April 23, 2004
Three Courses Begin in May

May will be the busiest month the Wilmette Institute has ever had.

It begins on May 1st with the home study of the Spiritual Foundations program. This year's program focuses on world religions--Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam--examining them from the perspective of the Baha'i writings as well as outlining their history and basic teachings. The course will also review the basics of Baha'i theology: the concepts of God, revelation, Manifestation, creation, humanity, afterlife, and Covenant. The home study will provide useful background for nine days of intensive classes in Wilmette that begin July 30. Those interested in attending can still apply; it is not too late.

The month will also begin with a rerun of an important course, The World Order of Baha'u'llah: Selected Letters. The Universal House of Justice has stressed the importance of studying these letters independent of the institute process and the Ruhi sequence. Consequently they are the National Spiritual Assembly's education theme for the upcoming Baha'i year. The Wilmette Institute is repeating the course on May 15, August 15, and November 15; students taking the first course will be able to retain their membership in the forum in order to view the ongoing discussion of the letters the rest of the year. The Institute has prepared brand new materials to help its students in their study of these important epistles by Shoghi Effendi, materials that will eventually be made available to all. Meanwhile, take the course and gain access to them for your local study classes!

On May 15 a unique course involving close involvement with another Baha'i institution begins: The Right of God: Huququ'llah. The faculty will include Dr. Amin Banani, a trustee of the huququ'llah, and two North American huququ'llah representatives, Nabil Fares and Gisu Mohadjer. Course materials will include a video on the right of God and an extensive collection of compilations, biographies, and articles assembled specially for the Wilmette Institute. The result should provide excellent reference for many years.

May will also see some continued registration for the course Health and Healing that began April 15. With over sixty students, the course is the largest the Institute has sponsored in five years. It is likely it will be scheduled again in 2005.