Bahá'í Studies

Bahá'í Studies is a place to find papers, talks and discussions relevant to the academic and scholarly study of Bahá'í history, theology, sociology, or any other field of study that can be linked to the Faith. The articles listed here have all been submitted to Spirit of Glory or posted here for the first time on the web. Dozens of other articles can be found at the pages listed in the Related Links section. If you would like to submit a paper or other pertinent documents, please send it to us in any format and, after a quick review, we will likely post it along with the others. While most papers are acceptable, we do not at this time find it appropriate to post provisional translations, and all provisional translations have been removed from Spirit of Glory. This is the fruit of long consideration and consultation with Auxiliary Board members and one of our Continental Counsellors, and we feel that it better serves the internet community at large to do so.

In addition to the various articles, there are links to a number of documents from the Bahá'í writings pertinent to this subject, including several letters from the House of Justice.

Articles

Nima Hazini

1. Neoplatonism: Framework for a Bahá'í Metaphysics

Susan Stiles Maneck

1. The Conversion of Religious Minorities to the Bahá'í Faith in Iran
2. Wisdom and Dissimulation: The Use and Meaning of Hikmat in the Bahá'í Writings and History

Sen McGlinn

1. Exploring the Mashriqu'l-Adhkar
   • Entry by troops and the instituion of the Mashriqu'l-Adhkar
   • The House of Worship and the House of Justice
   • The Mashriqu'l-Adhkar as a Meeting
   • The Mashriqu'l-Adhkar as a Building
2. In Praise of Individuation. Some thoughts about the critique of western society.

Brent Poirier

1. The Flow of Divine Authority

John Walbridge

The following short articles have recently been included in John Walbridge, Sacred Acts, Sacred Space, Sacred Time (Oxford: George Ronald, 1996). Copyright restrictions apply.

1. The Bahá'í Fast
2. Naw-Ruz: The Bahá'í New Year

From the Writings

• Authenticity of Tablets and Prayers, Universal House of Justice, 09/92 (via NSA-US)
• Bahá'í Laymen and Scholars, Universal House of Justice, 03/96
• Bahá'í Scholarship, International Teaching Centre, 8/84
• Bahá'í World Center Announces New Chair for Bahá'í Studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Universal House of Justice, 03/29/99
• The Challenge and Promise of Bahá'í Scholarship, Universal House of Justice
• Guidelines on Internet Discussions, compilation
• Interpretational Authority of the House and the Right to Challenge the Actions of the House, Universal House of Justice, 06/03/97

Related Link

• Bahá'í Academics Resource Area
• Juan Cole's Bahá'í Studies
• Moojan Momen's Religious Studies Page
• Research Notes in Shaykhi, Babi and Baha'i Studies
• Sifter - An Institute for the Study of Bahá'í Writings