Reading Groups

The Biology of Human Rights, The Dehumanizing Brain and What Educators Can Do About It

Text: Survival of the Friendliest: Understanding Our Origins and Rediscovering Our Common Humanity by Brian Hare and Vanessa Woods

We will look at the unfoldment of human rights through two biological frameworks: the self-domestication theory of our species, and the relational-cultural theory of brain development, which suggests that we are hardwired for connection and thrive only through increasingly complex relationships. From there, we will explore a central paradox: how can a species capable of extraordinary empathy and cooperation also perpetrate acts of extreme cruelty, including mass atrocities? Finally, we will consider what these insights mean for education—especially of children and youth—as we explore sample lessons designed to foster global citizenship and a deeper commitment to human rights.

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

Facilitator: Martha Rabbani

Schedule:Weekly (Wednesday) 1 Oct – 12 Nov, 12:00 to 1:00 PM Eastern Time

Register

A Framework for the Elimination of Racial Prejudice in America

Text: Exploring A Framework for the Elimination of Racial Prejudice in America by Paul Lample, Association for Bahá’í Studies (the booklet form of the document).   

The American Bahá’í community emerged in a society shaped by slavery, segregation, and entrenched racial ideas—many of which still linger today. Despite progress, racism continues to manifest in subtle ways, challenging our efforts to build unity. We affirm the oneness of humanity, but are we fully living it? Have we truly understood what it means to serve that oneness, especially through the lens of racial justice?

Paul Lample’s monograph, In Pursuit of a More Superb Mission: Exploring a Framework for the Elimination of Racial Prejudice in America, offers a timely and hopeful path forward. Grounded in Bahá’í teachings and enriched by decades of learning, it proposes a framework for eliminating racial prejudice rooted in experience and spiritual insight. With the capacities developed through a quarter century of guidance from the Universal House of Justice, we are now better equipped to advance this vital work.

We invite you to a study and discussion of this article in a space for study, reflection, honest conversation, and loving exploration of how to better embody Bahá’u’lláh’s teachings in addressing racial prejudice. Ultimately, this is about transformation through love—not blame or shame—and making oneness a reality. 

Participants are expected to attend sessions, and to read through page 17 prior to the first meeting. We will read the text together—reading ahead is a good idea just to think about the subject matter, but is not required.  

Facilitator: Catherine Donaldson  

Schedule: Weekly (Sunday) 28 Sept – 14 Dec, 10:00 to 11:30 AM Eastern Time

Register

Healing Grounds: Climate, Justice, and the Deep Roots of Regenerative Farming

Text: Healing Grounds: Climate, Justice, and the Deep Roots of Regenerative Farming by Liz Carlisle 

A powerful movement is happening in farming today—farmers are reconnecting with their roots to fight climate change. For one woman, that has meant learning her people’s history to help bring back the buffalo. For another, it has meant preserving forest purchased by her great-great-uncle, among the first wave of African Americans to buy land. Others are rejecting monoculture to grow corn, beans, and squash the way farmers in Mexico have done for centuries. Still others are rotating crops and recycling nutrients, using techniques their ancestors developed thousands of years ago in Asia.

These farmers are restoring native prairies, nurturing beneficial fungi, and enriching soil health. While feeding their communities and revitalizing cultural ties to land, they are steadily stitching ecosystems back together and repairing the natural carbon cycle. This, Healing Grounds shows, is the true regenerative agriculture – not merely a set of technical tricks for storing CO2 in the ground, but a holistic approach that values diversity in both plants and people.  

This reading group is organized by the Agriculture Working Group as a collaborative approach to discourse related to agriculture. Members are encouraged to complete the reading prior to each session and participate in discussion. 

Facilitator: Members of the group generally rotate as facilitators, or an individual may volunteer to lead the group.

Schedule: This group will meet on Sundays at 2:00 pm Eastern Time. When registration closes registered participants will receive information from the Agriculture Working Group for an initial meeting to decide on a schedule for meetings. For additional information contact: [email protected]

Register

The Unsettling of America: Culture & Agriculture

Text: The Unsettling of America: Culture & Agriculture by Wendell Berry

Since its publication in 1977, The Unsettling of America has been recognized as a classic of American letters. In it, Wendell Berry argues that good farming is a cultural and spiritual discipline. Today’s agribusiness, however, takes farming out of its cultural context and away from families. As a result, we as a nation are more estranged from the land―from the intimate knowledge, love, and care of it.

Berry's work is recognized as a pivotal contribution to environmental literature, emphasizing the ethical dimensions of agriculture and the importance of small, sustainable farming practices. His insights have influenced various facets of the environmental movement, encouraging a reevaluation of agricultural policies and promoting a more holistic understanding of the relationship between humanity and the land.

This reading group is organized by the Agriculture Working Group as a collaborative approach to discourse related to agriculture. Members are encouraged to complete the reading prior to each session and participate in discussion. 

Facilitator: Members of the group generally rotate as facilitators, or an individual may volunteer to lead the group.

Schedule: When registration closes registered participants will receive information from the Agriculture Working Group about setting up an initial meeting. The group will decide on a schedule for meeting times. For additional information contact: [email protected]

Register

Decline of Faith and Religion and the Positive Effects of Community-Building on the Trend (Part 1 of 3)

Text: The Great Dechurching: Who’s Leaving, Why Are They Going, and What Will It Take to Bring Them Back? by Jim Davis, Michael Graham, & Ryan P. Burge

The group will explore and discuss the prevalent causes of the decline of church, attendance, the parental transition of faith, and the risk of decline of faith education for children and youth. We will also critically explore the reality facing all faiths around the world, and discuss the need for community-building endeavors to slow the process of religious decline and support the resurgence of faith and belief through community grassroot efforts. The book provides both subjective and objective statistical analyses of the religious decline in the US, the positive effects of community-building to slow and reverse this trend, and the need for religion as a force for unity and the revitalization of faith in individuals and communities. The group will read approximately two chapters per week. Parts 2 and 3 of the series will focus on Goodbye Religion: The Causes and Consequences of Secularization, and The Nones: Where They Came From, Who They Are, and Where They Are Going, respectively. This series is open to individuals from all faith groups, so please feel free to invite others to join.

Facilitators: Shamil Erfanian, Alex Gottdank

Schedule: Weekly (Wednesday) 24 Sept – 3 Dec, 9:00 to 10:30 PM Eastern Time (subject to change based on participants’ availability)

Register

Exploring the Compatibility of Evolution and Design

Texts: The Compatibility of Evolution and Design, by E.V.R. Kojonen (PDF and ePUB versions will be made freely available to participants)

The subject of evolution stands as the nexus of any broad discourse on the essential harmony between science and religion. In general, Bahá'í beliefs are fully compatible with the factual basis of current evolutionary science, yet the statements of 'Abdu'l-Bahá on evolution are generally not congruent with the philosophical postulates derived from evolutionary science. At the heart of this disjunction is the supposed incompatibility of Darwinian-based evolutionary theory with the concept of theistic design; indeed, “intelligent design” is universally taken as the antithesis or negation of “evolution”. This central conceptual tension must be addressed before meaningful discourse can move forward. 

In 2021, EVR Kojonen published The Compatibility of Evolution and Design as part of the Palgrave Frontiers in Philosophy of Religion series. Receiving critical acclaim, it is recognized as groundbreaking scholarship. In this ABS reading group, we will study this important text in its entirety, considering its concepts and conclusions from a Bahá'í perspective. This reading group will be offered in two 4-week parts: Fall 2025 and Winter 2026. 

Participants should have a cursory understanding of evolution (which will be further  developed over the reading group sessions). They should read approximately 30 pages of  the book each week prior to the online group sessions.

Facilitator: Douglas Perry 

Schedule: Weekly (Thursdays) 2 Oct – 23 Oct, 7:00 to 8:30 PM, Eastern Time

Register

Facilitating Meaningful Conversations

Text: Stuart Hall and bell hooks, Uncut Funk: A Contemplative Dialogue, link to purchase

This reading group will discuss an important conversation between two leading cultural theorists: Stuart Hall and bell hooks. The conversation ranges widely across themes of race, love, and relationships. It offers a model for staging important conversations in community today. 

Participants are encouraged to complete select chapters prior to each session. The success of our discussion will depend on the reading completed by the participants. We will also rotate who offers some guiding questions each week, with Ben and Lili offering a set of questions during the first week. 

Facilitators: Lili Nkunzimana, Ben Davis

Schedule: Weekly (Monday) 6 Oct – 10 Nov, 6:30 to 7:30 PM Eastern Time

Register

Seeing Others and Being Deeply Seen

Text: How to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen by David Brooks

David Brooks’s book explores how deep attention, empathy, and recognition can transform relationships. He contrasts those who illuminate others with those who leave people unseen, offering practical insights for nurturing genuine human connection.

Our reading group will explore these themes alongside Bahá’í writings on the nobility of the human soul and the building of unity. Together we will ask: How can we listen more deeply, see more clearly, and create spaces where others feel valued and known? 

“Countless souls worldwide are striving, within the limits of their circumstances and capabilities, to release the society-building power of the Faith in ever-greater measures. Toward these ends, the part played by Bahá’í families will be increasingly necessary and impactful in the years and decades ahead. All the friends have a vital contribution to make to strengthen this essential component of Bahá’í life.” (Universal House of Justice, March 19, 2025)

Facilitators: Christine Javid, David Smith

Schedule: Weekly (Tuesday) 30 Sept – 18 Nov, 8:00 to 9:30 PM Eastern Time

Register

Participating in Public Health Discourse

Texts: Participating in Public Discourse, Unit 1: “The Nature of our Contributions”, Book 14 of the Ruhi Institute; Additional selected readings 

The Participating in Public Health Discourse reading group offers a unique space for students, practitioners, and community members to explore how spiritual principles can inform contemporary conversations in the field of public health. Drawing primarily on book 14 of the Ruhi Institute, which focuses on developing the capacity to engage meaningfully in the  discourses of society, participants will read and reflect on selected sections each week. Together, we will examine themes such as health equity, social justice, and the role of moral and spiritual values in shaping healthier communities. Each session will invite participants not only to study insights from the Bahá’í writings, but also to connect them with current issues and practices in public health—from community health promotion and prevention, to the ethics of policy and decision-making. The group is designed to foster both intellectual growth and practical application, encouraging thoughtful dialogue and building confidence in contributing to public health conversations at local, national, and global levels. 

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

Facilitators: Andrew Hatala, Jon Ehsani

Schedule: Weekly (Wednesday) 1 Oct – 17 Dec, 7:00 to 9:00 PM Eastern Time

Register

Conceptions of Social Economy

Text: Capitalism: A Conversation in Critical Theory by Nancy Fraser and Rahel Jaeggi

The main text examines conceptions of capitalism including features, histories, criticisms, and futures, and will serve as a springboard for our conversation examining these ideas alongside the Bahá’í writings. 

Our goal is to refine our understanding of the forces at play in our social economy, so that we can effectively contribute to discourse and community building. 

Capitalism is a topic which has been gaining increasing attention as people struggle to make sense of their lived experiences, and our hope is that through academic study we can proceed with increased awareness of the dynamics we are working to navigate and ameliorate.

Facilitators: Philip Rehayem, Heeten Choxi, Iscander Tinto

Schedule: Weekly (Friday) 26 Sept – 31 Oct, 2:00 to 3:30 PM Eastern Time

Register

Indigenous Studies

Text: Our Story: Aboriginal Voices on Canada's Past with contributions by Thomas King, Tantoo Cardinal, Tomson Highway, and others.

Inspired by moments that shaped their country and its people, Our Story contains nine stories of striking beauty and originality in aboriginal voices, bringing to life a new vision of our history in ways that are often unexpected and always moving. This is a beautifully illustrated collection of original stories from ten of Canada’s most celebrated Aboriginal writers. These gifted storytellers, with the unique perspectives their heritage affords, offer wonderfully imaginative accounts of what it is like to participate in history. Our Story brings together an impressive array of voices—Inuk, Cherokee, Ojibway, Cree, and Salish, to name just a few—from across the country and across the spectrum of First Nations.

Reconciliation between Indigenous peoples and non-Indigenous people is the focus of this participatory, consultative reading group. In the previous seven iterations, we have studied Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: 94 Calls to Action, Look to the Mountain: an Ecology of Indigenous Education by Gregory Cajete, two research papers by Dr. John Hodson on Indigenous education, True Reconciliation: How to Be a Force for Change by Jody Wilson-Raybould, and Indigenous Relations: Insights, Tips and Suggestions to Make Reconciliation a Reality by Bob Joseph with Cynthia F. Joseph, Braiding Sweetgrass for Young Adults. We have also studied the principle of Bahá'í consultation and explored some papers on problem solving through consultation.

The participants will read these stories and share their understanding with the group, finding points of reconciliation in hearing voices less heard by many of us.

Facilitators: Farzaneh Peterson, MaryAnne DeWolf, Raymond Hudson

Schedule: Weekly (Tuesday) 7 Oct – 9 Dec, 7:00 to 8:30 PM Eastern Time

Register

Whiteness & Patriarchy: Weeding Out Barriers to Oneness, Cultivating Justice & Authenticity. Theme 5.0

Texts/media: A combination of short texts and passages from both the Bahá'í writings and academic fields relating to whiteness and patriarchy–including ‘The Violence of Forgetting’ interview with Brad Evans and Henry A. Giroux from The New York Times, and The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin–as well as the arts-grounded practice ofPhotoSophia.

This reading group was sparked by the themes expressed in a presentation made for the 2022 Association for Bahá'í Studies Conference: Whiteness and Patriarchy: Weeding Out Barriers to Oneness: Cultivating Obedience to the Covenant.

We will continue to explore in this fifth series of sessions/themes the broad issues of whiteness and patriarchy as barriers to oneness, manifested by the ‘three protagonists’ (individuals, communities, and institutions). We seek to gain new understandings, weeding and cultivating simultaneously, to strengthen authentic relationships in justice and oneness.

We will focus on the violence of the intentional act of forgetting and erasing the existence of those minoritized by whiteness and patriarchy, as well as the way this violence sabotages our endeavours for peace-building. 

“... whither can we direct our affections, and what comfort can we expect? How are we to find repose, and in what hope can our hearts rejoice? O the pity! A myriad times the pity, if for a single moment we should look for ease or comfort …”  (Bahá’u’lláh)

We expect curious and eager participants who are willing to live in the discomfort of transformational change.

Facilitators: Trina Gluckman, Pamela Starks, Sarah Martin, Chuck Egerton

Schedule: Weekly (Saturday) 27 Sept – 31 Jan, 3:00 to 5:00 PM Eastern Time

Register

Exploring the History of the Health Care System

Text: The Social Transformation of American Medicine by Paul Starr

The North American healthcare system is a vast and complex enterprise which has been shaped by many actors, events and forces. In this reading group, we will explore some of the ways it has evolved in the 19th and 20th centuries to give rise to the system we know today. As we do so, we will aim to gain insights into a few questions: how did our current healthcare systems in North America come to be, and what are some of the underlying assumptions about human nature and human society on which they are founded (and to what extent do these align with insights from the Revelation and the experience of the Bahá’í community)?

The group will tackle one chapter per session and it is expected that participants will have read the chapter prior to each session. 

Facilitators: Matt Kianfar, Andrea Robinson 

Schedule: Bi-weekly (Thursday) 25 Sept – 12 Feb, 8:30 to 10 PM Eastern Time

Register

Beyond Fragmentation: Exploring and Comparing Psychotherapy Approaches

The field of psychology is shaped by several major theoretical perspectives, each grounded in different assumptions about human nature. In psychotherapy, this diversity is even more pronounced, with hundreds of models being developed, tested, and promoted. Much attention is given to practical questions: Which techniques work? How can they contribute to the well-being of others? Or scientific inquiry: What is their efficacy? Which mechanisms are involved? Often, this diversity of approaches leads to polarization, especially when ideas and interventions appear to conflict.

From a Baháʼí perspective, we can view this fragmentation as a reflection of humanity’s ongoing search to understand the human condition: its mental well-being, the dynamics of its relationships, and the impact of both constructive and disintegrative forces in society.

This reading group will provide a space to engage critically and reflectively with different schools of thought, considering them in light of the Baháʼí teachings, and to strengthen our capacity to contribute to professional discourse with humility, curiosity, and openness.

Over eight sessions, we will explore contributions from a number of influential psychotherapy models. For each session, participants will receive a short set of readings (approximately 10–25 pages). Participants will also be encouraged to share their own knowledge and experience with these models, while the readings will provide a shared foundation for discussion.

Facilitator: Simon Massicotte

Schedule: Biweekly (Saturday) 27 Sept – 10 Jan, 12:00 to 1:30 PM Eastern Time

Registrations for this reading group are now closed.

Community Development and the Evolution of FUNDAEC in Colombia

Texts: Weaving a Fabric of Unity: Conversations on Education & Development by Haleh Arbab, Gustavo Correa, and Bradley Wilson. This can be ordered in digital or softcover from https://www.researchfordevelopment.org/; several other short community development articles as well as Bahá'í and other quotations

As we learn to engage in social action and explore the society-building potential inherent in the Bahá'í teachings, we can draw on a number of experiences and insights. In Colombia, FUNDAEC (Foundation for the Application and Teaching of the Sciences) has evolved over 50 years and is one of the most mature Bahá'í-inspired development organizations in the world. This reading group will focus on this new book, which explains how a group of colleagues and friends came together to engage with the Afro-Colombian rural communities in Norte del Cauca, build trust and strengthen relationships, and engage in education, agriculture, economic development, and other initiatives. As their work rebuilt relationships between individuals, groups, communities, institutions, and the natural environment, FUNDAEC was able to expand this learning process to thousands of participants around Colombia, and the program and curricula were used for programs in ten other countries globally. This reading group will reflect on the readings to relate them to their own community development and discourse engagement.  The facilitators are a father-daughter team, and we invite participants of all ages to join in this exploration of how a Bahá'í-inspired program can promote social justice and sustainable development.

We hope that participants will complete assigned reading prior to each session, participate actively as co-protagonists in our group discussions, and share their efforts to relate what we read to their own community life.

Facilitators: Darren and Amelia Hedley

Schedule: Weekly (Thursday) 2 Oct – 20 Nov, 8:30 to 9:30 PM Eastern Time

Registrations for this reading group are now closed.

Developing a New Spiritual Consciousness: Myth, Metaphor, Mysticism and Oneness

Text: Thou Art That by Joseph Campbell; Bahá’í Reference Library

Thou Art That, is a readable and synthesized book of the academic Joseph Campbell’s (1904-1987) major ideas and writings, concerning Universal Myth and religious metaphor. Campbell lays out his argument for oneness and universality by exploring worldwide religious beliefs and myths through history. While researchers today tackle the Mystery of Consciousness through a science lens, Campbell instead uses the ancient human record of our stories to talk through fundamental questions of our existence. In addition to this book, our reading group will delve into relevant excerpts from Bahá’í writings, to derive new insights with new consciousness. How does this refine our conception of “religion”, the Bahá’í Faith, and “The Cause”? We hope to talk about the personal spiritual journey (the “Hero’s Journey”), the “kingdom of God”, universality, mysticism, religious metaphors, spiritually uniting East and West, paradox, and purpose.

“…Bahá’ulláh has not brought into existence a new religion to stand beside the present multiplicity of sectarian organizations. Rather has He recast the whole conception of religion as the principal force impelling the development of consciousness.” -One Common Faith, commissioned by The Universal House of Justice

Those who join can participate in whatever capacity they have. The book is a short and easy read, and Youtube videos will be used as supplementary material.

Facilitators: Milo Rehayem, Philip Rehayem

Schedule: Weekly (Tuesday) 23 Sept – 14 Oct, 8:00 to 9:30 PM Eastern Time

Registrations for this reading group are now closed.

African History and Recovering a Coherent Historical Consciousness

Texts:

Adams, Adrian. “An Open Letter to a Young Researcher.” African Affairs 78, no. 313 (October 1, 1979): 451–79. https://doi.org/10.1093/

oxfordjournals.afraf.a097145.

Adams, Adrian, and Jaabe So. A Claim to Land by the River: A Household in Senegal, 1720-1994. Oxford University Press, 1996. https://doi.org/10.1093/

acprof:oso/9780198201915.001.0001.

The Universal House of Justice. “To the Followers of Bahá’u’lláh in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.” November 1, 2022. https://www.bahai.org/r/518941643.

At this particular moment in U.S. history, the study of the African past involves not only great methodological complexity, as has always been the case, but intense ideological contests over the meaning of that past, and even threats to community standing and professional livelihood. In response to this circumstance, this reading group aims not merely to champion the importance of studying the African past, but to develop productive approaches to studying the African past that are authentic to the self-understandings and historical contexts of the peoples and communities that are the focus of our study, while correlating the enduring lessons of that past with the participants’ contemporary social contexts. This reading group is oriented toward educators of children and youth, whether they work in a professional or a family and community setting.

Participants will be asked to read approximately 30 pages each week and to attend each session for the full 90 minutes, when possible. They will be expected to honor and contribute to an atmosphere of thoughtful, open, and mutually respectful inquiry that makes space for full participation from each member of the group. Meeting dates and times can be adjusted to meet the needs of the group if necessary. Registrants will be required to participate in a short introductory interview with the facilitator before registration is confirmed.

Facilitator: O. Malik Nash

Schedule: 22 Sept to 1 Dec, 2025; TBD in consultation with the participants

Registrations for this reading group are now closed.

The Impacts of Technology on Culture

Text: Technopoly: The Surrender of Culture to Technology by Neil Postman

“Man is organic with the world. His inner life moulds the environment and is itself also deeply affected by it. The one acts upon the other and every abiding change in the life of man is the result of these mutual reactions.” 

Among the many ways we are affected by the environment around us is through our interactions with technology. It shapes how we learn about the world, how we interact with others, and what we deem good or valuable. Technopoly by Neil Postman is a philosophical inquiry into the nature of these impacts. Postman poses questions about what we surrender in the pursuit of uncontrolled technological advancement, proposing that while technology “makes life easier, cleaner, and longer”, it also “creates a culture without a moral foundation”, that it “is both friend and enemy”. 

In our study of Technopoly, we will explore these questions in the context of the insights which Bahá’u’lláh’s Revelation provides to communities and societies grappling with the role of values and culture in technological choice.

This signup is an application, and space is very limited. Applicants may be invited to participate based on their background and their familiarity with the discourse. Please provide answers to the questions asked in the application form.

Facilitator: Kent Hansen

Schedule: Weekly (Thursday) 18 Sept - 4 Dec, 8:00 to 9:30 PM Eastern Time

Registrations for this reading group are now closed.

Exploring the Role of Technology in Society

What is a Bahá’í perspective on technology? What prevalent attitudes and conceptions in society affect our current relationship with technology? Are technologies neutral or do they carry values? What fundamental concepts can advance our understanding of the role of technology in a materially and spiritually prosperous civilization? These are the kinds of questions we will aim to explore together in this reading group.

This reading group is designed for those who are studying or working in a field relating to technology and are new to spaces dedicated to exploring the discourse on technology in light of the Baháʼí teachings.

Participants are expected to read the article assigned for each week prior to attending each session. Participants are asked to commit to attending each of the sessions, are encouraged to have their cameras on and to engage generously and thoughtfully in the conversations of the group.

Facilitators: Shamim Seyson, Sami Joubert 

Schedule: Weekly (Tuesday) 16 Sept – 4 Nov, 8:30 to 10 PM Eastern Time

Registrations for this reading group are now closed.

Reconceptualizing Freedom

Text: Snyder, Timothy (2024). On Freedom, New York: Crown.

This reading group explores how to conceptualize freedom in light of the mounting challenges facing humanity today. It builds upon the foundation of previous groups on the public sphere that examined the ideas of thinkers—including Immanuel Kant, G.W.F. Hegel, J.S. Mill, Walter Lippmann, John Dewey, Joseph Schumpeter, Carl Schmitt, Hannah Arendt, Jürgen Habermas, and Nancy Fraser—whose work has transformed our understanding of modern social and political thought and its implications for civilizational advancement. These explorations have been conducted through the lens of the Bahá'í writings.

To refine our capacity for engaging with contemporary intellectual discourse, we will study Timothy Snyder’s On Freedom alongside supplementary materials from selected sources. We will also draw connections with passages from the Bahá’í writings and letters of the Universal House of Justice to enrich our understanding.

Participants are encouraged to participate for the full 90 minutes as well as to complete the assigned readings and, where possible, the supplementary readings for each session so they can contribute to the discussion.

Facilitator: Todd Smith

Schedule: Weekly (Thursday) 25 Sept – 4 Dec, 12:00 to 1:30 PM Eastern Time

Registrations for this reading group are now closed.

Actualizing Ourselves Artistically: Overcoming Resistance to the Creative Path

Text: The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles by Steven Pressfield and “Some Quotations on Art from the Bahá’í Writings” (compilation) 

What keeps many of us from doing what we are inspired to or long to do? Why are there roadblocks to creative endeavors? The War of Art identifies the “enemy” that prevents us from actualizing our creative abilities, outlines a “battle plan,” and specifies how we can achieve success. We will discuss Pressfield’s ideas in the context of our busy lives as Bahá’ís (or friends of the Faith engaged in community building) and in relation to the Bahá’í writings on art, do some goal setting, and share aspects of our own creative projects. Each session will start with creative devotions. 

Participants are encouraged to complete all the readings prior to each session, work on goal setting and reflection, and share aspects of our own roadblocks and creative endeavors. 

Facilitator: Anne Perry

Schedule: Weekly (Sunday) 21 Sept – 16 Nov, 8:00 to 9:30 PM Eastern Time

Registrations for this reading group are now closed.

Modern Intellectual Tradition, Part 4

Text: The focus will be on Lawrence Cahoone's lecture series, "Modern Intellectual Tradition: From Descartes to Derrida" and relevant Bahá’í writings, with some supplementary materials   

This reading group is the fourth in a series engaging with major Western thinkers through the lens of the Bahá’í writings, spanning the intellectual tradition since the Scientific Revolution. Part 1 explored how philosophers such as Descartes, Locke, and Kant reshaped perceptions of reality and progress. Part 2 examined key nineteenth-century figures like Hegel, Kierkegaard, and Marx, whose ideas intersected with the Revelations of the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh. Part 3 focused on transformative philosophers from the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries. In Part 4, running from September to December, the group investigates the evolution of philosophical thought from Dewey’s American Naturalism to Derrida’s post-structuralism, fostering understanding of how these perspectives inform contemporary civilization within the Bahá’í framework.

Participants are encouraged to complete all the readings and/or listen to the weekly 30-minute Cahoone lecture and supplementary material prior to each session and to contribute to a shareable folder of relevant Bahá’í writings.

Facilitator: Maureen Flynn-Burhoe

Schedule: Weekly (Tuesday) 16 Sep – 9 Dec, 6:30 to 8:00 PM Eastern Time (adjustments may be made to this schedule)

Registrations for this reading group are now closed.

How the Arts Transform Us and Our Collective Experiences

Text: Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us by Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross

The Universal House of Justice describes the arts as “an important means of generating joy, strengthening bonds of unity, disseminating knowledge, and consolidating understanding.” Your Brain on Art explores the arts from a scientific perspective, showing how creative expression transforms our brains and bodies, supports mental health, and builds stronger communities.

In this group we will study the book alongside selections from the Bahá’í writings. Together we will ask: how can the arts strengthen unity, enrich learning, and contribute to the building of vibrant communities and organizations?

Facilitators: Pattie Lacefield, Janelle Heise, Heeten Choxi

Schedule: Weekly (Wednesday) 24 Sept – 19 Nov, 8:00 to 9:30 PM Eastern Time

Registrations for this reading group are now closed.

Parenting & Family Life

Text: Hunt, Gather, Parent: What Ancient Cultures Can Teach Us About the Lost Art of Raising Happy, Helpful Little Humans by Michaeleen Doucleff; Additional supplemental materials

This group continues an exploration of the discourse on parenting and family life begun over a year ago, but participation in prior reading groups is not required. While parenting and family life are things that many, if not most, humans participate in, the intellectual discourse around this area tends to be in the fields of education, child psychology and mental health, biology and medicine, and on social media. This is also an area where there are different sources of knowledge, such as academic knowledge, community experience, and family knowledge. From whichever you come, we welcome you to join our exploration as we continue learning about contributing to this discourse. Together we will read the above-mentioned text as well as some short pieces put together by members of the group, as we work on writing about what we are learning.

Participants are encouraged to complete the readings prior to each session and participate as much as possible.

Facilitators: Shirin Ahlhauser, Allegra Midgette 

Schedule: Weekly (Wednesday) 17 Sept – 3 Dec, 12:00 to 1:00 PM Eastern Time

Registrations for this reading group are now closed.