Christopher
Buck & Kevin Locke

Christopher Buck (Ph.D., University of Toronto, 1996; J.D., Thomas M. Cooley Law School, 2006) is an attorney (Pittsburgh), independent scholar, faculty instructor at the Wilmette Institute (2001–present, Department of Bahá’í History & Texts, distance education), and former professor at Michigan State University (2000–2004, visiting assistant professor), Quincy University (1999–2000, visiting assistant professor), Millikin University (1997–1999, assistant professor) and Carleton University (1994–1996, sessional lecturer). Dr. Buck is the author of several books, including: Bahá’í Faith: The Basics (2021); God & Apple Pie: Religious Myths and Visions of America (2015), with an introduction by J. Gordon Melton (Distinguished Professor of American Religious History, Baylor University); Religious Myths and Visions of America (2009, “an original contribution to American studies,” Journal of American History, June 2011); Alain Locke: Faith and Philosophy (2005), Paradise and Paradigm: Key Symbols in Persian Christianity and the Baha'i Faith (1999), Symbol and Secret: Qur'an Commentary in Baha'u'llah's Kitab-i Iqan (1995/2004), and Religious Celebrations: An Encyclopedia of Holidays, Festivals, Solemn Observances, and Spiritual Commemorations (co-author, 2011). He has also contributed chapters in such books as: Human Rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran (2021); Winds of Change: The Challenge of Modernity in the Middle East and North Africa (2019, three chapters); The Bahá’í Faith and African American History (2019); ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Journey West: The Course of Human Solidarity (2013); Observing the Observer: The State of Islamic Studies in American Universities (2012); American Writers: "David Bottoms" (2018), British Writers: Ninian Smart ((2018); and "Edward Granville Browne" (2015), The Islamic World (2008), and The Wiley-Blackwell Companion to the Qur’an (2006/2017). He has published a number of academic journal articles and encyclopedia articles as well. As for popular, online articles, Buck has contributed over 350 articles to BahaiTeachings.org, and has collaborated with Kevin Locke (Tokaheya Inajin in Lakota, translation “First to Rise”), renowned Lakota hoop dancer and flutist, on the ongoing “Indigenous Messengers of God” series (80 articles so far, culminating in three articles on “Indigenous Land and Spiritual Acknowledgments”). In 2021, Buck and Locke teamed up to teach an online course, “The Great Spirit Speaks: Voices of the Wise Ones” (offered three times in 2021, by popular demand).

Author of Arising (2018), Kevin Locke (Tȟokaheya Inažiŋ in Lakota translation “First to Arise”) is a world famous visionary hoop dancer, preeminent player of the Indigenous North American flute, traditional storyteller, cultural ambassador, recording artist and educator. Kevin is Lakota and Anishinaabe. While his instructions were received from his immediate family and community, from extended family in every part of the world, Kevin has learned many lessons in global citizenship and how we each can draw from our individual heritages to create a vibrant, evolving global civilization embracing and celebrating our collective heritage.