Social Action and Public Discourse with The Wilmette Institute

December 22, 2011

Unit 2 involves the reading of several documents from the Baha'i World Center as well as pointing out the high points of each document according to our understanding. Below is what I submitted to the class:

October 20, 1983

1. The need to have our beliefs mirrored in our deeds

2. The tools involving the application of spiritual principles, righteous conduct, and consultation will be used in the process of the uplifting individuals, communities and nations

Ridvan 2008 (available at the U.S. National Center)

1. Building of human capacity starts with the Creative Writings

2. The Creative Word is the origin for spiritual energies

3. The Institute Process is a means to apply the teachings to the growth of the Faith

4. Moral influences in communities are proportional to purity of motive, high standards of excellence and character

5. The aiding forces of The Concourse On High

Yerrinbool School

1. Areas of action include; expansion and consolidation of the Baha’i community, Social Action and participation in societal discourses

2. All Baha’is should engage in efforts and discourses of society

3. This is only one way of understanding the work Baha’i communities should do

Ridvan 2010, paragraph 29 (Available at the U.S. Baha'i National Center)

1. Endeavors are distinguished by their stated purpose to promote the well-being of people and their spiritual welfare

2. Primary concern of Social Action must be to build capacity within communities in the creation of a better world

Social Action and Public Discourse with The Wilmette Institute

December 20, 2011

Completion to Week 1

JK: There were 2 assignments given to fellow learners of this course: create a personal learning plan and read/comment on “what is discourse”. An accompanying paragraph was available for reflection:

“"Discourse" refers to the collective processes of social interchange and discussion relating to a particular subject area—for example, the international human rights discourse. More generally it can allude to a framework of concepts, shared understandings, and practices through which particular aspects of social reality are interpreted and constructed. The House of Justice is also using the idea of reading and undersanding "social spaces" in relation to participation in public discourse and this can be explored a bit--eg, professional, academic, civil society, local, and governmental spaces. Participation in the discourses of society implies a posture of learning with others and drawing upon both the insights of the Revelation and application of those insights in a way that enriches understanding about social challenges.”

JK: Many discussions addressed the speech and written language aspects of discourse and its needing to be used to “teach” the Cause of God. A few class members expressed interest in going beyond discourse to the creation of models that could be used to express our beliefs. This weekend also saw the Baha’i Social Economic Development Conference in Orlando Florida being conducted to attendees from around the world. Roya Bauman has “tweeted” on her Baha’I SED Conference Hosted by Rabbani Charitable Trust” site at Facebook her understanding of the various conference speakers. She references Mr. Ken Bowers talk on social discourse as follows:

“Ken Bowers is speaking this morning about participation in public discourse. So far, he has made reference to the massive and continuous changes that have affected the planet with increasing speed over the last several decades. He read the wonderful quote starting, "A tempest..." written by Shoghi Effendi in "The Promised Day is Come" in 1941. Now he is reading from "The World Order of Baha'u'llah", written in 1936; p. 203 -- "The unity of the human race as envisaged by Baha'u'llah...".

“We are somewhere in the middle of what these two passages speak of, being expected to participate in helping humanity become something it has never been. Forces of integration and disintegration.”

“Another spiritual concept too: being and doing. It's not enough to march out into the world with platitudes we don't practice. Will they mean anything if there is not behind them a sacrificial attempt to translate these ideals into reality?”

Comments?

JohnK

Social Action and Public Discourse with The Wilmette Institute

December 19, 2011

I am presently taking an on-line “Social Action and Public Discourse” class through The Wilmette Institute . The course is expected to progress to February 6, 2012 and cover various aspects featured in the latest communications from the Baha’i Universal House of Justice and other referencing Baha’i Institutions. The focus of this course is to allow attendees to deepen on several statements including the Ridvan letters and other documents and discuss their relevance to this time.

Since this course involves weekly readings, discussions, and exploration of topics, I will be reading and commenting as well. I’ve decided to share with the friends of NWOhio Baha’i Communities some of our group’s key understandings and discoveries using this blog. I plan to write a synopsis of course learning and understandings at least on a weekly basis. Each week's blog will appear at the top of this column and dated accordingly for easy review and reference.

If anyone in the NWOhio community have any questions or ideas on the subjects written about, please make your thoughts known by submitting them on to this blog’s COMMENT section. Perhaps, I may reference some of the issues stated in this blog's comment section in my class postings.

A final word about blogs… these are intended to be for the sharing of information and learning and not necessarily to be considered as a pure journalistic exercises. There are bound to be misspellings and grammar issues of which I beg your pardon in advance. My intentions are to somehow pass on the learning that I am experiencing in this group setting.

Please enjoy.

JohnK