Baha'i Views

Monday, October 12, 2009

On Google Search Results and Other Stats: Nothing stays the same

This is a screenshot I did the day (Oct 6th) I noticed that bahaiviews.net was on the first page of results (no.6) when I did a keyword search for "Baha'i" on Google, using the default search of "all results, any time, standard view, standard results."

Back in early 2008 when my Baha'i Views was just on Blogger bahaiviews.blogspot.com , I used to track where I was on Google using a general search for "Baha'i." Of late I have loved being able to search for "all results, past 24 hours," or even just in the "past hour," seeing my posts in the mix, and simply haven't noticed rankings among "all results, any time."

It was April of 2008 I started up Baha'i Views on WordPress ( bahaiviews.net ). It was interesting to see it on page one, if only for a day, because I doubt it will ever rank that high again. I am now posting Baha'i Views using the Posterous blogging platform and using autoposting not only to my Baha'i Views on WordPress, but also to Baha'i Views on Blogger, in effect reactivating it. I have also been posting the same mirrored content to two other previous blog incarnations, Defense of Faith defenseoffaith.net ), and Teaching the Baha'i Faith teachingthebahaifaith.blogspot.com ), reactivating those two as well. Further I have begun a new spinoff, bahaimusic's posterous ( bahaimusic.posterous.com ), also with autoposting.

Mirroring content from my Posterous blogs to four other blogs is something of an experiment. One thing I've noticed: it appears that Google will notice my content quicker than if it is posted just on just one site only.

Another note about stats: After years of using Sitemeter, I am now relying on Google Anaytics to give me daily feedback. I am able to track all the numbers from all of the blogs in one place. I'm doing a daily tally,which is fun. Highest total of visits in one day so far was 406on Wednesday.

Other changes: I am also finally taking Facebook seriously. My Baha'i Views content has long been posted as notes to my Facebook home page. Posterous permits me to autopost my blog post titles to my Twitter site and FriendFeed., two more social networking sites. FriendFeed allows me to autopost my Flickr pics as they're put up. And my YouTube account is automatically linked to Twitter and FriendFeed. Social networking is in the ascendency.

Professionals in the business of website promotion may hardly be impressed with my efforts, but it sure is fun for this amateur (who has a job to go to) to be able post content to the web and try to track the results. Hopefully, my content and the content of all the other Baha'is in the world who are using the Internet will advance the Baha'i Cause, the purpose behind all this. -gw

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On a Baha'i Reflection Meeting at the American Legion: Juxtaposition of images

Standing at rest

The Baha'i Reflection Meeting for the 17th Intensive Program of Growth for Cluster 19 WA (Pierce County) was held in an American Legion Hall, making for an interesting juxtaposition of images.-gw

"All men have been created to carry forward an ever-advancing civilization"

We support our troops

This flow, moreover, will presage and hasten the advent of the day which, as prophesied by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, will witness the entry by troops of peoples of divers nations and races into the Bahá’í world—a day which, viewed in its proper perspective, will be the prelude to that long-awaited hour when a mass conversion on the part of these same nations and races, and as a direct result of a chain of events, momentous and possibly catastrophic in nature, and which cannot as yet be even dimly visualized, will suddenly revolutionize the fortunes of the Faith, derange the equilibrium of the world, and reinforce a thousandfold the numerical strength as well as the material power and the spiritual authority of the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh.

http://reference.bahai.org/en/t/se/CF/cf-9.html.utf8?query=troops&action=highlight#gr63

Baha'is honor service to humanity

Serve the friends of God under all circumstances and conditions. This is the station of the spiritual ones; this is the honor of the Bahais; this is the glory of the sincere ones

http://reference.bahai.org/en/t/ab/TAB/tab-212.html.utf8?query=honor|serve&action=highlight#pg174

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On a Baha'i Inspired Space About Art and Spirit: Enoch's Vision

Congratulations to Enoch for his beautiful new site up at http://enochsvision.net. He describes it as "a Baha'i Inspired space about art and spirit." Inspiring it is, and packed with links, pages, images, and blog posts. -gw

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On Blog Action Day Around the Corner: A change in climate

Need I say more?

-gw

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On a Question Posed: Are the affairs of the world, especially in our homeland Iran, all in order?

As part of a long, wide-ranging, 13-page thread on an online forum, an Iranian participant asked the question, why did Baha'u'llah reveal the Kitab-i-Aqdas in Arabic, arguing that "It makes no sense to have a message be revealed to Persians yet the book be in Arabic, when its messenger is also Persian"?

Here was a Baha'i's' response. -gw

... it matters what the message is and not the language. Language is the means of communication and not an end in itself. As well, I believe people do not fully grasp the composition of the Iranian society in the mid 1900s. The fact of the matter is that the Báb and Baha'u'llah were the first among their contemporaries to write so much in Persian in a society that considered only Arabic esoteric and scholarly. Additionally, there is a large volume of writings in the Baha'i Faith by its founders which are in Persian, not to mention that Baha'i writings have been translated into nearly 1000 languages. What we do with the message is more important than the language.

In the same entry the Baha'i respondent, who is himself Iranian, answered other questions but noted ... -gw

... your references are from enemies of the Baha'i Faith which are not only false but derisive. It would be like quoting from Abu-Jahl about Muhammd and Islam. As the saying goes, it would take one crazy person to throw a stone in the well, but a thousand sane people to retrieve it!
For instance, Baha'u'llah never did come back to Iran after His exile. As well Baha'u'llah cannot be responsible for the actions of His enemies towards Him, just as Muhammad or Christ cannot be responsible for the actions of their enemies against them. Also, Azalies are not a division of the Baha'i Faith since as you mentioned they do not believe in Baha'u'llah. It would be like calling the Jews a division of Christianity! As well, the Báb was the Herald of Baha'u'llah who brought an independent revelation and although Baha'u'llah adopted many of the His teachings, He also changed many and brought another independent revelation.

He concludes with an appeal to his fellow countryman. -gw

In final analysis, I believe this discussion has provided an opportunity to really examine the condition and challenges of Iran and indeed the whole world, and ask ourselves some candid questions. These questions will put things in perspective:
1. Are the affairs of the world, especially our homeland Iran which has been under the influence of Islam for many centuries, all in order?
2. What are the challenges, what are the available options and what can be done to improve people's fortunes?
3. What has Islam done for the people and what will its role be going forward?
4. What can we as individuals do to contribute to the betterment of life in our homeland and in the world in general?

http://forums.iransportspress.com/showpost.php?s=f9bb6d07a38cc19c08d1551da9a7eb1f&p=717685&postcount=183

Photo: Uploaded on September 17, 2007 by mohammadali on flickr, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 2.0 Generic

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On a Question Posed: Are the affairs of the world, especially in our homeland Iran, all in order?

... it matters what the message is and not the language. Language is the means of communication and not an end in itself. As well, I believe people do not fully grasp the composition of the Iranian society in the mid 1900s. The fact of the matter is that the Báb and Baha'u'llah were the first among their contemporaries to write so much in Persian in a society that considered only Arabic esoteric and scholarly. Additionally, there is a large volume of writings in the Baha'i Faith by its founders which are in Persian, not to mention that Baha'i writings have been translated into nearly 1000 languages. What we do with the message is more important than the language.

In the same entry the Baha'i respondent, who is himself Iranian, answered other questions but noted ... -gw

... your references are from enemies of the Baha'i Faith which are not only false but derisive. It would be like quoting from Abu-Jahl about Muhammd and Islam. As the saying goes, it would take one crazy person to throw a stone in the well, but a thousand sane people to retrieve it!
For instance, Baha'u'llah never did come back to Iran after His exile. As well Baha'u'llah cannot be responsible for the actions of His enemies towards Him, just as Muhammad or Christ cannot be responsible for the actions of their enemies against them. Also, Azalies are not a division of the Baha'i Faith since as you mentioned they do not believe in Baha'u'llah. It would be like calling the Jews a division of Christianity! As well, the Báb was the Herald of Baha'u'llah who brought an independent revelation and although Baha'u'llah adopted many of the His teachings, He also changed many and brought another independent revelation.

He concludes with an appeal to his fellow countryman. -gw

In final analysis, I believe this discussion has provided an opportunity to really examine the condition and challenges of Iran and indeed the whole world, and ask ourselves some candid questions. These questions will put things in perspective:
1. Are the affairs of the world, especially our homeland Iran which has been under the influence of Islam for many centuries, all in order?
2. What are the challenges, what are the available options and what can be done to improve people's fortunes?
3. What has Islam done for the people and what will its role be going forward?
4. What can we as individuals do to contribute to the betterment of life in our homeland and in the world in general?

http://forums.iransportspress.com/showpost.php?s=f9bb6d07a38cc19c08d1551da9a7eb1f&p=717685&postcount=183

Photo: Uploaded on September 17, 2007 by mohammadali on flickr, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 2.0 Generic

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Sunday, October 11, 2009

On Happy Thanksgiving: Under all circumstances

Happy Thanksgiving Day to my Canadian friends. -gw

Happy Thanksgiving

~~~~

"A thankful person is thankful

under all circumstances.

A complaining soul complains

even if he lives in

paradise."

Bahaullah...founder of Baha'i' faith

http://bluebirdnotes.blogspot.com/

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On Songs for Baha'i Teaching: The significance of bhajans in India

Unity bhajan sung by Vivek Nair

epeli|MySpace Videos

Praveen likes this video. His music teacher is featured. Posted not only on MySpace but also on Facebook (the Baha'i-Inspired Music Listeners Club) by Harri Peltola, the video is described in this manner. -gw

A devotional song, based Bahá'u'lláh's unity prayer, sung in the traditional way of India. Such songs, usually in praise of Krishna and other Vaishnavite deities, are known as "bhajans". It was not until the Baha'is of India in the 1960s learned to deliver the Message in this way that the Faith began to spread like wildfire in some rural areas there, as a very enlightening article in World Order magazine has pointed out.

Posted via web from bahaimusic's posterous

On Preparation for Teaching: The power of a story

Stories inspire us to action like nothing else can. At the Hilltop Baha'i teaching meeting in our home Friday night, we were contemplating the activities we would be engaging in during the upcoming Intensive Program of Growth, the 17th in our cluster: going door to door to invite residents to partake of the Baha'i core activities designed to further establish a spiritual community among the residents of one of Tacoma's oldest neighborhoods. Below is a story of a home-visit made in our state recently that was shared by one of the Friends attending, unusual in the depth that the homevisitors went into, given the unique circumstances that presented themselves, but not unusual in the spirit characterizing home-visiting generally. -gw

Tonight my teammate and I went to visit her neighbors to meet them (she’s only lived there one month) and to speak to them about building a spiritual community right there in the neighborhood.   I don’t think she knew an hour before she’d be going to knock on anyone’s doors, let alone her own neighbors…   At any rate, as we walked across the parking lot she said they are her neighbors so she’d like to initiate the conversation, using the method we just practiced, and after which I could speak, which I readily agreed to.

We started with one of the doors immediately next to hers and ended up spending several (3?) hours there. A Tanzanian couple lives there with their jr youth daughter – the father knows a Bahá’i from work but didn’t know what a Bahá’i is. The mother and daughter have just arrived in last month and the father has been here for a while. The father is a devout Christian and the mother a Moslem.   The father very much wants the mother to convert to Christianity. When we arrived they had some friends visiting who immediately left and then we sat down in the living room.

I spoke with the father about why we hold devotionals and he indicated he prays 3 times daily so, as my teammate went into the kitchen to speak with the mother, I encouraged the father and daughter to share a prayer or song with me (in Swahili) – I then sang a quote to a melody I learned from my children (“To be a Baha’i simply means to love all the world, to love humanity, and try to serve it; to work for universal peace and universal brotherhood.”). The mother and my teammate came in immediately and we began by talking about building spiritual communities, which lead the father to tell me his wife is a Moslem and doesn’t believe____ and could I talk with her. I shared many of the analogies from Anna’s conversation, explaining the difference between a Manifestation and a Prophet (using analogy of the mirror) which everyone accepted.

As they learned about our beliefs the wife then asked me to prove to the husband that Mohammad is in fact in the Bible.   We played ping pong like this for a while on several topics, and I used the familiar analogies from Anna’s Presentation and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá on progressive revelation, etc. and then I offered to get a presentation from my car which derives the birth and Ascension of Jesus from the Bible, and then in a similar manner derives Mohammad, the Báb, and Bahá’u’llah. I offered the father that someone would drop by Some Answered Questions, which is the source of the interpretation and quotes we used (he wants a copy of this as well as anything in Swahili we have). I also spoke at length on how the Pharisees/Rabbis didn’t recognize Jesus because of their own “scholarly” interpretations of the Torah and how one must be careful not to reject Baha’u’llah in a similar manner.

We made it through the entire presentation (with him looking up some of the quotes in his Swahili Bible) and then I asked if I could share a presentation about the Faith, which both readily acquiesced.   So next we went through all of Anna’s Presentation (a couple times the mother walked across the room to look at pictures and quotes in the flipbook). They would both like to participate in neighborhood devotionals and the father would like someone to study with him (probably more from Bible standpoint). My sense is that the mother is very receptive and is the more interested of the two (though the father asked many questions and is eager for another visit). I brought up our jr youth spiritual empowerment program and the mother nodded when she understood its purpose (after another visit I think their daughter could be invited to join a jr youth group). My teammate offered to assist the mother in applying for jobs.

I have to say this was the most unusual visit I’ve had (my first Biblical encounter going door to door and the interesting dynamic of helping the mother and father to find common ground in their beliefs). Would you all pray for this dear family, as well as my teammate in her following up? I am very excited about this apartment complex and would like to go back again to visit others. I’m hoping to revisit this dear family next Saturday with my teammate.

The story and the consultation had its desired effect. The veils from our eyes were lifted, and we became ready to teach. -gw

Saturday, October 10, 2009

On TaliaSafa: Their songs are among the most-listened Baha'i music on my iPod

The songs from the TaliaSafa album are among the most listened-to Baha'i music on my iPod. -gw

http://www.taliasafa.com/

http://www.myspace.com/taliasafa

http://www.reverbnation.com/taliasafa

http://www.last.fm/music/TaliaSafa

http://www.befriendedstranger.com/bahai-music/2009/04/07/prayer-station-let-all-associate/

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On a Representative from Manipur at the UN's Commission of the Status of Women: Ahenleima is going to make a presentation on elimination of discrimination on the girl child

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The English has an unusual cadence to it. I don't recognize the place names mentioned in the article. Kangla, Manipur. I go to Google maps. Aha, the story is out of India, but the extreme eastern portion, on the other side of Bangladesh, close to the Myanmar border. -gw

"Along with academic education, the education to help one become successful, spiritual or moral education should also be imparted. Our present leadership is a failure, in my opinion, due to absence of spiritual education. I think if the young students take out time to inculcate spiritual education along with the academic education, we will have a more focused generation of youths.”

These are words coming from Koijam Ahenleima. She is studying in class XI at Herbert School, Changangei. Ahenleima is going to represent Manipur at the 51st session of the CSW – Commission on Status of Women at the United Nations which will be held from February 26th to March 9th. Among other things, Ahenleima is going to make a presentation on elimination of discrimination on the girl child with special reference to Manipur.
“The Baha’i International Community through the national spiritual assembly of the Baha’i faith recommended my name to represent the adolescent of India at UN. Luckily for me, I was selected,” said the soft-spoken Ahenleima.
When many of her counterparts are enjoying the best part of their teenager days, Ahenleima takes spiritual classes for children every Sunday for one to two hours. She has been taking these classes since she was in class eight! She said, “I take spiritual classes for students between 5 to 12 years. These children are collectively termed as Baha’i children. I had taken classes of 34 Baha’i children and at present there are 12 students under me. These classes are community-based.”
It is hard to believe when a sixteen years old girl talks about spiritualism instead of clothes, movies, music, and guys. What made her so strongly inclined to an ism at such a tender age which many fail to understand even at ripe age? She said that her parents’ belief in the Baha’i faith attuned her towards spiritualism along with her regular studies from a very young age.
Reflecting on the recent cases of crime against children in the state, Ahenleima said, “There is no saying that what happened to other children will not happen to me. Manipur has become very unsafe for us.” On being asked if criminal activities would reduced if the people are given spiritual education, she said that even if a person is given in-depth spiritual education if that education is not applied crime will not come down.
Lamenting the absence of facilities for children in Manipur, Ahenleima said, “To my knowledge, at present, there is nothing for children in Manipur – whether books, comics, or movies.” She said that the people, especially the grown ups seem to have forgotten that there are children too in this society.
Her hobbies include reading and singing. Apart from the Baha’i faith books, she reads Charles Dickens’ short stories and other novels. “But I enjoy spending time with children the most,” said Ahenleima. Speaking about her aim, she said she wants to excel in the field of homeopathy.
Born on 27th February 1991 to Dr Koijam Tomba and Koijam Sanatombi, Ahenleima is the second child among five siblings. Though she takes spiritual classes and talk about youth power, Ahenleima revealed a side that is hardly known. She said, “As a child I used to be very naughty. My friends comprised my younger brother’s friends since we grew up together. I grew up climbing trees and catching dragon-flies running among the tall grasses which adults used to stay away from fear of snakes.”
What can the youths and the adolescents do to change the society? “Lots, but nothing can be done overnight,” said Ahenleima. She said that the children as well as adolescents can work on preparing a good foundation so that “when we reach an age where we can have access to power, we will have the ability to remember their mistakes and not to repeat them. We should strive to become role models for the next generation and not a subject of ridicule.”
She said that if children can imbibe the best of academic and spiritual education, they can surprise the elders by giving meaningful suggestions in decision making. Ahenleima emphatically observed, “Youths’ energy is very powerful. We can start by giving an impact from now on to enable a better society.”

http://www.kanglaonline.com/index.php?template=kshow&kid=797&Idoc_Session=c6723aa288a60c187b0599ea5f9138c9

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Friday, October 09, 2009

On Ali Youssefi: Special guest at the Twisted Tea

In just 2 weeks

In just two weeks we’re going to be at the Twisted Branch Tea Bazaar, this time with a special guest, Ali Youssefi. Ali plays some wonderful music steeped in the spiritual teachings of the Baha’i faith. He’s one of my favorite local artists, and I know that he’ll become one of yours as well.

http://jdavydwilliams.com/2009/10/09/in-just-2-weeks/

http://www.myspace.com/ayoussefi

http://www.facebook.com/people/Ali-Youssefi/68135577

http://www.bahaibookstore.com/productdetails.cfm?PC=8013

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On Favorite Baha'i Newsreels: Search Facebook for U.S. Baha'i Video Library

I remember when each Baha'i newsreel was on videotape. Each was passed from household to household after being shown at feast, but never quite got around to everyone. Now access is a whole lot easier. -gw

Browse this site for your favorite Newsreel stories past and present. Invite your friends to experience and learn how Baha'is have put into action spiritual principles that build loving and dynamic relationships, families, neighborhoods and communities. Use the social networking tools to share or comment on the videos. For updates on new videos, become our Facebook fan! Just log on to facebook.com and search for U.S. Baha'i Video Library.

http://media.bahai.us/media.bahai.us

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On Hip Hop on the Holy Day: Nabil & Karim

Nabil and Karim Performing @ The Toronto Baha'i Center for the Commemoration of the Birth of The Bab.

Cd now available online at www.nkindleproductions.com

Great to watch their development. -gw

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On Obama's Nobel Acceptance Speech: We must pursue a new beginning among people of different faiths and races and religions

In May of 2008 I finally got my US citizenship and voted for the first time in a historical presidential election. What a journey! From being a persecuted Baha'i, chanting anti–American slogans in the school yard while wearing my chador as a 7 year old to being an American citizen and living in a free country. I will never forget the start of this journey.

Negar is exercising her free speech with her blog post this morning. She doesn't think much of Obama getting the Nobel Prize for Peace, nor of the idea of exploding a rocket on them moon to find water, nor of milk being wasted on the streets of Brussels.

Those of us who live in the United States may be more cognizant of what has transpired in this country in the last nine months than those outside its borders. There has been plenty of evidence of nastiness after what is acknowledged as a brief period of euphoria that surrounded the inaugeration of a new president. The viciousness of opinions uttered in town hall meetings around health care is just one instance that comes to mind.

Baha'is are fully cognizant that the political process itself in this country and every other country in the world is flawed, in perhaps most cases, deeply flawed. Government that is based on adversarial relationship is a thing of the past and not the future. Yet the Great Plant of God proceeds mysteriously and we watch the unfolding events with awe and wonder, and also a radiant acquiescence, because we know that peace is inevitable, as the achievement of peace is God's will. But it will be messy getting there. And living in this world like everyone else, Baha'is watch their p's a q's, as we strive to represent to the fullest extent humanly possible the standards inherent in the Message of Baha'u'llah. We are well-wishers of humanity, not nay-sayers.

The text of the speech by Obama on getting the Nobel prize is below. What stood out for me was his reference to religion, noted in red. -gw

I am both surprised and deeply humbled by the decision of the Nobel Committee. Let me be clear: I do not view it as a recognition of my own accomplishments, but rather as an affirmation of American leadership on behalf of aspirations held by people in all nations.
To be honest, I do not feel that I deserve to be in the company of so many of the transformative figures who've been honored by this prize -- men and women who've inspired me and inspired the entire world through their courageous pursuit of peace.

But I also know that this prize reflects the kind of world that those men and women, and all Americans, want to build -- a world that gives life to the promise of our founding documents. And I know that throughout history, the Nobel Peace Prize has not just been used to honor specific achievement; it's also been used as a means to give momentum to a set of causes. And that is why I will accept this award as a call to action -- a call for all nations to confront the common challenges of the 21st century.

These challenges can't be met by any one leader or any one nation. And that's why my administration has worked to establish a new era of engagement in which all nations must take responsibility for the world we seek. We cannot tolerate a world in which nuclear weapons spread to more nations and in which the terror of a nuclear holocaust endangers more people. And that's why we've begun to take concrete steps to pursue a world without nuclear weapons, because all nations have the right to pursue peaceful nuclear power, but all nations have the responsibility to demonstrate their peaceful intentions.

We cannot accept the growing threat posed by climate change, which could forever damage the world that we pass on to our children -- sowing conflict and famine; destroying coastlines and emptying cities. And that's why all nations must now accept their share of responsibility for transforming the way that we use energy.

We can't allow the differences between peoples to define the way that we see one another, and that's why we must pursue a new beginning among people of different faiths and races and religions; one based upon mutual interest and mutual respect.

And we must all do our part to resolve those conflicts that have caused so much pain and hardship over so many years, and that effort must include an unwavering commitment that finally realizes that the rights of all Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace and security in nations of their own.

We can't accept a world in which more people are denied opportunity and dignity that all people yearn for -- the ability to get an education and make a decent living; the security that you won't have to live in fear of disease or violence without hope for the future.

And even as we strive to seek a world in which conflicts are resolved peacefully and prosperity is widely shared, we have to confront the world as we know it today. I am the commander-in-chief of a country that's responsible for ending a war and working in another theater to confront a ruthless adversary that directly threatens the American people and our allies. I'm also aware that we are dealing with the impact of a global economic crisis that has left millions of Americans looking for work. These are concerns that I confront every day on behalf of the American people.

Some of the work confronting us will not be completed during my presidency. Some, like the elimination of nuclear weapons, may not be completed in my lifetime. But I know these challenges can be met so long as it's recognized that they will not be met by one person or one nation alone. This award is not simply about the efforts of my administration -- it's about the courageous efforts of people around the world.

And that's why this award must be shared with everyone who strives for justice and dignity -- for the young woman who marches silently in the streets on behalf of her right to be heard even in the face of beatings and bullets; for the leader imprisoned in her own home because she refuses to abandon her commitment to democracy; for the soldier who sacrificed through tour after tour of duty on behalf of someone half a world away; and for all those men and women across the world who sacrifice their safety and their freedom and sometime their lives for the cause of peace.

That has always been the cause of America. That's why the world has always looked to America. And that's why I believe America will continue to lead.

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Thursday, October 08, 2009

On Suddenly, Lots of Baha'i Music Videos Up on Vimeo: Thanks, Jack

There are suddenly 18 "Long Pilgrimage" videos put up on Vimeo by Jack Gordon. The majority of them are music-related and all are great quality. -gw

Alicia Cundall 3 days ago

A segment about harpist Alicia Cundall. Alicia lives in British Columbia but is truly a global citizen. In 2008, she visited Washington DC and gave a performance at the monthly Tiny Planet concert series which features spiritually uplifting music of diverse genres.

Blue Scholars 4 days ago

Interview with Seattle hip hop duo Blue Scholars for Baha'i International TV & Radio Service, July 2008.

Tara Ellis - Fetters 4 days ago

Musician Tara Ellis playing 'Fetters' from her devotional album featuring the Holy Writings of the Baha'i Faith. Produced in May 2008 for the Bahá'í International Radio & Television Service.

Eric Harper - Cura 10 days ago

Eric Harper performs a live version of 'Cura' from his 2008 album 'Romper a Madrugada'.

Eric Harper - Fechar de Olhos 11 days ago

Eric Harper performs a live version of 'Fechar de Olhos' from his 2008 album 'Romper a Madrugada'

Ferraby Lionheart sings a prayer by Baha'u'llah 11 days ago

Ferraby Lionheart sings a prayer by Baha'u'llah from the Holy Writings of the Baha'i Faith. Produced in May 2009 for Noveen TV

Black Men's Group - Naw Ruz 2008, pt 5 11 days ago

The Washington D.C. Metropolitan Area Black Men's Group shares prayers and songs at the A'in-e-Baha'i TV Naw Ruz celebration in March 2008. Part 5 of 6

Black Men's Group - Naw Ruz 2008, pt 4 11 days ago 19

The Washington D.C. Metropolitan Area Black Men's Group shares prayers and songs at the A'in-e-Baha'i TV Naw Ruz celebration in March 2008. Part 4 of 6

Black Men's Group - Naw Ruz 2008, pt 3 11 days ago 13

The Washington D.C. Metropolitan Area Black Men's Group shares prayers and songs at the A'in-e-Baha'i TV Naw Ruz celebration in March 2008. Part 3 of 6

Black Men's Group - Naw Ruz 2008, pt 2 11 days ago

The Washington D.C. Metropolitan Area Black Men's Group shares prayers and songs at the A'in-e-Baha'i TV Naw Ruz celebration in March 2008. Part 2 of 6

Black Men's Group - Naw Ruz 2008, pt 1 11 days ago

The Washington D.C. Metropolitan Area Black Men's Group shares prayers and songs at the A'in-e-Baha'i TV Naw Ruz celebration in March 2008. Part 1 of 6

Tara Ellis - Anis 10 months ago 329

Musician Tara Ellis playing an excerpt of 'Anis - Love Song' from the Dawnbreaker Collective album 'Arise, Vol. 1'. Shot in Los Angeles during May 2008. Copyright 2008, Bahá'í International Radio Service

http://vimeo.com/longpilgrimage/videos/page:1/sort:newest

http://vimeo.com/longpilgrimage/videos/page:2/sort:newest

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On You Know About All These Religions From the Past Few Thousand Years? They're actually the same religion

From Loree's Facebook I learned about this 36 second video. A fundamental truth for busy people. -gw

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On Defining Baptist Higher Education for the 21st Century: It's Baha'i

At Union University in Jackson, Tennessee

A debate goes on about what constitutes Christian higher education. A critic complains that one writer's formulation is something that non-Baptists would also embrace. Like that's a bad thing. -gw

The essay’s definition of “Christian” higher education, then, is explicitly “Christ”-less, “Gospel”-less, “Scripture”-less, and “Church”-less. As a lexicographer, I have difficulty imagining how we might define anything as “Christian” without those foundational elements. Indeed, the essay explicitly proposes that the “core values of our faith” involve the campus community maintaining “regular religious observances on campus, expectations of personal integrity and morality among students and staff and creating a campus culture where people genuinely care about one another.” These “core values,” though, are so nebulous that Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Shintoists, Baha’is, or even Raelians could all say that they embrace them. They are not distinctively Christian. In fact, if one were to replace the words “Baptist / Christian” and “God” with “Baha’i” and “Divine Principle” in the essay’s second half, its meaning is essentially unchanged.

http://www.firstthings.com/blogs/firstthoughts/2009/10/08/what-we-often-fail-to-say-about-christian-higher-education/

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On Not Having Named Any of My Children Sue: Son, this world is rough, and if a man's gonna make it, he's gotta be tough

All from the same gene pool, which is pretty amazing. Left to right, my kids in a picture taken a few years ago, Ruhullah, Tarazullah, Ruhiyyih and Rahmatullah. With names like that, you know they got to be tough. It's better than having named any of them Sue. -gw

I got all choked up and I threw down my gun
And I called him my pa, and he called me his son,
And I came away with a different point of view.
And I think about him, now and then,
Every time I try and every time I win,
And if I ever have a son, I think I'm gonna name him
Bill or George! Anything but Sue!

http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/johnnycash/aboynamedsue.html

And he said: "Son, this world is rough
And if a man's gonna make it, he's gotta be tough"

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On Fox Hollow Folk Festival, Founded by a Baha'i: Performing there, Utah Phillips, David Bromberg, Leon Redbone & Bruce Cockburn

Subject: Obit: Evelyn Beers Burnstine (Fox Hollow)
From: GUEST,Sean
Date: 07 Oct 09 - 11:13 PM

Heard today that Evelyn Beers Burnstine passed away. I'm sure more than a few of us here remember the Fox Hollow Folk Festival, which she and her first husband Bob Beers founded in the 1960s, and which continued until 1980. Amazing to think of who appeared there over the years: Michael Cooney, Utah Phillips, Dan Smith, David Bromberg, Boys of the Lough (think Fox Hollow must've been one of the first places they played in the US), John Herald, Leon Redbone (!) and even some Canadian guy named Bruce Cockburn. And that's just a sampling.

http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=124177&messages=9

Fox Hollow was a big-deal for folkies in the 70's. It was founded by a Baha'i, if this obit is any indication. -gw

Subject: RE: Remembering Fox Hollow
From: GUEST, Marty Beers Meshberg
Date: 08 Oct 09 - 11:37 AM
Dear Friends,
It has been such a long, long time since I have been in touch with many of you. Unfortunately I am the bearer of sad news. My mother, Evelyne Beers, passed away on Sunday, October 4th in hospital in Toronto from pneumonia. It was peaceful and painless. She was 84, and over the past year and a half the quality of her life was truly difficult . She had taken a very bad fall in August of 2008 and fractured 3 lumbar vertebrae. So, she was in constant pain, in a wheel chair and feeling pretty low down and depressed. Even at that, she still found it within her to sing and recount her memories of Fox Hollow and the wonderful supportive performers and friends who attended over a period of 14 years.

Her funeral was Tuesday Oct.6th) and was attended by my family and a small number of Baha'i friends. Since most of her "folkie" friends were in the United States, I found it so deeply sad that they were not able to send her off with a joyful noise as my father (Bob Beers) had been. Yet, I know that she has joined the heavenly concourse and that her spirit is now free and singing among the handmaidens of the Kingdom.
I ask that you pass this news along to her many friends.
Thank you for your assistance.
Love and best wishes,
Marty (Beers) Meshberg

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On 30 Minutes and $4 Later: I felt educated on special Persian fonts (thanks, Jimmy)

"Jimmy's Window"

Ah, the incidental mentions of the Baha'i Faith keep piling up. Maybe they're not so incidental. -gw

Woodlawn Tap, aka Jimmy's, has been a Hyde Park staple for more than 60 years (it was established in 1948 and run by -- you guessed it -- a guy named Jimmy) ... Newcomers: Pay no mind to the stares from the row of old-timers who swivel their bar stools, almost in unison, to ogle the newcomer. Work your way to the rear and hang a left into one of the seating rooms, where the October sunlight filters through the building's street-side windows, lighting the way for cheap grub and cheaper eavesdropping. Do as I was instructed by a regular: Order the grilled Swiss on rye and fries and grab a seat. Overheard during my luncheon: a conversation among three University of Chicago Ph.D. candidates on the subject of a special Persian font championed by members of the Baha'i faith. Thirty minutes and $4 later, I felt educated. (Thanks, Jimmy.)

http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/events/chi-1009-neighborhoodwatch-hydepoct09,0,7597897.story

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On the War of Information: Struggling to be heard and noticed

"We live in an age today where people are bored with content. There is a massive war of information online, and everyone is struggling to be heard and noticed, so we have to resort to creative ideas in order to ensure that some people are still listening to us.” -- Arash Alborzi

Those of us who are online to either protect or promote the Baha'i Faith are well aware of the war of information that rages daily. -gw

United for Baha'i Human Rights

1:56

Added: 1 month ago
From: MEYmedia
Views: 9,871

A new animated campaign aims to raise awareness about rights abuses against those following the Baha'i faith in Iran. The campaign, run by the Muslim Network for Baha'i Rights, was the brainchild of Esra'a al-Shafei, a 22-year-old woman from Bahrain who won a prestigious award for her Internet projects from Harvard University last year. In an interview with RFE/RL's Radio Farda she said, "I created the Muslim Network for Baha'i Rights because I knew that I wasn't going to be the only Muslim who believes in this. Soon we started gathering Muslims from all over the world who are speaking up for Baha'i human rights, in the name of Islam."

http://www.rferl.org/content/Animation_In_Support_Of_Irans_Bahais/1846618.html

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Wednesday, October 07, 2009

On How Flora Purim Became a Baha'i: I challenged Dizzy again & he recited the prayer perfectly

How Flora became Baha'i... gw

Tom: Through your close friendship with Dizzy Gillespie, who was a devotee of the Bahá'í faith, you came to adopt that faith. How has Bahá'í influence you?

Flora: Bahá'í was a young religion when I met Dizzy. Dizzy used to carry his praying book, which was different than everyone else's. All the pages were embossed in gold and his name was written on the front in gold. I used to sit next to him in first class, so once I asked him, "You are always reading this book. What is so good about it." He said, "This book is my Bible and I know every single prayer by memory." I challenged him and he said, "OK, I’ll give you the book and you can open it to any page and ask me." I took the book, opened it to one page, and by chance it was the Prayer of the Traveler. He said, "Which one out of the five?" I chose, thinking it would be difficult for him. He recited the prayer fluently. I thought to myself "He’s lucky, the Prayer of the Traveler is one he must read most often." I opened up another page, I challenged him again, and he recited the prayer perfectly. He read that book for 30 years every day. He read to remind himself that men should help other men, that a universal language should be created so that people could communicate and that women should be treated equal to men.

I told Dizzy, "I want to be a Bahá'í." He said, "You can’t be a Bahá'í yet." I asked him why. He said, "Before you decide you want to be a Bahá'í you have to read a couple of books to see if you agree with it." I was given several books to read, loved them and said, "I still want to be a Bahá'í." So we were leaving Australia and the family that was receiving all the Bahá'í in the town ran to the airport and gave me the book of prayers, just like Dizzy's book. Inside of the book was an Australian ten-dollar bill. I said, "Wait, I think you forgot the money." The lady who gave me the book said, "No we, didn't forget. You always keep this note inside of the book because this is to bring you more money and it could save you in a difficult situation." I kept it and never spent that money.

http://www.rockom.net/articles/2009/09/23/flora-purim-music-itself-becomes-god/

Photo: Uploaded on October 26, 2007 by Daniel Shen on flickr, licensed under Creative Commons

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On the Green Hills of Kuramba: Home to 8,800 Baha'is

"Panography: Athens, the Parthenon" Uploaded on April 6, 2007 by Deve82 on flickr, licensed under Creative Commons

Speaking of numbers of Baha'is in the world, did you know that 10% of the population of Kuramba is Baha'i. That's 8,800 people, folks!

Name : Kuramba
Population: Around 88,000
Major Ethnicities: German 60%, Russian 10%, English 10%, Arabic 10%, Irish 10%
Major Exports: Cars, Heavy machinery, Oil
Religion: Christianity 60%( Baptist 20%, Orthodox 20%, Mormon 10%, Catholic 10%), Judaism 15%, Baha'i 10%, Islam 10%, Atheist 5%.
About Kuramba : Kuramba is a Provence of German Immigrants who first set up towns in Kuramba's Green Hills,The German Immigrants set up Kuramba's Economic Industry of Cars and Heavy Machinery. With the discovery of Oil at the start of the 20th Century a large about of Arabs came to Kuramba.After World War 2 many German Jews came to Kuramba.From the 1970's on many Arabs came to Kuramba bringing Islam with them.In the early 80's Baha'i became popular among the youth in Kuramba and did not fade away and today Kuramba has a high Baha'i population.The Mormon movement Started in Kuamba in the late 80's and Kuramba has one of the highest Mormon populations in the world. Today Kuramba is a very left wing country, Liberal and Social Democrat politics dominate Kuramba.There has been severe tension in Kuramba between the large Jewish and Islamic population.Kuramba does not have a very poor population and has very strong environmental regulations.Kuramba is a very peaceful province and has a large Social Welfare system of Free health care education and care for veterans.

Forums > ACADEMIC/ BUSINESS > Government (virtual) > Virtual Government Lounge
http://www.perspectives.com/forums/view_topic.php?id=175242&forum_id=77&jump_to=4406989

In case you haven't already figured it out, let me hasten to add that Karumba exists only virtually, in the mind of its online creator. -gw

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On Musical Accomaniment for the Growth of the Cause: Grassroots music

So do Baha'i musicians support the work of the plan? In Kat Key's case, the answer is a resounding yes.

Next Monday, October 12, Katharine Key is going to mix things up a bit with a musical introduction to grassroots service activities conducted by Baha’is around the world for the spiritual enrichment of their local communities. Katharine will be playing a mostly acoustic set of her own compositions and a few covers related to study circles, devotional gatherings, children’s classes, junior youth groups, and social and economic development projects.

http://www.befriendedstranger.com/prayer-station/2009/10/07/prayer-station-invitation-house-concert-with-katharine-key-on-oct-12/

An added note, the location of the Key house concert is the home of a man who, if I understand correctly, once sold bootleg music on the streets in Bulgaria. He loves music, and also loves the Cause. He is a blogger whose posts, like Kat's efforts, clearly support the Institute Process. -gw

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On Close Connections Between Physical and Spiritual Reality: John Hatcher book

Bahá’í Publishing In this book, author John Hatcher explores questions related to consciousness, the soul, creation, the universe, and more to examine the purpose and connection between our physical and spiritual reality. http://books.bahai.us/close-connections

Close Connections | Bahai Publishing | Baha'i Publishing | BahaiBaha'i Books

Source: books.bahai.us

Examines the bonds between physical and spiritual reality and their implications for science. Close Connections will appeal to anyone interested in spirituality and its link to everyday life. For more than ...

This topic was the focus of the fireside at the University of Puget Sound last night. (I have the priviledge of being the Baha'iClub advisor.) -gw

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On Percentage of Baha'is in the World: 0.11%

"Number of Babi and Baha'i faiths followers in the world: 0.11% (7,469,069 people)." Like, that's that's rather exact. -gw

Citation: ChartsBin statistics collector team 2009, Babi and Baha'i faiths Adherents by Country, ChartsBin, viewed 8th October, 2009, <http://chartsbin.com/view/2rt>.

Source:

The Office of International Religious Freedom 2008, International Religious Freedom, 2008, The U.S. State Department, United States, viewed 16th September, 2009, <http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/index.htm>.
The Association of Religion Data Archives 2006, National Profiles, Department of Sociology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, viewed 16th September, 2009, <http://www.thearda.com/internationalData/>.
Central Intelligence Agency 2009, The World Factbook 2009, ISSN 1553-8133, Washington, DC, viewed 16th September, 2009, <https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/index.html>.

Last updated: 3 weeks ago

Category: Religion

Tags: world population religion reference maps statistics babi and baha'i faiths

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On the Moon and Religion: Manifold are the meanings

"cst on full moon night" Uploaded by .Leili on 30 Jan 07, 10.35AM PDT.

Open Question: How come when we went to the moon, the religions of the world didn't end, save Christianity? Like all these pagan stories about the world and the mormon stories and the "miracle" of muhammed splitting the moon were proved false. Yet these religions didn't cease, why? The only religions that should still be around is Christianity and Judaism since those books tell us it's only us out here, and when we went to space, even the deep parts of our solar system, it's just us

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20091007112150AA4DucI

An Answer: There are myths, which can be interpreted allegorically, and
there is historical fact. Any myths about the Moon, for example the Chinese one
about the rabbit with the pestle and mortar, are presumably accepted as not
literally true by the faithful of the respective religions. However, i can think
of many faiths which have no particular beliefs about the Moon, for instance the
Jains and the Baha'i, to choose two random examples.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20091007112150AA4DucI

What? Baha'i has no beliefs about the moon? There are 107 references to the moon in the Baha'i Writings. This is one example with multiple references from the Kitab-i-Iqan. Another answer... -gw

And now, concerning His words—“The sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give light, and the stars shall fall from heaven.” By the terms “sun” and “moon,” mentioned in the writings of the Prophets of God, is not meant solely the sun and moon of the visible universe. Nay rather, manifold are the meanings they have intended for these terms. In every instance they have attached to them a particular significance. Thus, by the “sun” in one sense is meant those Suns of Truth Who rise from the dayspring of ancient glory, and fill the world with a liberal effusion of grace from on high. These Suns of Truth are the universal Manifestations of God in the worlds of His attributes and names. Even as the visible sun that assisteth, as decreed by God, the true One, the Adored, in the development of all earthly things, such as the trees, the fruits, and colours thereof, the minerals of the earth, and all that may be witnessed in the world of creation, so do the divine Luminaries, by their loving care and educative influence, cause the trees of divine unity, the fruits of His oneness, the leaves of detachment, the blossoms of knowledge and certitude, and the myrtles of wisdom and utterance, to exist and be made manifest. Thus it is that through the rise of these Luminaries of God the world is made new, the waters of everlasting life stream forth, the billows of loving-kindness surge, the clouds of grace are gathered, and the breeze of bounty bloweth upon all created things. It is the warmth that these Luminaries of God generate, and the undying fires they kindle, which cause the light of the love of God to burn fiercely in the heart of humanity. It is through the abundant grace of these Symbols of Detachment that the Spirit of life everlasting is breathed into the bodies of the dead. Assuredly the visible sun is but a sign of the splendour of that Day-star of Truth, that Sun Which can never have a peer, a likeness, or rival. Through Him all things live, move, and have their being. Through His grace they are made manifest, and unto Him they all return. From Him all things have sprung, and unto the treasuries of His revelation they all have repaired. From Him all created things did proceed, and to the depositories of His law they did revert.
+
That these divine Luminaries seem to be confined at times to specific designations and attributes, as you have observed and are now observing, is due solely to the imperfect and limited comprehension of certain minds. Otherwise, they have been at all times, and will through eternity continue to be, exalted above every praising name, and sanctified from every descriptive attribute. The quintessence of every name can hope for no access unto their court of holiness, and the highest and purest of all attributes can never approach their kingdom of glory. Immeasurably high are the Prophets of God exalted above the comprehension of men, who can never know them except by their own Selves. Far be it from His glory that His chosen Ones should be magnified by any other than their own persons. Glorified are they above the praise of men; exalted are they above human understanding!
+
The term “suns” hath many a time been applied in the writings of the “immaculate Souls” unto the Prophets of God, those luminous Emblems of Detachment. Among those writings are the following words recorded in the “Prayer of Nudbih”: “Whither are gone the resplendent Suns? Whereunto have departed those shining Moons and sparkling Stars?” Thus, it hath become evident that the terms “sun,” “moon,” and “stars” primarily signify the Prophets of God, the saints, and their companions, those Luminaries, the light of Whose knowledge hath shed illumination upon the worlds of the visible and the invisible.

http://reference.bahai.org/en/t/b/KI/ki-1.html.utf8?query=moon&action=highlight#gr31

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On Baha'i: Either a slice of the pie, or the whole pie, depending how you look at it

All religions are one, as a circle is one. -gw

Photo: Uploaded on October 4, 2009 by ChartsBin on flickr, licensed under Creative Commons

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Tuesday, October 06, 2009

On I've been Searching for What I'm Looking For: Google, Yahoo, Bing ... Facebook Search

I love to search online for mentions of "Baha'i." (Surprise, surprise.) Been doing it for almost for years now. I am astounded at how refined the search process is now. I go to Google, put "Baha'i" in the search box and can watch an endless stream of results of items just posted minutes before under my scrolling. I haven't liked Facebook because I couldn't search.Well, Facebook is in the process of making search possible. Now I'm in love with Facebook, and it's really for the first time.

Facebook has one major asset: users, lots of them. 250 million registered users, to be exact, 30 million of whom update their status at least once per day. What they don’t have is users who are used to sharing their status updates with the world, but they’re trying to change that.

http://mashable.com/2009/08/10/google-facebook-search/

Facebook’s Publisher – aka, the “What’s on your mind?” box on your homepage, was recently overhauled to support smart links, video, photos and other options.
Today, however, Facebook is announcing even more updates to Publisher, which will let users control the privacy settings around each status update they post to Facebook. Beta testers, and eventually the rest of us, will now be able to specify whether they want to update the world or just a select group of friends.
The new Publisher will now have a lock icon in the lower right hand corner, where users can select to share updates with everyone, friends and networks, friends of friends, just friends, or a custom list. It’s important to note that the share with everyone option is essentially going to make your Facebook status updates public domain, and this has major implications for the upcoming release of Facebook Search.

http://mashable.com/2009/06/24/facebook-publisher/

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On Meet Me in Montana: By what Baha'i/Mormon duo?

via facebook.com

This is me with my extended family in Kalispell MT back in the 80's. I'm remembering the 80's, and songs like "Meet Me in Montana" by Dan Seals, Baha'i, and Marie Osmond, Mormon. -gw

********* "God Must Be a Cowboy" is a single released by American country music artist Dan Seals in early 1984. It is the fourth and final single from his 1983 album 'Rebel Heart'. It was also his first top 10 hit, reaching #10. It is also the album's most successful single.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God_Must_Be_a_Cowboy

********* "Meet Me in Montana" is a country music song recorded and made popular by Dan Seals and Marie Osmond. The song was the lead-off single to his 1985 album Won't Be Blue Anymore, and the second single from Marie Osmond's 1985 album There's No Stopping Your Heart.

When "Meet Me in Montana" reached No. 1 on the Billboard magazine Hot Country Singles chart in October 1985, it became the first chart-topping hit for Seals, and Osmond's second No. 1 hit. The song was her first to peak at the top of the chart since 1973's Paper Roses.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meet_Me_in_Montana

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