Dr. John S. Hatcher
Presentations by Dr. John S. Hatcher
The Covenant is a major theme of the current Six Year Plan. Mr. Birkland describes the “Greater” and “Lesser” covenants. Dr. John Hatcher is invited to offer a metaphor to help folks understand the covenant better. The 23rd Psalm of the Old Testament contains this metaphor. Claudius Adebayo explains how firmness in the Covenant will improve the condition of the fund. “How do we help children understand” the importance of the Covenant? Paul Lample is invited to answer the question: “How can understanding the Covenant and the power of the Covenant make us better teachers?”
Dr. John Hatcher begins with the distinction between the Bahá'í view of the equality of men and women, and the view held by the non- Bahá'ís. Bahá'u'lláh states that the purpose of religion is to raise human conciousness to the realities of the spiritual world. Bahá'u'lláh further tells us that the equality of men and women has always been a reality in the sight of God. Society is now ready to accept this reality. Dr. Hatcher uses the Bahá'í views of the different roles of mother and father in raising and training children, toward the advancement of society.
Dr. John Hatcher describes one of the Baha’i priorities as deepening the Baha'is. He talked about true knowledge and the real education of mankind as being taught by Baha’u’llah. He explained his meaning by quoting from the Writings of Baha'u'llah and Abdu'l-Baha. The Word of God is has Divine creative power. Baha'u'llah's used many metaphors in His Writings; these are like poems that talk to our hearts. Baha’u’llah says, in the “Seven Valleys”: Knowledge is a single point, which the ignorant have multiplied”. He emphasized the education of children.
Dr. John Hatcher is Professor Emeritus of English literature and he teaches the study of religion at the University of South Florida. He is the author of several books. He Became a Baha'i in 1960. , He reads Peter S. Quinn's "Club A" poem in order to explain the poetry of Baha'i life and how the process works. He explained how spirit works through our feelings and thoughts and how it can create music. God's use of language translates spirit into poetic forms. God prefers to use poetical and metaphorical expressions.