Reading Groups

Weaving a Fabric of Unity: Conversations on Education and Development

Text: Weaving a Fabric of Unity: Conversations on Education and Development by Haleh Arbab, Gustavo Correa, and Bradley Wilson

Weaving a Fabric of Unity shares the story of the pioneering enterprise that came to be identified as FUNDAEC (the Foundation for the Application and Teaching of Science), highlighting five decades of stories, learning and insight from key individuals central to shaping its evolution. The book outlines FUNDAEC’s unique conceptual and methodological approach, which is focused on the releasing of human potentialities and the integration of theory and practice, and brings the reader on the journey of how the organization created one of Latin America’s most innovative curriculum in rural development. It shares how FUNDAEC’s focus on raising up individuals and communities dedicated to the promotion of community wellbeing supported its efforts to organically scale over the last few decades, reaching hundreds of thousands of students across Colombia and being adopted in over a dozen countries to support diverse populations working towards the collective realization of a dignified future.

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 8:00 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]

Decline of Faith and Religion and the Positive Effects of Community-Building on the Trend (Part 2 of 4)

Text: Goodbye Religion: The Causes and Consequences of Secularization, by Ryan T. Cragun and Jesse M. Smith

The group will explore and discuss the prevalent causes of the decline of church attendance, the parental transition of faith associated with the risk of decline of faith education for children and youth. We will discuss the reality facing all faiths in and around the world, and the changes needed to bring believers back into faith-related activities, such as community-building endeavors to slow the process of religious decline and support the resurgence of faith and belief at community grassroots. The book provides both subjective and objective statistical analysis of the religious decline in the US, and the consequences of secularization if the trend does not slow down and fails to reverse itself, and the recognition that religion as a force is essential to unity and revitalization of faith in individuals and communities.  This series is open to individuals from all faith groups, so please feel free to invite others to join. The group will read approximately two chapters per week.

Facilitators: Shamil Erfanian, Alex Gottdank

Schedule: Weekly (Wednesday) 4 Feb – 15 Apr, 8:30 to 10:00 PM Eastern Time

Unlocking Human Capacity: The Unity of Science and Art

Text: Science and Art of Being Human: Questioning Accepted Understandings by Margaret Appa

“Access to knowledge is the right of every human being, and participation in its generation, application and diffusion a responsibility that all must shoulder...” (Universal House of Justice, Ridván 2010)

How do we view human capacity? Margaret Appa’s Science and Art of Being Human challenges the modern dichotomy that separates “science” (intelligence) from “art” (talent). Drawing on Bahá’í teachings, Appa reframes science as “any system of knowledge” and art as “any form of skill” that allows us to apply that knowledge.

In this reading group, we will explore these concepts to redefine how we see ourselves and others. Together we will ask: How can we overcome the limiting labels of “capable” or “incapable” that society imposes? How do we foster organizations where every person is empowered to engage in the generation and application of knowledge?

Facilitators: Pattie Lacefield, Gil Muro

Schedule: Weekly (Wednesday) 28 Jan – 11 Mar, 8:00 to 9:30 PM Eastern Time

Parenting & Family Life

Texts: 

1. The Spiritual Child: The New Science on Parenting for Health and Lifelong Thriving by Lisa Miller, PhD
2. Additional supplemental materials from Ruhi Book 12.2
   

This group continues an exploration of the discourse on parenting and family life begun over a year ago. (Though you do not need to have participated in any previous groups to join us!) 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 influencers). 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. We will read together the text mentioned, as well as some short pieces put together by members of the group, as we work on writing what we’re learning.

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

Facilitators: Cedric Tekie-Hatala, Hediyih Wilf 

Schedule: Weekly (Wednesday) 28 Jan – 29 Apr, noon to 1:00 PM Eastern Time

Indigenous Studies

Text: Five Little Indians by Michelle Good

Reconciliation between Indigenous peoples and non-Indigenous people is the focus of this participatory, consultative reading group. In the previous eight reading groups, 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, Indigenous Relations: Insights, Tips and Suggestions to Make Reconciliation a Reality by Bob Joseph with Cynthia F. Joseph, Braiding Sweetgrass for Young Adults, study of Baha’i Consultation and some papers on problem solving through consultation, and Our Story: Aboriginal Voices on Canada’s Past by Thomas King, Tantoo Cardinal, Tomson Highway, and others.

Through the rich, interwoven stories of five individuals in Five Little Children by Michelle Good, the suffering, trauma and injustice inflicted on tens of thousands of children, their families, communities and Nations is portrayed. It is simply told, but both haunting and profound; another reminder that residential schools will always be the sorrow in Canada’s bones. Good’s gentle writing is like an open window, through which the voices of her people can be heard, quietly determined, powerful and beautiful in their resilience; voices that need only to be heard to generate the empathy and compassion so necessary on our path to reconciliation. 

The participants of this reading group will read these stories and bring their understanding to the group, finding points of reconciliation in hearing voices less heard.

Facilitators: Milagros Red-Feather, Farzaneh Peterson, MaryAnne DeWolf, Suzanne Maloney, Ray Hudson
Schedule: Weekly (Tuesday) 20 Jan – 17 Mar, 7:00 to 8:30 PM Eastern Time

A More Superb Mission: Exploring a Framework for the Elimination of Racial Prejudice in America

Text: In Pursuit of a More Superb Mission: Exploring a Framework for the Elimination of Racial Prejudice in America by Paul Lample

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 all sessions, and to read the assigned sections individually at least once before class sessions. The group will also read together in session, but those who have read ahead find their understanding that much richer.

Facilitator: Catherine Donaldson with the assistance of co-facilitators   

Schedule: Weekly (Sunday) 25 Jan – 12 Apr, 11:30 AM to 1 or 1:30 PM Eastern Time

‘A Special Regard to Agriculture’: 'Adasíyyih’s Lessons for 21st Century Communities

Text: 'Adasíyyih: The Story of 'Abdu'l-Bahá's Model Farming Community, by Paul Hanley

“Special regard must be paid to Agriculture” Bahá’u’lláh 

“It is fitting to begin with the farmer in matters related to economics, for the farmer is the first active agent in human society.” 'Abdu'l-Bahá 

“Rural areas are a key to the socio-economic - ecological transformation that will address many of the critical problems facing humanity.” (Hanley) 

'Adasíyyih: The Story of 'Abdu'l-Bahá's Model Farming Community, offers an opportunity to understand the importance of agriculture to re-orienting the affairs of humankind. Paul Hanley clearly links 'Abdu'l-Bahá’s guidance and farming practices to community building in the 21st century. His extensive study of the evolution of the village of 'Adasíyyih provides insights into why the Central Figures placed a high priority on agriculture throughout their lives and outlines the steps 'Abdu'l-Bahá took to establish a model farming community in 'Adasíyyih. These steps taken starting in 1901 mirror the emerging organic and regenerative actions being recommended by the FAO, Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations.

Our focus will be to highlight the lessons 'Adasíyyih teaches for the 21st century regarding the community building process. The book illuminates the importance of three essential moral capabilities: work, initiative and consultation to building capacity for community building. It also demonstrates the importance of building trusting, sustaining relationships, cooperation, mutual assistance and forbearance as core building blocks of a stable social order. Hanley makes the case for deepening on the complementarity of science and religion to the material and spiritual progress of individuals, communities and regions. Through stories he demonstrates the importance of being able to read one’s reality and ensure the importance for everyone to benefit from an economy; an economy is only strong when everyone benefits and can progress in it. 

The book explores the fact that individuals, communities and institutions have dual aspects (material and spiritual) and that growth will happen when both aspects are cultivated in ways that acknowledge the principles of justice and the oneness and interconnectedness of everything. We are dependent on one another and now is the time to acknowledge the importance of re-orienting the ailing essential relationship between man and nature, and agriculture’s role in that process. The book offers understanding, hope and actions that will build vibrant communities and economies by establishing just agricultural systems which are needed to ensure universal food and nutrition security. 

Reading group participants are involved in weekly discussions about relevant topics that build the capacity to elevate conversations with individuals and representatives of institutions in their communities, leading to unity of thought and action contributing to the welfare of society. 

Assigned chapters from the book, together with excerpts from the Bahá’í writings that correlate with chapter themes will be provided weekly in advance of our Zoom meetings. Please feel free to participate in weekly discussions regardless of whether you have kept pace with the assigned readings. 

Facilitators: Nola Marion, Farrah Marasco-Mehregani

Schedule: Weekly (Thursday) 29 Jan – 12 Mar, 7:00 to 8:30 PM Eastern Time

Leveraging AI for Discourse, Advocacy, and Integrative Action

Text: Various AI tools and collaboratively introduced video, texts, and web based organization. Examples of information sources include Helene Landemore (Yale), The World Economic Forum, AI for Activism at TechPolicy, Hive Mind’s “Digital Activism”, Milind Tambe’s “AI for Social Impact”, and many more including those suggested and brought forward by the participants. 

Session preparation materials and suggestions will be provided prior to each meeting. 

This will be a collaborative, hands-on exploration of the environment of AI as a means to facilitate and amplify our efforts as protagonists of the integrative process. In addition to using AI to bring forth effective approaches to discourse, advocacy, and action, we will be seeking to use AI to assist us in responding effectively to false or misleading narratives while avoiding conflict or confrontation. After a bit of preparation, group members will be able to bring to the table for discussion their own interactive threads with AI to contribute to a group focus on a particular area of discourse or challenge to the wellbeing of humanity. We will explore how we can master the AI tools to benefit our integrative objectives, while avoiding the pitfalls of inaccuracy, bias reinforcement, and other limitations inherent to today’s AI technology. Areas that we will be addressing with this approach may include but are not limited to the challenges to the wellbeing of humanity including governance, environment, racism, disparities of wealth and equality of the sexes. Upon completion of this collaborative learning process, participants will, at a minimum, be able to use AI as a means to enhance our effectiveness and expand our parameters in bringing unity and justice to our own lives, our communities and our society. Participants should be able to better deploy AI to help research, express, plan, and act in their individual and organizational efforts on behalf of humanity. 

This reading group is to be a collaborative workshop where participants share their ideas, thoughts, and experience with each other in a mutually supportive learning environment. We hope that participants can put aside any fears and aversions to using AI for the purposes of pursuing this exploration. Some experience with exploring AI will be helpful. 

Facilitator: Bill Kelly 

Schedule: Weekly (Saturday) 7 Feb – 14 Mar, 8:00 to 9:30 PM Eastern Time 

“A Joy to the Sorrowful”: Relationship and Emotions in Therapy and Community

Text: Schore, A. (2019). Right brain psychotherapy (Norton series on interpersonal neurobiology). WW Norton & Company.

Wampold (2015) describes psychotherapy as a “special case of a social healing practice”—one that operates primarily through a relationship. Bahá’ís around the world are likewise engaged in learning about social healing through the community-building process. Bahá’u’lláh emphasizes the healing of relationships in His writings: “be as a lamp unto them that walk in darkness, a joy to the sorrowful, a sea for the thirsty, a haven for the distressed, an upholder and defender of the victim of oppression.”
Whether we are tending to the suffering of an individual or responding to the wounds of an ailing humanity, the relationships we cultivate can be deeply transformative.
This reading group will center on Right Brain Psychotherapy by Allan Schore. The book synthesizes and extends Schore’s longstanding work on the relational, affective, and developmental organization of the brain, and explores how these insights illuminate the processes of change in psychotherapy. While Schore’s work is grounded in neuroscience and psychodynamic orientations, it remains relevant across therapy modalities and in community settings. 

This group will be of interest to therapists of all orientations who wish to deepen their understanding of the therapeutic relationship, as well as to those interested in the application of psychology and neuroscience to relationships and community-building more broadly. Knowledge of neuroscience is not required. Readings (between 20 and 50 pages) will be discussed every two weeks, and participants are expected to make an effort to acquaint themselves with the material beforehand. 

Facilitator: Simon Massicotte

Schedule: Biweekly (Saturday) 31 Jan – 25 Apr, 12:00 to 1:30 PM Eastern Time

A Small Farm Future

Text: A Small Farm Future: Making the Case for a Society Built Around Local Economies, Self-Provisioning, Agricultural Diversity and a Shared Earth by Chris Smaje

In a groundbreaking debut, farmer and social scientist Chris Smaje argues that organizing society around small-scale farming offers the soundest, sanest and most reasonable response to climate change and other crises of civilisation—and will yield humanity’s best chance at survival. 

Drawing on a vast range of sources from across a multitude of disciplines, A Small Farm Future analyses the complex forces that make societal change inevitable; explains how low-carbon, locally self-reliant agrarian communities can empower us to successfully confront these changes head on; and explores the pathways for delivering this vision politically. Challenging both conventional wisdom and utopian blueprints, A Small Farm Future offers rigorous original analysis of wicked problems and hidden opportunities in a way that illuminates the path toward functional local economies, effective self-provisioning, agricultural diversity and a shared earth. Perfect for readers of both Wendell Berry and Thomas Piketty, A Small Farm Future is a refreshing, new outlook on a way forward for society—and a vital resource for activists, students, policy makers, and anyone looking to enact change.

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 about setting up an initial meeting to decide on a schedule for meeting times. For additional information contact: [email protected]

Our Response to Climate Change

Texts:

1. Human Nature: Nine Ways to Feel about our Changing Planet, by Dr. Kate Marvel, 2025, Ecco/Harper Collins (available in hard cover or digital on Amazon, Indigo, any major bookstore or in public or university libraries)

2.  Selected Writings, documents, websites, videos and materials shared as needed

This reading group is situated in the Climate/Environment Working Group. The overall purpose of our working group and this reading group is to learn more about the challenges of a heating planet and loss of species, consider our responsibility as Bahá’ís, have in-depth conversations in the group and within our individual circles, and find ways of taking action. 

We will read Kate Marvel’s Human Nature: Nine Ways to Feel about our Changing Planet. The book is an exploration of climate change through nine different emotions to better understand the science, history, and future of our evolving planet. Marvel uses a different emotion in each chapter to share the science and stories behind climate change. There is anger, fear, and grief—but also wonder, hope, and love. Bahá’í writings will be provided to complement each chapter. The group will discuss how Marvel’s ideas, together with spiritual principles, offer opportunities for meaningful conversations and local action.

Participants are expected to read a chapter per week prior to each session, in order to participate in group discussions and contribute to learning. Please acquire the book early.

Facilitators: Leslie Cole, Nancy Dinnigan-Prashad
Schedule: Weekly (Wednesday) 4 Feb – 1 Apr, 7:30 to 9:00 PM Eastern Time

Braiding Organizations, Mutualism, and Reciprocity

Text: Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer

This is the third in a series of Advancing Organizations reading groups that explore the principles of reciprocity. The first read, Give and Take (Adam Grant), explored reciprocity styles. The second read, The Capitalist Manifesto (Johan Norberg) and Beyond the Culture of Contest (Michael Karlberg), looked at mutualism from a Western capitalism and culture perspective. This third instance will study a text that brings in “Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants”.

The group will meet over eight weeks to explore this text in light of the Writings and with a specific interest in learning about the concept of reciprocity and mutualism. How do groups of people organize to fulfill meaningful purposes in an environment of mutual support and reciprocity? What can we learn about organizing “a body of people” so that “qualities of mutual support, reciprocity, and service to one another begin to stand out as features of an emerging, vibrant culture”? (https://www.bahai.org/r/276956817)

Facilitators: David Smith, Janelle Heise

Schedule: Weekly (Tuesday) 27 Jan – 17 Mar, 8:00 to 9:30 PM Eastern Time

Organizational Planning and Spiritual Leadership

Text: Planning Progress: Lessons from Shoghi Effendi by June Manning Thomas

How do we move from spiritual vision to pragmatic reality? June Manning Thomas’ Planning Progress is “a practical examination of the idea that planning as a skill is essential to human progress, but that some individuals exemplify this skill more than others, and furthermore that such individuals may be able to help organizations move in a more purposeful direction.” 

Thomas explores how Shoghi Effendi exemplified effective planning through strategies such as vision, encouragement, feedback, and consultation. The reading group will explore these texts to explore how we can use effective planning to contribute to advancing organizations. Together we will ask: How can we integrate technical planning skills with spiritual insights? How do we foster a culture of encouragement and feedback that sustains long-term growth and learning?

Facilitators: Philip Rehayem, Iscander Tinto

Schedule: Weekly (Friday) 30 Jan – 6 Mar, 2:00 to 3:30 PM Eastern Time

Tapping into the Spiritual Powers of the Arts

Text: Tapping into the Spiritual Powers of the Arts by Ludwig Tuman and “Some Quotations on Art from the Bahá’í Writings” (compilation) 

The text, a pre-publication deepening similar to the Ruhi model, is designed to serve as a tool that can be used to facilitate the graceful integration of the arts into community life and to stimulate the creation and use of art to enhance spiritual communities as they grow their core activities, while reaching out to the wider society through social action and public discourse. It seeks to assist the participant to better understand the spiritual nature and powers of the arts, and to gain basic skills in channeling their vitality into the activities of Bahá’í community life. Such activities include teaching and social outreach, study circles, devotional programs, children’s classes, youth activities, Nineteen-Day Feasts, and Holy Days. Discussion, excerpts from the Bahá’í writings on art, and sharing of art practices will be included. The goals are to deepen in the spiritual powers of the arts; share the Writings with two friends; experiment and gain experience with a new or different art form each week; contemplate and plan how each of these simple art forms could be used at a gathering of friends, either at a Feast, deepening, Holy Day or children's class; renew our creative spirit; and build some new skills.

Participants are encouraged to complete all the readings prior to each session, work on goal setting and reflection, and do a small, short art project, ideally WITH two other people. During the reading group sessions, we will read the highlighted passages and follow up on any questions in the workbook for 30–45 minutes, then reflect on how it felt to be doing art with two others and share work for 30–45 mins.

Facilitators: Polly Malby, Chris O’Donnell, Anne Perry, Kristine Young 

Schedule: Weekly (Tuesday) 17 Feb – 14 Apr, 8:00 to 10:00 PM Eastern Time

Transformative Leadership: From Justice to Unity Through 3 Capabilities

Text: From Justice to Unity: How Just Actions Contribute to Peaceful World, by Joan Hernandez

This reading group is the fourth in a series of groups dedicated to examining how Anello & Hernandez’s Transformative Leadership can be used as an example of applied discourse. This material, titled “From Justice to Unity: How Just Actions Contribute to a Peaceful World” approaches this timely topic through the lens of three of the capabilities of Transformative Leadership that contribute to social transformation: Establishing Justice, Transforming Dominating Relationships, and Understanding Historical Perspective.

Participants are encouraged to attend for the full 60-90 minutes of each session as well as to complete the assigned readings (around 20-30 pages per week) for each session so they can contribute to the discussion.

Facilitators: Carl Ewing, Joan Hernandez
Schedule: Weekly (Wednesday) 4 Feb – 4 Mar, 7:00 to 8:30 PM Eastern Time

Government Relations and Political Advocacy

Text: Ruhi Book 14: Participating in Public Discourse

One of the many ways in which individuals may be called to contribute to the betterment of society through their professional work is by engaging directly in the discourses of their fields, often communicating with policy makers and elected officials to shape the policies and programs that govern our collective life. This reading group invites those employed in government relations and political advocacy to explore how the Bahá’í teachings can bring greater coherence to this vital work. 

Drawing on the framework of Book 14 of the Ruhi Institute, we will examine the principles and methods common to our respective arenas—recognizing that many standard approaches to advocacy can be incompatible with Bahá’í ideals. Through an analysis of these practices in light of the experience of the community, the group aims to develop a shared language and the capacity to contribute more effectively to the progress of society.

Participants are encouraged to read the assigned sections prior to each session and come prepared to consult on the application of these insights to their daily professional lives.

Facilitator: Samuel Benoit

Schedule: Biweekly (Tuesday) 27 Jan – 24 Mar, 8:30 to 10:00 PM Eastern Time

Engineered Inequity: Examining Bias and Prejudice as Systemically Embedded in Technology

Text: Race After Technology by Ruha Benjamin

This reading group aims to explore how well-intentioned modern technologies which aim to promote efficiency, escape bias in human decision-making, and improve our reading of social reality, can inadvertently reflect and magnify our deep-seated prejudices. Through a study of Race After Technology by Ruha Benjamin, we will seek to refine our capacity to participate in discourses about how religion, class, caste, sex, gender and disability oppression can be codified into social systems, and how shallow and/or partial solutions may obfuscate the extent to which technologies enforce racialized meaning. Throughout our study, we will strive to draw on relevant passages from the teachings of the Faith to enrich our understanding of the content.

The group will discuss one chapter per week; please read the chapters as scheduled ahead of each session. Space may become limited; priority may be given to those living in North America, or familiar with the American context.

Facilitators: Naveen Tayyebi, Sami Joubert, Janice Ndegwa
Schedule: Weekly (Monday) 26 Jan – 02 Mar, 9:00 to 10:30 PM Eastern Time