Charles Haynes met Avatar Meher Baba at the age of eight on May 21, 1958, at Meher Spiritual Center in Myrtle Beach, SC. In November 1962, Charles participated in Meher Baba’s East-West Gathering held at Guruprasad in Poona, India. Charles served for more than twenty years on the Board of Directors of Meher Center. In his professional career, Charles is a Senior Fellow at the Freedom Forum in Washington, D.C. and Founding Director of the Freedom Forum's Religious Freedom Center.

 

Charles is author or co-author of eleven books, including five about Meher Baba: 

Meher Baba,The Awakener; 

The Day Becomes the Answer: Wit and Wisdom of Elizabeth, disciple of Meher Baba; 

Kissed by God: A Childhood Memoir of Meher Baba; 

Norina's Gift: Messages from Meher Baba received through Princess Norina Matchabelli (with Christopher Wilson); 

Her Happiness Was Baba: Countess Nadine Tolstoy, Disciple of Meher Baba (forthcoming, with Christopher Wilson).

 

Other books by Charles Haynes include:

Religion in American Life (W.W. Norton); 

First Freedoms: A Documentary History of First Amendment Rights in America (Oxford University Press);

Taking Religion Seriously in the Curriculum (ASCD).

 

Charles Haynes has a B.A. from Emory University, M.T.S. from Harvard Divinity School, and Ph.D. from Emory University. His honors include: Sanford N. McDonnell Lifetime Achievement Award in Character Education, 2017; Mahatma Gandhi Award for Promotion of Pluralism, 2017; Religious Liberty Award, North American Association for Religious Liberty, 2013; Religious Freedom Award, Council for America’s First Freedom, 2008;

Emory University Medal, 2005

 

Charles has been married for 33 years to Christopher Wilson. Christopher first visited Meher Spiritual Center on May 21, 1987. He earned his doctorate in Art History from George Washington University and has published widely on Spanish and Latin American art, especially depictions of St. Teresa of Avila and other members of the Discalced Carmelite Order. He teaches History and Art History at Holton-Arms School in Bethesda, MD and serves on the board of Sheriar Foundation. 

 

Charles and Christopher reside in Alexandria, VA with dog companions Jimmy and Elwood and dusky-headed conure José.