MOST POPULAR FIRESIDES:

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HARMONY AND ART IN THE UNIVERSE AND IN REVELATION

A perspective of arts & beauty according to the Bahá’í Faith.

Presented By Mr. HOOPER DUNBAR in November 15, 2020.

Hooper Dunbar:

After 50 years serving the Bahá'i Faith, many years in the Wholy Land  first as an International Counsellor, member of the International  Teaching Centre, and later as a member of the Universal House of  Justice,  Southern California-born  painter Hooper C Dunbar has  resettled in Granite Bay, California. His  extensive range of work is  represented in numerous private collections,  principally in New York,  London, Hong Kong, Verona and Sydney His  paintings have been exhibited  by Ethan Cohen Fine Arts,   Manhattan, the United Nations Offices of the Baha'i International   Community, NY the executive offices of SOHO China in Beijing and ART   Silicon Valley. He divides his time between private studios in both   California and Spain.
 

Mr. Dunbar was born in Los Angeles, California, United States.   He worked as an actor on stage and screen, making films with Columbia,   Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Twentieth Century-Fox studios, and was a  member  of the Screen Actors' Guild of America. In 1958, he left  Hollywood to  take up residence in Central and South America, where he  taught arts and  English as a second language, and set up a graphic  design business.  However, his primary interest during those years was  volunteer work as a  teacher and lecturer for the Bahá’í Faith. 

Mr. Dunbar served as a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Nicaragua from its inception in 1961 to 1963, when he represented that Assembly at the first International Convention in Haifa, Israel. 

Subsequently, he was appointed as an Auxiliary Board for the Protection of the Faith in the Americas and served from 1963 to 1968, and then as a Counsellor for the Protection and Propagation of the Faith from 1968 1973, also   for the America.  He took up residence in Israel in 1973 when he was   named as one of the founding members of the International Teaching Centre. Mr. Dunbar served as a member of that institution for fifteen years, until he was elected to the Universal House of Justice in 1988. On January 6th, 2010 it was announced that he would retire following a by-election to replace him.  He retired along with Dr. Peter Khan.[1] 

THE GIFT OF TOUCHING HEARTS WITH THE MOST PRECIOUS MESSAGE.

"THE FIRESIDE ABOUT FIRESIDES."

PRESENTED BY Mr. GORDON NAYLOR

in September 28, 2020

Mr. Naylor shares some of his lessons in a space of meaningful  conversation, in which he has not only been a teacher but also a seeker,  years ago at the Javid's home. He discusses the many possibilities that  the recent virtual technology has allowed and what the foreseeable  outcomes of these new teaching spaces are. He will approach the subject  drawing from his personal and close relation to late Mrs. Aghdas Javid,  who will be the inspiration and focus of our tribute in this "Fireside  about Firesides". 

Aghdas Javid: Mrs. Javid exemplified through decades,  at her open weekly evening in her residence in Hamilton, what the  Guardian of the Bahá’í Faith said about the nature of Firesides and how  should a believer approach her/his duty to promote them: “He must be the  one who enlightens new souls, confirms them, heals the wounded and the  weary upon the road of life, gives them to quaff from the chalice of  everlasting life—the knowledge of the Manifestation of God in His Day."

 (From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Benelux Countries, July 5, 1957)

Mr. Gordon Naylor:

Gordon  A. Naylor has been instrumental in creating, developing and  successfully implementing programmes for the education and empowerment  of youth and families in North and South America. He has completed  graduate studies in International Education, Clinical Psychology and  Educational Administration. The development of human potential has been  the focus of his work for more than forty five years. 

Mr. Naylor for  over 30 years has been the Executive Director of his privately owned  social service agency for residential treatment which now employs more  than three hundred and fifty employees and over two hundred residential  treatment beds. Mr. Naylor is the founder and Executive Director of the  Nancy Campbell Academy, which opened in the fall of 1994 in Stratford,  Ontario.  This is a private, international, co-educational secondary  school that received a perfect 10 score according to the Fraser  Institute.  

Nancy Campbell Academy is a #1 ranked school out of over 800  schools in Ontario.He lived in Guyana for six years where he created  two programmes with the University of Guyana, Adult Education, for a  Psychosocial Diploma and Counselling Diploma Programme.

Mr. Naylor is  president and CEO of several other companies and has lectured  extensively throughout the world on education and moral leadership.  He  is the Co-Founder of Jaygor Inc, which specialises in educational  technology, Augmented Reality (AR) and Artificial Intelligence (AI).

PRESENTED BY  Dr. ALBERT LINCOLN in December 6, 2020.

Many people appreciate the clarity of the Bahá’í teachings and are touched by the genuine warmth and diversity of the community. Puzzled by the difficulty of obtaining a clear explanation of what they are actually doing to bring about the changes they talk about at the societal level, some may conclude that Bahá’ís are quietists or starry-eyed utopians, which is far from the truth.

While Bahá’ís avoid partisan politics and abstain from taking public positions on the contentious social issues of the day, many thousands of local communities, both urban and rural and on every continent, are working quietly but systematically (and successfully) to bring about fundamental change at the level of culture, while learning to function under a new kind of institutional structure based on spiritual principles. The main instrument used in this process is a decentralized system of distance learning based on volunteer service by members of the population concerned. This educational process reaches every age-group, from children to seniors, providing life-changing spiritual insights, imparting knowledge and understanding, and developing motivation and skills for service to the community.  

Dr. Albert Lincoln:

As Secretary-General of the Bahá’í International Community from 1994-2013, Dr. Albert Lincoln represented the elected international governing body of the Bahá’í Faith in international forums and interactions with Heads of State and Government, diplomats, high officials and leaders of thought from many parts of the world.  Based at the Bahá’í World Centre in Haifa, Israel, he was also responsible for the management of its host country relations, including dealings with national and municipal authorities, Jewish and Arab community leaders, and organizations of civil society. His efforts to foster harmony and mutual understanding among the various religious communities were recognized by an honorary doctorate conferred by the University of Haifa in 2010 and an Award of Merit from the City of Haifa in 2013. 

PRESENTED BY SHAFIGHEH  FATHEAZAM, Grand Daughter of Ibn-i-Asdaq,

Family stories about  “Ismu'llahu'l-Asdaq” and his son “Ibn-i-Asdaq”... “through whom the light of fortitude hath shone forth”. 

Join Mrs. Shafigheh Fatheazam in a touching fireside about the life of two Hands of the Cause, whose long life of services to their Beloved was a tribute “…to diffuse the Divine Fragrances, to edify the souls of men, to promote learning, and to improve the character of all men.” 

Mrs. Fatheazam is the wife of the late Mr. Hushmand Fatheazam, former member of the first Universal House of Justice, established in the 1963. He served the Supreme Body until 2003.  In the course of her life, Mrs. Fatheazam has been witness to some of the most historic episodes of the first one hundred years of the Formative Age and the unfoldment of the Administrative Order in her native Iran, in her pioneering post in India and, for forty years, in service at the World Centre of the Bahá’í Faith in Israel. 

She presently resides in West Vancouver, BC, Canadá. As a direct descendent of a distinguished family and granddaughter of Ibn-i-Asdaq, she will be able to share intimate glimpses on the life of her illustrious grandfather, Hand of the Cause of God appointed by Bahá’u’lláh, and himself the son of Hand of the Cause of God, Ism’u’lláh Asdaq, posthumously nominated as such by ‘Abdú’l Bahá, both devout and loyal servants to the Covenant and whose lives are inextricably bound to the Heroic Age of our Faith.

PRESENTED BY Mrs. NADIA MOSHTAGH RAZI in August 23, 2020.

History of Systemic Racism in the US and the Baha'i Approach to Racial Justice.


During this pivotal time for Americans, in the midst of the largest  racial justice movement in decades, Nadia Razi seeks to understand the  discussion of race unity in the Baha'i Faith. Drawing from various  Baha'i writings, recent letters from the NSA of the United States and  the Universal House of Justice, and 'Abdu'l-Baha's 1912 address at  Howard, a Historically Black University in Washington DC, Nadia will  explore why the Guardian describes racism as "the most vital and  challenging issue confronting the Baha’i community." In providing a  current systemic lens, we can contextualize the deep and lasting roots  of racism in our society, as well as the role each of us plays in  upholding or perpetuating racist systems. Taking guidance from the  writings, and reflecting within ourselves, we can realize what Baha'is  should be doing to dismantle systemic racism.    
Nadia Moshtagh Razi


Nadia teaches African American  Literature and AVID at Foothill High School in Pleasanton, California.  She served as the English department chair, is a SEED (Seeking  Educational Equity and Diversity) leader, and is a Google Certified  Educator. She has led initiatives throughout her district promoting  equitable practices for students of color and LGBTQ+ students,  spearheaded policy change for transgender and nonbinary students  throughout the district, and advised the BSU and GSA student clubs. She  is a Teach Plus California Senior Policy Fellow, publishing research and  legislation on culturally-affirming school environments and teacher  diversity. She is also a consultant with LEAD (Leadership in Equity  & Academic Achievement). She earned a BA in English Literature and  an MEd in Teaching & Learning from University of California, San  Diego.

PRESENTED BY  Dr. ALBERT LINCOLN in August 16, 2020.

This question is often posed in the context of the complex territorial and religious conflicts that have plagued the Middle East for over a century. The simple answer is that the Prophet-Founder of the Bahá’í Faith, Bahá'u'lláh, born in Iran, was banished in stages from his homeland to what was then Ottoman Palestine, a territory under Islamic rule, by the decrees of two hostile Muslim sovereigns, which He recognized as a fulfillment of destiny. The last 24 years of Bahá'u'lláh’s life were spent in Haifa and the Western Galilee, His final resting place is in Akká, and He left clear instructions that the spiritual and administrative center of the Faith He had founded would be permanently situated in the metropolitan area formed by the adjacent cities of Haifa and Akká.  

Going deeper, this presentation aims to explore the historical, geographical and religious dimensions of this event.

Dr. Albert Lincoln:

As Secretary-General of the Bahá’í International Community from 1994-2013, Dr. Albert Lincoln represented the elected international governing body of the Bahá’í Faith in international forums and interactions with Heads of State and Government, diplomats, high officials and leaders of thought from many parts of the world.  Based at the Bahá’í World Centre in Haifa, Israel, he was also responsible for the management of its host country relations, including dealings with national and municipal authorities, Jewish and Arab community leaders, and organizations of civil society. His efforts to foster harmony and mutual understanding among the various religious communities were recognized by an honorary doctorate conferred by the University of Haifa in 2010 and an Award of Merit from the City of Haifa in 2013. 

PRESENTED BY PAYAM AKHAVÁN in a Fireside organized by the Thames Valley community in July  05 2020.

Payam Akhavan has encountered the grim realities of contemporary  genocide throughout his life and career. He argues that deceptive  utopias, political cynicism, and public apathy have given rise to major  human rights abuses: from the religious persecution of Iranian Bahá’ís  that shaped his personal life, to the horrors of ethnic cleansing in  Yugoslavia, the genocide in Rwanda, and the rise of contemporary  phenomena such as the Islamic State. In the context of the current  pandemic, Payam Akhavan will share examples of the inspiring resilience  of the human spirit in times of suffering and how embracing the reality  of our inextricable interdependence can liberate us from past dogmas so  we can imagine a different future. He will also reflect on how the  vision of Baha’u’llah and the Baha’i teachings on the oneness of  humankind have shaped his perspectives and work.  

Payam Akhavan is a UN prosecutor, human rights scholar, international  lawyer, professor at McGill University, Member of the Permanent Court of  Arbitration at The Hague, 2017 CBC Massey Lecturer, and author of the  bestselling "In Search of a Better World".

PRESENTED BY GERALD KNIGHT in a Fireside organized by the Thames Valley community in July  12 2020. 

THE EMERGENCE  OF INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS "In particular the United Nations and affiliated organisations, in the context of the Bahá’í Writings”.

The talk covered the emergence of the League of Nations and its inevitable failure, the creation of the United Nations and its family of organisations at the end of the Second World War, and the progress made in international cooperation in the twentieth century. The role of the Bahá’í International Community’s United Nations Offices in contributing to the intergovernmental discourse is set against the background of the “Century of Light”, a unique vision of the twentieth century prepared under the supervision of the international governing body of the Bahá’í Faith.

The talk closed by summarizing how the world has, in the last twenty years, taken backward steps and how these may be the precursor to the progress which will eventually be made towards a durable world peace. I included some personal insights from my time at the BIC UN offices.

Gerald and his wife, Margaret, became Bahá’ís in 1973 in London. They pioneered to Fiji in 1975. Gerald was secretary of the National Assembly for three years and Margaret established and ran the Bahá’í Publishing Trust of Fiji, whose principal activity was the translation and publication of the Bahá’í Writings in Fijian.

In 1979, they were asked to serve at the Bahá’í International Community United Nations Office in New York. They served there, and in Geneva, until 1987. Their principal focus was the human rights portfolio, including the work carried out in defence of the persecuted friends in Iran, following the 1979 revolution.

PRESENTED BY  Dr. ALBERT LINCOLN IN JULY 05, 2020.

The process by which the Bahá’í Faith evolved from a little-known oriental religious movement, generally assumed to be a sub-sect of Shia Islam, into a recognized world religion is a remarkable story. 

By content and self-definition, the Faith taught by the Báb and Bahá'u'lláh was an independent world religion from the outset.  To achieve this status in objective, demographic terms, however, it had to spread around the world and take root in diverse cultures while navigating a turbulent period of history marked by two world wars, the great depression, innumerable regional conflicts and major shifts in political alignments within and between nations. The way this was accomplished, despite the many challenges and setbacks encountered along the way, highlights a number of unique characteristics of the movement, including its organic flexibility and resilience.

Much has been written about various episodes and personal narratives which form part of the story. While some of these sub-plots are alluded to briefly, this presentation aims to maintain a focus on its broad outline and dynamic sweep using maps, graphs and historic photographs. 

Dr. Albert Lincoln:

As Secretary-General of the Bahá’í International Community from 1994-2013, Dr. Albert Lincoln represented the elected international governing body of the Bahá’í Faith in international forums and interactions with Heads of State and Government, diplomats, high officials and leaders of thought from many parts of the world.  Based at the Bahá’í World Centre in Haifa, Israel, he was also responsible for the management of its host country relations, including dealings with national and municipal authorities, Jewish and Arab community leaders, and organizations of civil society. His efforts to foster harmony and mutual understanding among the various religious communities were recognized by an honorary doctorate conferred by the University of Haifa in 2010 and an Award of Merit from the City of Haifa in 2013. 

PRESENTED BY SHAHBAZ FATHEAZAM IN JUNE 14, 2020.

Applying a process akin to the clinical laboratory, we seek patterns of human activity that sustain the elementary goals of life among mankind. 

What do we mean by ‘Humanity Restored’: is it to re-establish a former condition, or a normal one, or is it to bring us back to being everlasting man? The remedy used to restore health can only be effective if the illness is detected early. The diagnosis and cure to any illness will be more difficult the more we delay in identifying the sickness. The pandemic has very clearly showed us this pathological truth and similarly the steps needed to rectify the coronavirus assault provide a relevant analogy in our attempts to end the different crises in our world and which are no longer discrete events but highly inter-related and which also now require urgent re-examination. 

Shahbaz Fatheazam: 

Shahbaz was born in India and lived his childhood in Israel since 1963, moving to England and later to Canada for his studies in the health management field. He presently lives in Maringá, Brazil. He  holds honors degrees from the University of London and  the London School of Economics and Political Science and has worked in  the field of health and diagnostic medicine for the last 30 years. Guest  lecturer at several universities in Brazil he is currently country  manager for a major US Laboratory Information System developer. He has  also published a book in 2015 entitled The Last Refuge: Fifty Years of  the Universal House of Justice. His varied life experience in six  countries provides an excellent backdrop to a keen world vision.  

PRESENTED BY MR. SHANE TEDJARATI IN MAY 17, 2020,

Humanity is facing one of the greatest global challenges in recent memory – the worldwide pandemic of COVID-19.  The phenomenon has enveloped virtually every part of the planet and has left no one unaffected.  In an unintended fashion, it has united humanity to pause, ponder and reflect on our common destiny on this planet and our assumptions and institutions built under the current world order.

More than 100 years ago, Baha’u’llah, the prophet-founder of the Baha’i Faith, observing the plight of humanity said: “The signs of impending convulsions and chaos can now be discerned, inasmuch as the prevailing order appears to be lamentably defective.”  His vision for humanity, however, is a positive one in which he sees the present world order will need to be “rolled up, and a new one spread out in its stead.”

The present crisis give new impetus to these remarkable words.  What are the parameters and dimensions of the new world order?  What framework and principles should guide the rebuilding of our society and our institutions guided by the concept of Oneness of Mankind?

Shane Tedjarati:

Shane  is an international businessman in the field of technology and industrial safety, security, energy and aerospace with global operations in five continents.  He has over 35 years of experience in applying technology to the changing needs of humanity and has been living and working in China for more than 25 years.  He is a Fellow of the Aspen Institute and co-founders of its Middle East Leadership Initiative and China Fellowship Program which are concerned with building a “good society” through effective and enlightened leadership.

PRESENTED BY  PROFESSOR. LUIS HENRIQUE BEUST  IN APRIL 05, 2020.

Luis is an architect and a consultant in Human and Social Development with the United Nations Organization. For over 35 years he has been working in more than 30 countries in the three Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Asia in social and human development. He has a Master's degree in Social Development and Education, Art and History of Culture. He is the founder and president of the Anima Mundi Institute in Brazil www.animamundi.org.br and as a consultant in human development he has impacted Fortune 500 companies as a senior advisor and participated as guest speaker in Brazilian national TV talk shows.

Pandemics don't just kill. They change the course of consciousness and history. The advancement of humanity as a general rule, does not occur in times of ease and well-being. This is true both for individuals and for the collective life of peoples. So, how can we move forward in times of distress and elevate our human condition?