51. DOING THE BESHKAN

The men of the Universal House of Justice returned and resumed their positions at the spectacular nine pointed star table.

50. SAY AAH

Tension and confusion in the House. The members expressed their hurt-felt puzzlement.

49. CONCEIVE

ABM James Jones knelt eagerly beside his Stream screen. He fidgeted with the controls whilst keeping an eye and an ear glued to the fuzzy display.

“Hello. Hello. Can you hear me on your side?”

47. FIGHTING TALK

Having watched his copter cab ascend into the night, Brian Pain swiveled towards the seven or eight steps that led to James Jones’ apartment block. He was reminded of a favourite story; someday the rulers of the world would walk up through the terraces on Mount Carmel to pay homage to the Báb. No doubt that would be the day when the Faith would rule the world through the loving leadership of the Universal House of Justice… allowing Heaven to be brought forth on Earth.

46. HOUSE AND PAIN

“I strongly suspect the Apostinals. They are behind this. The half-truths; the clever use of technology; the unspeakable vulgarity and hatred; it has the smell of them. No doubt about it, this is a very well marshaled and well resourced venture. If it wasn’t for the anonymity I’d swear it was the work of the Edinburgh crew.”

19. CONSULTATION

Mr Erfanian had finished his story and sat down in his allocated seat humbly and greatly afflicted. The room was silent. The other six men seemed … taken aback.

18. CBS III – DEVILS, DISSIDENTS AND DRAMA

It Works!

True to previous religious form, from the get-go there were major contests for the hearts and minds of the Bábi and Baha’i faithful. Today there is one solid branch of the Baha’i Faith with six to eight million adherents and a fine World Centre on Mount Carmel in Haifa, Israel. In contrast, there are just a few twigs dotted around the world under alternative Baha’i and Bábi banners. These are the desiccated remnants of lost contests. This is just as imagined in Baha’i scripture! The focus on unity in the lesser covenant must work! As with all sacrifices, it has not been without cost.

17. COVENANT BREAKERS II

God’s Great Covenant With Us

The Baha’i take is that God made a covenant with the followers of all the major prophets of the monotheistic religions; Judaism, Christianity, Islam and the Baha’i Faith (with a bit of Bábi’ism thrown in beforehand). God promised to provide continuing guidance to humanity; the followers promised to obey God’s teaching as defined by the current prophet and then to obey the next prophet when he appeared as prophesied. Those who shelter under the umbrella of non-monotheistic religions and philosophies are not exempt, it’s the same sun. God made similar covenants with their prophet founders whether they know it or whether they know their prophet.

14. AGENDA

As soon as he completed his conversation with Mark McGuire, Behzad Rezvani called a Mr Erfanian in Haifa to recount the details.

 

[Behzad Rezvani]:

“Allah’u'abhá, Mr Erfanian. I have just spoken to McGuire and propositioned him as requested. I feel I pushed and pressed him with all the power I could muster. In the final analysis; he wants to know who is he is dealing with; he wants a written confirmation of the proposals and the intention of use; he may initiate some due diligence on ability to pay. And he wants the details by 6pm Eastern Time today.”

13. THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE

On a trip to Israel you might decide to cross Haifa Bay by boat, not on foot because how could you? And then you may wish to walk towards the beautiful Ben Gurion Boulevard. From there, you’d see straight up the slopes of the famous Mount Carmel.

 

Dominating and dug into that mountain, if a wee bit lopsided, is the Baha’i World Centre with its fabulous terraced gardens and imposing Greek-styled buildings. This is the headquarters of the Baha’i Faith.