OZ Whitehead Firesides

Among the many religious groups that were active in nineteenth-century Palestine, the Baha'i community was one of the smallest. Since 1868, this religious community has established its presence around the bay of Haifa. The Baha'i' Holy Places in Haifa and the western Galilee were announced as "world heritage sites", by UNESCO, in 2008. Unlike many of the Baha'i properties in Palestine, the story of the Baha'i settlements in the Jordan valley is almost unknown. During the 1880 three settlements were established at the eastern and southern shores of Lake Tiberias: Umm-Jūna, Es-Samrā and Nuqeib. A fourth settlement, El-Adasiye, was established, at the first years of the twenty century, near the Yarmuk River. Since the beginning of the twentieth century, portions of the Baha'i's land in the Jordan valley were sold to the Zionist organizations and the kibbutzim of Deganya aleph, Deganya beth, Ein Gev et cetera were built on these lands. During the 1948 war, the Baha'i settlers of Nuqeib were ordered by the local HaHagana commander to evacuate. Since they weren't allowed to return to these lands after the war ended, they were compensated by land near Acre. The Baha'i lands of Es-Samrā, that were part of the demilitarized zones, were bought by the Israeli government and their owners left the state. The inhabitants of El-Adasiye, the last Baha'i settlement in the area, left the village in 1960 and spread all over Jordan and the Baha'i settlements in the Jordan valley become an unknown part of both local and Israeli history. I received my PhD from the University of Haifa. My research field for both M.A & PhD is the Baha'i community and its presence in the land of Israel between 1868-1968. In recent years, I've presented papers at international conferences (Association for Israel Studies, Irfan Colloquium for Study of the Baha'i Faith, International Society for Iranian Studies, Association for Baha'i Studies, Royal Geographical Society, Conference of Historical Geographers et cetera) all over the world and published articles on different topics related to my research field.

Bahá'is will recognize, in 2021, the centenary of the passing of ‘Abdu'l-Bahá (son of the Faith's founder). Starting in the springtime, many will commemorate the significance of this year by more consciously striving to emulate His exemplary life. ‘Abdu'l-Bahá's call to arise and serve as “stars in the eyes of God's Compassion” distills its own meaning for each reader who views it from their vantage point in history. Now, more than a century after He wrote the passage, our discussion will examine three aspects of this call to serve: · A century of work that served the best interests of humankind; · Current contexts for work as worship; and · Tailoring personal communications and acts of compassion to the exigencies of our time. Dr. Teresa Henkle Langness is an author in multiple genres, an educational development specialist, and founder of the Full-Circle Learning model. She serves on boards concerned with education, human relations, the arts, the environment and has met wonderful friends and collaborators along the way. She claims as a source of matchless inspiration the fact that this year, she has been a Baha'i for exactly half a lifetime.

Working with Fidelma Meehan, supported by a team of wonderful Bahá'í friends in Swindon, a programme was developed to help disaffected/vulnerable young people in the wider society. Aware that many young people are beset by a host of fears, worries, anxieties and insecurities along with superficial and discouraging relationships the team developed two special environments/experiences - the Tranquillity Zone and the Discovery Zone - to help them engage in rewarding personal and social behaviour - A host of aberrant, anti-social and various disorders experienced by youngsters were addressed in these two Zones with a programme that revolved around two passages from Bahá'í texts - that 'man is a mine rich in gems of inestimable value' and that all children are 'potentially the light of the world and at the same time its darkness.' In brief, the programme aimed at empowering individuals to transcend their disaffection with spiritual understandings. The programme was welcomed by 27 schools in Swindon, primary and secondary, with their most disaffected youngers identified as needing a novel intervention. A cohort of teachers and learning mentors were trained to deliver the programme. Viv Bartlett's book, Nurturing a Healthy Human Spirit in the Young, outlines this experience. Born in Cardiff, Viv Bartlett began searching for answers to life's problems after a tragedy struck, when his 14-year-old younger brother accidently electrocuted himself. Finding answers in religion he became a member of the Bahá'i Faith in 1966. After serving an engineering apprenticeship in ‘Tiger Bay' Cardiff, he later travelled the world as an engineer in the merchant navy. Returning home, he married (Rita Bridge) in 1970 and gained a B. Ed Honours degree in Education as a mature student. He then taught in secondary education in S Wales. Viv Bartlett, whilst pioneering in S Wales, served on several national Bahá'i committees until 1976, when he was appointed an Auxiliary Board Member in the UK serving for over 20 years with a special interest in the empowerment of young people. Since then, he has served on the Bahá'i Training Institute for Wales and then on the first elected Bahá'i Council for Wales. He was a Bahá'i representative on the first Interfaith Council for Wales established in 2003 serving until recently. He is a founder member of the Swindon Young People's Empowerment Programme (SYEP), a programme inspired by Bahá'í Teachings to help vulnerable, disaffected young people. A total of 27 primary and secondary schools have employed this programme. Viv has authored three books, with a fourth in process. His beloved wife, Rita, died of cancer 7 years ago, prior to which they parented three children and were foster carers.

In this talk, Kelly Snook will provide a guided tour through the exquisite beauty of the Badí Calendar, which is followed by Baha'is around the world. She will explain in simple terms the daily, monthly, yearly, and even less frequent astronomical events that anchor the calendar to the physics of our local solar system. This Calendar, believed to be the first to be revealed by a Divine Messenger, was laid out by The Báb in the mid-19th Century and adopted fully by Baha'is worldwide in 2015. It is uniquely tied to both solar and lunar movements, such as the northern vernal equinox and new moon conjunction. Have you ever felt a little fuzzy on why the dates of the Gregorian calendar shift with respect to the dates of Baha'i Holy Days and other days of interest? Or what the equinox is and why it is a good marker of time? Or why the Lunar Calendar is so different from solar calendars like our modern standard calendar, which has leap years to stay aligned with the sun? Kelly hopes to make it all not just a little less confusing, but hopefully generate genuine appreciation for its beauty and perfection by bringing in the music of the spheres and demonstrating how the Calendar directly manifests God's principles of Oneness and Harmony. Dr Kelly Snook was trained in Aeronautics and Astronautics, as well as in music. She is now creating a new field of research, called "Investigative Music" that is partially a return to Johannes Kepler's time, when music was used as one of the four tools for exploring the world. Arithmetic, geometry, astronomy and music comprised the Quadrivium, the four modes of scientific inquiry. Before science as we knew it existed, these were the ways that the physical world was investigated. Arithmetic, the study of number; geometry, the study of number in space; music, the study of number in time; and astronomy, the study of number in space and time. When Johannes Kepler discovered his three laws of planetary motion, it was through the application of musical principles of harmony and spiritual principles of oneness that emerged the mathematical equations he will forever be famous for. Calendars are essentially the application of our astronomical understanding of space and time to the collective patterns of human activity. Kelly seeks to make audible and explorable these fundamental patterns in Nature.

It is the general understanding of people that religion deals with the moral and spiritual aspects of life, and economics with the material aspect. If the role of economics is to accomplish a good life and religion, on the other hand, show us how to live a good life, then religion and economics should work together as partners. This presentation will maintain the view that a partnership between material and spiritual aspects of life are potent forces to solve economic problems and improve well-being and prosperity. Hooshmand Badee is an academic economist with a Doctoral degree in Bahá'í economics. His Doctoral research title is "The Bahá'í teachings on economics and their implications for the Bahá'í community and the wider society." Hooshmand's two recent books are Economics and the Bahá'í Faith; and Principles of Spiritual Economics – A Compilation from the Baha'i writings with an overview of Baha'i economics. Hooshmand has worked as a lecturer of economics for more than 25 years in several universities, mainly in the West Indies and the UK. He was one of the founders of Carmel High School, a Bahá'í inspired school in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. He is currently a faculty member at the Wilmette Institute in US and an academic member of the Baha'i Institute for Higher Education (BIHE) in Iran. He also offers an enterprise training program for the Baha'is in Iran and also for the refugees coming to Scotland, all on a voluntary basis. He married and left Iran in 1975 and lived in Bangladesh, Canada and the Island of St. Vincent and the Grenadines before moving to the UK in 2001. Currently, he lives in Glasgow, Scotland.

A conversation with Payam Zamani. He will share his personal journey growing up in Iran, escaping Iran as a teenage refugee, settling in the U.S. and his entrepreneurial experiences. The business world is in a dire need of a new framework, one that is based not solely on the maximization of wealth and profits but rather a framework that considers the positive impact businesses can have on communities and the betterment of the world. Is there a framework offered by the Baha'i Faith? Are there elements of a spiritual approach shared in the Writings that can be our guide? Payam Zamani is the founder, chairman, and CEO of One Planet Group, a hybrid tech firm that owns and operates a suite of online technology and media businesses. He is also the co-founder and Editor-in-Chief of BahaiTeachings.org, and is an early-stage investor. Payam came to the United States as a 16-year-old Baha'i refugee. He's built One Planet on a model not focused solely on financial success, but with an ethos of sacrificial giving and universal philanthropy, believing that businesses should consider the betterment of the world and be a source of good.

Following the unprecedented horrors of the Second World War, the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. What is the historical and moral significance of this Declaration in the Global Age? What does it mean to say that dignity is "inherent" to human nature, and how can this assertion be reconciled with the greed and aggression that characterizes politics? How can humankind transcend divisive ideologies and religious conflicts in order to build a just and unified world order? In the shadow of catastrophic climate change, do we need to go beyond human rights to save our civilization from collapse? These and other themes will be explored in this talk by Payam Akhavan. Payam Akhavan is an UN prosecutor, human rights scholar, international lawyer, professor at University of Toronto, Member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague, 2017 CBC Massey Lecturer, author of the bestselling "In Search of a Better World".

Hugh and Paul will share stories from the life of an extraordinary pioneer of the environmentalist movement, Richard St. Barbe Baker. One hundred years ago, Baker foresaw and warned the world about the emerging environmental crisis—and offered solutions that are only now being appreciated and applied. Baker's work as a forester and conservationist paralleled his activities as an early member of the Baha'i Faith, a faith that provided inspiration for his ceaseless efforts to conserve and restore the world's forests. Paul Hanley has published five books and 1600 articles on the environment, sustainable development, agriculture, and other topics. Paul's biography, Man of the Trees: Richard St. Barbe Baker, the First Global Conservationist (University of Regina Press 2018), features a foreword by HRH Prince Charles and introduction by Jane Goodall. A biography for middle school children, Richard St. Barbe Baker: Child of the Trees, was published in 2020. Paul has received a number of awards, most recently the Food System 2050 Vision Prize from the Rockefeller Foundation. Hugh Locke is president and co-founder of the Smallholder Farmers Alliance (SFA), a non-profit working with small-scale family farmers to help feed and reforest a renewed Haiti. Earlier in his career Hugh was director of the Office of Public Information at the Baha'i International Community in New York. While still a student, he was mentored by Richard St. Barbe Baker (1889 – 1982). Hugh subsequently established the Baker archives at the University of Saskatchewan and continues to serve as St. Barbe's literary trustee.

Philomena Clifford will continue exploring the extraordinary life of Martha Root, one of the first Western Bahai's during the early 1900s. Her story reads like an adventure and affirms the observation that history well written is as interesting and fascinating as fiction. Her life is so full and so rich – it cannot be contained in one session! She circled the Globe four times in her ardent desire to convey the beauty of the Baha'i Faith with its timeless message of international peace and unity. For Martha it was like a priceless gem which she spent her life sharing with Kings, Queens , Presidents; students; the general public and the many employees and passengers on board ships and trains she took around the world. Philomena's career began as a linguist, teaching French, Spanish and English as a foreign language. Then followed a short career in the airline industry. She had a childhood interest in profound deafness and eventually undertook a BPhil Degree in Audiological Studies, leading to a career of teaching young profoundly deaf students. Here she realised the power of biographical stories to inspire, uplift and to convey confidence in the power of the human spirit. She then went on to complete a Masters Degree in Virtue and Character Education which inspired her work with students and particularly the transformative effect of story.

In this talk some of the events from the life of Jesus will be explored and explained. The insights they give into the mission of Jesus will be articulated, additionally, how he was received and understood by those around him will be discussed. Moving on two thousand years some ideas will be presented on what it should mean to be a follower of Christ today. Bernadette Morton taught Religious Education in Catholic Comprehensive schools for 36 years. She taught in three different schools all in the West Midlands area of England where she has always lived. Along this journey she took on responsibility for various aspects of school life including Head of Religious Education, Head of Pastoral Care and was Deputy Headteacher in two of the schools where one of her responsibilities was the Catholic life of the school. On her retirement from teaching she worked as a lay chaplain in a Catholic Comprehensive where the main focus of her work was the spiritual development of both staff and students. At this time she also did some work for the Birmingham Archdiocese as an inspector of Catholic Secondary schools. The music chosen by Bernadette can be view by selecting the link below: Be Still https://youtu.be/ZugvUQ4m90U St Theresa's Prayer by John Michael Talbot https://youtu.be/eqVbLQh-lT0 Sister Act - I Will Follow Him https://youtu.be/VPpd-6X3tEo

Part 1/2 - Philomena Clifford will be exploring the extraordinary life of Martha Root, one of the first Western Bahai's during the early 1900s. Her story reads like an adventure and affirms the observation that history well written is as interesting and fascinating as fiction. Her life is so full and so rich – it cannot be contained in one session! She circled the Globe four times in her ardent desire to convey the beauty of the Baha'i Faith with its timeless message of international peace and unity. For Martha it was like a priceless gem which she spent her life sharing with Kings, Queens , Presidents; students; the general public and the many employees and passengers on board ships and trains she took around the world. Philomena's career began as a linguist, teaching French, Spanish and English as a foreign language. Then followed a short career in the airline industry. She had a childhood interest in profound deafness and eventually undertook a BPhil Degree in Audiological Studies, leading to a career of teaching young profoundly deaf students. Here she realised the power of biographical stories to inspire, uplift and to convey confidence in the power of the human spirit. She then went on to complete a Masters Degree in Virtue and Character Education which inspired her work with students and particularly the transformative effect of story.

Queen Marie of Romania (1875-1938), one of the most admired Queens of her time, was the granddaughter of Queen Victoria and Czar Alexander II, both recipients of personal Tablets from Bahá'u'lláh. She learned of the Bahá'í Faith at the beginning of 1926 from Martha Root, an American Bahá'í journalist who traveled around the world to share the Message of Bahá'u'lláh. This is the story of the relationship Queen Marie had with the most recent of divine Revelations, then less than a century old. Della L. Marcus is considered an authority on Queen Marie of Romania, having spent about a decade researching her life, both in the Holy Land and in Romania, specifically the last years when the Queen became acquainted with and enthusiastically embraced the newest world religion, the Bahá'í Faith. Della has two published books, "Her Eternal Crown: Queen Marie and the Bahá'í Faith," and an abridged version of this story published in Romanian, soon to be available in English, entitled "Queen Marie: An Instrument in Greater Hands

This musical presentation of the Long Healing Prayer - was originally set to music by Anthony Harmer of Gyenyame. It's a 19 minutes meditative piece and we invite you to join us in the refrain: Thou the Sufficing, Thou the Healing, Thou the Abiding, O Thou Abiding One! Please concentrate your mind on anyone you know who needs healing at this time. If possible please show a picture of the person you would like to direct healing thoughts toward on your Zoom screen, or post their name in the chat box. Listen to their beautiful songs and prayers https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEOjQMeYHnd8oQwNG7AZpaQ/videos

In the last 200 years, the human race has experienced an explosion of change and progress in every sphere of human endeavour, be it science, technology, arts, politics, individual action and social consciousness. These are historic times in which we have the privilege of living, and that according to the Baha'i writings must provide us with the realisation of the oneness of the human race and a wish to act with hope and enthusiasm to contribute to our communities and society at large. Baha'i writings point to spiritual dynamics which propel humanity to experience these unparalleled and historic changes, foretold by philosophers and religions of the past. Semira will explore some of the dynamics of our time with particular reference to the Baha'i writings Semira Manaseki-Holland is a Paediatrician and Public Health Physician with 30 years experience of living and working as a doctor, health service manager, policy adviser and researcher in the UK, Geneva (WHO Headquarters), Mongolia, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan. Currently Semira lives with her family in the West Midlands, conducting research in health systems and community development projects in low and middle-income countries, including in Africa and Asia, and teaches at the University of Birmingham. To view the video visit the YouTube channel https://youtu.be/k2-SxVEDL-o

The presentation will focus on the guidance in Baha'i teachings to engage in social action; efforts in Northern Ireland to put that guidance in practice in the context of escalating violence (and some of the direct interventions of the Universal House of Justice that pointed us in the right direction); and how the development by Baha'is and friends of junior youth groups and other activities in Belfast has demonstrated the transformative potential of such actions. Tara and Erfan Fadaei were both born into Baha'i families. Tara grew up in NI in one of the most contested spaces during the conflict - the Garvaghy Road in Portadown - the scene of massive riots that brought all of NI to a standstill. She worked for a period in London before returning to Belfast. Erfan grew up in England and lived for a year in Tanzania before moving to Belfast. They have both been instrumental in developing a programme of activities to support young people in the neighbourhood where they are living. Edwin grew up in the small market town of Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh and, with friends, was involved in community initiatives from an early age. In 1987 life changed fundamentally when 12 friends and neighbours were killed as a result of the Remembrance Day bomb in the town. To view the video visit our YouTube channel https://youtu.be/hUINtfqjq7s

During the rule of the Ottoman Empire, some of the early Baha'is made the long pilgrimage from Persia to Akka to attain the presence of Baha'u'llah, the Founder of the Baha'i Faith. Haji Mulla Mehdi of Yazd was one such pilgrim, who in the company of his two sons, took the arduous journey on foot to pay homage to his Beloved. This journey of love enflamed the spirit of sacrifice and service in the hearts of Haji Mulla Mehdi's descendants, giving rise to three Hands of the Cause of God, and two Trustees of Huquq'u'llah across three generations. This is the story of their journeys. Faraneh Vargha-Khadem is one of the 22 great, great, grandchildren of Haji Mulla Mehdi Yazdi, and one of the three daughters of the late Hand of the Cause of God, and Trustee of Huquq'u'llah, Dr Ali Muhammad Varqa. Professionally, Faraneh is Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience at the UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health in London, UK. She is also the Clinical Academic Lead for the Department of Neuropsychology at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children. Her research is focused on early brain injury and the development of brain circuits that underpin human attributes, such as episodic memory, and speech and language. She was part of the team that identified the FOXP2 gene, the so-called “speech gene” that may explain why humans talk and chimps do not! She is also credited with the discovery of the amnesic syndrome in children. To view the video visit our YouTube channel https://youtu.be/wy0TJyMlChs

In this presentation of artworks, Lindsay John will attempt to convey, not only some methods used in their making but more importantly, the concepts behind them, inspired by the all-embracing Baha'i teaching of Unity and a mysterious ancient Chinese Jade Disc both of which influenced and shaped their evolution. Lindsay John, originally form the Caribbean, came to Britain to study both Fine Art Painting and Sculpture over a period of ten years before moving to Scotland in 1980. There he began a self study in experimental dance combining aspects of sculpture costume and site specific instillation into unique performance works taking him as far as Japan to study Butoh, from which he derived courage and direction. Works include the thematic solo performances ‘Before Form' presented in Britain, Japan, Singapore, Spain and Italy among other National and International choreographic and costume collaborations. He also worked as Lecturer in Art & Design at Ayr College, Scotland (1998-2006) before finally retiring from predominantly Performance based art works in 2009 to return to the Fine Arts. Lindsay is presently practicing as an Artist in both Sculpture and 2D Mixed Media at WASPS Artists Studios, Glasgow where he is now settled. To view the video visit our YouTube channel https://youtu.be/lOh3Osf8PDY

The furniture designer and master craftsperson Philip Koomen takes you on his creative journey that began in 1975 when he was inspired by Baha'u'llah's vision of the role of the arts and crafts in an unfolding global civilisation. Following his presentation Philip will welcome a discussion on the nature of creative practice. “The source of the arts, crafts and sciences is the power of reflection…” Baha'i Writings Philip's creative practice explores the relationship between craft, design and art in balance with an ethical and sustainable practice; a meditation on beauty and truth. He has completed over 1800 commissions including in the UK, USA, France, Germany, The Netherlands and Japan. He designed and made the meeting table for the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baháʼís of the UK. To view the video visit our YouTube channel https://youtu.be/xi1eDXP4mPI In 2006 he was awarded a doctorate in Sustainable Furniture Design from Brunel University for developing his practice from Forest to Furniture. In 2013 Philip was awarded an Arts Council grant to develop his creative process “Ideas in the Making,” which explores how ideas can evolve through the playful manipulation of materials. As a Visiting Senior Fellow at the Open University, he researches how craft workshops train the next generation of entrepreneurial craftspeople. He has trained over twenty aspiring designer-makers, ten of whom have established their own workshops. He holds a Life Fellowship from the Royal Society of Arts and Fellowships from the Institute of Wood Science and Chartered Society of Designers. He has received numerous citations including: The organic vitality of his designs reveals the oneness and humanity of his creative approach' -- Professor Simon Olding, Director of the Crafts Study Centre, U.K. Absolutely beautiful -- Channel 4 Organic and wildly eccentric--The Independent …one of the finest craftsmen in wood in Britain today. -- BBC Homes & Antiques

During the 19th century a massive movement took the religious world by storm. Inspired by prophecies in the Bible and the Quran, people from all countries, cultures and religious backgrounds were convinced that the ‘return', as mentioned in their Holy scriptures, was imminent. Did anything happen, and if it did, why has this extraordinary history been forgotten? Carolyn Sparey Fox is a professional viola player, having worked extensively in London and Scotland as a soloist on BBC radio and TV, toured and recorded with many British orchestras and chamber groups, and performed in the first London production of Jesus Christ Superstar. But for the purpose of this Fireside talk, Carolyn's interest in the subject of 19th century Adventism came about shortly after becoming a Baha'i in 1992. Years of research initially resulted in a play, “Threads”, with several performances in the UK, followed several years later two books which were published by George Ronald, and which resulted in an invitation to appear in “The Gate”, a film on the history and background of the Bab and the importance of His role in the history of the Baha'i Faith. To view the video visit our YouTube channel https://youtu.be/HxIX6vpNXpo

This talk will explore how the Junior Youth Spiritual Empowerment Program was developed by the worldwide Baha'i community as a gift to be used by all, whether Baha'i or not. We will reflect on this in relation to Baha'u'llah's vision of a spiritually and materially prosperous world. We will then end by outlining some of the Program's characteristics and principles and how they connect to the broader vision and aims of the Baha'i Faith, which are centred on contributing to the material and spiritual progress of local communities around the world. Everyone participating in the program, from the junior youth themselves to the animator (the facilitator of the junior youth group), the parents, as well as other members of the community who contribute to expanding and strengthening the program, are part of a process of learning about the implementation of the program in their community. Throughout this process, we all draw on experiences from around the world which enhance our ability to implement the program in our locality. While no one can be seen to be an expert, we all have varying levels of experience and at times it is helpful for someone who has been serving in this capacity for a while to support those who are just beginning. This kind of support is one that helps each learn and advance. I have been an animator for 10 years, in several different communities across the UK and so have been part of this process during that time. To view the video visit the YouTube channel https://youtu.be/_XYRspwNcrc

"The Tablets of Baha'u'llah to the Kings and Rulers of the World" by Stephen Vickers Baha'u'llah, the Prophet-Founder of the Baha'i Faith, wrote from His cell in the Ottoman Prison-city to the principal rulers of the world. This talk looks at His letter to the most powerful monarchs in Europe. This message is also positive, respectful, and includes invaluable insights to all of us. Stephen Vickers was for fifteen years in charge of the University of Oxford's suite of GCE and GCSE school examinations in History, Political Science, and Religious Studies. Please feel free to share this invitation with your friends and family. To view the video please visit our YouTube channel https://youtu.be/sy5_M71dmVY

Mark Tobey's distinctive approach to abstract painting brought him great acclaim and considerable success in the middle decades of the twentieth century. A member of the Bahá'í Faith from the age of twenty-eight, Tobey was an inveterate experimenter and a foresighted world citizen. His major contribution to modern art was his so-called “white writing” style that emerged after decades of experimentation and deep reflection. In tracing the influences on Tobey's development, Rob Weinberg will demonstrate that Tobey's breakthrough was the result of a deep knowledge of the art of the past and diverse cultures, and his desire to convey Bahá'í spirituality through his work. His influence on his contemporaries—ranging from Jackson Pollock to the St Ives school in Cornwall—has not yet been fully acknowledged. Rob Weinberg is a writer and radio producer with more than 30 years experience with BBC radio and Classic FM. He served as the director of the Office of Public Information at the Bahá'í World Centre from 2009 to 2013 and is a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the UK. He is also the author of 10 books, mainly on opera, film music and Bahá'í history. Most recently he has been reviewing art exhibitions for the Daily Telegraph and Apollo magazine, and producing podcasts for the historian Dan Snow. Rob did an MA in Art History for which his dissertation looked at the development of the art of Mark Tobey. To see the full video on YouTube visit https://youtu.be/n1QCfK6K3_U

The OZ Whitehead Zoom Firesides is happy to present one of our earlier talks by Philomena Clifford This talk explores the interconnected paths between an English WW1 Officer Wellesley Tudor Pole and Abdu'l-Baha. Their paths crossed several times from 1910 to Abdu'l-Baha's passing in 1921. You will see the fascinating details of the meetings between them unfurl like an adventure story. So, sit back, relax, make yourself a cup of tea and listen to this extraordinary - almost unbelievable story. Philomena Clifford is a Baha'i living in Cornwall. She became interested in starting some Baha'i historical research, to coincide with dropping her hours at work which afforded the time. She particularly wanted to centre such research around Abdu'l-Baha, as, like all Baha'is, she has a love for this perfect exemplar of the Baha'i faith. To view the video of this talk please visit our YouTube channel https://youtu.be/g2Cbu9WyVYA

Iraj Abedian argues that there is a mismatch between humanity's secular evolutionary progress and the spiritual nature of mankind. This mismatch leads to a growing dysfunctionality of the global socio-economic and political order. The systemic fault lines compound over time, generating successive crises and ultimately disorder. To restore order there is need for a revolutionary impulse as proclaimed by Baha'u'llah. Humanity's current experience is testimony to this titanic clash of the secular evolutionary dynamics and Baha'u'llah's revolutionary agency. Iraj Abedian is the founder and Executive Chairman of Pan-African Capital Holdings (Pty) Ltd. He was professor of economics at the University of Cape Town, before entering the business sector in 2000 as the chief economist of Standard Bank Group of SA. He obtained his BA (Honours) and MA in Economics from University of Cape Town (UCT), before earning a PhD in Economics from Simon Fraser University in Canada in 1993. Iraj has been a member of the Baha'i' Faith since 1971, pioneered to South Africa in 1980, and has been involved in Baha'i' community activities at local, national and international levels. Currently, apart from the companies in the Pan-African Capital's portfolio, he serves the following organizations and companies: - Chairman of Board of Fortress REIT Ltd (December 2015 to date) - Member of the Advisory Board of the Auditor General of the SA Government (2006 to date). To view the video visit the YouTube channel https://youtu.be/Vo298eVAWyo

Utilizing faith-based principles in social science research, together with the platforms of the Association for Baha'i Studies, has created a community of scholars to share ideas and research. These scholars and their mutual support within the Baha'i community, are part of an ongoing process to contribute towards academic discourses and innovate in science, based on social teachings that envision global social transformation. This presentation looks at a case study of one such contribution. Ashiyan Rahmani's Ph.D. dissertation at the University of Hawaii at Manoa (2013-2018), involved qualitative research in Fiji, looking at how women leaders utilize mobile devices to interact with community radio. This interaction enhances women's participation in governance and strengthens communal resilience to extreme weather conditions. Gender equality and rural development, two important principles underlying both this electronic co-operation and the research, were inspired by the Baha'i Writings. Findings of the study were presented at the Association for Bahai Studies' North American Annual Conference, and between conferences working group discussion provided a space for consultation. The strength of the mutual bonds across the Baha'i world developed deep friendships within, the Fiji Baha'i community, and secured a focus group, a supportive translator, and a cultural liaison officer. These bonds both assisted in data collection and gave a strong connection to the Fijian Baha'i community of friends, which further decolonized the paradigm and hence the research. To view the video please visit our YouTube channel https://youtu.be/0tfj90kQYXY

Most children in school fail - ie they fail to develop more than a fraction of their potential. This may be as relevant in some of the richest countries in the world as it is in the poorest. What then can be our response? We will explore what lessons we can learn from 23 years of experience at School of Nations - not in terms of a naive triumphalist perspective, rather an exploration of how we have tried to draw inspiration from the Baha'i Writings to address these crucial challenges. Dr Brian O'Toole is an Educational Psychologist from the UK living for 42 years in Guyana. Worked on short term assignments for a range of UN and NGO agencies in 38 countries in the areas of disability, literacy, primary health care, basic education and youth leadership. Authored three books and 42 articles in international journals. Started School of Nations in Guyana 23 years ago, now with partnerships with the Universities of Cambridge, London, Bedfordshire & Hertfordshire there are 4,200 students. Served as the Chairperson of the National Advisory Committee on Educational Reform to the Government of Guyana. Last year, awarded the MBE by the Queen and the Golden Arrowhead by the Guyana Government 'for services to education.' To view the video visit the YouTube channel https://youtu.be/C6bzsnPJ4aw

Effie Baker was an extraordinary woman who spent over 6 months travelling through Persia in 1930, during a period when women in that country had very few rights. This presentation explores some of the incredible achievements of this little-known person and will, hopefully, highlight this very humble woman's many unsung sacrifices. I came across the story of Effie Baker a few years ago when I became a member of The Bahá'í Faith. I discovered that she had travelled through Persia in 1930 as an amateur photographer and had to conceal herself from the authorities to secretly take over 1000 photos and then to get the prints out of Persia; I have managed to gain access to a number of these and will share them in this presentation. To view the video visit the YouTube channel https://youtu.be/ppHLbyuKrFE

Born in 1874, in the United States, Louis George Gregory acquired an elite education and became a prominent lawyer in Washington DC at the beginning of the 20th Century. Disillusioned by the continual unfair treatment of people of African descent in the United States, Mr Gregory had lost all faith in religion until in 1907 he encountered the Baha'i Faith, the teachings of which transformed his life. In 1911, while on pilgrimage to Palestine, he met Abdu'l- Baha, the son of the prophet Founder of the Faith. This meeting transformed his life, as well as the fortunes of the Baha'i Community of the US and Canada. Louis Gregory became the foremost teacher of the Baha'i Cause in the US. In 1951, he was posthumously elevated to the ranks of the ‘Hands of the Cause of God', a selected group of international advisors to the leadership of the Faith. He was first of only 2 members of the African race to be elevated to this rank. Terrence Simmons is a native of Guyana, an English-speaking country in Northeastern South America. He attended classes for children and junior youth and embraced the Baha'i community in the mid 1970's. Over the years, he served in many administrative positions including Local Assemblies and national committees, the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Guyana and as an Auxiliary Board Member for Protection of the Faith. Terrence is a Historian by training. He holds a BA and MA in Guianese and West Indian History from the University of Guyana, where he also taught on the faculty for a short while. He also has backgrounds in health sciences research, project management and international development. He also holds an MSc in Health Policy (clinical medicine) from Imperial College London and is a registered PRINCE2 Project and Programme Management (MSP) Practitioner in the UK. Terrence has worked in international & grassroots-based development for more than 30 years, in the areas of health research, education and youth development. He was Programme Director for the United States Peace Corps in Guyana for 9 years. Worked in London on the development of social infrastructure for Black and other Ethnic Minority Communities including serving on the Advisory Board of London's Minority Ethnic Network (MiNet). He was a programme manager in the School of Public Health at Imperial College London for 8 years. Currently, he is the Senior Project Manager in the Project Coordination Office of the Human Brain Project, an EU flagship enterprise focused on brain research in Geneva, Switzerland. He and his family has been living in South London since 2007. To view the video please visit the YouTube channel https://youtu.be/jpE5jlXvmmY

The talk aims at a clear presentation of some basic Baha'i teachings as set forth by Shoghi Effendi in his various writings. The central issue is the relativity of religious truth and the progressive character of Divine Revelation. I will then explain something about the position and station of the Manifestations of God throughout the ages and in this Day. Mr Hooper Dunbar has been a Baha'i since 1956 in his youth. Served in a number of capacities on Baha'i institutions. Well known as a Baha'i speaker. To view the video visit the YouTube channel https://youtu.be/WTliR_wOwus

As the world goes through an unprecedented new phase of economic upheaval, a deeper analysis of materialism as the root cause of the extremes of wealth and poverty has taken on new urgency. Such an analysis involves two fundamental questions. What is the difference between "materialism," which is hazardous, and "material prosperity," which is a worthy individual and social goal? What is the most effective mode of leadership for moving society beyond materialism and facilitating the achievement of true material prosperity? It may be argued that the best mode of leadership in pursuit of shared material prosperity would be one that reflects compassion, caring, nurturing, communal behaviour, and effective communication, all of which have traditionally been associated with the feminine aspects of human society. Participants are invited to reimagine new leadership models in the context of a nascent awareness of the need to balance the feminine and the masculine in all areas of human endeavour, including the creation of a more equitable economic system. Roya Akhavan is a member of the Baha'i Faith. She currently serves as Professor and Director of Graduate Studies at the Department of Mass Communications, St. Cloud State University. Dr. Akhavan is a frequent speaker on global issues at national and international forums and on radio and television programmes. She has lived and worked in four different cultures: Persian, American, Japanese, and Chinese. Her most recent publication is a book entitled, Peace for Our Planet: A New Approach. To view the video visit the YouTube channel https://youtu.be/xkWYeNmjkfs

"The Emergence of International Organisations, in Particular The United Nations & Affiliated Organisations, in the Context of the Baha'i Writings." The talk will cover 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 20th century. The talk will close 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. Gerald will include some personal insights from his time serving at the Bahá'í International Community United Nations Office. 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. To view the video visit our YouTube channel https://youtu.be/g01njVqlvr8

The Spook Who Sat by the Door (1969), by Sam Greenlee, is the fictional story of Dan Freeman, the first black CIA officer, and of the CIA's history of training persons and political groups who later used their specialised training in gathering intelligence, political subversion, and guerrilla warfare against the CIA. For the purposes of this talk we will concern ourselves less with the paramilitary aspects of the film, but rather with the way in which the power of perception can be a force for liberation and how the Bahá'í concept of the Pupil of the Eye--a term used to refer to the spiritual perception of people of African descent--is framed within the context of the film. The term 'spook' has multiple meanings: a ghost or spectre; a spy or covert agent; and a derogatory way to refer to black people. What the film does is to use the term subversively to describe how African Americans have occupied a seemingly passive, subservient position in the minds of the dominant culture. This dismissive attitude overlooked the active power of observation which the black community utilized to learn the behaviour and attitudes of the dominant white community and then to formulate effective modalities of survival based on that information, while the white community remained largely unaware of the inner life of African Americans. It is this capacity to stare deeply into the soul of America, to recognize its contradictions; it's fissures and moral inconsistencies that is an indispensable mechanism for eradicating the scourge of racism. As the Bahá'í writings so eloquently say: "truthfulness is the foundation of all human virtues." Masud Ashley Olufani is an Atlanta-based actor, mixed media artist, and writer whose studio practice is rooted in the discipline of sculpture. He is a graduate of Morehouse College, and The Savannah College of Art and Design where he earned an M.F.A. in sculpture in 2013. Masud has exhibited his work in group and solo shows nationally and internationally. The artist has completed residencies at The Vermont Studio Center; The Hambidge Center for Arts and Sciences; and Creative Currents in Portobello, Panama. He is a 2020 South Arts Cross Sector Grant recipient for Elder, a site specific installation created to coincide with the redevelopment of the historic David T. Howard School in Atlanta. Masud is a 2018 Southern Arts Prize State Fellow; a recipient of a 2015 and 2018 Idea Capital Grant; a Southwest Airlines Art and Social Engagement grant; and a recipient of the 2015-16 MOCA GA Working Artist Project Grant. He is the creative director of Blocked: A Global Healing Project, a multimedia performance created to memorialize spaces marked by the trauma of the transatlantic slave trade. As an actor, he had a recurring role on the BET series The Quad and has appeared in numerous television shows including Greenleaf; Being Mary Jane, Devious Maids, Satisfaction, and Nashville. He is a featured actor in the film biopic All Eyez on Me. He is the co-host of the PBS news based investigative journalism show Retroreport, premiering nationally in the fall of 2019. As a writer, Masud has published articles for Burnaway; Bahá'í Teachings; and is a featured contributor for the Jacob Lawrence Struggle Series catalogue, produced to coincide with a major exhibition of the Struggle Series paintings. To view the video visit the YouTube channel https://youtu.be/POY-ll0Oys4

‘Abdu'l-Bahá was the son of the founder of the Bahá'í Faith, Bahá'u'lláh. Before His passing, Bahá'u'lláh wrote a document telling the Bahá'ís to turn to ‘Abdu'l-Bahá and that He would inspire His son with whatever ‘Abdu'l-Bahá needed to know. Today we can't meet 'Abdu'l-Bahá, but we can get to know more about Him through the words of those who did meet Him. These stories are about the interactions of the pilgrims and visitors who met ‘Abdu'l-Bahá, both in America and the Holy Land, and the emotions of those encounters. They illustrate dramatically the spiritual powers and prescience of 'Abdu'l-Bahá. He would answer questions before they were asked, convert atheists into believers, know the thoughts of His visitors and read the reality of their hearts. For those with receptive hearts, He would guide and educate with profound and uplifting talks. The stories attempt to show a little of what it had been like to be in His Presence. Sharon was born in Sitka, raised in Tenakee Springs, Alaska, went to high-school in Juneau, lived in Fairbanks, became a Bahá'í in 1969 in Douglas. She pioneered to Hoonah, an Alaskan Native village, in 1970 and lived in Anchorage before returning to Tenakee in 1975 to manage her parent's store, Snyder Mercantile. Earl was born in Colorado, raised in Las Cruces, New Mexico, lived in the Marshall Islands and moved to Fairbanks to further his education in 1972. He also lived in Anchorage. He married Sharon in 1980 and became a Bahá'í on the same day. Earl and Sharon pioneered to the Mapuche Indian region of southern Chile in 1989, returning to Alaska in 1995. In 1999, they pioneered to Ireland where they live in the Alaska House. Sharon worked with women's groups on both sides of the Irish-Northern Irish border, trying to get them to realize that people are people, and helping them eliminate religious intolerance. She has also given workshops on learning to be your creative self through the arts in both Ireland and Northern Ireland. She has a reputation for making great cakes. Earl has tutored many study circles and writes books: -'Abdu'l-Bahá in Their Midst, which documents 'Abdu'l-Bahá's travels to the West, was published in 2011. -Shoghi Effendi Through the Pilgrim's Eye, volumes 1 and 2, were published in Feb 2015 and March 2016, respectively. -The Knights of Bahá'u'lláh, was published in June of 2017. -Visiting 'Abdu'l-Bahá volumes 1 and 2, about those who went to visit 'Abdu'l-Bahá in the Holy Land from 1897 to 1921. Earl and Sharon have been traveling and telling stories from their books. They have done their story-telling in the United Kingdom, Israel, Ireland, Iceland, Poland, Germany, Tunisia, Hawaii, Fiji, Samoa, New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the US and Alaska. To view the video visit the YouTube channel https://youtu.be/fBWpMim53DQ

I became a Baha'i in 1961, a 1st year student at Cambridge, thereby becoming the first Cambridge undergraduate to become a Baha'i thanks to one, Ian Semple, who was the first in Oxford. Since those happy days, marriage, children, pioneering for the Faith in Swansea, then to Tobermory on the Isle of Mull to open the Inner Hebrides to the Faith, then on to France to open up the Basque region and finally back to Scotland, where Carolyn, my wife and I are now retired in Stirling. Most of this time I have been a language teacher, first French and some German and then English as a foreign language, which I still do on a voluntary basis. Particularly over the last 10 years or so, Carolyn and I have travelled extensively both in Europe and further afield to support Baha'i activities, all of which we have greatly enjoyed. I have written just one book, Letter to the Christians, which was originally written in French and which I started largely for myself to help me become clearer about the link between my Christian faith and Baha'u'llah, but also because at that time Baha'u'llah's 'Tablet to the Christians' had yet to be translated into French. This led to the work on what has come to be known as the Omega Course, which is to help Baha'is and particularly interested Christians to better understand the relationship between the revelation of Christ and that of Baha'u'llah. My talk will involve a glimpse of what is to be found in both Baha'u'llah's 'Letter to the Christians' and material from the above-mentioned Omega Course concerning many subjects of concern to Christians and Baha'is, inevitably much abbreviated. I hope people will find it helpful. I am not a theologian so I am greatly indebted to the research and thoughts of those who have preceded me in delving into many matters of interest in this domain Bon courage!. To view the video visit the YouTube channel https://youtu.be/Va_hvOrINuI

This is a remarkable story of how a young Englishman came to learn about the Baha'i Faith and what he achieved before his life was tragically cut short less than one year later. It tells of the circumstances and glorious insights that 'Abdu'l-Baha Revealed confirming what His 'dear Breakwell' had achieved in the path of his Lord. This story, of the first English Believer, will touch and amaze hearts. Arlette Manasseh is a writer with a background in theatre. Her career was launched when she was selected for an award-based training at the Royal National Theatre Studio from which she went on to win the Genesis Prize for New Directors. She has worked with performing artists across disciplines including Roger Robinson for a national tour prior leading to 'A Portable Paradise' (2019) and won the TS Eliot Prize for Poetry and the Ondaatje Prize in 2020. Recently, Arlette began storytelling to share the rich history and lessons of the Baha'i Faith with the friends. She is also offering a free short storytelling course in February 2021 for anyone interested to learn how to tell stories that draw our hearts closer to 'Abdu'l-Baha. To view the video visit the YouTube channel https://youtu.be/JOmEDZYjF80

As we emerge from the trauma of the COVID-19 pandemic, there are many lessons that we can learn. Many have suddenly discovered that widespread fundamental changes in behaviour and lifestyle were possible, just what we need to address climate change. The superficial pleasures of the consumer society have faded as social relationships and solidarity grew in importance. There has been time for meditation and reflection on the purpose of life and the value of nature, with a resetting of priorities. We have travelled less and walked more, which could facilitate the transition to renewable energy and encourage rapid innovation to head off the climate catastrophe. We see the need to protect biodiversity to reduce the risk of new viruses transferring to human hosts. We must at all costs avoid going back to business as usual. Ultimately, selfish materialistic values must give way to those that foster the unity of all humanity and harmony with nature, which the pandemic has so clearly demonstrated. Arthur Dahl is an environmental scientist, President of the International Environment Forum, and a retired Deputy Assistant Executive Director of UNEP, with 50 years' international experience in environment and sustainability. A lifelong Bahá'í, he is interested in relating ecology, ethics and spirituality. His books include "Unless and Until: A Bahá'í Focus on the Environment", “The ECO Principle: Ecology and Economics in Symbiosis”, “In Pursuit of Hope: A Guide for the Seeker”, and (with Augusto Lopez-Claros and Maja Groff), “Global Governance and the Emergence of Global Institutions for the 21st Century”. To view the video visit the YouTube channel https://youtu.be/FieRg8q1sTI

"Collective consciousness" is the term that sociologists use for the shared ideas and attitudes common to any group of people, whether a family, a nation or a gardening club. Emile Durkheim, one of the founders of the discipline of Sociology, explained that these common ideas and attitudes help to unify a social group without crushing the unique qualities which each member brings to the group or to wider society. Covid19 is having a profound impact on world society and upon people's economic situations. Since it affects people regardless of social status or nationality, we can and must build a new and wider collective consciousness, where each person must seek the welfare of all. This change is an evolutionary process, and an inevitable consequence of greater human mobility. This Sunday, we will learn from each other about where it might lead. To view the video visit the YouTube channel https://youtu.be/dJKvv0IkaO8

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". To view the video visit the YouTube channel https://youtu.be/8HJtyvvMRxI

From local to global, personal to societal, through deeds and words, action and discourse, the Baha'i Faith offers a unique vision of the purpose of religion. More meaningful talks from Sean on "Search for Meaning Oxford" podcast. "Search for Meaning Oxford" is a group for people searching for answers to some of life's most important questions through conversations and reflections on the sacred writings of the Baha'i Faith and the world's spiritual traditions. https://anchor.fm/searchformeaning To view the video visit the YouTube channel https://youtu.be/ifvJrFV1F6g

A discussion of selections from the Baha'i writings about life on this planet and advances that have taken place in our knowledge of the universe and the emerging consciousness of world citizenship.   I will use examples from my professional experience in the field of Space and Satellites to highlight the progress of humanity in the realisation that as a planetary community we have no choice but to address global challenges ahead, if we are to pursue the glorious prospects of an ever-advancing civilization. Impediments to progress are the forces of nationalism, self-interest and all forms of prejudice which question the oneness of mankind and the respect for our common homeland, the planet earth. The writings of the Baha'i Faith inform and inspire us in our pursuit. My background is in engineering, economics and finance having acted as CFO of a satellite communications company and now with continuing interest in space and satellite initiatives. I serve on the Board of Trustees of the International Space University and act as a Trustee of the John Templeton Foundation. To view the video visit the YouTube channel https://youtu.be/MQvDQKpBMCo