Reporting on major developments and endeavors of the global Bahá'í community.

We tell a story from the history of the Bahai Faith and talk about what we can learn and apply in our daily lives today. The stories are from Bahai sources, but the conversations we have are our personal thoughts. more

Our Parents before us had the bounty to listen to some of these talks in person (in a couple of Mr. Taherzadeh talks you can hear my dad coughing in the background). I grew up and listened to some of these cassette tapes in my family's car. Once cassette tapes were phased out these tapes also were phased out of my life, until now.This Podcast will share Baha'i Talks I have come across which have been edited to enhance the audio quality as well as cassette tapes I've digitized called 'Our Parents Archive'. Not official in any capacity.Questions: Contact me @Naisaan or www.naisaannadimi.net more

Explores the application of Baha'i principles towards society building.

These are the audios from our main presentations on YouTube.com/BridgingBeliefsDelve into Bahá'í and philosophical subjects, principles, and objections. This individual initiative is not authoritative, but merely represents my understanding of the Bahá'í Faith. I encourage you to read the Baha'i Writings independently and visit www.bahai.org. My intention is to dispel misunderstandings, explore deeper truths, and bridge the seeming divides among the world's great Holy Texts.'The objection most commonly raised... is the assertion that the differences among the revealed faiths are so fundamental that to present them as stages or aspects of one unified system of truth does violence to the facts. Given the confusion surrounding the nature of religion, the reaction is understandable. Chiefly, however, such an objection offers Bahá'ís an invitation to set the principles reviewed here more explicitly in the evolutionary context provided in Bahá'u'lláh's writings.' --One Common Faith, p 24YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/BridgingBeliefsPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/bridgingbeliefsFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/BridgingBeliefs9Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bridgingbeliefs9Twitter: https://twitter.com/BridgingBeliefsOfficial Bahá'í website: http://www.bahai.org more

Bahá'í Books & Authors is a podcast that explores the wide-ranging world of Bahá'í literature, featuring insightful discussions on books of all genres. It focuses on uncovering the stories and inspirations behind the books, with interviews that offer a deeper understanding of their themes and creation. The podcast brings the richness of Bahá'í literature to life. Bahá'í Books & Authors is a Bahá'í Publishing Trust podcast, hosted by Jan Grammer and produced by World Unity Media. Visit the Bahá'í Publishing Trust at BahaiBookStore.com . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. more

The Stories of the Master podcast is a series of short stories about a central figure and the Perfect Exemplar of the Bahá'í Faith, 'Abdu'l-Bahá. This podcast is an individual initiative and does not formally represent the Bahá'í Faith, it's followers or it's institutions. It's just a service that I wanted to exist in the world and I hope you like it. more

Some Answered Questions was first published in 1908. It contains questions asked to `Abdu'l-Bahá by Laura Clifford Barney, during several of her visits to Haifa between 1904 and 1906, and `Abdu'l-Bahá's answers to these questions.Prominent among the topics are detailed explanations of Christian subjects, including interpretations of chapters 11 and 12 of the Book of Revelation, chapter 11 of the Book of Isaiah, the story of Genesis, and many other subjects.https://192.3.62.119/add_projectTopics covered include God, Prophets of God, Christian subjects, evolution, the soul, immortality, fate, free will, healing, the non-existence of evil, and reincarnation. (Introduction derived from Wikipedia) more

In 1992, Dr. Darius Shahrokh, a retired physician-surgeon, recorded some deepening talks upon the insistence of friends in his Bahá'í Community. Each program in this series is the result of months of study of resources in both English and Persian. Some consider Windows to the Past to be stories, but it should be remembered that the stories are not intended to be entertainment, but to inform, elucidate, and inspire the listener. The programs have relevant stories purposefully placed to lighten the concentration or emphasize a point.Windows to the Past has been praised by listeners who state that the series is packed with information and inspiration and presented in a style that holds attention. more

Histórias e Palestras

Empezamos con el libro 'Dios Pasa' escrito por Shoghi Effendi, publicado en Ingles bajo el titulo de 'God Passes By' en 1944 en el aniversario de los primeros cien años de la Fe Bahá'í. Luego seguimos con el audio de 'El Día Prometido ha Llegado' publicado en 1941, en plena segunda guerra mundial. Los escritos de Shoghi Effendi son obras maestras, donde el estilo preciso, claro y elegante transmite un contenido notablemente inspirado que agita en conmoción el corazón de todo lector receptivo. more

'This book is the history of a proscribed and persecuted sect written by one of themselves,' writes Professor Edward Granville Browne, the Cambridge Orientalist who translated this narrative. 'After suffering in silence for nigh upon half a century, they at length find voice to tell their tale and offer their apology. Of this voice I am the interpreter.' This work is the story of the life of the Siyyid 'Alí-Muhammad-i-Shírází (1819-1850), known as the 'Báb', which is Arabic for 'Gate'. He claimed to be none other than the Promised One of Islám and a new Manifestation of God. He also proclaimed that He was the Gate, Herald and Forerunner of an even greater Manifestation of God who would come soon after Him, the Promised One of all religions and Return of Christ in the Glory of the Father, Mírzá Husayn-'Alí-yi-Núrí (1817-1892), known as Bahá'u'lláh (Arabic for 'The Glory of God'). The followers of the Báb were known as Bábís. When Bahá'u'lláh declared His mission in 1863, most Bábís accepted Him as the Manifestation foretold by the Báb. Bahá'u'lláh's followers then became known as Bahá'ís. This book also describes Bahá'u'lláh's exile and His teachings. Edward G. Browne continued to refer to Bahá'ís as Bábís, but this isn't quite correct, as the Bahá'í Faith represents a new religious dispensation and is now recognised as the second most widespread religion on the planet and most recent of the great world religions. This narrative was composed by 'Abbás Effendí (1844-1921), also known as 'Abdu'l-Bahá (Arabic for 'Servant of the Glory'). He was the eldest son of Bahá'u'lláh and leader of the Bahá'í Faith after Bahá'u'lláh's passing. Browne, who met the Author in Palestine, writes (p. xxxvi.) that 'Abdu'l-Bahá was 'a tall strongly-built man holding himself straight as an arrow, with white turban and raiment, long black locks reaching almost to the shoulder, broad powerful forehead indicating a strong intellect combined with an unswerving will, eyes keen as a hawk's, and strongly-marked but pleasing features… One more eloquent of speech, more ready of argument, more apt of illustration, more intimately acquainted with the sacred books of the Jews, the Christians, and the Muhammadans, could, I should think, scarcely be found even amongst the eloquent, ready, and subtle race to which he belongs'. NOTE: I have decided not to read the whole introduction by E.G. Browne. Instead, I have recorded just the first three pages thereof (pp. vii. ix.), which give a brief explanation of the work. While the introduction is very interesting, it is also very long, constituting a narrative in itself, and may distract the reader from 'Abdu'l-Bahá's story. The remainder of the introduction contains a lot of useful information, including Browne's account of how he became interested in the Bábí and Bahá'í Faiths (pp. ix. xx.) and his famous verbal portrait of Bahá'u'lláh (pp. xxxix. xl.). The entire introduction could be read as part of a short works collection. I have also omitted most of E.G. Browne's footnotes, which often contain long quotations in Arabic or Persian or otherwise distract the reader from the narrative. Likewise, the long notes at the end of the book have been omitted.'(Summary by Nicholas James Bridgewater) more

'The primary aim of this work is twofold,' writes Thomas K. Cheyne. 'It would fain contribute to the cause of universal peace, and promote the better understanding of the various religions which really are but one religion. The union of religions must necessarily precede the union of races, which at present is so lamentably incomplete…. I have endeavoured to study the various races and religions on their best side, and not to fetter myself to any individual teacher or party, for 'out of His fullness have all we received.' Max Müller was hardly right in advising the Brahmists to call themselves Christians, and it is a pity that we so habitually speak of Buddhists and Mohammedans. I venture to remark that the favourite name of the Bahais among themselves is 'Friends.'… Wishing to get nearer to a 'human-catholic' religion I have sought the privilege of simultaneous membership of several brotherhoods of Friends of God. It is my wish to show that both these and other homes of spiritual life are, when studied from the inside, essentially one, and that religions necessarily issue in racial and world-wide unity.' Thomas Kelly Cheyne, D.Litt. D.D., was an English divine and Biblical critic. He was born in London and educated at Merchant Taylors' School, London and Oxford University. Subsequently he studied German theological methods at Göttingen. He was ordained in 1864 and held a fellowship at Balliol College, Oxford, 1868-1882. He became Oriel Professor of the Interpretation of Holy Scripture in 1885, which post he resigned in 1908. Cheyne was the first person to meet 'Abdu'l-Bahá, the leader of the Bahá'í Faith, on His arrival in Oxford on the 31st of December, 1912. 'Abdu'l-Bahá was impressed by Cheyne and gave him the epithet Ruhání (Spiritual) and addressed him as 'my spiritual philosopher'. By 1914, this renowned Christian scholar became a member of the Bahá'í Faith. He wrote the present work, The Reconciliation of Races and Religions, in that same year. The book consists mainly of Bábí and Bahá'í historical and biographical notes. At the time, membership in the Bahá'í Faith did not require one to renounce membership in the church, so he remained a Christian minister. He was also interested in and had sympathies towards other religious teachings and movement such as the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers). (Introduction by Nicholas J. Bridgewater) more

This work is the story of a pilgrimage made over a hundred years ago by a group of American pilgrims. They were not headed for Canterbury, Rome or Jerusalem. Rather, they were headed for an historical but remote prison-city in a far corner of the Ottoman Empire. 'Akká (Akko), now a city in Israel which attracts thousands of Bahá'í pilgrims each year, was but little thought of in that early period. It was originally the final place of exile and imprisonment for Bahá'u'lláh, a Persian nobleman who proclaimed that He was the Promised One of all religions and Messenger of God for this day and age. It was also the home of His eldest son, 'Abbás Effendí, known as 'Abdu'l-Bahá (Servant of Bahá), or Áqá (the Master), who was the leader of the Bahá'í Faith after Bahá'u'lláh's passing in 1892. The first Western Bahá'í pilgrims arrived in 1898, which was then followed by a nearly continuous stream of pilgrims that has now grown into a river of devoted followers from all parts of the globe. The Bahá'í Faith was a little known religion in the late 19th and early 20th centuries but has now become widely recognised as the newest of the great world religions and the second-most widespread religion on the planet. The author, Julia M. Grundy, is a bit of a mystery. She was in the pilgrimage party of Mr. and Mrs. Howard MacNutt in 1905. This book, published in 1907, is the result of that journey. It contains the teachings and wisdom which Grundy recorded during her brief stay in the Holy Land. While these insights may be valuable, one must remember that Bahá'ís do not consider 'pilgrim's notes' as authoritative. They may not represent the actual words spoken by 'Abdu'l-Bahá. For information on authoritative Bahá'í teachings, please consult the writings of Bahá'u'lláh, 'Abdu'l-Bahá and Shoghi Effendi. (Introduction by Nicholas J. Bridgewater) more

'Bahaism is not a new religion,' writes Hippolyte Dreyfus-Barney, 'It is religion renewed… it does not pretend to represent the whole Truth; on the contrary, it recognises Truth in fundamental principles which are the basis of all former dispensations, and which for that very reason form the standpoint of concord too long lost sight of. And it requires people to renounce ancient superstitions, to abandon the dead letter in order to be penetrated by the living and vivifying spirit, then by that very means it confirms the original purity of their religion, whilst helping them to know and love everything profoundly beautiful in the others… it will suffice for me to indicate that the Bahais believe that from all eternity God has raised up among human creatures higher beings who have inculcated mankind with the great moral principles on which societies are founded, and have thus been the supreme guides of its evolution.'Hippolyte Dreyfus earned his doctorate in law in February 1898 and became the first French Bahá'í in 1901. In 1903 he gave up his legal career to devote himself to oriental studies. He enrolled at the École pratique des hautes études university in Paris, where he studied Arabic and Persian to be able to translate the Bahá'í writings into French. He was one of the only Western Bahá'ís of his generation to received such formal training. He was the author of numerous books, articles and translations of the Bahá'í faith. Dreyfus-Barney attained in September 1902 with an American Bahá'í, Lua Getsinger, an audience with Muzaffaru'd-Din Shah in Paris. During this meeting the Shah was personally handed a petition to protect their co-religionists in Iran. After his marriage (1911) with the American Bahá'í Laura Clifford Barney, he adopted the name Dreyfus-Barney. He also traveled to numerous countries and represented the Bahá'ís in legal disputes. He died on 20 December 1928 and was buried in the Montmartre Cemetery in Paris. He was posthumously appointed by Shoghi Effendi as one of the 19 Disciples of 'Abdu'l-Bahá. Please note that the term Bahaism is no longer used by Bahá'ís. The appropriate term is the Bahá'í Faith. (Introduction by Nicholas James Bridgewater) more

Thornton Chase is commonly recognized as the first convert to the Bahá'í Faith of Occidental background. During his life he organized many Bahá'í activities in Chicago and Los Angeles and was considered a prominent Bahá'í. In 1907 Chase was able to go on pilgrimage. Though Chase was able to be with `Abdu'l Bahá in Akka for only three days, the experience transformed him. `Abdu'l Bahá, highly impressed by Chase's qualities, conferred on him the title Thábit, 'steadfast.' On returning home Chase wrote an account of his pilgrimage, which was published under the title In Galilee] in 1908. The short work gives a detailed and poignant description of `Abdu'l-Bahá's home and family in Akka, as well as a moving description of `Abdu'l-Bahá Himself. The work remains one of the most important examples of the genre commonly known as pilgrim's notes. (Summary by Wikipedia) more

'In these days,' writes the renowned Bahá'í scholar, Mírzá Abu'l-Fadl, 'which are the latter days of 1911, A. D. and the early days of 1330 A. H., I have seen a curious article which astonished me. What did I see? I find that one of the missionaries of the Protestant sect, who accounts himself among the learned men of the twentieth century, a helper of the pure religion of Christ and one of the civilized and cultured occidentals, by name, Peter Z. Easton, has been so provoked by jealousy at the universal spread of the heavenly word of His Holiness Abdul-Baha throughout vast expanses of Europe that he has trespassed the limit of courtesy and humanity and published an article replete with execration and calumny in the magazine 'Evangelical Christendom.' …Briefly, as this servant [Mírzá Abu'l-Fadl] carefully perused and weighed the above mentioned article, it was found that Peter Z. Easton, in his own supposition, has clung to 'four proofs' in opposing the great Bahai Cause. We will therefore mention these four points and show the falsity of his fanciful ideas in each instance.' A number of works were written in the 19th century to defend the Bábí and Bahá'í Faiths from attacks made by Muslim scholars and to demonstrate the spiritual proofs and evidences of the Revelations of the Báb and Bahá'u'lláh (notably the 'Seven Proofs' of the Báb and the 'Book of Certitude' of Bahá'u'lláh) . As the Bahá'í Faith spread to Europe and America in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it began to attract the attention of Christian missionaries and preachers. While many Christian clergymen were positive towards Faith and its universal message, there were also attacks against the Faith by ministers who saw it as a threat. Peter Z. Easton was one of these. Mírzá Abu'l-Fadl, who was given the posthumous title of 'Apostle of Bahá'u'lláh', took on Easton's challenge and thoroughly refuted his arguments in 'The Brilliant Proof'. 'Abdu'l-Bahá was so impressed by this work that He wrote: 'His Honour Mírzá Abu'l-Fadl has written a treatise answering the criticisms of a London preacher. Each one of you should have a copy. Read, memorize and reflect upon it. Then, when accusations and criticisms are advanced by those unfavourable to the Cause, you will be well armed.' (Summary by Nicholas J. Bridgewater) more

Kalimát-i-Maknúnih (کلمات مکنونه) or The Hidden Words is a book written in Baghdad around 1857 by Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Bahá'í Faith. This work is written partly in Arabic and partly in Persian. The Hidden Words is written in the form of a collection of short utterances, 71 in Arabic and 82 in Persian, in which Bahá'u'lláh claims to have taken the basic essence of certain spiritual truths and written them in brief form. Bahá'ís are advised by `Abdu'l-Bahá, the son of Bahá'u'lláh to read them every day and every night and to implement its latent wisdom into their daily lives. He also said that 'The Hidden Words is a treasury of divine mysteries' and that when one ponders its contents, 'the doors of the mysteries will open.' The text of the Hidden Words is divided up into two sections: one from Arabic, and another from Persian. Each consist of several short, numbered passages. The Arabic has 71 passages, and the Persian has 82. This audiobook only contains the Persian section. Each passage begins with an invocation, many of which repeat. Some common invocations include 'O Son of Spirit', 'O Son of Man', and 'O Son of Being'. Bahá'í prayers are written in the first person of humanity, so that the reader can feel like they are having a conversation with God. The Hidden Words are written in the first person of God, so that the reader feels like God is speaking to them. Around 1903, Mr. Anton Haddad translated the Persian section of the Hidden Words. It should be noted that this translation was superseded by the more masterful, authorized translation of Shoghi Effendi, the Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith, which has not yet entered the public domain.(Adapted from Wikipedia) more

Canal aberto sobre a Fé Bahai

The Mysterious Forces of Civilization (Persian: Risálih-i-Madaníyyih) is a work written before 1875 by 'Abbás Effendí, known as 'Abdu'l-Bahá (the Servant of Bahá) (1844-1921). The Persian text was first lithographed in Bombay in 1882 and printed in Cairo in 1911. 'Abdu'l-Bahá was the eldest son and appointed successor of Bahá'u'lláh, the Founder of the Bahá'í Faith. The original text of this work was written and published anonymously, and the first English translation (by Johanna Dawud) was published in London in 1910 and Chicago in 1918, under the title 'Mysterious Forces of Civilization' written by 'an Eminent Bahai Philosopher.' This audiobook is based on the 1918 edition. Another translation was completed by Marzieh Gail and published in 1957, with an introduction by Horace Holley. The title was re-translated as 'The Secret of Divine Civilization'. The book was widely known in its time as an attempt to improve the degraded condition of Persia (Iran). The author frequently references current issues that were being debated, such as whether to modernize and accept Western technology, or to reject Western culture and rely on technology developed in Persia and the Islamic world. (Summary adapted from Wikipedia) more

'Many believe that we, in this century,' writes Ethel Rosenberg, ' are witnessing the dawn of a new spiritual epoch or era. A renewal of the Spirit is making itself felt in the Churches and in the religious and social life of all lands. This is in harmony with the teachings of the Bahais, and of their Great Leaders, now represented by Abdul Baha the 'Servant of God,' known to the outside world as Abbas Effendi. Once again, the Light is shining forth from that land which may indeed be called the Holy Land: for have not its valleys and hills been trodden from the beginning by the feet of those great Messengers inspired of God—Abraham, Elijah, and last and greatest, Jesus of Nazareth? Is it strange that once more in this century of ours, in this 'cradle of the race,' those that were sitting 'in darkness have seen a Great Light,' the light of the Sun of Righteousness that rises with healing in his wings?'Ethel Jenner Rosenberg (1858-1930) was a prominent British Bahá'í, having been introduced to the Bahá'í Faith in 1899 by Mary Thornburgh-Cropper. She published two booklets on the Bahá'í Faith, of which 'A Brief Account of the Bahai Movement' was one. She also presented a paper on the Bahá'í Faith at the International Congress for the History of Religions in 1908. She assisted Laura Clifford Barney in compiling Some Answered Questions and Lady Blomfield in compiling Paris Talks. She began to learn Persian and assisted Shoghi Effendi, the Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith, in translating the Hidden Words of Bahá'u'lláh. She was described by Shoghi Effendi as 'England's pioneer worker'. (Introduction by Nicholas James Bridgewater) more

Kalimát-i-Maknúnih or The Hidden Words is a book written in Baghdad around 1857 by Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Bahá'í Faith. This work is written partly in Arabic and partly in Persian. The Hidden Words is written in the form of a collection of short utterances, 71 in Arabic and 82 in Persian, in which Bahá'u'lláh claims to have taken the basic essence of certain spiritual truths and written them in brief form. Bahá'ís are advised by `Abdu'l-Bahá, the son of Bahá'u'lláh to read them every day and every night and to implement its latent wisdom into their daily lives. He also said that The Hidden Words is a treasury of divine mysteries' and that when one ponders its contents, 'the doors of the mysteries will open.'The text of the Hidden Words is divided up into two sections: one from Arabic, and another from Persian. Each consist of several short, numbered passages. The Arabic has 71 passages, and the Persian has 82. This audiobook only contains the Arabic section. Each passage begins with an invocation, many of which repeat. Some common invocations include 'O Son of Spirit', 'O Son of Man', and 'O Son of Being'. Bahá'í prayers are written in the first person of humanity, so that the reader can feel like they are having a conversation with God. The Hidden Words are written in the first person of God, so that the reader feels like God is speaking to them. In 1903, Mr. Hussein Rouhy translated the Arabic portion of the Hidden Words, which appeared in Myron Phelps' 'Life and Teachings of Abbas Effendi'. Phelps' writes that 'Mr. Rouhy furnished me with literal translations from the original Arabic and Persian. In order to avoid obscurities and forms of expression and figures of speech unfamiliar to Western readers, these have been somewhat modified in form; but in all cases without departure, I think, from the meaning of the originals.' It should be noted that this translation was superseded by the more masterful, authorized translation of Shoghi Effendi, the Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith, which has not yet entered the public domain. (Adapted from Wikipedia) more

Isabella Matilda Davis Brittingham was a significant early American Bahá'í and was posthumously designated by Shoghi Effendi as one of the 19 Disciples of 'Abdu'l-Bahá and Heralds of the Covenant. She was born in 1852, the daughter of Benjamin Davis, who was a grandson of John Morton, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Her sister-in-law heard about the Bahá'í Faith in 1897 and in 1898 Isabella herself became a part of the nascent American Bahá'í community. In September 1901, Isabella went on pilgrimage to the Holy Land, where she met 'Abdu'l-Bahá, the leader of the Bahá'í Faith and son of the Founder, Bahá'u'lláh. She used the knowledge she gained there to write 'The Revelation of Baha-ullah in a Sequence of Four Lessons', which was published by the Bahai Publishing Society of Chicago in 1902. There were nine editions of this work, the last being in 1920. It was one of the earliest accurate accounts of the Bahá'í Faith published in the West. The main purpose of the book is to demonstrate the truth of Bahá'u'lláh's Revelation through Biblical prophecy. more

A Bahá'í Perspective is a podcast of biographical interviews of people who have either chosen the Bahá'í Faith as a way of life or who have a relationship with the Bahá'í Faith. more

A Baha'i podcast channel focused on deep dive conversations of Baha'i texts and discussions on texts like various books, letters, study materials etc. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. more