Sites of Human Evolution at Mount Carmel: The Nahal Me’arot / Wadi el-Mughara Caves

Requiem for a Garden: Terraces of the Shrine of the Báb or Revisiting Alain Locke's “Impressions of Haifa” 1923 (Palestine) in 2023 (Israel)

This study revisits Alain Locke's 1923 visit to the Terraces of the Shrine of the Báb in Haifa, Palestine (now Israel), highlighting his spiritual and philosophical connection to the Bahá’í faith. Locke, a prominent African American philosopher, was drawn to the site's mystical aura, which he described as inducing a sense of reverence and awe. The research explores Locke's role within the Bahá’í community, challenging the notion that doctrinaire beliefs are necessary for spiritual membership. It contrasts Locke's critical pragmatism with the faith's principles, suggesting that his adherence was more about embodying values like racial amity and human co-fraternity than strict dogma. Additionally, the study reflects on the modern-day transformation of the site, juxtaposing its historical significance with contemporary political tensions in Israel-Palestine, particularly regarding land displacement and religious segregation.