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Introduction to Bahá’u’lláh’s Writings

Bahá’í History & Texts
Duration
16 weeks
Weekly Study
4-6 HOURS
Dates
Jan 31-May 20
Register By
February 5, 2022

Note: This course will be run as a community course alongside a graduate level course to be hosted by the Graduate Theological Union (GTU). Participants will be invited to attend weekly Zoom sessions with faculty and GTU students, at a time to be determined. Students who would like to explore the possibility of taking the graduate/credit version of the course should contact the Institute at wi@usbnc.org.


In Introduction to Bahá’u’lláh’s Writings, we will undertake a systematic introduction to twenty of Bahá’u’lláh’s most important works, ranging from The Hidden Words to Epistle to the Son of the Wolf. We will study themes in the works, topics that Bahá’u'lláh progressively revealed during His ministry, and related tablets wherever possible. The course is designed for learners seeking basic information about the writings of Bahá’u’lláh, new Bahá’ís wishing more context for Bahá’u’lláh's most important works, and veteran Bahá’ís seeking deeper understanding of the ocean of Bahá’u'lláh's revelation. We will not read the twenty works in their entirety but, rather, will sample passages from the selection of important works revealed by Bahá’u’lláh.

Topics
What will you learn?
You will learn
To be able to explain to others the order of revelation and the titles of the major works of Bahá'u'lláh and a brief summary of their content
To be able to explain to others the major themes of Bahá'u'lláh’s revelation and their development over time
To be able to explain to others the Islamic, Shi’i, Shaykhi, Iranian, and Bábí context of Bahá'u'lláh’s revelation
To develop skills in reading, summarizing, and explaining Bahá'í scriptural texts
To deepen appreciation for the beauty and profundity of Bahá'u'lláh’s writings
Meet Your Faculty
teacher
Nima Rafiei, MA
Researcher and Translator

Nima Rafiei was born and raised in Minnesota and currently resides in Chicago, Illinois. He received his B.A. in history and political science from the University of Minnesota in 2013 and obtained an M.A. in Middle Eastern Studies from the University of Chicago in 2021, where he studied both classical... See Faculty Bio

teacher
Robert Stockman, ThD
WI Dean, Bahá’í History, Texts and Tenets

I have had a passion for researching and teaching about the Bahá’í Faith for more than half of my life. My fascination with American Bahá’í history and with the first American Bahá’í, Thornton Chase, caused me, in 1980, to switch my academic field from planetary science to history of religion... See Faculty Bio

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