Abdu L Bah In America

The amazing account of the journey of Abdul-Baha, head of the Bahai Faith after his fathers passing, across much of the United States in 1912. His exhausting yet exhilarating 239-day trek from coast to coast took him to fifty cities and towns, where he delivered up to four talks a dayabout oneness of humanity and the principles of universal peace to approximately ninety-three thousand people. This historic visit to the United States planted the seeds that would take root and germinate into the present-day American Bah community.

Peter Smith explores the history, beliefs and practices of the Baha'i faith.

This edited volume of specially commissioned essays written for the anniversary of `Abdu'l-Baha's journey to America tells the story of this former prisoner's interactions with the white upper echelon of American society as well as his impact on the lives and writings of important early figures in the African-American civil rights movement.

This collection of gems from the Baha'i writings is a much-loved classic that has been familiar to generations of Baha'is for over 60 years. Now available to the general public for the first time, the book is a guide to the spiritual development and walking a spiritual path with practical feet. Among the wealth of subjects the book explores are learning to know, love, and trust God; the purpose of life; the importance of prayer and meditation; developing faith and certitude; learning to cope with life's difficulties with patience and confidence; and the importance of service to humanity-to name only a few. Spiritual seekers of any faith tradition will find here timeless wisdom and inspiration that can help them better understand and appreciate the divine art of living.

In 1903, Harriett Gibbs Marshall, the first African-American woman graduate of the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, opened the Washington Conservatory of Music. This was the first private conservatory owned and operated exclusively by black Americans. Most of the instructors were female graduates of leading music schools, and the majority of the students were women. This project examines the repertoire studied and performed at the Washington Conservatory in order to suggest that its program of study supported the genesis of a "black canon" developing in the United States. Several concert programs from the school thematize racial accomplishment by featuring works by prominent black composers. An investigation of repertoire, courses, letters, and financial records of the school describe the means by which Marshall negotiated a place within white dominated society using the cultural currency of "high" concert music. In addition, Marshall's career illustrates the contributions that black American women have made in shaping musical practice in the United States through their work as teachers and administrators.

The Body in Religion: Cross-Cultural Perspectives surveys influential ways in which the body is imagined and deployed in religious practices and beliefs across the globe. Filling the gap for an up-to-date and comparative approach to theories and practices of the body in religion, this book explores the cultural influences on embodiment and their implications for religious institutions and spirituality. Examples are drawn from religions such as Jainism, Confucianism, Daoism, Shintoism, Paganism, Aboriginal, African, and Native American religions, in addition to the five major religions of the world. Topics covered include: - Gender and sexuality - Female modesty and dress codes - Circumcision and menstruation rituals - God language and erotic desire - Death, dying, and burial rites - Disciplining the body through prayer, yoga, and meditation - Feasting and fasting rituals Illustrated throughout with over 60 images, The Body in Religion is designed for course use in religious studies as well as interdisciplinary courses across the humanities and the social sciences. Further online resources include a sample syllabus.

How can science and the spirituality of the great religions help us all in our quest for global harmony? How can artists, philosophers and mystics reveal to us who we are? How can studying our civilization's timeline show us where we came from? How can meditation, prayer and the desire to recognize the divinity in each and every one of us inspire us to create a freer, safer and better world?