Baha'u'llah And the New Era: An Introduction to the Baha'i Faith | J. E. Esslemont

Baha'u'llah And the New Era: An Introduction to the Baha'i Faith | J. E. Esslemont | A Good Read, even for Non-Bahais

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Baha'u'llah And th...

	Baha'u'llah And the New Era: An Introduction to the Baha'i Faith J. E. Esslemont Baha'i Publishing, 2006 - 333 pages average customer review:based on 10 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

In this compact work, Esslemont comprehensively yet succinctly sets forth the teachings of Baha'u'llah, the Prophet and Founder of the Baha'i Faith. He outlines the religion's early history; explains its theology; incorporates extracts from Baha'i scripture; and provides information on Baha'i spiritual practices. This is essential reading for students of comparative religion.

It's a New Dawn

I'm not going to get into much detail here, because this a book that you really just need to read for yourself. Verily, every Earthling should read this. Okay, that is a biased thing to say. ( I believe in Baha'u'llah's revelation ) But to view this as a reader and not a theologian, it is a remarkable introduction to the 2nd most widespread and youngest of the world religions. It is a source of the Baha'i view on a very large number of issues that face the world today. I think its easy to at first be utterly confused by the Baha'i faith, but this book should aid you in a comprehension of Its message and what it means to be one of Its adherents.

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A Good Read, even for Non-Bahais

As with many Bahai writings (I'm not a member, but I have been to Bahai functions, read much of their literature, and have close friends in this faith), one doesn't have to be a member to enjoy this book. A lot of what Esslemont says here is practical for anyone. Partricularly such advice as-

"For a child, a teacher is necessary, but the aim of a true teacher is to teach his pupil how to do without a teacher."

"The time has come when narrow national patroitisms should be merged in the wider patriotism whose country is the world."

Want more? Buy the book and see.

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A whole new world

This is an incredible book which outlines the basics of a new, world-wide faith known as Baha'i. It discusses such topics as:

- The unity of science and religion

- The way to peace

- Health and healing

- Prayer

- Education

- Fundamental justice

- Baha'i history and religion

It contains a number of profound ideas and meaningful insights which can be applied to any life and every society, and offers a basic understanding of this young religion. For some, it leads to still greater questions -- the answers of which can be found in other, further reaching books and studies.

I highly recommend this book.

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UNITY OF THE PLANET

To be a Baha'i simply means to love all the world; to love humanity and try to serve it; to work for universal peace and universal brotherhood." - Abdu'l-Baha

"Be generous in prosperity, and thankful in adversity. Be worthy of the trust of thy neighbor, and look upon him with a bright and friendly face. Be a treasure to the poor, an admonisher to the rich, an answerer to the cry of the needy, a preserver of the sanctity of thy pledge. Be fair in thy judgment, and guarded in thy speech. Be unjust to no man, and show all meekness to all men. Be as a lamp unto them that walk in darkness, a joy to the sorrowful, a sea for the thirsty, a haven for the distressed, an upholder and defender of the victim of oppression. Let integrity and uprightness distinguish all thine acts. Be a home for the stranger, a balm to the suffering, a tower of strength for the fugitive. Be eyes to the blind, and a guiding light unto the feet of the erring. Be an ornament to the countenance of truth, a crown to the brow of fidelity, a pillar of the temple of righteousness, a breath of life to the body of mankind, an ensign of the hosts of justice, a luminary above the horizon of virtue, a dew to the soil of the human heart, an ark on the ocean of knowledge, a sun in the heaven of bounty, a gem on the diadem of wisdom, a shining light in the firmament of thy generation, a fruit upon the tree of humility." - Baha'u'llah

It was an exciting experience.

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Imperfect but intriguing

This book has a defined scope. It does not address all the questions of a scholarly mind or an inquisitive mind... but that is not within it's scope. The fact that some reviewers find it does not address all the contemporary questions may be related to a misunderstanding of when this material was written. J. E. Esselmont lived from 1874-1925. Keeping the context of history and the author's personal involvement in the faith, it shares a view of the emerging Baha'i faith by one taken up in the swell of the changes of the day. The author's introduction clearly states that when he first glimpsed the teachings, he was struck by their power and beauty. The author thus disclaims his bias and his position. This is not a dispassionate, dry, recitation of the purports of the day. This is the writing of a man in love with something greater than himself, attempting to put his learning into a context historically and socially.

No book will be perfect, but this one is intriguing. A preview of contents is available by project guttenberg online.

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reviews: page 1, 2

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