Paris Talks

‘Abdu’l-BaháProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

4.3

Word count: 240K words
Chapters: 25

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Paris Talks by `Abdu'l-BaháAuthor: `Abdu'l-Bahá, 1844-1921,Language: English, Class: BP: Philosophy, Psychology, Religion: Islam, Bahaism, Theosophy, Other and new beliefs, Release Date: Sep 18, 2006

Editor's review

Paris Talks collects a series of talks given by 'Abdu'l-Bahá in Paris, presented in English as one of the classic recorded discourses of the Bahá'í Faith. Its contents revolve around themes such as spiritual life, the oneness of humanity, the common origin of religions, peace, and education, in a plain and exhortatory tone; it serves well as an introductory reader for understanding Bahá'í teachings. As a public-domain eBook from Project Gutenberg, it is easily accessible and convenient to read on electronic devices at any time. Its value lies not in rigorous academic textual criticism but in presenting a religious-philosophical expression addressed to ordinary listeners: translating abstract beliefs into practicable everyday ethics. Readers may treat it as primary material for intellectual history and interreligious dialogue; reading it alongside the historical context of the Bahá'í movement will better convey the significance these talks held in the public discourse of their time. For readers interested in comparative religion, peace thought, or Persian–Western intellectual exchange, the book offers a brief yet concrete window for observation.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in the Bahá'í Faith and its Chinese-language study who need the original English talks
General readers and scholars studying comparative religion, peace thought, and cross-cultural dialogue
Beginning readers who wish to encounter religious-philosophical expression through short talks
Organizers who need a public-domain English electronic text for teaching or reading-group materials

Not a good fit for

Religious-studies researchers seeking a systematic theology textbook or a rigorously annotated scholarly edition
General readers who read only Chinese and do not wish to consult the original English
Readers expecting biographical narrative or detailed reconstruction of historical events

Reading tips

Begin with the table of contents, select the pieces on peace, education, and the oneness of humanity, then return to the other themes.
After each piece, note the core argument in two or three sentences to facilitate cross-comparison of the emphases of the various talks.
Read alongside the basic historical outline of the Bahá'í movement to avoid detaching the talks from their specific context.
If used for a reading group, choose two pieces per session: read each silently first, then discuss their contemporary relevance together.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is this book in Chinese or English?

According to the information, the book is an English eBook published by Project Gutenberg. Readers need some English reading ability, or a dictionary and translation tools.

Can I understand it without a background in religious studies?

Yes. The talks are addressed to ordinary listeners, the language is relatively plain, and the themes mostly concern spiritual life and human peace. When encountering proper nouns, you may skip them at first and simply grasp the core argument of each piece.

How does it differ from the author's other collection of talks?

The information indicates that both books are records of talks by 'Abdu'l-Bahá, but Paris Talks corresponds to the Paris series, while The Promulgation of Universal Peace is another collection. For the specific contents and arrangement, consult each book's main text; comparing their tables of contents to choose what to read is recommended.

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About the author

‘Abdu’l-Bahá Author · Iranian · 1844–1921

‘Abdu’l-Bahá (1844–1921), born ‘Abbás Effendi in Tehran, Iran, was a leading figure of the Bahá’í Faith and the eldest son of Bahá’u’lláh. After long imprisonment in ‘Akká, he was released in 1908 and subsequently traveled to Egypt, Europe, and the United States to spread Bahá’í teachings. His works address doctrinal exposition, ethical exhortation, and memorials of figures of the faith. Representative titles include Memorials of the Faithful, Paris Talks, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, Tablets of the Divine Plan, and Some Answered Questions, along with compiled or translated texts such as Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. His writing, often in the form of talks, letters, and answers to questions, is plain and hortatory in tone and had a profound influence on the spread of the Bahá’í Faith in Europe and America. He died in Haifa in 1921.