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.
The first full-length biography of one of the greatest women in world religious history. Her towering spiritual strength offers readers an unrivaled model of sacrifice and service to one's faith.Born in Tehran, Bahiyyih Khanum (18461932) was the daughter of Baha'u'llah (18171892), Prophet and Founder of the Baha'i religion. Because Baha'u'llah's teachings were seen in His homeland as a heretical threat to the established order, He and His immediate family and a small group of followers were exiled for some forty years. Meanwhile, thousands of other followers were exterminated in an effort to eradicate the new faith.From the age of seven, Bahiyyih Khanum accompanied her father in exile to Baghdad, Constantinople, Adrianople, and eventually 'Akka, suffering all of the privations her father suffered. Yet she played a unique and crucial role in supporting her family; assisting members of the religion during periods of unspeakably brutal persecution; managing the small band's household under prison conditions; and, later in life, working with Baha'u'llah's successors to establish the Baha'i Faith as a universally recognized world religion. Her confident and resilient response to hardship and suffering, her acceptance of administrative responsibility, her exemplary leadership, and her capacity to deal constructively with change were exceptional.
A visually stunning graphic novel that is based on actual events from one of the many dramatic episodes surrounding the emergence of the Bahai Faith in mid-nineteenth century Persia. Zanjan places fictional characters amid the real events that took place on the streets of cities and towns all over Persia where the imperial army literally waged war on the peaceful followers of the new religion.
In the 19th century, countless individuals believed a new Revelation was imminent. In Persia, the Báb fulfilled the prediction by several clerics of the appearance of the Promised Qa'im. Tahirih of Qazvin, a gifted teacher, was at the vanguard of spreading the Báb's teachings. She unceasingly proclaimed the Bábí Faith and brought a deeper understanding of its teachings to the rapidly growing numbers of its converts. Her vibrant poetry gave voice to her spiritual longing and passion, and its freshness reflected the vitality of the new spiritual teachings. She emerged as the most outspoken of the Baacute;biacute; leaders. The authorities responded by having her murdered in the dead of night. The memory of her life survives in her poems. At the same time, many Americans believed the Second Coming of Christ was imminent. Several churches and movements emerged, some founded by women. Among them were Ellen G. White, a theological thinker who shaped the beliefs of the Adventist movement, Sojourner Truth, who came up from slavery to electrify audiences with her salvation preaching, and Mary Baker Eddy, founder of the Church of Christ Science; these women leaders were prefigured in the 18th century by 'Mother' Ann Lee, founder of the Shakers, and the long forgotten female 'exhorters'. The Calling by Hussein Ahdieh and Hillary Chapman describes Tahirih in a fresh, new manner, juxtaposing and interweaving her life and work with that of her American contemporaries women whose existence she was probably not aware of, but who shared with her a spiritual bond and vision of progress and justice.
In Every Root an Anchor, writer and arborist R. Bruce Allison celebrates Wisconsin's most significant, unusual, and historic trees. More than one hundred tales introduce us to trees across the state, some remarkable for their size or age, others for their intriguing histories. From magnificent elms to beloved pines to Frank Lloyd Wright's oaks, these trees are woven into our history, contributing to our sense of place. They are anchors for time-honored customs, manifestations of our ideals, and reminders of our lives' most significant events. For this updated edition, Allison revisits the trees' histories and tells us which of these unique landmarks are still standing. He sets forth an environmental message as well, reminding us to recognize our connectedness to trees and to manage our tree resources wisely. As early Wisconsin conservationist Increase Lapham said, "Tree histories increase our love of home and improve our hearts. They deserve to be told and remembered."
In 1844, a young merchant from Shiraz called Sayyid ‘Ali-Muhammad declared himself the ‘gate’ (the Bab) to the Truth and, shortly afterwards, the initiator of a new prophetic cycle. His messianic call attracted a significant following across Iran and Iraq. Regarded as a threat by state and religious authorities, the Babis were subject to intense persecution and the Bab himself was executed in 1850. In this volume, leading scholars of Islam, Baha’i studies and Iranian history come together to examine the life and legacy of the Bab, from his childhood to the founding of the Baha’i faith and beyond. Among other subjects, they cover the Bab’s writings, his Qur’an commentaries, the societal conditions that underlay the Babi upheavals, the works of Babi martyr Tahirih Qurratu’l-‘Ayn, and Orientalist Edward Granville Browne’s encounters with Babi and Baha’i texts.
A compassionate, shame-free guide for your darkest days “A one-of-a-kind book . . . to read for yourself or give to a struggling friend or loved one without the fear that depression and suicidal thoughts will be minimized, medicalized or over-spiritualized.”—Kay Warren, cofounder of Saddleback Church What happens when loving Jesus doesn’t cure you of depression, anxiety, or suicidal thoughts? You might be crushed by shame over your mental illness, only to be told by well-meaning Christians to “choose joy” and “pray more.” So you beg God to take away the pain, but nothing eases the ache inside. As darkness lingers and color drains from your world, you’re left wondering if God has abandoned you. You just want a way out. But there’s hope. In I Love Jesus, But I Want to Die, Sarah J. Robinson offers a healthy, practical, and shame-free guide for Christians struggling with mental illness. With unflinching honesty, Sarah shares her story of battling depression and fighting to stay alive despite toxic theology that made her afraid to seek help outside the church. Pairing her own story with scriptural insights, mental health research, and simple practices, Sarah helps you reconnect with the God who is present in our deepest anguish and discover that you are worth everything it takes to get better. Beautifully written and full of hard-won wisdom, I Love Jesus, But I Want to Die offers a path toward a rich, hope-filled life in Christ, even when healing doesn’t look like what you expect.
Monumental epic poem tells the heroic story of Aeneas, a Trojan who escaped the burning ruins of Troy to found Lavinium, the parent city of Rome, in the west.