prophetic voices of the Bab and Baha'u'llah and the followers that founded the Bahai Faith after their deaths. The author explains the transformational shifts and unbelievable history of the Baha'is. Why did the early writings appear to be create a "society" or "philosophy" and later suddenly the community was touted as a "world religion"? Why are there are 7 Baha'i sects? Each exodus occurring when internal power struggles resulted in a few achieving greater control. Why do Baha'is work so hard to control their memberships contActs and reading material? Why do Baha'is shun those who leave, considering anyone not fully supportive of the Baha'i religion "spiritual poison?" After reading this book it should be clear to the reader. Due to the historical accuracy of the book's fActs and the author's position as a Protestant Missionary to an Islamic country, not all readers will be satisfied. Some will be offended those most likely the adherents who don't want the truth to come to light. Some will be offended because the author was a Protestant Missionary. Nevertheless, any serious student of world religions will be grateful to have his contributions on record to the history of the Baha'is.

World religions are not merely abstract sets of doctrinal beliefs. They are embodied worldviews and practices lived out by real people around us. Encounters with these neighboring faiths often challenge our own beliefs and traditions, making us think more deeply about our faith commitments. For all who want to understand the religious faiths of their neighbors, Winfried Corduan offers an introduction to the religions of the world. This classic text covers major as well as lesser known religions, including Judaism, Islam, Zoroastrianism, African traditional religions, Native American religion, Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, Baha'i, Chinese popular religion, and Shinto and Japanese religions. Neighboring Faiths emphasizes not just formal religious teachings but also how each religion is practiced in daily life. Dozens of photographs, charts, and maps help illustrate how the faiths have developed and how they're lived out today. Corduan offers specific insights into what to expect from encounters with adherents of each religion and suggestions for how Christians can engage them in constructive dialogue. Each chapter offers lists of key points, ideas for term papers, and recommended resources to help students, instructors, and small groups go deeper. This third edition has been updated and revised throughout. The chapter on militant Islam is significantly revised to address more recent events and issues, and questions for reflection and discussion have been added to each chapter. Neighboring Faiths is an indispensable guide for Christians seeking an informed, empathetic perspective on different religions and the people who practice them.

The Dawning Place, is based upon decades of research and is the definitive text on the Bahai House of Worship in Wilmette, Illinois the only of its kind in North America. Added to the National Registry of Historic Places in 1978, the House of Worship is a stunning building with an inspiring and storied history. In 1903, a small group of Chicago Bahai's made a decision to build a place of worship that would be open to people of all faiths. The search for a location; the choice of a forested bluff overlooking Lake Michigan; the 1912 dedication of the temple site by Abdul-Baha, the son and appointed successor of the Faiths Prophet-Founder; the selection of a design in 1920 that attracted international attention; and the decades of planning and building that led to the 1953 dedication only tell part of the story. Bruce Whitmore brings the story of this stunning building to life in rich detail, and weaves together a moving story of devotion and dedication. There are numerous archival photographs throughout, and multiple new photographs in this new edition, as well as a new foreword specially written for this edition by Glenford Mitchell. The design is that of a high-end photographic history book with an elegant dust jacket.

The Bah ' Faith is increasingly acknowledged as South Carolina's second-largest religion, part of the social fabric of the state. The earliest mentions of the distinctively interracial, theologically innovative faith community in the state date back to the Civil War. Black, white and indigenous South Carolinians defied racial and religious prejudices to join the religion during the tumultuous civil rights era. From the visit of the first Bah ' teacher in 1910 to the "Carolinian Pentecost" of the 1970s and beyond, the faith has deep roots in the Palmetto State. Author and Bah ' historian Louis Venters provides, for the first time, an overview of the first century of the Bah ' Faith in a state with one of its strongest followings.

Growing out of the teachings of the B_b, who introduced the idea of the coming of a great prophet (the one promised in the scriptures of all the world's major religions), the Bah_'' Faith was founded by Bah_'u'll_h, when in 1866 he publicly declared that he was the One the B_b prophesized. The 2nd edition of the Historical Dictionary of the Bah_'' Faith presents a general historical overview of both B_b' and Bah_'' religions, as well as a theological overview of the Bah_'' Faith, from their inception in the mid 19th century to the middle of 2005. It presents biographical details of the Founders and Central Figures along with numerous leaders and pioneers, most of the basic principles and precepts, as well as aspects of its organization and administration. Through the use of photographs, a list of acronyms, a chronology, an introductory essay, a bibliography, hundreds of cross-referenced dictionary entries on nearly every aspect of the religion, and appendixes listing the genealogy of the Founders, statistical information, and lists of apostles, disciples, Hands of the Cause, Knights of Bah_'u'll_h as well as of more than 930 believers who have contributed to its growth and development, this book is a fundamental tool for finding information on all things related to the Bah_'' Faith.

Explore the history, teachings, structure and community life of the world-wide Baha'i community-what may well be the most diverse organized body of people on earth-through this revised and updated comprehensive introduction (2002). Named by the Encyclopedia Britannica as a book that has made "significant contributions to the knowledge and understanding" of religious thought, The Baha'i Faith covers the most recent developments in a faith that, in just over 150 years, has grown to become the second most wide-spread of the independent world religions.

Comparing paradise imagery in two Persian religions, early Syriac Christianity and the Baha'i Faith, this work contributes to religious studies methodology by introducing "symbolic paradigm analysis."