This fascinating book considers the content and function of unofficial lore in the Bahá'í community. It examines hearsay, rumour, anecdotes, interpretations, speculations and "pilgrim's notes", shared orally among Bahá'ís, circulated in written form in personal letters or as postings to electronic discussion groups, and assesses how it reflects the concerns and serves the needs of the Bahá'í community.

Over 145 books and journals and hundreds of unpublished sources were meticulously researched to provide this comprehensive guide to Bahá'í history. A Basic Bahá'í Chronology provides dates for: * events relating to the establishment and persecution of the Bábí and Bahá'í Faiths, from 1753 to 1996; * the spread of the Bahá'í Faith in countries around the world, including the settlement of the Knights of Bahá'u'lláh, the enrolment of the first believer, the formation of the first local spiritual assemblies and the election of the first National Spiritual Assembly; * the births and deaths of important Bahá'ís, including Hands of the Cause, and other figures in Bahá'í history; * the revelation of major Bahá'í scriptures and the publication of Bahá'í literature as well as hundreds of little known facts relating to the growth and development of the world-wide Bahá'í community.

A Bibliography of English-Language Works on the Bábí and Bahá'í Faiths 1844 - 1985.

Intended mainly for religious scholars and libraries, this comprehensive guide to the works by and about the Central Figures of the Baha'i Faith will also be a valuable reference for local spiritual assemblies and Baha'i agencies.

This is a new edition of the popular book, "Calendars of the World", updated with new material and illustrations. This fascinating book takes the reader along on the human journey through the ages, as it charts the feasts and festivals intimately connected to our enduring fascination with the passing of time. Full of amazing facts and a wealth of detail, it covers celebrations ancient and modern, enjoyed by people all over the world. Featuring a comprehensive list of major religious and cultural festivals, illustrated with striking colour photographs of these festivals in action, it explains the origin and development of the various calendar systems which exemplify the unity in diversity of our human family.

A comprehensive and accessible encyclopaedia, written by a well-known author in the field of Bahá'í studies. This unique and invaluable book has entries covering the origins and development of the Bahá'í Faith from its birth in nineteenth-century Iran to the modern day, the lives of its Central Figures, Bahá'í scripture, doctrine, practices, social teachings and community organization. With a broad range of topics, and an easily readable style, this excellent new book will be welcomed by those who wish to study the Bahá'í Faith in greater depth, as well as those who want a quick and simple way of looking up a topic of discussion while teaching or deepening, and during consultation in Bahá'í meetings.

The purpose of this compilation is to serve as a ready reference. The volume contains letters from the Central Figures of the Bahá'í Faith and its guiding institutions, applying the spiritual principles of the Bahá'í Faith, as expressed in the revealed word of Bahá'u'lláh, to the practical problems and issues facing individual Bahá'ís and their local communities.