The Baha'i Faith in America

By William Garlington

Book Overview

The Baha'i Faith in America sets out to accomplish two main goals. The first is to introduce to the American reading public a religion whose name may be commonly mentioned or heard, yet in terms of its unique history, world-view, beliefs, and laws, is virtually unknown. Such categories provide the essential material for Part I. The second objective, which is the uniting thread of Part II, is to trace the historical development of the American Baha'i community from its earliest beginnings at the end of the nineteenth century up until the present day.

The chapters in this section not only peruse the major events and introduce the leading personalities associated with American Baha'i history, they also trace significant themes, motifs, and issues that have characterized the community over the decades. Examples include early Baha'i connections with both American millenialism and metaphysical esotericism, to more recent associations with the Civil Rights Movement and the 1960s youth counterculture. In addition, the book's final chapters take a close look at some of the more controversial issues that have characterized American Baha'i community life over the past few decades. Here issues ranging in content from disagreements over differing styles of propogation to the freedom of expression allowed to Baha'i scholars are examined. In the process, the work reveals a dynamic and highly idealistic faith that is attempting to offer a model of religious community that is compatible with the continuing process of globalization.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0275984133
• ISBN13: 9780275984137
• Release Date: August 2005
• Publisher: Praeger
• Length: 248 Pages
• Weight: 1.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.3" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

How refreshing

How refreshing to read a book about a religions where the author is neither promoting not attacking. I found the content to be well balanced and evenly presented, and find Collins' review to be absurd. Collins who is probably a Baha'i is defending where there is no attack. As a student of religion I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting a fair and honest approach to the study of the Baha'i Faith.

Excellent survey of the American Baha'is

William Garlington provides the best overview of the American Baha'i community to date. Unlike insider books such as William Hatcher and Douglas Martin's THE BAHA'IS, Garlington, a former believer, balances his uses of sources and gives us a fair look inside the American Baha'i community. Most outsiders are unaware of internal debates and controversies that have been an important part of the American Baha'i scene over the last 30 years. The general image of the Baha'is by others is that of a peaceful, liberal religious group that sees sparks of truth in all faith traditions. Garlington describes this liberal foundation of the Baha'i teachings but also shows how conservative views have come to dominate the administration of the Baha'i community. Controversial topics such as issues of gender (the role of women who are barred from being elected to highest office in the Baha'i world and views on homosexuality), noninvolvement in politics, excommunication of dissidents, suppression of scholarship, and inflation of membership figures are raised. Garlington allows all sides to be heard and leaves judgment to the reader. Although a serious academic work utilizing the latest scholarly research, Garlington is also to be praised for writing a lively and very readable book.

Rare Objective View

If you are looking for an objective view of the Baha'i Faith, this is the book ro read. The author was a former Baha'i, so he has knowledge of which he speaks, but he does not hold back when it comes to critical analysis. A must read for those who are interested in America's New Religious Movements.