Customer Reviews

Modernity and the Millennium

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This volume is an important study contributing to an understanding of
the place of Baha'u'llah, the Founder of the Baha'i Faith, in the
intellectual milieu of the late 19th century Middle East. It is not,
however, a definitive or well-rounded study on Baha'u'llah. Dr. Cole
has been selective about what to emphasize or ignore -- such as some
of Baha'u'llah's more challenging claims to divinity and spiritual
authority, passages in Baha'u'llah's writings that undermine the
author's thesis that Baha'u'llah was strictly committed to a
western-style principle of rigid separation of church and state, and
other interpretations of Baha'u'llah's writings which are regarded as
authoritative by Baha'is. Nevertheless, Cole's is a useful study of
the liberality of spirit and wide-ranging influence exerted by
Baha'u'llah upon the most important of his Middle Eastern
contemporaries. It should not be read as a definitive description of
Baha'u'llah's doctrine or as a comprehensive intellectual history of
Baha'u'llah's influence, for it was not the Middle Eastern
intellectuals but ordinary people who accepted Baha'u'llah's claims to
prophethood and built the international Baha'i community. Dr. Cole's
book was not written to address Baha'u'llah's longer-range spiritual
influence upon ever more followers, the vast majority of whom are in
underdeveloped countries. ...

I found the book to be very ingrossing. I looked forward to reading sections of it twice a day. As part of my background, I have studied and participated in Sufi activities (1972-1976) and have been a Baha'i since 1972.

The book is, by-and large, very readable, very interesting and sheds some light on the circumstances and conditions of the time of the Babi and Baha'i revelations. I feel I have a better understanding of the culture, customs and history of that time. I also welcome the perspective which the author brings to the subject.

As for any controversy regarding this book or its author, the book contains a few points which may disturb the comfort level of some readers, but nothing that shakes my Faith in the essence of the Revelation, or cause me to question the author's point of view or motives.

Juan R.I. Cole's *Modernity and the Millenium* is perhaps among the most important studies of the early Baha'i movement written the past twenty years. Cole's comparative focus and analysis of political ideas and philosophies in a nineteenth century Middle Eastern setting highlights the impact and relevance of various strands of European Enlightment thought such as democracy, religious reform and liberalism upon an Iranian millenarian movement such the Baha'i Faith. A must read for any serious student of the Babi/Baha'i movement and especially the Nineteenth Century Middle East.

While there exists a plethora of apologetic material on this young religion (for the most part provided by Baha'i officialdom which maintains a vigilant eye on any and all material written by its adherents), there is precious little available that addresses the Baha'i faith from an academically sound historical approach. Modernity and the Millenium is one of the few texts to bridge the gap, written by a follower of the Baha'i prophet Baha'u'llah who is also an academically respected and published historian. Modernity and the Millenium provides fresh insights about the contextual universe of both Baha'u'llah and his religion. Highly recommended reading for professional historians and researchers, as well as the interested layperson.

If believers in the Baha'i religion are looking for unthinking and uncritical support for their previously held assumptions and beliefs about Baha'i history, this is not the book for them. They are best advised to look to other popular and religiously approved books, of which there are many. Dr. Cole's book is the first fully scholarly and academic study of this period of the Baha'i religion to be published by a university press. It is a full-dress, academic work--and if you find that sort of thing boring, then again you are advised to steer clear and read the popular literature that is available. However, if you are interested in brilliant and original scholarship, well this is it! The book is a thoroughly documented, original, and insightful history and interpretation of the political and social teachings of Baha'u'llah (1817-1892), the founder of the Baha'i religion. This is not an orthodox retelling of Baha'i history, but a new and important contribution to the growing field of Baha'i Studies.

The negative comments of several Baha'i reviewers on this forum should be completely disregarded, as it - besides the fact that none address the actual content of the book - betrays the overt biases of and systematic assault by the Baha'i institutional administrative propaganda machine which since 1996 has launched an inquisition against all legitimate academic critical historical scholarship and inquiry and those who pursue it, and particularly the author Juan Cole who was forced to resign from the Baha'i religion for fear of being declared a heretic by an ultra-conservative entrenched power elite currently in control of the religion. As such vacuous rhetorical points made by one reviwer about the book being "white liberal academic diatribe" ought to be taken with so many grains of salt and as so many rantings within the context of nonsensical gibberish. Another bogus charge levelled by yet another Baha'i reviewer claiming that Cole wished to become a self-styled "mujtahid," besides being an outright lie and intentional obfuscation of the truth, should also be seen as being at base ideologically driven. Having made the above comments, readers should know that Modernity and the Millenium as a study is one of the first of its kind in that for the first time the underlying social and political dynamics, causes and effects generating the Baha'i movement is analysed and discussed in depth within a single study. Issues such as democracy, colonialism, reform, women's rights, anti-militarism, communitarianism, etc, and the views of Baha'i founders on these key questions are dealt with, soundly demonstrated, and in comparative scope. Cole is to be warmly congratulated for undertaking this groundbreaking work and focusing upon an otherwise neglected aspect of Baha'i history and social thought.

By placing Baha'u'llah's thought in the context of his times, "Modernity and the Millenium" gave me a whole new appreciation for his breadth and creativity. Since this book challenges some safe and comfortable Baha'i assumptions, I found myself looking at Baha'i social teachings from a whole new perspective. It's a rare book that can help you see with new eyes, and this is one.

The negative comments of several Baha'i reviewers on this forum should be completely disregarded, as it - besides the fact that none address the actual content of the book - betrays the overt biases of and systematic assault by the Baha'i institutional administrative propaganda machine which since 1996 has launched an inquisition against all legitimate academic critical historical scholarship and inquiry and those who pursue it, and particularly the author Juan Cole who was forced to resign from the Baha'i religion for fear of being branded a heretic by an ultra-conservative entrenched power elite currently in control of the religion. Having made the above comments, readers should know that Modernity and the Millenium as a study is one of the first of its kind in that for the first time the underlying social and political dynamics generating the Baha'i movement is analysed and discussed in depth within a single study. Issues such as democracy, reform, women's rights, anti-militarism, communitarianism, etc, and the views of Baha'i founders on these key questions are dealt with, demonstrated, and in comparative scope. Cole is to be warmly congratulated for undertaking this groundbreaking work and focusing upon otherwise neglected aspects of Baha'i history and social thought.

Apologize for islamic barbarism pays well these days, Juan? Juan Cole's credentials are consistently undermined but his uncanny ability to apologize and/or ignore the savagery perpetrated by the Shia on ALL non-Shia citizens in their midst. This blatant deception reduces the entire work to yet another source of propaganda with that mighty Islamic stamp of approval. Who pays your bills, Juan?

If you're looking for information on something, research a little about the author first.

From my research I found that Dr. Cole is not a member or even associated with the Baha'i Faith, so his writings are simply his opinions on how the Baha'i Faith stands on certain issues. That did not surprise me after I had read the book, since the information in the book did not seem to match the ideas I had discussed before with Baha'is.

If you're looking for accurate information on the principles and issues raised in the Baha'i Faith, then the following are some great books that I would recommend instead of this:

"Baha'u'llah and the New Era: An Introduction to the Baha'i Faith" by Esslemont (ISBN 0877431604)

"Thief in the Night" by William Sears

These works are accepted by the members of the Baha'i Faith as an accurate representation of their beliefs. After reading those, I would look for books by the following authors:

Baha'u'llah
Abdu'l-Baha
Shoghi Effendi