Monday, September 10, 2007

"One Common Faith"

In 2005, the Baha'i World Centre released a publication, named "One Common Faith," in the English language. The entire text of this publication can be accessed at this link. A summary of the book's contents can be previewed here, and an "etext" with numbered paragraphs can also be accessed here.

The book, which is described as a "chilling historical account...and a sobering examination of the catastrophic result of 20th century materialism and economic exploitation..." provides us with a glimpse of its powerful message on the current state of human affairs through this paragraph found on page-5 of the text: "Throughout that part of the world where the vast majority of the earth’s population live, facile announcements that “God is Dead” had passed largely unnoticed. The experience of the peoples of Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Pacific had long confirmed them in the view not only that human nature is deeply influenced by spiritual forces, but that its very identity is spiritual. Consequently, religion continued, as had always been the case, to function as the ultimate authority in life. These convictions, while not directly confronted by the ideological revolution taking place in the West, were effectively marginalized by it, insofar as interaction among peoples and nations was concerned. Having penetrated and captured all significant centres of power and information at the global level, dogmatic materialism ensured that no competing voices would retain the ability to challenge projects of world wide economic exploitation. To the cultural damage already inflicted by two centuries of colonial rule was added an agonizing disjunction between the inner and outer experience of the masses affected, a condition invading virtually all aspects of life. Helpless to exercise any real influence over the shaping of their futures or even to preserve the moral well-being of their children, these populations were plunged into a crisis different from but in many ways even more devastating than the one gathering momentum in Europe and North America. Although retaining its central role in consciousness, faith appeared impotent to influence the course of events."

The book is now available in Arabic, and below is the information on how to acquire this publication:

(in Arabic)

Translated by Professor Suheil Bushrui and published by Al Saqi Books
(More on Bushrui)

Order directly from:

Al Saqi Books
26 Westbourne Grove
London w2 5RH
Tel: (020) 7229 8543
Fax: (020) 7229 7492
Website: http://www.alsaqibookshop.com/

Update on ordering the book!
You can fax or e-mail with the book details shown below:
orders@alsaqibookshop.com
Tel: (020) 7229 8543
Fax: (020) 7229 7492

Book Name: Dinu'llah-i-Wahid
"One Common Faith"
ISBN 978-1-85516-660-8

Second update!
You can order online at this link.

7 comments:

  1. It's good to know that this book has been translated in a new language.

    The whole idea transmited that the revelation of God is complementary to the previous one, despite de similarities is very well explained here.

    One can, at least, understand the notion of continuos revelation and renewal of religion, through this document.

    Very good news, indeed!

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  2. I find it quite interesting that you choose to blog this link on the eve of the day that the United States suffered a "terrorist attack" on it's own soil.
    As sad and as painful as this attack was I wonder if this could have been avoided had the US Government had listened to the warning Bahá'u'lláh gave in the 19th Century??

    O ye the elected representatives of the people in every land! Take ye counsel together, and let your concern be only for that which profiteth mankind and bettereth the condition thereof, if ye be of them that scan heedfully. Regard the world as the human body which, though at its creation whole and perfect, hath been afflicted, through various causes, with grave disorders and maladies. Not for one day did it gain ease, nay its sickness waxed more severe, as it fell under the treatment of ignorant physicians, who gave full rein to their personal desires and have erred grievously. And if, at one time, through the care of an able physician, a member of that body was healed, the rest remained afflicted as before. Thus informeth you the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

    (Baha'u'llah, The Summons of the Lord of Hosts, pp. 90-91)

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  3. Nothing can ever justify or excuse that horrific attack!

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  4. I agree with you 100% my friend. Remember the demonic forces that flew those jet airliners into those American Sky-Scrapers are the SAME demonic forces that are denying the
    rights of Egyptian Citizens their I-D Card's who are not either Musilim, Christian or Jewish...

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  5. This is by far one of the most moving Baha'i literature I've read (and studied) in many years. I've referred to one of its paragraphs on my blog which caused a revelation to me when I studied it. The paragraph was very relevant to the debate of whether the Baha'i faith is of a divine origin which is the basis of denial of Baha'i rights in Egypt. It's a valuable addition to the Arabic Baha'i library that needs to be shared with many Arabic speaking friends.

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  6. Really truly sincerely, one common faith for the 6,7 billion people living around our globe is the only effective way (God's way that is)to unite us all and be happy forever after. This is a fact.

    Who wants war? No one.
    Who wants hunger? No one.
    Who wants fear-daily? No one.
    Who wants etc.. etc .. ALSO NO ONE.
    BUT Every one wants PEACE, LOVE, HARMONY etc .. etc ..

    One Common Faith will help us become peace makers for the 6,7 billion living human beings at this hour.

    I am a Jew, I am a Christian, I am a Moslim, a Baha'i, a Buddhist, Zoroastrian ... Hindu etc .. etc ..

    Truly I love you all - my only humanity living on my or rather our only planet.

    I have no name and no country to belong to but I am living right here. Trying my best every day.

    ReplyDelete

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