In 1936, a 60-year-old businessman in India had visions of a new world order of peace, love and truth. Such was the strength of his message that he drew a gathering of several hundred people, most of whom were women. Just over sixty years later, this obscure group, the Brahma Kumaris (BK) has become a highly respected worldwide movement with over 5,000 centers in 102 countries. The organization runs high-level conferences, a state-of-the-art hospital, retreat centers and courses for managers, healthcare workers, corrections officers, teachers and other professionals. It has also gained consultative status at the United Nations and is renowned for practical yet imaginative global campaigns such as the Million Minutes of Peace Appeal.
This fascinating book recounts the early beginnings of the Brahma Kumaris in the Sind region of India and the persecution they faced as their religious and social message went against mainstream Hindu thought.
Peace and Purity tracks the expansion of the group worldwide through the sixties, seventies and eighties when the group had become so important that it often focused on achieving peace on a political rather than spiritual level. Author Liz Hodgkinson describes how this unique organization headed by women has gradually attracted many thousands of people from all backgrounds to get involved in its teachings. The book concludes with several BK scholars answering questions of faith.