On How to Show Who's Boss: Oh, it's a woman's thing

Dorothy Nelson has always inspired. -gw

As a member of the Bahá’í Faith, I believe in the process of consultation to resolve conflicts peacefully. I inserted materials on mediation, the closest thing to consultation, in my seminar on the administration of justice. One day at a faculty meeting, I overheard a faculty member say to another, just what is this thing called mediation that Dorothy is teaching in her seminar? The response was: “Oh, it’s a woman’s thing. She is trying to get everyone to love each other”. Well, it gives me the greatest pleasure to say that alternative dispute resolution (particularly mediation) is one of the hottest topics in the justice system today.

When I became the first woman dean, one of the senior faculty members called me into his office and advised me to arrive at the next faculty meeting 15 minutes late to show the faculty who was boss. Instead, I rushed home and baked 5 dozen chocolate cookies and arrived 15 minutes early to greet everyone. I also announced that we would have food at all faculty meetings henceforth.

http://randomsaladthoughts.blogspot.com/2007/11/amazing-post-by-female-bahai-judge.html

http://ms-jd.org/myblog/Judge+Dorothy+Nelson

On Understanding and Cooperation for Peace: Kindly organized by the Baha'i community

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High Level Dialogue on Interreligious and Intercultural Understanding and Cooperation for Peace

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Photo of some of the HLD participants at the breakfast reception kindly organized by the Baha’i community.

On Summer Breezes for Baha'is: Dreams Never Get Old

Hummingbird
don't fly away

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Photo uploaded on May 15, 2007 by MrClean1982 on flickr, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 2.0 Generic

DREAMS NEVER GET OLD: SUMMER BREEZE - Seals & Crofts
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Jim Seals (Seals & Crofts) 2007
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Dash Crofts Concert 2-14-05

On Making the Crooked Straight: A Dear Photo of the Defenders

Found on Flickr. -gw

The Authors of "Making the Crooked Straight" in Tambach

.leila says:
one of my favourite books. ever.

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"A masterly survey of the doctrinal and vital principles of this religion … a mine of information on Baha'i-theology, practice, and ethics, and the Baha'i-vision of the socio-political organization of the human family." (Prof. Christian Cannuyer, in: Mélanges de Science Religieuse)

" … authentically and in the best scholastic tradition responds to the largest accumulation of issues raised in polemical writings against the Baha'i… during the last one hundred years." (Prof. Heshmat Moayyad, in: Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society)

"… an important contribution to the critical study of the Baha'i religion in the history of religions." (Prof. Manfred Hutter, in: Journal of Contemporary Religion)

http://www.udoschaefer.com/books_e1.php

On Doing It for the Children: And discovering I couldn't deny that my soul was the soul of a Baha'i

This soul was nurtured to take the step of Faith through the Institute process and participation in the core activities of children's classes, devotional gatherings, and study circles. -gw

I have always searched for meaning in my life, always believed in the equality of all of mankind, always knew that I was put on this earth for a purpose—to serve humanity. Becoming a mother didn’t change that, if anything it made the search more crucial.

My mother says that I’ve tried every religion and she is not too far from the truth. I have definitely read-up on just about every faith and loosely practised most of the eastern beliefs in my adulthood—drifting toward Buddhism for its peace-loving qualities in a world where most wars and conflicts are related to religion. But having four children instilled a sense of urgency in me to find something more authentic than meditating sporadically, as I struggle to explain the complex ideas of material detachment and cessation of suffering to young children, yet celebrate all the Christian holidays, and irregularly attend my husband’s childhood church. Not only did I need something to believe, but in the face of the media’s overwhelming influence I needed my children to believe in God and to be with him everyday.

I had heard my Homoeopathy professor talk about the Baha’i faith on several occasions, and his talks always gave me a sense of peace and understanding, so my husband and I went to him for some insider information, which became my first step toward becoming Baha’i. Over the next year I read about the faith—a lot, I helped my oldest daughter do a project on the Baha’i faith for Girl Guides, I enrolled my two older girls in Baha’i children classes and brought my younger kids to virtue based Baha’i playgroup.

While each step was done for the benefit of my children, I began to take much more from the journey than I had anticipated, and soon I was attending Devotional gatherings and taking adult classes. I couldn’t deny that my soul was the soul of a Baha’i.

My husband has remained a follower of the United Church and we still celebrate the Christian holidays in addition to the Baha’i holy days. We teach our children about Jesus and the other manifestations of God including Baha’u’llah, we teach the Virtues, and most of all we teach them by example that we can live united with two faiths in one home.

Tammy, "A Mother's Journey to the Baha'i Faith," Tammy Plunkett's Weblog

On Human Rights Day, December 10th: Um Mundo, Uma Vida

From SAM. -gw

Um mundo, Uma Vida

One world, One Life

A maioria das pessoas que me conhece sabe do meu desejo de intervir ativamente pelos Direitos Humanos.

Most people who know me know of my desire to intervene actively for human rights.

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Mas enquanto a oportunidade mais realista não é encontrada, o mínimo que se pode fazer é utilizar as novas tecnologias como portas que nos abram essas oportunidades.

But while the most realistic opportunity is not found, the least we can do is use the technology as we open doors these opportunities.

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Por isso, faço o convite!

So do the invitation!

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Avanço o desafio!

Advance the challenge!

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Cada um de nós, seres humanos conscientes, tem notado que, por todo o globo, existe um sempre crescente de atrocidades contra a espécie humana.

Each of us, human beings aware, has noticed that, across the globe, there is an ever increasing atrocities against the human species.

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Mas, quantos de nós paramos para pensar sobre elas e mostrar a nossa indignação e asco?

But how many of us stop to think about them and show our indignation and asco?

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É essa a razão desta causa: criar uma rede ativa que leve o seu desagrado aos seus leitores.

That is the reason for this question: create an active network to take its dissatisfaction to their readers.

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No dia 10 de Dezembro , Dia Internacional dos Direitos Humanos , eu gostaria de nos ter a todos trabalhando em conjunto, como um mundo, uma vida , de modo a que todos os nossos leitores possam ter em mente de que somos, de facto, um mundo e uma vida .

On December 10, International Human Rights Day, I would like to have us all working together as a world, a life, so that all our readers can bear in mind that we are in fact a world and a life.

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Para os que possuem blog e desejem participar, é simples: Não há limites para as vossas imaginações (até porque a unidade deveria vir da diversidade)!.

For those who have blog and wish to participate, is simple: There are no limits to your imagination (because the unit should be of diversity)?.

+ Podem escolher uma situação particular ou geral;

They may choose a particular situation or general;

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Escrever sobre a economia e os direitos humanos, a perspectiva religiosa e os direitos humanos, a psicologia dos direitos humanos, filmes sobre direitos humanos, poemas, vídeos de música, pinturas;

Writing on the economy and human rights, the prospect religious and human rights, the psychology of human rights, human rights films, poems, videos, music, paintings;

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A vossa imaginação é o limite!

Your imagination is the limit!

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Os que não tem blogs, mas desejam participar, não se esqueçam que toda a tecnologia é um meio e não um fim, em si mesmo.

Those who do not have blogs, but want to participate, do not forget that all the technology is a means and not an end in itself.

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Usem os vossos hi-5 , orkut , ou até mesmo no nickname do messenger ;

Use your hi-5, orkut, or even the nickname of the messenger;

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Podem só mesmo publicitar esta campanha a outras pessoas que tenham blog;

They may even publicize this campaign only to other people who have blog;

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Ou se inscrever e publicitar a nossa comunidade de facebook .

Or sign up and publicize our community of facebook.

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O objetivo é fazer com que todos os que se conectem conosco entendam que, enquanto um único humano for privado de seus direitos, iremos todos continuar a trabalhar juntos, porque somos interconectos como um mundo, uma vida .

The goal is to make all that connect us understand that as a single man is deprived of their rights, we will all continue to work together, because we are interconectos as a world, a life.

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O nosso principal objetivo é lembrar que somos um mundo, uma vida .

Our main goal is to remember that we are one world, one life.

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Se quer participar desta iniciativa:

If you want to join this initiative:

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Envie um email ;

Send an email;

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Informe através da página de facebook ;

Enter through the page of facebook;

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Ou deixe aqui um comentário.

Or leave a comment here.

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Os selos da campanha, desenvolvidos pelo amigo Lino Resende , seguirão em breve.

The stamps of the campaign, developed by friend Lino Resende, follow soon.

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Obrigado a todos!

Thanks to all!

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publicada por SAM às 19:02

Published by SAM to 19:02

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Fênix ad eternum

Phoenix ad forever
Cultura, Ciência, Religião

Culture, Science, Religion
porque em Feníxia

Because in Feníxia
o Conhecimento é um só Ponto

The Knowledge is a single point
e os Direitos são Universais

And the Rights are Universal

This work is licensed by SAM under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 Portugal License.

On Afghan Baha'is: The Website

Here is a message from a recent commenter to the post "On Religious Diversity in Afghanistan: True progress" -gw

"also check out Afghan Baha'is website, www.AfghanBahais.org"

A short history of Bahá'í Faith in Afghanistan
http://www.afghanbahais.org/

On Learning About the Baha'i Faith for the First Time: Christianity Explored

Denise from Singapore is a student at Warwick. -gw

we had a christianity explored meeting before the actual bible study. christianity explored is for pre believers to ask questions and stuff. it was quite interesting. there were two people of the baha'i faith there. so, i got to learn about it for the first time. :)

Denise, "rootes five 20," A Song on Her Lips

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Photo: "Atrium, Universityof Warwick," uploaded on May 15, 2006 by jisc_infonet on flickr,

licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.0 Generic

On Photos from Nepal: Marco Visits Nepali Baha'i Villages

The Marco of BahaiPictures.com has been visiting Nepal and posted these on

Visiting Nepali Baha'i Villages with 3 other Baha'i friends

Village Children in Nepali Bahai School

Group Photo with Nepali Bahai in a Village

Nepali Native in a Baha'i Village around Biratnagar

The Celebration of the Birth of the Bab in the Baha'i Center in Kathmandu

Photo by Marco Abrar - Baha'iPictures.com

On Religious Tests: There were a few bonus multiple choice questions on the Baha'i Faith

Life is full of tests. Pass them. -gw

So, I wrote the second test for my religious studies course. I felt terrible. The problem was I didn't really know what the questions were asking for. They were so vague, and so broad. As well, they seemed to ask me the write the same answers three times at three different places in the paper. The only comfort was that I was pretty confident about the multiple choice and short answer part, and there were a few bonus multiple choice questions on Baha'i faith too.

http://myfirstwritingroom.blogspot.com/2007/11/program-going-well-november-28-2007.html

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"Blogs can used to increase student achievement and test scores. Imagine having a classroom blog that allows you to enrich and assess student learning. Give students their own blogs so that their work can be seen by the whole school community. " Uploaded on December 22, 2005 by Misterteacher on flickr, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 2.0 Generic.

On Spiritual Pursuit: The Baha'i Board Game

From Barney's profile on Facebook I learn of Spiritual Pursuit, the Baha'i board game, and the Facebook group devoted to it. -gw

Spiritual Pursuit - Baha'i board game
Spiritual Pursuit - second edition - is launching on 2 Jan 2008. Pre-order your copy now, and collect at the National Festival in Warwick.The game costs £23, and consists of a high quality board, 3 sets of questions on 10 topics, and counters for 9 players. The second edition comes in a presentation box. Topics are: Baha'u'llah The Bab' Abdu'l-Baha Calendar Administration Holy Places Messengers of God Prayers Famous Baha'is The Writings

Questions come in beginners, regular and hard categories, plus a bonus round. The game is ideal for adults, youth and children, and for both long-time Baha'is and those newly investigating the Faith. It is a great community game.

LIMITED EDITION - ONLY 500 AVAILABLE!

Orders and enquiries to spiritualpursuitgame@gmail.com

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http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=6179661590&ref=nf

On Curriculum Development: I'm writing about a Baha'i curriculum that is used all over the world

"negotiated curriculums,"
uploaded on March 7, 2006 by leighblackall on flickr,
licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic

Big subject. -gw

Curriculum Development – I’m writing about a Baha’i curriculum that is used all over the world and is meant to be universal (for Baha’is/non-Baha’is from any country in the world). So I’m going to explore how this curriculum was created and whether or not it is appropriate for all learning styles.

My Grad School Experience

http://pounehineurope.blogspot.com/2007/11/schoolpapers-and-topics-class.html

On Visitors to Baha'i Views: Keyword Searches

Bahai ViewsBaha'i Views

Country Share

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Why do people come to Baha'i Views? For many, it is a keyword search that brings them here. Of the 100 most recent visits to Baha'i Views, according to Sitemeter, these were the search words that brought the visitors here if search words were used. -gw

2
baptist and bahai faith
7
symbol of bahai
11
myspace star symbol
14
christ come in the clouds baha'ullah and the new era
15
bahai song resources
19
bahai home visits
20
the nightingale of paradise
21
bahai teaching story
25
african symbols meaning superior
28
myspace star symbols
30
"apostasy in the baha'i"
32
bahai dating
36
bahai views
37
bahai christmas present tree
38
french garden
43
bahais views on anger
44
baha'i marriage fortress of wellbeing
49
18 october 2007 universal house of justice door to door
50
china she
52
bahai values
54
star symbols used as tatoos
55
bahai prayer for "grandparents"
57
"year of separation" marriage
62
baha'i
64
bahai weddings
65
tu que estas en alto cielo
66
baha'i social enconomic development
67
isaac newton calculus
68
baha'i
69
bahai views
70
paradoxical questions
71
bahai paintings
72
bahai gardens
74
baha'i temple santiago, chile
75
bahai egypt
76
anna's presentation
79
bahai prayers cambodian
82
baha'i children's classes - abdu'l-baha
83
anna's presentation, baha'i
85
star symbols for myspace
86
bahai children classes material
89
bahai
90
anesthesiology symbols
91
paradoxical question
93
"tu que estas en alto cielo...echame tu bendicion!!!"
94
bahai questions
98
bahai december 2007 bosch

My conclusion is, people come here for many reasons. - gw

On Baha'is Providing Service in Zambia and French Guiana: Bright Spirits

Bright spirits, uploaded on August 28, 2006 by Jack.ed on flickr

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Service in Zambia:
Service (volunteer work) in Zambia at Banani International Secondary School
"True Liberty"

Before, During, After
Year of Service in French Guiana

"Teacher only looks at the bright side!"

{Photo licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.0 Generic}

On Anna's Presentation: Amazing success for Baha'is

Next week our cluster will be holding a Ruhi Book 6 refresher class and be studying Anna's presentation. -gw

Amazing success with Anna's Presentation

Added: November 28, 2007
Mahendran in Johor Bahru explains to Suraj Chew amazing recent successes he has had presenting the Faith to 5 families

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVcIXP0c_Vs

Gloria Javid and Anna's Presentation

Suraj Chew interviews Gloria Javid from New Delhi on her success with using Anna's Presentation to convey the Faith.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VIPrWBkUJI

On Visiting with the Mormon Missionaries: My opportunity came to teach

A straightfoward teaching story from from a humble servant of Baha'u'llah. I like how she appreciates the missionaries' poise. -gw

I just got back from shopping to encounter boys in suits and carrying backpacks standing in front of the door of the home across the yard from me. They were talking about Joseph Smith. Oh boy, Mormon missionaries...

I put all my stuff away, and I finished by the time they reached my door. They began by asking if I know about Jesus Christ and His latter mission. I told him how my grandparents are Mormon, my brother is Mormon, and much of my family is Mormon. They then asked if I was raised Mormon. I told them that I was raised Christian, but I decided to leave Christianity, and I joined the Baha'i Faith. They said they had never heard of the Baha'i Faith. So then, I told them about Baha'u'llah and the Bab. I mentioned the things I read from "Thief in the Night," in that the Bab is the return of Jesus, he came in 1844, caused much turmoil in Persia, and he was executed by Muslims. He announced that a greater one would come after him nine years later. That person turns out to be Baha'u'llah. He is the Lord of Hosts and the Holy Father. Baha'is believe he is the manifestation of God for this age. He wrote instructions for people to follow that would create the Kingdom of God on Earth. He sent letters to all the leaders of the world, including the Pope, that would allow the creation of God's kingdom, the elimination of all wars, and world unity. He taught of the elimination of all prejudice, and that there is only one race: the human race, and we should love all people. After saying all this, they expressed satisfaction that I appear to believe in Jesus, they gave me a card for ordering Mormon music, and they bid me farewell.

I seemed to do more talking than them. Their job was to teach others about Joseph Smith, but I ended up teaching them about Baha'u'llah. It's neat how that happened. I read some of the Book of Mormon in preparation for the times when would be faced with the circumstances of teaching them about the Baha'i Faith. I did so because many of my family members are Mormon. My opportunity came in the form of teaching Mormon missionaries. They seemed like they never heard of the Baha'i Faith. I wonder if they will investigate if further, or if I freaked them out with some the shocking things I said. I felt nervous when speaking to them. I haven't had any practice teaching the Baha'i Faith to other people, so naturally I felt nervous. It's amazing that they manage to teach their religion with such poise. They probably get lots of practice doing it. Discussing one's religion with other people unfamiliar with it is pretty nervewracking, and arguments could sometimes happen. I'm glad that this encounter happened peacefully. I now wonder if I talked too much, because they hardly did much speaking, but those guys certainly got to learn something new, today.

Tawna, "Mormon Missionary Visit," tawna's Journal

{Re-posted with permission}

On the Purpose of God's Tests: So that light may be distinguished from darkness

Crossreference List of Bahá'í Prayers - Sorted
edit / delete
saved by 1 other person ... 3 days ago

Thanks to locle999 on del.icio.us, I learn of a slew of Baha'i outlines and summaries, including this one. -gw

Nine purposes defined in the Kitáb-I-Iqán

Here are the first four purposes. -gw

The purpose of God’s tests: “…so that light may be distinguished from darkness, truth from falsehood, right from wrong, guidance from error, happiness from misery, and roses from thorns.” (KI 8)

The essential and highest purpose of creation is “divine unity and understanding.” (KI 28)

The purpose of symbolic terms is “to test and prove the peoples of the world; that thereby the earth of the pure and illuminated hearts may be known from the perishable and barren soil.” (KI 53)

The purpose of changing laws and ordinances: “…such things as throw consternation into the hearts of all men come to pass only that each soul may be tested by the touchstone of God, that the true may be known and distinguished from the false.” (KI 55)

What are the other five purposes? Find out here. -gw

http://akb.web.googlepages.com/home

On the Baha'i Festival of the Covenant: The impulse towards unity

Last night Bonita and I went to our community's Day of the Covenant celebration. Our Spiritual Assembly members participated in the election of the Regional Baha'i Council. And then we all watched a DVD on the Hands of the Cause. How appropriate! How very wonderful! -gw

"Baha'i Festival of the Covenant," Uploaded on November 26, 2007 by Dr Phil on flickr
Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 2.0 Generic

What does it mean to be a Baha'i? It's shared meanings, for one. -gw

To be a member of a religion is to share its meanings, its hierarchy of values and its ordering of realities. For Baha'is, the meaning that is imposed upon the world consists of a belief that, in the present state of the world, the only salvation for humanity is to move on to the next stage of its social development, the unity of humankind and the emergence of a single global order: ‘The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens’ (Baha'u'llah, 1983, p. 250). For this order to emerge, an individual's source of identity has to change from a solely national, racial, religious or ethnic one to a global one. Hence the strong impulse in the Baha'i community towards unity. A religion that claims to be trying to unite the world cannot be effective or credible if it is not itself united.

From "Marginality and apostasy in the Baha'i community" by Moojan Momen
Religion Volume 37, Issue 3, September 2007, Pages 187-209

On Topic, BaHai Faith???: Finding peace and giving others space to find their own peace as well

Interesting discussion and lovely testimony to be found here in the "My Spirituality" forum. -gw


Black Hair Media Hair Forum : My Spirituality : Alternative Religions
Topic: BaHai faith???

I am a follower of the Baha'i faith, and I have been for the past 7 months. I guess I was tired of hearing how one religion was more right than all others, because I believe that there is truth to [at least] most religions. Baha'i isn't about finding religion and following traditions and whatnot, which I appreciate. It's about finding peace and giving others space to find their own peace as well. Since becoming one, I read the Bible much more than I did when I was a Christian, and I read the Quran and other holy books as well. Before, I tried to comprehend all the fallacies and inconsistencies in the holy books, whereas now I see what is good and real, those things being love, respect, unity and the oneness of all mankind. I absolutely love it!

BajanBaby11, Junior Member, Joined: 20 Oct 2007, Posts: 231

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http://forum.blackhairmedia.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=102685&PD=1

On Having Eric Dozier and JB Eckl Over for Thanksgiving: He Maketh Victorious

One of my favorite current songs is "He Maketh Victorious" by Eric Dozier and JB Eckl. It is also a favorite of Mitko of Befriended Stranger. In the post below he writes of taking the duo home for a Thanksgiving meal. -gw

He maketh victorious whomsoever He willeth

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Mitko on Nov 23rd 2007

On Why the Closing of Maxwell School May Be Evidence of a Step Forward: Baha'i Children and Youth Are being Prepared for Excellence Everywhere

Northeast States Baha'i youth at NEBYfest, "on FIRE," uploaded on February 23, 2006 by BlakeRead on flickr,
licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.0 Generic

My daughter-in-law Megan is a graduate of the Maxwell International School, a Baha'i boarding school offering a high school education on Vancouver Island in Canada. She loved her experience there. She is pursuing a teaching career in large part because of the inspiration she received at Maxwell.

Last night over a wonderful meal she had prepared at the end of a day members of the family spent hiking in the Olympic National Forest, we discussed the announced closing of Maxwell after 20 year of operation. The Baha'is of the Pacific Northwest feel a close connection to Maxwell, but so do Baha'is all over the world. The thought of its closure tugs at the heart of so many.

Maxwell has been operating under the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Canada, which made the decision to close, after considerable consultation, I'm sure. I have no idea as the specifics of that consultation, of course, but I told Megan that I thought Maxwell's closing may be viewed as evidence of a profound step forward that has been taken by the global Baha'i community.

Maxwell is a boarding school. Parents wanting a certain kind of experience for their children, one that would ensure a devotion to the Cause, in addition to academic excellence, have sent their children to Maxwell. Maxwell has supported the enhancement of Baha'i identity in an extraordinary way.

Ten, 15, or 20 years ago one could not be as assured of the development of a strong Baha'i identity in the children of Baha'is as one can be today as a result of the Institute Process. There were not the supports in place locally, regionally, nationally, or globally, to support the development of Baha'i identity and the pursuit of academic excellence that there are now with the Institute emphasis on the holding of children's classes as one of the core activities of Baha'i life. The option of sending children away to attend a boarding school to is simply not as attractive as it was two decades ago. Happily, all over the world, Baha'is are now taking seriously the importance of children's education.

Flitzy Phoebie
It starts with children's classes for the very young. It continues with exciting and substantial activities for junior youth. Baha'i identity continues to grow through vigorous youth activities at the high school and college level. Baha'i identity comes to fruition in the Baha'i Year of Service that so many Baha'i young adults now engage in.

Service is what being a Baha'i is all about. Baha'is who have been inculcated in Baha'i values and trained in the practices of Baha'i life from their earliest years are, of course, best prepared for lives of service. With proper Baha'i education, Baha'i youth are protected from unnecessary suffering and innoculated from the dangers of marginality. Baha'i youth are being fully prepared for a life of excellence.

Flitzy Phoebie

Take a look at the faces of Baha'i children at the Leaves of One Tree children's class in our cluster. Look at the faces of Baha'i youth on Facebook or some other social networking vehicle. See who's coming to the Northeast States Baha'i Youth (NEBY) Conference. Be glad that the global Baha'i community has turned the corner and has taken the education of its children seriously. -gw

On the Heart of Islam: One God, equality of all the Believers, and better treatment of women

The My Hero Project - Muhammad the Prophet
save this
Muhammad the Prophet
to Religion ... 3 hours ago

locle999 is bookmarking like crazy on del.icio.us. This evening he has been exploring pages of The My Hero Project, including one on Muhammad the Prophet. Baha'is feel a special calling to ensure that the beliefs of Islam and its contributions to our spiritual evolution are properly acknowledged. -gw

In his final sermon Muhammad summarised the heart of Islam:

- Belief in One God without images or symbols,

- Equality of all the Believers without distinction of race or class, the superiority of individuals being based solely on piety;

- Sanctity of life, property and honour;

- Abolition of interest, and of vendettas and private justice;

- Better treatment of women;

- Obligatory inheritance and distribution of the property of deceased persons among near relatives of both sexes, and removal of the possibility of the accumulation of wealth in the hands of the few."

From

the BBC World Service Web site

http://www.myhero.com/myhero/hero.asp?hero=muhammad

On the Use of Metaphor in Religion: "God may be like a mother hen but it doesn't mean God has feathers"

"Metaphor is the foundation of all learning: we understand new things in terms of things we already know."Uploaded on November 14, 2007 by jm3 on flickr, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic

"I never met-a-phor I didn't like." OK, I like puns, and this is a pun I've been using for years. The use of metaphors is essential in religious scripture. Religious truths cannot be conveyed any other way than metaphorically.

Here is a discussion in the comments section of a year-and-a-half old post that addresses the significance of metaphor.

Go to the web and you get these definitions for metaphor.

A figure of speech in which an expression is used to refer to something that it does not literally denote in order to suggest a similarity. wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

A figure of speech in which a word or phrase literally denoting one kind of object or idea is used in place of another to suggest a likeness between them. Example: He was drowning in money. csmp.ucop.edu/crlp/resources/glossary.html

A figure of speech in which one thing is described as if it were another, as in "Life is just a bowl of cherries." oneonta.k12.ny.us/hs/murphy/terms.htm

A figure of speech in which two things that seem to have little in common are compared, usually in an arresting or memorable way. For instance, the song "You Are My Sunshine" compares the singer’s beloved to the center of our solar system as a way of expressing her importance in his life.
www.educationplanner.com/education_planner/essay_article.asp

Jn.6:48 I am the bread of life or eat my body and drink my blood- a figure of speech in which one object is liked to another by speaking of it as if it were the other but in fact is not.
www.calvarychapel.com/redbarn/terms.htm

A figure of speech that makes a comparison between two things that are basically different but have something in common; unlike a simile, a metaphor does not contain the words like or as (ie, in the evening of life)
www.mdk12.org/instruction/curriculum/reading/glossary.shtml

Figurative language in which something unknown or imperfectly known is described in terms of something known. Frequently used biblical metaphors for God include father, king, rock, bridegroom; others are midwife and mother hen. God has some attributes of each of these figures, but is not limited to them. They are not intended literally: God may be nurturing like a mother hen, but that doesn't mean God has feathers.
gbgm-umc.org/umw/corinthians/glossary.stm

in metaphorical usage, expressions are used in a way that appears literally false. For example, using the word boiling to describe water which is simply too hot for comfort.
www.essex.ac.uk/linguistics/clmt/MTbook/HTML/node98.html

Here is more on metaphors by Baha'is. -gw

"Baha'i Inspired Photography and Metaphors" by Jim Styan
"Metaphorical Certitude" by Ron Stevens
"Five Metaphors for Educators," by Rodney H. Clarken

On Family, Baha'i Family, and Marriage: Old Family Photos

Egypt 1951 COVER CANCELLED PORT SAID TO PORT FOUAD XF

Any Baha'i family is my family. That's the way I look at it.

I was exploring the blogroll of a Baha'i whose photo I had re-posted on Baha'i Views recently and came across a blog with this year-old post entitled "Family History" with some extraordinarily timeless photos from half a century ago of Baha'is in Egypt and Spanish Morocco, and pictures of Fugita, Hooper Dunbar, and Ali Nahkjavani. In all of these pictures is the blogger's grandmother. -gw

http://threeleggeduck.blogspot.com/2006/11/family-history.html

I think my grandmother is the only person I know who has had TWO thirty-year marriages in her life...incredible, isn't it?

http://threeleggeduck.blogspot.com/2006/11/oregon-festivities.html

On Steve's Declaration: I opened my Baha'i prayer book and began to read a long prayer, slowly in order to grasp and savor every word

This is a Steve update. Waaay up! -gw

declaration

Soundtrack in my head: Kiltarten Road,

“Carol of the Field Mice”

It was an unusually warm day for a November 19th in Wisconsin. It was up in the 50’s and foggy. I could barely focus on the dinner conversation at the co-op house. After dinner, I ventured outside. I had a lot on my mind as I walked toward the Wisconsin Union on the edge of Lake Mendota.

I walked into the Union and cut through the Rathskellar. The place seemed unusually noisy, but quiet greeted me as I walked out onto the Union patio. No one was there on the patio—who would be on a November night? I walked past the empty metal tables and chairs and stepped up to the water’s edge. The lake was enshrouded in fog, yet it was remarkably windy and the waves churned.

I'd been here many times before when needing a quiet moment to gather my thoughts. I often travelled to Madison before I moved here, and it was here that I'd often contemplate moving here and starting a new life here. One of the reasons I wanted to move up here was to help estabish Mahikari here in the Madison area. Ironically, I was now here for a different purpose...

I walked out onto a part of the patio that sticks out like a pier, so that I would be surrounded by water on three sides. People were leaving it just as I approached it. I walked to the water’s edge, opened my Baha'i prayer book, and began to read a long prayer. I read it slowly in order to grasp and savor every word.

Then I sat down and meditated on my life since the day I was introduced to the Baha'i Faith nineteen years ago this month. I thought about what was happening with me then and what has happened since. Just as I was concluding my meditation, a friendly fisherman came up to me and asked me if it was okay for him to fish there. I told him it was fine and we chatted for a few minutes. Then I told him I was getting chilly and I walked down the shoreline a bit and found another place to sit.

Then I offered more prayers. When I finished, I pulled out of my shirt pocket a 3 x 5 index card with blue printing on it. Someone gave me this card three months ago when I first showed up at the Baha'i Center here in Madison. On the top of the card, the words “Baha'i Declaration” were printed. I filled in my name and address, birth date, phone number, and signed and dated the card.

There’s so much more I could say, and so much more I will say, but I’m getting tired and sleepy. It’s been a long but exciting day.

So for now, just mark the time at 7:52 p.m., November 19, 2007. At that very moment, I declared myself a Baha'i.

"Declaration," posted on Monday, November 19, 2007 at 22:37 by Steve McClure , The Different Drummer Sountrack

vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv

>Post a Comment< do post a comment to Steve. -gw

On the Spiritual Education of Children: Gets my dander up. :o)

This one's all in the family. -gw

I'm always questioning and testing my beliefs. I read some to him from a rather good book about the testable proofs of the Baha'i Revelation in a book called "The Challenge of Baha'u'llah" There's at least 30 proofs outlined in the book that anyone can check out for themselves: read what Baha'u'llah wrote about whatever and then see what happened. You decide if it's truth or not. But do not start saying stuff to me without even reading anything if you are one of my children! Gets my dander up. :o)

http://helenkosings.livejournal.com/16555.html

http://helenkosings.livejournal.com/16555.html?thread=21163#t21163

+

http://books.bahai.us/the-challenge-of-bahaullah

On Liberty: This most mighty Stronghold

Todd has done a lot of work here in examining what true liberty means. -gw

The Baha'i Liberty Blog
Liberty/Justice/In God We Trust

"The Ancient Beauty hath consented to be bound with chains that mankind may be released from its bondage, and hath accepted to be made a prisoner within this most mighty Stronghold that the whole world may attain unto true liberty."

A Free Market Theory to Ending the Extremes between the Rich and Poor

On Global Warming and Karma: What goes around, comes around

"Global Warming Day of Action, St. Paul (Step It Up MN 4/14/2007) ," uploaded on April 14, 2007 by Tony Webster on flickr

What goes around, comes around. -gw

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