This time the ebook updates are mostly minor. More important, the paperbacks are now being updated to keep in step.
See the previous blog post for more details. Ebooks will be free for a day or two from October 25th for the following week (Baha'i Holy Days during this time).
The series of introductory books is still available as ebooks from $0.99 and as paperbacks from $5.70. Most ebooks have been updated this month. Just redo the download to get the latest version.
Note: some will be available without charge for a day or two around month-end.
The Bahá'í Faith - A Short Introduction
The Bahá'í Faith - A Short Introduction for Christians
The Bahá'í Faith - A Short Introduction for Muslims
The Bahá'í Faith - A Short Introduction for Hindus
The Bahá'í Faith - A Short Introduction for the Seeker
The Bahá'í Faith - A Short Introduction for Women
And the related books:
The Bahá'í Faith and the Cosmos – A Short Introduction
The Bahá'í Faith and Life After Death
Bahá'í Books - A Short Introduction
This included Georgetown (PEG cluster), East Coast Demerara and Linden (UDB cluster).
Held June 11-12 in Georgetown at the School of the Nations.
Day 1
Day 2
In their letter of Ridvan 2022 the Universal House of Justice talked about the Nine Year Plan and
"...the release of the society-building power of the Faith in ever-greater measures... It is also the focus of the more than 10,000 conferences being held across the globe to mark the launch of this great spiritual enterprise."
The Bahá'í community of Guyana has held a series of such conferences since May. Pictures of these conferences will be posted as available. See also Facebook for posts. Conferences held were:
May 28-29 West Bank Demerara
June 4-5 Pomeroon-Supernam
June 11-12 Georgetown (PEG cluster), East Coast Demerara (cluster) and Linden (UDB cluster)
July 10 Corentyne
July 16-17 East Bank Demerara
Note: this list is an extract from the booklet “Bahá'í Books – A Short Introduction” to be found here on Amazon Kindle.
Please also note: this list is just an attempt to provide information to those who need it. It is not official, not 100% up-to-date, not complete. Has been updated and will be again.
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Those investigating the Bahá'í Faith often want to know what books to start with. This document is intended to introduce the reader to some of the more introductory books available about the Bahá'í Faith in English and where to find them. This includes introductory books, a selection of the Writings of the Faith, historical books and some others. It does not cover the full range of other literature but sources for further information are provided below. It is, of course, just the writer’s opinion of what is appropriate.
Particular attention was paid to books that can be downloaded free. A substantial collection of literature is available for free download from the international Bahá'í Reference Library (see below) and from Bahá'í eBooks. Please see the websites of the main publishers for a more complete range of books.
If there is a sizable Bahá'í community near you then they may have printed books for purchase or loan. Check your local directory or the internet.
The Bahá'í Reference Library - This is part of the main website at bahai.org and is the authoritative online source of Bahá’í writings. The website is here. New translations and other content are added periodically.
The books below are tagged as follows:
(E) indicates ebook
(F) indicates free download (such as from Bahá'í Ebooks)
(P) indicates printed book
Introductory books
Bahá’í Faith: The Emerging Global Religion. William S. Hatcher and J. Douglas Martin. Bahá'í Publishing (US). A through and well-researched introduction. 253 pages. (FP)
Bahá’ís, The. Popular magazine-format introduction to the Bahá’í Faith. Available from Bahá'í Publishing (US) here. (FP)
Bahá’u’lláh and the New Era. J. E. Esslemont. Bahá'í Publishing Trust (UK). An excellent and readable general introduction. Has been popular for many years. 233 pages. (FP)*
God Speaks Again: An Introduction to the Bahá'í Faith. Kenneth E. Bowers. Bahá'í Publishing (US). In placing the life of Bahá’u’lláh at the center of the story, he reveals an authentically inspiring figure and the inseparable connection between a new religion and an extraordinary human being touched by His Creator. 296 pages. (EP)
Introduction to the Bahá'í Faith. A good general introduction. 183 pages. Downloadable here. (F)*
New Garden, The. Hushmand Fathea’zam. Bahá'í Publishing Trust of India. A popular, inexpensive, readable, multi-religion introduction. (P)
Prescription for Living. Rúhíyyih Rabbání. Bahá'í Publishing Trust of India. Handling life from a Bahá'í perspective. (FP)
Release the Sun. William Sears. Bahá'í Publishing (US). While Christians anticipated the return of Jesus Christ, a wave of expectation swept through Islam that the "Lord of the Age" would soon appear. A very readable account of exciting events. 323 pages. (EP)
1844: Convergence in Prophecy for Judaism, Christianity, Islam and the Bahá'í Faith. Eileen Maddocks. Introduces the Faith using prophecies from three religions. Available on Amazon. (EP)
Note: for a series of short, inexpensive introductory books on Kindle by the author, see here. (Warning self-promotion!)
Sacred and Authoritative Writings
Bahá'í Prayers. Bahá’u’lláh. Bahá'í Publishing Trust (US and UK). A compilation of prayers from Bahá’u’lláh, The Báb and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in English. There are many versions of this compilation of some 200 prayers but the prayers are all from the same sources. The selection varies between publishers. (FP)
Book of Certitude: The Kitab-i-Iqan. Bahá’u’lláh. Bahá'í Publishing Trust (US). One of Bahá’u’lláh’s most important works which explains prophecies and religion in depth. 237 pages. Can be read online here. (FP)
Call of the Divine Beloved, The. Bahá’u’lláh. Bahá'í World Centre. Elucidates aspects of the mystic journey of the soul towards its divine Beloved. Includes the Seven Valleys. (FP)
Divine Art of Living, The. Compiled by Mabel Hyde Paine. Bahá'í Publishing (US). Selected quotations from the Bahá'í Writings. 187 pages. (FP)
Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh. Bahá’u’lláh. Bahá'í Publishing Trust (US). An important selection of passages from Writings of Bahá’u’lláh by Shoghi Effendi. 346 pages. Can be read online here. (FP)*
Hidden Words, The. Bahá’u’lláh. Bahá'í Publishing (US). Profound, gem-like mystical verses revealed by Bahá’u’lláh on the banks of the Tigris. 140 pages. (FP)*
Paris Talks. ʻAbdu'l-Bahá. Bahá'í Publishing Trust (UK). A collection of talks by ʻAbdu'l-Bahá in Paris in 1911. 184 pages. (FP)
Some Answered Questions. ʻAbdu'l-Bahá. Bahá'í Publishing Trust (US). An important compilation of answers to specific questions. 350 pages. Can be read online here. (FP)
Summons of the Lord of Hosts, The. Bahá’u’lláh. Bahá'í Publishing (US). Includes Tablets addressed to the kings and rulers of the day. 272 pages. (FP)
Historical
Choosen Highway, The. Lady Blomfield. Bahá'í Publishing Trust (US). Historical accounts from the early days of the Faith. 260 pages. (FP)
From Copper to Gold. Dorothy Freeman Gilstrap. Bahá'í Publishing Trust (US). The story of Dorothy Baker's life - an extraordinary example of spiritual transformation and growth. 569 pages. (FP)
Dawn-Breakers: Nabil's Narrative of the Early Days of the Bahá'í Revelation. Shoghi Effendi. Bahá'í Publishing (US). Online at the Bahá'í Reference Library. 685 pages. (FP)
Portals to Freedom. Howard Colby Ives. Bahá'í Publishing (US). Unitarian minister struggling with questions of faith and spirituality. His search ultimately led him to a discovery of the Bahá'í Faith. 253 pages. (FP)
Comparative Religion
Bahá’u’lláh: The One Promised in All Scriptures. Hugh Hushidar. Global Perspectives. Introduces the reader to the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh, but also presents convincing evidence to support Their claims and missions. The author draws deeply from various books of the Old and New Testament… 230 pages. (EP)
Brilliant Proof, The. Mirzá Abu’l Fadl Gulpáygán. Kalimat Press. An English translation of a booklet by a distinguished scholar in 1911 which defends the Faith against a poorly informed critic. Draws upon both Christian and Islamic prophecies. Free download here. (FP)
Buddhism and the Bahá'í Faith - An Introduction and Comparison. Moojan Momen. George Ronald (Publisher). An introduction to the Bahá’í Faith for those of the Theravada Buddhist tradition. 128 pages. (P)
Christ and Bahá’u’lláh. George Townshend. George Ronald (Publisher). A scholarly approach by a noted scholar who was formerly a Canon in the Anglican Church. 96 pages. (FP)
Face of God Among Us, The. John S. Hatcher. Bahá'í Publishing (US). A fresh perspective on religious history that explores the prophets of the past and offers new insight into the relationship between God and humankind. 333 pages. (EP)
Founders of Faith - The Parallel Lives of God's Messengers. Harold Rosen. Bahá'í Publishing (US). 418 pages. (EP)
Hinduism & the Bahá'í Faith. Moojan Momen. George Ronald (Publisher). By presenting it from the perspective of the Hindu tradition, Dr Momen provides people from this background with information about the Bahá'í Faith in a way which is meaningful to them. Available to read online here. 100 pages. (FP)
Islam and the Bahá'í Faith. Moojan Momen. George Ronald (Publisher). An easy-to-read view of the Bahá'í Faith from a Muslim perspective, based on Islamic prophecies and Sunni traditions. 288 pages. (P)
Islam at the Crossroads. Lameh Fananapazir. George Ronald (Publisher). The crisis in Islam today and the solution offered by the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh. 688 pages. (EP)
Letter to the World's Religious Leaders April 2002. The Universal House of Justice. An invitation to the world’s religious communities to reexamine the issues lying at the heart of interfaith activity. Available here. (FP)
Reincarnation Mystery Revealed. Dr. H.M. Muhje. Bahá'í Publishing Trust of India. Dr. Munje examines in this book the origins of the doctrine of reincarnation in Hindu belief. Comparing these traditions with the Bahá'í sacred writings and the original Sanskrit texts of the Hindu sacred writings. 100 pages. (EP)
Promises Fulfilled: Christianity, Islam, and the Bahá'í Faith. Nabil I. Hanna. Bahá'í Publishing (US). This book examines the promises made in both the Bible and the Koran concerning the coming of the Promised One, and sheds light on the principal objections that prevent Christians and Muslims from accepting the Bahá'í Faith. 357 pages. (EP)
Release the Sun. William Sears. Bahá'í Publishing (US). While Christians anticipated the return of Jesus Christ, a wave of expectation swept through Islam that the "Lord of the Age" would soon appear. 323 pages. (EP)
Thief in the Night. William Sears. George Ronald (Publisher). A thorough approach to Bible prophesies by a talented journalist. 320 pages. (FP)*
Wine of Astonishment, The. William Sears. George Ronald (Publisher). This book gives a clear and straightforward explanation of many puzzling and controversial Christian doctrines. 162 pages. (EP)
1844: Convergence in Prophecy for Judaism, Christianity, Islam and the Bahá'í Faith. Eileen Maddocks. Available on Amazon. Did the spirit of Christ return in 1844 in the Middle East? 224 pages. (EP)
"Over the past few months, Guyana has seen an increase in heavy winds – some that were intense enough to cause damage to homes leaving families with added expenses.
But there might be even more to come."
We can be sure that much more will come. The article goes on to cover many issues related to climate change.
See also from this blog:
Guyana - more storms? (2017)
Natural gas in Guyana - flaring and venting (2020)
The interview asks Penrose (a renown theoretical physicist) if mathematics was created by man or discovered. He favours the latter.
The series of introductory books is now available as ebooks from $0.99 and as paperbacks from $5.70.
Note: some will be available without charge for a day or two from April 21st.
The Bahá'í Faith - A Short Introduction
The Bahá'í Faith - A Short Introduction for Christians
The Bahá'í Faith - A Short Introduction for Muslims
The Bahá'í Faith - A Short Introduction for Hindus
The Bahá'í Faith - A Short Introduction for the Seeker
And the related books:
The Bahá'í Faith and the Cosmos – A Short Introduction
The Bahá'í Faith and Life After Death
Bahá'í Books - A Short Introduction
Looking ahead - another book or maybe two, some revisions of current titles.
"Guyana is now closer to launching its first major initiative in renewable energy. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently granted approval for construction of the US$45M Hope Wind Farm Project. This represents the first substantial utility-scale renewable energy initiative to be implemented in the new oil producing South American country.
According to project documents, the 25.2MW wind farm will generate over 80GWh per year, to be delivered to the Guyana Power and Light (GPL)’s grid according to the terms of a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) and Grid Interconnection Agreement. This wind energy therefore represents over 10% of GPL’s gross total electricity generation, enough to supply 7000 homes with power."
Another article appeared in the Guyana Chronicle.
We look forward to GPL getting a PPA agreed.
Difficult decisions will have to be made which involve planning decades ahead.
How long do we invest in sea defenses which will eventually be abandoned? When do we start relocating the city and coastal communities inland? We need to start building the infrastructure!
A report in Newsroom addresses the issue.
Its main teaching is that mankind is one people and that religion is essentially one and progressive.
The Bahá'í Faith is established in more than 100,000 localities in virtually every country and territory around the world.
The 9 books in the series will be available for free download from Kindle on March 21st which is New Year (Naw-Ruz) for Baha'is.
The titles are as follows:
The Bahá'í Faith - A Short Introduction
The Bahá'í Faith - A Short Introduction for Christians
The Bahá'í Faith - A Short Introduction for Muslims
The Bahá'í Faith - A Short Introduction for Hindus
The Bahá'í Faith - A Short Introduction for the Seeker
The Bahá'í Faith - A Short Introduction for Women
The Bahá'í Faith and the Cosmos – A Short Introduction
Bahá'í Books – A Short Introduction
The Bahá'í Faith and Life After Death
Surinam is still following a similar trajectory.
This book attempts to review the main Bahá'í teachings on this subject. Included are topics such as God, the soul and prayer. Mention is also made of the NDE (Near Death Experience) phenomenon.
It is hoped that it will increase the readers interest in spiritual knowledge in these difficult times.
And hopefully give comfort to those who have lost loved ones.
The book is about 70 pages and includes many quotations. The costs are $1.99 for the ebook and $6.70 for the paperback.
Note: all ebooks will be free to download for 3 days during the Ayyam-i-Ha period (Feb. 25 - Mar. 2nd).
Methane is a more dangerous greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. Fortunately it is less common. Recently satellites have been used to pin point sources with a view to stopping it from contaminating the atmosphere. Most is emitted by leaking oil facilities. Guyana is not on the map yet.
See this report from phys.org.
The series is now available as paperbacks at $5.70. I have kept costs down to almost the minimum by converting colour pictures to black and white. Of course they do not have nice clickable links like the ebooks! But they are easier to give to others to read 😊
The Bahá'í Faith - A Short Introduction
The Bahá'í Faith - A Short Introduction for Christians
The Bahá'í Faith - A Short Introduction for Muslims
The Bahá'í Faith - A Short Introduction for Hindus
The Bahá'í Faith - A Short Introduction for the Seeker
The Bahá'í Faith - A Short Introduction for Women
And the two related books:
Bahá'í Books - A Short Introduction
The Bahá'í Faith and the Cosmos – A Short Introduction
They have all been revised to some extent, especially the first few. This was partly to get them above the 27 pages threshold for paperbacks.
For the past week or so reported cases have fluctuated around 1000 plus or minus a few hundred. I would suspect that our ability to run tests is being stretched and cases are actually more.
The good news is that the ICU has around 15 cases - half of what it was last year. Presumably due to this variant being less severe. Hopefully cases will fall quickly soon.
Hospitals are being stretched due to staff shortages caused by sickness. A common situation in many countries.
It is interesting to note that cases in Surinam and French Guiana both spiked the same time as Guyana.
