Isle of Lewis Bahai community

Our community is a friendly and warm society of friends of all ages from a wide variety of cultures
There are Bahai friends in many different areas of Lewis as well as Stornoway, such as Back, Lochs, Point and West side.

If you would like to find out more, please contact the community secretary.
      

        Isle of Lewis Community Secretary: e mail minasheppard@hotmail.com
                                                       Telephone 01851870434
                                                             Mobile 07798700443

Special item:
                     You are kindly invited to come and enjoy.

The centenary of Abdu'l-Bahá's Visit to Scotland is celebrated by the Bahais of Isle of Lewis with series of public meetings in Stornoway during the next 12 months.
All  the meetings will be held at the Art Centre (An Lanntair), Stornoway

Harmony of Religion and Science, and that it constitutes the basis for a peaceful ordered and progressive society…. ……………February 2012
Speakers………………………   Mhairi and Ralf Schmit
Spiritual solutions to economic problems…………………. March 2012
Speakers…………………...Rosemary and Ronnie Bindra
Independent investigation of truth………………………… .  April 2012
             Speaker………………………………George Macdonald
Adoption of an auxiliary universal language………………….May 2012
Speaker……………………………….Noelle Sharrock
Establishment and safeguarding of a permanent and universal peace as a
      the supreme goal of mankind………………………………….June 2012
      Speaker………………………………..Elizabeth Emerson
Abolition of all forms of prejudices, whether religious, racial, class or national………………………………………………………....July 2012
Speaker………………………………………Pat Macnicol
Universal, compulsory education…………………………...August 2012
Speaker……………………………………….Sandi Humphry
Work performed in the spirit of service to mankind exalted to the rank of worship…………………………………………………..September 2012
Speaker………………………………………Maggie Manvell
Equal opportunity, right and privileges for men and women
                           ………………………………………………..October 2012
      Speakers……………………………….Ann and Tom Mackenzie
Establishment of the institution of an international tribunal system…………………………………………………….November 2012
Speaker………………………………To be announced…………………
Unity of God and His prophets,…………………………..December 2012
Speaker…………………………………………Sarah Broun
Oneness of all religions and the entire human race,………...January 2013
Speaker…………………………………………Sarah Broun

All the speakers are from Highlands and Islands.

 

Abdu’l-Baha was freed and He travelled to Scotland.
How impossible it was for a prisoner of a tyrannous sultan  to cross over the walls enclosing Him, let alone to travel to the West, visiting countries such as Scotland.  Suddenly, in 1908 due to the movement of the young Turks, all political prisoners of the old Ottoman regime were freed. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was now a free man and  the Western Bahá’ís started preparation to host their beloved Master.
In 1911 and 1912, Abdul-Baha had already visited Egypt, Austria, France, United States and London generally staying with senior churchmen or leading figures in government and drawing huge crowds to His talks.
He came to Scotland on 6th January 1913 for about a week, at the invitation of Mrs Whyte wife of the Rev. Dr Alexander Whyte, the Moderator of the Presbyterian Reformed Free Church, a leading figure in the Free Church in Scotland.
She had previously visited Abdul-Baha in prison while she was in Palestine. Back in Edinburgh she spoke widely of Him, giving formal talks and writing articles. As a result,  His history , His beliefs, His travels and His photographs appeared frequently in news papers, and thus by the time of His visit there was a considerable buzz of expectation!
Rev. Whyte encouraged his wife’s aims of promoting Abdul-Baha and giving publicity to His Faith. As a result, even before Abdul-Baha’s visit, the first Scottish Bahai meetings were held. He was invited to stay in the Manse.

He addressed  university students on Oneness of religion.
He spoke to a packed audience on the need for an international language.
He met with suffragists at the Manse and outlined equality of the sexes.
He visited orphanage and attended a performance of Handle’s Messiah in aid of the poor.
He spoke about the need to be always  open to truth and not follow blindly.
He replied to Andrew Carnegie’s letters who had attended his meetings.
Newspapers carried lengthy, positive reports of the meetings as well as articles on the Bahai Faith throughout His visit and for several months afterwards, often publishing talks in full. However, there was controversy too. Faith’s tolerance of other religions was criticised by Christians as being contrary

 

 

Regular Activities

   
Study Circles
Study Circles are a systematic way of learning about Spirituality and the Baha'i Faith, with special emphasis being placed on putting spirituality into practice. The popular Ruhi Books follow themes such as the Life of the Spirit, Arising to Serve, Children's Classes, Baha'i History, and Walking Together. In these Study Circles there is no leader directing the 'right' answers: the Study Circle has a facilitator encouraging everybody's heart-felt input as a valuable contribution, through the exploration of different questions, quotations and themes. If you are interested in taking part in a Study Circle, please contact us.

 

Firesides

Firesides are an evening of open questions and discussion on a broad range of topics in a homely environment, often beginning with a meal together.
If you are interested in attending a Fireside, please contact us.

Children's Classes
Children's classes bring into a child's life spiritual and emotional skills, character building and an understanding of spirituality.
If you are interested in Children's Classes in your home or area, please do contact us.

Deepenings
In addition to firesides, there are many one-off study evenings that are held, often called deepenings.

Holy Days
Public Holy Days are commemorated every year on the following dates :

21 Mar, 21 Apr, 29 Apr, 2 May, 23 May, 29 May, 9 July, 20 Oct, 12 Nov, 26 Nov,
28 Nov.

19 Day Feasts
Feasts are a time for the Baha'is to get together amongst themselves, say prayers, consult and have a social time. We hold them every 19 days.
Contact : Secretary.

Young people’s Summer Trips;
Youth & Children Summer trips in July where the young people enjoy a week of prayers, indoor and outdoor  activities and a get together.

The Bahai Story

1844  The Báb  ("Gate")
The Bahá'í Faith dawned on 22 May 1844 when Mirza 'Ali-Muhammad of Shiraz, known as the Báb, the Gate, arose to fulfil His twofold mission, infusing the land with wonderful spiritual attractions and heralding to the world One Who was immensely greater than Himself, Who would inaugurate a fresh and unprecedented era in the spiritual history of mankind. The Báb's untold sufferings and imprisonments, the heroism and sacrifices of His disciples, the circumstances of His tragic martyrdom and the afflictions experienced by His community, are vividly detailed in every book exploring the Faith.

1863  Bahá'u'lláh  ("Splendour of God")
The One foretold by the Báb, Bahá'u'lláh, the Splendour of God, arose in 1863 whilst an exile in Baghdad, attracting all around by His spiritual presence, transforming people to great spiritual heights, admonishing the kings and powers of the world, laying down the divine principles of a new civilization. Bitterly opposed and stripped of all property and rights, reliant solely upon God, exiled to Iraq, Constantinople, Adrianople, and incarcerated in the penal colony of 'Akká, Bahá'u'lláh suffered untold sufferings, yet conquered every challenge and adversity that rose up against Him, passing eventually from this world in 1892.

1892  Abdu'l-Bahá  (Interpreter)
The authorized Interpreter and personal Example of Bahá'í teachings, was Bahá'u'lláh's most remarkable eldest son 'Abdu'l-Bahá (Servant of Bahá). Bahá'u'lláh appointed Abdu'l-Bahá as the Centre to whom all should turn for instruction and guidance. Ever since a child, 'Abdu'l-Bahá shared all the sorrows and sufferings of Bahá'u'lláh. He remained a prisoner until 1908, when the regime in Turkey became overthrown and religious and political prisoners liberated. Whilst continuing to make Palestine his home, Abdu'l-Bahá undertook extensive tours of Egypt, Europe and America, as well as visiting London, Edinburgh and Bristol in the United Kingdom, ceaselessly explaining and exemplifying the principles of the Bahá'í Faith, inspiring and directing the activities of friends and followers throughout the world, transforming the lives, hearts and minds of all levels of society, interacting freely and wholly at home with both the prominent and the down-trodden. He passed away in 1921 in Haifa, Palestine.

1921  Shoghi Effendi  (Guardian)
Abdu'l-Bahá appointed his grandson Shoghi Effendi to succeed him as Guardian of the Faith, who raised up and established the framework of the Bahá'í Faith. Shoghi Effendi passed away in 1957, and in 1963 the Universal House of Justice was established as the central guiding institution of the Faith.

Today
Today the Bahá'í Faith is numbered around six million adherents, and is the second-most geographically widespread religion in the world after Christianity.
The Bahá'í Faith began to take firm root in Edinburgh itself from 1948, and has since that time grown considerably in number.

For more information contact;

Isle of Lewis Community Secretary: Mina Sheppard

e mail;               minasheppard@hotmail.com
                                  Telephone 01851870434
                              Mobile 07798700443

Bahai Council for Scotland      0800 038 1844
UK Bahai National Office        020 7584 2566

27 Rutland Gate, London SW7 1PD