Essays and Internet Postings

Many of these essays have been formally published, but differ from the academic articles in method, depth, and/or length — in general, items in this collection are shorter, less formal, and/or non-"academic." Most of the collected Internet postings have been culled (with permission) from listserver discussions from Talisman 1 and 2, Irfan, and H-Baha'i. Submission of new topical collections is always welcomed.

Anonymous

Anonymous

1. First Public Mentions of the Baha'i Faith in the West, prepared by the Baha'i Information Office of United Kingdom, explains that the first mention for the Baha'i Faith in the West was not at the World's Parliament of Religions in Chicago in 1892, but rather in a number of earlier talks on the Faith in England.
   
   
2. History of the Baha'i Faith in India (prepared on behalf of the NSA of India). (offsite)
   
   
3. This history of the house of Baha'u'llah is sometimes distributed to pilgrims to the site.

   A

   Atkinson, Anne Gordon, et al.

4. This "History of the Green Acre Baha'i School" is a summary of the book Green Acre on the Piscataqua: A Centennial Celebration by Anne Gordon Atkinson et al (Eliot, Maine: Green Arce Baha'i School Council, 1991).

   B

   Bach, Marcus

5. Baha'i: A Second Look, an excerpt from The Christian Century 74:15 (April 10, 1957), pp. 449-451.
   
   

   Brown, Keven

6. Are 'Abdu'l-Bahá's views on evolution original? published in Bahá'í Studies Review 7 (1997).

   Brownstein, Ted

7. "Facilitating Spiritual Joy" is a 3-part workshop/study guide of Christianity from a Baha'i perspective which includes history and commentary along with deepening exercises.
   1. Background on the Bible
   2. Christian Denominations and Doctrine
   3. Introduction to the Baha'i Faith
   
   

   Bryson, Alan

8. Responding to an Attack on Humanity offers reflections on the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

   C

   Cole, Juan

9. A brief bio of Jamal-i-Burujirdi, posted to H-Baha'i in March, 1997. Posted along with bio on same topic by Dariush Lamie.
   
   
10. In response to a query, Juan Cole wrote a brief commentary on `Abdu'l-Baha's Risalih-'i Siyasiyyih, Treatise on Leadership. See also the French translation of this tablet and the original Persian text.
    

    Coleman, Jack

11. Search for Common Grounds seeks parallels and similarities between Buddhist philosophy and the Baha'i Faith.
    

    Collins, William

12. Collins offers some brief meditations on fasting in Fasting: the mercy and grace of God. More of his work can be found at his site for Scriptum: Newsletter for Baha'i Librarians and Information Professionals.
    
    
13. Response to Martin Gardner's "Farrakhan, Cabala, Baha'i, and 19," from the Skeptical Enquirer (March-April 1997).
    

    Cornell, John B.

14. "A Scientific Approach to Moral Conduct," written for World Order, The Bahá'í Magazine (Volume XII, Number 8, November 1946), compares Baha'i teachings on sexual behavior with those presented by a then-current textbook, Personality and the Family, by Dr. and Mrs. Hornell Hart.
    

    Cope, Theo

15. A discussion of the history and thought of Neoplatonism and its relation to Baha'i philosophy.

    D

    Dale, John

16. Brief sketch of the life of Lidia Zamenhof, a Baha'i and youngest daughter of Ludwig Lazarus Zamenhof, the creator of Esperanto.
    

    Dreyfus Barney, Laura

17. Laura Dreyfus-Barney wrote a biography of Hippolyte Dreyfus-Barney for The Baha'i World on his death. Followed by letters from the Guardian to Laura Dreyfus-Barney.

    E-F

    Faizi, Abu'l-Qasim

18. Divine Education: The Root of Knowledge, published in Glory India Bahá'í Youth magazine, April 1973.

    Friberg, Stephen

19. On Postmodernism, observations on postmodernism and the Baha'i Faith, is a collection of three postings Friberg sent to the listserver bahai-studies in early 1998.
    

    G

    Gail, Marzieh

20. 'Abdu'l-Bahá: Portrayals from East and West, published in World Order 6:1 (Fall 1971) and later in Dawn over Mt. Hira, is based on a collection of documents by Ali Kuli-Khan and conversations of John and Louise Bosch.
    
    
21. At 48 West Tenth (memories of Juliet Thompson), published as a preface to The Diary of Juliet Thompson (multiple editions; most recently Kalimat Press, 1983).
    
    
22. Bahá'u'lláh's Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, published in World Order 12:2 (May 1946) and later Dawn over Mt. Hira, is a meditation on the themes of the Epistle.
    
    
23. "Introduction to the Epistle to the Son of the Wolf" was published as a preface to many editions of the Epistle published by the US Baha'i Publishing Trust since 1953.
    
    
24. Primer for Baha'i Assemblies, published in World Order (October 1944), offers an overview of and proposals for consultation, assembly functioning, and the Baha'i political system.
    

    Gulpaygani, Mirza Abu'l-Fadl

25. The Bab and the Babi Religion, published in al-Muqtataf in 1896 and later trans. Juan Cole and published in Letters & Essays 1886-1913 (Kalimat, 1985), provides a general overview of Babi history and thought.
    
    
26. Elucidation of the Meaning of "The Greatest Name," includes words of Abdu'l-Baha; transcribed by May Maxwell, and copied by M. S. Perry, 1945.
    
    

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    H

    Hakim, Kamran

27. Commentary on Kitab-i Aqdas verse 107: an analysis of the treatment of homosexuality in the Kitab-i Aqdas and its background.
    
    
28. Seal of the Prophets is an extended examination of the term khatam and its meanings in Islam.
    

    Hanson, Holly

29. Living Purposefully in a Time of Violence contemplates Baha'i responses to the global issues raised by the destruction of the World Trade Center.
    

    Hassall, Graham

30. Africa in the Baha'i Writings; history. (on sub-site; see also Baha'i communities, research notes by country)
    
    
31. China in the Baha'i Writings; early Baha'i travellers; history. (on sub-site; see also Baha'i communities, research notes by country)
    
    
32. Egypt in Baha'i history; Abdu'l-Baha's visit; persecution of Egyptian Baha'is. (on the Asia-Pacific site)
    

    Hoonaard, Will C. van den

33. Inside The Origins of the Baha'i Community of Canada: A Personal Narrative is a detailed account of the author's experience researching, writing, and publishing a historic study of this magnitude. (see excerpt at "The Baha'i Community of Canada: A Case Study in the Transplantation of non-Western religious movements to Western societies.")

    Hulme, Peter

34. Community in Diversity: the New Man, published in Bahá'í Studies Review; 1:1 (1991).

    J-K

    Kerkhoff, Sonja van

35. Rewriting the Script: some thoughts on gender roles and the Baha'i Teachings discusses these themes from an artist's perspective and includes extensive graphics. (at personal site)
    

    Khan, Peter

36. Foreword to Studying the Writings of Shoghi Effendi, published in the book Studying the Writings of Shoghi Effendi, ed.M. Bergsmo (Oxford: George Ronald, 1991).

    Kitzing, Eberhard von

37. Is the Bahá'í view of evolution compatible with modern science?, published in Bahá'í Studies Review 7 (1997).

    J-L

    Lamie, Dariush

38. A brief bio of Jamal-i-Burujirdi, posted to Talisman in late 1994-early 1995. Posted along with bio on same topic by Juan Cole.
    

    Langness, David

39. Langness's meditation on the mystical content and symbology of Baha'u'llah's Four Valleys includes an excerpt from his forthcoming book The Seeker's Path: Myth, Maturity.
    

    Lewis, Frank

40. Notes on Camphor and the Camphor Fountain is an overview of this symbol, common in the writings of Baha'u'llah and Abdu'l-Baha, from the Qur'an and its context.
    
    
41. Overview of the Abjad numerological system gives a history of abjad, details its workings, and analyzes bahá'.
    

    Lepain, Jean-Marc

42. Lepain's short Tractatus is an attempt "to translate in contemporary philosophic jargon the teachings of Baha'u'llah."
    

    Logan, Richard

43. Logan's Enlightened Scholarship examines the qualities of scholarship embodied by E. G. Browne and H. M. Balyuzi.
    

    Lomax, Abdulrahman

44. The number 19 in the Qur'an discusses the "findings" of a study by a Muslim which purports to demonstrate that the Qur'an is comprised of mystical units of 19 (no mention is made of the Baha'i Faith).
    
    

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    A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Internet Postings

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    M

    MacEoin, Denis

45. Questions on the Bayan is MacEoin's answers to a number of questions relating to the Bab and the Bayan inspired by his English Translation of the Persian Bayan.
    

    Macias, Shirley

46. The Verse of Light, The Sadratu'l-Muntahá, and the Unfoldment of God's Plan relates a key mystical Quranic verse to Bahá'í contexts; includes a compilation of related Bahá'í Writings.
    

    Maneck, Susan

47. The Theology of Osama bin Laden provides a brief overview of the Muslim thinkers who influenced bin Laden and their motivations.
    

    May, Dann

48. The Antichrist, notes toward Baha'i-Christian dialogue on the subject of the antichrist.
    

    McCulloch, Kenneth

49. Kenneth McCulloch prepared this obituary of his wife and Knight of Baha'u'llah Mary Zabolotny McCulloch with letters from the Universal House of Justice, the US NSA, and a brief biography.
    

    McGlinn, Sen

50. McGlinn discusses some of the meanings of the Mashriqu'l-adhkar and its importance in community life.
    
    
51. Commentary on Kitab-i Aqdas verse one.
    

    Momen, Moojan

52. In this brief but useful internet posting, Beyond Pluralism, Momen describes the Baha'i Faith as a "metareligion." More of Momen's work can be found at his Religious Studies page.

    N

    Nolley, Charles

53. This internet posting offers observations and statistics on Baha'i population in India. With comments by William Garlington.

    O

    Osborn, Donald

54. Osborn offers reflections on race perspectives in the Baha'i writings in "Colorblindness" & race unity.

    P

    Peterson, Phyllis

55. This Essay on Detachment meditates on detachment as it relates to women, teaching, the media, and unity.
    

    Poirier, Brent

56. Poirier examines, through a compilation of relevant quotations, the nature of the Twin Covenants of the Baha'i Faith, that of Baha'u'llah and that of Abdu'l-Baha.
    
    
57. The Kitab-i-Iqan: The Key to Unsealing the Mysteries of the Holy Bible examines the Holy Bible in light of interpretations of its symbolism offered by Baha'u'llah's Kitab-i-Iqan.

    Q-R

    Rabbani, Ahang

58. Memories of Ashchi is a variety of background information on and a start at translation of the narratives of Aqa Husayn Ashchi. With additions by Sen McGlinn.
    
    
59. Kitab-i Panj Sha'n: a short series of discussion on and excerpts from the Bab's Kitab-i Panj Sha'n.
    

    Radpour, Mary K.

60. Preparation for Funerals and Burials: a compilation of Baha'i teachings and procedures.
    
    

    Ruhe, Margaret

61. Some Thoughts on Marriage is an essay on various aspects of Baha'i Marriage published as a 13-page pamphlet by Kalimat Press, 1982.

    S

    Samii, A. W.

62. "Falsafi, Kashani, and the Baha'is," posted to the Usenet group soc.culture.iranian in January 1996, provides a brief but well-researched history of the treatment of Baha'is in Iran in the 1950s. Posted under the name "Abbas 65."
    

    Sarwal, Anil

63. Sri Aurobindo Movement and the Bahá'í Faith summarizes historical connections between the two communities.
    

    Shadjai, Foad

64. Shadjai presents a history of and summary and notes on Baha'u'llah's Suriy-i-Ghusn, the Tablet of the Branch.
    

    Schaut, Rick

65. Toward a Baha'i Economic Model offers "three positive statements which might form the basis for...a Baha'i Economic Model."
    

    Stockman, Robert

66. "Baha'i membership statistics," posted to a listserv Nov. 1998, discusses the numbers of Baha'is in the United States and how these figures are calculated.
    
    

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    T

    Taylor, John

67. On History's Greatest Breakthrough in Knowledge examines the meanings of Baha'u'llah's statement that "every fixed star hath its own planets, and every planet its own creatures, whose number no man can compute."
    

    Townshend, George

68. "The Letters of Abdu'l-Baha," an appreciation. Published in The Mission of Bahá'u'lláh and Other Literary Pieces (George Ronald, 1952), pages 77-87.
    

    Troxel, Duane

69. The essay Life of Agnes Alexander is a draft of a piece prepared for the Baha'i Esperanto League 25th anniversary booklet.

    U-V

    Vaccaro, Stephen

70. "The Good Tree: Distinguishing the Baha'i Faith From Destructive Cults" examines the fundamental characteristics of a cult to determine whether or not the Baha'i Faith can be so defined.

    W-Z

    Weinberg, Rob

71. Who Was Thomas Breakwell, written for the commemoration of the centenary of the Baha'i Faith in the United Kingdom, is a brief bio of Thomas Breakwell, the first English Baha'i and an individual central in early European Baha'i community.
    

    Yancy, Trey

72. "The Tablet of Ahmad," first published in Deepen magazine (1:1, December 1993), provides an annotated overview of this Tablet.

    Various

73. Ethics Survey: Answers to 55 Questions on Baha'i Ethics submitted by Arthur Dobrin, ed. Jonah Winters.
    
    

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    Collected Internet Postings

    The Baha'i Faith and Buddhism

74. This compilation from one of the more extensive and useful dialogues on the listserv Talisman One, on the Baha'i Faith and Buddhism, includes eleven postings from Bruce Burrill, Juan Cole, Moojan Momen, and Dann May.
    

    The Baha'i Faith and Sexuality

75. This piece is compiled from ten postings sent to Talisman One on January and February, 1996. It features a lengthy letter by R. Jackson Armstrong-Ingram on sexual mores and practices in a variety of world cultures entitled Sex and Values, followed by a series of comments by other individuals on the relevance of these issues to the Baha'i Faith.
    

    Is the Baha'i Faith a "World Religion" or a "New Religious Movement"?

76. This compilation, from one of the more interesting dialogues on the listserv Irfan, discusses the socio-religious classification of the Baha'i Faith as a New Religious Movement. It includes ten postings from Denis MacEoin, Seena Fazel, Robert Stockman, Juan Cole, Will C. van den Hoonaard, Stephen Friberg, and Ismael Velasco.
    
    Bahá'í discussions following the 09/11/01 attack on the World Trade Center
77. I've saved the first two months' worth of email discussion sent to all major Bahá'í listservers. Should this indeed be the turning point of Bahá'í — and world — history, such an email archive could one day be historically useful. Email me for details.