Reading Groups

The Crisis of Identity in the Health Field and Exploring Frameworks that Promote Oneness and Unity

Oneness and unity are fundamental concepts within the Baha’i Faith. For example, Bahá’u’lláh, Founder of the Baha’i Faith writes: “The utterance of God is a lamp, whose light is these words: Ye are the fruits of one tree, and the leaves of one branch. Deal ye one with another with the utmost love and harmony, with friendliness and fellowship. He Who is the Day Star of Truth beareth Me witness! So powerful is the light of unity that it can illuminate the whole earth.” This central teaching has tremendous implications for a society plagued by a crisis of identity which often focuses on divisions rather than commonalities. In the health field, which strives to improve the health and wellbeing of all people, the focus on division is clear. To build a  comprehensive knowledge base and a manageable clinical practice, focusing specifically on parts of our bodies (e.g., particular organ systems), health issues (e.g., diabetes, HIV, cancer), or ways of conceptualizing and managing health and wellbeing (e.g., naturopathic medicine versus allopathic medicine) has been necessary. However, the way we perceive our identity has major implications on the values we adopt and in turn how we organize our healthcare systems, conduct research within the health sciences, as well as design and implement health policies. The purpose of this group is to think about how a professional identity and definition for health and wellbeing built on the concepts of oneness and unity can evolve the way we conceptualize disciplines and domains within the health field. Specifically, we will begin by reading editorials and papers that explore the topic of professional identity in the health field, followed by an exploration of frameworks and approaches that facilitate (a) integration and collaboration across disciplines, and (b) a holistic understanding of health and wellbeing.Participants are encouraged to complete all the readings prior to each session.

Facilitator: Anish Arora

Schedule: Weekly (Saturday) 3 February - 20 April, 4:00 – 5:30 PM Eastern time

Methodological Approaches to the Study of Religion within the Discipline of History Part 3: The Reclamation of Religion in Modern Thought

The question of why we study history and the role of history in shaping human thought has been debated since the dawn of civilization. Those who argue that studying history is useful, if not indispensable, to human advancement point out that interpreting events of the past gives meaning and a sense of process to human endeavors. Advocates of historical thinking even suggest that studying the past with critical and scientific thought will enable us to identify the truth. How to think historically in order to advance conversations about causation, evolution, progress and justice, however, is not without challenge. 

This reading group — the third in a series of sessions devoted to the study of methodological approaches to the study of religion within the discipline of history — will continue to correlate various academic theories to Bahá’í conceptions of history. Previous sessions examined the philosophy of history in the works of Arnold J. Toynbee and his understanding of the role of religion in advancing civilization. We also explored how Bahá'í scholars have responded to secularization theory and highlighted the ways in which conceptualization of human nature is at the heart of historical analysis and interpretation. 

The third part of this seminar extends these discussions, focusing on academic historians who have addressed secularization theory and “reclaimed” religion as a significant area of human life.

Facilitator: Jóhanna Jochumsdóttir

Schedule: Weekly (Wednesday) 24 January - 28 February, 7:30 - 9:00 PM Eastern time

Toward a Political Constitution for the Pluralistic World Society

In our reading group, we will explore the transition from the current state-centered international law to a cosmopolitan law of individuals. 

We will focus on Jurgen Habermas´ reconceptualization of the Kantian cosmopolitan project as it sheds light on how the democratic self-transformation of modern society, realized so far only in the framework of the modern democratic state, can be extended beyond national borders in the absence of and without the demand for the establishment of a world government.  

Some of the questions we will be addressing are: under which conditions can a politically constituted world society be democratically legitimate? 

Who are the subjects who create a constitution for a world society? When should the obligations of states toward their citizens take a back seat to their legal obligations towards all cosmopolitan citizens as equal members of the international community? And what is the source of these cosmopolitan obligations? 

We will look at the work of moral and political philosophers within the Critical Theory tradition but will mainly focus on the work of contemporary German philosopher Jurgen Habermas.

Participants are encouraged to complete all readings prior to each session.

Facilitator: Martha Rabbani

Schedule: Weekly (Wednesday) 7 February - 6 March, 12:00 - 1:30 PM Eastern time

Indigenous Studies Reading Group Part 3: Indigenous Knowledge Programs in Public Education

Following last season's study of the philosophy of Indigenous education, the Indigenous Studies Reading Group will discover how incorporating traditional Indigenous knowledge and skills into the curriculum can lead to successful learning outcomes. We will read 2 reports on pilot projects in Thunder Bay, Ontario for senior elementary and high school students. Participants are encouraged to share supplemental materials such as Baha'i Writings, scholarly works or news items that may enhance their understanding of this subject.

Texts: 

• Kingsway Park Public School, Learning Academy Program by John A. Hodson and Nadine Hedican
• Biwaase'aa / Maamaawisiiwin Education and Research Innovation 2016-2017 Final Report by Julian Kitchen, John Hodson, Nadine Hedican, Erin Hodson and Jon Herrera.
• Rising to the Challenge of Reconciliation by Roshan Danesh and Douglas White III

Participants are encouraged to attend regularly as well as share questions and quotations ahead of the meeting or as a reflection of the meeting.

Facilitators: Farzaneh Peterson and Sheila Hardy

Schedule: Weekly (Monday) 22 January - 11 March, 7:00 - 9:00 PM Eastern time

Justice: What's the Right Thing to Do, by Michael Sandel

This reading group is dedicated to exploring, in the light of the Bahá’í writings, the subject of justice.  We will cover the contributions of thinkers such as Aristotle, Kant, Bentham, Mill, Rawls, MacIntyre, and others, examining the implications of their thinking for the ways in which society has come to understand liberty, belonging, citizenship, and various contemporary ethical matters.  With a view to refining our capacity to participate in discourses concerned with contemporary intellectual trends, the group will study Michael Sandel’s book Justice: What’s the Right Thing To Do” along with his online Harvard lectures.  We will also draw correlations with passages from the writings of the Faith to enrich our understanding of the content.

Facilitator: Nadia Khalili and Todd Smith

Schedule: Weekly (Tuesday) 23 January - 2 April, 7:00 - 8:30 PM Eastern time

The Role of Women in Society: Career & Family Life

The COVID-19 pandemic unsurfaced the unique challenges faced by parents, particularly mothers, to the fore of public discourse and consciousness. While the pandemic was a unique time in history, balancing participation in the workforce and dedicating time to raising children has been a longstanding dynamic for women. Questions about work and family life have continued to dominate decision-making for women: Do I continue participation in the workforce or focus dedicated time to raising children? Are there work options besides a standard 9-5 job? Can our family afford to outsource childcare? Will I sacrifice the quality of my children’s care if I need or desire to work? How can we apply the equality of the sexes to the roles and responsibilities of family life? What does participation in society and community life look like for mothers and fathers? 

Families and mothers, especially within the context of the Baha’i community, are often faced with these dualities. Where the station of motherhood is so elevated in the Baha’i Writings in a society that devalues motherhood and parenting, families grapple with these questions time and again. In this reading group, we will explore these questions in light of Megan Stack’s work, Women's Work: A Reckoning with Home & Help. We will apply relevant passages from the Writings, and in particular Abdu’l-Baha’s efforts in bringing to reality the equality of the sexes, to our exploration.

This reading group is a continuation of last Winter’s group on The Role of Women in Society: Mothers as the First Educators, Coherence, & Social Change. You do not need to have participated in the first reading group to sign up for this one. This group is open to all participants whether you are currently in a caregiving role or not. Fathers are encouraged to join.

Participants are expected to complete the assigned readings prior to meeting dates (approximately 5 chapters in between sessions).

Text: Women's Work, A Reckoning with Home and Help by Megan K. Stack

Facilitators: Yasi Raouf, Martha Martinez, and Leila Seradj

Schedule: Biweekly (Friday) 2 February - May 10, 3:00 - 4:30 PM Eastern time

Thinking about the Meaning of Technology: Ethics and Moral Life

When we try to understand the nature and purpose of technology, certain questions inevitably arise: What is the role of technology in human progress? What is its impact on humankind? Insights into questions such as these rest on deeply fundamental beliefs about the nature and purpose of material progress itself. When we survey the discourse surrounding technological innovation, do we find notions of progress that more closely correspond with the "dynamic coherence between the spiritual and material aspects of human existence" to be fostered in our day-to-day lives and society-building endeavors? This reading group will explore articles by L.M. Sacasas at the intersection of ethics, morality, and technology. Participants in this group do not need to have participated in its fall edition, as each essay the group will read is self-contained.

This space has a more accessible approach to its weekly pattern, while Articulating a Baha’i Perspective about Technology & Society will strive to delve more deeply into a single primary text and focus on articulating ideas in a written form.

Participants are encouraged to participate for the full 90 minutes as well as to complete the assigned and/or supplementary readings for each session so they can contribute to the discussion. Questions to consider may be provided to assist with reading and reflecting on the material. The group’s schedule is structured yet flexible, allowing for adjustments as needed. As these are standalone essays, weekly attendance is encouraged but not required.

Text: The Frailest Thing: Thinking About the Meaning of Technology by L.M. Sacasas | “Technology, Ethics, and the Moral Life

Facilitator: Sami Joubert and Janice Ndegwa

Schedule: Weekly (Thursday) 25 January - 21 March, 9:00 - 10:30 PM Eastern time

Articulating a Baha’i Perspective about Technology & Society

The reading group hopes to learn about how to correlate concepts in the Bahá’í Writings with prevalent themes in the discourse on technology. Centering on the Universal House of Justice’s reference to “unbridled technology” as a “destructive force” (28 Nov 2023 message), we will strive to articulate a shared understanding, informed by Baha’i writings and academic perspectives, about the role of technology in society. We will begin with an exploration of Langdon Winner’s book chapter “Technologies as Forms of Life,” examine Farzam Arbab’s book chapter “Promoting a Discourse in Science, Religion and Development,” and finish with Ruha Benjamin’s article Innovating Inequity: If Race is a Technology, Postracialism is the Genius Bar. Reading will be punctuated with dedicated writing exercises to capture collective understanding over time with the goal of producing a short piece on the reading themes. This reading group can be taken on its own or as a complement to the Thinking about the Meaning of Technology reading group. 

This space will aim to be more rigorous in its practice components, while Thinking about the Meaning of Technology: Ethics and Moral Life will take a more accessible approach to its weekly pattern.

Participants are encouraged to participate for the full 90 minutes as well as to complete the assigned and/or supplementary readings for each session so they can contribute to the discussion. Questions to consider may be provided to assist with reading and reflecting on the material. While involving a degree of dedication and rigor, writing will constitute short paragraphs and a final outcome of no more than 2 pages (500 words). As we will read the primary text over a number of weeks, weekly attendance is encouraged. 

• “Promoting a Discourse in Science, Religion and Development,” by Farzam Arbab in The Lab the Temple and the Market, Sharon Harper ed. (2001)
• “Technologies as Forms of Life” by Langdon Winner (1983). Republished in Ethics And Emerging Technologies Ronald L. Sandler ed. (2014)
• Innovating Inequity: If Race is a Technology, Postracialism is the Genius Bar by Ruha Benjamin (2016)

Technologies-as-Forms-of-Life-Langdon-Winner-(2014).pdf

Promoting-Discourse-Science-Religion-Development-LTM.pdf

Innovating-Inequity-if-race-is-a-technology-postracialism-is-the-genius-bar.pdf

Facilitators: Quddus George and Adib Shafipour

Schedule: Weekly (Monday) 22 January - 15 April, 8:30 - 10:00 PM Eastern time

Virtue, Freedom, and Community Insights from Influential Women Thinkers, Part 4: Simone de Beauvoir

This reading group is the fourth in a series of groups dedicated to examining, in light of the Bahá’í writings, the work of influential women thinkers who have contributed substantially to social thought since the turn of the last century. With a view to refining our capacity to participate in discourses associated with social and political theory, the first group in this series focused on the writings of Simone Weil; the second on Hannah Arendt’s book Between Past and Future; and the third on Iris Murdoch’s book The Sovereignty of the Good.  A central theme of these discussions has been how to reimbue perennial concepts such as virtue, morality, and community with vitalizing significance for both the individual and the collective.  This group will continue to explore such themes by reading Simone de Beauvoir’s book The Ethics of Ambiguity, in which she addresses how to, in a seemingly meaningless world, transcend nihilism, avoid falling into bad faith, and achieve true freedom in concert with our fellow human beings.  In reading her work, we will draw correlations with passages from the writings of the Faith and the letters of the Universal House of Justice to enrich our understanding of the material.  Additional resources will also be used to supplement the core text.

Participants are encouraged to attend for the full 90 minutes of each session as well as to complete the assigned readings (around 25 pages per week plus supplementary material) for each session so they can contribute to the discussion.  Adjustments may be made to the following schedule.

Facilitators: Diane Farmer and Todd Smith

Schedule: Weekly (Tuesday) 23 January - 5 March, 12:00 - 1:30 PM Eastern time

A Theory of Everything: An Integral Vision of Business, Politics, Science, and Spirituality, by Ken Wilber

After reading Frederic Laloux’s book on Reinventing Organizations, we wanted to explore the theories upon which he based his research, and articulated by Ken Wilber in his book, A Theory of Everything. (Please note It is not required to read Laloux’s book before joining this study group.)

Wilber uses clear language to present complex, cutting-edge theories that integrate the physical and spiritual aspects of human existence. A section discusses the integration of science and religion.

He demonstrates how these theories and models can be applied to real-world problems in areas such as medicine, business, education, and spirituality.  Wilber also introduces practices that readers may incorporate in their lives to experience an integrated human existence. 

The group would reflect on the path of an integrated vision for business, politics, science and spirituality as described by Ken Wilber and how such a vision coheres with aspects of the Baha’i writings and guidance addressing collectively living a coherent life and the oneness of humanity.

Facilitators: Dale Ricklefs and Ann Melville

Schedule: Weekly (Tuesday) 23 January - 27 February, 7:30 - 9:00 PM Eastern time

Freire’s Pedagogy of the Oppressed and Race in North America

Our reading group enthusiastically embraces the transformative "Pedagogy of the Oppressed" by Paulo Freire that provides profound insights into education and power dynamics. As we apply Freire's pedagogical framework to the pressing issues of racial inequality in the United States, we seek to enrich our discussions with a Baha'i Faith perspective.

Freire's challenge to traditional education aligns with Baha'i principles, emphasizing the importance of universal education and the oneness of humanity. We explore how participatory learning, as advocated by Freire, can contribute to fostering unity and dismantling racial disparities. The Baha'i Faith's emphasis on the elimination of prejudice resonates with our group's commitment to open conversations about racial inequality.

Our exploration of "Pedagogy of the Oppressed" considers the interconnectedness of knowledge and the elimination of all forms of discrimination. Freire's concept of "praxis," integrating reflection and action, aligns with Baha'i principles that encourage both spiritual insight and social engagement. We aim to create a space for dialogue that reflects the unity in diversity.

The group aims to foster intellectual growth and shared insights from which we may strive to deepen our understanding and inspire actions that contribute to a more just and unified society. 

‘This Wronged One hath forbidden the people of God to engage in contention or conflict and hath exhorted them to righteous deeds and praiseworthy character. In this day the hosts that can ensure the victory of the Cause are those of goodly conduct and saintly character.’

Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh Revealed After the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, Author:  Bahá’u’lláh, Source:  US Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 1988 pocket-size edition, Page:  88, excerpt from LAWḤ-I-DUNYÁ (Tablet of the World) 

After an initial consultation we will assign reading tasks to be carried out in advance of each session.

Text: Pedagogy of the Oppressed by Paolo Freire

Facilitators: Glenda Battle and Ben Wilson

Schedule: Weekly (Saturday) 20 January - 27 April, 12:30 - 2 PM Eastern time

“Active Hope" and the Strengths Within

Joanna Macy and Chris Johnstone’s book “Active Hope: How to Face the Mess We’re in with Unexpected Resilience and Creative Power” provides a wonderful boost to understanding the strengths within and their potential for building solidarity and community in the face of the turmoil and negativity of this world. In different but accessible language, through stories and example, and through a rational progression it describes stages on a path and qualities that resonate with the Baha’i teachings and oftentimes illuminates them with brilliance giving hope where many have felt defeated. This reading group is being offered as an opportunity to study, reflect and share thoughts on our path to making new friends.

The book is broken down into weekly sections for prior reading and subsequent discussion.

Facilitator: William Edgar

Schedule: Weekly (Saturday) 20 January – 30 March, 1:00 - 2:15 PM Eastern time

Moving Toward an Economy of Well-Being

This reading group is facilitated by members of the Climate and Environment Working Group. The purpose of our working group and this reading group is to learn more about the challenges of climate change and loss of species; to consider our responsibility as Bahá’ís; to have in-depth conversations with friends and colleagues; and to find ways of taking action.  

For the winter term, we have chosen Tim Jackson’s provocative book, Post Growth: Life after Capitalism, which dares us to imagine a world beyond capitalism – a place where relationships and meaning take precedence over profits and power. Post Growth is both a manifesto for system change and an invitation to rekindle a deeper conversation about the nature of the human condition. 

We will share Bahá’í Writings about changes needed to create a just economic system, including the practice of Huqúqu’lláh, to complement concepts in the book.  Participants are strongly encouraged to acquire the book early and to complete assigned readings prior to each session.

Facilitators: Leslie Cole, Nancy Dinnigan-Prashad and Darren Hedley

Schedule: Weekly (Wednesday) 7 February - 17 April, 7:30 - 9:00 PM Eastern Time

The Challenges to Protagonism in Development

In this reading/watching series we will explore dynamics related to a vision of prosperity where people are protagonists of their own development. The documentary Stop Filming Us will be our main text to guide this exploration and will be supported by supplementary materials related to reading reality, narrative construction, storytelling, agency, accompaniment and other themes the participants would like to explore.

No outside work is required to participate. We will use a peer-led discussion model – participants should show up ready to engage and discuss sections of the film that will be livestreamed in the sessions and suggest avenues of further exploration. Any readings we include will be read live in the sessions as well, whether in their entirety or selected sections.

Texts: 

• UHJ letter Nov 1, 2022 to the Baha'is of DRC
• Identity and Violence: The Illusion Of Destiny by Amartya Kumar Sen
• Review ISGP on equity and men and women
• https://bahaiworld.bahai.org/library/the-crisis-of-identity
• Social capital, Deepa Narayan
• BIC document summoning our common will taking about the Sustainable Development Goals

(Material evolves as the group discusses)

Facilitators: Anisa Khadem Nwachuku and Justin Rash

Schedule: Biweekly (Tuesday) 16 January - 26 March, 6:00 - 7:30 PM Eastern time

Art: Reading Rick Rubin's The Creative Act: A Way of Being

Our upcoming reading group will focus on studying a specific text relevant both to those who practice a form of art and those who appreciate the arts generally. Drawing more on the power of the arts is one of three specific examples the Universal House of Justice has called to our attention in the Ridvan 2023 message as a process that will enhance the life of a community. It is therefore especially timely for us to embark on studies that will nurture, inform, and propel us into greater service through the arts. We have selected a general text for our study, but we have also gathered bibliographic information on sources that relate specifically to the Faith—Writings, articles, books, videos, and the like. The community building process with creativity as a basis for our collective enterprise is also of great interest to us and is an expected outcome of our general meetings and our reading group(s). Networking, collaboration, appreciating each others’ talents and skills, and fostering our participation in ABS and its conferences and other enterprises are aspects of the intended sphere of our activity. Participants will read 13 sections of Rick Rubin's The Creative Act: A Way of Being (around 66 pages) for each session, in advance, and take notes on significant points. They will also come prepared to answer questions given in advance, such as: How can you embrace and nurture your inherent creativity? There are 78 segments in the book, and we will also be using a workbook associated with the text.

Note: We also have a general (open) arts discussion meeting monthly as well on the first Saturday of each month. The reading group is a more specific (set) group. 

ABS ARTS READING GROUP

Facilitators: Anne Perry and Michèle Jubilee

Schedule: Monthly (third Friday) 19 January - 21 June, 12:00 PM -  1:30 PM Eastern

ABS ARTS MONTHLY GATHERING

Our general gathering is open to the participation of artists, art educators, and arts enthusiasts. We meet monthly to discuss ideas, share work, and make presentations. Please contact [email protected] to receive instructions on how to join.

Schedule: Monthly (first Saturday) 1:00 PM Eastern time