Warwick Leaflets
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"Warwick Leaflets" is the unofficial name for a large series of leaflets produced by Warwick Bahá'i Bookshop in Southam, Warwickshire, England. Many of them were at one time marketed in North America as the "Star Series" of leaflets.
Begun in 1989, the series gradually built up to the point where over 60 different titles exist, on a wide variety of subjects. Certain titles have been translated into other languages in other countries, and the most popular leaflet, "The Bahá'i Faith - What Is It?" also exists in Welsh. However, the majority of these leaflets only exist in English.
The aim has always been to inform the reader rather than to persuade, and every effort is made to ensure that the text of the leaflets is as accurate as possible. It is the policy of Warwick Bahá'í Bookshop to review each leaflet when it comes up for reprinting, updating the content if necessary. This includes updating website information.
During October, 2016, a milestone was passed when the millionth Warwick leaflet printed in England was sold. Below right is a photograph of Alison Baxter, a Bahá'í in the Republic of Ireland, holding the millionth leaflet, which she has just bought.
In January, 2020, a leaflet on "Climate Change - A Bahá'í View" should be published.
At the foot of this page there are links to the text of the majority of these leaflets.
Format[edit]
The majority of the leaflets are based on an A4 sheet of paper folded into three, usually with a "world and star" logo. (An example is shown in the photograph at the top, being the green and white leaflet to the right of the photograph.) These are termed "Enquirer" leaflets. The logo on them was designed by Warwick Bahá’í Bookshop for Bookshop use only. To a certain degree, the level of language varies between the leaflets - "Bahá'u'lláh" is written very simply, "Sustainable Development" uses more complex language. However, the great majority of the leaflets would be accessible to a wide range of readers. The leaflets seek to inform, rather than to persuade, and virtually every leaflet contains quotations direct from the Bahá’í Writings, to enable the reader to taste the exalted flavour of the Holy Word. As each leaflet is being reprinted, its appearance is also being updated. Some titles have had clipart-style images added to the front cover, and/or simple borders.
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A second series of leaflets is based on an A4 sheet folded into two, with no logo. These are called the "Believer" series, and are either for reference or for use by new believers, summing up the details of Bahá'í practice in, e.g. the Fast, Daily Devotions, etc. (The example in the photograph would be the blue leaflet at the top of the picture.)
A few, termed Presentation leaflets, are for use in specific situations, such as bereavement or at Christmas time. These are generally much smaller leaflets than all the others, and the same format is used for Bahá’í Prayers, a leaflet consisting solely of nine prayers for different situations. (Bahá'í Prayers is the small yellow leaflet at the bottom.)
Availability[edit]
At present there are no overseas distributors for Warwick leaflets, but they are available by post from England. Over 999,000 leaflets have been sold, not including local printings in the United States, Zambia, Australia, Malaysia, South Africa, etc., and also excluding translations. No stipulation is made as to minimum or maximum quantity supplied, and the leaflets can be purchased singly or in quantity, according to need. The text of most of these leaflets can also be downloaded from Bahá'í Library Online or from the Warwick Bahá'í Bookshop website.
Any individual or Bahá'í institution wishing to act as distributor or promoter of these leaflets in other countries should apply to Warwick Bahá'í Bookshop.
Uses of Leaflets[edit]
Leaflets can be used in a number of ways, whether as part of the teacher's toolkit or as part of a public display. However, randomly handing out leaflets to passers-by does not necessarily lead to positive results. See the article Use of Leaflets.
Future Plans[edit]
Warwick Bahá'i Bookshop is currently giving serious consideration to several new titles, with further new leaflets likely to appear in print in the near future. In addition, as each existing leaflet comes up for reprinting, the text is reviewed and if necessary updated. A tiny number will be discontinued when stocks are exhausted. The leaflet Ecology - A Bahá'i View has been replaced by Caring for the Environment. The popular leaflet World Peace, which was based on the Universal House of Justice letter The Promise of World Peace, will not be reprinted. In January 2015, it was replaced by a simpler leaflet with a completely different text, entitled The Way To World Peace. In June, 2015, a review of the leaflets available has led to the idea of updating the text of several other leaflets, even though stocks of the original versions still exist. This could take several months.
The possibility has also been considered of writing certain leaflets in one of the Warwick formats, but only "publishing" them online. This idea might be employed for subjects such as "Bahá'í Funds", which new believers should find useful for reference, and which could be downloaded when necessary, but which would not be purchased by the believers in sufficient quantity to make them commercially viable.
In August, 2015, a new leaflet was added, entitled "The Importance of Religion - A Bahá'í View". The text of this leaflet is specifically intended to be given to those who argue that it is religion which causes the trouble in the world. It is worded in such a way that any reasonable person can see that the current resurgence of religious fanaticism is not sanctioned by the religions themselves.
Bicentenary Leaflets[edit]
In April 2017, a new leaflet on the Bicentenary of the Birth of Bahá'u'lláh was added. This is in full colour, but still at a low retail price. Permission for locally-produced versions has been granted to a number of countries, including Uganda, Namibia, Australia, the United States of America and Singapore. The Brisbane printing of the leaflet erroneously claims copyright for the Australian version of this leaflet, which remains under the copyright of Warwick Bahá'í Bookshop. Many thousands of copies of this leaflet have been printed world-wide, and are still in use beyond the weekend of the Twin Birthdays. The American one alone had to have 40,000 copies printed. [A photograph of the U.K. version of this leaflet can be found at Warwick Bahá’í Bookshop.] A leaflet for the Bicentenary of the Birth of the Báb was added in May, 2018, and permission for local printing has again been given to the Brisbane Bookshop and to Special Ideas in Indiana.
Centenary of the Passing of Abdu'l-Bahá[edit]
In February, 2021, a leaflet entitled "Abdu'l-Bahá - the 'Master'" was published, which can be used before, during and after the period of the Centenary of the Passing of Abdu'l-Bahá. Permission to reprint has been given to Special Ideas and to the Bahá'ís in Namibia.
Currently Available[edit]
The following titles are currently available. Individual copies of most of these can also be downloaded (see below). Please note that the leaflet, "Bicentenary of the Birth of Bahá'u'lláh", is available for download from the United States, but is not downloadable from the Warwick Bookshop website.
Enquirer Series
Abdu'l-Bahá in Britain
Abdu'l-Bahá - "The Master"
After Communism - What Next?
All Religions Are One
Bahá'i Administration
Bahá'i Consultation
Bahá'i Education
Bahá'i Faith and Queen Victoria, The
Bahá'i Faith - A new Religion For A New Age, The
Bahá'i Faith - Being A Bahá'i, The
Bahá'i Faith - How It Began, The
Bahá'i Faith - What Is It?, The
Bahá'i Marriage
Bahá'u'lláh (simple text)
Bahá'u'lláh - Messenger of God
Bahá'u'lláh - The Promised One
Bicentenary of the Birth of Bahá'u'lláh
Bicentenary of the Birth of the Báb
Buddhism and the Bahá'i Faith
Caring for the Environment
Christianity and the Bahá'i Faith
Economics - A Bahá'i Approach
Education: A Bahá'í View
Family Life
Fasting and the Bahá'i Fast
Food and Farming
Freedom From terrorism
Freedom of Speech
Future of Monarchy, The
God's Promise to Humanity
Good and Evil
Health and Healing - A Bahá'i View
Hinduism and the Bahá'i Faith
Importance of Religion, The
Islam and the Bahá'i Faith
Judaism and the Bahá'i Faith
Law and Order
Life of the Soul, The
Meaning of Suffering, The
Nature of God, The
New Age, The
New Millennium, The
New World Order, The
One Human Race
Prayer and Meditation
Religion and Science
Return of Christ, The
Sikhism and the Bahá'i Faith
Space - The Final Frontier?
Status of Women, The
Sustainable Development
Treatment of Animals
Way to World Peace, The
Why are we Here?
Words of Inspiration
World Citizenship
World Peace
Believers Series
Bahá'i Fast, The
Becoming A Bahá'i - What Do I Need To Know?
Counsellors, Board Members and Assistants
Daily Devotions
Presentation Series
Bahá'is and Christmas
Bahá'i Prayers
Dear Parent
Life After Death
