Dear Friends:
The Wilmette Institute is pleased to announce its 2007 course
schedule. Please spread this information around among your friends,
take it to Feast, etc., Also, please let people know about our
upcoming courses in November and December. We have a lot to offer over
the next year to personal transformation, development of human
resources, fostering community life, and helping the Faith build
toward entry by troops. We hope over the next year to make important
contributions.
THE MINISTRY OF SHOGHI EFFENDI
TOPIC: Shoghi Effendi Rabbani (1897-1957), the eldest grandson of
`Abdu'l-Bahá, is a crucial figure for understanding the Bahá'í Faith.
Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith from 1921 until his passing, Shoghi
Effendi devoted much of his early ministry to construction of the
administrative order defined in `Abdu'l-Bahá's Will and Testament,
then used it as an instrument for carrying out the vast spread of the
Bahá'í Faith called for by `Abdu'l-Bahá in the Tablets of the Divine
Plan. Throughout his ministry Shoghi Effendi worked tirelessly to
translate the writings of Bahá'u'lláh into English and to pen hundreds
of epistles clarifying basic Bahá'í teachings. His devotion, self-
sacrifice, and suffering are an inspiration to Bahá'ís of all
generations.
DATES: November 15, 2006 to February 15, 2007
TEXTS: A special package of readings assembled by the Wilmette
Institute.
FACULTY: Peter Terry, Zaid Lundberg, and Duane Troxel.
THE QUR'AN
TOPIC: The Qur'án is the divine revelation on which the religion of
Islam is based. The Bahá'í sacred writings are filled with quotations
from it and allusions to it, and many words used by the Báb,
Bahá'u'lláh, and `Abdu'l-Bahá have qur'ánic resonances. Its study by
Bahá'ís is emphasized by Shoghi Effendi: "They must. . .approach
reverently and with a mind purged from preconceived ideas the study of
the Qur'án which, apart from the sacred scriptures of the Bábí and
Bahá'í Revelations, constitutes the only Book which can be regarded as
an absolutely authenticated Repository of the Word of God" (ADJ
49). "The Guardian would certainly advise, and even urge the friends
to make a thorough study of the Qur'án, as the knowledge of this
sacred Scripture is absolutely indispensable for every believer who
wishes to adequately understand and intelligently read, the writings
of Bahá'u'lláh" Directives of the Guardian, p. 63). The course will
examine the entire text of the Qur'án and Is
lamic and Bahá'í commentaries on its meaning. Technical terms will be
explained in order to make the text accessible to those who do not
know Arabic.
DATES: December 1, 2006, to February 28, 2007
TEXTS: The Qur'án and various commentaries and supplemental readings
assigned by the Institute.
FACULTY: Peter Terry, Omid Ghamaeghami, Cynthia Shawamreh, and others.
BAHA'I THEOLOGY: CONCEPTS OF GOD, REVELATION, MANIFESTATION, CREATION,
HUMANITY, AFTERLIFE, AND COVENANT
Bahá'í Theology is neither highly abstract, nor excessively difficult,
nor a narrow and specialized study. Rather, it consists of many of the
most basic and central teachings of the Bahá'í Faith: its concept of
the nature of God; how that God guides humanity through revelation
vouchsafed unto Manifestations; the nature and purpose of the
Manifestations and their successive teachings (progressive revelation
and the Covenant); the nature and purpose of human beings and their
physical existence; the nature of physical creation; and the nature of
the next world. In short, Bahá'í Theology answers the basic questions
human beings have always asked about the nature and purpose of life.
The course should be a great help in answering seekers' questions
about the Faith and providing a context in which other Bahá'í
teachings fit together.
FACULTY: Peter Terry, Ted Brownstein, and Zaid Lundberg.
TEXTS: A compilation of Bahá'í scriptural texts, articles and chapters
by Bahá'ís, and some material on theology in general.
COST OF ALL COURSES: $150 (individual); $120 (senior citizens [65 and
older], students, pioneers); $300 (group); financial aid is available.
2007 E-LEARNING COURSES (TAUGHT BY WEB AND INTERNET ONLY)
1/15/2007 - 4/15/2007: Living the Spiritual Life
2/15/2007 - 5/15/2007: Buddhism for Deepening and Dialogue
3/15/2007 - 6/15/2007: Tabernacle of Unity
4/15/2007 - 7/15/2007: Bahá'í Community and Administration
5/1/2007 - 7/31/2007: Building the Fortress: Marriage and Family Life
5/15/2007 - 8/15/2007: World Order of Baha'u'llah: Selected Letters
6/15/2007 - 9/15/2007: The Bahá'í Faith: A Comprehensive Introduction
7/15/2007 - 10/15/2007: Judaism for Deepening and Dialogue
8/15/2007 - 11/15/2007: One Common Faith
9/15/2007 - 12/15/2007: Bahá'u'lláh's Early Mystical Works: The Hidden
Words, The Seven Valleys, Four Valleys, Gems of Mysteries
10/1/2007 - 12/31/2007: The Secret of Divine Civilization
11/1/2007 - 1/31/2008: The Exemplar: The Life a