Sociology

This book describes a journey of search that enabled author Viv Bartlett to navigate around the obstacles that he calls ‘materialistic minefields’. Written in a conversational style and often drawing on his personal experience, it nonetheless explores profound questions.

Among these are the views, opinions and attitudes of a society that has disconnected its thinking from higher realities, so that individuals everywhere are tending to sink into a materialistic way of life that is in the last resort deeply unsatisfying. The increase in materialistic assumptions about reality has also led to general skepticism about humanity’s capacity to rise to a higher level of civilization.

But the choice between a materialistic or a spiritual perspective is a daily personal one. Looking at history as an evolutionary process and drawing on the teachings of the Bahá’í Faith, Bartlett sees the ‘knowledge of the oneness of mankind and the fundamental oneness of religion’ as necessary and inevitable to the gradual emergence of the maturity of humankind.

Humanity's history is not just a collection of chance events; but instead, a long series of focused episodes that saw societies advance from wandering-hunter-gatherers back in the Stone Age, to farmers, to developers of cities, empires, and nations. Harvey Garver explores how humanity's development has been motivated, guided and energized by the world's religions, and explains how the Baha'i Faith, and its belief in "Progressive Revelation," reveals a new spiritual principle, leading to a burgeoning worldwide society with peace and prosperity for all humanity.

This book features 28 short focus topics for young couples and young parents with full lives; aspects of physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being; content based on science and the Baha'i Faith; and tools for couples to collaborate, accompany, and encourage each other and their children. Throughout are stories from couples and families building well-being. A variety of topics are covered, such as exercise, nutrition, sleep, friendship, money, communication, humor, and many others.

What exactly do we mean by happiness? Is it attainable or only a wish? The authors make a convincing case that happiness is both real and attainable. The authors explore a variety of topics, such as the purpose of life, the practice of the presence of God, meditation, gratitude, and more.

We now live in a society awash with alcohol and drugs, which makes abstinence appear odd, unreasonable or even fanatical. Yet everyone knows someone (often a family member) whose life has been damaged by drugs or alcohol. So this book advocates rebellion.

It makes the case for choosing a life free of alcohol and drugs – and not only for health reasons. It invites the reader to rebel against indolence, irrationality, prejudice, injustice and hatred; to stand for justice, clarity, community and compassion in the face of apathy and lethargy; to care deeply for humanity and to become a leader in the cultural change needed for society as a whole to fulfill its potential.

In this collection of scholarly essays, the reader will find articles on various aspects of Bahá’í philosophy—philosophical anthropology, philosophy of science, philosophy of culture, epistemology, ethics, philosophy of religion, comparative and political philosophy, and, finally, history of philosophy. This compilation presents Bahá’í philosophy as a new wave of philosophical thought, and it finds itself in a fruitful dialogue not only with the traditional forms of religious philosophy but also with the modern Western thought practices of reason and empirical observation.

Whatever your age or life circumstances, Starting with Me helps you prepare yourself for marriage and lay a solid foundation for your future. It offers wisdom from the Bahá’í teachings, time-tested guidance from relationship and character specialists, insights from everyday people on their journey, and transformative questions and exercises.

Our Seven Families explores the value of human social life – why we need human connections. Drawing on her experience as a social scientist and on insights derived from a deep study of the Bahá’í Sacred Writings, McCreary expands our conception of the nature and range of human relationships, stresses the link between spiritual activities and social transformation, and suggests creative practical solutions for restoring a sense of harmony and coherence in our lives.

The Fashioner takes the reader on a journey through the various ways in which the arts can touch people’s lives. Drawing on inspirational quotations from the Bahá’í Writings, as well as interviews with a number of artists, this book explores the transformative power of the arts.

America's Sacred Calling describes a blueprint for creating a new society that uplifts and honors the spritual reality of the human soul while fostering the conditions for humankind to transcend the existential fears, anxieties, and petty concerns of this temporal physical world.

America's Sacred Calling describes a blueprint for creating a new society that uplifts and honors the spritual reality of the human soul while fostering the conditions for humankind to transcend the existential fears, anxieties, and petty concerns of this temporal physical world.