Clearwater Baha'is

#stophatepropaganda #loveoneanother #lovehumanity #freedomofreligion Source Media: In this bicentenary year, remembering the birth of a new Faith: https://soundcloud.com/bahaiworldnewsservice/in-this-bicentenary-year-remembering-the-birth-of-a-new-faith?utm_source=clipboard&utm_campaign=wtshare&utm_medium=widget&utm_content=https%253A%252F%252Fsoundcloud.com%252Fbahaiworldnewsservice%252Fin-this-bicentenary-year-remembering-the-birth-of-a-new-faith Global Conferences: Worldwide conferences inspired hope, say societal leaders | BWNS: https://youtu.be/HCzZALsFrMU 6 Bahá’í homes destroyed and 20 hectares of land confiscated by Iranian government agents | BWNS: https://youtu.be/auWfKlqaIqk Commemorating of the Centenary of the Ascension of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá | BWNS Documentaries:https://youtu.be/ev6w8hjVMbw Hate crimes start with words:https://youtu.be/et9kkJYYa98 Podcast: Musical about escaping slavery raises consciousness, inspires conversation and action: https://soundcloud.com/bahaiworldnewsservice/podcast-musical-about-escaping-slavery-raises-consciousness-inspires-conversation-and-action?in=bahaiworldnewsservice/sets/bah-world-news-service-podcast&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing Houses of Worship: Intricate exterior design of DRC temple comes into view | BWNS: https://youtu.be/FxIRJsDs2-4 Egypt: Short film on Bahá’í community highlights efforts for coexistence | BWNS: https://youtu.be/YMyMKPEtw7g The Baha'i World View: https://youtu.be/vqg-qcadglU Not Another Year: https://youtu.be/Ovk5xe2Zex4 Up to 200 Iranian government and local officials have blocked off the town of Roushankouh in the Mazandaran region, where many Bahá's live, and are using heavy earthmoving equipment to destroy their homes in a savage escalation just two days after earlier attacks on Bahá's around Iran. The village's access and exit roads have been closed. Anyone who attempted to resist the agents was taken into custody and handcuffed. Agents have taken away attendees' cell devices and forbid filming. Neighbors have been asked to stay inside and have been forbidden from filming or taking pictures. Four residences that were being built at the time were already destroyed. The government is erecting sturdy metal fences to prevent Bahá's from entering their own residences. The Bahá's in Roushankouh have frequently been the target of land seizures and house demolitions in the past. However, this action comes after weeks of escalating persecution of Bahá's, during which time over 100 people have either been arrested or the targets of raids. "We implore everyone to speak up and demand an end to these horrifying instances of obvious persecution. According to Diane Ala'i, a representative of the Bahá' International Community (BIC) to the United Nations in Geneva, over the past few weeks, "there have been new reports of persecution of the Bahá's in Iran every day, demonstrating unmistakably that the Iranian authorities have a step-by-step plan that they are implementing, starting with blatant lies and hate speech, then raids and arrests, and today land grabs, occupations, and the destruction "What comes next? Before it's too late, the world community needs to take action.

https://www.clearwaterbahais.org/persian-bayan-sup-materials.html

Let your vision be world-embracing…” — Bahá’u’lláh

Creation and the Plan of God. It’s based on ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s “Tablet of the Universe” and Ali Nakhjavani’s “The Lesser Peace and the Most Great Peace,” which was edited from a series of talks he gave and then published in ‘Lights of Irfán. I’ve been thinking that this topic is more than timely, and no one else seems to be speaking on it. So, in my own inimitable fashion, I literally start creation and the preexistent manifestations of God, and bring it forward to the days we are in and the role of the Bahá’í Faith.

This deepening session is focused on his paper titled, “Thematic Analysis and Summary of the Persian Bayan.” Sign-up for the ongoing zoom course on the Persian Bayan! Beginning with its Preface, which is sixteen pages in length including copious notes written by the editor and translator A.L.M. Nicolas and extending throughout its 630 pages, the French version of the Persian Bayán, which has been rendered into English and is the source of this study, concentrates on the following themes: The nature of God. The nature of the Manifestations and Revelations and Dispensations of God. The nature and behavior of human beings –- Christians, Muslims and Bábís (followers of the Báb). The requirements of true belief. New laws for the Bábí Dispensation. References to the succeeding Manifestations of God. The Word of God. There are expositions of less important topics as well the significance of the science of numbers. The insignificance of the science of grammar. The spiritual meanings of certain colors. The spiritual equivalents and rankings of material substances. The Báb addresses (for the most part) the seven major themes cited above, in the course of explaining these Qur’ánic symbolic terms, Several abwáb are given to explain various words used in the Qur’án: “Paradise” “Hell” “Death” “The Tomb” “Resurrection” “The Return” “The Balance” “The Last Judgment” “The Count” “Door” “The Point” and “Reunion” In addition to these themes, the most prominent topic in the entire book is the announcement of Him Whom God shall make manifest, Who is to follow the Bab, and Who is to be the sole interpreter, after the Bab, of the contents of His Writings, including the Persian Bayan. Baha’u’llah is Him Whom God shall make manifest, and a study of references made to the Persian Bayan can be carried out alongside the reading and study of the original text. One of the significant and unique characteristics of the Revelation of Baha’u’llah, is the prominence given to laws initially found in the Persian Bayan and reaffirmed in the Kitab-i-Aqdas. These laws will be identified and discussed in the course of this reading. The intimate relationship between what are sometimes called the Twin Manifestations of God, will become evident through the study of the Persian Bayan and its correlation with the Writings of Baha’u’llah. Say: O people be obedient to the ordinances of God, which have been enjoined in the Bayán by the Glorious, the Wise One. Verily He is the King of the Messengers and His Book is the Mother Book did ye but know. (Bahá’u’lláh, Tablet of Ahmad, in “Bahá’í Prayers”)

Following the coming of the latest Manifestation of God, extraordinary progress occurred worldwide. His teachings reach the roots of human motivation. His teachings awakened the whole population's capacities to contribute to the advancement of civilization to an extent never before possible. They also inspire breathtaking achievements in all fields of human endeavor and elicit extraordinary qualities of heroism, self-sacrifice, and self-discipline from His followers. The Teachings bring on Universal codes of law, and institutional systems are created that bind people together in ever larger and more complex societies. Thus—as the driving force of the civilizing process and the primary agent of human development—religion has the power both to nurture moral character and profoundly influence social relationships. www.clearwaterbahais.org www.bahai.us www.bahai.org

Week eleven: Vahid VIII (pp. 416-490: 74 pp) You are invited to a Zoom meeting. When: July 20th, 2022 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Register in advance for this meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMlcOygrjooHNXnw48wJkRsrq8FTmBP-xLr After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. https://www.clearwaterbahais.org/persian-bayan-sup-materials.html

Ahdi uses Hip-hop, Persian poetry and Persian hip-hop culture as the basis for his musical inspiration. Ahdi began creating music and writing songs more than 15 years ago (9 years professionally). He raps to bring attention to social concerns and aspires to speak for those who cannot. The history and philosophy of the Bahá'í faith served as his inspiration. Ahdi also discusses various societal injustices and tales from the heroes and heroines, first with the early Báb'ís and then with the Bahá'í believers and now with the continued persecution of the Baha'is all across Iran. www.clearwaterbahais.org www.bahai.us www.bahai.org

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“Seal of the Prophets” (Q. 33:40) & “Divine Presence” (Q. 33:44): Why These Two Key Verses Should Be Read Together “Muhammad is … the Messenger of God, and the Seal of the Prophets.” – Q. 33:4a, tr. Arberry, https://corpus.quran.com/translation.jsp?chapter=33&verse=40 On the day when they will be brought into the presence of their Lord, their greeting to each other will be, “Peace be with you.” – Q. 33:44a, tr. Muhammad Sarwar, https://corpus.quran.com/translation.jsp?chapter=33&verse=44 Let your vision be world-embracing…” — Bahá’u’lláh

In this talk, Violetta will speak about her inspirations and her process for creating this vast chronology, which is almost 400 pages long, and contains 825 photographs as well as 115 pieces of original art, and close to 60 handmade graphics and maps, illustrating the life and Revelation of Bahá'u'lláh. The Blessed Beauty is a dual-enmeshed story of the life and Revelation of Bahá'u'lláh highlighting 92 of Bahá'u'lláh’s most important Tablets, epistles, prayers, and poems into the chronology.

Anthony Ballard - Sunday Devotions with Daryll King THE... By Anthony Sunday Devotions with Daryll King THE ADVENT OF DIVINE JUSTICE Let your vision be world-embracing…” — Bahá’u’lláh

Week ten: Vahid VII (pp. 367-416: 49 pp)

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The purpose of my presentations is to demonstrate that the Baha’i Writings provide the theoretical and practical resources to establish a Baha’i-inspired and faith-based social justice movement that is a viable alternative to the social justice campaigns currently being waged in the United States and Canada. The social justice activism that currently dominates public attention may not be suitable for those who cannot agree with its involvement in partisan party politics, nor with the ideological viewpoints of many of its leaders; with its program and methods of seeking redress solutions to social justice problems; with its analysis and interpretation of social justice issues and with its often extremist rhetoric. At the present time, such individuals have few options for social action available to them. They can either limit their social activism to their own behavior and maybe a few friends and acquaintances or they can be reluctant tag-alongs with whatever group least offends their consciences. For those who desire to do more without distressing their conscience this is not a satisfactory solution. Nor does it help society which needs wide-spread support for remedying the injustices which hinder mankind’s development. In my understanding, the Baha’i Writings provide both the theoretical foundations and the practical guidance needed to make a Baha’i-inspired and faith-based movement into an effective participant in the quest for social justice. Indeed, I would argue that Baha’u’llah encourages such remedial action. Why else would He state that? The All-Knowing Physician hath His finger on the pulse of mankind. He perceiveth the isease, and prescribeth, in His unerring wisdom, the remedy. Every age hath its own problem, and every soul its particular aspiration. The remedy the world needeth in its present-day afflictions can never be the same as that which a subsequent age may require. Be anxiously concerned with the needs of the age ye live in, and center your deliberations on its exigencies and requirements (Gleanings 212)

Authored by Haji Siyyid ‘Ali Muhammad Shirazi, known as “The Bab” (1847- 1848). Translated into French by A.-L.-M Nicolas, French Consul in Tabriz, Iran, and published in Paris, France (1911-1914). Rendered into English with additional annotations by Anonymous (1982-2021). www.clearwaterbahais.org https://www.clearwaterbahais.org/persian-bayan-sup-materials.html

The collective purpose of man, according to Bahá’u’lláh, is to "carry forward an ever-advancing civilization." [1] But the purpose of the individual is to know and worship God. Prayer is one of the greatest means for attaining that purpose. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá taught that "Prayer is conversation with God " and went on to explain that we need to make an effort to attain that spiritual communion in which conversation with God becomes possible.[2]