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.
