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Update on Egypt
2008-01-29 21:36:00
From the Bahá'í World News Service 29 January 2008:EGYPT COURT UPHOLDS BAHA'I PLEA IN RELIGIOUS FREEDOM CASES CAIROIn a victory for religious freedom, a lower administrative court here today ruled in favor of two lawsuits that sought to resolve the government's contradictory policy on religious affiliation and identification papers.The Court of Administrative Justice in Cairo upheld arguments made in two cases concerning Baha'is who have sought to restore their full citizenship rights by asking that they be allowed to leave the religious affiliation field blank on official documents."Given the degree to which issues of religious freedom stand at the heart of human rights issues in the Middle East, the world should cheer at the decision in these two cases today," said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations."The compromise offered by the Baha'is in these two cases opens the door to a way to reconcile a government pol...
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Family history research and unity
2008-01-02 20:31:00
Just recently I've been trying to research my family history. It is a long process of finding various pieces of information about a relative and verifying that it is correct against other pieces of information about other relatives, which leads to discovery of more family members. And on it goes.What has become a source of pleasure to me through this research is the feeling of unity I get with all the names I'm researching. Even when it turns out that the family I'm researching does not fit into my family tree I feel sure that when I go further and further back I will find them linked to our family in the end.This thought of family unity had me thinking of world unity again, and seeing as the world is really one big family I don't think that is surprising. So I'd like to share some passages from the Writings of the Bahá'í Faith that teach about unity.So powerful is the light of unity that it can illuminate the whole earthBahá'u'lláh, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 1The ...
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Negligent Mankind
2007-12-21 21:16:00
Is it not astonishing that although man has been created for the knowledge and love of God, for the virtues of the human world, for spirituality, heavenly illumination and life eternal, nevertheless he continues ignorant and negligent of all this? Consider how he seeks knowledge of everything except knowledge of God. For instance, his utmost desire is to penetrate the mysteries of the lowest strata of the earth. Day by day he strives to know what can be found ten metres below the surface, what he can discover within the stone, what he can learn by archaeological research in the dust. He puts forth arduous labours to fathom terrestrial mysteries but is not at all concerned about knowing the mysteries of the Kingdom, traversing the illimitable fields of the eternal world, becoming informed of the divine realities, discovering the secrets of God, attaining the knowledge of God, witnessing the splendors of the Sun of Truth and realizing the glories of everlasting life. He is unmindful a...
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Finnish TV talk show host finds success in unconventional approach
2007-12-11 05:41:00
A story from the Bahá'í World News SewrviceTelevision talk shows often use conflict as their formula to win viewers, but a young producer in Finland is making a go of it with a different model.On his Monday night program, Aram Aflatuni presents a problem, then has a panel of experts try to solve it using consultation and cooperation."I don't believe in confrontational journalism," he says. "I do not think that it is an effective way of finding solutions."His hour-long show - "Harkaa Sarvista," or "Grab the Bull by the Horns" - this week wraps up its first season of 15 episodes and has attracted as many as 345,000 viewers. Average viewership was 220,000 - 20 percent of the TV audience for its time period.In Finland, TV shows often look for confrontation and "sometimes quite aggressive debate," said Juho-Pekka Rantala, a television executive who works on this show and others. "'Harkaa Sarvista' is different. It is looking for solutions."Viewers are invited to submit an issue for c...
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Look into everything with a searching eye
2007-11-21 18:30:00
Bahá'u'lláh said:Look into everything with a searching eye.Each individual human being should investigate spiritual truth for himself. His relationship to Almighty God is the responsibility of no one but himself. He can, and should, learn from the knowledge and experience of others, but he should notaccept their findings as the final truth for himself without a careful personal investigation.That this search for spiritual truth would require constant effort we are told in the Bible. Deuteronomy says:If from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all they heart and with all thy soul.Deuteronomy 4:29William Sears, Thief in the Night, p. 228If, in the Day when all the peoples of the earth will be gathered together, any man should, whilst standing in the presence of God, be asked: "Wherefore hast thou disbelieved in My Beauty and turned away from My Self," and if such a man should reply and say: "Inasmuch as all men have erred, and none hat...
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Beautiful new Bahá'í website launched
2007-11-07 22:31:00
A beautiful new website has just been launched by the Baha'i International Community. The site follows a timeline of the life of Bahá'u'lláh from His early life in Tehran to His ascension at Bahji, near Akka in the Holy Land, through narrative and a series of photographs of places, artifacts and relics associated directly with Him, including some that have not been published before. The launch of this website comes just before the Bahá'í holy day on 12 November that marks the anniversary of the birth of Baha'u'llah.View the website at www.bahaullah.org
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Another Bahá'í resource page
2007-10-28 21:36:00
I recently found a very good resource page for things Baha'i which includes a list of links to many non-English Web pages that provide information on the Bahá'í Faith. The languages on this list run from from Afrikaans to Urdu, and even Welsh!Check out the Bahá'í Association of the University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia.
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Bahá'í Holy Day - the Birth of The Báb
2007-10-20 07:10:00
A short history of the BábSiyyid Ali-Muhammad was born on October 20, 1819 in Shiraz, Persia (now Iran). His father died when He was at a young age and He was raised by his uncle, Haji Mirza Siyyid Ali. As a young man He joined the family business in Bushehr as a merchant.On May 23, 1844, in an upper room of His home in Shiraz, the Báb declared to a young man, Mulla Husayn, that He was the Promised One foretold in Islamic and Bible scripture. The word Báb means Gate or Door and the Báb declared that He was the gate to One greater than Himself who was to follow Him. He called this great One, "Him whom God shall make manifest." Mulla Husayn was the first to believe in Him.Seventeen others found the Báb independently and they became His first disciples whom He called The Letters of the Living.He sent out His disciples to spread His message. The news that the Báb had declared that He was the Promised One crossed the land of Persia like wildfire and thousands of people embraced the ne...
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Spiritual Springtime
2007-10-17 20:42:00
Do ye know in what cycle ye are created and in what age ye exist?This is the age of the Blessed Perfectionand this is the time of the Greatest Name!This is the century of the Manifestation,the age of the Sun of the Horizonsand the beautiful springtime of His Holiness the Eternal One!The earth is in motion and growth;the mountains, hills and prairies are green and pleasant;the bounty is overflowing;the mercy universal;the rain is descending from the cloud of mercy;the brilliant Sun is shining;the full moon is ornamenting the horizon of ether;the great ocean-tide is flooding every little stream;the gifts are successive;the favours consecutive;and the refreshing breeze is blowing,wafting the fragrant perfume of the blossoms.Boundless treasure is in the hand of the King of Kings!Lift the hem of thy garment in order to receive it.If we are not happy and joyous at this season,for what other season shall we waitand for what other time shall we look?This is the time for growing;the season f...
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In this Day deeds rather than words are necessary
2007-10-05 19:57:00
O SON OF MY HANDMAID!Guidance hath ever been given by words, and now it is given by deeds. Everyone must show forth deeds that are pure and holy, for words are the property of all alike, whereas such deeds as these belong only to Our loved ones. Strive then with heart and soul to distinguish yourselves by your deeds. In this wise We counsel you in this holy and resplendent tablet.Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words of Bahá'u'lláh, Persian No. 76O SON OF DUST!Verily I say unto thee: Of all men the most negligent is he that disputeth idly and seeketh to advance himself over his brother. Say, O brethren! Let deeds, not words, be your adorning.Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words, Persian No 5What profit is there in agreeing that universal friendship is good, and talking of the solidarity of the human race as a grand ideal? Unless these thoughts are translated into the world of action, they are useless.'Abdu'l Bahá, Paris Talks, p. 16If you desire with all your heart, friendship with ever...
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BAHA'I WORLD LOSES MOST DISTINGUISHED MEMBER
2007-09-25 06:44:00
HAIFA, Israel, 24 September 2007The worldwide Baha'i community has lost its most distinguished member with the death of Dr. Ali-Muhammad Varqa.He passed away on the evening of 22 September 2007 at his home in Haifa.In 1955, Dr. Varqa was appointed to the high rank of "Hand of the Cause" by Shoghi Effendi, Guardian of the Baha'i Faith. Dr. Varqa served in that capacity, on the international level, for 52 years until his passing. He was the last survivor of the 27 Hands of the Cause who were alive when Shoghi Effendi passed away in 1957. Dr. Varqa came from a well-known Iranian family that has served the Baha'i Faith with distinction for generations. After obtaining a doctorate from the Sorbonne in Paris in 1950, he taught in Iran at the universities of Tabriz and Tehran and served the Baha'i community there in various administrative capacities. In 1979 he moved to Canada, and later established his residence in Haifa to serve at the Baha'i World Center.He was born in 1912...

The prison of self
2007-09-19 07:23:00
O MY SERVANT!Free thyself from the fetters of this world, and loose thy soul from the prison of self. Seize thy chance, for it will come to thee no more.Baha'u'llah, The Hidden Words, Persian, no 40)'Abdu'l-Bahá said: - "Luxuries cut off the freedom of communication. One who is imprisoned by desires is always unhappy; the children of the Kingdom have unchained themselves from their desires. Break all fetters and seek for spiritual joy and enlightenment; then, though you walk on this earth, you will perceive yourselves to be within the divine horizon. To man alone is this possible. When we look about us we see every other creature captive to his environment."'Abdu'l Bahá, 'Abdu'l Bahá in London, p 87Night hath succeeded day, and day hath succeeded night, and the hours and moments of your lives have come and gone, and yet none of you hath, for one instant, consented to detach himself from that which perisheth. Bestir yourselves, that the brief moments that are still yours may ...
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Mothers - trainers of children
2007-09-09 07:53:00
Although both parents share in the overall responsibility of educating the children, the mother is given recognition as the first educator of humanity, and she must be carefully prepared for this task. Her education, in fact, from the Bahá'í point of view, is more necessary and important than that of man, for woman is the trainer of the child from its infancy. If she be defective and imperfect herself the child will necessarily be deficient; therefore imperfection of woman implies a condition of imperfection in all mankind, for it is the mother who rears, nurtures and guides the growth of the child. Baha'i International Community, Equality of Men and Women A New Reality, 5 Apr, 1993
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Our work is worship to God
2007-08-28 06:27:00
It is incumbent upon each one of you to engage in some occupation - such as a craft, a trade or the like. We have exalted your engagement in such work to the rank of worship of the one true God. Reflect, O people, on the grace and blessings of your Lord, and yield Him thanks at eventide and dawn. Waste not your hours in idleness and sloth, but occupy yourselves with what will profit you and others. Thus hath it been decreed in this Tablet from whose horizon hath shone the day-star of wisdom and utterance.Baha'u'llah, The Kitab-i-Aqdas, p. 30It is enjoined upon every one of you to engage in some form of occupation, such as crafts, trades and the like. We have graciously exalted your engagement in such work to the rank of worship unto God, the True One. Ponder ye in your hearts the grace and the blessings of God and render thanks unto Him at eventide and at dawn. Waste not your time in idleness and sloth. Occupy yourselves with that which profiteth yourselves and others. Th...
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South African film shows faith in action
2007-08-19 18:51:00
A new documantary programme about the Bahá'í Faith aired today (19th August) on South African television. This is what the Bahá'í World News Service reported about it. JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, 19 August 2007 (BWNS) Two professional filmmakers have finished an hourlong documentary about three Bahá'ís and how they practice their faith, and the film is being aired on television in South Africa and neighboring countries."Bahá'í Faith: A Way Forward" was produced by Ryan and Leyla Haidarian at the request of the South African Broadcasting Corporation, which has licensed rights to the documentary for two years."We created this film to show what the Bahá'í Faith has to offer on a practical level for the world," Mrs. Haidarian said. The film gives an introduction to the Bahá'í Faith and focuses on three individuals in South Africa and how their faith is reflected in service to others:- Eunice Mabaso turned her home into an orphanage after her brother and his wife died and she took...
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A step in the right direction in Israel?
2007-08-05 11:13:00
Israeli religious leaders establish an unprecedented joint councilOn 27 June 2007, a new forum called the Council of Religious Community Leaders in Israel convened in Jerusalem. The conference was the culmination of months of work by a steering committee, set up at the initiative of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and the Interior, for the purpose of improving inter-religious dialogue and promoting issues of common interest to all the religions in Israel.Representatives from the Jewish, Muslim, Druze, Greek Orthodox and other Christian denominations, Bahá'í, Ahmadiyya and Samaritan faiths attended the conference.At the conference, the religious leaders adopted a covenant wherein they make a commitment to the sanctity of human life and denounced violence against the innocent, especially violence in the name of religion. They state also that children must be educated in this respect. Relgious and cultural heritages should be preserved and free access for all believers to their holy...
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Iranian Baha'i students shut out of vocational education
2007-08-01 22:58:00
Another story about Iran's ongoing persecution of the Baha'i community of Iran. From the Bahai World News Service. NEW YORK, 31 July 2007Iranian Baha'is seeking to enter Iran's technical and vocational institutes have been effectively barred from admission for the coming academic year, since the application to sit for the entrance examinations leaves them with no option but to deny their faith, which Baha'is refuse to be coerced into doing.The Baha'i International Community learned recently that the 2007 form for the entrance examination for undergraduate courses under the technical and vocational education system indicates that only one box may be marked for religion.The applicant is given three choices - Zoroastrian, Jewish, or Christian - and if none of the boxes is marked, the form explains, the applicant will be considered Muslim. This is unacceptable to Baha'is."Under this system, Baha'is cannot fill out the application without a de facto denial of their faith, which i...
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The Bahá'í Faith and Christianity
2007-07-21 20:29:00
As to the position of Christianity , let it be stated without any hesitation or equivocation that its divine origin is unconditionally acknowledged, that the Sonship and Divinity of Jesus Christ are fearlessly asserted, that the divine inspiration of the Gospel is fully recognized, that the reality of the mystery of the Immaculacy of the Virgin Mary is confessed, and the primacy of Peter, the Prince of the Apostles, is upheld and defended.Shoghi Effendi, The Promised Day is Come, p. 109A friend asked how the teachings of Bahá'u'lláh contrasted with the teachings of Jesus Christ. "The teachings are the same." declared 'Abdu'l-Bahá; "It is the same foundation and the same temple. Truth is one, and without division. The teachings of Jesus are in a concentrated form. Men do not agree to this day as to the meaning of many of His sayings. His teachings are as a flower in the bud. Today, the bud is unfolding into a flower! Bahá'u'lláh has expanded and fulfilled the teachings, and has ...
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Dynamics of prayer
2007-07-01 00:01:00
First a word on "pilgrims notes."While on pilgrimage pilgrims often take down notes of talks and sayings they hear at the world centre to share with their friends when they go home. These notes are called "pilgrims notes" and although interesting are not considered part of the authentic writings of the Faith. According to the Teachings of Bahá'u'lláh no authority can be attached to a mere hearsay, no matter through whom it may come. The Tablets that bear the seal or signature of Bahá'u'lláh and the Master are the only parts of the literature that have any authority and that constitute the basis of our belief. All other forms of literature may bear points of interest but they cannot be considered as authentic.(Compilations, Lights of Guidance, p. 439)While these notes taken down by the pilgrims do not constitute as official pronouncements made by the Guardian, and therefore should not be imposed on the friends, those who wish to share them with the members of the Community should...
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Religions change and alter
2007-06-26 20:10:00
...If religions did not change and alter, there would be no need of renewal. In the beginning the tree was in all its beauty, and full of blossoms and fruits, but at last it became old and entirely fruitless, and it withered and decayed. This is why the True Gardener plants again an incomparable young tree of the same kind and species, which grows and develops day by day, and spreads a wide shadow in the divine garden, and yields admirable fruit. So it is with religions; through the passing of time they change from their original foundation, the truth of the Religion of God entirely departs, and the spirit of it does not stay; heresies appear, and it becomes a body without a soul. That is why it is renewed.'Abdu'l Bahá, Some Answered Questions, p. 166
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Thinking globally
2007-06-17 20:40:00
... [the Bahá'í community] is a single social organism, representative of the diversity of the human family, conducting its affairs through a system of commonly accepted consultative principles, and cherishing equally all the great outpourings of divine guidance in human history. Its existence is yet another convincing proof of the practicality of its Founder's vision of a united world, another evidence that humanity can live as one global society, equal to whatever challenges its coming of age may entail. If the Bahá'í experience can contribute in whatever measure to reinforcing hope in the unity of the human race, we are happy to offer it as model for study.Universal House of Justice, The Promise of World Peace - A Statement to the Peoples of the World, October 1985Read The Promise of World Peace in its entirety or download a copy as a pdf file.
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The missing link
2007-06-12 20:58:00
It has been brought to my attention that the link below for the Bahá'í Date software is broken or unavailable. Apologies for this, but the good news is that the software is now available through a new link. You can now download it here.
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Baha'i Date software
2007-06-08 20:26:00
Install Baha'i Date and you can have the correct Baha'i date ready on your desktop at a moments notice. Also have the accurate location of Bahji from anywhere on the globe as an added feature.Download the software here
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True Bahá'í by definition
2007-06-01 20:54:00
He is a true Bahá'í who strives by day and by night to progress and advance along the path of human endeavour, whose most cherished desire is so to live and act as to enrich and illuminate the world, whose source of inspiration is the essence of divine virtue, whose aim in life is so to conduct himself as to be the cause of infinite progress. Only when he attains unto such perfect gifts can it be said of him that he is a true Bahá'í. For in this holy Dispensation, the crowning glory of bygone ages and cycles, true faith is no mere acknowledgement of the unity of God, but rather the living of a life that will manifest all the perfections and virtues implied in such belief.'Abdu'l Bahá, translated by Shoghi Effendi and published in The Bahá'í World, vol. 2, "1925-1928" The Compilation of Compilations vol II, p. 346)
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The Ascension of Bahá?u?lláh - Bahá'í Holy Day
2007-05-28 20:07:00
In the early hours of 29th May Bahá?ís around the world commemorate the passing of Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Bahá'í Faith. Although still a prisoner, during the last years of His life Bahá?u?lláh lived in the mansion of Bahji outside the walls of the prison city of Akka. It was here that He passed away in the early hours of 29th May 1892. Nine months before His passing Bahá'u'lláh spoke of His desire to leave this world and it became increasingly clear that the time of His passing was nearing.On the evening of May 8th 1892 Bahá'u'lláh developed a slight fever which, though it worsened the following day, then seemed to improve. He continued to meet friends and visitors but it was plain that He was not well.Six days before Bahá'u'lláh passed away He called His followers assembled at Bahji to His bedside where He spoke gently and affectionately to them for the last time."I am well pleased with you all" He said "Ye have rendered many services, and been very assiduous in y...
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Service to humanity is service to God
2007-05-26 19:35:00
That one indeed is a man who, today, dedicateth himself to the service of the entire human race. The Great Being saith: Blessed and happy is he that ariseth to promote the best interests of the peoples and kindreds of the earth. In another passage He hath proclaimed: It is not for him to pride himself who loveth his own country, but rather for him who loveth the whole world. The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizensBahá?u?lláh, Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá?u?lláh, p. 248Briefly, all effort and exertion put forth by man from the fullness of his heart is worship, if it is prompted by the highest motives and the will to do service to humanity. This is worship: to serve mankind and to minister to the needs of the people. Service is prayer.'Abdu'l-Bahá, Paris Talks, p. 176Soon will your swiftly-passing days be over, and the fame and riches, the comforts, the joys provided by this rubbish-heap, the world, will be gone without a trace. Summon ye, then, the people to G...
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Teaching the children
2007-05-13 11:12:00
That which is of paramount importance for the children, that which must precede all else, is to teach them the oneness of God and the Laws of God. For lacking this, the fear of God cannot be inculcated, and lacking the fear of God an infinity of odious and abominable actions will spring up, and sentiments will be uttered that transgress all bounds. . . ....parents must exert every effort to rear their offspring to be religious, for should the children not attain this greatest of adornments, they will not obey their parents, which in a certain sense means that they will not obey God. Indeed, such children will show no consideration to anyone, and will do exactly as they please.Bahá'u'lláh, Bahá'í Education, a compilation of the Universal House of Justice...Schools must first train the children in the principles of religion, so that the Promise and the Threat recorded in the Books of God may prevent them from the things forbidden and adorn them with the mantle of the commandments; ...
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New Bahá'í portal
2007-05-06 10:39:00
Map of Bahá'í blogs from the Bahainine website.From the Bahainine website: The map you see on bahainine.com right now is only one small part of our overall project soon to be www.bahaitop9.com. The larger goal is a site where the newest and best Baha'i generated content - like blogs, podcasts, flickr pictures, and youtube videos - are dynamically collected and updated in a single portal. It's so amazing to read blogs about Feast in Tanzania, see video of junior youth in Malaysia and pictures of study circles in El Salvador - and eventually this website will be a simple portal to see it all!Take a look here.
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International Reading Room
2007-05-02 21:00:00
For those around the world and those who don't speak English, the Planet Bahá'í web site offers a selection of materials on the Bahá'í Faith in other languages and pertaining to countries around the world in their Intern ational Reading Room . You'll also find resources to help you learn about different countries. This reading room is continually being updated so you may want to bookmark it and return periodically to see what is new.

Without religion? - Chaos and confusion!
2007-04-25 22:30:00
...In truth, religion is a radiant light and an impregnable stronghold for the protection and welfare of the peoples of the world, for the fear of God impelleth man to hold fast to that which is good, and shun all evil. Should the lamp of religion be obscured, chaos and confusion will ensue, and the lights of fairness and justice, of tranquillity and peace cease to shine. Unto this will bear witness every man of true understanding.Baha'u'llah, Tablets of Baha'u'llah , p. 125
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