The Bahá'í: The Religious Construction of a Global IdentityRutgers University Press, 2000 - 246 pages The Bahá'í Faith is one of the fastest growing, but least studied, of the world's religions. Adherents view themselves as united by a universal belief that transcends national boundaries. Michael McMullen examines how the Bahá'í develop and maintain this global identity. Taking the Bahá'í community in Atlanta, Georgia, as a case in point, his book is the first to comprehensively examine the tenets of this little-understood faith. McMullen notes that, to the Bahá'í, Buddha, Moses, Jesus, and Mohammed are all divinely sent teachers of 'the Truth', whose messages conform to the needs of their individual cultures and historical periods. But religion--which draws from the teaching of Bahá'u'lláh, a nineteenth-century Persian--encourages its members to think of themselves as global citizens. It also seeks to establish unity among its members through adherence to a Bahá'í worldview. By examining the Atlanta Bahá'í community, McMullen shows how this global identity is interpreted locally. He discusses such topics as: the organizational structure and authority relations in the Bahá'í "Administrative Order"; Bahá'í evangelicalism; and the social boundaries between Bahá'ís and the wider culture. |
From inside the book
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... Bahá'í community during re- search trips in June 1994 and July 1998. A special thanks to Clark Denny for always lending an ear and his perspective throughout this process . Money is always a vital resource in doing research of this kind ...
... Bahá'í Faith . A Bahá'í , then , is one who views the perceived tumult and uncertainty of our time with an assurance rooted in Bahá'í scripture : " That which the Lord hath ordained as the sovereign remedy and mightiest instrument for ...
... Bahá'í from Atlanta , the congress strengthened his Bahá'í identity as one who celebrates " unity in diversity " and the " oneness of humanity " : " I think it gave me a little real appreciation of the [ Bahá'í Faith's ] global perspective ...
... Bahá'í Faith . In the place of sermons by clergy dur- ing worship services , religious ritual involves lay members taking turns reading from Bahá'í ... Views of Globalization and " World Order ” 22 Social scientists seek to provide a ...
... perspective toward the world - as - a - whole , promoting " unity in di- versity , " the " oneness of humanity , " and the " oneness of religion . " Bahá'ís are conscious that what they are doing in Atlanta is similar to what Bahá'ís ...
Contents
Carriers and Converts | 15 |
The Bahaf Administrative Order | 34 |
Authority in the Administrative Order | 56 |
Personal Devotion and Organizational Participation | 76 |
Boundaries and Identity | 109 |
Teaching the Bahaf Faith | 126 |
Thinking Globally Acting Locally | 152 |
Conclusion | 175 |
Atlanta Bahaf Questionnaire | 185 |
Historical Overview | 193 |
The Bahai Calendar | 197 |
Notes | 199 |
229 | |
243 | |
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The Bahá'í: The Religious Construction of a Global Identity Michael McMullen No preview available - 2000 |