We invite attendees to enter and explore key concepts in one of our courses from our graduate-level certificate program through an immersive process. Attendees freely walk through a museum style gallery where they engage with four interactive stations. Participants explore public discourse as a strategy for change, reading our reality, underlying material assumptions, and the need for being in a mode of learning. The gallery walk-through concludes with a 15-minute Q&A reflection. This process highlights the learning gained by the Wilmette Institute to promote the current global Plan through its Social Transformation Certificate program.
Social capital is posited as a critical resource within the "social commons," with a role in fostering trust, cooperation, and societal resilience. Drawing from the Bahá'í Faith's principles of unity and the oneness of humankind, it highlights how Bahá'í community-building efforts—through transformation of individuals, communities, and institutions—can regenerate social capital. The Bahá'í framework offers unique insights into restoring trust and cohesion by addressing systemic inequities and promoting collective well-being. Through the lens of Social Affinity Flow Theory (SAFT), this talk connects spiritual and material dimensions of social capital to sustainable development and governance.
Fashion is a major contributor to climate change, reflecting a deep misalignment with nature. This presentation examines how the Bahá’í concept of attraction to beauty—as a tool to foster harmony, justice, and unity—can address this challenge. Drawing on my work at Ambercycle, a pioneer in circular fashion, I will share insights into aligning the industry with principles of stewardship, interconnectedness, and sustainability. Participants will explore redefining beauty beyond materialism, embracing values that promote spiritual and material progress, and collaborating to advance climate action and justice in their fields.
We live in a time of rapid advancement in science, technology and medicine, yet, the more advanced we are, the higher are the rates of chronic disease, cancer, neurological disease, anxiety and depression. There is a growing dissatisfaction towards the medical establishment, insurance companies and pharmaceutical compnies. In the light of the Baha'i writings, we explore the medicine of the past, medicine in the present times and new developments concerning possible future in medicine on the science of nutrition, microbiome, mind/body medicine, spirituality and more.
In a letter dated 29 December 1988, the Universal House of Justice calls for “a new birth of expression” where “exercise of freedom of speech must necessarily be disciplined by a profound appreciation of both the positive and negative dimensions of freedom, on the one hand, and of speech on the other.” The breakout session proposes to share insights identified by a Reading Group on the power of speech and the role of the Humanities in contributing to the intellectual life of the Baha’i community and the emergence of a renewed intellectual discourse in human society.
In an era of deepening political polarization and extreme partisanship, journalism is in crisis. Some argue that journalists must adopt the role of a “resistance” against illiberalism. In contrast, others demand a rejection of elites who use “progressive” media framing to perpetuate a toxic cultural agenda. The place of fact-based journalism—objectivity—is now the field's most pressing debate. The sacred writings of the Baha’i Faith address these issues by offering a new tenet for journalists, one that outlines both the mission of news gathering and the motivations behind reporting. Exploring these passages may provide a roadmap for how journalism can serve humanity's best interests.
How can the Bahá’í Writings inspire efforts to advance racial equity in education? This session explores how Roots ConnectED applies principles of unity and justice to foster inclusive learning environments. By integrating spiritual and intellectual insights into professional development, we support educators in building equitable schools. We will share lessons from our work, highlighting engagement in discourse, collaboration with scholars, and contributions to systemic change. Participants will reflect on their role in fostering unity and explore how Bahá’í teachings can inform efforts to create learning spaces that honor diversity and nurture belonging.
Enrique Dussel argues that conquest & domination are foundational to Western thought and praxis. Dussel questions the widely held view that Western metaphysics begins with Descartes’ “I think, therefore I am”, proposing instead that the basis of Western metaphysics is the act of conquest-where one’s subjectivity is established through acts of domination. This panel will examine this “metaphysics of conquest” in the discourses on technological advancement, carceral logics, and religious propagation. It will then explore responses to these themes within the teachings of the Bahá’í Faith, offering a view on how to move from domination to humility & service.
This presentation outlines a Bahá’í theology of religions, offering an integrative perspective beyond exclusivism, inclusivism, and pluralism. The Bahá’í approach emphasizes progressive revelation, affirming the divine origins of all religions and their historical evolution. By exploring theological principles rooted in Bahá’í teachings, it highlights how integrating diverse perspectives fosters interfaith dialogue. Participants are invited to consider how this framework addresses religious diversity and contributes to broader discourses on spiritual and societal progress.
As humanity moves beyond its adolescence, technology raises profound ethical and societal questions. This panel shares insights from the ABS Technology Working Group’s two-year effort to build capacity for contributing to this discourse. Panelists will discuss initiatives like reading groups, seminars, and materials development, efforts to identify gaps and assumptions, and aspirations to align professional pursuits with community building. Exploring technology’s relationship to purpose, values, and social actors, the session connects thought to action. A Q&A will invite collaboration and further learning.
The purpose of this stream is to gather academics and students in philosophy to explore key issues of their field in light of the Baha'i teachings and the accumulating experience of the community. In particular, the session will focus on enduring philosophical questions related to relativism, knowledge, and truth. What is it that distinguishes knowledge, or justified belief, from mere opinion or subjective perspectives? How do features of contemporary Baha'i community life (e.g., operating in a learning mode of action, reflection, and consultation) shed light on the meaning of truth, knowledge, and relativism in practical contexts? The session will be divided into two panel sessions. The first panel will explore questions of knowledge, relativism, and truth from a historical perspective. The second panel will consider a range of practical questions emerging from more contemporary manifestations of the problem of relativism.
The purpose of this stream is to gather academics and students in the field of political science. The session will comprise panel discussions on concepts of power, political agency, and democratic deliberation in political science. These presentations will inform a collective exploration of our experience as political scientists aiming to contribute insights from the Revelation to the prevalent discourses of the discipline. What are some strands of political science discourse that are especially promising and receptive to ideas drawn from the Faith? What are we learning about making meaningful contributions to these areas? How are we learning to navigate especially fraught or challenging conversations in the field? We will also reflect on our experience participating in a range of spaces where thinking evolves in the field, e.g., conferences, publications, the classroom.
This session is for researchers, undergraduate and graduate students, and professionals working in the fields of sociology and anthropology. A major theme in the fields of sociology and anthropology is the relationship between human agency and social structure. Key issues associated with this theme include the degree to which human behavior is shaped by and influences community and culture, how both interact with organizational structures, and how the dynamic relationships between the individual, the community, and the institutions—these “three protagonists” of society—foster or hamper well-being and human flourishing. According to the Universal House of Justice (28 December 2010), “a new conception of each [protagonist], appropriate for a humanity that has come of age, is emerging.” Moreover: “The relationships that bind them, too, are undergoing a profound transformation.” In view of these developments, this session will explore questions such as: What are the implications of these new conceptions for sociological and anthropological research? What assumptions and insights from the Revelation and the social sciences – such as those concerning human nature, power, normality and deviance, and gender – are most conducive to investigating the nature of the relationships between the three protagonists? In what ways does the harmony of science and religion influence our readings of social reality?
This session will explore the relationship between music, well-being and societal advancement. The influence of music will be examined from the perspective of the Bahá’í writings and academic literature. Musical excerpts with a positive impact will be shared from a variety of genres including country, hip-hop, and classical, helping to shed light on the questions under consideration. Through guided discussion, participants are invited to, together, gain a deeper understanding of the concepts presented and to reflect practically on how music with a positive effect can be increasingly created and shared.
Intentional self-reflection is critical to the success of community building. We will share and engage in the practice of PhotoSophia (light and wisdom) as sacred long-looking and arts-grounded exploration. Bahá’u’llah writes “true loss is for him whose days have been spent in utter ignorance of his self.” In what ways does our ignorance become a serious obstacle to overcoming our inherent racism and sexism in community building efforts? PhotoSophia has been used around the world with adults, youth and children to “bring thyself to account each day”, helping us embrace vulnerability and authentic unity, in a humble posture of learning.
This recently-published paper addressed the need for transformational approaches to releasing the potential of stakeholders to achieve development goals, to build on and extend beyond current best practices in participation and capacity strengthening. A balanced assessment will recognize the noble or prosocial potential of people to harmonize the pursuit of personal interests with a willingness to contribute to social and collective development goals. We need to empower individuals, communities and institutions to be active protagonists of development, which requires approaches that consider their antecedent knowledge, values and culture, stance, agency, roles, relationships, and learning.
Although intellectual pursuits and scientific inquiry are encouraged in the Baha’i Faith, offering a harmonizing counterpart to religion, what is the role of reasoning in spiritual development? This session examines the centrality of logic and reasoning in spiritual education, drawing from past Holy Scriptures and Bahá’í Writings. Together, we will explore ways such a capacity can be developed, and will reflect on its implications on the spiritual education of children and youth, and our engagement in community and social discourse. Additionally, we will discuss how studying the logic in Baha’i Writings can facilitate meaningful and coherent contributions to ethics-based curricula.
This presentation shares unique insights into discourses in the scientific and lay communities from a Baháʼí perspective on the issues surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic utilizing the “lessons learned” and highlighting the “missed opportunities” for fostering stronger bonds of unity and global solidarity. This highly interactive presentation, encouraging participation from the audience, explores the implications of the Baháʼí teachings applied to current and future pandemics through relevant discourses in public health, behavioral, and political sciences based on the underlying principle of the agreement between science and religion and the important roles of each of the three protagonists.
Language is more than a tool for communication—it shapes our very perception of reality. Drawing on insights from neuroscience, psychology, and the Bahá’í principle of the power of words, this presentation explores how our emotional vocabulary influences our ability to connect, resolve conflict, and cultivate unity. Just as the Bahá’í Writings emphasize the transformative power of speech, expanding our emotional language refines our capacity for consultation, empathy, and detachment from ego in discourse. This talk challenges us to move beyond the limits of our learned communication habits and embrace the spiritual potential of words that uplift, clarify, and unify.
This presentation explores how the principles of unity, consultation, and justice can transform legal education to prepare lawyers for the challenges of a rapidly evolving society. Drawing on insights from the Bahá’í Revelation, as well as contemporary discourses on ethics, AI, and cultural competence, the presentation proposes an innovative framework for equipping future lawyers with skills essential to both material and spiritual progress. By bridging professional training with the moral and intellectual imperatives of the Faith, this work contributes to the wider discourse on justice, equity, and the role of lawyers as changemakers.
The independent investigation of truth is a core principle of the Bahai Faith. This principle is opposed by Fifth Generation Warfare, i.e., the manipulation of information to divide, inflame, and set individuals and groups against one another. Remaining skeptical and neutral while pursuing truth, basing our opinions on evidence, is indispensable for navigating this Information Age that we’re living through. Otherwise, we are easily misled, and even distracted from our primary objectives. Today’s sophisticated practices of information curation and propaganda require that we equip ourselves for intellectual self-defense, lest we become indoctrinated by the narrative of the moment.
Imám Husayn holds a central place in Shí’i Islam as both a symbol of redemptive suffering and divine justice. The Báb’s devotional writings, particularly His Sahífih A‘mál-i Sanah, exalt Husayn as a cosmic martyr whose sacrifice transcends time. This study explores The Báb’s themes of mourning, eschatological fulfillment, and divine proximity. How does his portrayal of Ḥusayn relate to His station as the Qá’im? What is the theological significance of his call for weeping? Through textual analysis, this paper examines how The Báb reinterprets Shí’i devotional motifs while inaugurating a new spiritual paradigm.
Many have expressed ethical concerns surrounding AI-based technologies, but few have suggested concrete steps to be taken in order to address these concerns. Developments often outpace the ability of institutions, communities and individuals to participate effectively and ensure trustworthy outcomes. We should not sacrifice moral/ethical principles in service of efficiency, and we should not allow technology to shape us or the direction of our efforts. In this session, drawing on literature from business, ethics, and the Baha’i Faith, we will propose ideas for the protection of integrity and morality so that communities have agency and remain in charge of the machines.
Enhancing community through the power of the arts is encouraged in the Ridvan Message of 2023. Visual artists Garry Berteig and Lorenzo Dupuis offer a collaborative audio/visual presentation to assist individuals and communities explore this directive. They have noted that communities create art and in turn art creates communities. As a result of this reciprocity, both art and community share the ingredients of love, purpose, guiding principles, humility, integration, and diminished hierarchy. These are essential in both and are working templates for one another.
The spiritual technology, consultation, stands alongside ubuntu and other indigenous circle methods that mute competition, dominance and hierarchy while fostering just, collective decisionmaking. Welcomed by comrades in Baltimore’s Black community, at work and in the field of service, it's one of the last tools Baha’is tend to share outwardly. After briefly reviewing key elements aligned between Bahá'í Writings, indigenous practices, some practical adaptations from John Kolstoe’s “Developing Genius” and the facilitators' work, we’ll collectively create guidelines to share for introducing consultation in our circles of action using interactive and computer assisted social research tools.
This panel explores the central questions of ‘what is discourse and what is it for?’ and continues this exploration by asking what intellectual norms serve as obstacles to realizing oneness and unity through public discourse and how can discourse contribute to societal transformation built on principles of oneness. Panelists will draw from experiences participating in discourses in four diverse fields (natural science, global health, art, and education), each with unique and shared historical patterns of thought, expectations pertaining to social change, and norms of communication. Participants will reflect on their own journeys in public discourse through interdisciplinary breakout groups.
In 1989, Jamshid Aidun pioneered to Guyana to lead the Bahá'í Community Health Partnership (BCHP), living in a remote Indigenous region. Using Aidun’s diaries and interviews with him and other key participants, this new Biography traces the parallel stories of community health empowerment and Aidun’s personal healing, and the ripple effects of the BCHP a generation later. The panelists discuss the impact of the BCHP on their careers; developing a moral framework for social action; tensions between individual leadership and creating dependence; developing Indigenous partnerships while avoiding paternalism and proselytism; and the interplay between Bahá'í institutions and external funding.
The unfolding of Khazzoom-Brooke’s Postulate that as we innovate to optimize efficient uses of resources, consumption rebounded at higher rates ; forces of production increase to generate more growth is finally on collision course with planetary boundaries & ever declining social justice. We examine (a) sources & persistence of poverty despite economic growth, where the wealthiest 5 individuals now have more wealth than the bottom 1/2 of world population. (b) the impact of this unfettered growth on climate change in face of planetary boundaries, and (c) how certain principles of the Bahai Faith provide a new global construct to address this outcome.
Contemporary psychological theories of parenting, which inform scientific research and advice, rarely address spiritual education and often rely on individualistic frameworks. In contrast, the Bahá’í Teachings place spiritual education at the center of a child’s development and society’s transformation. This session will explore how the Bahá’í view of a two-fold moral purpose offers a unique conceptual framework for parenting and fostering spiritual growth in children. We will examine how this perspective interacts with current scientific knowledge and informs parenting practices, as well as how it can contribute to conversations with others about spiritual and moral development.
My new book, Second Century Believers (George Ronald 2025) uses qualitative research procedures to analyze interviews with dozens of Bahá’ís who were among the first born in the 2nd century BE. They came from Christian and agnostic families. I asked about their feelings & experiences when opting to joined the Faith during the 1st House of Justice's the 1st 9-yr plan. We have no record of how 2nd c. Christians felt.Though there are Baha'i narratives, there are few if any accounts of their thought processes & feelings. I analyzed interview data mining for shared meanings. Systematic research of internal processes among people who join a religion is an under represented issue in Bahá’í academic scholarship.
In today’s interconnected world, the media plays a pivotal role in shaping public opinion and societal change. This presentation explores the critical need for socially conscious companies to lead the media landscape, focusing on amplifying voices that deserve attention and recognition. Drawing from years of experience at the BWC and the Office of Media and Technologies, we will highlight the power of media in fostering inclusive, diverse, and complex conversations. By sharing our insights on how to navigate these discussions in online spaces, we aim to empower organizations to create impactful media strategies that contribute to positive messages.
This presentation explores the complementary perspectives of Baha'i teachings on healing and Polyvagal Theory, highlighting their shared emphasis on the interconnectedness of physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. It includes interactive exercises to experience the power of prayer when in an autonomic nervous system state of safety and wellbeing. Discussion will focus on personal and collective uses of this integrative approach for providing “haven and refuge” from anxiety and fear in the face of mental tests.
‘Abdu’l-Bahá teaches that “the reality of man is his thought,” and that the purpose of the Manifestations is to transform humanity. Science supports this, showing that our thoughts shape reality and that transformation is possible. Recent discoveries of neuroplasticity—the brain’s ability to form new neural pathways—demonstrate that individuals can rewire their brains to change their thinking. By integrating the wisdom of the Baha’i Writings with modern science, a methodology is presented for memorizing the Writings to harness the brain's neuroplasticity and to create new pathways to foster personal transformation.
Bahá’ís are enjoined to “[b]e anxiously concerned with the needs of the age ye live in,” while remaining resolutely non-partisan and committed to constructive, unifying methodologies for social change. Navigating these two imperatives is an area of learning for all Bahá’ís, particularly at a time when ever-more issues are being defined and fought over by contentious partisan voices. Academics in the field of political science may face particular challenges in this regard, and gain unique insights. This panel discussion, arising out of an ongoing conversation between Bahá’í political scientists, aims to share some of those insights.
One of the prevalent discourses of society involves the bankruptcy of old conceptions of power and leadership and the need for a new paradigm. The Writings of the Faith, especially those of Abdu’l-Baha have many constructive ideas to offer. It is heartening to observe that even as the old world order rapidly unravels, glimmerings of new concepts of power and leadership aligned with the Writings are emerging in various academic, business, and spaces concerned with societal governance at all levels. This growing convergence points to the appearance of Abdu’l-Baha’s second candle of unity: unity of thought in world undertakings.
The harmony between science and religion is central to the Bahá'í Faith, especially concerning human evolution. 'Abdu'l-Bahá's statements on evolution have inspired reflection for over a century but this discourse remains rooted in 19th-century Darwinian concepts, reflecting the scientific understanding of His time. To engage meaningfully with contemporary, science-literate thinkers, the subject must be framed within the context of current science. This presentation seeks to bridge the latest advancements in evolutionary biology with 'Abdu'l-Bahá's relevant statements—not to reinterpret them, but to demonstrate that modern evolutionary biology aligns with His comments.
Building Vibrant Communities Through Art is an experiential workshop grounded in Bahá’í principles of collaboration, connection, and consultation. Participants will engage in reflective practices, dynamic art-making, and meaningful dialogue to explore how creative processes can inspire community-building efforts. Through hands-on activities and group discussions, attendees will generate insights and practical tools to foster unity, strengthen connections, and nurture vibrant, spiritually grounded communities. This interactive session invites participants of all artistic abilities to experience the transformative power of the arts in creating spaces for collective growth and learning.
As a family and addictions doctor with 30 years of experience working in Alberta, I would like to share experiences of helping people improve their health through consultation with patients, and creating the environment where a healing community can form amongst clinic patients and beyond. This presentation will include sharing by a member of an oft-ignored minority, and how the lack of consultation about health lead to a tragedy, and the moving beyond this to create better health for all.
Joan Young proposes to look at her rekindling of friendship with Indigenous Bahá’ís whom she first met in the 1970s — as well as her visits with their non-Indigenous friends — to collect life stories. She aims to demonstrate the profound value of friendship across the cultural divide and to connect these relationships to the current dialogue around Truth and Reconciliation. She contends that building "common memory," a term used by Indigenous leader, Georges Erasmus, is essential in the building of community. Participants will be inspired to write the unique histories which they have access to.
Informed by the Promise of World Peace and founded in the centrality of peace i Bahá’u’llah’s revelation, the presentation will explore how peace is essential for health and that violence to manage conflict is unhealthy. It will examine the current increasing impact of war preparation on the current polycrisis. It will examine barriers and challenges. It will explore the role of the individual, the community and the institutions with a particular focus on the role of civil society. It will lead to a consultation as to how Baha’is might become more meaningfully involved. It will be of particular interest to those involved in health care but will be of interest to all who are concerned with the well-being of humanity.
In 2017 the Universal House of Justice offered a seminal letter that raised the principle of economic justice more prominently in our collective consciousness. Juxtaposing economic justice with America’s race unity challenge creates a fascinating opportunity to examine both principles. Various sincere experiments have attempted to reduce wealth inequity post-the U.S. Civil War. This presentation will consider prominent examples, and their efficacy in mitigating structural and generational poverty. The cases will be viewed critically through the Faith’s view of societal prosperity. Finally, we will examine the Institution of Huquq’u’llah’s role in providing an economic justice framework.
On most college and university campuses today, there is an evolving professional discourse on pedagogy for higher education. How are insights and experiences gained through the training institute and related educational endeavors informing the pedagogy of those who teach in higher education? What might we contribute, in this regard, to the prevalent discourse on higher educational pedagogy? Also, what are we learning about bringing Bahá’í insights and experiences to bear in the content of relevant courses? And what are the pedagogical principles that might guide and justify such efforts?
This presentation examines the role of service-learning in the moral and intellectual empowerment of students in a Baha’i-inspired secondary school. Elements our service-learning framework includes a school culture of service and moral capability development, the implementation of “The World Citizenship Curriculum”, and collaboration with the Baha’i Training Institute. Through this framework, students translate knowledge into meaningful service, nurture moral development and enhance understanding of and commitment to addressing social realities. We will discuss the impact of this framework on students, questions and challenges and its implications for the discourse on education.
Study of recent messages of the Universal House of Justice hints at increasing intensity and expanded and broadened scope of tests and difficulties coming to Bahá’í Communities worldwide with encouragement to study the evolution of the Iranian Bahá’í Community as a source of insight and inspiration. Analysis of previously untranslated letters and unpublished communication from 1979-82 from key individuals who were at the heart of the Iranian community can shed insight on how this community rose to meet challenges never seen before by any Bahá’í Community in its history and perhaps serve as examples for communities in North America.
Banning cell phones may be a good first step, but we can’t stop there. Join this interactive workshop to explore and apply practical strategies for empowering young people to self-regulate their use of media technology. Discover the transformative power of virtues like patience, moderation, and responsibility as guiding principles for navigating media such as video games, AI, social media, news, and movies. Drawing on their experience as media practitioners and their work implementing these concepts in schools and junior youth groups, the presenters will introduce participants to an emerging media literacy curriculum and invite them to share their insights.
This presentation shares emerging research highlighting the impact of purpose and mindfulness on youth behavior, revealing that risky behaviors including dangerous driving and crashes are significantly lower when young people report higher levels of mindfulness, and have a sense of purpose that centers on service to their community. This suggest that some adolescent risky behaviors could be mitigated with the presence of meaning and purpose in life. Reframing risky behaviors as a symptom of diminished sense of life purpose underscores the need to address more broadly existential dimensions in behavioral science. Reflections on initial experiences of offering these findings in academic settings will also be presented.
Neuroscience findings shape society’s understanding of human nature. Studies linking prejudice, violence, and rebellious behavior to brain function are often accepted as evidence that our lower nature is hard-wired and inescapable. However, the conceptual framework of the Bahá’í community situates humanity in an age of transition, emerging out of adolescence and advancing towards collective maturity. In this light, neuroscientific findings can be viewed as snapshots in time, and reflections of current culture, rather than immutable features of brain function. This presentation explores how neuroscience can be aligned with our framework, deepening our understanding of human potential.
In this presentation I explain how a Bahá’í discourse can offer a timely, comprehensive, and above all viable alternative to the principal theory informing international relations, namely political realism. This Bahá’í alternative provides the theoretical condition of possibility for a lasting, all-inclusive global peace. Drawing on the writings of Baha’u’llah, in addition to those of ʻAbdu’l-Bahá, Shoghi Effendi, and the Universal House of Justice, I unpack the Baha’i prerequisites for world peace, in the process mapping out the contours of an alternative global order upon which such a peace can be realized and sustained. It will be argued here that, at this juncture in history, achieving global peace is within sight despite the current status quo in international affairs. However, what remains to be seen is whether this peace can be attained through global deliberation or upon suffering an unprecedented global calamity.
This session explores the distinctiveness of the Bahá’í approach to democracy. It begins by reviewing arguments concerning the fragility of democracy in classical political theory and diagnoses its current plight in modern political science. Then, focusing on the Guardian’s statement that the Administrative Order “blends and harmonizes… the salutary truths” of recognized systems of government, it considers five dimensions of the Bahá’í system that stand in productive contrast with mainstream conceptions of democracy. The goal is not to merely critique these conceptions, but rather to suggest ways in which to advance our capacity to articulate a distinctive contribution to discourse.
