Have you ever tried to fix something, and in the process ended up destroying it even more? I think the irritation we feel at that moment can be likened to… The post... Read more »
You’ve probably heard of the Protestant work ethic from the renowned sociologist Max Weber’s classic treatise, “The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism,” which links Puritanism to modern capitalism. … The post... Read more »
My neo-atheist acquaintance, “Maynard”, asked believers in general a series of questions about God. Here’s question #3: Is God a sentient being like us, with thoughts and feelings? The scriptural… The post... Read more »
March is Women’s History month — which makes it a perfect time to become more familiar with some of the trailblazing American Baha’i women who broke down barriers wherever they… The post... Read more »
The nature of Christ’s return — “in”, “on”, and “with” the clouds of heaven – has become so widely known that even non-Christians recognize the prophecies about how Christ will… The post... Read more »
You’ve probably heard that “There are many paths to the one true God.” Lots of people have said it, but it may have originally come from the ancient Hindu Rig… The post... Read more »
If you keep up with the news today, you undoubtedly know of the extraordinary perils of our time, from wars and rumors of wars to the deepening divisions and decline… The post... Read more »
“All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well, for there is a force of love moving through the universe that holds us… The post... Read more »
For this material fast is an outer token of the spiritual fast; it is a symbol of self-restraint, the withholding of oneself from all appetites of the self, taking on… The post... Read more »
The Baha’i teachings ask humankind to end its incessant wars—but that core Baha’i principle is no mere hope. In fact, the Baha’i teachings go far beyond any other religion in… The post... Read more »
The central purpose and principle of the Baha’i Faith – the promulgation of universal peace – is not just a Baha’i goal. As Abdu’l-Baha said in the U.S. in 1912,… The post... Read more »
As I’ve pondered more deeply about the question of creating a lifelong habit of prayer, I’ve thought about what encourages the development of a habit. Things that tend to become… The post... Read more »
When you gaze up into the starry sky at night, does its vastness humble you? Two trillion galaxies—a recent scientific guestimate—should humble any one of us. If, then, the physical… The post... Read more »
We all need food. An empty stomach sends an urgent message: find nutrition! Eat or starve! So, does a hungry soul send us the same message? Do our souls need… The post... Read more »
Over the last year, I felt as if I had reached an impasse in my life. I likened my life to a sturdy tree, one built on the roots of… The post... Read more »
The Baha’i teachings suggest meditation as one way we can become acquainted with God and our spiritual nature – and recommend developing a daily meditative practice. As we grow closer… The post... Read more »
Like the image we infer from the Qur’an, the concept of God in the Baha’i Faith is likewise a Being beyond exact or complete comprehension, an essentially unknowable Creator of… The post... Read more »
The Baha’i writings explain that each of us has a soul associated with the physical body, and that this soul lives on after our passing. But what wonders await us… The post... Read more »
Because we’ve been good friends since childhood, a dear relative of mine knows he can speak openly and frankly with me about religion. He also knows I’m a Baha’i, and… The post... Read more »
One of my favorite aspects of the Baha’i Faith, ranking alongside its teachings on racial equality, the harmony of science and religion, and a concrete plan for world unity, are… The post... Read more »
William Shakespeare famously asked: What’s in a name? So do certain names have meanings that give them intrinsic or potential power? Do names have the ability to influence, ideally for… The post... Read more »
Time, as we all know, moves in just one direction — forward, always forward. Could it ever stop, or slow down, or even move backwards? Throughout history countless curious writers,… The post... Read more »
Baha’is all around the globe recently celebrated four Baha’i Intercalary Days, also called “Ayyam-i-Ha,” and many dedicated some of the time during those days to serving others. In act, we’ve… The post... Read more »
In his song Ballad in Plain D, Bob Dylan famously asked “Are birds free from the chains of the skyway?” Half a century before, in a talk he gave in… The post... Read more »
The old world of classical or Newtonian physics presented us with a universe that could be described as working like clockwork in its behavior—but the universe turned out to be… The post... Read more »
Do you follow your intuition? We all have it, but many people fail to follow their innermost feelings. The dictionary defines intuition as “The ability to understand something immediately, without… The post... Read more »
I just didn’t get it. (My son often tells me this.) We’d had a good time at the basketball courts, my 13-year-old son and me and a half dozen temporary… The post... Read more »
Sometimes we make mistakes; occasionally we make very serious mistakes. We get angry at ourselves. We kick ourselves for being “so stupid.” We wish we could undo what we’ve done…. The post... Read more »
We all know that contemporary Western culture has largely rejected religion, despite the fact that when not perverted or hollow, religion builds societies and sustains individuals. Of course, religious belief… The post... Read more »
People hurt each other with their words and actions—should we forgive them? If someone hurts us deliberately, how is it possible to forgive? Basically, when we’re hurt, we have two… The post... Read more »
During my practical work as a mental health specialist, I’ve realized that one of the most significant factors of wellbeing is a holistic life vision. What do I mean by… The post... Read more »
In this series of essays, we’ve discussed how Baha’is worship—but now, in the final essay, we’ve come to the ultimate form of worship: selfless service to humanity. The Baha’i teachings… The post... Read more »
When I was 5, I saw the words “God Is Dead” on a record jacket at one of my parents’ parties. Knowing nothing of Nietzsche, existentialism, or other 20th century… The post... Read more »
Children’s eyes glistened under the glaze of red and yellow lights beneath a wintry sky. Families stood shoulder-to-shoulder, waiting in line at a children’s amusement park. Parents chatted as the… The post... Read more »
Fearing Friday the 13th, panicking when you see a black cat, or believing that bad luck comes in threes. Superstition is all around us — but are these beliefs really harmless… The post... Read more »
I’ve come to terms with the fact that to strengthen my spiritual and mental health, I have to practice patience. People’s strengths and weaknesses vary. We are all unique, so… The post... Read more »
We have all some experience of a feeling, that comes over us occasionally, of what we are saying and doing having been said and done before, in a remote time—of… The post... Read more »
As an intense romantic, I love nothing more than reading a compelling love story – and when the story is true, that’s even better! One of my favorite stories chronicled… The post... Read more »
To me, one of the most profound statements from the prophet and founder of the Baha’i Faith, Baha’u’llah, is: “Noble I made thee, wherewith dost thou abase thyself?” Enshrined in… The post... Read more »
“It’s fine, I’ll do it.” We’ve all heard those famous last words that lead to pretty much any and all physical, mental and emotional burnout. Have you ever used that… The post... Read more »
If you’ve ever wondered about why we’re here, the Baha’i teachings clearly proclaim that we human beings have a profound, two-fold purpose in this life: The purpose for which mortal… The post... Read more »
…every perfect person, every illumined, heavenly individual stands in the station of sacrifice. – Abdu’l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 452. When my six-year-old son asked me for life’s… The post... Read more »
Prayer need not be in words, but rather in thought and action. But if this love and this desire are lacking, it is useless to try to force them. Words… The post... Read more »
“It must be exhausting to be [this tyrant],” my anthropology teacher once said during class while I studied abroad in London. My classmates and I were shocked. We had just… The post... Read more »
Our brains produce as many as 50,000 thoughts per day—and 95% of these thoughts are repeated the next day, reflecting our mindset and beliefs. So this means that every day… The post... Read more »
What is faith? If you ask people, you’ll get different answers depending on experience, age, belief, and knowledge. Essentially, faith means confidence in your own system of beliefs. Through faith,… The post... Read more »
Here we go again! Every time we need to discuss something, we have trouble doing it without fighting. Help! Having effective discussions and reaching peaceful, workable agreements often challenges married… The post... Read more »
She was vivacious. She was joyous. She was focused. She dreamed of becoming a doctor. She was a 17-year old high school student. They hanged her. She was Iranian, but… The post... Read more »
Consider this idea: we have a Creator, and the Creator always speaks to us, whether we’re listening or not. You may believe this idea or disbelieve it, but just give… The post... Read more »
Do you ever think about improving yourself? Most of us do. We want to become smarter, cooler, funnier, thinner, richer, happier. But what truly creates happiness? The Baha’i teachings say that all... Read more »