One of the regular attendants at the bi-weekly fireside in East Belfast, asked the host to give a presentation on the Bahá’í Faith to a group of women who attend the course she teaches on Cultural Diversity at the Ballybeen women’s Centre, Dundonald. In preparation of the session, the nine women, had all researched the internet about the Faith and came armed with printed materials, questions and took extensive notes. The session, with informal chat over a prepared projected PowerPoint presentation lasted two hours, touching on all aspects of the Faith, along with images and some of the Writings. The women left very happy and enthusiastic and in praise of the Faith, with pamphlets and the gift of a prayer by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.
The friend who had asked for the presentation was so pleased with it and the women’s reaction and their very positive comments the following week, that she asked for another presentation on the Faith, this time to be given to a group of women who do the same course with her in the Turf Lodge area of Belfast. This was a bigger group of 16 women of various ages. The atmosphere was very relaxed and the same presentation was given, this time without a projector, referring to the PowerPoint presentation on the laptop, which meant a lot more informal talking and seeing images of Houses of Worship and the Holy Land.
The group didn’t know anything about the Faith, asked numerous questions over the two hours, with a couple of staunch Catholic ladies asking questions about Christian subjects, such the death and the return of Christ, the role of the holy mother and repentance. The answers to these questions and the rest seemed to melt away any traces of suspicion and negative feelings and all took pamphlets and the gift of the prayer of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. Some asked to have copies of the Writings they heard and all left with very positive comments about the Faith and how it seemed to make sense and its gentle and peaceful way. One lady liked what she heard so much that she asked if she could continue to go to mass and be a Bahá’í. In both sessions, the tutor herself repeatedly made very positive comments about the Faith and her own experience of attending firesides and meeting Bahá’ís.
A week after the presentation in Turf Lodge, the friend reported that the group were so impressed by the presentation on the Faith the previous week that the whole of the two hours was spent in discussing the Bahá’í Faith, reflecting on their own religion in light of what they had heard and reading aloud the selection of the Bahá’í Writings they had asked for in the group.
ZMN
The latest issue of the UNIFEM UK newsletter (UNIFEM being, of course, the UN body that deals primarily with the development of the status of women) has some interesting faces in it. It contains a message from the President of UNIFEM-UK, Zarin Hainsworth, a Bahá'í and known to many of us here. Inside there is a profile of the Secretary of UNIFEM-UK, Wendi Momen, another Bahá'í and known to even more of us, especially those attending Summer School. The article talks about the life of “Hollywood born Wendi” and her involvement in many forms of UN-related activities over the years as well as other aspects of her support for a range of activities and organisations in the widercommunity. The article refers to Wendi’s Bahá'í faith and also shows how Bahá'ís have been involved with activities at the UN for many years.
Of course here in Northern Ireland Bahá'ís have a strong track record in supporting UNIFEM and other bodies dedicated to enhancing the position of women in society. Hazel Holmlund currently serves as the Chair of the Northern Ireland branch of UNIFEM-UK.
A look at the Bahá'í World News website will show an impressive variety of activities undertaken by Bahá'í women (and men) in many parts of the world in support of the empowerment of women and the development of equality
The January 2008 issue of Interreligious Insight —the quarterly international journal published jointly by the World Congress of Faiths and other interfaith organisations— reprints a statement issued by the Bahá'í Council for Northern Ireland. The statement “Appreciating Our Religious Diversity” was published early in 2007 and widely distributed. In his introduction to the reprint the Editor of Interreligious Insight describes it as “an example of the universalist emphasis of the Bahá'í faith”.
Ms Indye-Yah Prince (Belfast) who has declared her faith in Bahá'u'lláh and been enrolled in the Bahá'í community.
Anthony Sherwani and Carolina Gomez Zambrana on the marriage (Belfast, 27 Januaru 2008).
The passing of three longstanding NI Believers, Billy Galbraith, George Kissick Snr., and Ralph Rossi. See appreciations.
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