Customer Reviews (1)

Auguste Forel's acceptance of the Baha'i Faith
An interesting short account of the life of this eminent, world-renowned psychiatrist, entomologist, anatomist, social reformer and peace-reformer, Auguste Forel, born in 1848 on the shores of Lake Geneva in Switzerland.

This account of Forel's life was first written on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Forel's passing (1981).

Throughout his life Forel tried to understand religion, free from dogma and superstition, for he considered that true religion should be for the social good of all mankind.He deplored the fact that there was so much superstition in organized religion.All his life he had believed in the things that Baha'u'llah, founder of the Baha'i Faith, had taught, without realising the source.It was in the last 10 years of his life that he first came across the Baha'i Faith and from then on he wholeheartedly supported it for he recognized it as being the "church of tomorrow".He considered the Baha'i Faith to be the true religion of human social good without dogmas or priests, uniting all men on this small terrestrial globe.In a codicil to his will in 1921 he wrote: "I have become a Baha'i.May this religion live and prosper for the good of mankind;this is my most ardent wish."

On first hearing of the Baha'i Faith Forel corresponded with Abdu'l-Baha, the son of Baha'u'llah, and in reply 'Abdu'l-Baha wrote to him one of the most weighty letters ever written on the subject of philosophy.If ever there was any doubt in academic circles that Auguste Forel was a Baha'i, this study confirms the fact. ... Read more

Product Description
Muhammad 'Abduh (1849-1905) was one of the key thinkers and reformers of modern Islam who has influenced both liberal and fundamentalist Muslims today. 'Abdul-Baha (1844-1921) was the son of Baha'ullah (1817-1892), the founder of the Baha'i Faith; a new religion which began as a messianic movement in Shii Islam, before it departed from Islam. Oliver Scharbrodt offers an innovative and radically new perspective on the lives of these two major religious reformers in 19th century Middle East by placing both figures into unfamiliar terrain. While one would classify 'Abdul-Baha, leader of a messianic movement which claims to depart from Islam, as an exponent of heresy in Islam, 'Abduh is perceived as an orthodox Sunni reformer. This book, however, argues against the assumption that both represent two extremely opposite expressions of Islamic religiosity. It shows that both were influenced by similar intellectual and religious traditions of Islam and that both participated in the same discussions on the reform of Islam in the 19th century.Islam and the Baha'i Faith provides new insights into the Islamic background of the Baha'i Faith and into 'Abduh's own association with so-called heretical movements in Islam. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

A mediocre book about a remarkable man
Before discussing the merits of this book it is in order give a brief description of Alain Locke.

Locke was born in Philadelphia in 1885, and studied philosophy at Harvard. In 1907 he received a Rhodes scholarship enabling him to study at Oxford. While in Europe he traveled and came into contact with the philosophers Brentano and Meinong. It is notable that he was the first, and until 1960 the only, black Rhodes scholar. Upon his return he secured a position at
Howard University, Washington. He received his PhD in Philosophy (with a dissertation on axiology) from Harvard in 1918.
His work The New Negro: An Interpretation of Negro Life (1925) established him as (one of) the main forces of the Harlem Renaissance.

Alhtough his impression on academic philosophy has been slight (e.g.the 10 volume Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy has not one mention of Alain Locke). However, through his writing and lecturing he managed to influence american life, and secure a place in the history of the Harlem Renaissance and the american civil rights movement.

He was born into a Christian (Episcopalian) family but converted to the Bahá'i religion in 1918. Attracted by that religions teachings on the equality of races, he involved himself in the american community's Race Amity Conferences and other activities aimed at achieving equality between the races. His overall involvement in the baha'i community was however less than enthusiastic. Partly, this seems to have been due to the bahá'i-community's periodic inability to implement its lofty ideals into practice.

Locke's identity as a bahá'i has been unknown or at least unacknowledged by earlier biographers and researchers.

Turning to the book itself:
In addition to being a biography of Alain Locke this book's major contribution is to bring out and establish Locke's identity as a bahá'i.
Regarded purely as a biography the book is more than acceptable (approx. 4 stars) and enjoyable. Contrary to another amazon-reviewer, I think that the author solves the biographer's perpetual problem of choosing between a thematic and a chronological presentation in an admirable way. The chapters are thematically held together which breaks up the 'cover-to-cover'-chronology of the book (the reader is taken back and forth in time as the books proceeds), but within each chapter the chronology is maintained. This structure contributes to the readability of the book. In addition, it enables the reader to focus only on those aspects of Locke's life that interest her. Given that this book is not simply a biography, but aims to show the influence of Locke's association with the Bahá'i religion on his intellectual output, such a structure is without doubt preferable.

The book is, I guess, attractive to two, not necessarily distinct, groups of readers:
1. Those with an antecedent interest in Locke or the Harlem Renaissance. To this group, the book provides new insights and information about the extent and nature of Locke's involvement with the Bahá'i religion.
2. Those with an antecedent interest in the Bahá'i religion. To this group the book provides information about a, then-prominent, member of the bahá'i faith who, for strange reasons, is largely unknown in the contemporary literature on the bahá'i religion.
In addition, and more interestingly, Buck aspires to show how Locke's philosophical work and the Bahá'i teachings influenced one another, and in this way extract the basics of a 'bahá'i philosophy'(p.6 and pp.187ff). In this respect the author completely fails. The problem is not that what he says is wrong. He doesn't say anything of substance on the subject at all. (One suspects that this is to a large extent due to ignorance of philosophy on the part of the author.) This still leaves a pretty good biography of Locke's life, but the fact that he at several places promises to give such an account but fails to deliver detracts from the overall score.

Great biography of an underappreciated literary and philosophical giant.
Dr. Buck does a great, incredibly thorough job of presenting a biography of Alain Locke.Citations to nearly every factual statement in the book are provided.Locke was a giant of the Harlem Renaissance, the African-American community, and of the race unity movement.Yet he is poorly understood and often not even known at all.Buck proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that Locke was indeed a genuine Baha'i for most of his life.However Buck shows that Locke was an enigmatic, aloof, almost paradoxical Baha'i.My only criticisms of the book relate to its format and editing.The book is not presented as a chronological biography, but rather is divided into chapters, which are then divided into subsections.This separation of various periods of his life/activities, breaks the flow of the book and causes the book at times not to read well.Certain topics are repeated several times.But on the whole this definitely covers what the author wanted to do, i.e. describe Locke's spiritual life and philosophy, especially his Baha'i life.It's definitely required reading for anyone seriously studying Locke, anyone studying the history of the American Baha'is in the early 20th century, or anyone just interested in reading a biography of a Baha'i.

A Brief Description of Alain Locke: Faith & Philosophy
Christopher Buck, Alain Locke: Faith & Philosophy (Los Angeles: Kalimát Press, 2005). With an introductory essay by Professor Leonard Harris of Purdue University (today's leading scholar on Alain Locke).

One of the towering figures of African American history is Alain Locke -- the first black Rhodes Scholar, Harvard Ph.D., professor of philosophy at Howard University, "Dean" of the Harlem Renaissance. Locke was the most important African American intellectual between W. E. B. Du Bois and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Here are the opening paragraphs in Chapter One of Alain Locke: Faith & Philosophy:

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Chapter One
INTRODUCTION

Alain Locke democratized American culture and paved the way for the Civil Rights movement. During the Jim Crow era of American history, when civil rights were white rights, Locke was the genius behind the Harlem Renaissance, which David Levering Lewis aptly characterized as "Civil Rights by Copyright."1 Locke edited the monumental anthology, The New Negro (1925), hailed as the first national book of African America.2 In so doing, Locke ingeniously used culture as a strategy for ameliorating racism and for winning the respect of powerful white elites as potential agents for social and political transformation. Awakening the black masses to their noble African heritage and instilling pride in unique black contributions to American life, Locke may well be regarded as "the Martin Luther King of African American culture."3

Without Locke, there may not have been a Martin Luther King. The New Negro movement, for which Locke was the chief architect and spokesman, was singularly responsible for inculcating and cultivating the requisite group consciousness and solidarity necessary for the mobilization of African Americans during the Civil Rights era. As Martin Luther King was a man of faith, Alain Locke was also. Based on newly discovered documentation of his conversion in 1918, we can now say with certainty that Locke was member of the Bahá'í Faith for over three decades.

As the youngest independent world religion, the Bahá'í Faith was clearly a leader in advocating racial harmony and full integration during the Jim Crow era. Through his service on several national Bahá'í committees, Locke was instrumental in organizing a number of "race amity" events. At various times, Locke lent his prestige to the Bahá'í Faith: he publicly identified himself as a Bahá'í in a 1952 issue of Ebony magazine, for example. By virtue of his being both a race leader and a cultural pluralist, Locke is certainly the most important Western Bahá'í to date in terms of his impact on American history and thought. This book documents and demonstrates the synergy between Locke's profession as a philosopher and his confession as a Bahá'í, which confirmed his commitment to racial harmony as a necessary prerequisite to world peace.

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Many books have been written about Locke's contributions to black art and culture in the United States. These books have generally ignored the fact that Locke was a Baha'i. Alain Locke: Faith and Philosophy fills in that missing link, telling the story of Locke's services to this new world religion from 1918 until his death in 1954.

Based on Buck's painstaking archival research of the Alain Locke Papers at Howard University and elsewhere, this book also describes, for the first time in scholarship, Locke's philosophy of democracy ("A New Americanism") in nine dimensions -- ranging from the concept of "local democracy" all the way to "world democracy." Locke's philosophy of democracy presents a compelling argument for America's world role or "destiny" -- but if and only if America can first solve her own racial crisis at home.

This topic should be of contemporary interest, especially since America is taking such a controversial leadership role in exporting "democracy" in the Middle East and around the world. But what does "democracy" mean? And how does "democracy" compare with Baha'i social principles? Locke has a compelling answer that should interest all Americans.

Alain Locke: Faith & Philosophy is richly illustrated with rare historical photographs, including photos of Locke with First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Ralph Bunche. ... Read more

Product Description
A world beset by intractable problems leading to the breakdown of society as we know it: this diagnosis is a common one but Dr Schaefer's presentation of it is not.Taking stock of the traditions of modern European thought, from Marx, Nietzsche and the 'death of God' to the presents day, and making extensive use of quotations and statistics from current reports, he discusses some of the vital issues at the heart of this global upheaval.He proposes solutions drawn from the teachings of Baha'u'llah, Founder of the Baha'i Faith, and suggests how new ideas and structures in this world religion could be a possible model for the renewal of society.This book is a valuable analysis, particularly for those familiar with the Western intellectual tradition. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Fantastic Book!
The Imperishable Dominion gives an incredible analysis of the present world institutions. And gives great insights for the renewal of our society.

A Mind & Heart Stimulating Book
I've always wanted to leave a feedback of this book.But, I always fear that I may not give it enough credit that it deserves.

Without exaggeration, I have read this book more than 20 times from 1989 until now (2008).Not because it is difficult to understand; but every time I read it, I learn something new and I could never have enough of it.It has a wealth of information from philosophers such as Socrates, Nietzsche, Kant, Hegel and Marx to religions such as Buddhism, Christianity, Islam and the Bahai Faith -all in one compact book.

While all these conflicting philosophical ideologies battle with each other, all religions teach the same faith.In the end, the religions leave tremendous influence on the people while the philosophies only remain on books.

Every one that had borrowed this book from me, never returned it -forcing me to buy another copy each time.I wish there was a hardcover of this book.

Udo Schaefer is a visionary and futuristic writer.Only future generations will adequately admire his analysis of our times and his vista that stretch from the ancient times to future generations.

good book
The debate on the role of religion in modern society has been raging for a long time now, and appears to have come to a deadlock between the theistic and atheistic viewpoints.Only new perspectives and fresh ideas can break this deadlock, and I think this book is just the thing to do so.The reading can be a little heavy, and often assumes the reader has a strong background in western thought.However, it is well worth the effort.

A good introduction to progressive revelation of religion
As a chief prosecutor in a District Court in Germany, Dr. Schaefer is confronted daily with social upheaval, the disintegration of our value system and the moral decay of society. He believes that our crisis is due to our loss of purpose in life and the loss of the highest values and agrees with Erich Fromm and Daniel Bell who state that mankind has no future unless it acquires a new religious consciousness. The teachings of all religions claim that man has both his origin and destiny in God; man is a citizen of two worlds - one immanent and the other transcendent. Ethics has always had its basis in religion. Religion defines priorities and translates values into standards of behavior and by educating the younger generation keeps those values alive in the consciousness of society. Without a religious base, moral conduct and values, without which society cannot be stable, are degraded to the point where they are no longer believed and may even be criticized or negated.

That religion is necessary and indispensable to both the individual and society helps us to understand the problem. In terms of the solution, the author believes that man has only one choice; a new world view on solidarity and brotherly commitment that integrates all peoples and all nations into a unified whole. But the great religions, encumbered by claims of being the sole possessor of the truth and burdened by their history of conflict and rivalry, are not capable of creating such a unifying idea. How can they convince the world that it should unify when they themselves are so fragmented and fail to be united even though the common thread of all religions is "Do unto others as you would have others do unto you"? Either the established religions must have the renewing power to break out of their rigid forms, return to the simple truths of their founders and overcome skepticism caused largely by the religious leaders themselves or something new must fill the vacuum.

Referring to religious texts, Schaefer tells us about progressive revelation and the unity of religions starting 6000 years ago with Adam. The Qur'an reports that God sent messengers to all peoples and that He made known His will and His truth through them. Noah, Abraham, Moses, Krishna, Buddha, Zoroaster, Christ, Muhammed are the central figures of the Adamic cycle. Every single one of these manifestations introduced teachings and commandments that were the ultimate moral standard both for the individual and for the society of the particular culture. All religions are included in the history of religious salvation; all have their origin in God but are different reflections of the same truth. Religion is not static but dynamic. With each revelation a new force is released into the world which transforms and integrates, creating a new kind of person, a new order, a new culture. Every revelation gives mankind a new impulse but it is used up, because religion, like all living things, is subject to deterioration; a new outpouring of the spirit and a renewal of the religion of God are necessary from age to age. Man's receptivity and spiritual comprehensions differ from age to age and divine revelation takes this into account. Just as we cannot accept the full sun all at once, so man could not accept God's complete truth in a single revelation. Every age requires a fresh measure of the light of God; every divine revelation has been sent in a manner befitting the circumstances of the age in which it appeared.

All religions expect a promised one and the concept of a herald who precedes the world savior is also quite common. Many calculated the day of return to be around 1850 and gathered in the Middle East to greet the returning king but there was great disappointment when Christ did not reappear as expected. These Messianic expectations were not only rampant in Christianity but also in Judaism and Islam. In the city of Shiraz in Southern Persia a 25-year-old merchant of the name of Ali Muhammad declared himself the awaited herald, and assumed the spiritual name of the "Bab" meaning the "Gate". This marked the birth of the Bahai Revelation, the pivotal points of which are the belief in a progressive, recurring divine revelation and the unity of all religions. Much opposition was aroused within the established clergy leading to 20,000 martyrs dying in the bloody persecution that followed. Baha'u'llah, the central figure of the Bahai faith, was banished to Baghdad in 1852 because he was a follower of the Bab and in 1863 he revealed himself as the promised One of all religions.

This book certainly gives the reader who is open to the concept of progressive revelation and the unity of religions much food for thought. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Letters tracing development of British Baha'i community
Beautifully bound leather volume containing all letters of Shoghi Effendi 1920,s to 1957 to the followers of the Baha'i Faith in Britain ... Read more

Product Description
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. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Some utility, but poorly edited
While this volume is lengthier and contains more information than "A Basic Baha'i Dictionary" (1989), it is less adequate in terms of ease of use. Preparation of a historical dictionary of the Bahá'í Faith is a daunting task. Librarians, researchers and publishers have significant knowledge of the optimal organization of such works, and ways to improve their usefulness. The prefatory remarks and appendices in this volume help to set a standard for what to include in future such dictionaries. This dictionary has the potential to be useful as a quick reference for basic historical events, people, and concepts. Scarecrow Press's incomplete editing of this work is immediately apparent, resulting in readers' frustration as they attempt to find the information they are seeking.Notable problems are machine alphabetizing which takes into account diacriticals, thus widely separating articles that should follow one another letter for letter, e.g GHUSN comes after GUNG; lack of criteria for inclusion and exclusion of topics; biographies often lacking in significant enough factual information; erroneous cross-references; double entries under different forms of an individual Iranian name; misspellings of names; and several factual errors. While this may be useful for the amount of content in comparison with other dictionaries, some readers may wish to supplement this with Oneworld's "Concise Encyclopedia of the Baha'i Faith", due in October 1998, and "A Short Encyclopedia of the Baha'i Faith" from the Baha'i Encyclopedia Project (projected date unknown at this time). ... Read more

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Door of Hope is an indispensable guide to the history and sites of pilgrimage of the Baha'i Faith in the Holy Land.The author lived at the Baha'I World Centre for twenty-five years, and used the opportunity to make the subject of this book his special study.He has methodically examined the geography, archaeology and history of all that relates to the Baha'i Faith, as well as the results of Jewish, Christian and Baha'i scholarship.

The text is enriched by a unique collection of historical photographs and drawings which will prove both fascinating and of great value for Baha'i pilgrims and visitors, as well as those who have not had the opportunity to visit the Holy Land. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A journey in progressive religious revelation
Historically the Holy Land has exercised an influence upon human affairs out of all proportion to its size, primarily because it is holy in the eyes of Jews, Christians, Muslims and, now most recently, Bahais. Pilgrims find themselves in a dense concentration of meaningful sites and a confusion of religious rivalry. It is meaningful to different religions because the Holy Land was promised by God to Abraham, sanctified by the Revelation of Moses, honored by the lives and labors of the Hebrew patriarchs, judges, kings and prophets and revered as the cradle of Christianity. The Holy Land was the place where Zoroaster held converse with some of the Prophets of Israel and is associated by Islam with the Apostle's night journey through the seven heavens to the throne of the Almighty. About 150 years ago Baha'u'llah, the founder of the Bahai Faith, was condemned to spend one third of his life in exile in "the nest of all the Prophets of God."

Ruhe tells us that a pilgrimage to Israel constitutes a journey in progressive Revelation - a concept that is a foundation stone of the Bahai Faith but usually disputed by the leaders of other religions. It is in the Holy Land that humankind meets its first big religious stumbling block. When a religion believes that it alone holds the truth then we have laid the foundations for religious rivalry and quite possibly war and bloodshed. When a religion believes in progressive revelation, all can accept that they have received a piece of God's greater truth appropriate to that people at that time. If we believe that humankind is rather more advanced today than at the time of Adam or Moses or Jesus and if we believe in a God of love who is doing His best to help humankind progress, then it is logical to believe that God will periodically send messengers or prophets to help society make the next step forward. In the comic books of our youth the convict was very clearly identified by his clothing and his appearance; not so God's messengers. Even though Jesus' arrival was clearly predicted in the Old Testament, he arrived as the child of a poor family rather than the leader of a powerful army and there was so much confusion that the established church crucified Him rather than welcomed Him. It is therefore quite understandable that there should be a great deal of confusion surrounding the world's most recent religion - the Bahai Faith.

This book has been written for those who are open to the concept of progressive revelation so that they have the information required to decide for themselves whether Baha'u'llah is in fact the most recent of God's messengers. The reader accompanies Baha'u'llah through his lifetime of persecution and is introduced to the major characters who believed in him. There are many photos that help to bring the journey to life. We are also given an insight into some of the people who met Baha'u'llah or collected information about him and who were convinced that he was indeed what he claimed to be.

If you doubt the truths handed to you by the leaders of your faith; if you do not understand why religions which all purport to come from a God of love and peace fail to practice what they preach; if you are confused as to how and why humankind has turned the Holy Land into the most unholy spot on earth; if you cannot understand why there should be such rivalry over the holy places visited by pilgrims, then this would be a good book to reflect on.

Fascinating history, ancient and modern
The town known in English as Acre (though to its inhabitants variously as Akka or Akko) in the northern part of Israel is an ancient settlement, known to have been inhabited since Canaanite times. Its position as one of the few usable harbours on that coast mean that it has had a turbulent history, having been besieged by various conquerors or would-be conquerors down the years, perhaps most notably by Richard the Lionheart and by Napoleon.
In the time of the Ottoman Empire it was virtually a penal colony, and this led to its developing religious significance when Baha'u'llah, the founder of the Baha'i Faith, was sent there and spent a number of years as a prisoner and under house arrest.
In this book we learn a good amount about the history of the town, but its target readership is basically members of the Baha'i Faith who want to learn more about these important years in the history of their faith. The scholarship is evident, and the detail impressive, despite which the book is readable, and the range of photographs a welcome bonus. This book is a "must read" for Baha'is and is worth a read by others interested in or going to that part of the world. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Power
This book is so powerful.This is a statement of who we are and what our purpose is.It leaves no questions and no room for doubt. ... Read more

Product Description
Illumine My Heart is a collection of prayers from the sacred writings of the Bahai Faith. The prayers included here will assist spiritual seekers to walk a spiritual path with practical feet, and to navigate the ups and downs of life with comfort and assurance. There are prayers that deal with the tests and difficulties we face in everyday life, prayers for healing and bereavement, prayers we can say for loved ones that have passed away, prayers for families and marriage, for young children, and for peace and unity. In Illumine My Heart, readers will find a wellspring of soul-stirring and uplifting words to accompany them on every stage of life's journey. ... Read more

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EVOLUTION AND BAHÁ'Í BELIEF'Abdu'l-Bahá's Response to Nineteenth-Century Darwinism

Studies in the Bábí and Bahá'í Religions series, Volume Twelve, edited by Keven Brown with essays by Keven Brown and Eberhart von Kitzing.

This is the first and only serious, academic treatment of the subject of evolution in the teachings of the Bahá'í Faith.  The authors provide an exhaustive discussion of the historical context of  'Abdu'l-Bahá's remarks on and objections to the Darwinian theories of his time. They argue that his remarks have been misunderstood and draw their own surprising conclusions. 

     Keven Brown's essay investigates the religious controversy that has surrounded the subject of evolution, both within Christianity and within Islam, during 'Abdu'l-Bahá's time.  He provides a valuable summary of the views of those the Master called "the philosophers of the East."

     Then, from the perspective of modern science, Eberhard von Kitzing discusses the impact of evoution on the study of biology and suggests that 'Abdu'l-Bahá's teachings have been widely misunderstood.

     This book will certainly change and redirect discussion on evolution in the Bahá'í community.  ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Scholarly-level discussion on several views of evolution
This book offers what none I have seen on the topic of evolution does:First it reviews both European and Muslim responses to Darwin's theory of evolution.Second it reviews concepts of originality of species held in the late 19th-early 20th century and compares them with how modern biology has come to define origin of species.Third it examines 'Abdu'l-Baha's acceptance of evolution, on which Baha'i concepts of evolution are based, and compares how that acceptance differs from both Darwin's original theory and modern concepts of biological scientists.It gives an over-view of many concepts about evolution which will benefit all serious thinkers on the topic.

Bahai evolution
I love this book.It explains the evolution concept for Bahai's As far as I am concerned, it is the only book that should be read. I found it infallable and the best source available to explain evolution. A course can be taught from this book. A must have for all religions. Makes sense of evolution and the Bahai perspective. ... Read more

Product Description
The Bahá'í Faith has its roots in Islam yet many Muslims do not have accurate information about this fast-growing religion. Here Dr Moojan Momen, widely published author in the field of world religions, rectifies this. As well as the Qur'án, Dr Momen uses the authoritative Sunni collections of Traditions and draws on Islamic prophecies to explain the Bahá'í Faith from a Muslim perspective. He describes:
* The Bahá'í view of the Prophet Muhammad and of Islam
* The spiritual and ethical teachings of the Bahá'í Faith in comparison to Islam
* The claim of Bahá'u'lláh
* Bahá'í spirituality
* Bahá'í law, social teachings and community life and
* provides a brief history of the Bahá'í Faith.
Easy to read and full of useful information, this book will also be useful to Bahá'ís who want to see how their religion relates to Islam. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Two religions explained to each other
The relationship between the Baha'i faith and Islam has not been an easy one. The former grew out of the latter (in the same way as Christianity did out of Judaism) and as a result Muslims have tended to regard Baha'is as sectaries or heretics. Non-Muslims have been much readier to recognise Baha'i as a religion in its own right.
Moojan Momen is a distinguisshed Baha'i scholar of Iranian background and in this book he sets out to try to brdige the gap, to expalin each rleigion to the other, and in particular to show to Muslims the respect that Baha'i accords their faith and Prophet.
The emphasis is on the common ground, what brings people together (or should do) rather than pushing them apart. And Momen - learned and sympathetic - does a good job.

Well written and clear, especially for Muslims
This book is very well written and an excellent source for a clear examaniation of the Baha'i Faith and how it relates to Islam.The author has done a tremendous job in writing a book that gives an accurate and clear picture of what the Baha'i Faith is and shows many of the similarities and differences between these two religions.My only complaint is that there are not more books like this one dealing with Islam and the Baha'i Faith.Wonderful job Dr. Momen! ... Read more

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How can we come to understand the physical universe? What of the spiritual universe of the soul? How are these two connected and what can we know of this connection?
Based on 'Abdu'l-Bahá description of the journey of the atom from the mineral kingdom to the vegetable kingdom and from there to the animal and human kingdoms, B. Hoff Conow demonstrates how the Bahá'í Faith provides a model for both the physical and spiritual universes.
A thought-provoking philosophical treatment of the major spiritual ideas that run through the Bahá'í Writings. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Wonderful Spiritual Nourishment
Nathan Rutstein has written a heartfelt book full of wisdom that is drawn from his personal experience and many years as a member of the Baha'i Faith.He lovingly assists the reader in his quest to turn the mirror of his heart to the Divine Light which is constantly streaming forth, and to free his mind of limiting, worldly thoughts and conditioned responses.He shows that habitual negative thinking can interfere with our joy and effectiveness in developing our souls, teaching the Baha'i Faith, and in living a life dedicated to service.

He discusses the daily spiritual practices given to us by Baha'u'llah -- the Divine Physician and Founder of the Baha'i Faith -- in a beautiful manner that makes us eager to apply these heavenly remedies to our own lives.He shows us that Baha'u'llah was a master of psychology who knew exactly what we require to keep our spiritual focus "sharp and steady", so that we can joyfully develop our latent divine qualities for the benefit of ourselves and everyone we encounter.An inspiring, thoughtful book. ... Read more

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The Baha'i Faith is one of the fastest growing, but least studied, of the world's religions. Adherents view themeselves as united by a universal belief that transcends national boundaries. Michael McMullen examines how the Baha'i develop and maintain this global identity. Taking the Baha'i community in Atlanta, Georgia, as a case in point, his book is the first to comprehensively examine the tenets of this little-understood faith. ... Read more