Books published by George Ronald Publisher

"Fasting . . . is essentially a period of meditation and prayer, of spiritual recuperation, during which the believer must strive to make the necessary readjustments in his inner life, and to refresh and reinvigorate the spiritual forces latent in his soul." Shoghi Effendi"We have enjoined upon you fasting during a brief period", Baha'u'llah writes in His Book of Laws. The Baha'i Fast is a time of spiritual regeneration, when Baha'is all over the world rise before dawn to pray and meditate before beginning their daily fast from sunrise to sunset.This handbook brings together passages from the Baha'i Writings about the Fast, with reflections by Baha'is on the practice of fasting, and prayers appropriate to the fasting period. It has been compiled primarily for personal use by Baha'is during their Fast, but it is also of interest to anyone who wants to know about the age-old practice of fasting for spiritual reasons - what it is, how to do it and what it means to those who experience it.Includes all the Baha'i prayers for the Fast available in English.

A study of the translation of the Arabic verses of the Hidden Words by Shoghi Effendi who was uniquely placed to render the words of his great-grandfather into English of outstanding beauty and charm.

Many young people are beset by a host of fears, worries, anxieties and insecurities that make for superficial and discouraging relationships, lack of motivation, and confused, escapist or hedonistic lifestyle choices that can determine a future riddled with problems almost impossible to extricate oneself from; emotional responses appear uncontrollable, with frequent rage outbursts or overwhelming melancholy. Our affluent societies have seen a sharp increase in antisocial behaviour: alcohol and drug abuse, carrying a weapon in case of a fight, vandalism, general rowdiness in gangs, cruelty to animals, stealing, threatening behaviour and so on. Bullying or mobbing, teenage pregnancies, suicidal tendencies, rejection of education, family upheavals, eating disorders, depression and the like are all rising. There is increasing statistical evidence that society has a problem with its young that defies rectifying by established interventions.For Viv Bartlett, the opportunity came in 2000 to join with a group of Bahá'ís in the United Kingdom to devise and pilot programmes for disaffected youngsters, and so the Swindon Young People's Empowerment Programme (SYEP) came into being. The group eventually came to realize that these young people were 'dispirited' and that if at least the glimmerings of a healthy human spirit could be detected by them as possible within themselves, then they would be inspired to view the world and their lives in a more rewarding way. Huge successes were experienced over the years with over 1,000 dispirited, vulnerable youngsters who were referred to the Empowerment Programme by a growing number of primary and secondary schools in Swindon. These successes demanded that a book be written about the Programme.The Programme focused on two ideas from key Bahá'í scriptures, as encapsulating all others - that the individual is full of potential, a 'mine rich in gems of inestimable value'; and that individuals need to be focused on service to others. These are two sides of the same coin: we need to recognize that we have something to offer, and then understand that we can make a huge difference to the community. The journey towards this is however not simple. Parents, carers, educators, and anyone interested in the well-being of young people will find in this book not only principles of nurturing a healthy human spirit in the young but also an array of successful, down-to-earth, practical ways of doing so.

What is it like to get old, then older, and move into a nursing home or care facility? What is happening to us as we face idle times and experience the need for special and determinate care? What happens next? Is life immortal?Although much has been written about the aging process, little has been written by one who is actually experiencing the process of dying. These questions are answered by the 92-year-old Harlan Carl Scheffler, who reflected on them in two essays written just before he passed away in April 2014.In his first essay Scheffler takes a humorous look at the interval between becoming aged and dying, a time, he says, that can be most rewarding. It is time when we can review our own lives and can learn what others have experienced through their span of years - and it can be most enjoyable and enlightening to family and friends.His second essay examines the evidence for life's immortality; it is treated as the natural adjunct, the extension and expansion of the initial phase of our lives, not the end. Surprisingly, he discovers that employing the light shed by today's technologies, we are assured that death truly is impossible.

Quotations from the Bahá'í writings and reflections to soothe the soul."Set all thy hope in God, and cleave tenaciously to His unfailing mercy." Bahá'u'lláhA collection of verses from the Bahá'í writings for those engaged in the challenging yet enormously satisfying 'real' work of this world: to grow spiritually.

There is a fundamental discrepancy between man as he is and man as he could be, if only he recognized his true being and purpose. Ethics is the discipline by which man can understand how he can pass from the first condition to the second.Udo Schaefer's Bahá'í Ethics in Light of Scripture is an attempt to analyse the underlying structures and detect the interior architecture of the Bahá'í moral system and is a step towards developing a Bahá'í moral theology. Doctrinal Fundamentals, the first of two volumes, provides a historical overview of the Bahá'í Faith, a systematic survey of it doctrines and an overview of the origin and derivation of moral values. It considers the metaphysical nature of human beings and human responsibilities, looks at reason and conscience, and explores liberty and its limits. Schaefer's second volume deals with concrete values - the virtues, divine commandments and principles of social ethics from a Bahá'í perspective.

A delightful ABC book for children about the Nineteen Day Feast by a well-known and popular writer for young people. Features children of many nationalities in its charming illustrations.J is for joy.The Feast is a time of joy for Josef because he feels so close to all the Bahá'ís.'This Feast is a bringer of joy. It is the groundwork of agreement and unity. It is the key to affection and fellowship.' 'Abdu'l-Bahá

Heather Cardin asked Bahá'í youth and young adults from around the world to share their thoughts about why they believed and why they were Bahá'ís.'The youthful and eager workers for the Cause . . . occupy a warm place in my heart.'Shoghi EffendiWhy have faith? Why practise faith in the world as it is today? What makes a young person in the early part of the 21st century willing to follow a Faith that requires exemplary moral conduct and which views spiritual growth as the purpose of an otherwise very material life?These are the questions Heather Cardin asked young people around the world. She invited Bahá'í youth and young adults to share their thoughts about why they believed and why they were Bahá'ís.The answers came from 45 young Bahá'ís between the ages of 13 and 30, from every continent and from many backgrounds. Some have had very positive experiences, others not so positive, but all draw on the power of the love of Bahá'u'lláh and His teachings to give them strength to continue their lives as Bahá'ís.These are the authentic, powerful voices of young people as they see themselves and the Bahá'í Faith in the 21st century.

All Bahá'í parents face special problems in bringing up their children in a world dominated by very different principles from those governing a Bahá'í society. This book meets those problems head on, as it explores human nature and the rich theme of 'the Covenant', with its implications for family and community.Quotations from the Bahá'í Writings tie the book closely to the source of its inspiration, and the author's own imagination and vitality build a bridge from ideals to everyday life.The author comes from a distinguished Bahá'í family and herself has a daughter.

* Why is the rainbow the symbol of the Covenant?* What is the purpose of the Covenant?* How can we be faithful to the Covenant?The Covenant for Young People answers these questions - and many others - in a short, simple and direct way.To make it even easier to understand the Covenant, you will find that the book:* contains 19 short chapters, each looking at a different theme* explains difficult or unusual words when they first appear* is set in a large typeface for easy reading

"Consort with the followers of all religions in a spirit of friendliness and fellowship." Baha'u'llah"Joseph Smith . . . was a religious teacher sensitive to the spiritual currents flowing in the early 19th century directly from the appearance of the Bab and Baha'u'llah and the Revelation of Their messages of hope and divine Guidance." The Universal House of JusticeHow can Baha'is engage in meaningful dialogue with Mormons? By highlighting the many principles Mormons and Baha'is have in common, and providing an in-depth look at core Mormon beliefs and scriptures, this book aims to increase understanding and enable Baha'is to look beyond outward differences and reach out to the members of this fast-growing community in a spirit of true friendship.

When artist Harlan Carl Scheffler's wife Barbara developed Alzheimer's disease, he determined to learn as much as possible about the condition and to understand what was happening to his life-long partner. A Bahá'í since childhood, he turned to religion as well as to science to provide insights into this physical disease of the brain. His conviction that there is a spiritual principle at work as well as a physical one is based on his study of the Bahá'í texts, and particularly the talks of `Abdu'l-Bahá in which He describes the spiritual reality of what appears to be a wholly physical world. Here Scheffler reflects on the implications of that spiritual reality and on the need for science to acknowledge that reality in order to meet the challenge of Alzheimer's.

The fascinating story of a pleasure-seeking Persian boy who became one of 'Abdu'l-Bahá's leading English translators and united East and West in the first Persian-American Bahá'í marriage.Here is the colourful story of Ali-Kuli Khan, the first to translate into English such important works as the 'Seven Valleys', the 'Kitáb-i-Íqán', and the Glad-Tidings. Told by his daughter, herself a well-known author and translator, Khan's story is based on his memoirs and personal papers. Through them we are given a unique and detailed picture of life in Persia at the end of the century, complete with an explanation of that oft-met protocol 'ta'áruf'. We follow the young Khan, dressed as a dervish, on his adventurous walk to 'Akká and note his transformation from a frivolous youth to a skilled translator for 'Abdu'l-Bahá.In his nearly two years as a member of 'Abdu'l-Bahá's household, Khan both translated for those first groups of American pilgrims to visit the Holy Land and rendered 'Abdu'l-Bahá's Tablets into English. In 1901 Khan was sent to America to assist Mírzá Abu'l-Fadl and to translate the great teacher's book, The Bahá'í Proofs, into English.It was in America that Khan met and fell in love with a Boston society girl, Florence Breed. Their Victorian romance unfolds in the delicate love-letters written by Florence to Khan. Their marriage, the first between a Persian and an American Bahá'í, not only symbolized but portrayed the unity between East and West taught by the Bahá'í Faith.'Summon Up Remembrance' is peopled with such familiar figures as Mírzá Abu'l-Fadl, Laura Barney, Edward and Lua Getsinger, Mary Hanford Ford and the Atábak. But this is a book dedicated to 'Abdu'l-Bahá, and it is His wisdom and teaching that characterizes it. A unique feature is the inclusion of the Tablet of Cremation revealed by 'Abdu'l-Bahá, here published for the first time in English in a new translation by the Research Department of the Universal House of Justice.The story continues in Arches of the Years.

'World-history at its core and in its essence,' wrote George Townshend, 'is the story of the spiritual evolution of mankind . . . The Bible makes the tracing of this evolution its own special subject.'The Heart of the Gospel unfolds this vast perspective. It is the fruit of the author's long study of comparative religion. Using only the text of the Bible, the author provides a new reading Scripture which is compelling and timely.The Heart of the Gospel is a guidebook for those who seek a universal view of religion and the contemporary world.

A well-known business consultant, coach, speaker and author, Lawrence Miller discloses the spiritual principles that have made his business such a success and which lie behind all successful modern organizations. In a bold step, he sets out his conviction that there is not necessarily any contradiction between pursuing material progress, whether in the form of a nation's economy or personal wealth, and the teachings of religion. In fact, he states, it is the great challenge of one's personal spiritual struggle to remain centered in spiritual reality while pursuing success in business. He identifies and explores new principles of management for a new age: ¿ honesty and trustworthiness ¿ the spirit of service ¿ justice ¿ consultation ¿ unity ¿ moderation ¿ world citizenship ¿ universal education But he goes far beyond this, showing how to put these principles to work in the real world of business, what he calls 'practical spirituality', looking at: ¿ capital and finance ¿ design of work ¿ structure and organization ¿ human resource development ¿ information systems ¿ reward and recognition ¿ customers, suppliers and community and ¿ leadership A must-have book for anyone who wants to succeed in business in the 21st century.

Profoundly conceived, meticulously researched, a book which ranges over the whole field of Baha'i sacred texts to explore the deepest questions of existence: God, evolution, the human soul.

Today the list of abused drugs is so long it is nearly limitless, the routes of administration ensure an addiction risk unheard of in earlier eras, and the population at risk is greatly expanded, particularly among youth and the disadvantaged. The globalization of drug trafficking and the global shift in attitudes towards more acceptance of drug abuse have contributed to the epidemic now facing the world.But illegal drug use is not 'victimless' and the consequences are borne not only by the drug users. Families, communities and even entire nations are harmed substantially by the so-called personal choice to use illegal drugs. Whether those consequences are crimes or overdoses, lowered workplace productivity or educational failure, these negative consequences of illegal drug use are universally shared.Originally published in 1985 as In Search of Nirvana and updated in 1989, Alcohol and Drug Abuse: A Psychosocial and Spiritual Approach to Prevention takes account of the extensive research on the issue in the last twenty years. It focuses on primary prevention and explores the roles and responsibilities of individuals, families and society in addressing the worldwide crisis in drug abuse. Both prevention and recovery have profoundly spiritual dimensions, and Dr Ghadirian explores these in the light of the Bahá'í teachings.

Why is it so difficult to maintain a loving, creative relationship with the person we have chosen as a life partner? Or harmonious relationships with our own family or colleagues at work? If love is the 'first principle of the divine teaching' ('Abdu'l-Bahá), why is it such a feat to be able to love? How can we deal with anger and hurt feelings?In this book Betty Frost looks for solutions in the Writings of the Bahá'í Faith, whose primary aim is the realization in the world of the oneness of humanity. This depends on harmony and agreement between people, both as individuals and in society as a whole.

In contrast with the debating methods of even the most enlightened of present-day systems, the Bahá'í principle of consultation fosters co-operation and an atmosphere of freedom in which the best ideas can emerge. It is, Bahá'ís believe, an evolutionary step in human affairs and the bedrock of that new world order which it is the aim of the Bahá'í Faith to bring about.This book is about the Bahá'í method of decision-making -- consultation. With the support of quotations from the Bahá'í Sacred Writings, the author examines questions such as* what consultation is* how to consult* how consultation can be used . . .. . . by Spiritual Assemblies. . . in families. . . in Nineteen Day Feasts. . . in Summer Schools and Conventions. . . in social life. . . in business and professional affairs. . . between individuals. . . to solve personal problems* why people see things differently, and how consultation can turn these differences into strengths* how to cope with difficulties in consultation* the role of consultation in the development of the Bahá'í community and the emergence of the World Order of Bahá'u'lláh.