Resources
Independent Investigation of Truth
There has never been a better time to investigate why people everywhere are becoming Baha'is. The internet makes it easy to seek resources and find information about any religion. In the past people practiced whatever religion their parents gave them. Today people think for themselves.
What is a seeker?
Everyone has the capacity to hear God and respond to his Manifestation. This capacity is awakened in the hearts of seekers. They are the ones with the courage to seek to know the truth.
Everyone should seek truth. Humanity progresses when they seek truth. Most Baha'is are common people who recognize Baha'u'llah is the Shepherd spoken of in the Gospel. His word attracts souls. The true seeker is revived when they hear the voice of the Shepherd. They respond to His call.
Responsibility of the Seeker
In view of the overwhelming evidence pointing to the majesty of Baha’u’llah every seeker should know that it is his or her divine responsibility to investigate and determine for themselves if Baha’u’llah is the Promised One. This is important because when humanity refuses to believe in a higher truth – for example, in the Founder of a new dispensation – it is like a child who having learned basic arithmetic refuses to accept or believe in geometry, algebra, trigonometry, calculus , physics, and so on. There is no hope for humanity except the hope that brings about the advancement of civilization.
resources about the Baha'i World faith
Authoritative Sources
The Authoritative sources are the most important because as you know anyone can publish anything on the internet and much of what is published is just opinions and not factual. So authoritative sources are the best.
Works of Baha’is
Because there is no priesthood it’s up to us to carry the message of Baha’u’llah to the world. Baha’is do this through art, books, podcasts, videos, and articles, for example, which may be interesting but not necessarily authoritative.
Publishing Houses
The literature of the Baha’i faith is published in more than xxx languages. Some nations have their own Baha’i Publishing Trusts. The materials published by them is authoritative and is an excellent source in various languages.
Essential Recommended Reading
These books are available as PDFs at no charge. Read them online or save them on your computer here.
The Book of Certitude
People want to understand God. The way to understand is to humbly turn to God and seek the enlightenment which comes through recognizing the Manifestation of God. Fortunately, in The Book of Certitude Baha’u’llah explains what progressive revelation is and how it has guided humanity from the beginning of time, and will continue to do so forever. No matter your religion The Book of Certitude will increase your faith in God.
“Consider the past. How many, both high and low, have, at all times, yearningly awaited the advent of the Manifestations of God in the sanctified persons of His chosen Ones. How often have they expected His coming, how frequently have they prayed that the breeze of divine mercy might blow, and the promised Beauty step forth from behind the veil of concealment, and be made manifest to all the world. And whensoever the portals of grace did open, and the clouds of divine bounty did rain upon mankind, and the light of the Unseen did shine above the horizon of celestial might, they all denied Him, and turned away from His face—the face of God Himself. Refer ye, to verify this truth, to that which hath been recorded in every sacred Book.” – Baha’u’llah, The Book of Certitude
The Seven Valleys
Baha’u’llah teaches that the independent investigation of truth is a divine command in this age. In other words we’re not supposed to blindly accept the religion of our forefathers and pretend that’s what God wants for us. No, today, in this new Day of God it is the responsibility of each person to humbly approach God seeking to know what is true. We do this through prayer and study of what has been revealed. There’s no perfect way to do this. You have to find your own way and for some it is a thorny way filled with uncertainty and doubt. People who don’t believe gave up too soon.
The Seven Valleys is a mystical book filled with poetic allusions. In it Baha’u’llah describes valleys through which the true seeker will pass in his or her search for truth and reunion with God. The first valley is the Valley of Search of which Baha’u’llah gives this advice to anyone seeking to know God:
“The steed of this Valley is patience; without patience the wayfarer on this journey will reach nowhere and attain no goal. Nor should he ever be downhearted; if he strive for a hundred thousand years and yet fail to behold the beauty of the Friend, he should not falter.”
And here Baha’u’llah advises the true seeker to be detached from all things:
“The true seeker hunteth naught but the object of his quest, and the lover hath no desire save union with his beloved. Nor shall the seeker reach his goal unless he sacrifice all things. That is, whatever he hath seen, and heard, and understood, all must he set at naught, that he may enter the realm of the spirit, which is the City of God. Labor is needed, if we are to seek Him; ardor is needed, if we are to drink of the honey of reunion with Him; and if we taste of this cup, we shall cast away the world.”
The Hidden Words
The Hidden Words were written by Baha’u’llah in Persian and Arabic. Each is a short aphorism which distills or concentrates a great spiritual truth and advice to individuals and humanity in general. Abdu’l-Baha, the son of Baha’u’llah, says the Hidden Words are “a treasury of divine mysteries” and by reflecting on them “the doors of the mysteries will open.” Each of the Hidden Words starts with an invocation wherein God addresses you individually, as if in a conversation, by personally addressing you and saying, for example, “O Son of Being” or “O Son of Spirit”.
“O Son of Man! I loved thy creation, hence I created thee. Wherefore, do thou love Me, that I may name thy name and fill thy soul with the spirit of life.” — Baha’u’llah
Some Answered Questions
The great scope of the knowledge and wisdom of Abdu’l-Baha astonished the people of his time who were blessed to meet and speak with Him, and forever people will wonder how anyone could explain so grand a range of difficult subjects with such clarity. Some Answered Questions is a collection of answers Abdu’l-Baha gave to the questions of Laura Dreyfus-Barney, an American Baha’i who met when Abdu’l-Baha visited Paris in 1911. The questions range from the purpose of creation, reincarnation, good and evil, to Christian subjects such as the Trinity, the Resurrection, the Pre-existence of Christ, Free Will and Predestination, and much more. Because the book is divided into five parts and there are questions and answers in each part it’s easy to pick the parts and questions you’re most interested in, and, so, you don’t have to read it sequentially to get a lot from it:
Part 1: On the Influence of the Prophets in the Evolution of Humanity
Part 2: Some Christian Subjects
Part 3: On the Powers and Conditions of the Manifestations of God
Part 4: On the Origin, Powers, and Conditions of Man
Part 5: Miscellaneous Subjects
You can download a PDF copy of any of these books and others at no charge, and without providing your name and email address. Read them online or you can save them on your computer.
Writings of Baha’u’llah
The revelation of Baha’u’llah encompasses thousands of letters, tablets, prayers, and entire books which when taken together total in volume more than all the Holy Books of the world including the Old Testament and the Gospel, and the Quran, and so on. Truly Baha’u’llah is the Great Being that the Bab promised would arise after Him and be identified as Him Who God Shall Make Manifest. At this time, relatively few of the voluminous writings of Baha’u’llah have been translated into English. However, a sufficiently rich variety of the sacred scripture of the Baha’i faith is available in most of the major languages of the world to enable people everywhere to recognize the all-encompassing claims, mission, and exalted station of Baha’u’llah.
In His profusion of divinely inspired writings Baha’u’llah gives an astonishing array of advice to humanity which, in truth, are His instructions for the reordering of human life and the establishment of heaven on earth. For example, in a book called Gladtidings He gives fifteen different pearls of advice including He abolishes the law of Holy War that Muslims think is their right; because it disobeys the Baha’i principles of love and unity. And while the Bab sought to demonstrate a complete break from all prior dispensations in order to establish a new age founded on His Holy Book, the Bayan; by calling for the destruction of all the Holy Books of the past, Baha’u’llah abolished the law of the destruction of Books. This demonstrates that each Manifestation “doeth whatsoever He willeth, and ordaineth that which He pleaseth” and, thus, has the authority to abrogate all prior teachings and establish new ones even if they go against common practices. For example, the Jews practiced the law of “an eye for eye”, but Christ taught “turn the other cheek.”
You can download a PDF copy of any of these books and others at no charge, and without providing your name and email address. Or if you prefer you can read them online here or hear them as audio books here.
The Kitab-i-Iqan – The Book of Certitude
The Seven Valleys and the Four Valleys
The Hidden Words
Tablets of Baha’u’llah
Prayers and Meditations by Baha’u’llah
Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u’llah
Epistle to the Son of the Wolf
The Kitab-i-Aqdas – The Most Holy Book
The Summons of the Lord of Hosts
Note: Some of the books of Baha’u’llah are titled “Kitab”, for example,The Kitab-i-Iqan. The word “Kitab” means book, “i” means of and “Iqan” means certitude. Most Baha’is do not speak Arabic or Persian and most likely never will because it is not a requirement of faith in God. Nor do we know how to pronounce some of the words that we see from time to time in the writings of Baha’u’llah. Likewise, few Christians know how to read the Bible in Hebrew, Aramaic, Latin or Greek, and yet they are devout Christians. The same goes for Baha’is. We may pick up a little of it from time to time, but it’s not required or even needed at all. The important thing is the writings of Baha’u’llah have been translated into more than xxx languages.
You can download a PDF copy of any of these books and others at no charge, and without providing your name and email address. Read them online or you can save them on your computer.
How do people become Baha’is?
There is no set procedure because there is no priesthood and no rituals in the Baha’i faith such as baptism or the confession of sins. Many people are attracted to the Baha’i faith because it is a practical and logical religion. Though, unfortunately, some think they’re not good enough to be Baha’is, or that in order to be a Baha’i you have to read books. But, in fact, many people who cannot read who hear only a few words about Baha’u’llah and for various reason at the core of their souls they recognize Him as their Promised One. And they identify themselves as a Baha’i from then on.
Interestingly, Baha’is are always available to meet with people and share what they know about the faith, however they never press anyone to become a Baha’i because we know that every person is on a spiritual journey, and everyone has a different path to follow. When someone is ready to become a Baha’i they can meet with a Local Spiritual Assembly in any community, or even register as a Baha’i online. In short, a person becomes a Baha’i by recognizing Baha’u’llah as the Messenger of God for this age and informing the Baha’i community of their desire to join the Baha’i Faith. When you’re ready join here or in person at anytime.
Baha’u’llah declared from His prison cell “the world is one country and mankind its citizens.” Today, people understand there is only one race, and that’s the human race. Baha’is are diverse because in every age the human soul is first to respond to the call of the Manifestation of God.
Writings of Abdu’l-Baha
Abdu’l-Baha spent his entire life serving his Father, and sharing for the most part all of His years of imprisonment and exile, and, also, being an example of what it means to serve humanity and live a noble life. He never received a formal education, and instead was educated by Baha’u’llah. At 21 years of age he wrote The Secret of Divine Civilization. Westerns who met him admired his character, piety, and humility, and most of all his astonishing knowledge and wisdom. His life’s work was to unfurl the banner of Baha’u’llah and wave it high above the earth so that everyone can see it. As magnificent as Baha’u’llah and Abdu’l-Baha were, and despite all the love Baha’is rain on them, Baha’is do not worship them because they teach us to worship God an not His manifestations or servants. The writings of Abdu’l-Baha are inspired by a love of God and by his desire to serve his Father, protect and promulgate His faith, and establish it across the face of the earth with words like these which uplift and encourage humanity:
“Wherefore, O beloved of the Lord, strive ye with heart and soul to receive a share of His holy attributes and take your portion of the bounties of His sanctity — that ye may become the tokens of unity, the standards of singleness, and seek out the meaning of oneness; that ye may, in this garden of God, lift up your voices and sing the blissful anthems of the spirit. Become ye as the birds who offer Him their thanks, and in the blossoming bowers of life chant ye such melodies as will dazzle the minds of those who know. Raise ye a banner on the highest peaks of the world, a flag of God’s favour to ripple and wave in the winds of His grace; plant ye a tree in the field of life, amid the roses of this visible world, that will yield a fruitage fresh and sweet.”
To learn more about Abdu’l-Baha see the the World View, and if you wish read some of his wonderful books.
The Promulgation of Universal Peace
The Secret of Divine Civilization
Some Answered Questions
Tablets of the Divine Plan
Will and Testament of Abdu’l-Baha
You can download a PDF copy of any of these books and others at no charge, and without providing your name and email address. Read them online or you can save them on your computer.
God Passes By and the Compilations of Shoghi Effendi
In His Last Will and Testament the beloved Abdu’l-Baha appointed Shoghi Effendi as the Guardian of the Baha’i Faith. The list of the accomplishments of this indefatigable servant of Baha’u’llah would fill many books and astound scholars across the earth. As a translator of the major works of Baha’u’llah, and also since Abdu’l-Baha had designated him as the authoritative interpreter of all the Baha’i writings, Shoghi Effendi’s translations of the Book of Certitude and the Hidden Words, and the Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, and, also, Gleanings, for example, serve as masterpieces that will guide others in the future who strive to purify themselves in order to accurately translate the writings of Baha’u’llah and Abdu’l-Baha.
Most of the writings of Shoghi Effendi were compilations assembled from among tens of thousands of letters he wrote to individual Baha’is and assemblies and communities throughout the world who wrote him asking his advice, or for clarification about a Baha’i subject. There are also much longer letters that cover a specific subject, for example, the World Order of Baha’u’llah, and the Advent of Divine Justice, and the Promised Day is Come. Considering the fountainhead of these letters, and the scope of their subjects, and the precision with which he communicates his ideas and gives his guidance, truly these compilations of letters will serve to guide and protect Baha’i individuals and institutions forever. In each case, these are priceless because they are the work of the Guardian of the Baha’i faith to whom Abdu’l-Baha entrusted the growth, expansion, and establishment of the administrative order of the faith of Baha’u’llah across the face of the earth.
In 1944, during World War II, to mark the centennial anniversary of the Baha’i Faith, Shoghi Effendi wrote God Passes By. Anyone reading this book will marvel at the command of the English language with which he paints a masterpiece filled with the sweeping and dramatic history of the Twin Manifestations of God who together ended the ages of promises made by God in all the world’s great religions, and began the dawning of a new age during which a new heaven and a new earth would be established and known as the World Order of the Glory of God; a reign for which Christians, for example, have forever longed for as they pray, “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
God Passes By
The World Order of Baha’u’llah
The Advent of Divine Justice
Baha’i Administration
Citadel of Faith
The Promised Day Is Come
You can download a PDF copy of any of these books and others at no charge, and without providing your name and email address. Read them online or you can save them on your computer.
Messages of the Universal House of Justice
The revelation of Baha’u’llah is divine at its origin. In His revelation He establishes the institution of the Universal House of Justice as a protection to humanity. Why does He do this? Because this is the long promised new age and He is the Promised One with the authority to build the government of God on earth and call all of humanity into one religion. The Universal House of Justice is the instrument of God that He is using to uplift the world.
“The All-Knowing Physician hath His finger on the pulse of mankind. He perceiveth the disease, and prescribeth, in His unerring wisdom, the remedy. Every age hath its own problem, and every soul its particular aspiration. The remedy the world needeth in its present-day afflictions can never be the same as that which a subsequent age may require. Be anxiously concerned with the needs of the age ye live in, and center your deliberations on its exigencies and requirements.
“We can well perceive how the whole human race is encompassed with great, with incalculable afflictions. We see it languishing on its bed of sickness, sore-tried and disillusioned. They that are intoxicated by self-conceit have interposed themselves between it and the Divine and infallible Physician. Witness how they have entangled all men, themselves included, in the mesh of their devices. They can neither discover the cause of the disease, nor have they any knowledge of the remedy. They have conceived the straight to be crooked, and have imagined their friend an enemy.
“Incline your ears to the sweet melody of this Prisoner. Arise, and lift up your voices, that haply they that are fast asleep may be awakened. Say: O ye who are as dead! The Hand of Divine bounty proffereth unto you the Water of Life. Hasten and drink your fill. Whoso hath been re-born in this Day, shall never die; whoso remaineth dead, shall never live.” – Baha’u’llah
“The world’s equilibrium hath been upset through the vibrating influence of this most great, this new World Order. Mankind’s ordered life hath been revolutionized through the agency of this unique, this wondrous System – the like of which mortal eyes have never witnessed.” – Baha’u’llah
In summary, the Universal House of Justice is a divine institution and its work is to protect humanity by providing the unfailing vision and direction that will sail all of humanity and all nations across a stormy sea into a safe harbor. In part the Universal House of Justice does this by reflecting on the revelation of Baha’u’llah and giving humanity the guidance and encouragement it needs to survive the turmoil of a world divided against itself.
The messages of the Universal House of Justice are reports and letters sent to other institutions of the Baha’i faith, or to individuals, or to governments, and, also, to humanity as a whole. There is a comprehensive list of these messages and letters here, and these are some that should be of interest to any seeker who may wonder if what the Universal House of Justice has to say has the power to guide humanity:
Century of Light
Letter to the World’s Religious Leaders
The Promise of World Peace
The Prosperity of Humankind
See link below. You'll see an PDF down arrow on the same row as the item you want to download. Click on the arrow to download it.
The Prosperity of Humankind, for example, has been described as discussing, “how global peace, the spiritual and material well-being of all the planet’s inhabitants, is to be realized and outlines the fundamental concepts on which such a worldwide development strategy must be based.”
Click here to download a PDF copy of any of the messages of the Universal House of Justice at no charge, and without providing your name and email address. Or if you prefer you can read them online here. When you click on the PDF version it appears on your monitor and you can read or save it.
Prayers by Baha’u’llah, the Bab, and Abdu’l-Baha
The Baha’i faith is a rich storehouse of the prayers and meditations revealed by the three central figures of the faith. These prayers are universally impressive because of the depth of their expression and the demonstrable model for humanity of what it means to selflessly worship the Creator and depend on His unfailing love and assistance in every aspect of our lives, and during every stage of life, from the cradle to the grave.
Here, and throughout His revelation, Baha’u’llah reminds every member of the human race to pray and do good deeds:
“One who performeth neither good deeds nor acts of worship is like unto a tree which beareth no fruit, and an action which leaveth no trace. Whosoever experienceth the holy ecstasy of worship will refuse to barter such an act or any praise of God for all that existeth in the world.”
And, likewise, Abdu’l-Baha urges each person to pray in order to advance spiritually:
” … pray to God that daily ye may advance in spirituality, that God’s love may be more and more manifested in you, that the thoughts of your hearts may be purified, and that your faces may be ever turned towards Him. May you one and all approach to the threshold of unity, and enter into the Kingdom. May each of you be like unto a flaming torch, lighted and burning bright with the fire of the Love of God.”
Baha’i Prayers: A Selection of Prayers Revealed by Baha’u’llah, the Bab, and Abdu’l-Baha
Baha’i Prayers and Tablets for Children
Prayers and Meditations by Baha’u’llah
Additional Prayers Revealed by Baha’u’llah
Additional Prayers Revealed by Abdu’l-Baha
You can download a PDF copy of any of these books and others at no charge, and without providing your name and email address. Read them online or you can save them on your computer.
Services of the Baha’i World Center on Mount Carmel
There is no priesthood in the Baha’i faith, however, the revelation of Baha’u’llah provides for an administrative order that is God’s government on earth as promised in the Bible. Baha’u’llah established The Universal House of Justice and conferred upon it infallibility in regards to the interpretation of His revelation, and divine guidance regarding the unfoldment and administration of the Baha’i faith across the entire earth. The Covenant of Baha’u’llah provides for this administration, and although some may attack it for whatever reason, Baha’u’llah states, “The Hand of Omnipotence hath established His Revelation upon an unassailable, an enduring foundation.” So these websites are the most important and official sites of the faith:
Baha’i World Center – Official website of the Baha’i Faith
The Universal House of Justice – Official website of The Universal House of Justice
Baha’i Reference Library – Here’s where you can download Baha’i writings including many books by Baha’u’llah, Abdu’l-Baha and Shoghi Effendi
Baha’i World News Service – The official news website of the worldwide Baha’i community.
Baha’i Media Bank – Photographs available for downloading.
Baha’i International Community Office – Website of the Baha’i International Community’s Office at the United Nations.
One Country – Newsletter of the Baha’i International Community
What Baha’is Believe – The bedrock of what Baha’is believe is found in Baha’u’llah and His Covenant and the institutions He established therein
Films and Videos
Dawn of the Light – Film celebrating the bicentenary of the Birth of the Bab and telling the stories of people seeking truth throughout the world
Bicentenary of the Birth of Baha’u’llah – Film celebrating the bicentenary of the Birth of the Baha’u’llah
A Widening Embrace – Documentary film about the community-building efforts of the Baha’i world.
Light to the World – Film about the life and teachings of Baha’u’llah.
Frontiers of Learning – Film features the experience of four Baha’i communities at the frontiers of learning
Arising to Serve – Film featuring highlights from 41 regional Baha’i conferences in 2008
National Spiritual Assembly of the United States
Baha’i.us is a rich source of videos, books, and information about every aspect of the Baha’i faith in the United States. Here are just a few links:
Audiobook: The Baha’i Response to the Crisis of Our Time
Rich Tapestry is a video storytelling series that shows how love is being translated into action to address questions of race and culture in America
ARISE Pupil of The Eye Conference – videos related to celebrating the spiritual station and mission of African American Baha’is
Virtual Prayer Sessions Held Daily – lift up your spirit by listening to a selection of Baha’i prayers spoken live online each day or you may call to listen
“O peoples of the earth! Make mention of God on this Day whereon the Spirit hath spoken and the realities of those who were created by the Word of God, the Mighty, the Exalted, have ascended unto Him. It behoveth everyone on this day to rejoice with exceeding gladness, to clothe himself in his finest attire, to celebrate the praise of his Lord, and to give thanks unto Him for this most great favour. Blessed are they that have apprehended the purpose of God, and woe betide the heedless.” – Baha’u’llah
National Spiritual Assemblies and Publishing Trusts
Although there is no priesthood, the Baha’i faith has an administrative order that oversees the work of the faith across the earth. In addition to the Universal House of Justice the institutions of the Baha’i faith include National Spiritual Assemblies and Local Spiritual Assemblies.
There is a Baha’i National Spiritual Assembly in many countries. These are links to some of their websites:
Here’s a more complete list of Baha’i national community websites worldwide. In some cases, the Baha’i administration encourages nations that have very distinct populations or regions to form multiple National Spiritual Assemblies. For example, Hawaii and Alaska have National Assemblies.
Baha’i Publishing Trusts
This is a representative sample of Baha’i Publishing Trusts. Some of the Publishing Trusts publish in various languages for multiple nations.
Publishing Trust of Australia
Brazil Publishing Trust – Editora Baha’i do Brasil – Publishes in Portuguese
Publishing Trust of Canada – publishes in English and French
Baha’i Literature & Publication Trust of India – Publishing in Hindi and English
Baha’i Books United Kingdom – Formerly known as the Baha’i Publishing Trust publishes books for the British, Welsh, Scots, etc.
Publishing Trust of the United States of America – Publishes large assortment of books for all ages and offers free ebooks and free audio books
Publishers of Baha’i Subject Books and Materials
The Baha’i Publishing Trusts in dozens of nations publish in multiple languages and can’t possibly publish all the books written by Baha’is. There are other publishers, however, who specialize in publishing and distributing Baha’i books and books with Baha’i themes or subjects. Here are a few:
Baha’i Books for Children – Publishers of colorful books for children in English and French.
Brilliant Star Magazine – For children 8 – 12. Bi-Monthly. Filled with inspiring stories, virtue-building activities, puzzles, interviews, comics, music, etc.
George Ronald Press – Renown and loved by Baha’is everywhere. Has been publishing Baha’i books for more than 80 years.
Global Perspectives – Publisher of many books about Biblical prophecy and Baha’u’llah.
Insight Baha’i Books – Publishes the Essential Insights series
Kalimat Press – Publishes Baha’i books for children, Baha’i history, original Baha’i scholarship, etc.
Naturegraph Publishers – Founded by Vinson Brown – American Indian Lore and Baha’i subjects
Palabra Publications – Publishes Baha’i books and materials in English, Spanish, French, Persian, and Arabic
Plant Love Grow – Publisher of books and free tools in English, French, and Spanish to help families and children blossom
Special Ideas for a Better World – Publishers of books, Baha’i pamphlets, calendars, booklets, and much more.
Virtues 101 – Publisher of colorful books and materials that build character in children the easy way.
Baha’i YouTube Video Channels
Baha’is around the world are creating videos and putting their videos on YouTube Channels. Here are a representative few of these channels:
BahaiTeachings.org – United States
Baha’i Blog – Australia
Baha’i Community of Canada – Videos in English and French
Baha’i on Air – New Zealand
Baha’is of the United States
The Gate, Film about the Bab – The YouTube channel for this film filled with segments of the films and interviews
Baha’i Song Project – Interesting format. Songs played on guitar. Shows only the hands of musicians changing chords as they sing and play.
Baha’is of Ireland YouTube Channel – The Irish Baha’i community produced 19 short videos to mark the Bicentenary of the Birth of the Bab.
Hooper C Dunbar – Talks – The presentations of the painter and former member of the Universal House of Justice who served for 22 years
PABO – Example of a Baha’i telling her story to help others find their way
The Baha’i Chair for World Peace – Academic program, University of Maryland. Examines and discourses issues related to global peace.
Baha’i Scholar – There is no priesthood in the Baha’i faith but scholarship is encouraged. Watch scholars discussing Baha’i subjects.
Notable Works by Baha’is
Association for Baha’i Studies – for educators and professionals, conferences, seminars, and publishers of the Journal of Baha’i Studies
A Gladsome Heart – An online store on Etsy that sells many interesting and attractive Baha’i theme items. See also Garment of Glory
BahaiBlog.net – Articles, videos, podcasts, huge resource
Baha’i Bookstore – Books, audio books, magazines, including free ebooks and audio books, operated by the Bahá’í Distribution Service
Baha’i Music Store – The music of Baha’i musicians organized by Music Genres, music samples, some videos, operated by Baha’i Distribution Service
Baha’i Podcasts – Dozens of Baha’i pod casters, full range of subjects, listen everywhere – on SoundCloud associated with the Baha’i Bookstore
Baha’i Resources Directory – huge directory of Baha’i projects divided into sections with some broken links but difficult to keep up with growth of faith
BahaiTeachings.org – Great content created by hundreds of Baha’is whose individual perspectives are inspired by Baha’i teachings.
Garment of Glory – Talented graphic artist and Mom creates clothing items and more all with unifying messages that uplift whoever sees them
The Baha’i World – Six volumes covering the growth of the Baha’i Faith across the planet from 1926 through 1936
The Gate, Dawn of the Baha’i Faith – Compelling documentary film about the circumstances and drama surrounding the inception of the Baha’i Faith
StudytheFaith.com – for those who are exceedingly studious and want to dive into every aspects of the literature of the Baha’i faith
SoulPancake – Actor Rainn Wilson and other Baha’is effort to spread joy
UpLifting Words Blog – Baha’i Faith Inspired Blog filled with in depth information about many aspects of the Baha’i faith and its central figures
9 Star Media – Great Baha’i inspired music, all styles, hear samples, also audio books
239 Days in America – Day-by-day detailed account of Abdu’l-Baha’s historic 239 days in America in 1912 as told in news stories of the time
Commemorating Abdu’l-Baha in America – First-person stories from early American Baha’is who spent time with Abdu’l-Baha
Photo Collection from Centenary – Amazing photographs of Abdu’l-Baha and early American Baha’is the spiritual giants who were first to believe
Ocean – Custom ebook reader makes it fun to explore, study, and even listen to the literature of the world’s religions. – Baha’is are encouraged, but not required, to study all religions in addition to their own. But, frankly, the Baha’i Faith is an inexhaustible treasury of religious thought, prayers, and meditations and unless very scholarly, few look elsewhere except to get an overview about all religions. There is no priesthood in the Baha’i Faith and therefore each Baha’i does his or her own independent investigation of truth and is responsible for his or her own spiritual development. In summary, “Ocean” is a free digital library of the world’s storehouse of religious literature, perfect for those who want to independently investigate religious truth and make up their own minds about the nature and purpose of our existence. It’s a downloadable powerful research tool that includes over 1,000 books of ten world religions and is available in seven languages including English, French, Spanish, German, Russian, Dutch, and Portuguese.
Notable Books
It’s impossible to list all the wonderful books written by Baha’is for both adults and children. You can find many of this rich variety of books by going to the websites of the publishers listed above. Here are only a few notable books:
American Indians and the Baha’i Faith – Littlebrave Beaston – Abdu’l-Baha urged Baha’is to “Attach great importance … these Indians ….”
Divine Therapy – AnnaMarie Honnold – Wisdom from the Baha’i Writing on a host of subjects
Secrets of True Happiness – Farnaz, Bijan & Adib Masumian – Abdu’l-Baha urged people to “be happy” this book tells why and how to be happy
See also: Books about he Baha’i Faith and Christianity – Books by Baha’is. Details about the search and discoveries that led them to become Baha’is
Baha’i Library
Start your Baha’i Library with these precious but free downloadable books! Most are in the public domain, others are available free. In all cases the ideas and spirit in these books will encourage and delight any seeker who yearns to discover whether or not Baha’u’llah is the Promised One.
To download a copy of any of these books just click on the title. It will appear on your screen. You can name the book and save it to your computer.
Release the Sun – William Sears – Tells the dramatic story of the life of the Bab and how it brought the Persian Empire to its knees
Abdu’l-Baha, The Center of the Covenant – Juliet Thompson – The Baha’i artist who painted Abdu’l-Baha and was also a friend of Khalil Gibran
God’s Great Plan – Henry Ginn – This short booklet tells that God is the educator of humanity and He has a plan for you and everyone on earth
Tomorrow And Tomorrow – Stanwood Cobb – The American educator who met and spoke with Abdu’l-Baha both in the Holy Land and America
Progressive Revelation – John Ferraby – People fall in love with their Teachers but to progress a new Teacher must arise to advance civilization
Lord of the New Age – Winston Evans – Each time a Manifestation of God arises signals the beginning of a New Age and each is he Lord of the Age
The Promise of Lord Krishna – Gloria Faizi – Tells how Baha’u’llah fulfills promises made to the Hindu people of India
Becoming Your True Self – Daniel Jordan – The renown Baha’i educator who created the transformative Anisa program of education
The Unity of Science and Religion – William Hatcher – tells why religion must keep pace with science and why science to embrace religion
Revelation and Social Reality – Paul Lample – The Manifestation of God prescribes the remedy but society must struggle to translate it into reality
Creating a New Mind – Paul Lample – The consciousness that promotes the development of Individuals, the Institutions, and the Community
Also, you can download a free copy of this magazine style book that was published in 2017. Full color and beautifully illustrated:
The Baha’is – learn who the Baha’is are and what they are doing across the earth to raise awareness about the revelation of Baha’u’llah
Acknowledgements
Quotations from Baha’i sacred scripture revealed by the Bab and Baha’u’llah, and
Passages from the writing of Abdu’l-Baha, Shoghi Effendi, and the Universal House of Justice
Baha’i Media Bank for photographs, used by permission
Video segment from The Gate, Dawn of the Baha’i Faith, Producer Steve Sarowitz, used by permission
Video segment from Healing Racism, Baha’i Community of Washington, D.C., Ted Ewing, used by permission
Video segments Core Service Activities, National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of the United States, used by permission
Photograph Michael Stone, House of Worship at Dusk, Wilmette, Illinois, Wiki Commons, used by permission
Written content of World View © 2014 – 2020 Michael Quinn, used by permission
The Bab 1819 – 1850
Baha’u’llah 1817 – 1892
Abdu’l-Baha 1844 – 1921
Shoghi Effendi 1897 – 1957
"Rely upon God, thy God and the Lord of thy fathers."
Baha'u'llah