http://www.planetbahai.org Short essays on life, the universe, and everything from a Baha'i perspective. Saturday, 3 May 2008 15:45:17 GMT en-us http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=353 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=353 Saturday, 03 May 2008 17:00:00 GMT In the Bahá'í Writings, the sun appears frequently as an image for many things ranging from God to a goodly character. When we ponder the characteristics of the physical sun and other stars, we can gain a new appreciation for such allusions. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=352 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=352 Saturday, 26 April 2008 17:00:00 GMT Springtime is gardening time. Bahá'u'lláh and 'Abdu'l-Bahá both loved gardens, and gardens appear in their Writings as an image for many wonderful things. Let's enjoy a spiritual tour through the garden and see what we might find. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=351 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=351 Saturday, 19 April 2008 17:00:00 GMT With Mother's Day approaching, we offer some reflections on a special set of mothers, namely grandmothers, and the role they play not only in our own families but in the Holy Family. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=350 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=350 Saturday, 12 April 2008 17:00:00 GMT Recently we received a request for an explanation of the term "Mother Book", which appears in the Qur'án and the Bahá'í Writings. It's actually a fairly simple term, but with some far-reaching implications. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=349 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=349 Saturday, 05 April 2008 17:00:00 GMT In the U.S., the presidential campaigns are in full swing. Bahá'ís avoid involvement in partisan politics, yet on another level some of the aims of their religion do involve politics in the largest sense. Where is the line drawn? http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=348 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=348 Saturday, 22 March 2008 17:00:00 GMT In the Christian tradition, the holiest day of the year is Easter Sunday, the day that commemorates the most astounding event recounted in the Gospels: the rising of Christ Jesus from the dead. How do Bahá'ís view this event? http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=347 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=347 Saturday, 08 March 2008 17:00:00 GMT Written in 1916 and 1917, 'Abdu'l-Bahá's Tablets of the Divine Plan provide the foundation for the spread of the Bahá'í Faith around the world. In their details, these Tablets go to the core of all religious belief. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=346 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=346 Saturday, 23 February 2008 17:00:00 GMT For Bahá'ís Ayyám-i-Há is a time of joy and celebration, but like any other time of the year things can still go a bit awry. Then again, what would life be without a little adventure? http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=345 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=345 Saturday, 16 February 2008 17:00:00 GMT The miracles related in the Gospels have many meanings. In one, themes of recognition and faith are intertwined, themes also reflected in the Bahá'í Writings. Care to go for a walk on the water? http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=344 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=344 Saturday, 09 February 2008 17:00:00 GMT An email from the editor of "The American Bahá'í" got us thinking about future developments at Planet Bahá'í. We'd like to extend you an invitation to help us. Here's how you can help... http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=343 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=343 Saturday, 02 February 2008 17:00:00 GMT Why do so many people regard one particular divine Messenger as superior to all others? Perhaps it has something to do with a very common pheonomenon: not being able to see the forest for the trees. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=342 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=342 Saturday, 26 January 2008 17:00:00 GMT We are often asked why Shoghi Effendi chose to translate Bahá'u'lláh's Writings in a style similar to the King James Bible instead of a more modern form of English. Reading such translations can be challenging, but there are things you can do to make it easier. Here are some suggestions. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=341 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=341 Saturday, 19 January 2008 17:00:00 GMT Saying grace before a meal is custom found throughout Christianity and in various forms in other religions, too. What about the Bahá'í Faith? Does it maintain this practice? The answer is a bit more complicated than one might think. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=340 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=340 Friday, 11 January 2008 17:00:00 GMT Our relationship with God is portrayed in many ways in religious Scriptures. Although often overlooked, friendship is one such relationship, and a very important one at that. God often addresses us as friends, and has given us a true Friend: the Manifestation of God. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=339 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=339 Friday, 04 January 2008 17:00:00 GMT Salvation is a key subject for Christians, but Bahá'ís don't seem to talk about it much. Nevertheless, salvation is presented in the Bahá'í Writings in much the same terms as in the Bible. Both portray it as a process rather than a one-time event. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=338 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=338 Friday, 28 December 2007 17:00:00 GMT Another Gregorian year draws to a close, but the Bahá'í year has awhile to run yet. Will Bahá'ís celebrate on the night of December 31? The answer may not be that simple for some. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=337 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=337 Friday, 14 December 2007 17:00:00 GMT Bahá'ís are often asked what is new in their religion. Sometimes the question is serious and sometimes intended to suggest that the Bahá’í Faith is merely a kind of religious smorgasbord created by combining various elements of older religions. in any case, there may be a couple of different ways to answer this question. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=336 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=336 Friday, 30 November 2007 17:00:00 GMT So often it seems that people just aren't listening. We don't listen to each other, and we don't listen to God. Why does this happen? Perhaps this case of a mix-up at at online payment service can provide some clues. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=335 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=335 Friday, 16 November 2007 17:00:00 GMT Unemployment brings with it many uncertainties. Yet as with all circumstances in life, there are lessons to be learned in the course of dealing with it, lessons such as detachment and trust in God. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=334 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=334 Friday, 09 November 2007 17:00:00 GMT A flock of sparrows and a pair of cats watching from behind a window offer a few metaphors for spiritual life. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=333 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=333 Friday, 02 November 2007 17:00:00 GMT Do Bahá'ís accept Jesus as the Son of God? This question can be hard to answer because the orthodox Christian understanding strongly ties the title "Son of God" to the concept of incarnation. But does Sonship have to imply incarnation? http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=332 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=332 Friday, 26 October 2007 17:00:00 GMT Just as a potter makes pots with varying capacities, God has created His creatures with varying capacities. But how do we know what our capacity is, and is it fixed for all time or can it change? http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=331 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=331 Friday, 19 October 2007 17:00:00 GMT To commemorate the birth of the Báb, celebrated each year on October 20, here is a compilation of some of His Writings referring to His own station and mission. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=330 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=330 Friday, 12 October 2007 17:00:00 GMT Bahá'u'lláh calls the law of marriage a "fortress for well-being and salvation". With another wedding in our family, we take a moment to look into what this means. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=329 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=329 Friday, 05 October 2007 17:00:00 GMT From a verse early in Genesis western civilization has tended to see the world as our God-given dominion. But does God truly intend the world to serve us? If so, how? Bahá'u'lláh may provide some answers. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=328 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=328 Friday, 28 September 2007 17:00:00 GMT Prayer is central to the religious life, and many religious traditions extol the virtues of prayer at time such as midnight, when the cares of the day have faded. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=327 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=327 Friday, 21 September 2007 17:00:00 GMT Many find it odd that although Bahá’u’lláh taught that women and men are completely equal, He restricted membership on the Universal House of Justice to men. Do the Holy Writings offer any insights into the reasons? http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=326 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=326 Friday, 07 September 2007 17:00:00 GMT Bahá'ís are fortunate to have a large number of prayers revealed by the Báb, Bahá'u'lláh, and 'Abdu'l-Bahá. But we can also use prayers written by others or that we ourselves create. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=325 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=325 Friday, 24 August 2007 17:00:00 GMT A new book on the Bahá'í Faith debuts, this one a text for individual and group study of the religion. An engaging and comprehensive work, "Spiritual Journey" seeks to teach religion without proselytizing. We review it here. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=324 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=324 Friday, 10 August 2007 17:00:00 GMT Different religions set forth different laws. If all these religions come from one God, how can this be? Which laws are really the right laws? Would you believe that the answer is reflected in a panel from "The Far Side"? http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=323 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=323 Friday, 03 August 2007 17:00:00 GMT In the modern world, women often feel forced to make a choice between career and family. Although nobody can decide how to balance such matters for anyone else, it is important to realize that little is as important as how we raise and educate our children. Kathy offers some reflections on this from her own experience. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=322 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=322 Friday, 27 July 2007 17:00:00 GMT As technology advances, it seems that it is put to almost as much evil as good. Can we curb this tendency? Is technology itself to blame? Or is the problem more spiritual in nature? http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=321 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=321 Friday, 13 July 2007 17:00:00 GMT What do Robins searching for their breakfast have to do with faith? Perhaps more than it might seem! Sensing the unseen, they find their sustenance. In the spiritual realm we may find ourselves doing very much the same thing. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=320 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=320 Friday, 06 July 2007 17:00:00 GMT An azalea with a misspelled name leads to a voyage of discovery demonstrating the unity of religions. God certainly works in mysterious ways! http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=319 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=319 Friday, 29 June 2007 17:00:00 GMT Karen Anne Webb’s first novel, "The Chalice of Life", brings together a diverse cast of characters in a common quest where unity in diversity is key to success. Elizabeth Lehman reviews this fascinating book for us. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=318 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=318 Friday, 22 June 2007 17:00:00 GMT After running our anniversary article last week, we were asked, “How do you build the fortress?” This week we try to provide an answer based on our experience over three decades. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=317 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=317 Friday, 15 June 2007 17:00:00 GMT Kathy and I will be celebrating our 30th wedding anniversary later this week. People sometimes want to know how a couple makes a marriage last that long. The answer may be in a description Bahá'u'lláh gave of marriage. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=316 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=316 Friday, 08 June 2007 17:00:00 GMT Poverty comes in many forms, and not all of them involve money. Some are material, some are spiritual. A sense of "stuckness" such as writer's block can be a form of poverty, too. Bahá'u'lláh taught us how to view and cope with poverty of all kinds. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=315 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=315 Friday, 01 June 2007 17:00:00 GMT As our daughter Elizabeth graduates from high school and pursues a music education, we pause to reflect on the parallels between the art of music and the art of living. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=314 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=314 Friday, 25 May 2007 17:00:00 GMT The development of a peaceful global society is a key theme of the Bahá'í Faith. Yet Bahá'u'lláh, 'Abdu'l-Bahá, and Shoghi Effendi all foresaw a role for military and police forces as servants of justice. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=313 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=313 Friday, 18 May 2007 17:00:00 GMT The death of the Reverend Jerry Falwell not only made the news, it also sparked some thoughts on approaches to the spiritual transformation of society. At the center of it all is the eternal theme of love. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=312 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=312 Friday, 11 May 2007 17:00:00 GMT A family of birds outside the window affords a front-row seat to the drama of life. As it unfolds, God's care for His creatures is on display. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=311 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=311 Friday, 04 May 2007 17:00:00 GMT One striking aspect of Bahá’u’lláh's Writings is the frequency with which He invokes imagery based on the sense of smell. Let's take a tour of this olfactory wonderland to see what truths we might discover. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=310 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=310 Friday, 27 April 2007 17:00:00 GMT Our thought, 'Abdu'l-Bahá says, is our reality. This affirms our spiritual nature, but goes well beyond it to speak of how we actually create reality and testify to truth in our lives. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=309 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=309 Friday, 06 April 2007 17:00:00 GMT One of the trickiest concepts in religion is spirit. Although we often talk about spirit, do we really know what it is? 'Abdu'l-Baha's Writings can give us a clue, and the answer may surprise you! http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=308 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=308 Friday, 30 March 2007 17:00:00 GMT Religion and music have always gone hand-in-hand, although sometimes religion has censured music. How does the Bahá'í Faith regard music? http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=307 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=307 Friday, 23 March 2007 17:00:00 GMT Community is often defined in terms of location or interests and interactions. An online community such as Planet Bahá'í operates under a slightly different definition. Here's your chance to offer your thoughts on our online community as part of an upcoming Bahá'í conference presentation. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=306 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=306 Friday, 09 March 2007 17:00:00 GMT Light pollution from cities and suburbs drowns out the light of the stars. Likewise, the light of God becomes overwhelmed with man-made creeds and interpretations. What can we learn from this metaphor? http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=305 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=305 Friday, 02 March 2007 17:00:00 GMT In "The Hidden Words" Bahá'u'lláh writes that unless we love God, God's love cannot reach us. This may seem at odds with Christ's teaching that God loves us all. But is it really? Let's take a deeper look. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=304 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=304 Wednesday, 21 February 2007 17:00:00 GMT The Bahá'í Writings use the image of increasing light over the course of days and seasons to teach about the cycle of religions. In our individual lives, too, we find this image of value. It shows us that we must be paitent not only with others but with ourselves, as well. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=303 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=303 Friday, 02 February 2007 17:00:00 GMT If we are made in God's image and we are tool-makers, is God likewise a toolmaker? If so, what are His tools? Can we find a resolution to the outward conflict between belief in a Creator and a scientific description of nature in the answer to this question? http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=302 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=302 Friday, 26 January 2007 17:00:00 GMT Men and women seem to possess different sets of qualities. We need all of these working in harmony to make progress. Yet oftentimes these very differences cause division. Perhaps we need a higher view of our respective attributes. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=301 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=301 Friday, 19 January 2007 17:00:00 GMT Is faith belief in what cannot be seen? Is it opposed to knowledge and evidence? These are common definitions today, but it wasn't always so. 'Abdu'l-Bahá offers a very different definition of faith. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=300 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=300 Friday, 12 January 2007 17:00:00 GMT Baha'u'llah teaches that whatever exceeds the bounds of moderation will cease to be good. We see this at work all around us, from economic to political to religious forces. But by way of illustration, let's start wtih your cell phone. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=299 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=299 Friday, 05 January 2007 17:00:00 GMT Some religions send missionaries around the world. Bahá'ís have "pioneers," a concept somewhat related but somewhat different. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=298 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=298 Friday, 22 December 2006 17:00:00 GMT This week our daughter delivered a son, our third grandchild. Listen in as Grandpa takes a few moments to talk to him. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=297 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=297 Friday, 15 December 2006 17:00:00 GMT The gift of a new guitar for her birthday prompts Kathy to sing the praises of music. After all, it plays an important role in spiritual life, as 'Abdu'l-Bahá Himself attests. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=296 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=296 Friday, 08 December 2006 17:00:00 GMT With winter approaching, our thoughts turn to the cold and the snow. Bahá'u'lláh and 'Abdu'l-Bahá were intimately familiar with the seasons, and used its imagery to teach spiritual concepts. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=295 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=295 Friday, 01 December 2006 17:00:00 GMT In an increasingly crowded world, agriculture and food production are important issues. The Baha'i Writings and the examples of Baha'u'llah and 'Abdu'l-Baha support simplicity in diet, both for personal health and in ensuring that all have enough to eat. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=294 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=294 Friday, 17 November 2006 17:00:00 GMT Global warming and other environmental issues are on many people's minds. Religious leaders have frequently weighed in on such matters. Does the Bahá'í Faith offer any insights into how we can resolve them? http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=293 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=293 Friday, 27 October 2006 17:00:00 GMT One winter day in France during World War I, Loulie Albee Mathews and her companions watched from a window while several soldiers worked to change a tire on their car. But when several of the observers went down to lend a hand, the soldiers and car had vanished without a trace. Even the snow yielded no sign of their presence. What had happened to them? When Loulie asked 'Abdu'l-Bahá, He replied... http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=292 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=292 Friday, 20 October 2006 17:00:00 GMT Aaron Emmel’s "Taking Action in a Changing World" takes a broad view of socioeconomic projects, and explores what must be done to set up efficient agencies of action. Kathleen reviews it for us. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=291 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=291 Friday, 13 October 2006 17:00:00 GMT In a newly-translated Tablet, Bahá'u'lláh addresses why the laws of religion have changed from one age to the next. His teaching on this subject goes to the very heart of God's purpose in sending to us His Messengers. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=290 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=290 Friday, 06 October 2006 17:00:00 GMT Today we are mourning the deaths of six young women who fell victim to attacks on their schools. We offer a selection of prayers and readings on behalf of all who were affected in these tragedies. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=289 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=289 Friday, 29 September 2006 17:00:00 GMT 'Abdu'l-Bahá named Krishna and the Buddha as Manifestations of God, but until now we have not had any material by Bahá'u'lláh that directly references either religion. With the release of some newly-translated Tablets, however, this has changed. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=288 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=288 Friday, 22 September 2006 17:00:00 GMT We often rank jobs according to their earnings potential and the social status they confer. Some are seen as more valuable, some as more glamorous than other jobs. Yet the Bahá'í teachings regard all work as a form of prayer. Do we need to realign our thinking about the value of various kinds of work? http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=287 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=287 Friday, 15 September 2006 17:00:00 GMT In a new volume of Bahá'u'lláh's Writings we find an intriguing example of the depth of the Word of God when Bahá'u'lláh unfolds the meanings in the well-known passage, "Be anxiously concerned with the needs of the age ye live in." It may not mean what we thought it meant! http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=286 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=286 Friday, 01 September 2006 17:00:00 GMT Faced with tests and difficulties, what enables us to carry on? Kathy recalls her great-grandmother's perseverence in the face of hardship and reflects upon Bahá'u'lláh's teachings regarding reliance upon God. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=285 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=285 Friday, 18 August 2006 17:00:00 GMT The concept of immanent qualities runs throughout the Bahá'í Writings. Imagery from nature is often used to explain that which is immanent in human nature. What can we learn about ourselves through these lessons? http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=284 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=284 Friday, 11 August 2006 17:00:00 GMT Bahá'u'lláh compares His Writings to an ocean. This analogy opens up new ways of looking at the Word of God and allows us to discover within them many truths that might otherwise remain hidden. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=283 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=283 Friday, 04 August 2006 17:00:00 GMT In the midst of a heat wave, Kathy is moved to ponder the significance of water in various religious traditions. Water images are used in a few key ways in these traditions. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=282 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=282 Friday, 28 July 2006 17:00:00 GMT Among the key themes found in the Bahá’í Writings, the Covenant Bahá'u'lláh established with His followers is among the most crucial. In his new book, "The Essence of the Covenant", Shahin Vafai takes us on a detailed tour through this important subject. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=281 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=281 Friday, 21 July 2006 17:00:00 GMT A mockingbird who has learned to mimic a car alarm provides insight into human spiritual life. What songs do we sing: those of God or those of a world obsessed with material pursuits? http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=280 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=280 Friday, 14 July 2006 17:00:00 GMT The word "ministry" is not often heard in a Bahá'í context, but the concept (service) is certainly there. Moreover, as the Bahá'í community grows and turns its focus ever more outward, new avenues for ministry will open up. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=279 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=279 Friday, 23 June 2006 17:00:00 GMT Materialists advance three primary reasons for not accepting God's existence. One of these is that the concept of a God is simply not needed to explain the world around us. Religionists counter with ideas such as "intelligent design". But is the materialist supposition valid to begin with? http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=278 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=278 Friday, 16 June 2006 17:00:00 GMT What does it take to create great art? Is it a matter of observation, technique, compositional skills, hard work? All of these ingredients may be required, but perhaps something more is also needed. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=277 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=277 Friday, 09 June 2006 17:00:00 GMT The question of "when life begins" is central to the abortion debate, but it actually has deeper implications. Our attitude towards the value of life is reflected in the question. Is it something accidental and disposable, or something sacred that begins in the mind of God? http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=276 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=276 Friday, 02 June 2006 17:00:00 GMT The term "progressive revelation" might conjure up images of steady forward progress over the course of time, but religious history doesn't seem to fit that pattern. Perhaps a different pattern is more apt. Let's consider the path of the Earth through space as an image of humanity's spiritual journey. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=275 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=275 Friday, 26 May 2006 17:00:00 GMT A recent visit to the Hokusai exhibit at the Smithsonian Institution taught Kathy a lesson about life and death, one that is also found in the Bahá'í Writings and in the lives of exemplary people of all faiths. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=274 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=274 Friday, 19 May 2006 17:00:00 GMT What do a graduate and a cow have in common? With luck, not very much, but 'Abdu'-Bahá noted that some people spend years reaching the same conclusions that a cow knows instinctively. So why study? http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=273 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=273 Friday, 12 May 2006 17:00:00 GMT What does it mean to be a Bahá'í in a world full of distractions and addictions? How do we strive for and achieve detachment? Are we given all the instructions? This tongue-in-cheek meditation might not answer those questions, but it just might get you thinking! http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=272 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=272 Friday, 28 April 2006 17:00:00 GMT The ongoing breakup of comet Schwassmann-Wachmann 3 hearkens back to another cometary breakup, that of Comet Biela in the 19th century. Although we don't usually think in these terms anymore, Bahá'u'lláh maintained that sometimes astronomical events do mirror events here on Earth. Beila was one of them. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=271 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=271 Friday, 14 April 2006 17:00:00 GMT In the "Kitáb-i-Aqdas", Bahá'u'lláh instructs His followers to renew the furnishings in their home every 19 years if they can afford to do so. There may be more to this simple injunction than meets the eye. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=270 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=270 Friday, 07 April 2006 17:00:00 GMT Corporate consultants will happily train your staff in the newest decision-making processes. But no process is flawless. All can be misused and even subverted. Decision-making, it turns out, is a fundamentally spiritual act, and only spiritual principles can animate the process. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=269 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=269 Friday, 24 March 2006 17:00:00 GMT What is the difference between morality, ethics, and spirituality? Most people think of them as interrelated, but they are not identical. Together, they form a system for dealing with life's challenges. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=268 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=268 Friday, 10 March 2006 17:00:00 GMT The 19-day Fast is simple. Or is it? For varous reasons, Bahá'ís can find the Fast a difficult and even distressing time. But by paying attention to its purpose and a few key principles, we can make it a spiritually uplifting season. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=267 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=267 Friday, 03 March 2006 17:00:00 GMT Ayyám-i-Há is a time for giving gifts, but maybe we should not think only in terms of giving gifts to other people. Maybe the Earth itself could use a few gifts! http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=266 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=266 Friday, 17 February 2006 17:00:00 GMT Lisa Janti's new book "Bahá’í: The New Vision" is a different kind of introduction to the Bahá'í Faith, well-suited to those who would benefit from a text that unites a broad range of human experience in the context of Bahá’u’lláh’s teachings. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=265 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=265 Friday, 10 February 2006 17:00:00 GMT Once upon a time, humans saw the heavens passing over their heads, and day and night dividing the world. But today, having stepped out into space, we can look back and see day and night as merely moments in an ongoing process. This realization parallels the new understanding of religion brought by Bahá'u'lláh. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=264 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=264 Friday, 03 February 2006 17:00:00 GMT Caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad, solicited by a Danish newspaper, are being reprinted in various newspapers throughout Europe, resulting in protests and even riots among Muslims. Is this freedom of speech or simply rudeness? http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=263 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=263 Friday, 27 January 2006 17:00:00 GMT Racial prejudice has a long and ugly history. In the United States, it has taken several forms, none so virulent as the prejudices against the black peoples who were originally brought to the continent as slaves and the indigenous peoples. An indicent of the latter witnessed by Dale's ancestors is a case in point. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=262 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=262 Friday, 20 January 2006 17:00:00 GMT What does the search for one's ancestors have to do with religion? Astonishingly, quite a lot, for both deal in search, mystery, and the quest to know oneself. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=261 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=261 Friday, 13 January 2006 17:00:00 GMT The deaths of 345 people during this year's annual Muslim Hajj raise a number of questions about the value of fixed rituals in religion. What does the Bahá'í Faith say about rituals? Is it permissible to change them if they become too cumbersome or even dangerous? http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=260 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=260 Friday, 06 January 2006 17:00:00 GMT In public discourse, it has become routine for pundits to bad-mouth anyone who disagrees with them. While hardly new, such behavior seems to be reaching epidemic proportions. What do the Bahá'í Writings say about this, and how should we respond? http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=259 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=259 Friday, 16 December 2005 17:00:00 GMT The unity of knowledge and the harmonious application of reason, science, and revelation are cornerstones of Bahá'í belief and practice. Are developments in the academic world signaling a growing acceptance of these principles? If so, can Bahá'í scholars lead the way? http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=258 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=258 Friday, 09 December 2005 17:00:00 GMT Sometimes outward appearances don't entirely match inward realities. Take holidays such as Christmas and Ayyám-i-Há, for example. Both are celebrations of God's love for us, yet sometimes we forget that, or perhaps we remember it but forget to show it. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=257 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=257 Friday, 02 December 2005 17:00:00 GMT Our lives are bounded by limitations, conditions and circumstances that restrict what we are able to do. Some of these limitations are imposed upon us by God, but some are self-imposed. Can we tell the difference? Can we overcome the self-imposed ones? http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=256 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=256 Friday, 18 November 2005 17:00:00 GMT In a world of pain and suffering, it's not surprising that people sometimes wonder why God didn't do a better job of setting things up. Yet such sentiments are based on human value judgments that may not accord with God's value judgments. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=253 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=253 Friday, 04 November 2005 17:00:00 GMT In our part of the world, hunting season has opened, with the attendant bickering between proponents and opponents of hunting. For Bahá'ís, however, the question is settled by a consise directive given them by Bahá'u'lláh. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=252 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=252 Friday, 28 October 2005 17:00:00 GMT Religious traditions can provide a degree of comfort and security unmatched by most other things in life. But as positive as they can be, is there a downside to such traditions? http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=218 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=218 Friday, 14 October 2005 17:00:00 GMT Two key teachings of the Bahá'í Faith are education of children and independent investigation of truth. Sometimes the two collide in modern society, as adults fight over what should be taught in schools. But maybe what's taught in the home is more important. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=219 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=219 Friday, 07 October 2005 17:00:00 GMT In 1919, 'Abdu'l-Bahá wrote to a peace organization in the Hague, detailing the requirements for the establishment of a lasting world peace. Among these requirements was the independent investigation of truth. Through it, He said, differing opinions would be 'fused' and unity established. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=220 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=220 Friday, 30 September 2005 17:00:00 GMT A day marked by illness and difficulties was followed by a morning with a most beautiful sky. The spirit of an ametuer astronomer, momentarily liberated from the cares of life, soared. In this real-life experience, we find a metaphor for real spiritual life. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=221 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=221 Friday, 23 September 2005 17:00:00 GMT Many Bahá'ís came into the religion from other faith traditions. In their former religions, they had come to love certain prayers, hymns, other expressions of love for and faith in God. Can these expressions be accomodated by a new, independent religion, or must they be wholly discarded? http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=222 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=222 Friday, 16 September 2005 17:00:00 GMT Some Bahá'ís feel that Big Bang cosmology does not square well with what the Bahá'í Writings teach about the size and age of the universe. But is this a real contradiction? Or does Bahá'í cosmology harmonize with the best science of our day? http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=223 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=223 Friday, 09 September 2005 17:00:00 GMT It's easy to see other people's faults and judge them accordingly. But Bahá'u'lláh teaches that we must learn to overlook the faults of others and see their good qualities instead. Indeed, 'Abdu'l-Bahá said that we must tolerate even those who are intolerable. Is this even possible? http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=224 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=224 Friday, 02 September 2005 17:00:00 GMT The devastation and human tragedy following hurricane Katrina has captured the attention of the world. While listening to the news from the stricken Gulf coast, I found myself thinking of what Bahá'u'lláh might do if He were trapped on a rooftop with some of the survivors. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=225 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=225 Friday, 26 August 2005 17:00:00 GMT The Bahá'í Faith is a religion without clergy. But it does have ministers. How can this be? A closer look at what it means to minister reveals that everyone is called by God to be a minister. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=226 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=226 Friday, 05 August 2005 17:00:00 GMT Can God make a rock so heavy that He can't lift it? This and other musings are sometimes used to call into question God's existence. But are the contradictions they propose real? Or does omnipotence actually mean something very different? http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=227 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=227 Friday, 29 July 2005 17:00:00 GMT Sometimes it seems that humanity's view of itself is defined in terms of its character flaws. It's as though we don't feel we can truly know others without knowing all about their imperfections. But can this attitude have negative side-effects? Is it supported by the Word of God? http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=228 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=228 Friday, 22 July 2005 17:00:00 GMT The in the wake of the attacks on London's transit systems, it may be worth taking a moment to reflect upon another "transit system" crisis of a sort: a storm that threatened to drown the disciples of Jesus. What can we learn from that crisis that might help us face the crises of today? http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=229 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=229 Friday, 15 July 2005 17:00:00 GMT Although the analogy make make some a bit uncomfortable, there are a number of similarities between teaching about the Bahá'í Faith and sales techniques. But not all techniques are equal. A professional salesman ponders the question of how God might want us to sell His religion. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=230 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=230 Friday, 08 July 2005 17:00:00 GMT On July 9, 1850, the Báb was executed by firing squad. It was a spectacle comparable to the crucifixion of Jesus almost 2,000 years earlier, and closed the first chapter in the history of the Bahá'í Faith. Guest author Peter Rose tells us the story. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=231 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=231 Friday, 01 July 2005 17:00:00 GMT Sometimes the Manifestations of God claim they have suffered as no other people. But many people have suffered greatly, and sometimes it seems that ordinary people have suffered more than the Prophets ever did. What are we to make of such claims? http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=232 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=232 Friday, 24 June 2005 17:00:00 GMT School can be hard for students of minority religions. All kinds of challenges arise when you have different beliefs and celebrate different holy days. Sometimes just the name of the religion invites teasing. But from one of the teachers? http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=233 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=233 Friday, 17 June 2005 17:00:00 GMT Ecology and environmental issues are on everyone's mind these days. But ecology can begin in one's own backyard. Here are some Bahá'í reflections on creating a little bit of paradise around our own homes. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=234 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=234 Friday, 10 June 2005 17:00:00 GMT It may seem that Bahá'u'lláh spends a great deal of time complaining about the persecution He suffered. But is He really complaining? A closer look at His Writings shows that He has a deeper purpose in mentioning these things. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=235 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=235 Friday, 03 June 2005 17:00:00 GMT At a time when thousands of ills afflict society, we doesn't need to look far to see symptoms of fear. What can be done to combat the paralyzing effects of fear? Reflection on the teachings of the Bahá'í Faith offer some possibilities. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=236 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=236 Friday, 27 May 2005 17:00:00 GMT Did God create humanity in His image, or did humans create God in their image? Religions typically teach the former, but based on contradictions in common percpetions of God, many people think it must be the latter. Surprisingly, the truth may lie somewhere in the middle. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=237 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=237 Friday, 20 May 2005 17:00:00 GMT On May 23, Bahá'ís celebrate the Declaration of the Báb, the night on which the Herald of the Bahá'í Faith revealed His mission to His first follower, Mullá Husayn-i-Bushrú'í. Here is a brief description of the events of that historic night. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=238 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=238 Friday, 13 May 2005 17:00:00 GMT Huqúqu'lláh payments are more than some kind of tax. The calculation of these payments goes to the heart of how we choose to live http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=239 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=239 Friday, 06 May 2005 17:00:00 GMT Bahá'ís are enjoined to undertake a pilgrimage to the Bahá'í holy places once in their lives, finances permiting. Johnson Maxey recently sent us this account of his pilgrimage experience. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=240 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=240 Friday, 15 April 2005 17:00:00 GMT Recently a Bahá'í from Iran told me of the death of his sister and how he had been unable to see her for fifteen years because of the persecution of Bahá'ís in that country. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=241 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=241 Friday, 08 April 2005 17:00:00 GMT On the passing of Pope John Paul II, we reflect upon some of the remarkable similarities between his views and Bahá'í teachings. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=242 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=242 Friday, 01 April 2005 17:00:00 GMT Monotheistic traditions have often held their vision of God to be superior to all others. But is this rigid approach necessarily characteristic of monotheism? Bahá'í teachings suggest that this rigidity is not inherent in monotheism at all. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=243 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=243 Friday, 25 March 2005 17:00:00 GMT Good Friday commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus. But why would such an event be deemed good? As Bahá'u'lláh and 'Abdu'l-Bahá explain, the sufferings of the Manifestation of God release into the world spiritual forces that transform us. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=244 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=244 Friday, 11 March 2005 17:00:00 GMT In past decades, Bahá'ís have worked to increase the visibility of their religion. Increased visibility, however, changes things. The visibility of the Bahá'í Faith increases the need for a credibility established through deeds, not words. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=245 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=245 Friday, 18 February 2005 17:00:00 GMT A tradition quoted in the Bahá'í Writings reminds me of a pair of essays by a philosophy professor, one on the subject of shutting up and the other on being silent. Silence, it seems, is an attribute of a good teacher! http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=246 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=246 Friday, 11 February 2005 17:00:00 GMT Except when it draws near or comes to pass, death is a subject not often discussed in the modern world. Yet religion has always offered us an effective way to deal with the subject. Is a "mortality attitude adjustment" in order? http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=247 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=247 Friday, 04 February 2005 17:00:00 GMT Life is uncertain. We all know this. But it's one thing to know it on an intellectual level and quite another to come face-to-face with the cold fact that in a fraction of a second our lives could be changed forever--or even snuffed out--and we might never even see it coming. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=248 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=248 Friday, 28 January 2005 17:00:00 GMT The rising tide of behavioral problems in children makes us wonder where our families and communities went wrong. Perhaps the problem lies in the distractions that have tended to take the attention of parents from their children. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=249 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=249 Friday, 21 January 2005 17:00:00 GMT When we think of competition, we think of sports, games, business, and politics. But there is another kind of competition, one founded on spiritual principles. It is not only a good competition, but one in which we should all engage. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=250 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=250 Friday, 14 January 2005 17:00:00 GMT The landing of the Eurpean Space Agency's Huygens probe on Saturn's moon Titan gives us pause to reflect upon the nature and power of the human spirit and the discoveries it makes in both the material and spiritual realms. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=251 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=251 Friday, 07 January 2005 17:00:00 GMT The outpouring of sympathy and material assistance for the victims of the earthquake and tsunamis in the regions bordering the Indian Ocean reveal the goodness of the human character and, perhaps, a glimmering of divine purpose. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=180 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=180 Friday, 10 December 2004 17:00:00 GMT In the United States, magnetic yellow ribbons stuck on cars ask people to pray for our troops. This got me to thinking: maybe we need some ribbons asking people to pray for everyone. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=181 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=181 Friday, 03 December 2004 17:00:00 GMT Christmas approaches. The Bahá'í celebration of Ayyám-i-Há is two months away. Both are festive gift-giving seasons, and some of us have fond memories of both. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=182 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=182 Friday, 26 November 2004 17:00:00 GMT In world full of negative viewpoints, the Bahá'í Faith offers a more positive outlook. But is it too positive? http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=183 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=183 Friday, 19 November 2004 17:00:00 GMT Nobody is perfect, but religions generally teach that anyone can receive God's forgiveness. We might wonder how such a thing is possible. It turns out that sincerity is the key. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=184 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=184 Friday, 05 November 2004 17:00:00 GMT Those of a Catholic background will be familiar with the concept of the communion of the saints. The Bahá'í Faith offers a similar view of the relationship between the living and the dead. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=185 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=185 Friday, 29 October 2004 17:00:00 GMT What does separation of church and state have to do with religious unity? Possibly more than it might at first seem. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=186 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=186 Friday, 22 October 2004 17:00:00 GMT The moral codes religious people follow are not always shared by the wider society. Often the disconnect leads to people trying to impose their moral views on others. What does the Baha'i Faith say about such situations? http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=187 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=187 Friday, 15 October 2004 17:00:00 GMT This week our second grandchild was born. Kathy was there for the whole thing, and offers some reflections on the experience. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=188 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=188 Friday, 08 October 2004 17:00:00 GMT 'Abdu'l-Bahá's work "Memorials of the Faithful", says Ron Price, is biography in minature, a modern "Canterbury Tales", and an central part of the "Bahá'í epic". Here is his insightful look at this important Book. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=189 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=189 Friday, 01 October 2004 17:00:00 GMT America has always been a place where people of all races and nationalities come together. While divisions and problems persist, this affords an opportunity for developing and practicing unity. The Bahá'í Writings and the Scriptures of other religions provide key guidance in this endeavor. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=190 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=190 Friday, 01 October 2004 17:00:00 GMT On September 3, 2004, I gave a presentation at the Association for Bahá'í Studies Conference in Calgary, Alberta, Cananda for the Science and Religion Special Interest Group. Several people have asked that I write up the presentation as an article for Planet Bahá'í, so here it is. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=191 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=191 Friday, 24 September 2004 17:00:00 GMT The movie 'The Passion of the Christ' is simply the latest in a long history of passion plays. Bahá'í'is have employed similar dramatic forms in remembering and presenting the history of their religion. Through such arts, the material and the divine intersect. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=192 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=192 Friday, 17 September 2004 17:00:00 GMT On our recent trip to Canada, I gained first-hand experience with converting measures and currencies. I also found a parallel between this and understanding different religions. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=193 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=193 Friday, 27 August 2004 17:00:00 GMT Harmony of science and religion is a key Bahá'í principle. But what do we mean when we say they are harmonious? What does science tell us about religion, and can religion tell us anything about science? http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=194 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=194 Friday, 13 August 2004 17:00:00 GMT Yes, consultation and careful consideration of options is important when making a decision. But sometimes maybe we should act on instinct. For example, consider how I ended up on the agenda for the 2004 ABS conference in Calgary. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=195 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=195 Friday, 06 August 2004 17:00:00 GMT Sometimes the tests we face in life are clear. Sometimes they are not. This summer at our house has been a case in point. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=196 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=196 Friday, 30 July 2004 17:00:00 GMT One of the functions of religion is to provide guidance for life. Among the guidance offered by the Bahá'í Faith is what Bahá'u'lláh calls "the best counsel". In fact, it's a piece of advice given by all religions. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=197 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=197 Friday, 23 July 2004 17:00:00 GMT Many religions teach purification from worldly things, but this may seem odd given that we are creatures of the world. What does the Bahá'í Faith have to say about the question? http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=198 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=198 Friday, 25 June 2004 17:00:00 GMT We tend to view ourselves and the world at large as very imperfect. Yet Bahá'u'lláh tells us that God's handiwork is perfect. Our ideas of perfection, it seems, fail to take into account God's plan for His creation. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=199 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=199 Friday, 18 June 2004 17:00:00 GMT Ron Price finds "Pathways to Transformation" by John Davidson to be a worthy successor to John Esselmont's well-known introductory work "Bahá'u'lláh and the New Era". Here's why... http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=200 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=200 Friday, 28 May 2004 17:00:00 GMT The emergence of the 17-year cicadas gives Bahá'í Kathleen Lehman pause to reflect on the passage of time amd what we have--or have not--made of the time given to us. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=201 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=201 Friday, 14 May 2004 17:00:00 GMT A recent incident involving a school concert and a tragic highway accident have reminded me that all things are contingent upon the will of God. How can we cope with life in a world where our plans so often go awry, sometimes tragically? They key, Bahá'u'lláh tells us, is God's love. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=202 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=202 Friday, 30 April 2004 17:00:00 GMT Why do so many people follow a religious path when there seems to be no clear proof of the existence of God? The answer may lie in a simple power we all possess: the ability to recognize a voice. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=203 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=203 Friday, 23 April 2004 17:00:00 GMT Bahá'u'lláh created the Institution of the House of Justice, operating at the local and international levels, to administer the affairs of His religion. Local Spiritual Assemblies are the embryonic forms of the Local Houses of Justice. Predominantly spiritual in character, this Institution is charged with a wide range of responsibilities. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=204 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=204 Friday, 09 April 2004 17:00:00 GMT In 1948 Ray Bradbury wrote a science fiction story depicting one man's search for God. 'The Man' calls to mind many teachings from the Bahá'í Faith. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=205 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=205 Friday, 02 April 2004 17:00:00 GMT In the Bahá'í Writings, renunciation is a key concept. In one powerful image, Bahá'u'lláh likens renunciation to our hands, with which He tells us to sprinkle the water of God's grace over all created things. But what exactly does this mean? http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=206 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=206 Friday, 26 March 2004 17:00:00 GMT Under the influence of her two-year-old granddaughter, Kathleen Lehman discovers that religious instruction for children is a two-way street. Often a child's questions challenge adults to think! http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=207 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=207 Friday, 19 March 2004 17:00:00 GMT 'Abdu'l-Bahá encouraged happiness in everyone He met. His enthusiasm for happiness was more than just a theory. It was a way of life for Him, and it can be for us, too. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=208 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=208 Friday, 12 March 2004 17:00:00 GMT Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" is of course a violent film. But was it more violent than the reality? And even if it was not, would Jesus have wanted us to experience the full horror of His death? http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=209 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=209 Friday, 12 March 2004 17:00:00 GMT Bahá'í Kathleen Lehman reviews Mel Gibson's film "The Passion of the Christ". http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=210 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=210 Friday, 27 February 2004 17:00:00 GMT People come to the Bahá'í Faith from many directions and for many reasons. For Kathleen Lehman, its teachings on the unity of religions made all the difference. Here is here story. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=211 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=211 Friday, 20 February 2004 17:00:00 GMT While politicians struggle to arrange power-sharing among peoples, God offers a system of divine power-sharing into which any of us can tap. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=212 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=212 Friday, 13 February 2004 17:00:00 GMT Bahá'u'lláh often speaks of the worlds of God. Infinite in number, these worlds are related in complex ways. Our journey through them is equally complex and fundamentally mystical in nature. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=213 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=213 Friday, 06 February 2004 17:00:00 GMT In 1875, 'Abdu'l-Bahá wrote a letter to the people of Persia on the spiritual requirements for development of civilizations. A key component of this was His identification of education as necessary for civilizing the human character. And the ultimate educators, He pointed out, are the Messengers of God. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=214 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=214 Friday, 23 January 2004 17:00:00 GMT Why are different religions so divided? Common threads run through them all, yet many people see them as utterly different and even antagonistic. The Bahá'í Writings tell us that superstition is the root cause of such division. They also tell us how to combat it. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=215 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=215 Friday, 16 January 2004 17:00:00 GMT Peering at the wonders of the universe through a telescope generates a sense of awe at God's handiwork. Inspired by her observations, guest author Kathleen Lehman offers us a selection of quotes from the Holy Writings of the world's religions that mention the physical heavens. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=216 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=216 Friday, 09 January 2004 17:00:00 GMT Meditation is a practice in many religions and spiritual movements. It is also a crucial part of the Bahá'í life. What do the Bahá'í Writings say about meditation, and how should Bahá'ís approach it? http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=217 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=217 Friday, 02 January 2004 17:00:00 GMT At the start of a new year, many people reflect on their lives and make resolutions. Here is a suggestion for some spiritual resolutions, based on a passage from Bahá'u'lláh's Writings. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=139 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=139 Friday, 26 December 2003 17:00:00 GMT Human beings were created to know joy. Joy does not come from plans, activities, or organizations, but is a fundamentally spiritual state. Remedying the thirst for this state, says guest author John Wiegley, is the aim of religion. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=140 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=140 Sunday, 21 December 2003 17:00:00 GMT Most of the religions of the earth have celebrated the Winter Solstice, the day when the sun "returns" after its southward migration. Although a physical reality, the "return" of the sun also has a metaphorical significance in the Holy Books of many religions. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=141 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=141 Friday, 12 December 2003 17:00:00 GMT Bahá'u'lláh has quite a sense of humor. Guest author Lynn Phillips experienced it one Christmas night in a small church in Mississippi, when she received a calling to teach the congregation about the Bahá'í Faith. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=142 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=142 Friday, 05 December 2003 17:00:00 GMT The Bahá'í Faith provides a unique consultative approach to decision-making. But how do we make it work? Guest author Rhonda Palmer reflects on teachings about and experience with consultation and offers her conclusions. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=143 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=143 Friday, 28 November 2003 17:00:00 GMT In the Lord's Prayer, Jesus teaches His followers to pray for the coming of the Kingdom of God. The coming of this Kingdom is linked to His return and the advent of the Comforter, which are one and the same. Does Bahá'u'lláh fulfill these prayers and prophecies? http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=144 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=144 Friday, 21 November 2003 17:00:00 GMT Be it riches or poverty, health or sickness, friends or even family, nothing in this world lasts forever. In the face of such transience, Bahá'u'lláh teaches us to detach ourselves from all save God. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=145 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=145 Friday, 14 November 2003 17:00:00 GMT Dale's Grandmother passed away last weekend. In honor of her radiant spirit, he offers a few thoughts and recollections on her life. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=254 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=254 Friday, 14 November 2003 17:00:00 GMT Dale's Grandmother passed away last weekend. In honor of her radiant spirit, Kathy offers a few thoughts and recollections on her life. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=146 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=146 Friday, 07 November 2003 17:00:00 GMT What does a trip to the podiatrist have to do with trusting God? More than you might think, especially since the doctor's advice wasn't quite what I was hoping for. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=147 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=147 Friday, 31 October 2003 17:00:00 GMT The Gospels tell a curious story of Jesus being tempted by the devil in the wilderness. Although an odd tale if taken as biographical, it nevertheless offers a potent spiritual lesson. Here's how Bahá'í teachings can help us interpret that lesson. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=148 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=148 Friday, 24 October 2003 17:00:00 GMT We tend to think of people and things as isolated units, but in reality everything is interconnected in complex ways. Indeed, all the elements of a person's life are part of a pattern of thought and deed. Recognizing this pattern is one of the keys to spiritual development. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=149 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=149 Friday, 26 September 2003 17:00:00 GMT The Jewish, Christian, Muslim, and Bahá'í religions all teach about one God, but do they all teach about the same God? Bahá'ís believe they do, although different religions may offer different perspectives on God. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=150 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=150 Friday, 19 September 2003 17:00:00 GMT What does the behavior of birds in a storm have to do with human spirituality? Let me tell you how Hurricane Isabel recently blew an interesting lesson our way... http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=151 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=151 Friday, 12 September 2003 17:00:00 GMT You may already know something of the teachings of the Bahá'í Faith, but many of these teachings may not seem unique. Is there not more to it than this? What lies at the heart of the Bahá'í religion? http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=152 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=152 Friday, 05 September 2003 17:00:00 GMT In the natural world, we witness the cycle of seasons as the Earth revolves about the sun. In the spiritual world there are cycles, too, cycles of revelation. Bahá'ís believe we are now living in a "spiritual springtime." http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=153 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=153 Friday, 29 August 2003 17:00:00 GMT We live in a fast-paced world that gives us little incentive to learn patience. An Iranian film recently got me thinking about the connection between patience, love, and bothering to slow down. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=154 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=154 Friday, 08 August 2003 17:00:00 GMT What are the basic needs for human existence? Of course there are material needs, such as food and shelter. But once these are met, spiritual needs often come to the fore. Paradoxically, the in modern world these needs are all too often forgotten or ignored, resulting in a dangerous imbalance. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=155 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=155 Friday, 01 August 2003 17:00:00 GMT Given the events of the past few years, we might well wonder whether religion is doomed to result in fanaticism. Yet a closer look at the teachings of major religions shows that they condemn fanaticism and call us to a very different path. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=156 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=156 Friday, 25 July 2003 17:00:00 GMT How do we define religion? Is it a matter of laws and beliefs, of congregations and administrative structures? Not really. According to the Bahá'í view, religion is primarily a matter of experience. It is a love relationship with the divine. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=157 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=157 Friday, 11 July 2003 17:00:00 GMT The Bahá'í Writings set forth an odd concept: spiritual forces are at work in the world. Not only do such forces surround us and collide with other forces in the world, such forces lie hidden within us. What are spiritual forces, and how do they affect our lives? http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=158 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=158 Friday, 04 July 2003 17:00:00 GMT In honor of Independence Day in the United States, I offer some reflections on the relationship between some key principles of American democracy and the teachings of the Bahá'í Faith. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=159 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=159 Friday, 27 June 2003 17:00:00 GMT A review of the history of the 20th century offers ample evidence for the need for true peace in the world. But is peace possible? If so, how? The Bahá'í Faith teaches that unity is the essential prerequisite for peace. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=160 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=160 Friday, 13 June 2003 17:00:00 GMT The Bahá'í Faith, like all other religions, teaches us to overcome self. What does this mean, and how can we attain victory over self? http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=161 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=161 Friday, 06 June 2003 17:00:00 GMT As two of my daughters graduate, I'm led to ponder the changes of life and the one constant that makes for a solid foundation: the love of God. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=162 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=162 Friday, 16 May 2003 17:00:00 GMT In the infinite diversity of the material realm, we catch a glimmer of the realm of the spirit. Science and the Bahá'í Holy Writings converge as we ponder the infinite worlds of God. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=163 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=163 Friday, 09 May 2003 17:00:00 GMT In honor of mother's day, a Baha'i mother looks at the lessons taught to us by the mothers of the Manifestations of God. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=164 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=164 Friday, 02 May 2003 17:00:00 GMT Bahá'u'lláh, 'Abdu'l-Bahá, and Shoghi Effendi all exhorted Bahá'ís to memorize prayers and passages from the Holy Writings. What is the purpose of memorization? And what do you do if you have trouble memorizing text? http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=165 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=165 Friday, 25 April 2003 17:00:00 GMT All religions teach that we should love and honor our parents. But we may not realize the supreme importance of this counsel. A close look at the scriptures of Christianity, Islam, and the Bahá'í Faith show that regard for our parents is linked to our recognition of God. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=166 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=166 Friday, 18 April 2003 17:00:00 GMT About 1869, Bahá'u'lláh revealed a Tablet to Pope Piux IX, announcing to him the advent of the Father foretold by Isaiah and the Comforter promised by Jesus. During the Festival of Ridván, it is perhaps appropriate to reflect upon this astounding declaration. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=167 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=167 Friday, 04 April 2003 17:00:00 GMT Suppose you are part of a group of people charged with solving a problem. Maybe the group is your family, at your office, or even in government. How do you go about making a decision? The Bahá'í Faith offers a tool designed to allow the best decision to emerge without jeopardizing the unity of the group. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=168 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=168 Friday, 28 March 2003 17:00:00 GMT Religion has generally upheld the notion of patriotism. After all, love of one's country plays a unifying role. Today, the teachings of the Bahá'í Faith broaden and deepen the notion of patriotism, and call us to be both patriots for our nations and for the world as a whole. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=169 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=169 Friday, 21 March 2003 17:00:00 GMT The Bahá'í Faith employs its own calendar, in which there are nineteen months of nineteen days each. Where did it come from? How does it work? And why do we need a new calendar in the first place? http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=255 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=255 Friday, 14 March 2003 17:00:00 GMT In October, 1985, the Universal House of Justice issued a statement called "The Promise of World Peace". Although the times were on the surface very different from today, it reads as though it had been meant specifically for the present moment. Here is the complete text. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=171 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=171 Friday, 07 March 2003 17:00:00 GMT We often fail to see the wisdom in religious teachings and practices. But Baha'u'llah teaches that as we attain to higher spiritual stations, we gain clearer understanding of the wisdom of God. So why be satisfied with the view from the ground? http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=172 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=172 Friday, 28 February 2003 17:00:00 GMT Called the father of multiculturalism, Alain Locke was among the most prominent black Bahá'ís in the United States. A Rhodes Scholar and key mover behind the Harlem renaissance, Locke's ideas on race and unity in diversity influenced many. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=173 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=173 Friday, 21 February 2003 17:00:00 GMT Mental illnesses are complex conditions with physical and environmental causes. The Bahá'í Writings and scientific understanding both make it clear that such conditions are not spiritual in character. Here's a look at the challenges mental illness poses to afflicted individuals, their families, and their communities. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=174 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=174 Friday, 14 February 2003 17:00:00 GMT What is the secret of success and greatness? Perhaps the key lies in spiritual qualities, and particularly in the quality of generosity. Consider these examples of some great figures from the history of arts and sciences... http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=175 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=175 Friday, 07 February 2003 17:00:00 GMT Bahá'u'lláh ordained some special laws of prayer for women "in their courses". Is this a hold-over from an archaic view of women, or there some deeper significance in these laws? One Bahá'í woman tells us about the profound meanings she has found therein. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=176 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=176 Friday, 31 January 2003 17:00:00 GMT It's a confusing time for women--and for those men trying to understand and support them. Where is all this confusion leading? A Bahá'í woman considers this in light of the principles that women are the spiritual equal of men, but that men and women sometimes play different roles. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=177 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=177 Friday, 24 January 2003 17:00:00 GMT Recently Daciana Indolean left her home in Romania to spend some time with the Bahá'ís in Ascoli Piceno, Italy. There she found a community moved by unconditional love and the desire to serve humanity. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=178 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=178 Friday, 17 January 2003 17:00:00 GMT Spiritual transformation is a key purpose of religion. To this end, the Bahá'í Writings exhort us to see ourselves as always standing in the presence of our Lord and to call ourselves to account each day. Does this mean we must always be perfect? Or is it, rather, a tool for spiritual growth? http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=179 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=179 Friday, 03 January 2003 17:00:00 GMT At the start of a new year, we might well pause to reflect upon the state of the world and our role in making a better future. In pondering such questions, it occurs to me that average folks like you and I can have a bigger impact on the world than you might at first think. Here's why... http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=101 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=101 Friday, 20 December 2002 17:00:00 GMT Everybody does top ten Christmas gift lists at this time of the year. Although it may seem strange, here are a few Christmas gift suggestions from a Baha'i point of view. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=102 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=102 Friday, 13 December 2002 17:00:00 GMT 'Abdu'l-Bahá often remarked on the great material progress humanity had made. But this, He said, was not enough. Without an equal effort to develop spiritual civilization, material civilization would lead to trouble. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=103 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=103 Friday, 06 December 2002 17:00:00 GMT Christopher Anderson grew up with diversity and saw, in the course of traveling the world, that humanity is one. All must therefore, he thought, be the servants of one God. But it wasn't until he discovered the Bahá'í Faith that he was able to make sense of his experiences. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=104 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=104 Friday, 15 November 2002 17:00:00 GMT It's not always easy to decide which of life's concerns are important and which are just small stuff. But we can apply an understanding of the purpose of life and spiritual principles to help us discriminate between the two. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=105 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=105 Friday, 08 November 2002 17:00:00 GMT Bahá'u'lláh calls us to give forth goodly and wondrous fruits. But we don't become that kind of person by accident. Here's a Bahá'í view on how parents can raise children to become useful and productive adults. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=106 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=106 Friday, 01 November 2002 17:00:00 GMT Although most people understand what religion and spirituality are about, to many of us mysticism is (pardon the expression) a mystery. But it shouldn't be. Here's why mysticism is really the heart of the spiritual life. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=107 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=107 Friday, 25 October 2002 17:00:00 GMT Bahá'u'lláh lets us see all religions through news eyes. Consider, for example, how He illuminates the purpose of God's Messengers. In deceptively simple terms, He demonstrates that every new revelation must bring vast changes. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=108 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=108 Friday, 11 October 2002 17:00:00 GMT What is home? Safety, security, healing . . . the very things God has promised await us in the kingdom of the spirit. A Bahá'í reflects on home as a metaphor for heaven and invites us to a party at God's place. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=109 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=109 Friday, 04 October 2002 17:00:00 GMT According to the teachings of the Baha'i Faith, all religions were established by divine Messengers or Prophets called Manifestations of God. Many people find such an assertion hard to accept. Is there any indication that it is true? http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=110 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=110 Friday, 27 September 2002 17:00:00 GMT Philosophers and theologians have long struggled with the contradictory notions of free will and destiny. Do human beings exercise free will, or are we under the control of an unalterable fate? The Bahá'í Holy Writings offer a startling perspective on such questions. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=111 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=111 Friday, 13 September 2002 17:00:00 GMT In a world where terrorism may strike anywhere at any time, can we ever be free of fear? If so, how? All religions, and in particular the Bahá'í Faith, maintain that fear can be eliminated by focusing on the larger picture and by placing our whole trust in God. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=112 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=112 Friday, 06 September 2002 17:00:00 GMT A year has passed since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The world has changed, but have our ways of dealing with its troubles? Can our present path resolve the problem of terrorism? If not, is there another way? Here's a Bahá'í perspective on these troubling questions. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=113 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=113 Friday, 30 August 2002 17:00:00 GMT Unity in diversity. It sounds simple, yet in spite of many important advances, humanity doesn't seem to believe that unity is really possible. What do Bahá'ís mean by unity in diversity, and what will it take to achieve it? http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=114 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=114 Friday, 23 August 2002 17:00:00 GMT Independent investigation of truth is a key Bahá'í principle. Yet the Bahá'í Faith also sets forth teachings that Bahá'ís must accept. Is this a contradiction, or is this itself an expression of some deep truth? http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=115 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=115 Friday, 16 August 2002 17:00:00 GMT Like the Scriptures of many other religions, the Bahá'í Holy Writings say that God is within us. But what exactly does this mean, and what are the implications for how we live our lives? http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=116 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=116 Friday, 02 August 2002 17:00:00 GMT The problems facing the world may seem overwhelming. But the Bahá'í Holy Writings offer principles and practices designed to overcome each of these problems. The only thing is, we have to begin with ourselves! http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=117 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=117 Friday, 26 July 2002 17:00:00 GMT "Questions from Christians" is a new book written to teach Christians about the Bahá'í Faith. As much conversation as prose, it will also teach Bahá'ís much about Christianity. Here's my review. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=118 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=118 Friday, 19 July 2002 17:00:00 GMT It's a confusing time in the world. Some things are better than they've ever been, and some have never been worse. What's going on? Bahá'ís believe that the twin processes of decay and renewal are at work, carrying humanity forward into a new era. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=119 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=119 Friday, 12 July 2002 17:00:00 GMT Bahá'u'lláh called us to make our vision "world-embracing." While this sounds similar to some modern sociopolitical slogans, it is far richer and deeper, implying a need for each person on the planet to love and care for humanity and all of its members. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=120 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=120 Friday, 05 July 2002 17:00:00 GMT In April, 2002, the Universal House of Justice released a major statement addressed to the world's religious leaders. Given the heightened climate of religious intolerance since September 11, 2001 and the scandals that continue to rock religious communities, this message takes on special relevancy and urgency. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=121 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=121 Friday, 28 June 2002 17:00:00 GMT Pilgrimage is as much a spiritual journey as a physical one. Kathleen Heady takes us on the trip as she shares with us this journal from her February, 2002 visit to the Bahá'í World Center and the sacred shrines. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=122 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=122 Friday, 21 June 2002 17:00:00 GMT In the present climate of fear and mistrust, many are more certain than ever that different peoples cannot live together in peace. But is this true? No! Bahá'u'lláh tells us that we can learn to be unified. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=123 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=123 Friday, 14 June 2002 17:00:00 GMT Naw-Rúz is past, but for a moment we return to it as guest author Su L. Snipstad shares her poetic meditations on the subjects of emotions, suffering, joy, and living life. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=124 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=124 Friday, 07 June 2002 17:00:00 GMT We can't have a good relationship with another person if we ignore them. Yet how often do we spend time--quality--time with God? Here's why we should, and some of the ways in which we can. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=125 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=125 Friday, 31 May 2002 17:00:00 GMT Everyone knows how to drink water. What could be more natural? But sometimes in their travels Bahá'ís discover that the most natural things are the hardest to do! http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=126 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=126 Friday, 24 May 2002 17:00:00 GMT When life deals us trouble and distress, happiness can often seem impossible to attain. But are comfort and riches really the keys to happiness? Or are the keys to be found within us? Perhaps happiness is truly found in understanding what it is to be genuinely human. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=127 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=127 Friday, 17 May 2002 17:00:00 GMT Bahá'ís have to go through a lot when they travel to foreign lands to teach others about Bahá'u'lláh. The term "culture shock" doesn't quite qualify. Indeed, sometimes it's not quite clear who is the teacher and who is the student! http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=128 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=128 Friday, 10 May 2002 17:00:00 GMT Marriage is a fundamentally spiritual relationship. An eternal bond between two people, it provides the basis for the progress of the entire human race. Here's why... http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=129 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=129 Friday, 26 April 2002 17:00:00 GMT Discontent with politics and government is rampant. The Baha'i Faith offers a nonpolitical system of governance that avoids the problems inherent in other systems. Here's a look at how it works. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=130 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=130 Friday, 19 April 2002 17:00:00 GMT In our fast-paced world, it's easy to forget that individual events are just moments in ongoing processes. Both as individuals and as a society, we need to try to see the processes in order to understand events and cope with upheavals. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=131 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=131 Friday, 05 April 2002 17:00:00 GMT Peace is the major focus of the Bahá'í Faith. Its teachings provide a plan for world peace that calls for efforts at both the individual and collective levels. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=132 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=132 Friday, 29 March 2002 17:00:00 GMT Bahá'u'lláh authored the equivalent of 100 volumes, and 'Abdu'l-Bahá and Shoghi Effendi wrote much more. How do Bahá'ís develop their understanding of these Writings? http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=133 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=133 Friday, 22 March 2002 17:00:00 GMT God is near, yet God is remote. This is one of the great contradictions inherent in all religions. How can such a thing be? Let's explore the question using the Bahá'í Holy Writings. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=134 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=134 Friday, 08 March 2002 17:00:00 GMT Detachment is a major theme in the Bahá'í Holy Writings. What does it mean to be detached from all save God, and what are the benefits of striving for such a state? http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=135 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=135 Friday, 15 February 2002 17:00:00 GMT The Bahá'í Writings teach that our goal in life should be to acquire spiritual qualities. Founding our lives in the spiritual provides us with purpose and meaning that far exceeds that offered by purely material pursuits. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=136 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=136 Friday, 08 February 2002 17:00:00 GMT We need a foundation upon which to build our lives. As Jesus said, some foundations are like rock, others like sand. Along similar lines, Bahá'u'lláh shows us the foundations of life, of faith, and of religion. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=137 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=137 Friday, 01 February 2002 17:00:00 GMT Bahá'ís believe that America will lead all nations spiritually. This belief is founded in 'Abdu'l-Bahá's vision for America, as expressed in His many talks and letters. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=138 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=138 Friday, 04 January 2002 17:00:00 GMT Prayer forms the foundation of individual spiritual life in most religions. In the Bahá'í Faith, prayer is viewed primarily as the act of connecting with God. Although through prayer we may ask God to grant us something, the spirit that motivates prayer is of greatest importance. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=62 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=62 Friday, 28 December 2001 17:00:00 GMT On Sunday, December 23, 2001, the U.S. Bahá'í community published a statement in the "New York Times" titled "The Destiny of America and the Promise of World Peace". It offers a vision of an America destined to become "a land of spiritual distinction and leadership..." http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=63 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=63 Friday, 21 December 2001 17:00:00 GMT Pain is an inescapable fact of life and one that we tend to dislike. But is pain evil, a proof that no loving Creator exists? Or is it in fact a sign of God's love for us? The answer can be found by pondering the role pain plays in life. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=64 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=64 Friday, 12 October 2001 17:00:00 GMT As the United States and the world develops its response to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Bahá'ís have been struggling to find an appropriate response of their own. Here are some thoughts on the principles that can guide us. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=65 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=65 Saturday, 22 September 2001 17:00:00 GMT On September 11, 2001, disaster struck New York City and Washington D.C., and the world changed overnight. How should Bahá'ís respond to such tragedy? By emulating the example of 'Abdu'l-Bahá. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=66 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=66 Saturday, 15 September 2001 17:00:00 GMT In the wake of the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, D.C., people are coming together to fight terrorism and aid its victims. Here's how we can all do our part in the wake of this tragedy. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=67 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=67 Wednesday, 12 September 2001 17:00:00 GMT Bahá'í communities around the world have been sending messages of support and comfort to the United States. Here are a few excerpts. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=68 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=68 Tuesday, 11 September 2001 17:00:00 GMT Neither the Arab people nor Islam are the villains in the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. So let us take care lest through hatred or a desire for revenge we create more victims. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=69 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=69 Saturday, 08 September 2001 17:00:00 GMT Although it's something of a cliché, our children are our future. Children are our most precious treasures, and their education in matters both spiritual and material is of paramount importance. http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=70 http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=70 Saturday, 01 September 2001 17:00:00 GMT T