The Journal of Bahá'í Studies
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THE JOURNAL OF BAHÁ’Í STUDIES La Revue des études bahá’íes/La Revista de estudios bahá’ís Volume 30, number 1-2 Spring-Summer 2020 A Publication of the Association for Bahá’í Studies–North America THE JOURNAL OF BAHÁ’Í STUDIES LA REVUE DES ÉTUDES BAHÁ’ÍES/LA REVISTA DE ESTUDIOS BAHÁ’ÍS Volume 30 Number 1-2 Spring-Summer 2020 Publications Mail Registration No. 09448 EDITOR Michael Sabet EDITOR EMERITUS John S. Hatcher POETRY EDITOR Peter E. Murphy EDITORIAL COORDINATOR Nilufar Gordon EDITORIAL COMMITTEE Ann Boyles, Roshan Danesh, Nilufar Gordon, Pierre-Yves Mocquais, Bahhaj Taherzadeh, Valerie Warder French translation: Louise Mailhot and Juliette Goudreau Spanish translation: Amelia Cardeña The Journal of Bahá’í Studies (USPS #013-468) is published by the Association for Bahá’í Studies–North America. The views expressed in this Journal are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the opinions of the Editorial Board or Executive Committee of the Association for Bahá’í Studies, or authoritative explications of Bahá’í teachings. Periodicals postage paid at Champlain, NY, and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Address changes should be sent to IMS of NY, 100 Walnut St. #3, P.O. Box 1518, Champlain, NY, USA 12919-1518. For details call IMS at 1(800) 428-3003. Articles in The Journal of Bahá’í Studies are available on EBSCO Publishing’s aggregated database. This journal is abstracted in Science of Religion Abstracts, Religion Index One: Periodicals, Index Islamicus, and Index to Book Reviews in Religion, and catalogued at American Theological Library Association and the Institut de L’Information Scientifique et Technique. Annual subscription fees (in Canadian funds): Individual subscriptions: Canada $70; United States: $80; International: $90. Institutional subscriptions: $100. Single copies: $20/issue. Details available at bahaistudies.ca/publications/subscription/ Correspondence regarding subscriptions should be addressed to Association for Bahá’í Studies, 34 Copernicus Street, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 7K4 Canada. E-mail: <abs-na [at] bahaistudies.ca>. Tel.: 613-233-1903. Address editorial correspondence to <editor [at] bahaistudies.ca>. Printed in Canada on recycled paper. ISSN 0838–0430 © Association for Bahá’í Studies 2020. All rights reserved. THE JOURNAL OF BAHÁ’Í STUDIES LA REVUE DES ÉTUDES BAHÁ’ÍES/LA REVISTA DE ESTUDIOS BAHÁ’ÍS Volume 30 Number 1-2 Spring-Summer 2020 Contents 3 J S. H Passing the Torch 6 J B A Note from the ABS Executive Committee 8 M S From the Editor’s Desk 16 You Might Also Like to Read . 19 L M M Spiritual Cosmopolitanism, Transnational Migration, and the Bahá’í Faith 47 T S Crisis and the Power of an Inclusive Historical Consciousness: Progressing from Delusional Habits to Dynamic Freedom Poem 45 S S The Believer Illustrations 2 B A Pillars – Seat of the Universal House of Justice 18 B A Crest – Shrine of the Báb 115 Biographical Notes Cover: R M So High a Calling (acrylic and ink on paper, 15”x11”) 2 The Journal of Bahá’í Studies 30.1-2 2020 Pillars – Seat of the Universal House of Justice BEN ALTAIR 3 snow-covered forest near Cedar Glen, Passing the Torch Ontario, and meeting in a room the size of an ordinary classroom with other notable friends of the Association— JOHN S. HATCHER Dr. David Smith and Dr. Jane Faily At the inception of the Five Year Plan among them—as well, of course, as the of 1974 to 1979, the Universal House founders. That was but forty-four years of Justice specifi cally called upon the ago—like yesterday in my mind. And Canadian Bahá’í community to “culti- yet, since then, this agency has become vate opportunities for formal presenta- the Association for Bahá’í Studies— tions, courses and lectureships on the North America (ABS–NA); its annual Bahá’í Faith in Canadian universities conferences now bring in thousands and other institutions of higher learn- of attendees from across the globe; ing” (21 March 1974). In response to the annual monographs have become that call, the National Spiritual Assem- a quarterly journal; and similar Bahá’í bly of Canada convened a “policy con- scholarly associations have been suc- ference”—a free-fl owing consultation cessfully established throughout the among a group of believers especially world. invited because of their connection to As of a month ago, all four of our the line of action being considered. beloved founders have winged their The result of this fruitful conven- way to serve in another realm, though ing of devoted souls was the creation doubtless they pray for us who strive by the National Spiritual Assembly of to maintain this institution, even as we the Canadian Association for Studies pray for them. My own dear brother, on the Bahá’í Faith in February 1975. Dr. William S. Hatcher, who taught me Among the members of its fi rst Exec- about the Bahá’í Faith, died in 2005, utive Committee were four individu- after having served on the National als who were, at that time, serving as Spiritual Assemblies of Switzerland, members of the National Assembly and Canada, and Russia, having written whom we are honored to consider the several major scholarly studies on the founders of the Association: Hossain Bahá’í Faith, and having pioneered Danesh, William S. Hatcher, Douglas extensively, always focused on serving Martin, and Otto Donald Rogers. the Faith wherever he resided. He was I was privileged to attend the fi rst a noted mathematician, educator, and annual conference of the Association philosopher who excelled at using log- in December 1976, where I present- ic to expound spiritual verities. During ed a paper that would develop into one of his fi nal years, he gave talks the monograph “The Metaphorical at universities across Canada and the Nature of Physical Reality.” It was United States in which he explained to a lovely time, some fi fty or sixty of overfl owing crowds of students his en- us staying in wooden cottages in the during logical proof of the existence of 4 The Journal of Bahá’í Studies 30.1-2 2020 God, on which occasions he challenged Faith: The Emerging Global Religion. anyone to refute his argument, and try So notable as an engaging, delightful, as they might—whether student or fac- loving, and humorous speaker, Doug ulty member—none was able to do so. served for a quarter of a century on the And at the guidance of the Universal Canadian National Spiritual Assembly. House of Justice, after his passing, ob- He was then appointed Director Gen- servances were held across Canada in eral of the Bahá’í International Com- his honor. munity’s Offi ce of Public Information, On June 2 of this year, the second of and, subsequently, he was elected to the the three founders, Dr. Hossain Danesh, Universal House of Justice, on which passed away after a life dedicated to he served for twelve years. promoting education, healing, and the Upon his passing, and in commem- establishment of peace through his writ- oration of his remarkable service, the ings, his talks, and the many creative Universal House of Justice observed, educational programs he established all “The special gifts he possessed for pre- over the globe. For twenty-two years he senting the Faith with clarity and vision served on the National Spiritual Assem- shone through as much in his scholarly bly of Canada, and upon his passing, writings as in his public presentations, this institution applauded “his keen in- including in vigorous defense of the terest in the intellectual life of the com- Bahá’í community in Iran. Much of munity” that “found expression over this work was undertaken while he many years through contributions to simultaneously discharged weighty re- the development of the Association for sponsibilities in the administration of Bahá’í Studies, strengthening its foun- the Faith.” dations and stimulating its growth.” Last year, we lost Otto Donald Rog- Some of my fondest memories of that er, a beloved and enthusiastic supporter fi rst meeting I attended were the times whom I met at that fi rst ABS confer- between sessions when he, Bill, Doug, ence, and with whom I have been fast and I would fi nd such joy in discussing friends until his passing on 28 April matters of theology and philosophy, as 2019. He was the fi rst to read my arti- well as purely practical matters about cle on metaphor, and he related it to the how to help the Association thrive and very heart of his own thoughts about expand. the function of art, especially his own On September 28 of this year, the highly regarded painting and sculpture. third of the three founders, Doug- A Canadian painter and sculptor from las Martin, passed away after having rural Saskatchewan, his abstract works served the Bahá’í Faith at the highest refl ect his Bahá’í beliefs about unity in levels of administration, in addition to diversity, as well as his love of the nat- having co-written with Bill possibly the ural landscapes so lastingly dear to his most widely distributed introductory heart. His work has adorned the covers book about the Bahá’í Faith, The Bahá’í of two issues of this journal. Passing the Torch 5 In addition to his prestigious Among his many accolades were achievements as an artist—his works earning an honorary doctorate in sci- are held in many private and public ence from Amherst College in 1989 collections and galleries in Canada and being selected to give the 34th and other countries—his service to Balyuzi Memorial Lecture at the annu- the Bahá’í Faith was recognized by al meeting of the Association of Bahá’í the Bahá’í World Centre.