The Lamp July 2008 Vol

The Lamp July 2008 Vol. 11, no. 2

Arise for the Triumph of the Cause: The New Five Year Plan  Lead Faculty: Melanie Smith

Duration of course: Three months (July 15-Oct. 15, 2008),

The purpose of the course is to provide an overview of the Bahá’í Faith’s systematic efforts to spread the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh around the world and to expand and consolidate its administrative structure based on an outline of goals and principles by `Abdu’l-Bahá, and a series of specific plans by Shoghi Effendi, and the Universal House of Justice. It will explore the unique features that plans will have through 2021 (a focus on core activities and developing the process leading to the rapid growth of the Bahá’í community). The course will cover the following topics:  The Tablets of the Divine Plan and the history of plans through 1996  The messages announcing the Four Year Plan (1996–2000)  The messages launching the Twelve Month and Five Year Plans (2000–01, 2001– 06)  The messages initiating clusters and core activities and elaborating on the institute process (2002–04)  The messages about the current Five Year Plan (2006–11)  The new terms and concepts that the Universal House of Justice has been stressing since 1996 To encourage as many as possible to take this course about the Five Year Plan, individual registration has been reduced to $50 and group registration to $100. This is one third of our usual rate; quite a deal!

To Register, click here.

What Is Religion?  Lead Faculty: Robert Stockman  Faculty: Zaid Lundberg

Duration of course: Three months (Aug. 15 - Nov. 15, 2008)

Central to the crises facing humanity today is religion, which has been both a fuel that has fanned the flames and a catalyst for healing differences. From Baha'u'llah’s revelation to One Common Faith commissioned by the Universal House of Justice, the Baha'i Faith has had much to say about the nature, purpose, and role of religion. The course will examine concepts of what religion is, the question of progressive revelation, experiences of ultimate reality, aspects of religion (such as ritual and doctrine), and visions of the

1 future of religion. The Bahá'í perspective will be examined in the light of those offered by the academic field of religious studies and by Christianity and Islam.

To Register, click here.

The Summons of the Lord of Hosts  Lead Faculty: Peter Terry  Faculty: Ismael Velasco

Duration of course: Three months (Sept. 5 - Dec. 5, 2008)

After formally declaring His mission, Bahá'u'lláh penned a series of epistles to kings and leaders in the years 1866 through 1870. The course studies those texts, assembled by the Universal House of Justice as a compilation titled The Summons of the Lord of Hosts. A compilation of information about the tablets, assembled by the Wilmette Institute, provides background reading.

To Register, click here.

`Abdu'l-Bahá: His Life and Writings  Lead Faculty: Anne Perry  Faculty: Cynthia Shawamreh and Duane Troxel

Duration of course: Three months (Sept. 15 - Dec. 15, 2008)

Àbdu'l-Bahá is unique in religious history, for He is not a Manifestation of God but is closer in station to a Manifestation than to the station of humanity. Drawing on statements by Àbdu'l-Bahá and Shoghi Effendi, as well as writings by countless Bahá'ís, the course explores His life, station, roles, titles, writings, talks, travels, accomplishments, relationship to Bahá'u'lláh, and impact on others. The course includes units on His early years, 1844-92; early years as Head of the Faith, 1892-1910; His travels and talks, 1911-13; the First World War and the Tablets of the Divine Plan, 1914- 21; The Will and Testament and the passing of Àbdu'l-Bahá, 1921; and selected topics about Àbdu'l-Bahá.

To Register, click here.

The Impact of the Wilmette Institute: A Student Comments on “The Kitáb-i-Íqán and Gems of Divine Mysteries”

Geoff Wyatt of Salem, OR, offered the following about The Kitáb-i-Íqán and Gems of Divine Mysteries:

Thanks for all your time and energy you and the staff have put into this class. A positive outcome is the study group that was initiated in response to it. We have 5-6 that come

2 regularly and it has been a great experience! We go at a much slower pace which works good for us because our facilitator Amir, like you and your staff is very knowledgeable in the Faith and its background and has many, many stories that relate to it. The combination of the two is a great experience.

The Impact of the Wilmette Institute:

A Student Comments on “Islam for Deepening and Dialogue”

Sarah Pantalone of New London, CT, offered the following summary of her experience:

The knowledge that I obtained during this course and the discussions have helped me to feel like I have a good stepping stone from which to continue my search for knowledge regarding Islam, understanding more fully the Writings in the Bahá'í Faith, researching and writing my thesis, and understanding my ancestral roots as well as my spiritual ones. I was unable to complete the requirements, but have definitely benefitted from this course. I will apply what I have learned here to further studies, and conversations. Thank you for this opportunity and experience. . . . To the students: Thank you for lending your voices and reflections to this experience. I have learned a great amount.

The Wilmette Institute was established in January 1995 by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. The Institute offers quality online courses on the Bahá'í Faith. It is committed to engaging a broad and diverse community of learners in deep study of the Faith and to fostering love for study of the Faith.

All online courses include Web-based discussion boards for students and faculty, regular conference calls, systematic lesson plans, and a wide variety of learning projects to help students apply their learning in their local communities.

All courses are available at the introductory level for those who do not want to take a university-level course, at the intermediate (undergraduate) level for those wishing to go into more depth, and at the advanced (graduate) level for those wishing to do extensive research or writing.

Upcoming Courses

July15, 2008 - October 15, 2008: Arise for the Triumph of the Cause: The New Five Year Plan

August 15, 2008 - November 15, 2008: What Is Religion?

September 5, 2008– December 5, 2008: The Summons of the Lord of Hosts

3 September 15, 2008 – December 15, 2008: `Abdu'l-Bahá: His Life and Writings

October 1, 2008 – December 31, 2008: Introduction to Archives for Bahá'í Archivists

October 15, 2008 – January 01, 2009: Rediscovering the Dawnbreakers: Bahá'í History, 1844-53

November 1, 2008 – January 1, 2009: Hinduism for Deepening and Dialogue

November 15, 2008 – February 15, 2009: The Life of Bahá'u'lláh

December 1, 2008 – February 28, 2009: The Ministry of Shoghi Effendi

December 15, 2008 – March 15, 2009: Bahá'í Theology: Concepts of God, Revelation, Manifestation, Humanity, Creation, Afterlife, and the Covenant

I THINK WE DROPPED THIS FROM LAST MONTH’S E-NEWSLETTER:

For more information about the Bahá’í Faith, the Wilmette Institute, or its courses, contact: Wilmette Institute 1233 Central Street Evanston, IL 60201-2886 USA

Phone: 1.877.WILMETTE (877.945.6388) Fax: 1.847.733.3563 [email protected] http://www.wilmetteinstitute.us.bahai.org

THE LAMP is produced periodically by the Wilmette Institute. All material is copyrighted by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States and is subject to the applicable copyright laws. Articles from the newsletter may be copied or

4 reproduced, provided that the following credit is given: “Reprinted from THE LAMP, the newsletter of the Wilmette Institute,” followed by the issue’s date. Recipients of the electronic version are encouraged to forward it to friends. If you do not receive the electronic version and would like to, you may do so by writing us at [email protected].