Clearwater Baha'is

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All humanity was created by one God and is part of one human race. Work performed in the spirit of service is a form of worship. The soul, created at the moment of conception, is destined by God to reach the afterlife, where it will continue to progress until it attains the presence. The purpose of life is to know and worship God, to acquire virtues, to promote the oneness of humankind, and to carry forward an ever-advancing civilization. www.clearwaterbahais.org www.bahai.us www.bahai.org

The Clearwater Bahá’í Center is located off Highway 60 West in Clearwater Florida, adjacent to the Tampa Bay Coastal waters. The Clearwater Bahá’í Community is comprised of many different spiritually minded people from many different cultural and ethnic backgrounds. All humanity was created by one God and is part of one human race. Work performed in the spirit of service is a form of worship. The soul, created at the moment of conception, is destined by God to reach the afterlife, where it will continue to progress until it attains the presence. The purpose of life is to know and worship God, to acquire virtues, to promote the oneness of humankind, and to carry forward an ever-advancing civilization. www.clearwaterbahais.org www.bahai.us www.bahai.org

The Clearwater Bahá’í Center is located off Highway 60 West in Clearwater Florida, adjacent to the Tampa Bay Coastal waters. The Clearwater Bahá’í Community is comprised of many different spiritually minded people from many different cultural and ethnic backgrounds. All humanity was created by one God and is part of one human race. Work performed in the spirit of service is a form of worship. The soul, created at the moment of conception, is destined by God to reach the afterlife, where it will continue to progress until it attains the presence. The purpose of life is to know and worship God, to acquire virtues, to promote the oneness of humankind, and to carry forward an ever-advancing civilization. www.clearwaterbahais.org www.bahai.us www.bahai.org

The journey to climb Mount Ararat was filled with adventure and self-discovery. Find out what author Rick Anton discovered about Noah's Ark and the culture of the people who live around Mount Ararat.

We are going to explore how to create a world that exhibits moral traits, where these moral traits are needed more and more today. www.clearwaterbahais.org www.bahai.us www.bahai.org

This day recalls the death of the Bab, executed by firing squad in Tabriz, Persia, at noon on July 9th in 1850. Baha'is commemorate his death at noon with readings and prayers from the Baha'i Scriptures. It has become a holy day of rest when Baha'is should refrain from work. www.clearwaterbahais.org www.bahai.us www.bahai.org

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Dan Barker is a former evangelical Christian preacher who is now an American Athiest activist and Author. In short - he is the mirror image of host Wade Fransson - who had a similar background but has become more, not less, religious since resigning from the ministry.

Full Video here: https://www.youtube.com/live/qwE4mxjflVI?feature=share 1. Death of a child: The speaker mentions that the death of a child is always sad and hard. They refer to a passage by Abdu'l-Baha that suggests the Almighty has prepared a better nursery for the child, comparing the child to a new shoot that needs a better environment to grow. 2. Hardship in the path of God: The speaker talks about the hardship faced by individuals who uphold what is true regardless of the cost, and maintain their faith. They mention that this hardship in the path of God leads to spiritual growth and give examples from different ages, including the early disciples of Christ. 3. Sacrifice and martyrdom: The speaker discusses the early disciples of the Bob (a reference to the Báb, the Prophet-Herald of the Bahá'í Faith) and Jesus Christ, emphasizing their faith and martyrdom. They mention that the Bahá'í figures, including the Báb, Bahá'u'lláh, and Abdu'l-Baha, also refer to these early disciples as examples to follow, being prepared to give up everything in the path of God. 4. Faith promotion and establishment: The speaker notes that in the early stages of every faith, it is critical to maintain and promote the faith, even if it requires individuals to give up their lives in order to spread it. As the faith gets established, they mention the importance of "living the life" and facing adversities in the path of God. 5. Changing expectations regarding sacrifice: The speaker mentions that Baha'u'llah stated that individuals are no longer expected to go and give up their lives for the faith, although they should be ready for it if necessary. It is clarified that giving up one's life is not requested or required at present. Let your vision be world-embracing…” — Bahá’u’lláh

Full Video here: https://youtu.be/r19dc191epU - Mirza 'Abu'l-Fadl, a prominent figure, was a chain smoker for 55 years, constantly smoking throughout the day. - One of Mirza 'Abu'l-Fadls defining characteristics was his radiant acquiescence to anything, as instructed by Abdu'l-Baha. - Hussein Ruhi Offendi brought a tablet called the Tablet of Purity, revealed by Abdu'l-Baha, which spoke against smoking. - Mirza 'Abu'l-Fadl, upon hearing the tablet, immediately quit smoking, throwing his cigar case out into the street. - As a result of quitting, one of Mirza 'Abu'l-Fadl,'s arms became paralyzed, but he refused to start smoking again, choosing to obey Abdullah even if it meant potential harm or death. Let your vision be world-embracing…” — Bahá’u’lláh

We are going to explore how to create a world that exhibits moral traits, where these moral traits are needed more and more today. www.clearwaterbahais.org www.bahai.us www.bahai.org

The Clearwater Bahá’í Center is located off Highway 60 West in Clearwater Florida, adjacent to the Tampa Bay Coastal waters. The Clearwater Bahá’í Community is comprised of many different spiritually minded people from many different cultural and ethnic backgrounds. All humanity was created by one God and is part of one human race. Work performed in the spirit of service is a form of worship. The soul, created at the moment of conception, is destined by God to reach the afterlife, where it will continue to progress until it attains the presence. The purpose of life is to know and worship God, to acquire virtues, to promote the oneness of humankind, and to carry forward an ever-advancing civilization.

Storytelling Sundays #14: The Father of Knowledge: The life of Mírzá Abu’l-Fadl - Part 2 This Sunday is part 2 of the life of our beloved Mírzá Abu’l-Fadl, the Father of Virtues. After last week’s part 1 that focused on the first 50 years of his life and hist travels in Iran and Central Asia during the lifetime of Bahá’u'lláh, we see Mírzá Abu’l-Fadl enkindled by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and follow the last 20 years of his life in Egypt, Paris, the United States. We also have several wonderful surprises for you in Part 2!

In a diverse and interconnected world, the strength of human connection and the profound impact of sudden loss is explored as individuals and communities navigate the uncharted territory of unexpected tragedy, revealing the enduring power of unity and resilience.

We are going to explore how to create a world that exhibits moral traits, where these moral traits are needed more and more today. www.clearwaterbahais.org www.bahai.us www.bahai.org

This Sunday come and learn about the life of Mírzá Abu’l-Fadl, the Father of Virtues, the Father of Knowledge, the most outstanding teacher, apologist and the brightest scholarly mind of the Faith. www.clearwaterbahais.org www.bahai.us www.bahai.org

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Eric Mondschein, author of Life at 12 College Road, is making a special appearance on the show to discuss "Being Grounded in History." He is walking us through a new tendency towards revisionism in which we ask ourselves whether that has made us ideologically weak. Can being rooted in history help us from being infected by bad ideas? What about the show "The Chosen"? Your presence can add immeasurable value to our exploration, allowing us to examine religion's critical role in our society and guiding us toward a higher plane of self-discovery and personal growth.

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What is the temple of man? It is our divine inheritance. Our ultimate destiny is to fulfill its potential. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá wrote, “This supreme emblem of God stands first in the order of creation and first in rank, taking precedence over all created things. Witness to it is the Holy Tradition, ‘Before all else, God created the mind.’ From the dawn of creation, it was made to be revealed in the temple of man. Our identity as the temple of man has been with us since our creation, yet it has been a long journey to fulfill it. This temple of man has been our counterpart, our complement, waiting to merge with us. Eileen will explore this journey from polytheism and blood sacrifice; to the still, silent voice of God heard by Elijah; to Bahá’u’lláh’s teaching that “The temple of being is My throne; cleanse it of all things, that there I may be established and there I may abide.” Available through Amazon and bahaibookstore.comWebsite: eileenmaddocks.commybooks@eileenmaddocks.com www.clearwaterbahais.org www.bahai.us www.bahai.org

Baptist preacher William Miller predicted the Second Coming of Christ would occur in 1844. The Millerite movement became one of American history's most significant religious movements. It also led to what is known as The Great Disappointment. What were the societal impacts, and are they still being felt today?

"The Purpose of Creation," is a compilation by Kambiz Hakim that illustrates the Love relationships between God and Humanity with the Manifestation of God as the central point and connection between us to our Creator. In this Part 1 of 3, we will discuss the 4-Loves: 1.)Love of the Creator for His Creation. 2.)The Love of the Creation for its Creator. 3.)The Love of the Creation for the creation. 4.)The Love of God for His own Self, that is, the love of the Creator for His own attributes reflected in His creation as an image in a mirror. This will be a deep dive into the Mystery and Beauty of the spiritual reality of Creation and we hope it will illuminate some of the misconceptions current, "AMONG US," in present society.

"The Purpose of Creation," is a compilation by Kambiz Hakim that illustrates the Love relationships between God and Humanity with the Manifestation of God as the central point and connection between us to our Creator. In this Part 1 of 3, we will discuss the 4-Loves: 1.)Love of the Creator for His Creation. 2.)The Love of the Creation for its Creator. 3.)The Love of the Creation for the creation. 4.)The Love of God for His own Self, that is, the love of the Creator for His own attributes reflected in His creation as an image in a mirror. This will be a deep dive into the Mystery and Beauty of the spiritual reality of Creation and we hope it will illuminate some of the misconceptions current, "AMONG US," in present society.