Systematic Social Development Investigated
http://news.bahai.org/
John A. Grayzel, Baha'i Chair for World Peace professor at the University of
Maryland, gives a talk called "The Human Conscience as Both an End and a
Means for Social and Economic Development."
ORLANDO, FLORIDA, United States, 17 January 2007 (BWNS) -- In recent years,
Baha'is around the world have been engaged in an increasingly systematic
approach to community development through what they regard as "core
activities" - classes for children and junior youth, study circles, and
devotional meetings.
At the annual Baha'i Conference on Social and Economic Development,
participants sought to understand how these core activities also can lead to
larger programs of social and economic development.
"Providing spiritual education for children is a fundamental part of social
development," said Rebequa Murphy, a Baha'i Counsellor. Her comments came in
a talk titled "The Preservation of Human Honor," explaining how human
progress will organically spring from core activities.
Some 685 Baha'is and like-minded individuals from more than 20 countries
gathered in Orlando, Florida, for conference, which took the theme of
"Addressing the Challenges of a World at Risk."
Held 20 to 23 December 2006, the conference was the 14th such event
sponsored by the Rabbani Trust, a Baha'i-inspired foundation.
"This conference is a demonstration of the strong desire on the part of a
multitude of Baha'i believers to address the social and material ills of the
world, effectively and sustainably as a means of alleviating the suffering
of much of the world's population," said Douglas W. Paik, a member of the
Board of Trustees of the Rabbani Trust.
Workshop participant Susan Tower outlines the Heart of Humanity Gardening
Game she's used at various events in the Columbus, Ohio, area.
>Larger Photo > Related Photos
The gathering focused on how individual Baha'is, their communities, and
Baha'i-inspired organizations can address the problems faced by humanity.
Ms. Murphy, who is a member of the Baha'i Continental Board of Counsellors
for the Americas, which plays an international advisory role in Baha'i
community development, said the primary development task at this time for
Baha'is is to lay the foundation for world unity.
"Baha'u'llah says the well being of mankind, its peace and security are
unattainable unless and until its unity is firmly established," said Ms.
Murphy. "So nothing we do, no amount of money, no amount of research is
going to guarantee the security of mankind unless its unity is firmly
established. So that's what our job is - to lay the foundation [for
development], which is the unity of the world."
William E. Davis, Chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is
of the United States, gave a talk titled "Key Values That Shape a Community
for Growth and Development." He said Baha'is should place particular
emphasis on work focused on assisting young people.
Presenter Jordan van Rijn (center) listens as participants discuss concepts
of sustainability during his workshop on grassroots community banking in
Nicaragua.
>Larger Photo > Related Photos
"No activity is more vital... than the spiritual education of children and
junior youth," said Mr. Davis.
In addition to plenary sessions, the conference featured two days of
workshops that focused on specific topics, such as racism and its relation
to materialism, sustainable development, the importance of service to
humanity, and the critical role of education in development.
Also at the conference, a new Baha'i publication titled "In Service to the
Common Good" was released.
The 20-page monograph , subtitled "Aligning Development with the Forces of
Progress," takes readers through a discussion of why traditional social and
economic development projects have fallen short and why recognition of the
oneness of humankind will help people act as partners in their own
development.
