Mr. Richard Gagnon
Presentations by Mr. Richard Gagnon
Richard Gagnon begins by offering the audience a chance to ask questions. The first one (is inaudible) and directed to Dr. Will van den Hoonard. The issue is holding competing world views within the Bahá'í community. Some see the Bahá’í and non-Bahá’í world as one: the ‘Old World Order’ with the ‘New World Order’ if you will; others see the Bahá’í view as unique and in sharp contrast to the non-Bahá’í world. For example, “Many are called but few are chosen.” The point is to show that all are not equal. For each perspective there is a counterpoint.
Mr. Gagnon’s thesis is: “Contrary to other forms of social organization, the Bahá’í Faith contains strictures to prevent the struggle for power within and between” Bahá’í institutions. He goes on to review the nature of “power” and how it is wielded within the Bahá’í administrative structure. In secular political organizations individuals often wield an unusual degree of personal power. In Bahá’í administrative institutions power is vested solely in the institutions. He contrasts the nature of secular political elections with that of the Bahá’í electoral process.