The Baha’i book known as the Kitab-i-Aqdas, the “Most Holy Book,” has been published in Norwegian for the first time, bringing to about 30 the number of different language editions of the work. The book, originally written in Arabic, was presented this month at a ceremony in Beitostolen attended by more than 300 Baha’is and their guests.

via news.bahai.org

MEMBERS of Kirklees’ Baha’i community have celebrated a special date in their faith’s calendar. On July 9 they had a holy day to remember the martyrdom on that date in 1850 of one of the founding fathers of their religion, The Bab. This man, known as ‘The Gate’, arose in Persia to preach social and religious reform and foretold the coming of a new age of human development.

via examiner.co.uk

I met a sweet Baha’i couple this past winter and was fascinated by their religion. The United States Baha’i National Center is working on a campaign right now to make people aware of their theology. Here are some trends on the religion that the office released.

via blogs.rep-am.com

UNESCO'S World Heritage Committee added 19 cultural sites, and eight natural sites to its World Heritage list this week --- among them are the Bahai gardens in the Israeli cities of Haifa and Acre. The United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization says the Bahai holy places in Israel are testimony to the Bahai tradition of pilgrimage and for their profound meaning in the faith.

via cctv.com

Something didn't feel right for Ray and Barbara Rudolph as they looked over the guests at a recent island wedding. It appeared to be the traditional American ceremony: lush flowers, reverent candles, snappy tuxedos and frilly dresses. But after scanning the faces, the Rudolphs realized what was wrong.

via savannahnow.com

The idea of divine healing might raise some eyebrows, but one in three Americans put their faith in spiritual cures, saying they have encountered or experienced such an event. That's one of the findings from the second part of the U.S. Religious Landscape Survey, released yesterday by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life. The first part of the survey, based on a 2007 nationwide poll of more than 35,000 U.S. adults, was released earlier this year.

via theglobeandmail.com

Sir, The recent report commissioned by the Church of England may be right in its criticism of the Government for sidelining Christianity (“Church attacks Labour for betraying Christians”, report, June 7), but would the appointment of a “Minister for Religion” improve the situation? It could actually backfire by imposing increased government interference in what churches were allowed to practise.

via timesonline.co.uk

Emperor Cyrus II of Persia entered the city of Babylon in the year 539 B.C. He placed a cylinder under the walls of Babylon, following the customs of Babylonian tradition. In the 1970s, the Cyrus Cylinder was described as the world’s first charter of human rights. In fact, it was translated into all the official United Nations languages in 1971 and a replica of the cylinder is kept at the U.N. headquarters in New York City. Selected sections of the text have been interpreted as expressing Cyrus’ respect for humanity, and as promoting a form of religious tolerance and freedom. If only the Iranian government could adopt a similar attitude towards its largest religious minority group, the Bahais.

via naplesnews.com

A global election process that began with people in 100,000 cities and villages around the world will culminate on 29 April when delegates gather here to elect the international governing body of the Bahá’í Faith.
Representatives of some 170 nations will cast ballots for the nine members of the Universal House of Justice, which has its seat at the Bahá’í World Centre in Haifa. The election is held every five years. Bahá’í elections are distinctive in that there are no nominations, no campaigning, and no discussion about which individuals should be elected.

via bahaiworldnews.org

we unveiled the ferocity of the Shia theocratic tyranny of the Ayatullahs of Iran. Three identity issues are not allowed in the Ayatullah theocracy; you cannot be patriotic nationalist and struggle for your country´s independence, if your fatherland happens to be peremptorily included in today´s intolerant Iran. You cannot be Zoroaterian, Sunni Muslim, Ahl-e Haq Muslim, Bahai or follower of any religious minority. If Eastern Christians of Aramaean origin are allowed to worship their faith under socio-political limits and always at the margin of the society, the rest are terribly oppressed because it is assumed that they lack international support or even interest.

via americanchronicle.com

Religion will continue to be a driving force in modern day politics, according to a panel of religious experts at the "Faith and Politics" forum Wednesday night in the Marvin Center. “I cannot imagine the Civil Rights Movement if faith-based language were removed from the political discussion,” said Rep. Artur Davis (D- Ala.), a panelist. The panel debated the proper role of faith in politics; but could only draw personal guidelines. Davis felt that truth in campaigning was important to him because the Bible is against bearing false witness. Panelist David Brody, senior national correspondent for the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN).

via dailycolonial.com

In response to something I read from Esra’a revealing post about how much idiocy she gets via email, I thought it might be useful to clarify some things again…About Islam and the Baha’i Faith. First let me start by providing some quotes from the central figures of the Baha’i Faith about Islam etc… “Blessing and peace be upon Him [Muhammad] through Whose advent Bathá [Mecca] is wreathed in smiles, and the sweet savours of Whose raiment have shed fragrance upon all mankind– He Who came to protect men from that which would harm them in the world below. Exalted, immensely exalted is His station above the glorification of all beings and sanctified from the praise of the entire creation.

via mideastyouth.com

Membership of the Bahá'í faith is open to all those who believe that Bahá'u'lláh is the latest Manifestation of God and who accept the Covenant Bahá'u'lláh made with his followers about his successor and interpreter, Abdu'l-Bahá, and the administrative institutions that govern the Bahá'í community. A convert is not required to renounce their previous faith, but merely to recognise that their previous faith was in need of regeneration. However they cannot actually remain a member of their previous faith. A person becomes a Bahá'í when they accept Bahá'u'lláh. This is something between the person and God and is very much a matter of individual conscience.

via bbc.co.uk

Toronto's Catholic board will be testing the faith of its Grade 4 students – or at least their knowledge of it – in a controversial new religious exam. The unique "religious knowledge test" was piloted in five schools last year and was to be rolled out in all Grade 4 classrooms this May, although half of the board's 12 trustees have already opted out. The test asks students to fill in the missing words to the Lord's Prayer or explain why "Jesus is the light of the world," among other things. "Even though there are a variety of things that separate (public and Catholic) boards, the tangible thing you see is the teaching of religion," said trustee John Del Grande.

via thestar.com

The Rev. Michael Dowd and his wife, Connie Barlow, have criss-crossed the country in their Dodge Sprinter, teaching and preaching the Great Story, for the last six years. Their road trip adventure has led them to hundreds of congregations, retreat centers and monasteries open to learning about a movement that binds science and religion. "A lot of people are hungering for a message that bridges the divide," Dowd said recently. "Sacred evolution bridges the head and heart, science and the religious, faith and reason with a deeply spiritual or soul-nourishing message that inspires people to great integrity, to greater love."

via insidebayarea.com