Episodes

  • Bahaí Faith - Unity of Religion
    Jan 29 2025

    This episode explores the Baháʼí belief in the unity of religion. It posits that all major religions stem from a single divine source and are progressive revelations addressing humanity's evolving spiritual needs. The Baháʼí faith encourages interfaith dialogue and cooperation, viewing religious founders as Manifestations of God, thereby fostering respect for diverse traditions. While acknowledging criticisms, the podcast highlights the potential for positive social change through interfaith understanding and individual action. Finally, it recommends further exploration of Baháʼí writings and interfaith engagement.

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    18 mins
  • Abdu'l Baha - Champion of Unity
    Jan 29 2025

    This podcast offers a biography of Abdu'l-Bahá, the son of Baháʼu'lláh and leader of the Baháʼí Faith. It details his early life, including periods of imprisonment, his subsequent role as interpreter of his father's teachings, and his extensive travels promoting unity and peace. His key beliefs, such as the oneness of humanity, the equality of women, and the importance of education and service, are highlighted. The podcast concludes by emphasizing his lasting impact on social justice and global peace movements.

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    16 mins
  • Bahaú'llah Prophet of Unity
    Jan 29 2025

    Introducing Baha'ullah, a 19th-century prophet, detailing his life of persecution and exile under the Ottoman Empire. Despite imprisonment, he prolifically wrote on theology, social issues, and spirituality, producing works such as the Kitáb-i-Íqán and Kitáb-i-Aqdas. His central message promotes the oneness of humanity and the unity of all religions, advocating for the elimination of prejudice, universal education, women's equality, and world peace. The Baha'i Faith, founded on his teachings, continues to inspire global efforts towards these ideals.

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    9 mins
  • The Bahaí Faith in Bulgaria
    Jan 29 2025

    The Baháʼí Faith in Bulgaria, highlighting key figures like Marion Jack, a dedicated pioneer who served for decades despite hardship. Sources chronicle the establishment and growth of the Baháʼí community, from early visits by prominent figures to the formation of local and national assemblies. One source describes a contemporary Baháʼí-inspired study circle in Sofia, attracting participants from diverse backgrounds. Another source mentions Plovdiv, Bulgaria, as a significant location for Baháʼí activities throughout the 20th century. Overall, the texts paint a picture of the Baháʼí Faith's enduring presence and influence in Bulgaria.

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    24 mins
  • Thornton Chase
    Jan 27 2025

    Thornton Chase (February 22, 1847 – September 30, 1912) was a distinguished officer of the United States Colored Troops during the American Civil War, and the first western convert to the Baháʼí Faith.

    Chase was born in Springfield, Massachusetts to parents of English background and Baptist religion. After being schooled for college by Rev. Samuel Francis Smith he instead enrolled as an officer in the American Civil War serving with two regiments of United States Colored Troops, mostly in South Carolina, where he was wounded. For his service Chase was included on the Wall of Honor of the African-American Civil War Memorial completed in 1997. After the war he worked as a businessman, performed as a singer, and was published as a writer of prose and poetry while living in several states after leaving Massachusetts. He married twice and fathered three children.

    Long a seeker in religion, when he was nearly 50 he joined the Baháʼí Faith in 1894–1895—almost as soon as possible in America—and is commonly recognized as the first convert to the religion of the western world. After having organized concerts and businesses in his earlier days, he advanced the organization of communities of the religion especially in Chicago and Los Angeles, serving on early assemblies and publishing committees, the first national attempts at circulating news and guidance for the religion, and an elected national council. He also aided in the founding of other communities, gave talks for the religion in many places including Greenacre in Eliot, Maine, in the northeast and Seattle in the northwest, and authored early books on the religion including an account of his Baháʼí pilgrimage in 1907 and an introductory review of the religion in 1909. During his journeys to the West, ʻAbdu'l-Bahá, then head of the religion, singled Chase out and identified his gravesite as a place of religious visitation. Ultimately Chase was named a Disciple of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá. Collections of his papers began, posthumous articles by him were published, biographical articles about him appeared and his place in the history of the religion in America was contextualized. In 2002 a full biography on Chase was published by Robert H. Stockman and websites have had entries about him since. In 2020, a film on his life was produced by Misaq Kazimi and Sam Baldoni titled Steadfast

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    4 mins
  • Thomas Breakwell
    Jan 27 2025

    Thomas Breakwell (1872–1902) was the first Englishman to enter the Baháʼí Faith and the first to make the pilgrimage to Acre, Israel (a.k.a. ʻAkká). He was also the first western Baháʼí to give the Huqúqu'lláh "Right of God", a voluntary contribution to the head of the religion and considered a way to purify one's possessions. He was taught the Baháʼí Faith by May Bolles (later to become May Maxwell) while on vacation in the summer of 1901 in Paris, then immediately went on a pilgrimage to meet ʻAbdu'l-Bahá (eldest son of Bahá'u'lláh, founder of the Faith and His appointed successor) in ʻAkká that same summer. At ʻAbdu'l-Bahá's request, Breakwell took up permanent residence in Paris, where he worked enthusiastically to teach the religion and help develop the Paris Baháʼí community. Thomas Breakwell died of tuberculosis on 13 June 1902, less than one year after joining the religion.

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    3 mins
  • Philippines Bahaís
    Jan 27 2025

    The Bahá’í Faith in the Philippines started in 1921 with the first Bahá’í first visiting the Philippines that year, and by 1944 a Bahá’í Local Spiritual Assembly was established. In the early 1960s, during a period of accelerated growth, the community grew from 200 in 1960 to 1000 by 1962 and 2000 by 1963. In 1964 the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the Philippines was elected and by 1980 there were 64,000 Bahá’ís and 45 local assemblies.The Bahá’ís have been active in multi/inter-faith developments.

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    3 mins
  • May Bolles Maxwell
    Jan 27 2025

    May Maxwell is regarded as “the mother of the Bahá’í community of Canada.” With her husband, William Sutherland Maxwell, she established in Montréal in 1902 the first Bahá’í community in Canada.

    May Ellis Bolles was born in Englewood, New Jersey, on 14 January 1870, the daughter of John B. Bolles and Mary Martin Bolles, American in descent through many generations. Her early years were spent in the Englewood home of her maternal grandfather, who had distinguished himself in New York banking.

    May Bolles first met ‘Abdu’l-Bahá on 17 February 1899, when she made a pilgrimage to Palestine with a group of American believers

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    3 mins