AssociationforBahá’íStudies–NorthAmerica 32ndAnnualConference “ReligionandSocialCohesion” 29August–1September2008 SanDiegoMarriottLaJolla SanDiego,California,UnitedStates Friday....................................................................3 Saturday...................................................................4 Sunday..................................................................7 Monday..................................................................10 Abstractsandbiographicalnotes..............................................11 Artistsperforming..........................................................34 ImportantInformation ConferenceBadgeYourconferencebadgeisyour“ticketofadmission”toallsessions.Youmust wearittoattendconferencesessions.Thesecuritypersonnelwillnotallowadmittancetoanyone withoutaBadge. SecurityThesecuritypersonnelaretheretoassistyou.Pleasefollowtheirinstructionsatall times.Theycanbeidentifiedbyredribbonsontheirbadges. PromptnessThescheduleofsessionsisveryfull.Togiveequaltimetothespeakers,thesessions mustbeginontime.Werequestyourcooperationinarrivingpromptly. CellPhonesTheringingofmobiletelephonesintheaudienceisverydisruptivetoapresentation. Pleaseturnoffyourcellphoneorputitin“silent”modewhileyouareintheconferencesessions. TheChildren’sandJuniorYouthProgramTheChildren’sProgram,forages5to15,isbeingheld intheLosAngeles,RanchoLasPalmasandSanFranciscoroomsonthethirdfloor.Parentsmay dropoffchildrenattheirprogram15minutesbeforetheadultsessionstartingtime.Parentsare askedtopickuptheirchildrenpromptlyatthecloseofeachsessionandforthelunchBreaks. (Mealsarenotincludedinthechildren’sprogram.)ThetimesforChildren/JuniorYouthsessions are Friday,29August 10:00a.m.–5:00p.m. Saturday,30August 9:00a.m.–5:30p.m. Sunday,31August 9:00a.m.–6:30p.m. Monday,1September 9:00a.m.–12:30p.m. 1 Theprogramofchildren’sactivitiesisavailableattheConferenceRegistrationTable.Parentsare requiredtosignaMedicalInformationandEmergencyHealthCareReleaseformandreturnitto theChildren’sProgramcoordinators. TheConferenceBookstoreisoperatedbytheBahá’íDistributionServiceoftheUnitedStates.The bookstoreislocatedintheIrvine/Newportroomsonthefirstfloorandoffersawideselectionof booksandmaterials,includingbooksandCDsbyauthorsandartistspresentingatthe conference,andBahá’íjewelry.Hoursofoperationare Friday,29August 2:00p.m.–7:00p.m. Saturday,30August 9:00a.m.–7:00p.m. Sunday,31August 9:00a.m.–7:00p.m. Monday,1September 9:00a.m.–2:00p.m. EvaluationFormsTheABSExecutiveCommitteeasksforyourassistanceandcooperationin fillingouttheconferenceevaluationformsprovidedinyourconferencekit.Yourfeedbackisvery valuabletousinourcontinuingeffortstoimprovetheConference. MembershipInsupportoftheAssociation’smembershipdrive,weaskyoutoencourageyour friendsandSpiritualAssembliestojointheAssociation.Pleaseusethemembershipform enclosedinyourconferencekit.MoreformsareavailableattheConferenceInformationTable. AudioRecordingsConferenceplenarysessionswillberecordedandwillbeavailablefor purchaseonaudioCD.Anorderformisincludedinyourconferencekitandadditionalformsare availableattheConferenceInformationDesk.Pleasefillouttheformwithyourcreditcard numberandtheCDswillbemailedtoyouaftertheconference. LostandFoundLostandfoundarticlesshouldbereportedtotheConferenceRegistrationTable. Afterthecloseoftheconference,anyitemsnotpickedupwillbeturnedovertothehotel. PrayerRoomAroomhasbeensetasideforprayerandmeditationfromFridaytoSunday,8:00 a.m.–10:00p.m.PleasechecktheBulletinBoardattheregistrationareafortheroomnumber. “AfterHours”ArtsAftereachevening’sprogramtherewillbeanartsprogramheldintheGrand Ballroom(SectionsD/E)whereconferenceattendeescansocializeandenjoylisteningtolivemusic untilmidnight.Performingartistsattheconferenceareencouragedtosignuptoperformatthese events.AsignupsheetwillbeavailableneartheConferenceRegistrationTable. NetworkingLunchesChecktheinformationboardfortime,topics,andlocations. 2 Friday,29August2008 10:00a.m.to5:00p.m. SpecialSimultaneousSessions SalonF/G/H SpecialDevelopmentProgrammeforFaculty Convener:AssociationforBahá’íStudiesExecutiveCommittee Chair:MICHAELKARLBERG 10:00 Devotions WelcomeandOpeningRemarks FacultyIntroductions RoundtableDiscussiononMentorshipofStudentsandYoungAdults 12:001:30 LunchBreak 1:303:00 SpecialSessionDetailstobeAnnounced 3:004:00 RoundtableDiscussiononContributingtoContemporaryThoughtinDiverseFields 4:005:00 RoundtableConsultationonExpandingtheNumber,Scope,andQualityofBahá’í Publications SalonD/E CollaborativeWorkshopsonCurrentIssuesandDevelopments InteractiveWorkshop:TheBahá’íWritingsandCollaborationinBahá’íStudies Convener:AssociationforBahá’íStudiesExecutiveCommittee Chair:STEPHENFRIBERG 10:0012:00 Devotions WelcomeandOpeningRemarks IntroductiontoTextandInteractiveWorkshopon‘Abdu’lBahá’s,TheSecretofDivine CivilizationRONSHIGETAandSTEPHENFRIBERG 12:001:30 LunchBreak 1:303:00 IssuesofInteresttotheBahá’íCommunitywhereBahá’íStudiescanhaveanImpact IntroductionSTEPHENFRIBERG TheSocialForcesthatCreateStrongSocialNetworksontheWeb MITRASOLOMONandMATTHEWWEINBERG TheCultureofScience,theRiseofConsultation,andCollectiveAction RONSHIGETA TheSpiritualLifeofNorthAmericansDAVIDDIEHL CreatingBondsforaNewandBetterWorld:MyFamilyandtheMosaicProgram ROBERTROSENFELD WorkshopInstruction 3:003:20 Break 3 3:205:00 CollaborativeWorkshopsonSpecificTopics SalonC TheSocialForcesthatCreateStrongSocialNetworksontheWeb SalonA/B TheCultureofScience,theRiseofConsultation,andCollectiveAction SalonD/E TheSpiritualLifeofNorthAmericans MarinadelRey CreatingBondsforaNewandBetterWorld:MyFamilyandtheMosaicProgram 5:007:00 DinnerBreak FridayEvening GrandBallroom 7:00 PlenarySession Chair:KimNaqvi Devotions OfficialConferenceWelcome LearningandtheUnfoldmentoftheBahá’íCommunityPAULLAMPLE SalonD/E 9:00 “AfterHours”Arts MasterofCeremoniesTARAELLIS Saturday,30August2008 GrandBallroom 9:00 PlenarySession Devotions PostTraumaticSlaveSyndromeJOYDEGRUYLEARY CreatingaMosaic:AJourneytoSocialCohesionROBERTROSENFELD 12:002:00 LunchBreak 2:005:30p.m.SimultaneousBreakoutSessions Orchids ArtsI Convener:ANNEPERRY 2:003:00 ReligiousandSocialForcesofUnity/DivisioninPaintingsJALALIYYIHQUINN 3:154:15 “OutoftheAshesRisesthePhoenix”:PrecedentsandProspectsofBahá’íartists FARSHIDSAMANDARI 4 SalonH Bahá’íHistory&BiographyI Convener:SUSANMANECK 2:003:00 SocialandCommunityCohesionandtheGrowthoftheBahá’íFaithintheUnitedStates ROBERTSTOCKMAN 3:154:15 DoesItMatterifItHappened?InspirationalForceversusFactualContentinPopular Bahá’íStoriesDAVIDPIFF 4:305:30 HolyWarandtheMessageandLifeofBahá’u’lláhDANENSLOW SalonD/E Bioethics&HealthSciences Convener:ELIZABETHBOWEN 2:003:00 ChallengesofHealthforAllinthe21stCenturyROBERTKIMFARLEY 3:154:15 FromAutismtoSchizophreniatoAlzheimer’s:DevelopingaBahá’íApproachto DisordersoftheMindSAMIRKOIRALA 4:305:30 TheEffectsofPrayeronHealingandRecovery:AReviewoftheLiteratureTAEED QUDDUSI SalonA/B FamilyLifeandCommunityDevelopment Convener:TBA 2:003:00 CommunicatingTraumatoEngenderSocialChange:HowStorytellingCanChangethe PersonalandSocialExperienceofDomesticViolence KATHRYNLUCATELLI,JANETARANEHHELZERandKEMBAMAZLOOMIAN SalonG GenderEqualityStudiesI Convener:ÉLIZABETHWRIGHT 2:003:00 LiteraryRepresentationsoftheSpiritualDimensiontoAging PHYLLISSTERNBERGPERRAKIS 3:154:15 DiscerningDirectionsinBahá’íWomen’sScholarshipPAULADREWEK 4:305:30 LoveasHeavenandHellAUGUSTOLOPEZCLAROS Orchids InternationalAffairsI Convener:TBA 4:305:30 RecentlyProposedModelsofWorldGovernment:SinkorSwim?MONAPARSA SalonA/B JointSession:PhilosophyIandScience&ReligionI Convener:IANKLUGE 3:155:30 TheNewAtheism(PANEL) ABahá’íResponsetothe“New”AtheismMAYAKAATHRYNBOHNHOFF, LUISAPRIDDYandSTEPHENFRIBERG The“NewAtheism”ABahá’íResponseIANKLUGE AddressingExpectedAtheistChallengesAgainsttheBahá’íPerspectiveonScienceand ReligionDINESHSINGH SantaClara JournalofBahá’íStudies 3:15–4:45 JournalofBahá’íStudiesInformationSessionEDITORIALCOMMITTEE SalonF Psychology Convener:JASONIGHANI 2:003:00 SocietyinTransition:ReflectingonIdentity,Suicide,andWellbeinginAboriginal PopulationsTARAVATOSTOVAR 5 3:154:15 PreventingFamilyBreakdown:IncorporatingUnityintoTherapyOMIDPOURAHMADI 4:305:30 SelflessAwarenessTherapy:AGodCenteredApproachtoHealingandtheReleaseof HumanPotentialLESLIEASPLUNDandKURTASPLUND SalonA/B ScienceandReligionIseeJointSessionwithPhilosophyI MarinadelRay ScienceandReligionII Chair:RONSHIGETA 2:002:30 IntroductiontotheBahá’íFaithandtheInternetSESSIONORGANISERS 2:303:00 TheBahá’íWeb2.0ASocialPlatformforDevelopment(part1)PAULJAVID 3:003:15 Break 3:153:45 TheBahá’íWeb2.0ASocialPlatformforDevelopment(part2)PAULJAVID 3:454:15 TheValleyofSearch[Engines]:Outwardlyorientedwebsites(part1)LEVRICKARDS 4:154:30 Break 4:305:00 TheValleyofSearch[Engines]:Outwardlyorientedwebsites(part2)LEVRICKARDS 5:005:30 ScienceandReligionBusinessMeeting SalonC StudyofReligionI Convener:PETERTERRY 2:003:00 CenturiesofDarknessandLightHAROLDROSEN 3:154:15 IntersectionsofReligionandCultureintheBahá’íCommunity:ACaseStudy MARIEGERVAIS 4:30 - 5:30 The Geography of America’s Spiritual Inheritance: Seeking the Personal Soul within the Bahá’í Vision BRAD MILLER SaturdayEvening GrandBallroom 7:30 PlenarySession PresentationofAwardsforDistinguishedScholarshiptoSOVAIDAMA’ANIEWINGand ARIANASALVObytheAssociationforBahá’íStudiesExecutiveCommittee ArtforSocialChangeAnEveningwiththeArtists MasterofCeremonies:TBA REDGRAMMERSinger/Songwriter RUTHFORMANPoet/Author/SpokenWord BADIRapper/Songwriter JBECKL&ERICDOZIERSinger/Songwriter/Performer SalonD/E 10:00 “AfterHours”Arts MasterofCeremoniesBADI 6 Sunday,August31,2008