Iran again finds itself in the forefront of world events. After Islam, the largest religious minority in Iran is the Baha'i Faith-a religion born there in the mid-Nineteenth Century. According to many scholars of Iranian society and history, the Baha'is, in a century and a half, have proven to be a significant social and moral force capable of modernizing and democratizing that country-the cradle of one of the most remarkable civilizations in history. The followers of this religion which, according to the Encyclopedia Britannica, is the second most widespread in the world after Christianity, number more than six million globally...

In Quotations for Manifesting Your Potential in the Baha'i Faith, author Nathan Thomas has compiled a collection of passages from the Baha'i Holy Writings and other sources to help introduce this new religion to the world as a message of spiritual development for all people. The book is a companion to Manifest Your Potential in the Baha'i Faith, How the Beliefs, Practices, and Vision of the Baha'i Faith Can Change Your Life, written by the same author. Through the use of quotations from the Central Figures of the Baha'i Faith, which include the Bab, Baha'u'llah, and 'Abdu'l-Baha, along with quotations from the Guardian and the Universal House of Justice and its agencies, Quotations for Manifesting Your Potential in the Baha'i Faith how the beliefs of this new world religion inspire a new understanding for reality, how the practices of this faith empower us to become more effective individuals in our spiritual and material lives, and how the vision of Baha'u'llah brings people together to transform the world around us into a heavenly kingdom for all mankind. In the process, the book provides a guide to how to approach the Baha'i Faith as a toolkit for realizing the greatness in all people.

This volume was compiled as a sequence of correlated passages that would be conducive to spiritual growth. The majority of the material presented in this compilation is comprised of passages from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, with one text from the Bab, some from 'Abdu'l-Baha, one passage from a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi, and one ap- pendix from a letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice.

God Can the existence of God be scientifically explained, and, if so, how important is God anyway?

Religion What's it really all about and why do we need it?

Life Do we have a purpose, and, if so, does it include finding the blueprint to finally unify the seven billion of us living on our planet? Does this blueprint really exist?

Death Is death finality or is there a hereafter? Do we really go somewhere, and, if so, where?

Our soul Just what is our soul, our spirit, and what does it have to do with the reality of it all?

Proof Where is it? If all of the above questions can be answered, can those answers be proven?

"The Reality of It All" is extremely thoughtprovoking and somewhat controversial in that it tries to answer difficult questions that arise within most people at some time in their lives. The answers, as astounding as they may be, hopefully will be inspiration enough to light the pathway for each of us to begin our own independent investigation of truth. The reality of it all is that there are only two possibilities: the ideas presented are either true or false. Or put another way, they are good and right for the advancement of individuals, societies, and civilizations or they're not

Truth, once discovered, is reality, whether it is accepted or not. Has the time come for all of us to find out the reality of it all?

Shoghi Effendi stated that the first duty, and the focus of sustained efforts, of every faithful follower of the Baha'i Faith is to strive to acquire a more adequate understanding of the Revelation of Baha'u'llah. Although a full comprehension of such a Revelation is beyond the limits of our understanding, a clearer understanding of its basic truths will empower us to derive fresh inspiration and to gain further spiritual nourishment, which in turn will support and maintain our services to the Cause (Shoghi Effendi, The World Order of Baha'u'llah, p. 100). Shoghi Effendi wrote "The Dispensation of Baha'u'llah" in 1934 in the form of a letter addressed to the Baha'is of the West to assist them to fulfil the obligation of deepening their understanding. The letter was published together with a selection of his other letters in 1938 in the book entitled The World Order of Baha'u'llah. "The Dispensation of Baha'u'llah" provides an accurate and clear description of the fundamental verities of the Baha'i Faith concerning the station of its Central Figures as well as the twin crowning institutions of the Guardianship and the Universal House of Justice. Grasping and upholding these verities will enrich the spiritual life of the individual. This tutorial is designed to assist you in studying and assimilating the content of "The Dispensation of Baha'u'llah." It is called a tutorial to emphasize the concept underlying its development. In a tutorial, a tutor facilitates learning for an individual or a small group. This book has been designed and developed to simulate, as much as possible, the tutor-tutored relationship in a self-paced personal study. The tutorial identifies the main themes covered in Shoghi Effendi's letter and splits related paragraphs into chapters. Hence, the 130 paragraphs of "The Dispensation of Baha'u'llah" are apportioned for study across 27 chapters. The size and complexity of each chapter reflects the content and intricacy of the issues addressed in the paragraphs included therein. The title chosen for each chapter reflects the main theme covered in the paragraphs. In addition, two extra chapters address those questions that arose following the sudden passing of Shoghi Effendi and the lack of any lineal descendant to succeed him as the next Guardian. The first chapter explores the possible reasons that Shoghi Effendi did not leave a will nor appoint a successor. The second chapter examines the defection of Charles Mason Remey after the passing of Shoghi Effendi, and his unsubstantiated claim to the Guardianship.

In Quotations for Making a Better World with the Baha'i Faith, author Nathan Thomas has compiled a collection of passages from the Baha'i Holy Writings and other sources to help introduce this new religion to the world as a message of hope for humanity. The book is a companion to Making a Better World with the Baha'i Faith, How Baha'is are transforming our world into a more unified, prosperous, and spiritual home for all mankind, written by the same author. Through the use of quotations from the Central Figures of the Baha'i Faith, which include the Bab, Baha'u'llah, and 'Abdu'l-Baha, along with quotations from the Guardian and the Universal House of Justice and its agencies, Quotations for Making a Better World with the Baha'i Faith explores the goals of the worldwide Baha'i community in the world, the organization that Baha'is are building to achieve those goals, and the spirit that Baha'is are infused with to ensure that the change extends to all people regardless of religion. In the process, this book helps people get a more comprehensive solution to the needs of the age that we live in, and offers a new hope for a better future for all mankind.

Baha'i Faith is a global religion of spiritual and social transformation. Baha'i Faith seeks to assist in the process of unification of all persons by breaking down barriers of race, nation, class and creed. This book gives an overview of the Bahai Faith system that can be understood on a conversational level. This book includes a section for notes and keeping a journal and is presented by The Universal Life Church Monastery of Massachusetts (ULCMM).

The Temiar are a Mon-Khmer-speaking group living in the uplands of northern Peninsular Malaysia. People in the region once practised Mahayana Buddhism and later Islam, but when Geoffrey Benjamin began his fieldwork in 1964, the Temiar practised a localised and unexportable animistic religion. Over a period of nearly 50 years he has followed the Temiar community, witnessing a series of changes that have seen them become ever more embedded in broader Malaysian society. Benjamin's work traces a process of religious enchantment, disenchantment and re-enchantment, as the Temiars reacted in various ways to Baha'i, Islam and Christianity, including developing their own new religion. In a text enriched by detailed ethnographic reportage, Benjamin draws on the Temiar experience to set out a novel theory of religion, and to explore the changing intellectual framework of anthropology over the past half-century.

Every Foreign Land takes you along on an exciting journey of spiritual exploration and adventure as the author bicycles across North America followed by 17 years in Ecuador as a pioneer-teacher of the Baha'i Faith. Stories, often humorous and thought-provoking, written in a flowing, easy style, will transport you as he travels to the Baha'i World Centre and throughout Ecuador. READERS' COMMENTS: ..". couldn't put it down " ..". read it in one night " ..". very inspiring story " ..". easy to read style... good stories to share ... it's really taking me down my own memory lane..." ..". found your story highly enjoyable as well as informative and inspiring..."

This practical, easy-to-use teacher's guide contains nine hands-on workshops on Baha'i Public Speaking. It is designed to prepare Baha'is of all ages with the skills and qualities needed to become more effective teachers of the Faith. Participants will learn to speak clearly and with confidence-from the kitchen table to the conference hall. Communicate effectively, whether giving a fireside, sharing a Feast report, telling stories at a Holy Day celebration, offering a prayer at a devotional gathering, teaching a children's class, presenting materials to public officials, speaking at a large event, or talking with family members during a home visit. Using a step-by-step approach, participants will learn to stand up with courage in front of a group, speak with a strong clear voice, research the Baha'i Writings, memorize selected passages, answer questions about the Faith, give short fireside talks, and develop their own speaking style. Complete with copy-ready student handouts, each lesson includes: * Warm-up activities * Speaking tips * Practice exercises * Homework assignment Baha'i Public Speaking is a great resource for junior youth groups and campus clubs. Local Assemblies will also find it to be a useful tool for seeker response representatives and public information officers. Opportunities to share Baha'i passages and speak directly about the Faith are multiplying. Be prepared

The Baha'i Writings state that "the education and training of children is among the most meritorious acts of humankind." Filled with fun, hands-on, kid-tested learning activities, this theme book is the third in a series of easy-to-use teacher's guides designed for Baha'i children's classes. Inside you will find a treasure trove of ideas for Baha'i summer and winter schools, Holy Day programs, academic classrooms, home schoolers and weekend retreats. The book has four sections: * The Bab: His Birth, Early Life and Station * Declaration of the Bab * Martyrdom of the Bab * The Primal Point The index at the back of the book makes it easy to find exactly what you need. Choose from stories, songs, crafts, games, puzzles, memory quotes, felt lessons, demonstrations, map exercises, student worksheets, discussion starters, group research projects, a treasure hunt, a reader's theater and much more.