Archive for October, 2009

On Peaceful and Productive Baha’is: Rapturous, too?

By on Oct 30, 2009 in All categories | Comments Off

 
 
Some folks put the Baha'i Faith in a category of "Modern Cults & Religions … that deny the biblical Jesus alone is the complete atonement and only Savior for mankind, add works to grace, and extra-Biblical rituals to worship, thus negating true salvation." Participants on a forum devoted to the subject noted Rainn Wilson's appearance on Nightline in which he discussed the Faith had these comments. -gw
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by novembergirl View Post
Has anyone ever heard of this religion? I saw it on Nightline. Rayne Wilson of "The Office" is really into it. Their saying all religions are under one God. They don't show a picture of the founder because he is too sacred to look at and their goal is world peace. They say the founder is the same as Jesus, Moses, Abraham, etc.

http://www.bahai.org/

One of my many college roomates was from Rwanda Africa by way of Paris, France, and Iran. She practiced this faith and was a lovely person. I wasn't too concerned about my Christian walk back then and didn't pay much attention to her business but she was very peaceful and productive.

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On Practice Teaching: Baha’is learn to teach the Faith through practice

By on Oct 30, 2009 in All categories | Comments Off

 
The process of learning is well thought out for Baha'is today. Baha'is collectively constitute a concious learning community. The growth of the commmunity is an inevitably outcome of this process. The Baha'i approach boils down to we learn by doing. The goal of each of the books in the Ruhi sequence is an aspect of service. To be a Baha'i is to offer one's life in service to others. The following is an excerpt from one of the workbooks that structures a study circle, a core activity of Baha'i community life. Baha'is learn to teach the Faith through actual practice. -gw
 

Section 4

Having recognized Bahá’u’lláh’s greatness and being conscious of our nearness to the ocean of His Revelation in the depths of which lie invaluable pearls, we fill our souls with the spirit of faith and share these pearls of divine guidance with others, pearls that we continually discover in our own study, prayer and meditation. In doing so, we use the power of His own Word. It is important, then, that we meditate deeply on the power of the Word of God and its effect on the human heart. The following quotation of Bahá’u’lláh will help us to appreciate this great power:

“The Word of God may be likened unto a sapling, whose roots have been implanted in the hearts of men. It is incumbent upon you to foster its growth through the living waters of wisdom, of sanctified and holy words, so that its root may become firmly fixed and its branches may spread out as hight as the heavens and beyond.”
– Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh (Wilmette: Baha’i Publishing Trust, 1983), XLIII, p. 97

Exercises:
1. To what may the Word of God be compared?
2. Where have the roots of the tree of the Word of God been planted?
3. How should we foster the growth of this tree?
4. Mention some of the qualities we will show forth when the Word of God is firmly established in our hearts.
5. What does the phrase “its branched may spread out as high as the heavens and beyond” mean?
6. Explain in a few sentences why sharing the Word of God is of the most importance.

http://www.shuiziliu.com/blog/bahai-faith/rh2p1-book-2-arising-to-serve-20091029.html

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On the Passing of a Former Parliamentarian Who Became a Baha’i: I learned that the party political system will not solve the problems of humanity

By on Oct 29, 2009 in All categories | Comments Off

Leaders of Israel's Baha'i community will next week commemorate the recent passing of Murray Smith, former Deputy Secretary General of the Baha'i International Community.

Smith, a New Zealander who served in Israel from 1994 to 2007, died last month of cancer at the age of 67 in New Zealand. A former Labor member of parliament in his native land, Smith was a well-known and well-liked figure at diplomatic receptions and events in Israel. …

 

Smith served as an MP for three years until 1975. In 1989 he converted to the Baha'i faith, moving to Israel in 1994 with his wife, Miette Smith, who took up the Baha'i faith some years before he did and volunteered at the Baha'i center in Haifa as a librarian.

Believers of the Baha'i Faith refrain from alcoholic drinks, drugs, gambling, theft, violence, adultery and defamation. The Baha'i, for whom Haifa is a major holy site, are forbidden to participate in partisan activities and consider themselves to be apolitical. "From my experience I have learned that the party political system will not solve the problems of humanity", Smith said in an interview in 2007.

During the Second Lebanon War, Murray announced the Baha'i Garden will remain lit at night beyond the normal hours, as a way of "lifting the morale of the people of Haifa."

 

 
Haaretz.com  covered the passing of Baha'i Murray Smith in its online article above. Below is Murray's own overview of his career.
 
 
National Secretary and CEO, National Spiritual

Assembly of Baha’i of New Zealand

Earlier this year, I came home to New Zealand after almost

13 years in Haifa, Israel, at the Baha’i World Centre. I

was Deputy Secretary General of the Baha’i international

community, responsible for managing relationships with

the host country and with the diplomatic community.

Haifa has been a highlight in a varied career that included

time in the public sector, three years in Parliament,

shepherding two government-owned entities through

privatisation and consulting for Roger Douglas Associates.

My wife and I returned to New Zealand to retire, but I was

asked to take up my former job as Secretary of the New

Zealand Assembly, and here I am – back full on. It is a

challenging job, but a very interesting one. The basic goal

of the Baha’i faith is world peace. This makes the work very

meaningful which helps a lot to cope with the pressure.

http://www.nzica.com/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Annual_Report_files&Template=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=9031

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On Borrowing Music: And getting Mom & Dad to take you off the Baha’i children list

By on Oct 28, 2009 in All categories | Comments Off

Erik Satie
 
My assignment to myself after reading Darrell's article on the Bosch Music Industry Weekend and the run-down of attendees there was to try to familiarize myself with those on his list I hadn't already heard of. Like Tyler Thompson. So I Googled the name and came up with an abtruse but interesting musical reference to Tyler. -gw
 
 
Assignment #53

Give advice to yourself in the past.

Age 6
0. As soon as you can read this: ask Dad to buy Satie and the soundtrack to 'On Her Majesties Secret Service'.� Listen to the song titled 'Try'.
Age 8
1. 3rd Grade:� In Mrs. Bowers class, exempt yourself from both the language arts and the geography assignment or you will miss recess again.
2. If you get an SNES use IGN and Elliott Hofe as references to find good games.
Age 10
3. 5th Grade:� You are playing the wrong instrument.� Play bass.� When you can afford one get a four stringed bass guitar.� After highschool, when you can afford one, get a six stringed bass guitar (your hands will be big enough by then).� Don't make fun of Scott Conolly.
Age 14
4. Get Mom & Dad to take you off the Baha'i children list.
5. Freshman Year:� When Sims lets everyone do what they want, paint comedy pictures from photographs using good paint (not what the school has) or practice using pen and ink (archival ink).� Borrow music from Tyler Thompson.
 

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On Precious Gems: A tribute to the lives of Baha’is

By on Oct 28, 2009 in All categories | Comments Off

 
Lovers of Baha'i links will find Vahid and Jeannette's site full of precious gems.-gw
 
Dear Friends:
 
A tribute to the lives of Bahiyyih Khanum The Greatest Holy Leaf the blessed daughter of Bahá’u’lláh, and for the photos of Amatu’l-Baha Ruhiyyih Khanum the wife of Shoghi Effendi, and a biography of Dr. David Ruhe a former member of The Universal House of Justice, click  http://www.teachingandprojects.com/preciousgems.htm and scroll down to them.
 
TaliaSafa ~ Bahá’í Music for Souls & Hearts, click http://www.teachingandprojects.com/prayerandmeditation.htm and scroll down to it.
 
Introduction to Baha'i Books Baha’i Stories Blog Reflecting on Baha'i Writings
http://www.teachingandprojects.com/othersites.htm
 
For your Persian friends we have Abdu'l-Baha traveling to America video of happenings, please click here
http://www.teachingandprojects.com/ArabicandPersian.htm and scroll down to it.
 
Best regards,
 
Vahid and Jeanette
 

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On Go Ahead: AskBahai

By on Oct 28, 2009 in All categories | Comments Off

Sometimes you just want to get the the heart of the matter. In which case, just…
+

title

+
The Majnun search engine is now AskBahai. -gw

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On Bosch’s Music Industry Weekend:

By on Oct 28, 2009 in All categories | Comments Off

Baha'is to know and in the know, musically speaking, attendees at Bosch this last weekend. Read Darrell's moment by moment account. I hope there is video of all this somewhere. His accounting makes it all sound so thrilling. -gw
 

Darrell Rodgers – Coordinator, Guitar, vocals
Deb Rodgers – Photographer (and audience advocate)
Jordan Rager – Bosch Deputy Administrator, guitar, drums, piano, vocals
Tyler Thompson – Piano, vocals, guitar
Robert Gillies – Piano, vocals, guitar & bass!
Alan James – Guitars, vocals
Russ Salton – Guitar, vocals
Chuck Thrapp -  Guitar, vocals
Jon Rezin – Bass, Percussion, expertise
Auntieclaire Rezin – Vocals & motherhood
Jerome Matthew – Percussion and wisdom
Borna Khavari – Percussion and youth
Nima Jalali – Guitar, vocals
Faraz Ghoddosi – Sax, Piano, Guitar, Vocals
Sena Ghoddossi – Drums & percussion
Ian McAleece – Guitar, Drums, vocals, percussion
Karen McAleece -  Guitar, vocals
John Armour – Native Flutes
Walter Heath -  Guitar, vocals
Angela Owens – Piano, vocals
Kyra Platte – Vocals
Jon Butah – Piano

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On a Two Baha’i Fireside Uber Super Fun EXTRAVAGANZA Weekend: It’s like … two mints in one

By on Oct 28, 2009 in All categories | Comments Off

 
This is, like … Doublemint gum. -gw
 
With the discovery of DNA it was the double helix, then, with changing corriculums it was the double cogort, now, it's the uber-super-fun-japanese-canadian-not really japanese at all-double-fireside-weekend-EXTRAVAGANZA! Two firesides, Saturday at 7 we have Martin Braithwaite (He's baaaack…) talking on virtues and how to get good and why being good ain't so bad and the like, and Sunday at 7 we have a Professor of Native Studies from Alberta to talk about Native Spirituality Meets Baha'i Faith. Very cool.
 

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On Baha’is and Computer Technology: A few names of Baha’is at the forefront of the computer revolution

By on Oct 27, 2009 in All categories | comments(2)

Thanks to Robert of the Northwest Baha'i Library for this intriguing short list of Baha'is at the forefront of their profession. -gw
 
Bill Fernandez
Mention of the Baha'i Faith by co-founder Steve Wozniak co-Founder of Apple
http://www.woz.org/letters/general/71.html
E-mail to Wozniak:
I am a devoted mac user and as long as Apple makes it, I will loyaly use it. I love the fact that a man of your stature in the computer world makes himself so available to general public. I am delighted to find out that you are such a down to earth person. Having read your responses to most letter, I must say that your beliefs closely mirror mine. I am a Bahai, that is my religion. Have you ever heard of the Bahai Faith or have any familiarity with it?
Woz:
Yes. Our third Apple employee (badge number 4, but he was hired before number 3), Bill Fernandez, has been a Bahai since high school. Bill was my technician at Hewlett Packard (I'd helped get him in there) before we started Apple. Bill lived a few houses down from me on the same street, and is the one that built the "Cream Soda" computer with me, not Steve Jobs as portrayed in "Pirates of Silicon Valley." Bill is also the person that introduced Steve and myself. Bill has also helped in my current computer class, teaching 3D drawing. So I know something of the Baha'i Faith and I appreciate it but I won't get into that."

________________

Bruce Rothaar
Bruce and two other engineers, Robert B. Ingebretsen and Prof. Thomas Stockham of the University of Utah invented technology that translated analog sound into a digital format — a discovery that eventually led to the development of compact discs.
_______________
Laurence G. Lundblade
Pioneered PINE  a widely used email program with Mike Seibel at the University of Washington.

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On Check Out the New Baha’i iPhone (and Web and Windows) Software: Thanks, Ian!

By on Oct 27, 2009 in All categories | Comments Off

Check out the new Baha'i iPhone (and web and Windows) software at http://BahaiResearch.com.

 
I downloaded the Interfaith Explorer for PC tonight. Boy, am I glad I (finally) did. -gw
 
 
Interfaith Explorer for Windows PCs [FREE download]
This free software has over 5000 books in 20 languages including all the newest letters from the House and ITC updated automatically. Add your own content too!
Cool feature! Create a USB stick version. It'll copy your current setup to a USB stick which can then run on any PC simply by plugging it in. Leaves no trace on the PC!
 
Interfaith Explorer for iPhones and iPods [FREE download]
A free app! Just got published by Apple. Finally a good reason to buy an iPhone or iPod touch! Search and read 5000 books in 20 languages including all the newest letters from the House and ITC as they are published. New books and documents added automatically.

 
You must have the newest OS, 3.1 or higher.Join our Facebook group to get new feature updates: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=64517472704

 

View Video: How to use this web site, do simple searches and navigate the library at  http://bahairesearch.com/Pages/Help/Web/Introduction/Introduction.html

 

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