June 20, 2005

A Vital Document, A Fascinating Course: One Common Faith

In response to the release of a new and very important document commissioned by the Universal House of Justice, One Common Faith, the Wilmette Institute has decided to rearrange its schedule and add a course on this work.

One Common Faith can be compared to Century of Light or the Bahá'u'lláh statement, earlier works commissioned by the Universal House of Justice that proved to be landmarks in the Bahá'í community’s understanding of important issues. Every sentence and paragraph calls on the reader to stop and ponder its implications, to rethink key assumptions about religion and history, to consider new ways to explain the Faith to inquirers, especially persons of capacity.

One Common Faith does not simply restate and reexamine issues related to interfaith dialogue and progressive revelation, though those are elements in the document’s contents. The document begins by looking at the nature and consequences of the dominance of materialism in the modern world. It then considers the positive and negative impacts of global integration; the failure of the world’s past religious systems to deal with the crisis of modernity and the Bahá'í principles that make the Bahá'í approach effective; the impact of progressive revelation on understanding the religious systems and their efforts to civilize humanity; the power of unity in reforming civilization and the nature of the evil that opposes it; and the efforts the Bahá'í community must make to become an effective change agent and lead the world to one common faith.

Unlike the Universal House of Justice’s message to the world’s religious leaders, One Common Faith is aimed at the Bahá'í community. Its study should be a high priority of Bahá'í communities around the world; the House of Justice has "commended" it to the "thoughtful study of the friends." To assist that study, the Wilmette Institute is organizing a three-month e-learning course starting July 1. A summary of the document has been prepared, commentaries are being sought, and compilations of related readings are being put together. Groups of persons wishing to study the document together through the Institute can take the course for $300. Those wishing to be able to give classes and deepenings on the document will benefit from the course, which costs $150 for an individual (though scholarships will be available).

About the course One Common Faith    Information    Register     Informational Flier
 

 
June 2, 2005

Course to Review "The Life of Bahá'u'lláh"

The Wilmette Institute's e-learning course on The Life of Bahá'u'lláh begins on June 15 and will run for three months. It will use Call to Remembrance, a compilation of writings about Bahá'u'lláh by the Central Figures and Shoghi Effendi, as well as other significant sources about His life such as the Bahá'u'lláh statement commissioned by the Universal House of Justice. The course will aim to connect the

student's heart to Bahá'u'lláh, help one appreciate His sufferings and sacrifice, and help one convey His station and greatness; in short, it will help one blazon His name, a task that remains a priority of the Bahá'í community. If anyone has been waiting for an opportunity to review the life of Bahá'u'lláh systematically, this course may be the answer.

About the course The Life of Bahá'u'lláh:    Information    Register     Informational Flier