The Babi And Baha'i Religions From Messianic Shiism to a World Religion

Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press. Near Fine. 1987. Paperback. 052131755X . B&W Maps & Illustrations; 8.35 X 5.51 X 0.79 inches; xiv, 243 pages; Soft cover has purple spine with yellow lettering. Cover has slight shelf wear. Illustrated with 2 b/w maps and 14 b/w pictures/charts. Pages are clean and tight; appears as if unused. This book... Is a seminal work that merits wider attention than it has received thus far. For those interested in the harder edge of Bahá’í scholarship, Peter Smith’s book can handily serve those serious students who may be seeking to delve into a socio-historical work on the Bahá’í Faith that reaches back to investigate and trace its transformation from an obscure Shaykhi sect into a modern world religion. Dr. Smith, professor in the faculty of social sciences and humanities at Mahidol University, Thailand, clearly states the purpose of his book in the Introduction: “These changing motifs [of the Bábí Faith] may be seen as part of a general process of transformation, whereby what was essentially a messianic Shi’i sect has developed into a world religion”. Notes; 3 appendices; index. .