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List of Map, Figures, and Tables | |
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Preface | |
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Chronology | |
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Prologue: The Middle East in the Nineteenth Century | |
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History | |
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The Babi Movement | |
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Shi'ism and Shaykhism | |
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Shi'ism | |
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Shaykhism | |
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Sayyid 'Ali-Muhammad, the Bab | |
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The Bab's Declaration and Initial Claims | |
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The Establishment of a Movement | |
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Hopes and Tensions, September 1846-July 1848 | |
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Conflict and the Question of Babi Radicalism | |
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The Collapse of Babism as an Organized Movement, 1850-53 | |
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Baha'u'llah and the Emergence of the Baha'i Faith | |
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Baha'u'llah and the Reanimation of Babism, 1853-66 | |
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The Vision and Early Writings of Baha'u'llah | |
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The Rumelian Period, 1863-68 | |
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The Rumelian Writings | |
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The Syrian Period, 1868-92 | |
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The Syrian Writings | |
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'Proclamation' | |
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Law | |
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Social Reconstruction | |
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Other Themes | |
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The Family of Baha'u'llah | |
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The Emergence of the Baha'i Faith, c. 1866-92 | |
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Wider Diffusion | |
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Social Reformist Ideas Within the Movement | |
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The Ministry of 'Abdu'l-Baha, 1892-1921 | |
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The Succession | |
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'Abdu'l-Baha's Work and Legacy | |
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'Abdu'l-Baha and the Baha'is of the East | |
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The Internationalization of the Baha'i Faith | |
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The Guardianship of Shoghi Effendi, 1922-57 | |
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'Abdu'l-Baha's Will and the Establishment of the Guardianship | |
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Shoghi Effendi's Leadership | |
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Administration | |
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Inspiration and Definition | |
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History and 'Metahistory' | |
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'Planification' | |
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The 'Baha'i World Centre' | |
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Opposition and Covenant | |
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'Interregnum': The Custodianship of the Hands of the Cause, 1957-63 | |
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The Universal House of Justice, 1963- | |
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The Establishment of the Universal House of Justice | |
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Administration | |
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Expansion and Development Plans | |
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Baha'i World Centre | |
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'Deepening', Community Development and Law | |
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External Affairs | |
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Expansion Since 1921 | |
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Up to 1953 | |
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The Period of Global Expansion, 1953- | |
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Aspects of Expansion | |
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Distribution | |
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Regional Developments | |
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Iran | |
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Central Asia, the Caucasus, the Middle East, and North Africa | |
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North America | |
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Europe and Australasia | |
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Latin America and the Caribbean | |
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Sub-Saharan Africa | |
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Asia | |
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Oceania | |
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Beliefs | |
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Baha'i Texts: Sources of Belief and Practice | |
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Baha'i Texts | |
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Interpretation | |
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Language and Understanding | |
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Secondary Literature and Review | |
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Divine Knowledge and Guidance | |
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God and the Manifestations of God | |
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God | |
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The Manifestations of God | |
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'Lesser Prophets' | |
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Progressive Revelation | |
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The Doctrine of the Dovenant | |
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Authority and Infallibility | |
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God and His Creation | |
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Good and Evil | |
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Knowledge | |
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Reason and the Intellect | |
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Epistemological Skepticism and Relativism | |
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Being Human | |
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The Soul and Its Development | |
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Spiritual Education | |
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'Heaven' and 'Hell' | |
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Levels of Nearness | |
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Recognition of the Manifestation of God | |
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Suffering | |
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Death and the Afterlife | |
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Prayer and Intercession | |
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Rationalism | |
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The Baha'i Faith and Other Religions | |
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The 'Adamic Cycle' | |
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The Baha'i View of Other Religions | |
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Islam | |
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Judaism and Christianity | |
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Ancient Middle Eastern Religions | |
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Indian and Chinese Religions | |
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Indigenous Religions | |
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Relations with the Members of Other Religions | |
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Social Teachings and the Vision of a New World Order | |
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The Millennial Vision | |
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Agency and the Creation of a New World Order | |
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The 'Age of Transition' | |
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The Role of Religion | |
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The Goals of World Peace and Unity | |
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Peace | |
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Armaments | |
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Internationalism, the League, and the United Nations | |
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The Unity of Peoples | |
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Tolerance and Freedom from Prejudice | |
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Universal Language | |
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Social Order and Justice | |
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Governance | |
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The Control of Crime | |
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The Abolition of the Extremes of Wealth and Poverty | |
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The Role and Advancement of Women | |
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Gender Equality | |
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The Qualities of Gender | |
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Education | |
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Socio-Economic Development | |
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Being a Baha'i: Aspects of Baha'i Life | |
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The Spiritual Path | |
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'The Path' | |
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Turning to God | |
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Relations with Others | |
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Community Membership and Baha'i Law | |
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Community Membership | |
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The Concept and Practice of Holy Law | |
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Personal Obligations Towards God | |
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Prayer and Devotionalism | |
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Fasting | |
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Huququ'llah | |
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Marriage and Family Life | |
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Divorce | |
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Family Life | |
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Procreation Issues | |
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Domestic Violence | |
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Aspects of Individual Life | |
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Alcohol, Drugs, and Tobacco | |
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Sex | |
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Wills and Inheritance | |
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Burial | |
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Rituals | |
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General Aspects of Appearance and Behaviour | |
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Behaviour in Civil Society and Relations with the State | |
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Sanctions | |
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Baha'i Administration | |
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The 'Rulers' and 'Learned' | |
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The Universal House of Justice | |
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The Assembly System | |
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The 'Institutions of the Learned' | |
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International Institutions | |
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The Auxiliary Board Members and Their Assistants | |
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Overall Role | |
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The Administration and the Baha'i Community | |
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Consultation | |
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Consent and Appeal | |
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Elections | |
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Funding | |
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Aspects of Baha'i Community Life | |
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The Ideal of Baha'i Community Life | |
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The Baha'i Year | |
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The Calendar | |
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Holy Days | |
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Conferences, 'Summer Schools', and Institutes | |
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Holy Places and Pilgrimage | |
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Houses of Worship | |
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Music and the Arts | |
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Architecture | |
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Baha'i Activities and the Wider World | |
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The Mission of Expansion | |
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Teaching and Pioneering | |
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Consolidation and 'Deepening' | |
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Opposition | |
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Social Involvement | |
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Involvement with the United Nations | |
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Tolerance and Unity in Diversity | |
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The Advancement of Women | |
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Gender Differentiation | |
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Educational Involvement | |
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Socio-Economic Development | |
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Learning and Scholarship | |
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Some Final Comments | |
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Recent Baha'i Leaders | |
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Hands of the Cause of God Appointed by Shoghi Effendi, 1951-57 | |
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Members of the Universal House of Justice | |
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Select Bibliography | |
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Index | |