The Divine Curriculum: Divine Design (Volume 1) 2015, Wisdom Editions, Calumet Editions, Chanhassen, MN. This PowerPoint presentation.

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1 O true companions! All humankind are as children in a school, and the Dawning-Points of Light, the Sources of divine revelation, are the teachers, wondrous and without peer... Abdu l-bahá (Selections from the Writings of Abdu l-bahá, p. 128) O thou true friend! Read, in the school of God, the lessons of the spirit, and learn from love's Teacher the innermost truths. Seek out the secrets of Heaven, and tell of the overflowing grace and favour of God Abdu l-bahá (Selections from the Writings of Abdu l-bahá, p. 110) The Divine Curriculum: Divine Design (Volume 1) 2015, Wisdom Editions, Calumet Editions, Chanhassen, MN This PowerPoint presentation. This PowerPoint presentation. Edward Price September Edward Price September 2018

2 Why I wrote this book. This PowerPoint presentation. Edward Price September

3 I thought our understanding of the Faith, and the way it is taught, could be improved with an explicit focus on: The Person of Bahá u lláh and The Mission of Bahá u lláh But when I started, I faced a sudden realization. This PowerPoint presentation. Edward Price September

4 I discovered it wasn t really possible to do a book only on the mission of Bahá u lláh: It is evident, therefore, that the Holy Manifestations Who founded the religious systems are united and agreed; there is no differentiation possible in Their mission and teachings; all are reflectors of reality, and all are promulgators of the religion of God. Abdu l-bahá (The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 198) This PowerPoint presentation. Edward Price September

5 So, I realized, that in order for the mission of Bahá u lláh to really make sense, I would have to discuss ALL of the Manifestations of God, not just Bahá u lláh. Moreover, as soon became clear, I had to do it without showing ANY favoritism or partiality towards any of Them, including Bahá u lláh. This PowerPoint presentation. Edward Price September

6 At the same time, I realized that all of the prior Divine Educators were preparing humanity for the coming of Bahá u lláh. So, I also needed to address the goal for which They were all striving this Day the Day in which Divine civilization is finally established. The purpose underlying all creation is the revelation of this most sublime, this most holy Day, the Day known as the Day of God, in His Books and Scriptures -- the Day which all the Prophets, and the Chosen Ones, and the holy ones, have wished to witness. Bahá u lláh (Cited by Shoghi Effendi, The Advent of Divine Justice, p. 77) This PowerPoint presentation. Edward Price September

7 I ended up spending years on this project, and producing a multi-volume series (which is mostly all written at this point): Vol 1 Divine Design (published 12/15) Vol 2 Abraham and Moses Vol 3 Jesus Vol 4 Muhammad Vol 5 The Báb (expected in 2019) Vol 6 Bahá u lláh This PowerPoint presentation. Edward Price September

8 The layout of Volume 1. This PowerPoint presentation. Edward Price September

9 Logical flow of Volume 1 Introduction and Overview of the six Manifestations. On Curriculum. What is curriculum? What might be some features of Divine curriculum if God was designing it? Divine Reality. What/Who is God? The concept of God, especially the infinity of God according to the Scriptures. Divine Design. Why the Creator creates. For what purposes. What the Creator creates. Divine Educators. Who are They? Their Reality and Station? What do They do? How should humans respond to Their summons? Conclusion of Volume 1. Staying current with the Divine curriculum. Objective of the journey is discernment. Come and see! This PowerPoint presentation. Edward Price September

10 The concept of the Divine Curriculum This PowerPoint presentation. Edward Price September

11 Divine Curriculum, Basic Premises All of creation is a classroom. Human being are the students in the school of God (probably since they have walked upon the earth). God teaches through Divine Educators. The Divine Educators covered in this series are of the Abrahamic lineage, spanning about 4,000 years: Abraham, Moses, Jesus, Muhammad, the Báb and Bahá u lláh What curriculum has God been teaching? Towards what purposes? This PowerPoint presentation. Edward Price September

12 Divine Curriculum, Basic Premises School of God Students Teachers Textbooks Curriculum Purposes = Creation = Human beings = Divine Educators Abraham, Moses, Jesus, Muhammad, the Báb and Bahá u lláh, and Others = Their Scriptures = Their teachings (found in Their Scriptures) This PowerPoint presentation. Edward Price September

13 The Divine Curriculum Adam Noah Abraham Moses Jesus Muhammad The Bab 6,000 years ago Time 174 years ago, 1844 Dispensations not drawn to scale. This PowerPoint presentation. Edward Price September

14 Timeline The Divine Educators have appeared in history approximately every 500 to 1,000 years apart. There have been many of Them. Here are One s known to history. This PowerPoint presentation. Edward Price September

15 Timeline Krishna 3100 BC 5118 yrs ago Moses 1300 BC 3318 yrs ago Buddha 563 BC 2581 yrs ago Muhammad 610 AD 1408 yrs ago The Báb 1844 AD 174 yrs ago Abraham 1900 BC 3918 yrs ago Zoroaster 1000 BC 3018 yrs ago Jesus 33 BC 1985 yrs ago Bahá u lláh 1863 AD 155 yrs ago T o d a y 5000 yrs ago 4000 yrs ago 3000 yrs ago 2000 yrs ago 1000 yrs ago Note: This is drawn to scale. Each mark = 100 years. This PowerPoint presentation. Edward Price September

16 The Divine Educators This PowerPoint presentation. Edward Price September

17 This PowerPoint presentation. Edward Price September 2018 A note about my approach: The students in the classroom (human beings) have divergent, contradictory understandings of what the Teachers are teaching. The Teachers are not confused about Their own teachings (i.e. curriculum). Relying on Their Textbooks (i.e. Scriptures) is the only way to find the unity and continuity among them. Must be understood within the contextual circumstances of human history. Thus I try to rely on the Divine side of religion, not as much on the human side. Inspired by my Faith (Bahá í), I treat the Divine Educators with equal adoration. I cite from all Scriptures, so as to let Them speak with one Voice. 17

18 The underlying approach is the continuity of Divine revelation, i.e. that the Divine Educators are all Teachers on the faculty of the school of God, which is all of creation. They are working together, not in competition with one another, to deliver the Divine Curriculum to humanity. This PowerPoint presentation. Edward Price September

19 Unity of humanity Reflection of God Submission to God Continuity of the Divine curriculum implies both similarities and differences, unity and distinction, constancy and progression. In every Dispensation the light of Divine Guidance has been focused upon one central theme... Abdu l-bahá (Cited by Shoghi Effendi, The Promised Day is Come, p. 119) Over time, an entire curriculum is taught. This PowerPoint presentation. Edward Price September

20 The Need For An Educator...Were it not for the coming of these holy Manifestations of God all mankind would be found on the plane of the animal. They would remain darkened and ignorant like those who have been denied schooling and who never had a teacher or trainer... Abdu l-bahá (The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 466) This PowerPoint presentation. Edward Price September

21 The Divine Educators...Every one of them is a mirror of God, reflecting naught else but His Self, His Beauty, His Might and Glory, if ye will understand... Bahá'u'lláh (Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá u lláh, p. 74) This PowerPoint presentation. Edward Price September

22 The Divine Educators The Manifestations of God have a dual station: Unity and Distinction This PowerPoint presentation. Edward Price September

23 The Divine Educators The station of unity:...the station of pure abstraction and essential unity... Even as He hath revealed: No distinction do We make between any of His Messengers! Bahá u lláh (The Kitáb-i-Iqán, p. 152; Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá u lláh, p ) This PowerPoint presentation. Edward Price September

24 The Divine Educators It is evident, therefore, that the Holy Manifestations Who founded the religious systems are united and agreed; there is no differentiation possible in Their mission and teachings; all are reflectors of reality, and all are promulgators of the religion of God. Abdu l-bahá (The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 198) This PowerPoint presentation. Edward Price September

25 The Divine Educators thou hadst inquired which of the Prophets of God should be regarded as superior to others. Know thou assuredly that the essence of all the Prophets of God is one and the same. Their unity is absolute. God, the Creator, saith: There is no distinction whatsoever among the Bearers of My Message. They all have but one purpose; their secret is the same secret. To prefer one in honor to another, to exalt certain ones above the rest, is in no wise to be permitted. Every true Prophet hath regarded His Message as fundamentally the same as the Revelation of every other Prophet gone before Him. Bahá u lláh (Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá u lláh, p ) This PowerPoint presentation. Edward Price September

26 This PowerPoint presentation. Edward Price September

27 The Divine Educators The station of distinction:... Each Manifestation of God hath a distinct individuality, a definitely prescribed mission, a predestined Revelation... is characterized by a special attribute, fulfills a definite Mission, and is entrusted with a particular Revelation... Bahá'u'lláh (The Kitáb-i-Iqán, p. 176) This PowerPoint presentation. Edward Price September

28 The Continuity of Divine Revelation Baha u llah Future Manifestations of God Pieces are similar Pieces are different Each reveals part of the picture Buddha Jesus Muhammad The Bab Krishna Abraham Moses Zoroaster Every piece sets the stage for the ones to follow (continuity) Every piece builds on what was revealed before (continuity) This PowerPoint presentation. Edward Price September 2018 Every piece is essential to the whole The Divine Educators... Gradually revealing the Divine Curriculum 28

29 The Continuity of Divine Revelation The fundamental unity of these Messengers of God is clearly recognized, the continuity of their Revelations is affirmed, the Godgiven authority and correlative character of their Books is admitted, the singleness of their aims and purposes is proclaimed, the uniqueness of their influence emphasized, the ultimate reconciliation of their teachings and followers taught and anticipated Shoghi Effendi (The Promised Day is Come, p ) This PowerPoint presentation. Edward Price September

30 The Continuity of Divine Revelation The Faith standing identified with the name of Bahá'u'lláh disclaims any intention to belittle any of the Prophets gone before Him, to whittle down any of their teachings, to obscure, however slightly, the radiance of their Revelations, to oust them from the hearts of their followers, to abrogate the fundamentals of their doctrines, to discard any of their revealed Books, or to suppress the legitimate aspirations of their adherents. Repudiating the claim of any religion to be the final revelation of God to man, disclaiming finality for His own Revelation, Bahá'u'lláh inculcates the basic principle of the relativity of religious truth, the continuity of Divine Revelation, the progressiveness of religious experience. His aim is to widen the basis of all revealed religions and to unravel the mysteries of their scriptures. He insists on the unqualified recognition of the unity of their purpose, restates the eternal verities they enshrine, coordinates their functions, distinguishes the essential and the authentic from the nonessential and spurious in their teachings, separates the God-given truths from the priest-prompted superstitions, and on this as a basis proclaims the possibility, and even prophecies the inevitability, of their unification, and the consummation of their highest hopes. Shoghi Effendi (The Promised Day is Come, p ) This PowerPoint presentation. Edward Price September

31 The Continuity of Divine Revelation con-ti-nu-i-ty noun The state or quality of being continuous; uninterrupted connection or succession; close union of parts; a connected whole... This PowerPoint presentation. Edward Price September

32 Example: Human Continuity A baby A boy A youth A man This PowerPoint presentation. Edward Price September

33 Example: Human Continuity A baby A boy A youth A man This PowerPoint presentation. Edward Price September 2018 I m the little guy! 33

34 Example: Human Continuity A baby A boy A youth A man This PowerPoint presentation. Edward Price September

35 Example: Human Continuity A baby A boy A youth A man This PowerPoint presentation. Edward Price September

36 Example: Human Continuity Every stage is unique! This PowerPoint presentation. Edward Price September 2018 And yet, this is just one living person! 36

37 Example: Human Continuity This illustrates how unity and distinction are both implied by the term continuity. This PowerPoint presentation. Edward Price September

38 Let s apply this idea of continuity (i.e. unity and distinction) to the Revelations sent by God. This PowerPoint presentation. Edward Price September

39 The goal of the Divine curriculum is the goal of existence If God s creation has a purpose, it follows that every part of the Divine curriculum, from the earliest to the latest lessons, are designed to propel creation toward that purpose. Put simply, the goal towards which the Divine curriculum is striving will be the same as the purpose underlying all of creation and the purpose for which man was created. Edward Price (The Divine Curriculum: Divine Design, Volume One, p ) This PowerPoint presentation. Edward Price September

40 The Divine Curriculum Having created the world and all that liveth and moveth therein, He, through the direct operation of His unconstrained and sovereign Will, chose to confer upon man the unique distinction and capacity to know Him and to love Him -- a capacity that must needs be regarded as the generating impulse and the primary purpose underlying the whole of creation... Bahá u lláh (Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá u lláh, p. 65) This PowerPoint presentation. Edward Price September

41 The Divine Curriculum Unity of humanity Reflection of God Submission to God Bahá u lláh The Báb Muhammad Jesus Moses Abraham In every Dispensation the light of Divine Guidance has been focused upon one central theme... Abdu l-bahá This PowerPoint presentation. Edward Price September

42 The Divine Curriculum Bahá u lláh Establishing the Kingdom Future of God on Earth; Quickening Manifestations and Uniting the worldof God Kingdom of God; Submit Near Suffering Love to God Advent Buddha Jesus Muhammad The Báb Good vs Law of evil; freewill Duty One God God Krishna Abraham Moses Zoroaster In every Dispensation the light of Divine Guidance has been focused upon one central theme... Abdu l-bahá This PowerPoint presentation. Edward Price September

43 The Divine Curriculum Bahá u lláh Establishing the Kingdom Future of God on Earth; Quickening Manifestations and Uniting the world of God Kingdom of God; Submit Near Suffering Love to God Advent Buddha Jesus Muhammad The Báb Good vs Law of evil; freewill Duty One God God Krishna Abraham Moses Zoroaster The objectives of the Divine Curriculum: To know God To love God To choose God This PowerPoint presentation. Edward Price September

44 The Divine Curriculum Buddha Zoroaster Jesus Muhammad The objectives of the Divine Curriculum: This PowerPoint presentation. Edward Price September 2018 Moses Abraham Krishna The Báb Bahá u lláh To know God To love God To choose God The Manifestations of God are all on the same team:...behold Them all abiding in the same tabernacle, soaring in the same heaven, seated upon the same throne, uttering the same speech, and proclaiming the same Faith. - Bahá u lláh (The Kitáb-i-Iqán, p ) 44

45 What They All Taught Adam Noah Abraham Moses Jesus Muhammad The Báb & Bahá u lláh Humanity: conscience, individuality, intellect, sin, soul, responsibility, accountability More fundamental guidance re good vs. evil. Choosing good The oneness of God, the sacredness of human life, fighting idolatry, covenant relationship (ethical monotheism) More on the oneness of God, more on covenant, fighting idolatry, the law of God The Kingdom of God, afterlife, salvation, quickening power of the Holy Spirit, love of God & man Submission to the Will of God The beauty of God reflected in all things, the perspective of unity, progressive revelation, spiritual perfection, the oneness of humanity, etc. This PowerPoint presentation. Edward Price September

46 What They All Taught Doesn t this look like a fairly comprehensive curriculum to you? If you learned to do all these things (know the one God; obey, love and submit to God; reflect God; and unite with all people!), would your material nature be under the control of your spiritual nature or not? Age to age, continuity of the Divine curriculum requires both similarities and differences, unity and distinction, constancy and progression. In every Dispensation the light of Divine Guidance has been focused upon one central theme... Abdu l-bahá Over time, an entire curriculum is taught! Unity of humanity Reflection of God Submission to God This PowerPoint presentation. Edward Price September

47 What It All Amounted To Unity of humanity Reflection of God Submission to God The mission of the Prophets of God has been to train the souls of humanity and free them from the thralldom of natural instincts and physical tendencies. Abdu l-bahá (The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 310) This PowerPoint presentation. Edward Price September

48 What It All Amounted To Unity of humanity Reflection of God Submission to God Know, love & choose God To elevate the soul above self To conquer evil the insistent self, the real source of evil To make human nature heavenly God s civilization on earth This PowerPoint presentation. Edward Price September

49 The Divine curriculum is about overcoming the insistent self, which is equated with the conquest of evil. you can say without hesitation that the concept of Satan or the Devil as an actual being opposed to God is rejected by the Bahá'í teachings but that the term is understood by Bahá'ís to mean the promptings of self and desire and the dark side of human nature. Universal House of Justice (13 February 1974, from the Universal House of Justice, cited in a letter dated 16 December 1998, on the topic of traditional practices in Africa) O ye loved ones of God! In this, the Bahá'í dispensation, God's Cause is spirit unalloyed... Its only army is the love of God, its only joy the clear wine of His knowledge, its only battle the expounding of the Truth; its one crusade is against the insistent self, the evil promptings of the human heart. Its victory is to submit and yield, and to be selfless is its everlasting glory. In brief, it is spirit upon spirit Abdu l-bahá (Selections from the Writings of Abdu l-bahá, p ) 49 This PowerPoint presentation. Edward Price September 2018

50 The Divine curriculum is about overcoming the insistent self, which is equated with the conquest of evil. Alas for them! [Evildoers] They have deluded themselves with a fable, and to indulge their appetites they have done away with their own selves. They gave up everlasting glory in exchange for human pride, and they sacrificed greatness in both worlds to the demands of the insistent self. This is that of which We have forewarned you. Erelong shall ye behold the foolish in manifest loss. Abdu l-bahá, (Selections from the Writings of Abdu l-bahá, p. 258) O people of the world! Follow not the promptings of the self, for it summoneth insistently to wickedness and lust; follow, rather, Him Who is the Possessor of all created things, Who biddeth you to show forth piety, and manifest the fear of God. Bahá u lláh This PowerPoint presentation. Edward Price September 2018 (The Kitáb-i-Aqdás, p. 41) 50

51 The Divine curriculum is about overcoming the insistent self, which is equated with the conquest of evil. Every human being has a spiritual nature and also a material nature; his purpose is to subdue the material nature, which inclines him to evil, and, with the aid of Divine Teachings, to develop his spiritual nature so that he can manifest praiseworthy attributes The Bahá'í Teachings inform us that there is no independent force of evil in creation, but terms such as "devil" or Satan" are used in sacred books as symbols of the promptings of the lower nature of man. The Universal House of Justice (2 September 1992, letter to an individual on the topic of child abuse, psychology and knowledge of self) This PowerPoint presentation. Edward Price September

52 The Divine curriculum is about overcoming the insistent self, which is equated with the conquest of evil. Remember how Adam and the others once dwelt together in Eden. No sooner, however, did a quarrel break out between Adam and Satan than they were, one and all, banished from the Garden, and this was meant as a warning to the human race, a means of telling humankind that dissension even with the Devil is the way to bitter loss. This is why, in our illumined age, God teacheth that conflicts and disputes are not allowable, not even with Satan himself. Abdu l-bahá (Selections from the Writings of Abdu l-bahá, p. 275) This PowerPoint presentation. Edward Price September

53 Combing material and Divine civilization, the Divine curriculum converts the animal man into a human soul! although material civilization is one of the means for the progress of the world of mankind, yet until it becomes combined with Divine civilization, the desired result, which is the felicity of mankind, will not be attained... Material civilization is like the body. No matter how infinitely graceful, elegant and beautiful it may be, it is dead. Divine civilization is like the spirit, and the body gets its life from the spirit, otherwise it becomes a corpse. It has thus been made evident that the world of mankind is in need of the breaths of the Holy Spirit. Without the spirit the world of mankind is lifeless, and without this light the world of mankind is in utter darkness. For the world of nature is an animal world. Until man is born again from the world of nature, that is to say, becomes detached from the world of nature, he is essentially an animal, and it is the teachings of God which convert this animal into a human soul. Abdu l-bahá (Selections from the Writings of Abdu l-bahá, p ) This PowerPoint presentation. Edward Price September

54 The Dispensation of Bahá u lláh Bahá u lláh s Dispensation completed so far (beginning 1844) = 174 years (2.07 inches, 17.4 percent) Remaining time in this Dispensation of Bahá u lláh = at least 827 years (9.92 inches, 82.7 percent) We are here in history. This comparison IS drawn to scale. 173 years / est. 1,000 years = 17.3 percent The goal: The Most Great Peace established in these 1,000 years! Humanity s coming of age. Full conversion of the animal man into the angelic human soul. 54 This PowerPoint presentation. Edward Price September 2018

55 The Optimum Path of Education Future grades 9 th grade 7 th grade 8 th grade 4 th grade 5 th grade 6 th grade 1 st grade 2 nd grade 3 rd grade One School, Many Teachers This PowerPoint presentation. Edward Price September

56 The Future The Optimum Path of Divine Education The Báb Bahá u lláh Muhammad Jesus Buddha Adam Krishna Noah Abraham Moses Zoroaster One School, Many Teachers, Never-Ending, Universal Embrace This PowerPoint presentation. Edward Price September

57 The Cycle of Fulfillment You are here in human history The goal: The Most Great Peace established in these 1,000 years! Humanity s coming of age Adamic Cycle Time The Bab 173 years ago Baha u llah Dispensations not drawn to scale. Future Full human destiny is realizable only AFTER the Most Great Peace is established Time This PowerPoint presentation. Edward Price September 2018 Approx. 500,000 yrs in future 57

58 The Cycle of Fulfillment Adamic Cycle (6,000 yrs, ALL of recorded human history so far) = 0.15 inches Fulfillment Cycle (500,000 yrs) = 12.0 inches The Báb and Bahá u lláh are here in history. We are here as well. This comparison IS drawn to scale. 6,000 years / 506,000 years = 1.2 percent This PowerPoint presentation. Edward Price September

59 Humanity then BEGINS to fulfill its destiny! Then will the planet, galvanized through the universal belief of its dwellers in one God, and their allegiance to one common Revelation, mirror, within the limitations imposed upon it, the effulgent glories of the sovereignty of Bahá'u'lláh, shining in the plenitude of its splendour in the Abha Paradise, and be made the footstool of His Throne on high, and acclaimed as the earthly heaven, capable of fulfilling that ineffable destiny fixed for it, from time immemorial, by the love and wisdom of its Creator. Shoghi Effendi (The Promised Day Is Come, 28 March 1941, p ) This PowerPoint presentation. Edward Price September

60 So, from these quotes, I draw these conclusions 6,000 years of human history (the Adamic cycle) has been preparation. Everything we know of human history has been getting us ready! The Dispensation of Muhammad was the last One of the Adamic Cycle; when it ended, the cycle ended too The Dispensation of the Báb terminated the Islamic Dispensation, and it also terminated the Adamic Cycle; it was, in my view, the end of the beginning (of human history)! The Dispensation of Baha u llah marks the beginning of the middle of human history, that long stretch of time during which what it means to be human finally and fully emerges During or after the Dispensation of Bahá u lláh, mankind at last will become ready to realize the unimaginable destiny our loving God has in store for our species This PowerPoint presentation. Edward Price September

61 4000 yrs ago Abraham Oneness of God 3300 yrs ago Moses Law of God 2000 yrs ago Jesus Love of God 1400 yrs ago Muhammad Submission to God The Bab, Baha u llah God s Kingdom on Earth GOD Created man to know, love & choose God - the primary purpose underlying creation Divine Curriculum EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVE: knowing, loving & choosing God, conquer insistent self, soul, Divine civilization They are all on the SAME Mission, educating towards the same educational objective!! This PowerPoint presentation. Edward Price September 2018 Timeline 61

62 Thank you very much! I welcome Q&A. My edprice99@yahoo.com Call me: (hm) (cell) 62 This PowerPoint presentation. Edward Price September 2018