The Baha'i Faith in Words and Images by John Danesh

According to Baha’is, the most important of these needs in this era is the realization of the oneness of God, the essential unity of all religions, and the oneness of humanity. For Baha’is, the various prophets or “manifestations”-which include figures such as Moses, Zoroaster, Buddha, Jesus, Muhammad, the Bab, and Baha’u’llah-appear cyclically according to the needs of the time and subsequently provide teachings suited for the given age in which they live. Baha’is believe that Baha’u’llah is the latest, but not the last, in a series of prophets or messengers-termed “Manifestations of God” ( mazhar ilahi ) in Baha’i lexicon-whose appearance has ushered in the longed-for millennial peace and fulfilled the scriptural promises of the world’s religions. The religion emerged from the messianic matrix of the Babi movement (Babism), which had developed from Shaykhism ( shaykhiyya) within Twelver Shiʿi ( Ithna ʿashari) Islam, in mid-19th-century Iran.

Paul Slaughter is an acclaimed photographer whose work has been exhibited all over the world, his clients include Time magazine and National Geographic.The Baha’i faith is a post-Islamic religion and one of the world’s youngest faiths, founded by the Iranian prophet and nobleman Mirza Husayn-ʿAli Nuri, Baha’u’llah (or Baha’-Allah, Ar. Professor John Danesh and Dr Seena Fazel have edited The Baha’i Studies Review for over a decade, and have written numerous articles on issues related to the Baha’i Faith. Breathtaking photography and intelligent accompanying text are combined to produce a beautiful coffee-table book, and accessible introduction to one of the fastest-growing religions of today. Paul Slaughter spent three years travelling around the world to capture the photographs, from remote tribes in Papua New Guinea to villages in the mountains of Peru, taking in every continent. This volume combines comprehensive coverage of the Faith’s teachings, texts, practices, community life, and organization, with images reflecting its rich architectural heritage and the international diversity of its members.

In an age where so many are preoccupied with global issues of freedom, human rights, peace, and religious intolerance, the Baha’I Faith and its teachings are more relevant than ever before.

The Baha'i Faith in Words and Images by John Danesh