The Divine Curriculum

Imagine an ancient, universal and Divinely-conceived educational program in which all of creation is a classroom. In the last several thousand years, God has sent many great Divine Educators to humanity, such as Krishna, Abraham, Moses, Zoroaster, Buddha, Jesus, Muhammad, the Báb, and Bahá'u'lláh. Volume 5 of the Divine Curriculum series examines the life and teachings of the Báb. Less well known today, the story begins in Shíráz, a small city in southern Persia (Iran today), in May of 1844, when a young merchant declares to His first disciple that He has heard the Call of Almighty God in His soul. The Báb's teachings anticipated modern concerns: Perceiving the reflection of God's light in "all things", appreciating the oneness, infinity and grace of God, the unity of the Divine Educators, searching independently for truth, purity of worship, bringing joy not grief to others, reducing violence, keeping the environment pure, advancing women, promoting education, elevating humanity and more. The Báb said God had also given Him the mission to prepare the way for an even greater Divine Educator yet to come. Calling Himself the Báb, meaning "the Gate", His new Faith spread like wildfire. Fearful government and religious leaders persecuted the young Faith nearly to extinction. Arrested, exiled, imprisoned and tortured, the Báb Himself sacrificed His life for the Cause in 1850. 20,000 followers willingly laid down their lives. The Faith survived. It became a world religion, spreading to over 200 countries, and growing to more than five million members. Known known today as the Bahá'í Faith, it all begins with the heroic story of the Báb.