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On a December day in 1973, Anisa Abdul-Razzaq Abbas heard a knock at the door of the Baghdad home she was visiting. She opened the door to greet two men from the Iraqi Al-Amn security force, who immediately placed her under arrest. Her crime: being a member of the Bahá’í Faith, a religious minority in her native Iraq. Over the next six years, Anisa—along with other members of the Bahá’í community who were arrested at that time—would spend three years in Iraq’s infamous Abu Ghraib prison and a further three years in Al-Rashaad prison before her release in 1979. During her years of incarceration, Anisa would rely on her faith to meet the myriad challenges of prison life. Day after day, she and her fellow-prisoners experienced levels of cruelty and injustice that most would find unthinkable. Separated from her husband, who was being held in the men’s prison, and from her children who were without both parents, Anisa was sustained through her darkest days by the steadfast devotion and sacrificial love of her family, and by the strength and solidarity offered by her fellow Bahá’í prisoners. Anisa’s story is one of patience, courage, and steadfastness in the face of religious prejudice and state-sponsored oppression, and it is a reminder to us all of the resilient strength of the human spirit. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Finally, a book that challenges conventional wisdom about healing from trauma and abuse. Simply put, you can't think your way to happiness if you're suffering the effects of trauma or abuse. Yet every day, millions receive this message from a multi-billion-dollar self-help industry. As a result, many think it's their fault when their efforts to healing themselves fail. Far too many sincere, intelligent, and highly motivated people who have followed popular advice for self-healing still feel depressed, anxious, unloved, and unlovable. Why is this? If popular pathways for self-healing don't work, what does? How can those who suffer begin to find relief, function better, and feel genuinely optimistic, relaxed, loved, and lovable? This engaging and highly readable book, based on the author's professional experience in treating those who suffer from the devastating effects of emotional trauma, offers hope for those who suffer and those who care about them. Dr. McGraw O'Connor describes how trauma affects the brain and, therefore, one's ability to carry out "good advice"; explains the subtle and largely hidden processes of attunement and attachment that take place between parents and children, examining their impact on all future relationships; tells what is needed for healing to occur; discusses the profound health benefits of spirituality and a relationship with God in assisting and accelerating the healing process; and suggests how members of the helping professions can begin to tap the deepest, most authentic parts of themselves to touch the hearts of those they seek to help. Here's What They're Saying... "McGraw writes for anyone who has ever been disappointed by a shrink or a self-help book... She puts a novel spin on the self-help genre." — Library Journal Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“The sun of Bahá has set.” These were the opening words of the telegram announcing the ascension of Bahá’u’lláh, the Prophet and Founder of the Bahá’í Faith, Who passed from this earthly life in the early hours of May 29, 1892. As the news traveled, throngs of mourners from all walks of life descended upon the fields surrounding the Bahjí compound where He had spent His final years on earth as a prisoner of the Ottoman Empire. Within twenty-four hours His sacred remains had been interred in a modest building that was to be the Point of Adoration, the Qiblih, toward which millions of His followers continue to turn in daily prayer. In the pages of this book historian Michael V. Day takes the reader through the last years of Bahá’u’lláh’s life—in ‘Akká, Mazra‘ih, and Bahjí—highlighting pivotal moments and texts associated with the establishment of His shrine. Drawing upon a wide range of sources, including eyewitness accounts, the author paints vivid pictures of the daily life of the Manifestation and of those in His orbit; of His final days and illness; of His ascension and funeral, and of the period of mourning that followed. While there are many details that remain beyond our reach as we peer through the lens of history at these momentous events, the accounts pieced together here offer us a great deal to ponder and invite deep, meditative reflection. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Robert Hayden was the first African-American Poet Laureate of the United States. Born in Detroit, he attended Detroit City College (now Wayne State University) and eventually earned a Master of Arts in English Literature from the University of Michigan. He became a Bahá’í in 1943, and in 1966, he was awarded grand prize for poetry at the First World Festival of Negro Arts. In 1975, he was appointed Poet Laureate. Mr. Hayden believed that art and literature have the power to unite, illuminate, and inspire across ancestral and cultural lines. In a 1971 interview, he said, “As a Bahá’í I am committed to belief in the fundamental oneness of all races, the essential oneness of mankind, to the vision of world unity. And these are increasingly powerful influences on my poetry today.” It is hoped that this book will introduce the reader to this artistic luminary whose life and poetry will continue to inspire many for generations to come. “Susan Engle’s Robert Earl Hayden: A Man, a Pencil, and Poetry for All People is an inspiring account of a life devoted to poetry, teaching, and the cultivation of literary excellence. Engle is adept at making Hayden feel like a figure of dedication and generosity. Yes, he is a poetic genius, but he is also relatable. . . . Overall, this is a very well-written and beautifully composed book that is engrossing, educational, and deeply moving. Very highly recommended.” — Asher Syed for Readers' Favorite Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Religion and faith communities have been a part of America’s struggle with racism throughout its history. While religion has been used to perpetuate oppression and enslavement, it has also inspired and sustained those laboring for justice. Eternal spiritual teachings and practices found across religious traditions—loving one another; recognizing our interdependence; promoting justice; and cultivating moral courage, humility, and compassion—offer vital resources for overcoming racism. Insights from these teachings and practices can be shared by all striving for the same aims whether or not they are religious adherents. Illumined by Oneness grows out of a multi-year, multifaith dialogue on how religion and faith communities can contribute to overcoming racism. It invites readers into this conversation, offering readings, questions, and dialogue materials. Individuals and groups can use the resources and reflections provided to support study, conversation, and ultimately action on this vital and challenging issue. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Many Bahá’ís will be familiar with the name John David Bosch; however, until now his life has not been explored in a comprehensive biography. John and his wife Louise are perhaps best known for their efforts and selfless generosity in helping to establish a Bahá’í school in northern California. The school, which opened in 1927 on the Bosches’ property in Geyserville, would grow as a center of learning and eventually relocate to its current location in the mountains above Santa Cruz and be named in their honor. Author Angelina Diliberto Allen has drawn on extensive research to weave together the strands of the Bosches’ lives and give us a vivid picture of these inspiring souls. Within the pages of this book, the reader will find a treasure trove of highlights, from John’s discovery and embrace of the Faith under the tutelage of Helen Goodall to his deep and lasting friendships with such luminaries as Thornton Chase and Hands of the Cause Amelia Collins and Roy Wilhelm, to name just a few. Most notable of all, however, is the presence on these pages of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. Encounters and correspondence with the Master are documented here extensively, and, in perhaps the book’s most stunning section, the reader is given an intimate glimpse of the days surrounding the Master’s passing. The Bosches were among a small group of pilgrims present at the time, and their experience of the event and the special tasks they performed are shared in detail. John and Louise Bosch lived multifaceted lives of discovery, devotion, and service, and their story will leave the reader with much to reflect upon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Thornton Chase believed that "Religion is Life, and Life is Love, and Love is God." This is the story of one of the most significant figures in American Bahá'í history—from the time he joined the Bahá'í Faith in 1894 until his death in 1912. The author traces Chase's years of spiritual search and yearning, his departure from mainstream Protestant belief, and his discovery of the life and teachings of Bahá'u'lláh. Despite fierce tests and difficulties, Chase became a leading American Bahá'í writer, speaker and organizer. This is one man's spiritual odyssey, a shining example of how to live, love and worship one's Creator. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Roshan Danesh has devoted his career to the study of law and religion with a particular focus on the Bahá’í Faith and its central legal text, the Kitáb-i-Aqdas. In this collection of essays—previously published in a variety of academic journals, including the prestigious Journal of Law and Religion—Danesh invites the reader into an exploration of largely unchartered waters. As he states in the introduction to this collection, “understanding Bahá’í law challenges us to question, and ultimately abandon, our taken-for-granted ways of thinking, talking about, and using law.” Organized around four distinct areas— Bahá'u'lláh's conception of law, the constitutional dimensions of the Bahá'í Faith, Bahá'u'lláh's theory of social change, and scholarship and discourses concerning Bahá'í law—the essays collected here are expansive and illuminating, and they provide an invaluable contribution to discourse on the subject, with a foreword by Kiser Barnes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rarely does a book cover a historically and culturally important topic that has never been written about before. Yet Lights of the Spirit: Historical Portraits of Black Bahá'ís in North America, 1898-2000 accomplishes precisely this through an absorbing collection of glimpses into the lives of some extraordinary individuals who devoted themselves to a common cause and made outstanding contributions toward building a unified society. Edited by Gwendolyn Etter-Lewis, a professor of English at Miami University in Ohio, and Richard Thomas, a professor of history at Michigan State University, the book brings to light the stories of a diverse group of people including attorney Louis Gregory, poet Robert Hayden, jazz great Dizzy Gillespie, Broadway actress Dorothy Champ, and Canadian singer Eddie Elliot, to name a few. Lights of the Spirit is divided into two sections. Part one offers a helpful introduction to the Bahá'í Faith and six highly readable essays that comprehensively describe the black experience in the North American Baha'i community. Chapters by Etter-Lewis, Thomas, and others address African-Americans and the development of the Faith in the U.S. and Canada, contributions of African-American women, and the role African-Americans in the global expansion of the Baha'i Faith. Part two contains documents from nine historically prominent African-American Bahá'ís, providing insights into how these remarkable individuals perceived themselves and the larger communities in which they lived. Here, readers will find creative and social commentaries, letters, and family histories. Many of the documents are previously unpublished. Written from a first-person point of view, they preserve a largely unknown history that expands our notions of African-American religious traditions. The unique content of the book will appeal to readers interested in Black history, race relations, and the history of religion in North America. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Bahá’í International Community (BIC) has published a book compiling three decades of its statements to the UN on gender equality. In Full Partnership is part of global “Beijing+30” initiatives reflecting on commitments, challenges, and progress around advancing gender equality over three decades. In Full Partnership is intended as a resource as well as an invitation for collective action and consultation on practical steps that could lead to lasting gender equality and justice. The release of In Full Partnership aligns with the international community’s assessment of the persistent challenges and setbacks faced by the gender equality movement—including rising political polarization and entrenched patriarchal attitudes. At the same time, the publication underscores significant achievements, offering hopeful and practical examples from Bahá’í communities in over 100,000 localities worldwide, working alongside friends, co-workers, government officials, and like-minded organizations to promote societies that embody the principle of gender equality. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"The exceptional character of Táhirih in the secular and sacred history of humanity is increasingly being discovered and disclosed. Táhirih’s transcendental and transformative universal love, expressed in her poetry, announces the onset of a new era in human civilization. Sparks of Fire, the fourth volume containing original poems of Táhirih and their English translation by Hemmat and Hatcher, is one of the most wonderful scholarly events of the twenty-first century. It is most unfortunate that the publication of Hemmat and Hatcher’s previous volumes translating Táhirih’s poetry—'The Poetry of Táhirih, Adam’s Wish,' and 'The Quickening'—has been largely met with silence or disbelief from scholars in the field. The fact is that these volumes are so amazing and wonderful that even experts in the field find it difficult to believe that their publication can be a real event, but the time has come to enthusiastically embrace, recite, and loudly celebrate the exceptional treasure of this historical and spiritual gift." —Nader Saiedi, Retired Professor of Sociology and Iranian Studies at Carleton College and UCLA, and author of Gate of the Heart: Understanding the Writings of the Báb "Táhirih’s poetry is a window to her profound insights on the station and mission of the Báb. Hatcher and Hemmat’s eloquent English translations of her verse convey the fire and sublime beauty of those insights. Their introduction and commentary aids readers to appreciate Táhirih’s ecstatic faith and understand the depth and profundity of her knowledge. Sparks of Fire is a must-read for anyone interested in the potential of art and the power of language to challenge the status quo and proclaim the dawn of a new age. —Omid Ghaemmaghami, Associate Professor of Arabic and Islamic Studies, State University of New York at Binghamton, and co-editor of “‘From the Seed of Love We Sow’: Further Research on Tahirih Qurrat al-Ayn” (Hawwa, vol. 21, no. 4) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How can we devote our lives to the service of others? How can we approach every interaction we have with love and humility? How can we place the needs of others above our own? Time and time again we can look to the example of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. In The Sweetness of His Love, author Jacqueline Mehrabi shares thirty-eight simple stories that stretch from the early days of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s childhood to the last years of His life. In each of these brief episodes, we can learn valuable lessons from ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s example. Produced specially for the centenary of the passing of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, this volume is enhanced by the beautiful, full-page illustrations of Jaci Ayorinde. It is hoped that young children and their families will draw deep inspiration from this lovingly crafted book. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A comprehensive and eye-opening guide to biblical topics as they are addressed in the Bahá’í writings. In Light of the Kingdom, author JoAnn Borovicka explores questions relating to the Bible and its significance and meaning from a Bahá’í perspective. The purpose of the book is to provide an introductory compilation of the wealth of insights on biblical topics offered in the Bahá’í Writings. To this end, it starts with an overview of Bahá’í teachings about the Bible in general, and then explores Bahá’í guidance on a variety of topics as they arise from the first book of the Old Testament through the last book of the New Testament. The result of years of exploration and research, the book provides samples of Bahá’í guidance on a wide range of biblical topics in a way that is accessible to anyone regardless of their prior knowledge of the Bible or the Bahá’í Faith. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Born of the need to address the plight of men of African descent in the United States, and the unique afflictions imposed upon them, the Black Men's Gathering was founded in 1987 as an individual initiative. From its humble origins in a Greensboro hotel room where the original twelve participants met, the Gathering would grow and evolve over the course of a quarter-century to embrace hundreds in an atmosphere of love, fellowship, and devotion to the Cause of God. Anchor of Faith gives us a glimpse of the vibrant spirit of the Gathering; details its history, evolution, and influence; and brings to light the countless avenues of service pursued by its participants both at home and across the globe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Brings to life in rich detail the compelling story of the Prophet and Founder of the Baha'i Faith. An inspiring and dramatically paced introduction to the Prophet and Founder of the Baha'i Faith, The Story of Baha'u'llah presents in a clear narrative style the life of the Prophet from His birth into a wealthy and noble family, through His transforming spiritual experience while incarcerated in the infamous Black Pit of Tehran, and over the decades of harsh and increasingly remote exile that followed. Woven into the story are Baha'u'llah's principal teachings and references to historical events and persons that place the development of the new religion in a global context. This book chronologically follows the story told in Release the Sun (Baha'i Publishing, 2003). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.