Peter Smith earned a Certificate of Education, with distinction in Geography, from the University of Bristol, in 1972, followed by a B.Ed. in Geography with honors from the University of Bristol, England in 1973, and then a Ph.D. from the University of Lancaster, England, in the Sociology of Religion in 1983, with his dissertation later published as The Babi and Bahaʼi Religions: From Messianic Shiʻism to a World Religion. Along the way Smith convened four Bahá’í Studies Seminars while at the University of Lancaster – 1977, 1978, 1979 and 1980 – and gave a paper at an August 1983 conference on Bahá’í history at UCLA sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of Los Angeles and the Bahá’í Club, and two at a Labor Day Los Angeles conference in 1984 on Bahá’í history discussing the development of the religion in the West and liberal and fundamentalist attitudes in religions. He has published numerous books and articles about the Baha’i community and its history.
2026 Courses
Intro to Shi’ism, Apr. 6-June 14 with Moojan Momen
Understanding Religion: Social and Historical Aspects July 20 to Sept. 27 with Moojan Momen
2025 Courses