Justice St. Rain of Special Ideas has published a heartfelt essay in his catalog about the contributions that Kalimat Press has made to the Baha'i community over the years. Folks like myself, who came into the Faith after the 1970s, need to realize just how brave and pioneering an effort Kalimat was, at a time when independent Baha'i publishing was all but unheard-of, and even opposed in some quarters.
Justice carefully avoids criticizing the US NSA for its decision against Kalimat, instead taking aim at the rumors flying around the community about what it did wrong. However, I would suggest that such rumors are inevitable -- given that the NSA was both very public and very vague about its order to stop all of its agencies from carrying Kalimat books. The NSA knew very well what kind of impact this would have on the community's attitude towards Kalimat.
But Justice stays more positive than I, and is helping in a more practical way than I can: Special Ideas will be carrying the full line of books from Kalimat Press. This company carries a broad variety of Baha'i materials, including not only books but prayer beads, Baha'i jewelry, music, proclamation materials, etc. So, it's worth checking out -- and certainly worth supporting a publisher which has made such a bold, yet non-confrontational statement on the situation.
2 comments:
I'm glad to know about this, Karen. Thanks for posting it.
Jim
I am a new Bahai, only two years now. But I was led to Baha' u'llah by dreams and visions of Jesus which I recorded in my prayer journal, and the fulfillment of a nineteen year prophecy which came to pass in the presence of a young Muslim woman whom I had just become friends with - the whole thing an allegory explaining the Bahai Faith.
Being a writer, I was amazed at all of this. In the twinkling of an eye not only was the prophecy solved, but also the story line to a project I had been working on for many years. It was written into my heart. I have written a half million words since then. I was a Christian, but God wrote the Bahai Faith into my heart, compelling me to become Bahai.
But I have been rejected by the Bahai's, as though this is some fabrication, my own glory quest. They refused me a membership, and barred me within sixty days.
I think that those currently in charge of the Bahai Faith are going to be surprised when they have to turn the reigns back over to the people, where it belongs. They have built their own thrones, but they will be shaken from their foundation. All they are is temporary librarians whose time will soon come.
Sonyata
Sonyata
Post a Comment