A Baha'i Perspective

Ray grew up as an atheist. He explains how he could become a Baha'i from such a perspective.

When Kurt was 18, doing his freshman year at Chapman College, he participated in the Seven Seas division -- a four-month semester circling the globe on a ship. It was a transforming experience for him, allowing him to discover his world community. Kurt describes his finding the Baha'i Faith, and how it informed what he would do for the rest of his life.

After getting his PhD in education at the University of Massachusetts, Phil worked at the Baha'i National Center [as Secretary of the National Youth and Teaching Committees], then spent five years in Canada before going to Kenya in 1980 to develop and implement US Agency for International Development funded social and economic development projects. He and his family have been in Africa ever since. Most of Phil's work in Africa has been on educational development projects. Currently he is about to start up a project for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to enhance the use of radio for agricultural extension to small farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa. Phil had used radio before in Africa for social and economic development. His first project in Kenya used radio to teach English to children in rural primary schools.

Jess was born in New Zealand and studied film at university there. He then moved to London and started a film production company called Quest Media Productions. Their first production is called "The Wayfarer" which documents his investigation of the Baha'i Faith by traveling around the world.

Juli grew up as a Baha'i and pursued two careers: Computer Information Systems and Singer/Songwriter. Juli recorded a CD in 1998 called Jules From The Heart. Since 1997, Juli has been directing a Baha'i Youth Dance Workshop called NINE, which stands for Now Is The New Era.

"Nina is Iranian and came to this country in the late 70's with her husband to continue their education. Soon after arriving, the Islamic Revolution took place, and because they were Baha'is their funds for continuing school were completely cut off. They ultimately completed their education and Nina now teaches at Springfield College in MA."

Steve describes himself as growing up to become a "marginal" man - not completely integrated with his surroundings. His first encounter with Baha'is was when he was 20 years old returning from England on board a boat in 1957. On the boat were Baha'is returning from the funeral of Shoghi Effendi, the Guardian of the Baha'i Faith. Steve has a number of websites. He mentions his work with laughing yoga, that site is SpiritOfLaughter.com. His website promoting his writing is SLHemingway.com. And the website for his music is SLHemingway.Homestead.com.

Bill {me} came kicking and screaming to the Baha'i Faith. Getting him to tell his story also involved some kicking and screaming.

For this interview I did something different for A Baha'i Perspective. A listener asked if I would interview a Sikh performer. I thought this was an interesting proposition, so I took it on. So here is a telephone interview with Snatam, a Sikh musical performer. Snatam is an American. Her family became Sikhs when she was young and so grew up with the Sikh way of life. She has now started a family and travels performing her music and teaching yoga to children. You can find Snatam's music on the website spiritvoyage.com.

Judy is the product of a mixed marriage. Her father is native American and her mother is white. She grew up as a pentacostal christian but she had nagging questions even as she preached the gospel. She found herself in an abusive marriage and decided to leave Kansas and go to LA. It was in LA that Judy ran into the Baha'i Faith.

Although growing up, his community knew him as a musician, he went to college to study architectural engineering. However, music stayed with him throughout his life. In 1992 Van introduced the merging of the Gospel musical form and Baha'i scripture at the Baha'i World Congress in NYC. He is now the musical director at the Baha'i House of Worship in Willmette, IL.

Charles was going through life moving up the food chain when the Vietnam War and other personal tragedy hit. This caused him to start questioning the purpose of life and it was the beginning of his spiritual search. When he was about to think there was nothing out there that would feed his spiritual need, he ran into the Baha'i Faith.

A Native American who shares his Lakota heritage with audiences all over the world, including the traditional hoop dance and Northern Plains flute playing. You can learn more about Kevin at his website KevinLocke.com. After the close of this program you will hear excerpts from Kevin Locke's CDs Hoop of Life and Midnight Strong Heart.

Dell grew up in a musical family in Ohio and was a musician himself. He branched out into audio engineering for radio and then got involved in the movie industry. It was while he was working at Warner Bros. that he ran into the Baha'i Faith. His biggest project was starting up the Baha'i radio station WLGI.

A young man who grew up in a completely dysfunctional family and was heavily into gang activity during his youth, yet was able to rise above this history to become a Baha'i and dedicate his life to service toward humanity.