 |
The monthly electronic Newsletter provides news of the Wilmette
Institute, a schedule of online
Web Talks, and upcoming courses
|
|
Wilmette Institute March 2020 News
|
|
|
Student News
Denise Ebenhoech, from Shelby Township, Michigan, has completed more than a dozen Wilmette Institute courses since she joined us in 2018. Here in her own words she reflects on her experience taking
The Advent of Divine Justice.
Ladan Delpak, from Melbourne, Florida, shares her new perspectives after completing a Wilmette Institute course on Christianity. Of the faculty she says: "I'm thankful to Ted Brownstein and Joann Borovicka for being so active in all the discussion forums. Some of my most important learning came from those discussions."
In July 2019, Robert Blecher started his first Wilmette Institute course. He did not post much during the course, but as you will see from his comments a few months after the course ended, he is using his new knowledge and skills with confidence and enthusiasm.
|
|
|
Wilmette Institute/Faculty News
In order to provide a new source of spiritual and intellectual sustenance during the Baha'i Fast, the Wilmette Institute is pleased to release four more video presentations about the Persian Bayan. Click through on the title above for links and more information.
|
|
|
|
Chelsea Lee Smith
|
|
Wilmette Institute Parenting Educator Chelsea Lee Smith and Marriage Educator Susanne M. Alexander recently published an article, "3 Spiritual Habits to Teach Young Children" on the online magazine Baha'i Blog. In writing the article, Chelsea and Susanne drew on content from Wilmette Institute's online parenting courses. Click through on the title for the full article.
|
|
|
Chitra Golestani |
On Wednesday, February 19, Robert Stockman and Chitra Golestani, the Director and Associate Director of the Wilmette Institute, made a presentation about the Baha'i Faith to the faculty of the United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities. Afterward, Dr. Kyle Roberts, United's Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean, thanked us for "a wonderful and engaging presentation" and noted it would "spark continuing conversation among us in the days and months ahead."
|
|
|
| Sue Blythe |
|
On the February 18 "Welcome to WE!" Show, Chitra Golestani, Wilmette Institute's Associate Director, shared her perspective on Community Building and Climate Action in MLK's "World House." "We, the World" aims to unite and amplify the efforts of people, organizations and global movements working for the common good. Chitra joined video recording artist Nimo Patel of Empty Hands Music and Corey Harnish of FunFunding, a game-based fundraising platform. Each discussed how their own area of expertise contributes to a sustainable, just and peaceful future. Watch the video on Facebook.
|
|
|
Tip for Sustainable Living
|
|
|
|
Photo by Skitterphoto from Pexels
|
|
As we saw last month, the environmental and social costs of electronics in their production phase are huge. This month we look at what happens to them at the end of their life.
|
|
The talks are live web video and are free. Just click to register, or go to our Facebook or YouTube page
Now on YouTube and Sound Cloud:
Steven Phelps
Joan Hernandez, Vahid Masrour, and Jessica Kerr
|
|
30% discount for first-time WI students
Video: Announcing March 2020 Courses
|
|
March 9, 2020-April 19, 2020
|
|
|
Watch video to learn more. Anonymous registration available.
|
Sometimes couples can lose some of their
connection with each other in the course of busy marriage and family life, work, and service. Participants will learn practical ways to build greater closeness, intimacy, and unity, while strengthening their love and friendship. They will also assess and improve their practice of equality, justice, and respect in their marriage. Couples who learn new skills and approaches can stay together for the long-term.
|
|
|
March 12, 2020-June 3, 2020
Organized by the United States National Baha'i Archives and taught by three Baha'i archivists, How to Collect, Arrange, Maintain and Promote a Baha'i Archives will introduce local and national Baha'i archivists to principles that will help them to organize and maintain their collections. Registration for the course is open to local and national Baha'i archivists (and to others only by permission of the National Archives). For more information, watch video.
|
|
|
March 12, 2020-May 6, 2020
Economics and Community Building is designed to prepare learners to take action in community-building and economic development. We will analyze the world's economic conditions through an in-depth study of the Baha'i Writings and recent letters from Baha'i institutions, as well as secular sources, and plan strategies for implementing their guidance to develop economic activities with moral and spiritual foundations. Topics include the economic significance of justice, economic well-being and prosperity, the impact of oneness on economic life, village and community economics, and applying the learning from the course.
|
|
In Indigenous Perspectives on the Sacred, we will examine the common threads found in indigenous spiritual beliefs and practices and the universal message of Baha'u'llah. We will explore how Native American teachings and values reflect some of the more salient teachings and principles of the Baha'i revelation and in so doing will also inquire into how culture shapes our perceptions of reality and seek to gain insights into our inherent cultural biases.
In our readings, discussions, and consultations, we will strive for expansive thinking and will also revisit 'Abdu'l-Baha's statement about the importance of the original inhabitants of North America and the Lakota prophecy about the rise of the Seventh Generation, reframing these statements in the context of the current Five Year Plan (2016-21).
|
|
|
|
|
Watch video
|
March 19, 2020-May 20, 2020
The Arts and Community Building is based on Jenina Lepard's book, The Fashioner: Reflections on the Role of Music and the Arts in Building a Global Community. We will take a theoretical look at the role of the arts in society and in the Baha'i Faith specifically as well as a practical look at how we can utilize various arts in core activities, feasts and holy days, and other aspects of Baha'i life. During the final two weeks of the course, learners will complete a final project based on their own ideas for incorporating the arts in at least one core activity.
|
|
|
March 26, 2020-May 6, 2020
The World Order of Bahá'u'lláh: Selected Letters, a compilation of letters written by Shoghi Effendi, identify the essential character and distinguishing features of the Baha'i Faith in contrast to other political and religious systems. In studying the letters, we will examine what Shoghi Effendi identifies as the defects of the prevailing world order, the guiding principles of the Baha'i system that will bring about World Order, and the necessary steps world leaders must take to rectify these defects. This course is designed to strengthen our understanding of the times in which we live and our certainty that humankind will pass through a daunting period of world history, knowing that world peace, the dream of the great thinkers of all ages, is not only possible but inevitable.
|
|
|
March 30, 2020-May 24, 2020
|
|
|
Watch video |
How can we help children place love for Baha'u'llah and the desire to be of service to others as the foundation of their lives? This course enables parents to explore how they can foster a child's connection to the Baha'i Faith through developing spiritually uplifting routines at home, engaging in service within the home as well as in their communities, and aligning family activities with the current goals of their communities. Participants will be given positive parenting tools inspired by the Baha'i Writings as well as hands-on strategies for implementing spiritual practices at home.
|
|
April 2-May 27, 2020
At a time when religious fanaticism and fundamentalism are spreading, and an ever-increasing number of people consider themselves "spiritual but not religious," the need to engage in fruitful interfaith dialogue is pressing. The Bahá'í Faith is in a unique position to inspire and support interfaith endeavors because the Faith's very scriptures contain the imperative to foster interfaith dialogue and names it as one of the prerequisites for world peace.
|
|
|
April 9-June 3, 2020
Climate Change provides a basic scientific understanding of the causes and impacts of climate change, discusses its ethical challenges, and relates them to the spiritual teachings of the world's religions, particularly the Baha'i Faith. It will help you consider changes in your lifestyle to bring greater coherence to your life and show you how to incorporate environmental and social responsibility in Baha'i core activities and community gatherings. It elevates public discourse above partisan politics by introducing spiritual responses to the climate crisis and demonstrating how the harmony of science and religion can be applied for the well-being of humankind. The course includes many optional resources for those who wish to delve more deeply into climate-change issues.
|
|
|
April 30-June 17, 2020
'Abdu'l-Bahá is unique in religious history. We will examine 'Abdu'l-Bahá's first five decades, 1844-92; His station as the Center of Bahá'u'lláh's Covenant and His early years as Head of the Faith, 1892-1910; His travels to and talks in Europe and North America, 1911-13, and His guidance of the Bahá'ís in those areas; World War I, war, and peace, 1914-21; His Will and Testament and His passing in 1921; and selected topics about 'Abdu'l-Bahá (teachings about governance; philosophy and theology; and evolution).
|
|
|
Register anytime and study at your own pace!
Currently available:
|
|
Wilmette Institute Links
Other Links
|
|
ABOUT US
The Wilmette Institute eNewsletter
The Wilmette Institute eNewsletter is published monthly by the Wilmette Institute, which
offers quality online courses on the Baha'i Faith. The Wilmette Institute is committed to engaging a broad and diverse international community of learners in deep study of the Faith and to fostering love for study of the Faith. The Wilmette Institute was established in January 1995 by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States.
Information from the eNewsletter may be copied or reproduced, provided that the following credit is given: "Reprinted from the eNewsletter of the Wilmette Institute," followed by the issue's date. Recipients are encouraged to forward the eNewsletter to friends. If you have questions, please email us at
[email protected].
Editor
Robert H. Stockman
Production
Robert H. Stockman
Niki Daniels
Contributors
Christine Muller
Chelsea Lee Smith
Susanne M. Alexander
Chitra Golestani
Robert Blecher
Sue Blythe
Ladan Delpak
Denise Ebenhoech
|
Wilmette Institute, 1233 Central Street, Evanston, IL, 60201-2886 USA
Phone 1.877.WILMETTE (1.877.945.6388)
Email: [email protected]
Web: http://wilmetteinstitute.org
Courses: http://courses.wilmetteinstitute.org
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/WilmetteInstitute
© 2020 National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States
www.bahai.us
|
|
See what's happening on our social sites:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
