BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
X-WR-CALNAME:bahaistudies2026
X-WR-CALDESC:Event Calendar
METHOD:PUBLISH
CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
PRODID:-//Sched.com 50th ABS Annual Conference//EN
X-WR-TIMEZONE:UTC
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260616T184055Z
DTSTART:20260807T190000Z
DTEND:20260807T204500Z
SUMMARY:Contributing to professional and academic fields at the level of thought
DESCRIPTION:This session provides an orientation to the activities and learning of the Association in seeking to pursue the mandate provided by the House of Justice in 2013:\n\n\nEvery believer has the opportunity to examine the forces operating in society and introduce relevant aspects of the teachings within the discourses prevalent in whatever social space he or she is present. It is\, perhaps\, as a means to enhance the abilities of the friends to explore such opportunities in relation to their scholarly interests that the endeavours of the Association for Bahá’í Studies can be conceived. Through the specialized settings it creates\, the Association can promote learning among a wide range of believers across a wide range of disciplines.\n&nbsp\; &nbsp\; (24 July 2013 – The National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Canada)\n\n
CATEGORIES:WORKSHOP
LOCATION:215\, Ottawa\, ON\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:338b70b86016efa9249975a3d870b2b0
URL:http://bahaistudies2026.sched.com/event/338b70b86016efa9249975a3d870b2b0
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260616T184055Z
DTSTART:20260807T190000Z
DTEND:20260807T204500Z
SUMMARY:Contributing to professional and academic fields at the level of thought
DESCRIPTION:This session provides an orientation to the activities and learning of the Association in seeking to pursue the mandate provided by the House of Justice in 2013:\n\n\nEvery believer has the opportunity to examine the forces operating in society and introduce relevant aspects of the teachings within the discourses prevalent in whatever social space he or she is present. It is\, perhaps\, as a means to enhance the abilities of the friends to explore such opportunities in relation to their scholarly interests that the endeavours of the Association for Bahá’í Studies can be conceived. Through the specialized settings it creates\, the Association can promote learning among a wide range of believers across a wide range of disciplines.\n&nbsp\; &nbsp\; (24 July 2013 – The National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Canada)\n\n
CATEGORIES:WORKSHOP
LOCATION:214\, Ottawa\, ON\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:5dd6604c6c0fbd2844a6ea309839b93d
URL:http://bahaistudies2026.sched.com/event/5dd6604c6c0fbd2844a6ea309839b93d
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260616T184055Z
DTSTART:20260807T190000Z
DTEND:20260807T204500Z
SUMMARY:Contributing to professional and academic fields at the level of thought
DESCRIPTION:This session provides an orientation to the activities and learning of the Association in seeking to pursue the mandate provided by the House of Justice in 2013:\n\n\nEvery believer has the opportunity to examine the forces operating in society and introduce relevant aspects of the teachings within the discourses prevalent in whatever social space he or she is present. It is\, perhaps\, as a means to enhance the abilities of the friends to explore such opportunities in relation to their scholarly interests that the endeavours of the Association for Bahá’í Studies can be conceived. Through the specialized settings it creates\, the Association can promote learning among a wide range of believers across a wide range of disciplines.\n&nbsp\; &nbsp\; (24 July 2013 – The National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Canada)\n\n
CATEGORIES:WORKSHOP
LOCATION:213\, Ottawa\, ON\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:9a0fbcab3d6206f4c2e8b116f51a0563
URL:http://bahaistudies2026.sched.com/event/9a0fbcab3d6206f4c2e8b116f51a0563
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260616T184055Z
DTSTART:20260807T230000Z
DTEND:20260808T001500Z
SUMMARY:Official conference opening
DESCRIPTION:Official welcome from representatives of the National Spiritual Assembly of Canada and the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States\n\n50th Anniversary of the Annual Conference of the Association for Baha'i Studies
CATEGORIES:PLENARY
LOCATION:Canada Hall\, Ottawa\, ON\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:1f67ca8b0ecee47e75c04ca23c84e22d
URL:http://bahaistudies2026.sched.com/event/1f67ca8b0ecee47e75c04ca23c84e22d
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260616T184055Z
DTSTART:20260808T003000Z
DTEND:20260808T020000Z
SUMMARY:Cast Aside the Clouds (film screening)
DESCRIPTION:\n
CATEGORIES:PLENARY
LOCATION:Canada Hall\, Ottawa\, ON\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:35c3fe42027d6c55a64679bac3d8d2ed
URL:http://bahaistudies2026.sched.com/event/35c3fe42027d6c55a64679bac3d8d2ed
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260616T184055Z
DTSTART:20260808T130000Z
DTEND:20260808T154500Z
SUMMARY:Youth Program
DESCRIPTION:\n
CATEGORIES:
LOCATION:201\, Ottawa\, ON\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:a2a17aaa077219743b88deb5df2e793c
URL:http://bahaistudies2026.sched.com/event/a2a17aaa077219743b88deb5df2e793c
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260616T184055Z
DTSTART:20260808T130000Z
DTEND:20260808T141500Z
SUMMARY:Art as a System of Knowledge: Arts-Integrated Inquiry in Scholarly and Professional Discourse
DESCRIPTION:The Bahá’í teachings affirm the harmony of science and religion as essential to humanity’s progress. Experience increasingly suggests that art also functions as a system of knowledge\, generating insight through perception\, imagination\, embodiment\, and collective meaning-making. This session explores how artistic inquiry contributes to scholarly\, professional\, and community learning. Using Arts-Integrated Creativity Training (ACT) as a conceptual framework\, participants examine how artistic processes complement rational analysis and support rigorous\, collaborative knowledge generation through active engagement and consultation.
CATEGORIES:ARTS
LOCATION:202\, Ottawa\, ON\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:0d61d6b870ff8aa201ac8d499d8bef3f
URL:http://bahaistudies2026.sched.com/event/0d61d6b870ff8aa201ac8d499d8bef3f
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260616T184055Z
DTSTART:20260808T130000Z
DTEND:20260808T141500Z
SUMMARY:Regenerative Agriculture and the Primacy of Farmers: A Bahá'í Perspective
DESCRIPTION:Regenerative agriculture is a burgeoning global movement still taking shape. 'Abdu'l-Bahá's Adasíyyih pioneered what are now known as regenerative practices\, while at the same time integrating Bahá'í spiritual principles demonstrating the full transformative potential of this approach. Today\, several million smallholders in the Global South represent the majority of this movement’s contemporary practitioners. This presentation explores how two hundred million more smallholders\, combining regenerative practices with Bahá'í principles\, could feed the additional 1.5 billion more people in the world by 2050—all of whom will be in the Global South—while actively helping to reverse climate change.
CATEGORIES:DEVELOPMENT / SUSTAINABILITY
LOCATION:207\, Ottawa\, ON\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:51a72f1ed2d3ac30fc026f27eea90ce8
URL:http://bahaistudies2026.sched.com/event/51a72f1ed2d3ac30fc026f27eea90ce8
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260616T184055Z
DTSTART:20260808T130000Z
DTEND:20260808T141500Z
SUMMARY:Academic Discipline-specific session (Humanities)
DESCRIPTION:\n
CATEGORIES:DISCIPLINE-SPECIFIC SESSION
LOCATION:211\, Ottawa\, ON\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:0a53d3f37350147ad9ad5a408e007ca0
URL:http://bahaistudies2026.sched.com/event/0a53d3f37350147ad9ad5a408e007ca0
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260616T184055Z
DTSTART:20260808T130000Z
DTEND:20260808T141500Z
SUMMARY:Sexual Health Care and Education: Bridging the Gap between the Ideals of Baha’u’llah’s Revelation and Current Social Practices
DESCRIPTION:This presentation explores how core Bahá'í principles—the nobility of the individual\, justice\, equality of the sexes\, chastity as spiritual empowerment\, consultation and non-judgement—can inform compassionate\, evidence-based\, high-quality sexual health conversations\, education\, and clinical care. In our hypersexualized materialistic society\, it has become necessary to shed light on these issues of sexuality\, currently shrouded in shame and judgment. Drawing on our clinical and educational experiences\, Bahá'í materials\, and scientific evidence\, we aim to discuss how we might bridge the gap between the light of Bahá’u’lláh’s Revelation and our current society’s practices.
CATEGORIES:HEALTH
LOCATION:215\, Ottawa\, ON\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:bbedf031f3f30faaadb989496997f298
URL:http://bahaistudies2026.sched.com/event/bbedf031f3f30faaadb989496997f298
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260616T184055Z
DTSTART:20260808T130000Z
DTEND:20260808T141500Z
SUMMARY:Surfacing Assumptions in Public Health: A Concept Note Emerging from Collective Study\, Writing\, and Consultation
DESCRIPTION:We present a draft Public Health Concept Note designed for early-year university students to help clarify foundational concepts\, surface tacit assumptions in the field\, and support principled participation in public health discourses. The concept note synthesizes learning from five years of a public health reading group and a recent qualitative study\, alongside insights from and consultations with the Bahá’í International Development Organization. The session will: (1) trace how the concept note was developed through collective study and consultation\; (2) share its structure and pedagogical uses\; and (3) include breakout groups to examine selected sections and explore diverse applications.
CATEGORIES:HEALTH
LOCATION:208\, Ottawa\, ON\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:0894265ddca4bc522255092033e0bfde
URL:http://bahaistudies2026.sched.com/event/0894265ddca4bc522255092033e0bfde
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260616T184055Z
DTSTART:20260808T130000Z
DTEND:20260808T141500Z
SUMMARY:How Trust Became Equated with Truth in Modern Media
DESCRIPTION:Skepticism of mainstream media and uncertainty about which publications are reliable have reshaped how people understand government\, society\, and community in the modern age. As a result\, the media itself is in the midst of a radical transformation in how journalists tell stories and how audiences consume them. The Bahá’í writings offer a variety of insights into the challenges facing the media and how journalists can secure their audiences' trust.
CATEGORIES:MEDIA
LOCATION:205\, Ottawa\, ON\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:bc2d829d29dfbedb41ff3ffb206ed16e
URL:http://bahaistudies2026.sched.com/event/bc2d829d29dfbedb41ff3ffb206ed16e
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260616T184055Z
DTSTART:20260808T130000Z
DTEND:20260808T141500Z
SUMMARY:The Power of Youth (Cast Aside the Clouds discussion)
DESCRIPTION:This talk examines the film\,&nbsp\;Cast Aside the Clouds&nbsp\;as a compelling portrayal of youth as agents of change. The film highlights how young people can challenge inherited assumptions\, seek truth independently\, and overcome entrenched prejudices. Through its depiction of the Bahá’í community in Iran\, it reveals the damaging impact of religious persecution—one of the most destructive barriers to building a just society. At the same time\, it emphasizes resilience\, moral courage\, and unity in the face of injustice. Ultimately\, the film calls on audiences to reject bias\, think critically\, and recognize the power of youth to contribute to a more just and compassionate world.
CATEGORIES:MEDIA
LOCATION:213\, Ottawa\, ON\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:2e1e2ae370ed6c2eadb9cf69ae511fd9
URL:http://bahaistudies2026.sched.com/event/2e1e2ae370ed6c2eadb9cf69ae511fd9
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260616T184055Z
DTSTART:20260808T130000Z
DTEND:20260808T141500Z
SUMMARY:International Law in a Divided World: Back to the Future?
DESCRIPTION:A world civilization founded on justice is at the core of a Baha'i vision of the future. The historical evolution of international law has been shaped by both the unprecedented violence and globalization of the modern age. Despite significant progress in the proliferation of global norms and international courts however\, the prevailing order remains "lamentably defective\," and the entrenchment of divisive ideologies and power politics has become a cause for alarm. Yet these past realities of interdependence have only intensified and will eventually force humankind to radically transform the prevailing order into one that is suited for our common survival.
CATEGORIES:POLITICAL SCIENCE
LOCATION:214\, Ottawa\, ON\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:0164373f065aca72dce455d06648ea8b
URL:http://bahaistudies2026.sched.com/event/0164373f065aca72dce455d06648ea8b
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260616T184055Z
DTSTART:20260808T130000Z
DTEND:20260808T141500Z
SUMMARY:Mind-Body Interaction in Developmental Psychology
DESCRIPTION:Developmental psychology lacks clear definitions of mind\, spirit\, and soul\, leaving their relation to the body fragmented. While secular psychology examines cognition\, meaning‑making\, and moral development\, materialist frameworks focus on measurable processes and offer little account of subjective or spiritual experience. This project traces the historical evolution of mind–body constructs in developmental theories\, comparing with Bahá’í dual‑aspect teachings\, and models how mind and spirit interact with the body. It proposes a framework in which the mind is both embodied and spiritually oriented\, strengthening conceptual and measurement clarity
CATEGORIES:PSYCHOLOGY
LOCATION:210\, Ottawa\, ON\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:b83a170598f46bf65824485054eeb80d
URL:http://bahaistudies2026.sched.com/event/b83a170598f46bf65824485054eeb80d
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260616T184055Z
DTSTART:20260808T130000Z
DTEND:20260808T141500Z
SUMMARY:Beyond Systems of Belief: Bahá’u’lláh’s Revelation and the Reconfiguration of Human Knowledge
DESCRIPTION:Contemporary societies face fragmentation marked by political polarization\, tribalism\, and increasingly materialistic worldviews. This presentation explores religious revelation—particularly the Revelation of Bahá'u'lláh—not as a system of beliefs\, but as a transformation in how knowledge is generated\, integrated\, and disseminated. Drawing on insights from philosophy\, literary theory\, and historical precedents\, it examines how revelation disrupts rigid rational frameworks and enables new forms of intellectual synthesis. It further argues that mystical experience\, far from opposing reason\, provides a standpoint above all knowledge systems from which such synthesis becomes possible. Participants are invited to consider the role of Bahá'ís as learners and interlocutors\, contributing humbly to collaborative discourses on humanity's collective maturation.
CATEGORIES:STUDY OF THE WRITINGS
LOCATION:209\, Ottawa\, ON\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:814583ae3289b382135d2bb805b6f626
URL:http://bahaistudies2026.sched.com/event/814583ae3289b382135d2bb805b6f626
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260616T184055Z
DTSTART:20260808T130000Z
DTEND:20260808T141500Z
SUMMARY:Exploring the History of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas
DESCRIPTION:Drawing on the research published in Exploring the Kitáb-i-Aqdas: The Laws and Teachings of the Bahá’í Faith\, this seminar investigates the at once fascinating and unprecedented history of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas. It explores how Bahá’u’lláh foresaw the revelation of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas\, waited until the midpoint of His ministry to compose it\, was deliberate in disseminating it\, and personally arranged for its publication. That so much information is available about the role of the Founder of an independent world religion in the composition and distribution of His central Text is without parallel in recorded history.
CATEGORIES:STUDY OF THE WRITINGS
LOCATION:206\, Ottawa\, ON\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:86d4db6405f4ba34d0c02d0063d535b5
URL:http://bahaistudies2026.sched.com/event/86d4db6405f4ba34d0c02d0063d535b5
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260616T184055Z
DTSTART:20260808T130000Z
DTEND:20260808T141500Z
SUMMARY:Artificial Intelligence and Human Progress: How We Learn\, Create\, and Build Together
DESCRIPTION:Artificial intelligence is transforming how we learn\, create\, and collaborate\, raising profound questions about human identity\, truth\, and our collective future. This panel explores how AI can be harnessed as a force for human progress\, drawing on Bahá’í teachings to integrate scientific and spiritual principles in an era of rapid change. It considers how the tools we build\, and how we use them\, shape society\, emphasizing AI’s potential to advance collective progress when aligned with values such as justice\, unity\, and human dignity. Panelists will examine how AI is reshaping the pursuit of knowledge and creative expression\, reimagining creativity as a collaboration between human intention and machine capability\, while also addressing the ethical responsibilities of design. The session invites participants to reflect on how AI can support more meaningful learning\, creative expression\, and shared advancement.
CATEGORIES:TECHNOLOGY
LOCATION:212\, Ottawa\, ON\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:bb623ae044b2c0183d99cd7998a531b7
URL:http://bahaistudies2026.sched.com/event/bb623ae044b2c0183d99cd7998a531b7
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260616T184055Z
DTSTART:20260808T143000Z
DTEND:20260808T154500Z
SUMMARY:Redefining the 'Fundamentals of Music Composition' for a Universal Cause
DESCRIPTION:When Shoghi Effendi provided guidance on music in the Baha’i community\, he cautioned against the creation of any sort of aesthetically homogenous "Bahá’í music\," and went on to say that “the further away the friends keep from any set forms\, the better\, for they must realize that the Cause is absolutely universal” (20 July 1946 to a National Spiritual Assembly). “What is music?” and “What does it mean to be a composer?” are questions whose answers often unconsciously influence how a community engages with music. If uninterrogated against the advancements of a rich theoretical discourse and the spirit of Shoghi Effendi’s guidance\, our answers to these questions risk perpetuating limiting and eurocentric understandings of what music is\, who gets to be composers and what becoming/being a composer looks like. Drawing from the fields of experimental composition\, music theory\, sound studies and ethnomusicology\, I present a new set of "fundamentals of music composition" that seek to operationalize the spirit of Shoghi Effendi’s guidance\, and open up a pathway towards a community that can make\, meaningfully engage with and support music practices that are more diverse and innovative than we can imagine.
CATEGORIES:ARTS
LOCATION:202\, Ottawa\, ON\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:e3a1f649e71d4f785bdd01d1e790014f
URL:http://bahaistudies2026.sched.com/event/e3a1f649e71d4f785bdd01d1e790014f
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260616T184055Z
DTSTART:20260808T143000Z
DTEND:20260808T154500Z
SUMMARY:The Elimination of Prejudice of all Kinds: Engaging with Social Discourse Related to Aging and Ageism
DESCRIPTION:Ageism is one of the most widespread and unacknowledged prejudices that permeates life in the 21st century. This presentation will look at how we can use the Baha’i Writings to address ageism using the lens of the oneness of humanity to understand how social institutions\, such as nursing homes and segregated living environments\, continue to reinforce prejudice against people based on their age. It will engage with sociological research as well as the experience of the presenter based on decades of public talks on ageism.
CATEGORIES:COMMUNITY
LOCATION:215\, Ottawa\, ON\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:82d3498699d9e9b2820749f566d5939f
URL:http://bahaistudies2026.sched.com/event/82d3498699d9e9b2820749f566d5939f
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260616T184055Z
DTSTART:20260808T143000Z
DTEND:20260808T154500Z
SUMMARY:Protagonists for Sustainability
DESCRIPTION:This session will focus on how we all can be protagonists for environmental sustainability\, by learning\, taking action and fostering meaningful conversations that relate Bahá’í principles to societal discourses around custodianship of the Earth and equitable development. Tackling the immense challenges of climate change requires understanding of the science\, the need for tradeoffs in solutions\, adaptability to changing scenarios\, and respect for different perspectives as we seek a unity-building approach. We draw on the past five years of ABS reading groups and workshops\, and welcome young and old\, and diverse views\, to help us explore how we can constructively engage with individuals\, communities and institutions.
CATEGORIES:DEVELOPMENT / SUSTAINABILITY
LOCATION:207\, Ottawa\, ON\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:19d7fc8b4dcd094f7a4f4e8332ef9a63
URL:http://bahaistudies2026.sched.com/event/19d7fc8b4dcd094f7a4f4e8332ef9a63
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260616T184055Z
DTSTART:20260808T143000Z
DTEND:20260808T154500Z
SUMMARY:Reframing Achievement in Education
DESCRIPTION:This session explores how nurturing moral education can move students beyond seeing results as the main measure of learning and toward developing virtues\, skills\, and a sense of purpose. Grounded in a Bahá’í perspective on human progress\, it highlights how educators can foster meaningful dialogue\, build community\, and empower learners through inquiry\, project-based learning\, and problem-seeking that sparks curiosity. Practical tools will be shared to help classrooms support self-actualization\, sense of belonging and reflective\, forward-looking learning.
CATEGORIES:EDUCATION
LOCATION:205\, Ottawa\, ON\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:67a4644d6970b1b9681f60444d6bf971
URL:http://bahaistudies2026.sched.com/event/67a4644d6970b1b9681f60444d6bf971
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260616T184055Z
DTSTART:20260808T143000Z
DTEND:20260808T154500Z
SUMMARY:Beyond Certification: Raising up New Human Resources in Health Promotion
DESCRIPTION:Shortages in primary health care providers have driven efforts to identify new resources to support healthy patterns of life. Physician extenders and health promoters have demonstrated efficacy in fostering behavior change\, but consistent funding to hire people into these roles has been elusive. Participants in this workshop will reflect on how other countries have addressed this need\, hear about early experience with training volunteer youth health promoters\, and consult on how insights gained from experience with the framework for action could be brought to bear on this challenge to health equity.
CATEGORIES:HEALTH
LOCATION:209\, Ottawa\, ON\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:29f8a0f66581b5f782288958c2518be3
URL:http://bahaistudies2026.sched.com/event/29f8a0f66581b5f782288958c2518be3
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260616T184055Z
DTSTART:20260808T143000Z
DTEND:20260808T154500Z
SUMMARY:Cultivating Virtues at Work: A Collaborative Approach to Strengthening Connection\, Meaning\, and Communication
DESCRIPTION:In response to rising workplace stress and disengagement\, a virtue-centered initiative was launched in January 2025 in a large state health department of over 2\,000 employees. Developed with university researchers\, the project explored whether intentionally naming\, practicing\, and affirming virtues could strengthen communication and morale. Introduced through a Public Health Grand Rounds\, a year-long “virtue-of-the-week” practice encouraged reflection\, team dialogue\, and peer recognition. Mid-year survey data showed significant and meaningful gains in positive communication. The initiative was inspired by Bahá’í teachings emphasizing “pure and goodly deeds…commendable and seemly conduct.”
CATEGORIES:HEALTH
LOCATION:208\, Ottawa\, ON\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:527fd684c7579f5bbf351dc81113cbee
URL:http://bahaistudies2026.sched.com/event/527fd684c7579f5bbf351dc81113cbee
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260616T184055Z
DTSTART:20260808T143000Z
DTEND:20260808T154500Z
SUMMARY:1863: A Year of Social Unrest and the Dawn of Hope
DESCRIPTION:My presentation discusses the challenges involved in my new book project. The book features a large swath of events that occurred in that year\, a year of social unrest and the dawn of hope\, including Bahá’u’lláh’s public announcement. There are unique challenges in writing a world history for 1863\, including how to connect the seemingly disconnected events and in their implications. The book provides an opportunity to explore human rights issues -- such as the anachronism of slavery\, oppressive colonialism\, and the cruelty of war -- in light of the stupendous event of Bahá’u’lláh’s declaration.
CATEGORIES:HISTORY
LOCATION:211\, Ottawa\, ON\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:2017b1a6f2664b6261dd2e9f073d9c97
URL:http://bahaistudies2026.sched.com/event/2017b1a6f2664b6261dd2e9f073d9c97
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260616T184055Z
DTSTART:20260808T143000Z
DTEND:20260808T154500Z
SUMMARY:When Activism Falters: Pathways to Social Change in an Era of Institutional Erosion
DESCRIPTION:Across political contexts\, traditional modes of activism are losing traction. Mechanisms that once translated civic mobilization into institutional response—litigation\, advocacy campaigns\, and transnational leverage—have become unreliable or blocked. What forms of durable collective power persist amid this strategic exhaustion? This book examines 14 initiatives that thrive under institutional erosion by neither resisting nor reforming. It conceptualizes a generative mode of action through which communities construct governance\, social-care\, economic\, and epistemic infrastructures. By theorizing this mode\, it offers an understanding of how collective power develops when institutions falter.
CATEGORIES:POLITICAL SCIENCE
LOCATION:214\, Ottawa\, ON\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:e0515e4cf1981ef6147c3a49b968c35e
URL:http://bahaistudies2026.sched.com/event/e0515e4cf1981ef6147c3a49b968c35e
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260616T184055Z
DTSTART:20260808T143000Z
DTEND:20260808T154500Z
SUMMARY:Justice and Reciprocity as key principles of Parenting in a Baha’i Family: Integrating Psychological Science and Moral Education with Baha’i Teachings
DESCRIPTION:The message dated 19 March 2025 from the Universal House of Justice offers a vital framework for understanding the Baha’i perspective of family life. Notably\, the House highlighted that “sound relationships that are to bind members of a Baha’i&nbsp\;family are based on justice and reciprocity.” This session explores how these principles frame parenting and family dynamics\, bridging Baha’i teaching with psychological science and moral education. We will discuss how this informs our conception of the “family” and parenting practices. Together\, we will discuss how these insights can enrich our conversations with others about spiritual education.
CATEGORIES:PSYCHOLOGY
LOCATION:210\, Ottawa\, ON\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:d0e55e87163d589bc3dfe73a2d196958
URL:http://bahaistudies2026.sched.com/event/d0e55e87163d589bc3dfe73a2d196958
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260616T184055Z
DTSTART:20260808T143000Z
DTEND:20260808T154500Z
SUMMARY:The Kitáb-i-Aqdas’s Proclamation to the World’s Kings\, Rulers\, and Leaders: History\, Purposes\, and Themes
DESCRIPTION:Drawing on the research published in Exploring the Kitáb-i-Aqdas: The Laws and Teachings of the Bahá’í Faith\, this session analyzes why in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas Bahá’u’lláh addressed the world’s political and religious leaders\, why particular figures were addressed\, how these addresses relate to His earlier proclamations\, and the themes conveyed in these addresses.
CATEGORIES:STUDY OF THE WRITINGS
LOCATION:206\, Ottawa\, ON\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:a9bb793e720b2077cf604b0aeed5098e
URL:http://bahaistudies2026.sched.com/event/a9bb793e720b2077cf604b0aeed5098e
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260616T184055Z
DTSTART:20260808T143000Z
DTEND:20260808T154500Z
SUMMARY:Artificial Intelligence and Consciousness: A Cohesive Approach
DESCRIPTION:This presentation offers a cohesive framework for examining artificial intelligence and consciousness through scientific and Bahá’í perspectives. It addresses major societal questions: Can AI ever possess consciousness? Could it surpass human intelligence? Is Artificial General Intelligence achievable? By distinguishing functional intelligence from conscious experience and drawing on Bahá’í teachings about the soul and the progressive unfoldment of knowledge\, the talk integrates empirical insight with spiritual understanding. It argues that AI reflects human creativity rather than embodying consciousness and proposes ethical principles to guide its development in service to human progress.
CATEGORIES:TECHNOLOGY
LOCATION:212\, Ottawa\, ON\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:c5a4b21129cf40b7d4a242d4542fc398
URL:http://bahaistudies2026.sched.com/event/c5a4b21129cf40b7d4a242d4542fc398
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260616T184055Z
DTSTART:20260808T180000Z
DTEND:20260808T204500Z
SUMMARY:Youth Program
DESCRIPTION:\n
CATEGORIES:
LOCATION:201\, Ottawa\, ON\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:a3aed63d7926d674a6f92fc2f3d28e16
URL:http://bahaistudies2026.sched.com/event/a3aed63d7926d674a6f92fc2f3d28e16
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260616T184055Z
DTSTART:20260808T180000Z
DTEND:20260808T191500Z
SUMMARY:Building Unity in Action: A Bahá’í-Inspired Approach to Multifaith Collaboration on Global Challenges
DESCRIPTION:The Ottawa Environment Forum will share its experience developing a Bahá’í-inspired multifaith initiative that applies spiritual principles to addressing humanity’s global issues. This presentation explores how shared values across faith traditions can awaken hope\, nurture moral courage\, and inspire collective action for the common good. Drawing on Bahá’í principles such as consultation\, the harmony of science and religion\, and the oneness of humanity\, participants will gain both insight and motivation to initiate transformative\, community‑building responses to the urgent challenges confronting our world today.
CATEGORIES:DEVELOPMENT / SUSTAINABILITY
LOCATION:207\, Ottawa\, ON\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:6b60fb657b916349bb8b82c9326468ef
URL:http://bahaistudies2026.sched.com/event/6b60fb657b916349bb8b82c9326468ef
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260616T184055Z
DTSTART:20260808T180000Z
DTEND:20260808T191500Z
SUMMARY:Implications of a Broader Perspective on the Concept of Power for Educational Research: Analysis of Two Dissertations
DESCRIPTION:In this presentation\, two emerging scholars reflect on their efforts to learn how to explicate a wider conception of power and attempt to articulate its implications in their respective dissertation contexts: Indigenous teacher education in Argentina and alternative education high schools in the United States. Each author will reflect on how a more nuanced conception of power informed their research methods and how they shared their findings within their field. The presentation will conclude with all participants being invited to identify relevant concepts and their implications within a context with which they are familiar.
CATEGORIES:EDUCATION
LOCATION:213\, Ottawa\, ON\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:8ad3244f63265e0f689b1fe235a849c4
URL:http://bahaistudies2026.sched.com/event/8ad3244f63265e0f689b1fe235a849c4
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260616T184055Z
DTSTART:20260808T180000Z
DTEND:20260808T191500Z
SUMMARY:Consultation in Clinical Practice: From Patient-Centred Care to Shared Moral Agency in Dentistry
DESCRIPTION:Contemporary healthcare emphasizes patient-centred care\, yet power imbalances and procedural communication often limit genuine partnership. This presentation proposes Bahá’í consultation as a framework that deepens patient-centred practice by reframing the clinician–patient relationship as a shared search for truth grounded in humility\, dignity\, and unity of purpose. Drawing on health communication literature and clinical examples from dentistry\, the session explores how consultation can strengthen trust and ethical decision-making. Participants will engage in reflection on how these principles may be applied within their own professional contexts.
CATEGORIES:HEALTH
LOCATION:209\, Ottawa\, ON\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:e7311946150e42de11eacf97c4fe8ddf
URL:http://bahaistudies2026.sched.com/event/e7311946150e42de11eacf97c4fe8ddf
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260616T184055Z
DTSTART:20260808T180000Z
DTEND:20260808T191500Z
SUMMARY:Historical Antecedents of an Advanced Cluster: the Example of Ottawa
DESCRIPTION:Using extensive original\, archival and newspaper research and interviews\, Heather will discuss how\, during the first decades of the Ottawa Baha’i community (1940 – 1970)\, a growing group of newly enrolled\, dedicated Baha’is became protagonists in building a strong Baha’i community with an outward focus\, as well as contributing to the wider society. As Ottawa is one of the most advanced clusters in North America\, its history is of particular interest. &nbsp\;The presentation is based on the newly published Tools for Living: Winnifred Harvey and the Beginnings of the Bahá’í Faith in Ottawa. Winnifred Harvey was Heather’s aunt and first teacher.
CATEGORIES:HISTORY
LOCATION:211\, Ottawa\, ON\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:f209ada6290e771962bd296223991cd9
URL:http://bahaistudies2026.sched.com/event/f209ada6290e771962bd296223991cd9
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260616T184055Z
DTSTART:20260808T180000Z
DTEND:20260808T191500Z
SUMMARY:Two-Eyed Seeing in Education: Reflections on Indigenous Wisdom and Holistic Practice at Roger White Academy
DESCRIPTION:This joint presentation explores Two-Eyed Seeing as a framework for learning through dialogue between Indigenous wisdom in education and the experience of Roger White Academy as a Bahá’í-inspired holistic school. Drawing on Indigenous traditional knowledge and spiritual principles of intergenerational responsibility\, harmony\, and relationality\, alongside Bahá’í-inspired approaches to moral and spiritual education\, the session examines areas of convergence and complementarity. Particular attention is given to how the JY Spiritual Empowerment Program\, in partnership with Indigenous communities\, might assist in strengthening cultural identity\, agency\, and collective wellbeing as defined by those communities.
CATEGORIES:INDIGENOUS STUDIES
LOCATION:202\, Ottawa\, ON\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:f2a0993837b75fb62f1c8962c2c64d02
URL:http://bahaistudies2026.sched.com/event/f2a0993837b75fb62f1c8962c2c64d02
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260616T184055Z
DTSTART:20260808T180000Z
DTEND:20260808T204500Z
SUMMARY:The Forbidden University: Film screening and discussion
DESCRIPTION:The Forbidden University is a feature documentary exploring the constructive resilience of the Bahá’í Institute for Higher Education (BIHE) in Iran. Produced by 1844 Studios with Companion Arts and Interdimensional VFX\, and developed in consultation with Bahá’í Institutions at every phase\, the film weaves interviews with BIHE alumni and scholars with dramatic recreations to illuminate a community-run response to systemic exclusion from higher education. The screening is followed by a moderated discussion on education access\, human rights\, collective action\, and BIHE’s enduring model of constructive resilience.
CATEGORIES:MEDIA
LOCATION:210\, Ottawa\, ON\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:c366d13c2328268a56d0fd95a9fec47b
URL:http://bahaistudies2026.sched.com/event/c366d13c2328268a56d0fd95a9fec47b
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260616T184055Z
DTSTART:20260808T180000Z
DTEND:20260808T191500Z
SUMMARY:Transcending Polarization in Social Discourse and Sociological Theory: Learning from the "Re-Uniting America" Movement
DESCRIPTION:Dynamics of polarization in social discourse have become increasingly acute in many regions of the world. This presentation is a sociological study of the Re-Uniting America Project (2003-2011)\, a movement that sought to transcend and overcome ideological divisions. We use this case to illuminate the cultural sociology of both polarization and integration\, identifying social practices and structures that can explain the successes and limitations of the movement. The presentation will also open a space for reflection on potential convergences and mutual learning between Baháʼí efforts in social discourse and initiatives that arose in the Re-Uniting America Project.
CATEGORIES:POLITICAL SCIENCE
LOCATION:214\, Ottawa\, ON\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:50467a68b204f44fdafecc969d18fb32
URL:http://bahaistudies2026.sched.com/event/50467a68b204f44fdafecc969d18fb32
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260616T184055Z
DTSTART:20260808T180000Z
DTEND:20260808T191500Z
SUMMARY:Fostering Resilience: Psychological\, Social and Spiritual Implications
DESCRIPTION:The concept of resilience has emerged as a way of characterizing improvement in individual psychological function and health. Resilience can be expanded to include the spiritual and &nbsp\;social aspects of the individual and the community in which they serve. Groups such as nuclei of Baha'i activity\, children's classes and the institute program strengthen not only the individuals involved but the social network surrounding them. This process is generational\, advancing the society-building power of the teachings of Baha'u'llah. Resilience provides a useful model for understanding and a potential means of measuring outcomes of programs of growth.
CATEGORIES:PSYCHOLOGY
LOCATION:215\, Ottawa\, ON\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:c208ab0a7973fe16f7e633e306408efe
URL:http://bahaistudies2026.sched.com/event/c208ab0a7973fe16f7e633e306408efe
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260616T184055Z
DTSTART:20260808T180000Z
DTEND:20260808T191500Z
SUMMARY:Covenant\, Command\, and Conscience: Rethinking Sin and Moral Obligation from a Bahá’í Perspective
DESCRIPTION:This presentation explores a covenantal understanding of sin and moral obligation in Bahá’í thought\, drawing on the writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and recent guidance of the Universal House of Justice. It examines how moral accountability arises within specific divine covenants rather than from a universalized moral code\, offering a principled explanation for why Bahá’ís do not impose their standards on others. In dialogue with covenantal approaches in contemporary Christian theology\, the session invites participants to reflect on how this framework can support ethical seriousness\, interreligious collaboration\, and constructive engagement in pluralistic moral discourse.
CATEGORIES:STUDY OF THE WRITINGS
LOCATION:206\, Ottawa\, ON\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:005c84ffad40a6ca34d01837caf0c84d
URL:http://bahaistudies2026.sched.com/event/005c84ffad40a6ca34d01837caf0c84d
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260616T184055Z
DTSTART:20260808T180000Z
DTEND:20260808T191500Z
SUMMARY:Towards a Provisional Hermeneutics of the Qayyúm al-Asmáʾ: Reflections on a Systematic Study of the Qayyúm al-Asmáʾ
DESCRIPTION:This presentation reflects on an eight-session seminar devoted to a systematic survey of the Báb's Qayyúm al-Asmá\, described by Bahá’u’lláh as “the First\, the Greatest and Mightiest of all books.” Through systematic study of a provisional compilation of all available English translations\, participants engaged the historical and theological significance of this seminal text and the hermeneutical challenges it poses. This presentation will introduce hermeneutical insights drawn from a systematic survey of the text\, historical contours situating the text within 19th century religious ferment\, and methodological reflections on engaging profound and intricate sacred texts.
CATEGORIES:STUDY OF THE WRITINGS
LOCATION:208\, Ottawa\, ON\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:febc1d8153ee35d2c0f3ebe5fc75e630
URL:http://bahaistudies2026.sched.com/event/febc1d8153ee35d2c0f3ebe5fc75e630
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260616T184055Z
DTSTART:20260808T180000Z
DTEND:20260808T191500Z
SUMMARY:Dissemination of Knowledge: Insights from the Academic Discourse on Technology and Society within Communities of Professionals
DESCRIPTION:In this breakout session\, a panel will share several recent experiences introducing ideas from academic discourse on technology and society in professional settings. These modest experiences extend the ABS special interest group on technology’s learning about seminars for professionals into a variety of other contexts\, including roundtable discussions\, curriculum development\, and professional development workshops. Extension to such settings represent some of the special interest group’s efforts to develop an outward-looking culture within the Association through collaborative initiatives. Following panelists’ remarks\, participants will be invited to discuss contributions to technology discourse and how to introduce them into ongoing conversations.
CATEGORIES:TECHNOLOGY
LOCATION:212\, Ottawa\, ON\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:f8e71e7e624f8ac6a186e6ea18e7ed56
URL:http://bahaistudies2026.sched.com/event/f8e71e7e624f8ac6a186e6ea18e7ed56
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260616T184055Z
DTSTART:20260808T180000Z
DTEND:20260808T191500Z
SUMMARY:Social Media Awareness in the Age of AI
DESCRIPTION:This presentation explores social media awareness in the age of artificial intelligence through digital literacy\, cognitive science\, and Bahá’í ethical perspectives. Drawing on Bahá’í writings\, it frames the internet and AI as tools for global connection that require moral responsibility. The discussion examines how algorithms and dopamine reward loops influence attention and behavior\, while addressing embedded bias and inequity. Emphasizing accuracy\, kindness\, forbearance\, and unity\, the presentation encourages students\, educators\, and communities to engage social media and AI in ways that advance justice and collective well-being.
CATEGORIES:TECHNOLOGY
LOCATION:205\, Ottawa\, ON\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:6f03526be77ea7a6b368a726b9317c88
URL:http://bahaistudies2026.sched.com/event/6f03526be77ea7a6b368a726b9317c88
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260616T184055Z
DTSTART:20260808T193000Z
DTEND:20260808T204500Z
SUMMARY:Learning as a Core Capability for Enduring Businesses
DESCRIPTION:Why do some businesses rise spectacularly\, only to collapse under the weight of their own success\, while others endure? In an era defined by data and analytics\, even the most information-rich enterprises struggle to respond when signals from society challenge their definitions of success. This interactive session explores how narrow definitions of value and the absence of effective learning systems constrain organizational progress. Drawing on Bahá’í principles such as humility\, consultation\, and collective responsibility\, participants will engage a framework for learning that enables organizations to endure and contribute to the advancement of material and spiritual civilization. Participants will be encouraged to carry this inquiry into ongoing discourses on business\, technology\, and civilization.
CATEGORIES:BUSINESS
LOCATION:209\, Ottawa\, ON\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:326429c9c4b52af536eb9d115d0888dc
URL:http://bahaistudies2026.sched.com/event/326429c9c4b52af536eb9d115d0888dc
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260616T184055Z
DTSTART:20260808T193000Z
DTEND:20260808T204500Z
SUMMARY:Community Building: Striving for Synergies in Approaches and Outcomes
DESCRIPTION:Bahá’ís are at the very beginning of the process of community building. While valuable experience has been gained over the past 30 years by drawing on the society-building power of the Revelation\, there are also rich insights to be gleaned from community development thinking and practice in the wider society. The goal of this presentation is to correlate these insights with the guidance of the Universal House of Justice about the salient features of community building in the Divine Plan\, and to explore practical considerations for synthesizing the two\, informed by experience leading a community health agency in urban Toronto.
CATEGORIES:COMMUNITY
LOCATION:211\, Ottawa\, ON\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:fbdea01d88909bc0786cd0b5b0f324df
URL:http://bahaistudies2026.sched.com/event/fbdea01d88909bc0786cd0b5b0f324df
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260616T184055Z
DTSTART:20260808T193000Z
DTEND:20260808T204500Z
SUMMARY:Diversity\, Equity and Protagonism: Promoting a Discourse
DESCRIPTION:Equity work in American schools is in crisis. Undue reliance on institutional support has left the field at the mercy of partisan interests. Beyond a mere critique of top down DEI\, the presentation offers a path forward by introducing the concept of protagonism alongside insights from the field of organizational development. Emphasis is placed on recasting the relationships among the three protagonists to foster individual initiative\, consultation\, and organizational learning. After considering how the presentation has been offered to different audiences\, participants will suggest other communities of practice where promoting a discourse on protagonism can help advance thought and action.
CATEGORIES:COMMUNITY
LOCATION:213\, Ottawa\, ON\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:2f27383f3f11cf4aca2a834e704765fd
URL:http://bahaistudies2026.sched.com/event/2f27383f3f11cf4aca2a834e704765fd
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260616T184055Z
DTSTART:20260808T193000Z
DTEND:20260808T204500Z
SUMMARY:A Paradigm Shift in Humanitarian Aid: From Victims to Protagonists
DESCRIPTION:Amid escalating global crises\, the traditional humanitarian model is proving unsustainable. This presentation\, drawing on Bahá’í teachings\, proposes a paradigm shift: moving from viewing survivors as passive victims to active protagonists of their own recovery. True resilience lies not just in material resources\, but in a community’s spiritual capacity for consultation\, unity\, and collective action. By correlating crisis management with the Nine-Year Plan's goal to "release the society-building power of the Faith\," we examine how a model of "accompaniment" empowers survivors. This approach restructures humanitarian aid\, ensuring that post-disaster reconstruction builds a lasting framework.
CATEGORIES:DEVELOPMENT / SUSTAINABILITY
LOCATION:207\, Ottawa\, ON\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:0ac495acd240b1a51c8bd810d937da8e
URL:http://bahaistudies2026.sched.com/event/0ac495acd240b1a51c8bd810d937da8e
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260616T184055Z
DTSTART:20260808T193000Z
DTEND:20260808T204500Z
SUMMARY:Spiritually Grounded Professionalism: Bahá’í Principles in Ethical Healthcare Practice and Policy
DESCRIPTION:Healthcare professionals shape clinical practice\, policy\, and public discourse on health. Applying Bahá’í principles requires a spiritual framework rooted in service\, consultation\, and humility\, without personal or partisan bias. This talk presents a Bahá'í approach to constructive professional engagement in healthcare: morally and spiritually grounded application of scientific knowledge and expertise\, consultative decision-making\, and shaping norms while avoiding partisan perspectives\, offering a distinctive approach to &nbsp\;social transformation in healthcare and health policy.
CATEGORIES:HEALTH
LOCATION:208\, Ottawa\, ON\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:ef622e26f5a0281bd894d212627c5fdd
URL:http://bahaistudies2026.sched.com/event/ef622e26f5a0281bd894d212627c5fdd
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260616T184055Z
DTSTART:20260808T193000Z
DTEND:20260808T204500Z
SUMMARY:The Role of Indigenous Peoples in the Growth of Northern Canadian Bahá’í Communities
DESCRIPTION:Drawing on unpublished memoirs and oral interviews\, this presentation will relate how the growth of the Faith in the Yukon\, Northwest Territories and Nunavut from 1960-2000 was fostered by Indigenous believers who found parallels between their traditional spirituality and the Bahá’í teachings\, and recognized in them the means to transcending differences and working towards a just and equitable society. Early pioneers collaborated with First Nations and Inuit to establish Northern institutions with the goal of advancing spiritual and material progress. A panel of Northern Bahá’ís will share how community-building efforts are renewing the role of Indigenous believers in the North.
CATEGORIES:INDIGENOUS STUDIES
LOCATION:202\, Ottawa\, ON\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:9a3d0d7b1dc3d1cc48215d7bc5b93eca
URL:http://bahaistudies2026.sched.com/event/9a3d0d7b1dc3d1cc48215d7bc5b93eca
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260616T184055Z
DTSTART:20260808T193000Z
DTEND:20260808T204500Z
SUMMARY:The Crisis of Conversation: Reimagining Dialogue in a Disintegrating World
DESCRIPTION:As processes of disintegration intensify around the globe\, the prospect of peace increasingly resides in the world of fantasy. Dialogue\, an instrument capable of fostering connection\, harmonising diverse perspectives\, and cultivating unity\, is reduced to adversarial methods of debate not conducive to building a shared vision and a collective will to act. Integrating psychological studies with social justice literature\, this presentation will explore the role of language and meaning-making in contemporary public discourse\, examining why conversation no longer appears to generate consensus\, and how communication can be reimagined to recover the transformative\, unifying potential of dialogue.
CATEGORIES:POLITICAL SCIENCE
LOCATION:214\, Ottawa\, ON\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:abd78b43a9d80f43f289dcde7e47763b
URL:http://bahaistudies2026.sched.com/event/abd78b43a9d80f43f289dcde7e47763b
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260616T184055Z
DTSTART:20260808T193000Z
DTEND:20260808T204500Z
SUMMARY:Depression: A Hunger for Spiritual Awakening
DESCRIPTION:The number of people experiencing emotional health challenges is increasing alarmingly. The point of view that religion and spirituality are just a crutch is outdated. Depression is in fact a call for spiritual awakening\; the point of pain being the portal of entry to connect with our higher self. This session will introduce the science of neuropsychoimmunoendocrinology and mind/body practices -- one of these being the Inner Peace method\, which we will introduce and demonstrate. This method uses guided imagery\, breathing\, and tapping alongside the Hidden Words\, the Seven Valleys\, Some Answered Questions and the short obligatory prayer as the foundation.
CATEGORIES:PSYCHOLOGY
LOCATION:215\, Ottawa\, ON\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:1a84a9b1669e74c553c44e0a9389676e
URL:http://bahaistudies2026.sched.com/event/1a84a9b1669e74c553c44e0a9389676e
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260616T184055Z
DTSTART:20260808T193000Z
DTEND:20260808T204500Z
SUMMARY:Baha’i Perspectives on the Ontology of Law and Justice
DESCRIPTION:This presentation explores Bahá’í conceptions of law and justice as fundamentally ontological rather than merely normative or juridical. Tracing a trajectory from ancient Greek notions of nomos and dike as the discovery of being\, through Abrahamic debates between legalism and mysticism\, it shows how Bahá’í writings restore and deepen law’s relation to ontology\, in contrast to both natural and positive law traditions in Western jurisprudence. Drawing especially on Bahá’u’lláh’s Garden of Justice Tablet and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Marriage Tablet\, the presentation highlights how divine laws articulate the essential relationships that constitute reality itself\, such that justice becomes the lawfulness of being and obedience a participation in cosmic harmony.
CATEGORIES:STUDY OF THE WRITINGS
LOCATION:205\, Ottawa\, ON\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:e3e9c1c913028e7aaef3f396c1047f6b
URL:http://bahaistudies2026.sched.com/event/e3e9c1c913028e7aaef3f396c1047f6b
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260616T184055Z
DTSTART:20260808T193000Z
DTEND:20260808T204500Z
SUMMARY:What Can Be Proven? Epistemology and the Bahá'í-Faith in Discussion on the Concept of Proof
DESCRIPTION:This presentation examines the epistemological debate concerning what should count as proof. Positions range from skeptical views that deny the existence of proofs altogether\, to restrictive accounts that limit proofs to formal domains\, to broader perspectives that recognize proofs in everyday reasoning. These differences are reflected in divergent attitudes toward what counts as justification and as a serious position. The presentation explores an alternative framework drawing on the Bahá'í writings\, which rearticulates the concept beyond prevailing philosophical models. I suggest broadening the concept and consider the theoretical and practical implications in the context of this debate.
CATEGORIES:STUDY OF THE WRITINGS
LOCATION:206\, Ottawa\, ON\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:5e93620dbf66ba15479234de039ba90b
URL:http://bahaistudies2026.sched.com/event/5e93620dbf66ba15479234de039ba90b
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260616T184055Z
DTSTART:20260808T193000Z
DTEND:20260808T204500Z
SUMMARY:Unity and Justice in Transit and Transportation Systems
DESCRIPTION:Transportation and transit networks constitute interdependent social systems that shape human access\, opportunity\, equity\, and collective wellbeing. Despite recent advances\, these systems exhibit unequal access\, fragmented governance\, and inconsistent cultures of quality and accountability. Bahá’u’lláh’s vision reframes mobility and this presentation focuses on a vision of unified mobility system: in which technical innovation and multimodal integration are matched by spiritual and ethical principles. Through visualization\, storytelling\, and hands on participatory mapping\, this workshop raises capacity in participants as protagonists who can influence mobility systems in their localities.
CATEGORIES:TECHNOLOGY
LOCATION:212\, Ottawa\, ON\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:e4d448d08d5ce4ce72217c4c34548107
URL:http://bahaistudies2026.sched.com/event/e4d448d08d5ce4ce72217c4c34548107
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260616T184055Z
DTSTART:20260808T233000Z
DTEND:20260809T010000Z
SUMMARY:Keynote address
DESCRIPTION:\n
CATEGORIES:PLENARY
LOCATION:Canada Hall\, Ottawa\, ON\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:597d1a7cc2af0f72a8b110f619a2a47d
URL:http://bahaistudies2026.sched.com/event/597d1a7cc2af0f72a8b110f619a2a47d
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260616T184055Z
DTSTART:20260809T130000Z
DTEND:20260809T141500Z
SUMMARY:Cultivating Intellectual Life: Reflections from the ABS Evolution and Consciousness Seminars
DESCRIPTION:This panel discussion reflects on lessons learned from three years of developing and facilitating seminars that examine materialistic assumptions in the biological sciences. Drawing on experience with both youth and adults\, the session will explore how themes of evolution\, consciousness\, and the harmony of science and religion have been engaged in seminar settings\, both locally and at the annual conference. Panelists will reflect on consultative approaches to writing and facilitation\, challenges encountered\, and insights gained. The discussion aims to distill contributions to the intellectual life of the Bahá’í community and foster collaboration with concurrent or emerging seminars
CATEGORIES:PLENARY
LOCATION:Canada Hall\, Ottawa\, ON\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:5e00e56e1f79656e4f91dd6e437c1e00
URL:http://bahaistudies2026.sched.com/event/5e00e56e1f79656e4f91dd6e437c1e00
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260616T184055Z
DTSTART:20260809T143000Z
DTEND:20260809T164500Z
SUMMARY:Closing keynote
DESCRIPTION:TBD
CATEGORIES:PLENARY
LOCATION:Canada Hall\, Ottawa\, ON\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:0a1009c50d0bd0a796b636c0ddeab909
URL:http://bahaistudies2026.sched.com/event/0a1009c50d0bd0a796b636c0ddeab909
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR