The True Lover
Thursday, 09 February 2012 18:29
O SON OF JUSTICE!
Whither can a lover go but to the land of his beloved? and what seeker findeth rest away from his heart's desire? To the true lover reunion is life, and separation is death. His breast is void of patience and his heart hath no peace. A myriad lives he would forsake to hasten to the abode of his beloved.
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The Time Is Come: The Promises of God Have All Been Fulfilled...
Tuesday, 27 September 2011 05:04
The time foreordained unto the peoples and kindreds of the earth is now come. The promises of God, as recorded in the holy Scriptures, have all been fulfilled. Out of Zion hath gone forth the Law of God, and Jerusalem, and the hills and land thereof, are filled with the glory of His Revelation. Happy is the man that pondereth in his heart that which hath been revealed in the Books of God, the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting. Meditate upon this, O ye beloved of God, and let your ears be attentive unto His Word, so that ye may, by His grace and mercy, drink your fill from the crystal waters of constancy, and become as steadfast and immovable as the mountain in His Cause.
In the Book of Isaiah it is written: "Enter into the rock, and hide thee in the dust, for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of His majesty." No man that meditateth upon this verse can fail to recognize the greatness of this Cause, or doubt the exalted character of this Day -- the Day of God Himself. This same verse is followed by these words: "And the Lord alone shall be exalted in that Day." This is the Day which the Pen of the Most High hath glorified in all the holy Scriptures. There is no verse in them that doth not declare the glory of His holy Name, and no Book that doth not testify unto the loftiness of this most exalted theme. Were We to make mention of all that hath been revealed in these heavenly Books and holy Scriptures concerning this Revelation, this Tablet would assume impossible dimensions. It is incumbent in this Day, upon every man to place his whole trust in the manifold bounties of God, and arise to disseminate, with the utmost wisdom, the verities of His Cause. Then, and only then, will the whole earth be enveloped with the morning light of His Revelation.
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When you love...
Friday, 11 February 2011 06:21
When you love a member of your family or a compatriot, let it be with a ray of the Infinite Love! Let it be in God, and for God! Wherever you find the attributes of God love that person, whether he be of your family or of another. Shed the light of a boundless love on every human being whom you meet, whether of your country, your race, your political party, or of any other nation, colour or shade of political opinion. Heaven will support you while you work in this in-gathering of the scattered peoples of the world beneath the shadow of the almighty tent of unity.
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True Understanding and Nobility is the Ultimate Goal of Human Existence -- How Should an Enlightened Man of Wisdom Assist Others to Reach that Station?
Wednesday, 16 December 2009 04:05
...An enlightened man of wisdom should primarily speak with words as mild as milk, that the children of men may be nurtured and edified thereby and may attain the ultimate goal of human existence which is the station of true understanding and nobility.
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We Are Created To...
Thursday, 03 September 2009 04:20
O ye beloved of the Lord! Commit not that which defileth the limpid stream of love or destroyeth the sweet fragrance of friendship. By the righteousness of the Lord! Ye were created to show love one to another and not perversity and rancour. Take pride not in love for yourselves but in love for your fellow-creatures. Glory not in love for your country, but in love for all mankind. Let your eye be chaste, your hand faithful, your tongue truthful and your heart enlightened. Abase not the station of the learned in Baha and belittle not the rank of such rulers as administer justice amidst you. Set your reliance on the army of justice, put on the armour of wisdom, let your adorning be forgiveness and mercy and that which cheereth the hearts of the well-favoured of God.
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The Deeper Meaning of Oneness of Humankind
Wednesday, 08 July 2009 03:39
A fundamental teaching of Bahá'u'lláh is the oneness of the world of humanity. Addressing mankind, He says: "Ye are all leaves of one tree and the fruits of one branch." By this it is meant that the world of humanity is like a tree, the nations or peoples are the different limbs or branches of that tree and the individual human creatures are as the fruits and blossoms thereof. In this way His Holiness Bahá'u'lláh expressed the oneness of humankind whereas in all religious teachings of the past, the human world has been represented as divided into two parts, one known as the people of the Book of God or the pure tree and the other the people of infidelity and error or the evil tree. The former were considered as belonging to the faithful and the others to the hosts of the irreligious and infidel; one part of humanity the recipients of divine mercy and the other the object of the wrath of their Creator. His Holiness Bahá'u'lláh removed this by proclaiming the oneness of the world of humanity and this principle is specialized in His teachings for He has submerged all mankind in the sea of divine generosity. Some are asleep; they need to be awakened. Some are ailing; they need to be healed. Some are immature as children; they need to be trained. But all are recipients of the bounty and bestowals of God.
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England Dan -- a famous Bahai
Tuesday, 31 March 2009 15:32
9:50 AM Fri, Mar 27, 2009
Jeffrey Weiss/Reporter
Dan Seals, the "England Dan" half of the musical duo England Dan and John Ford Coley, died Wednesday. He's was a Dallas native and Michael Granberry wrote a lovely obit for the DMN you can read here. This caught my eye:
Gottlieb said the funeral will take place Saturday at the Baha'i Center in Nashville. The family has requested that flowers not be sent.
"If you want to honor Dan," Gottlieb said, "you should oppose bigotry, intolerance and prejudice."
Bahai? Really? Yup. Here's a bio that goes into a bit of detail. And here's a link to an item I found out on those Internets that seems too detailed and plausible to be made up.
Dallas Morning News
http://religionblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2009/03/england-dan----a-famous-bahai.html
Rainn Wilson talks about the Baha'i Faith with Oprah Winfrey
Wednesday, 18 March 2009 20:07
You can view Rainn Wilson's March 10 2009 interview with Oprah here:
http://www.oprah.com/article/spirit/inspiration/ pkgoprahssoulserieswebcast/20090309_oradio_oss_rwilson
The Eleventh Leaf: Do Not Become the Cause of Strife
Saturday, 07 February 2009 14:45
We enjoin upon them that are the emblems of His names and attributes to firmly adhere henceforth unto that which hath been set forth in this Most Great Revelation, not to allow themselves to become the cause of strife, and, until the end that knoweth no end, to keep their eyes directed towards the dayspring of these resplendent words which have been recorded in this Tablet. Strife leads to bloodshed and provokes commotion amongst people. Hearken ye unto the Voice of this Wronged One and deviate not therefrom.
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The Eleventh Leaf: <BR> Do Not Become the Cause of Strife
Saturday, 07 February 2009 14:45
We enjoin upon them that are the emblems of His names and attributes to firmly adhere henceforth unto that which hath been set forth in this Most Great Revelation, not to allow themselves to become the cause of strife, and, until the end that knoweth no end, to keep their eyes directed towards the dayspring of these resplendent words which have been recorded in this Tablet. Strife leads to bloodshed and provokes commotion amongst people. Hearken ye unto the Voice of this Wronged One and deviate not therefrom. Read more:
The Tenth Leaf: Seclusion is Not Acceptable. Enjoy the Bounties of Life Engage in Charity
Saturday, 07 February 2009 07:05
O people of the earth! Living in seclusion or practising asceticism is not acceptable in the presence of God. It behoveth them that are endued with insight and understanding to observe that which will cause joy and radiance. Such practices as are sprung from the loins of idle fancy or are begotten of the womb of superstition ill beseem men of knowledge. In former times and more recently some people have been taking up their abodes in the caves of the mountains while others have repaired to graveyards at night. Say, give ear unto the counsels of this Wronged One. Abandon the things current amongst you and adopt that which the faithful Counsellor biddeth you. Deprive not yourselves of the bounties which have been created for your sake. Charity is pleasing and praiseworthy in the sight of God and is regarded as a prince among goodly deeds. Consider ye and call to mind that which the All-Merciful hath revealed in the Qur'án: 'They prefer them before themselves, though poverty be their own lot. And with such as are preserved from their own covetousness shall it be well.'* Viewed in this light, the blessed utterance above is, in truth, the day-star of utterances. Blessed is he who preferreth his brother before himself. Verily, such a man is reckoned, by virtue of the Will of God, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise, with the people of Baha who dwell in the Crimson Ark.
*[Qur'án 59:9.]
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The Ninth Leaf: Lack of Moderation Will Prove A Source of Evil
Saturday, 07 February 2009 06:23
In all matters moderation is desirable. If a thing is carried to excess, it will prove a source of evil. Consider the civilization of the West, how it hath agitated and alarmed the peoples of the world. An infernal engine hath been devised, and hath proved so cruel a weapon of destruction that its like none hath ever witnessed or heard. The purging of such deeply-rooted and overwhelming corruptions cannot be effected unless the peoples of the world unite in pursuit of one common aim and embrace one universal faith. Incline your ears unto the Call of this Wronged One and adhere firmly to the Lesser Peace. 
Strange and astonishing things exist in the earth but they are hidden from the minds and the understanding of men. These things are capable of changing the whole atmosphere of the earth and their contamination would prove lethal. Great God! We have observed an amazing thing. Lightning or a force similar to it is controlled by an operator and moveth at his command. Immeasurably exalted is the Lord of Power Who hath laid bare that which He purposed through the potency of His weighty and invincible command...
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Where is the Outrage Over Russ Garcia's Denied Oscar?
Monday, 13 October 2008 21:08
Where is the outrage?
Several weeks ago, Marc Myers published an amazing and unsettling story in his JazzWax blog. The esteemed composer and arranger Russ Garcia had been denied an Oscar due to a case of mistaken identity. Myers did some superior sleuthing, and put together the facts in a first class exposé.
Garcia is now 92-years-old. It would be great to rectify this wrong while he is still alive. Yet the silence is deadening.
I thought this story would be covered by the mainstream media, and discussed by other jazz writers. I kept waiting for this newsworthy tale to be picked up by The New York Times or The New Yorker or the Associated Press—or somebody. Yet I am still waiting . . . and waiting . . . and waiting. Is jazz coverage in the media so dead that a story of this proportions can come to light and then be left untouched?
Apparently it is.
 The facts, as Myers brought them out, showed that Garcia had written orchestrations of Charlie Chaplin’s music for the Oscar-winning score of Limelight. Garcia also composed incidental music for the movie, and participated in the recording of the score. Yet the Oscar was given—probably due to confusion over names—to Larry Russell, who apparently had no involvement with the score.
How could this happen? The problem arose because twenty years had elapsed between the production of the Limelight (which was first premiered in London in 1953) and its US released (in 1972). Chaplin’s supposed “subversive tendencies” and investigation by the Justice Department had created an environment in which this film was kept out of U.S. theaters for two decades. When this movie finally was eligible for an Oscar, many of the people who had been involved in its production were dead, including co-arranger Ray Rasch. It seems that the Academy officials asked Rasch's widow to identify the other people involved in the project, and she must have responded “someone named Russell”—setting in motion the eventual awarding of a posthumous Oscar to Larry Russell.
If these facts are true—and I am convinced by the case Myers has made—then Garcia deserves an Oscar. The Academy seems content to ignore this matter—largely (I believe) because not a single newspaper has covered this story. Russ Garcia, for his part, is a very unassuming individual and won't pursue the matter himself. His comment to Myers is revealing: “I’m a Baha'i. It’s part of my faith never to be the source of grief to anyone. I didn't want Larry's widow or family or anyone to feel bad. I still don't. I've won plenty of awards.”
But no one is suggesting that Larry Russell’s award be taken away. Yet the Academy owes one to Russ Garcia. And should act while he is still around to receive the honor.
On a separate note, I would like to dwell on the poor showing by the print media on this matter. I hear constantly how bloggers are “not real journalists” and “don’t break real stories.” Yet the Garcia saga is just one more example of the opposite phenomenon. I check out the jazz coverage in a wide range of media outlets on a daily basis. I can assure you that the top ten jazz bloggers on the web are providing better coverage of the art form than all of the U.S. newspapers combined. Then again, that’s not hard to achieve after decades of declining jazz coverage in the press.
We may not be able to reverse that trend. But if we stir things up a bit, we might be able to get Russ Garcia his Oscar. One place to start is by putting some pressure on Sid Ganis, the President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The Academy accepts questions and inquiries from the public at http://www.oscars.org/contact/general.html.
Bill Murray recommends visiting the temple in Wilmette
Thursday, 09 October 2008 10:20
By Robert K. Elder Tribune reporter |Chicago Tribune reporter
October 9, 2008
For a retired guy, Bill Murray has been busy.
Not only did he jump out of a plane during Chicago's Air & Water Show in August, he's appearing in a new movie, " City of Ember" (opening Friday).
Murray, 58, halfheartedly told interviewers he was retired in 2005, after he starred in director Jim Jarmusch's "Broken Flowers." But, it seems, retirement didn't take.
Here are some highlights of a conversation with the Wilmette native in which he talks about his new film, politics, sky diving, and the fate of his skull.
Q You play a corrupt politician in your latest film. Any models for your character?
A Just all of them. I'd hate to be selfish and pick just one. The only person I didn't choose is Richie [Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley]. I get a kick out of the way he works. I think he really loves the city. But there's no one that comes to mind. They've all disappointed. They're like crack girls; no matter how attractive they are, they're going to break your heart.
Q But is there any "crack girl" you have your eye on this year?
A No. ... It's kind of interesting to watch the Illinois fellow [ Barack Obama]. Joe Biden, I'm not going to get crazy about. And [Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin], I'm not going to get so nuts about.
I don't know where that voice comes from. It sounds like northern Wisconsin or Minnesota or something; not what I imagine Alaskans sound like. It's a disturbing pitch.
I've met McCain, and he was a pretty decent guy. He could have straight-shot his way and kept it going. But I think he lost it. I think he'll pay the price for it.
Q When you introduce friends to Chicago, what do you tell them they have to see?
A I always tell them they have to get a cheeseburger over at the Billy Goat. I tell them, if they are downtown by Navy Pier, there's going to be fireworks. I tell them to see the Bean ["Cloud Gate"]; I love the spitting fountain.
I tell them to go to the Original House of Pancakes in Wilmette. See the Baha'i Temple as well. Obviously Wrigley Field is on the trip, they have to see that.
If there's a way they can just drive around in the Loop at sunset around the river and just see the light ricocheting off all those buildings, it's spectacular.
I went to the Trump Hotel the other day. That coffee shop that's on the 16th floor is ridiculous. It's just unbelievable. You can sit at one table and still see [the city skyline] in the mirror.
Q How was the sky-dive different than you thought it was going to be?
A How about: I was terrified. One thing was: It's cold up there. It was about 20 [degrees]. We circled around for a long time because they were being very cautious. They didn't want to lose me. That would have been noticed.
I walked from the back of the plane to the front, and I said, "You know, I thought I'd feel better." I didn't feel so good. And the guy said, "Well, you just walked 80 feet uphill at 13,500 feet. There's no oxygen in here."
And then they started passing around this oxygen can, and it was a fight to the finish for who was going to hold onto that oxygen can. It's like, "Don't bogart that joint."
I couldn't believe it. I thought, "You guys are supposed to be the pros. Can I have this thing? Give me it."
All of the sudden you go, "What was I thinking? This is the stupidest thing I've ever done." All of the sudden, I really, really didn't want to go.
But there's a guy who is hooked onto you, like a turtle [shell]. You've got to walk in a squat. Then this other giant guy grabs you by the front ... They are taking you out the door. They don't want any confusion about who's on first and where we're going.
And you're like, "Oh God, oh God ..."
Once you go, and you hit the air, all that's gone. The physical sensation overwhelms your body. Overwhelms your mind. You can't think anymore.
Q How would you describe it?
A You're just in a washing machine of air. You're trying to move your arms and move your hands. Meanwhile, you've got this guy on your back. And then he starts steering you.
And they're filming you, so you feel like, "Oh, I'm supposed to be funny now."
When the chute opens, it's not that ka-kunk thing you see in the movies. It's just that the people you're talking to or looking at just sort of drop through the bottom of the floor. Then it became extremely peaceful and really dreamy. I was like, "Hey, there's Wrigley Field, can we go over there?"
Q Harold Ramis told the Tribune recently that Columbia Pictures is developing "Ghostbusters 3." Would you be interested in doing another sequel?
A It's all talk until the script shows up. When Danny [Aykroyd] used to say, "Come on, we'll do one more," I said, "Well, I'll do it disembodied. Kill me off, and I'll be a ghost." I thought that was a decent idea.
Q You recently voiced your character, Peter Venkman, for a "Ghostbusters" video game. What was that like?
A That was fun. I'm not really a game guy, but I enjoyed recording it. It was funny. I liked being the guy again. I was walking down the street singing the "Ghostbusters" song. I'm sure people were thinking, "Hey pal, get over it. Really. Kinda full of yourself, or what?" But I hadn't thought about it in so long that it was fun to be that guy.
Q Your friend Del Close attempted to donate his skull to the Goodman Theatre but ultimately couldn't do it. Did that make you think of any postmortem pranks that you might pull?
A That story about the skull thing is such a great story. I hate to hear it debunked, whether it's true or not. I'm sorry if [Close's skull donation] didn't happen. I figured that it didn't happen for some legal reason.
Q Sorry to say this, but you're talking to the guy who debunked it.
A Well, it's very disappointing. Because that intention is so unique and so wonderful.
Q But I actually found out how it could be done.
A I'd love to know. So how do you do it?
Q You ship your body to a place called Skulls Unlimited in Oklahoma City, and they'll take care of it. It's not illegal.
A Plus, you've got to have enough money to FedEx a casket around.
If I felt myself getting ill, I'd like to have that paperwork sorted out before I went to the end. I love the idea of his skull, or my skull, being somewhere. It's not going to do anybody any good anywhere else.
"A fellow of infinite jest"—that would be a great thing to be known as.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/chi-bill-murray-qa-1009oct09,0,222151.story?page=2
Baha'i review of new Maher movie, "Religulous"
Saturday, 04 October 2008 18:01
A reader of Baha'i faith was at Capone's Chicago RELIGULOUS screening! And...
This is from http://www.aintitcool.com/node/38548
Greetings Quint,
I am a longtime reader of the site, but I never post in the talkbacks. Last night Capone hosted a screening of Religulous here in Chicago, and I thought I’d chime in. I feel as though Maher’s intention is to (at least) provoke an honest conversation about religion, which is a topic I cannot resist.
I would hesitate to call myself a “fan” of Bill Maher’s, but I have enjoyed his television shows in the past (I no longer have HBO), and have always appreciated his willingness to speak honestly about potentially controversial topics. With Religulous, he claims to embark on a journey to discover why so many people believe in God and follow the world’s three major religions, Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. However, the film itself seems more like Maher challenging the people he encounters, rather than discovering the answers he claims to seek. Granted, this may just be the unintentional result of finding the most interesting clips to include in the final cut, but Maher’s investigation into religion ultimately feels like an unfair fight.
With so many reviews already appearing on the site, I know that this is a film that has been adequately summarized and critiqued. Coming from my relatively unique religious background – the Bahá’í Faith – I feel as though I may have a few more thoughts to contribute.
Without getting to heavy into what my religion is all about, one important principle of the Bahá’í Faith is the idea that religion and science are both necessary, and without science “religion is superstition (paraphrase).” What Maher seems to be chasing in this film is not an answer to “why are people religious?,” but instead, “why are people superstitious?”
I was pleasantly surprised by the pair of priests Maher interviewed at the Vatican, as both of these men recognized the futility in adhering to a literal interpretation of the Bible, and acknowledged certain flaws in Catholicism. These were religious men, comfortable enough in their faith in God to recognize that mankind’s handling of God’s message is imperfect. But for the rest of the film, the very idea of religion was reduced to a set of fairy tales and superstitions that set up a flimsy punching bag for Maher to pummel with his sharpened wit and regurgitated arguments. Granted, this idea of religion was provided by real folks and their fundamentalist beliefs, but it appears as though Maher sought out the crazy, extreme fundamentalists instead of rational, intelligent, middle of the road believers.
With that being said, I found many of the scenes hilarious, and I can admit that many of the issues Maher raises are concerns and objections that I share, especially because I belong to a religion that is being persecuted so heavily in the Middle East.
Maher’s closing “sermon,” where he says that we must abandon religion for the sake of the world, was a bit over the top. I believe a previous fan-review suggested that it seems to come out of nowhere, and it does. The film focuses on the fundamentalist schools of thought within each of these religions and then paints every believer with the same brush, which is a cheap move. But, to Maher’s point, a quote from the authoritative texts of the Bahá’í Faith says: “If religion becomes the cause of enmity and bloodshed, then irreligion is to be preferred, for religion is the remedy for every ailment, and if a remedy should become the cause of ailment and difficulty, it is better to abandon it.”
Isn’t this, basically, what Maher is saying? That these religions have become detriments to our society, and that their relevance has long expired? I mean, for all his bluster, Maher really isn’t saying anything new. I was disappointed that his film didn’t do anything more than just skim the surface of religion in this country. (It would have been interesting to see him talk with a Bahá’í, or see him react to the quote I supply above.) But, I must admit, I was laughing pretty hard.
The successes of the film, then, are not necessarily intellectual victories that Maher achieves over his prideful victims, but the constant humor throughout the film. Supplied not only through Maher’s sardonic wit, but also through the use of pop-culture b-roll footage and clever subtitles, there was never a moment where someone in the audience wasn’t laughing. Also noteworthy was the fact that so many people seemed to find so many different things funny; if I wasn’t laughing hard someone else was.
http://www.aintitcool.com/node/38548
Check Out Rainn Wilson's Soul Pancake
Thursday, 02 October 2008 10:42
 Who knew everyone's favorite "Office" character was such a spiritual dude? Although Rainn Wilson is open about his Baha'i faith, he's doing much more to spur discussion about religion and God.
Wilson's new venture, Soul Pancake, is a website he's helped create about religion's big questions. In the site's introductory video, Wilson strums a guitar while singing a little ditty and then smashes his instrument before channeling Lewis Black (in attitude, not message) and saying:
"I am sick of spirituality being airy-fairy, hippy-dippy, and precious. I want to have a debate about life's big questions and de-lamify talking about God and religion. Soul Pancake is where spirituality and creativity meet."
Although there's not much more to the site yet, Soul Pancake did send out an email newsletter yesterday promoting their new Spatufist logo contest, in which readers are encouraged to upload photos of themselves holding spatulas above their head.
So what do you think? How do you combine your spirituality and creativity? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below.
Wilson backs justice organization
Sunday, 28 September 2008 17:00
"Office" star advocates for women's rights group during alumni event
by Matthew Rist
Hatchet Reporter
Rainn Wilson stepped out of his popular "The Office" character Dwight Schrute at Lisner Auditorium on Sunday afternoon to promote a legal advocacy group for women and girls who have experienced gender-based violence or discrimination.
Around 600 to 700 tickets were sold to members of the GW community and the general public for the Alumni Weekend event, which raised money for the Tahirih Justice Center.
"I'm here to let you know about the work of the Tahirih Justice Center that has really opened my eyes about the plight of so many women around the globe," Wilson said of the Virginia-based organization.
In his talk, Wilson referenced his Baha'i faith and his search for a way to give back to the world as a result of his fame.
Wilson shared with the audience a Baha'i proverb: "The best beloved of all things in my sight is justice." Wilson said he sees this proverb at the core of the Tahirih Justice Center's work.
"When you actually hear the personal stories I was absolutely floored to hear women tearfully speak of rape, abduction, genital mutilation, forced marriages," Wilson said of the crimes abroad. "The idea that the U.S. could somehow have laws against being a safe haven for women escaping these injustices is ludicrous."
Wilson took a variety of questions from the audience ranging from "What is your favorite type of cheese?" to speculations on the romantic involvements of Dwight Schrute, his character in "The Office," which Wilson said "will continue to be interesting."
Layli Miller-Muro, founder and current director of the center, shared with the audience the story her work with the nation's first gender-mutilation case of asylum. She spoke of the positive results of the Tahirih Justice Center.
"The Tahirih Justice Center is far beyond me, far beyond anything I could have imagined," Miller-Muro said of the center's impact.
Phi Alpha Delta, the pre-law fraternity, was responsible for bringing Wilson to campus.
"We decided that this would be a great way to make a big splash on campus the first month of school as well as work toward our philanthropic and community service goals," Phi Alpha Delta President Fahad Juneja wrote in an e-mail.
Most attendees said they were fans of Wilson's work in "The Office."
"We love the show and we have been watching it for years," said Debbie Wheeler-Kinch, a 1984 graduate of GW. She said she often watches the show with her husband and her son.
One student said he was somewhat disappointed that the tone of the event was not totally comedic.
"I thought it was going to be more of a comedy thing, but it was still good he came here to do a charity event," freshman Brian Romanowski said.
Some students were surprised by the actor's level of involvement with the local charity.
Freshman Michelle Rattinger said, "He impressed me with how much he really cared about the work of the Tahirih Justice Center."
http://media.www.gwhatchet.com/media/storage/paper332/news/2008/09/29/News/Wilson.Backs.Justice.Organization-3457706.shtml
Baha'i wins gold medal at Olympics
Thursday, 21 August 2008 23:37
Nelson Evora, a Baha'i from Portugal / Capo Verde, won the Gold Medal in triple jump in the Olympics:
http://www.nbcolympics.com/trackandfield/resultsandschedules/rsc=ATM062100/index.html
His bio on the NBC Olympics website states:
http://www.nbcolympics.com/athletes/athlete=293/bio/index.html
Man of faith
Evora is a member of the Bahá'í Faith, which is a religion founded in 19th-century Persia, emphasizing the spiritual unity of all humankind. According to Bahá'í teachings, religious history has unfolded through a series of God's messengers who brought teachings suited for the capacity of the people at their time, and whose fundamental purpose is the same. There are about six million Bahá'ís in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide.
The Eighth Leaf: Education, Justice, and Unity
Monday, 09 June 2008 11:19
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; but this in such a measure that it may not injure the children by resulting in ignorant fanaticism and bigotry.
It is incumbent upon the Trustees of the House of Justice to take counsel together regarding those things which have not outwardly been revealed in the Book, and to enforce that which is agreeable to them. God will verily inspire them with whatsoever He willeth, and He, verily, is the Provider, the Omniscient.
We have formerly ordained that people should converse in two languages, yet efforts must be made to reduce them to one, likewise the scripts of the world, that men's lives may not be dissipated and wasted in learning divers languages. Thus the whole earth would come to be regarded as one city and one land.
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The Kitab-i-Aqdas in "Lost"?
Monday, 19 May 2008 14:24
Apparently the Kitab-i-Aqdas was displayed in one of the episodes of Lost, referred to as the Book of Laws (an older edition?).
Here is the relevant excerpt frmo the Washington Post's 'Celebritology' blog:
Let's talk about a few more John-related items before we move on.
Namely, the collection of objects Alpert brought the young John.
Although all were telling, especially since John failed the test, I
zeroed in "The Book of Laws." Found it this morning on Wikipedia. It's a text of the Baha'i faith
-- and I could swear Baha'i has surfaced on "Lost" before, though I
can't recall where just now. But here's a little more about Baha'i and
the book:
The "Book of Laws" is Baha'i's: "charter of the future world civilization."
Full article: http://blog.washingtonpost.com/celebritology/2008/05/lost_dueling_analysis_cabin_fe.html?hpid=entnews
Copyright Washington Post
|
O ye that dwell on earth! The religion of God is for love and unity; make it not the cause of enmity or dissension. In the eyes of men of insight and the beholders of the Most Sublime Vision, whatsoever are the effective means for safeguarding and promoting the happiness and welfare of the children of men have already been revealed by the Pen of Glory. But the foolish ones of the earth, being nurtured in evil passions and desires, have remained heedless of the consummate wisdom of Him Who is, in truth, the All-Wise, while their words and deeds are prompted by idle fancies and vain imaginings.
