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 com- munity were more than willing to be " studied " and " researched " by someone who was not automatically going to label them as a " cult ” or “ sect of Islam . ” Finally , any concern about my objectivity may be further ...
... Bahá'í community of metro Atlanta to whom I owe a most sincere thanks . Many were friends before they became " research subjects , " and many became friends during the research process . They shared with me their hospitality , their ...
... Bahá'í Faith confers upon its members a global religious identity in response to rapid social change . The Bahá'í ... be discussed throughout this text , will bring about the unification of the world's people and global peace through ...
... Bahá'í scripture . The task of this book is to highlight the individual and ... Bahá'í Faith . The World Congress gives a vivid example of how Bahá'í ... be addressed in this study is how participation in local com- munity life ...
... 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 ... be discussed fully in chapter 3 ) . Since 1937 , when the first plans for expansion were ...
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 |