The Bahá’í Option
Aug. 30 – Sep. 2, 1982
7th Annual Conference, Chateau Laurier Hotel, Ottawa, ON
Attendance: 1,20
Natural Law Revisited
Dr. Dorothy Nelson
Honorable Judge
The Baha’i Perspective on Law, Language, and Ethics
Dr. Nelson reviews some of the misuses of State law, such as in Nazi Germany, where the State required the repression and eventual genocide of an entire category of people. For the individual then the question arises: ‘When then is it right to disobey a law?’
She enumerates and describes the three fundamental bases of natural law theory; and states that nearly every past civilization relied in some manner upon natural law to maintain the order and harmony of the people of that civilization.
Natural Law Revisited
Dr. James Nelson
Honorable Judge
Natural Law Revisited – A Bahá’í Perspective, Judge Nelson reviews the three schools of thought concerning Natural Law—Classical, Relativist and Theological. There is a fundamental difference between them based on the Source for each school of thought. The Bahá’í Faith provides the “lynchpin” which connects all three theories. God-given law has existed throughout human history. Now for the first time Bahá’u’lláh’s Revelation provides for a global approach to natural law and provides insitutions for its continuity. “Human rights are God-given rights.
Reconciling Personal and Social Values
Joint presentation Drs.Mahmoodi and van den Hoonard.
Dr. Hoda Mahmoodi begins this presentation: "The divorce between personal and social values in contemporary society is a fundamental obstacle to achieving human unity. This paper examines the causes and consequences of that separation and explores the possibility of the Baha'i position for rectifying this problem." She accounts for the first 12 minutes. The remaining 12 minutes are presented by Dr. van den Hoonard who explains that Baha'u'llah designated specific insitutions for the preservation of unity in the community.
Development of Human Rights in International Law
"Human rights are bestowed by men on men on the grounds that men think themselves to be." Helgi Eyford claims this statement is the specific thesis of his talk.
This paper addresses two things: 1) the idea of human rights; and 2) the history of human rights. Must be a thesis behind the law of human rights that make people willing to obey it. "What man is and what conduces to his betterment is ultimately found in religious traditions. Ideas of truth and human nature are wedded to social practices."
On Louis Gregory
Hand of the Cause of God Louis Gregory's life of service to the Cause of Bahá'u'lláh is briefly reviewed. It highlights his work for unity and harmony between blacks and whites. It emphasizes his firmness in the Covenant and the high praise and encouragement he received from 'Abdu'l-Bahá and Shoghi Effendi.
Thoughts on the Economy of a Baha’i World Commonwealth
Begins by explaining that the Baha'i view of economics does not, now, offer a prescription that might be offered to world leaders but is at present comprised of broad principles. The Baha'i principle of a "spiritual solution" economic problems calls for shift in ones' system of values. Thankfully it now appears that all the schools of economic theory are moving in the direction of the Baha'i point of view.
Evolving Toward a Baha’i Economic System
The Bahá’í writings present far-reaching principles on the basis of which our economic and spiritual life will eventually be revolutionized. The practical application of these broad ideals must be worked out over a period of time by economists and other thinkers inspired by Bahá’u’lláh’s teachings. The immediate need is not for a fixed system but for the initiation of a process of experimentation and continual reevaluation through which a new economic system will gradually evolve.
The Corporate Cultural Revolution
Larry Miller explains he is not presentating a paper because he is not a scholar but rather a practitioner. He paints the picture of what is going on in big North American corporations; this activity is being closely followed by the U.S. government. What do corporations want: unity, harmony, and consensus. These will only be achived by the application of Baha'i principles.
Accounting
The Period of Decline and Regeneration: A Baha’i Perspective
Accountants and managers of international corporations are coming to the common understanding that the world is one. George M. Scott and P. Troberg have written a book: Eight-eight International Accounting Problems in Rank Order of Importance. Ms. Foroughi said it is "exciting to go through these 88 problems and relate them to the Baha'i teachings."
International Telecommunications and the Baha’i Faith
In the slide program Mr. Caswell begins with the Declaration of the Bab in May of 1844 and it's correlation to the first telegraphic message sent a day later: "What hath God wrought" In 1936 Shoghi Effendi answered the message of 1844: "A mechanism of world inter-communication will be devised, embracing the whole planet, freed from national hindrances and restrictions, and functioning with marvellous swiftness and perfect regularity". He then reviews the development of various technologies leading to telecommunications, all of which are avenues to teaching the Faith.
Development
A challenge to Baha'i Scholars
Bahá'í Development
- For those of you who plan to be involved with a Bahá'í
development project, I'd like to offer the following points.
1. The tendency to treat development as products
to be handed out or sold to people should be avoided
2. No Bahá'í development project should be launched without
having in place a mechanism for constant
and continued consultation with those who are to
derive benefits from the development project.
The New Interdependence
When you pledge to bring about world unity; which also recognizes cultural diversity; and shares with others the desire to eliminate prejudice and the blight of poverty you begin to understand the spiritual basis of society. You begin to understand the contribution of human personality to the oneness of human society. Baha'u'llah said, "The Earth is one country, and mankind its citizens". And 'Abdu'l-Baha wrote "men should love and mutually help each other in order that they might progress." Your faith and help are needed to develop and build the potential for a global society.
Rural Development
Baha’i Perspectives and Possibilities
Mr. Ojermark surveys the current state of rural development within the Baha'i community and makes a plea for the design of a system that will stimulate genuine participation, self-help and self-reliance; one that promotes equity and the enhancement of the role of women. In brief, to provide a system in which Baha'is around the world can channel voluntary work and financial resources to assist our disadvantaged fellow believers.
Intercultural Communication
A Prerequisite for International Development: The Unique Contribution of the Baha’i World View
Essential Components of Bahá'í Development
In many academic fields the scholarship is divorced from problems on the ground. Bahá'í scholarship should be rooted in the everyday problems of humanity. 'Abdu'l-Bahá said 'ye are the physicians of mankind'.
Bahá'ís have a vision for human transformation; it focuses on latent human qualities. At the heart of all relationship is our love for Bahá'u'lláh. We love Him by loving our fellow humans.