Baha'i Rants - A Baha'i Blog Baha'i Rants - A Baha'i Blog A personal Baha'i blog discussing the world wide Baha'i community, news, commentary and other little tid-bits from around the world. 
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US Annual Report from National Spiritual Assembly of US
2007-05-10 01:44:00 Here is the Ridvan 2007 Annual Report from the National Spirit ual Assembly of the Baha’is of the United States. My comments and personal thoughts are here. If you’d like a PDF version click here (pdf). You’ll need an Adobe Acrobat or similar software to read it. The underlined are my own emphasis to draw your attention ...
US NSA Annual Report - Ridvan 2007
2007-05-08 15:54:00 It now seems that the US National Spiritual Assembly may not be as asleep at the wheel as it seems. Or perhaps not all members are snoozing. Or perhaps the full frontal assault of reality on their senses is simply too much for even them to ignore any further. Here is the full Annual Repo rt of ...
Highlight From US National Convention
2007-05-07 15:51:00 Here is a full audio transcript of the closing address by Continental Counsellor Rebequa Murphy to the US National Convention . Bolded text is for emphais and my comments are in square brackets: [BEGIN TRANSCRIPT] It is wonderful the manner in which the friends immediately focused their consultation on that 19 April letter. And you know, to me, ... More About: Light , High , Highlight
Truth Happens
2007-05-06 18:40:00 If I seem to have not updated the past few days it is because I’ve been very busy. In fact there is much that I would like to write and share with you. Especially a recent event which, I believe, is one for the history books. But of course, you won’t hear or read about ... More About: Truth , Internet , Pens , Ruth
Further Victories? for Incumbancy
2007-05-01 16:20:00 We just had another round of National Conventions around the world to elect National Spiritual Assemblies (NSA). For the most part it seems to have been another sound victory for incumbancy. The nudge nudge, wink wink letter from the House of Justice, was, for the most part, largely ignored as the same people were elected ... More About: Tori , Victor , Banc
All Things Are of God
2007-05-01 00:35:00 That rabblerouser, Brian Taraz, is at it again! Now he’s come up with a brilliant plan. I’ll let him describe it in his own words: Who’s up for a “deed”-a-thon? “Say: O servants! Let not the means of order be made the cause of confusion and the instrument of union an occasion for discord. We fain would hope ... More About: Things , Thing
Baha?i Administrative Bureaucracy
2007-04-29 17:10:00 It is fun to look at the Baha’i administration through the prism lens of organizational studies. It is rather difficult for a Baha’i to have such knowledge and not indulge. So allow me the indulgence. Recently Steve featured an article which tried to depict the Baha’i administration as inhabiting the ’sweet spot’ inside a theoretical framework ... More About: Administrative , Trat , Admin , Stra , Bureaucracy
Life After Death
2007-04-28 17:06:00 cartoon credit: Sinfest.net Know, verily, that the soul is a sign of God, a heavenly gem whose reality the most learned of men hath failed to grasp, and whose mystery no mind, however acute, can ever hope to unravel. It is the first among all created things to declare the excellence of its Creator, the first ... More About: Humor , Life , Death , After
Baha?u'llah?s Prison Cell in Akka, Israel
2007-04-24 15:50:00 This is dedicated to White Hanky. The video is by an amateur videographer so it is a bit shaky and the production values aren’t that great but who cares? You can actually see the exterior and interior of the prison. And in the next segment of the video some other sites in Akka. And here you can ... More About: Israel , Cell , Prison , Riso , Isra
Happy Ridvan ! The King of Festivals is here !!
2007-04-22 16:52:00 They have the 12 days of Christmas… we have the 12 days of Ridvan! Get out there and enjoy them. Especially day 1, 9 and 12 (pssst! they’re holy days so you don’t have to work) The entrance to the Ridvan garden. On the first day of Ridvan my true love gave to me… Ruhi book #8 made ... More About: Humor , Festivals , The King , Happy , Fest
Does Evil Exist?
2007-04-21 14:42:00 cartoon credit Sinfest.net As Baha’is, we believe that evil doesn’t really exist; that it is simply the absence of good. Or a lack of good. Here is the Master’s words from Some Answered Questions: In creation there is no evil, all is good. Certain qualities and natures innate in some men and apparently blameworthy are not so ... More About: Humor , Evil , Exist
Ridvan Message 2007 From the House of Justice
2007-04-20 17:37:00 To the Baha’is of the World Dear loved Friends, The first year of the Five Year Plan bears eloquent testimony to the spirit of devotion with which Baha’u'llah’s followers have embraced the framework for action presented in our message of 27 December 2005 and their commitment to advancing the process of entry by troops. Where this framework ... More About: House , Justice , Essa , Message , Sage
A Baha?i & His Conscience
2007-04-18 18:17:00 am really glad that Brendan has written and shared his latest piece “Cons cience “. It explores many of the same questions and ideas that I grapple with myself. And I’m sure others would be lying if they said they didn’t at some point have a somewhat similar dialogue with their conscience. I see Brendan as ... More About: Internet
Dizzy Gillespie Video Interviews
2007-04-17 00:33:00 Here are three old videos showing a young Dizzie Gillespie talking about his music and its relationship with the Baha’i Faith: The above was recorded at the Baha’i Caribbean Conference held in 1971. At around that time the Panama temple was being constructed. In the video you might also recognize a young Jim Seals lobbing the ... More About: Video , Views , Interviews , Inter , Interview
Baha?i Elections - How To Improve Them? - part I
2007-04-15 18:35:00 So everyone is poring over the recent Universal House of Justice (UHJ) message of March 25 2007 on Baha’i elections. You should read the UHJ’s letter for yourself but if you’re feeling lazy, I’ll offer to save you the trouble and summarize it: A bunch of fluffy and very nice sounding rhetoric. A dash of quotes ... More About: Elections , How To , Election , Them , Part
How To Get Closer To God
2007-04-14 15:34:00 This just might work: cartoon credit: Sinfest.net The Friend is nearer to me than my self But it is more strange that I am far from him What am I to do? To whom can it be said that he Is in my arms, but I am exiled from him -Sa’adi (The Rose Garden - Gulistan) Read a commentary by Baha’u'llah on ... More About: God , How To , Close , Loser , Closer
Chile Baha?i Temple Video
2007-04-13 04:15:00 This is a new video showcasing the Baha’i temple in Chile , Santiago: This short video (about 8 minutes long) features the architect of the temple, Hariri, talking about the concept behind the design of the temple. The structure looks simply stunning. Related: Chile Temp le Category (where you’ll find all the content of this blog on the ... More About: Video
National Spiritual Assembly (United States) Letter - April 8, 2007
2007-04-12 23:55:00 I did a double take when I read this excerpt from a letter dated April 8th 2007 sent by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of the United States : Our assessment of the Bahá’í community?s spiritual vitality and prospects for growth inspires our confidence that ?the elements required for a concerted effort to infuse [our ...
A Dialogue Between An Atheist & A Man of God
2007-04-11 16:27:00 A fascinating dialogue between the Bishop of Oxford and Richard Dawkins: A tad on the long side (around 30 minutes) but nevertheless quite an extraordinary display of not only intelligent ideas but also a civility often lacking in such discussions. More About: God , Atheist , Between , Dialog , Dialogue
An Interview With Brian Taraz - part III
2007-04-11 02:03:00 If you haven’t yet read part I and part II, do so. Here we continue with our next and alas, final installment of Baha’i Rants first interview subject: Brian Taraz. My questions are in bold and Brian’s answers are in regular font. I’m curious what your thoughts are about this very medium we are using to ... More About: Inter , Interview , With , View , Part
Baha?i Ruhi Institute Course
2007-04-11 00:08:00 Thanks to Steve for this gem from Baha’i Studies: In order to advance to an A cluster a certain number of people must complete a few of the courses. Since I don’t really learn anything or enjoy Ruhi I was wondering if there is some way one can ‘do’ a course without going in a course ... More About: Course , Institute
Yes Virginia, Gay Baha?is Do Exist
2007-04-09 16:22:00 Michael, one of the bright and courages youth behind Year of Faith blog, posted his ‘debriefing’ on Baha’i Journal. He especially had a ‘burning question’… oh boy… here it comes: What is your stance on homosexuality? I am aware of what the Baha’i position is, but I am curious if you agree or disagree. ... More About: Virginia , Virgin , Exist
Baha?i Blogs & Other Online Baha?i News
2007-04-08 20:48:00 Here are some new happenings around Baha’i cyberspace: White Handkerchief It is always good to see a new Baha’i blogger! I love the name of the blog. I don’t want to spoil it for you so read the author’s own explanation. The Blend Monthly This relatively new blog offers insight, news, poetry, stories, and a variety of other contributions ... More About: News , Other , Blogs , Blog , Online
The Biggest Mistake Baha?is Make
2007-04-08 02:54:00 This post was inspired by a comment left by “jaap”. S/he said: Dear Baquia, Thank you for your thoughts, claiming that indepedent investigation of truth ?precedes everything? is an absolute statement and therefore it excludes all other arguments.Don?t you see that this argument bites itself in it?s tail? Obviously I am not able to provide conclusive answers, but ... More About: Take , Make , Mist , Mista
Cryptic Enlightenment
2007-04-06 16:13:00 A fairly good representation of my current search for enlightenment: via Sinfest.net More About: Men , Light , Enlightenment , Crypt
Children Playing on Akka?s Walls
2007-04-05 16:18:00 It’s wonderful to see some life affirming exuberance on walls that once were deadly serious. Here are some children having fun, running and diving off the walls of the sea-fortress, Akka (known to the locals as Acco): Photo credits go to Ryan Lash - who has, by the way, just recently been employed by the Baha’i ... More About: Children , Play , Wall , Child , Walls
An Interview With Brian Taraz - Part II
2007-04-03 14:17:00 You have been so patient and for that I thank you. Here is the second part of the interview with the inimitable Brian Taraz! (An Inter view With Brian Taraz - Part I) If you’ll recall, we left off the last portion of the interview just as Brian was about to delve into his individual initiative or personal ... More About: Interview , View
Tragic News From the Haaritz Newspaper
2007-04-01 17:17:00 The world wide Baha’i community was saddened to hear the tragic news that all of the members of the Universal House of Justice died after their Gulfstream IV jet crashed on its way as it returned from Aruba. Investigations are, as yet, inconclusive regarding the cause but the authorities are confident once the black box is ... More About: News , C News , Tragic , Ragi , Paper
An Interview With Brian Taraz - Part I
More articles from this author:2007-03-27 08:02:00 I’m very happy to bring to you the first interview on Baha’i Rants and it is with none other than Brian Taraz. Brian is an actor, musician, singer, father, husband, Baha’i and much more (though not necessarily in that order everyday). You can listen to some of his music at purevolume. My favourite is ‘the ... More About: Inter , Interview , With , View , Part 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
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