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from the chronology

date event locations tags see also
1974 (In the year) The Canadian Association for Studies on the Bahá’í Faith was created. [BW16:200]
  • For its history; terms of reference and programmes and publications see BW17:197–201.
  • Canada Bahai Studies, Associations for
    1974. Ridván As part of the the Five Year Plan the Canadian Bahá'í Community was asked to "Cultivate opportunities for courses on the Faith in Canadian institutions of higher learning".

    In response the National Spiritual Assembly of Canada established the Canadian Association for Studies on the Bahá'í Faith. From 1974 to 1979 four annual meetings were held. The Association grew in membership, published a series of high quality monographs, initiated work on a textbook on the Faith of university calibre and stimulated formal presentation at universities and colleges throughout Canada. [Analysis of the Five Year International Teaching Plan 1974-1979 p76; BW18p194]

    Canada Bahai Studies; Bahai Studies, Associations for
    1975 2 – 4 Jan The first annual meeting of the Association for Bahá’í Studies is held at Cedar Glen, Bolton, Ontario. [BW17:198]
  • See also BBD201–2; VV23–5.
  • Bolton; Ontario; Canada Conferences, Bahai studies; Bahai Studies, Associations for
    1977 16 – 17 Apr The first annual Bahá’í Studies Seminar supported by the Departments of Religious Studies and of Sociology at the University of Lancaster, England, took place. [BW18:204] Lancaster; United Kingdom Bahai Studies, Associations for; Firsts, Other; Bahai studies; Conferences, Other
    1979 -1982 In the period Riḍván 1979 to Riḍván 1982 the Association for Bahá’í Studies played an increasingly important role in the affairs of the international Bahá’í community and through its conferences and publications has provided an exciting forum for intellectual and spiritual development.

    A change of name which was recommended by the Canadian National Assembly and approved by the Universal House of Justice in April 1981 reflecting the emerging nature of the Association’s membership and activities with national affiliates established in a number of countries. lts executive committee included, for the first time, members from the United States as well as Canada. Serving on the Executive Committee were Hossain Danesh, Glen Eyford, Richard Gagnon, Jane Goldstone, William Hatcher, Douglas Martin, Peter Morgan, Nasser Sabet and Christine Zerbinis, of Canada. Firuz Kazemzadeh and Dorothy Nelson served as liaison officers in the United States. [BW18p194]

    See Wikipedia for a current list of association for Bahá'í Studies worldwide.

    In 1979 the Universal House of Justice gave a further goal to the Canadian community for the Seven Year Plan: ‘Expand the opportunities for teaching in Canadian institutions of higher learning and further develop the Canadian Association for Studies on the Bahá’í Faith.’

    And in 1981, when the second phase of the Seven Year Plan was launched, the Universal House of Justice restated this goal and divided it into two parts: ‘Foster the development of the Canadian Association for Studies on the Bahá’í Faith’ and “Expand and intensify the teaching of the Faith in Canadian institutions of higher learning.‘

    The goal of cultivating opportunities for formal presentations and courses remained a primary objective of the Association, but the Universal House of Justice also encouraged specific attention to the development of the Association itself. The Association had become a significant feature of the intellectual, social and spiritual life of the Canadian community, and for increasing numbers of Bahá’ís worldwide.

    In March of 1981 the Association for Bahá'í Studies announced the acquisition of a property in the heart of the University of Ottawa campus, the first such centre in the world. It is located at 34 Copernicus Street Ottawa, Ontario KIN 7K4. [BW18p195]

    Canada; United States Bahai Studies, Associations for
    1980 2 May The first Bahá’í International Conference on Health and Healing was held in Ottawa, Canada, under the sponsorship of the Association for Bahá’í Studies. [BW 18:201] Ottawa; Canada Bahai Studies, Associations for; Conferences, Bahai; Conferences, Health; Conferences, International; First conferences
    1981 Apr The Canadian Association for Studies on the Bahá’í Faith was renamed the Association for Bahá’í Studies. [BBD202; VV24–5] Canada Bahai Studies, Associations for
    1982 10 – 11 Apr The Bahá’í International Health Agency was established as an affiliate of the Association for Bahá’í Studies. Dr Ethel Martens, a researcher in social and preventative medicine was asked to serve as the Executive Secretary. [BW18:201; BW12p194; VV25] Canada Bahai Studies, Associations for; Bahai International Health Agency
    1983 (In the year) The Association for Bahá’í Studies, German-Speaking Europe, was established in Austria. [BW19:357–8] Austria Bahai Studies, Associations for; German language
    1983 (In the year) The Association for Bahá’í Studies, India, was established. [BW19:360] India Bahai Studies, Associations for
    1983 (In the year) The Association for Bahá’í Studies, English-Speaking Europe, was established in the Republic of Ireland.
  • Responsibility for the Association was transferred to the United Kingdom in 1989.
  • Ireland; United Kingdom; Europe Bahai Studies, Associations for
    1983 (In the year) The Association for Bahá’í Studies of Francophone Europe was established in Switzerland. Switzerland Bahai Studies, Associations for; French language
    1984 Jun The Association for Bahá’í Studies, Australia, was established in Perth. [BW19:356] Perth; Australia Bahai Studies, Associations for
    1985 30 Apr - 1 May The first annual conference of the Association for Bahá’í Studies, Brazil, took place in Saõ Paulo. [BW19:358] Sao Paulo; Brazil; Latin America Bahai Studies, Associations for; Conferences, Bahai; Conferences, Bahai studies; First conferences
    1985 19 Oct The Association for Bahá’í Studies, Chile, was established in Santiago. [BW19:358–9] Santiago; Chile; Latin America Bahai Studies, Associations for
    1988. Mar The publication of the first edition of the trilingual publication The Journal of Bahá'í Studies.
  • See the Editorial Statement.
  • Current and past issues are available at their website.
  • Copies of the Journal can be purchased at their website.
  • Bahai Studies; Journal of Bahai Studies; Bahai Studies, Associations for
    1989 Apr The Association for Bahá’í Studies of Malaysia was established. [BINS206:8] Malaysia; Asia Bahai Studies, Associations for
    1990 (In the year) An Association for Bahá'í Studies was established in Kenya. Kenya; Africa Bahai Studies, Associations for
    1990 (In the year) The Italian Association for Bahá'í Studies was established in Rome. [BINS232:5]
  • It lapsed in 1991 but was re-established in 1992.
  • Rome; Italy; Europe Bahai Studies, Associations for
    1993 29 - 31 Oct The founding conference of the Association for Bahá'í Studies in Russia was held in St Petersburg. [BINS305:5] St Petersburg; Russia Bahai Studies, Associations for; Conferences, Bahai; Conferences
    1995 Jul 26 The inaugural meeting of the Association for Bahá'í Studies of Ghana was held in Accra. [BINS348:3] Accra; Ghana Bahai Studies, Associations for
    2013. 24 Jul The Universal House of Justice addressed a message the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Canada regarding the Association for Bahá'í Studies. The Universal House of Justice reiterated a number of issues that the Association had addressed since its inception in 1975...
    -an appreciation for the importance of personal study of the Revelation,
    -correlating the teachings with contemporary thought,
    -defending the Cause,
    -encouraging young believers in their academic pursuits,
    -attracting the interest and involvement of non-Bahá’í academics to the extent possible, a
    -providing a forum for Bahá’í academics to collaborate with one another, thereby helping to raise capacity among those who participate within a wide range of disciplines and, particularly, in specific fields associated more directly with the study of the Faith, such as history, the study of religion, and translation.
    ...and provided guidance for an evolving conceptual framework.
    Canada Bahai Studies, Associations for
    2019. 8 - 11 Aug The 43rd Annual Conference of the Association for Bahá'í Studies–North America was held in the Westin Hotel in Ottawa, Canada. The four day conference was attended by some 1,400 persons. [BWNS1347]
  • Plenary session recordings of past sessions are available for free streaming and downloading on the ABS Vimeo page.
  • Photos.
  • Ottawa; Ontario; Canada Association for Bahai Studies–North America; Bahai Studies, Associations for
    2020. 22 Sep The Association for Bahá’í Studies UK launched a new website. The core focus was on creating and supporting special interest groups: groups that correlate Bahá’í teachings to discourses in society through activities that range from informal study and discussions to publications and seminars. London; United Kingdom Bahai Studies, Associations for

    from the chronology of Canada

    date event locations tags see also
    1975 (In the year) Association for Bahá’í Studies was founded in Canada, in 1975, to promote the systematic study of the Bahá’í Faith and its application to the needs of humanity.
      “...cultivate opportunities for formal presentations, courses and lectureships on the Bahá'í Faith in Canadian universities and other institutions of higher learning.” (Canada and the Five Year Plan, p. 14)
    Soon afterward, the Association expanded to serve the United States and Canada. Since that time, a network of affiliated Associations has emerged in other regions around the world. The Association operates a Centre for Bahá’í Studies, located in Ottawa, Canada, which coordinates the activities of the Association in North America. The Centre also serves as a site for research, information, and various forms of assistance and support for Bahá’í studies. [ABS; BW16:200]
  • For its history; terms of reference and programmes and publications see BW17:197–201.
  • Ottawa, ON Bahai Studies, Associations for
    1976. 1 - 4 Jan On the weekend of January 1—4, the newly-formed Canadian Association for Studies on the Bahá'í Faith held its first annual meeting at Cedar Glen, a conference centre 30 miles north of Toronto. The postal strike had made it impossible for the executive committee to provide adequate notification to the members, and this together with the very bad weather, suggested that attendance would be quite small. The committee, therefore, reserved space for only 50 people. No fewer than 80 participants turned up. Moreover, they came from every province in Canada, except Prince Edward Island, and from as far north as the Yukon. Fifteen local Spiritual Assemblies each sent a representative, and of course a number of the members of the Association were present in a dual capacity as representatives either of their own Spiritual Assembly or of a campus club.

    Seven speakers presented papers in a wide range of academic disciplines. The speakers were:
    'Abdu'l Misagh Ghadirian-"August Forel: His Life and Enlightenment".
    Douglas Martin-"The Bahá'í Faith and Its Critics".
    Luc Dion, a student of Physics at the Université du Québec in Chicoutimi-"La realité du monde e l'existence de Dieu". He had the distinction of being the first Bahá'í student to present a formal paper and also presented the first paper in French.
    Hossain Danesh-"Violence and Apathy".
    William Hatcher-on the relationship between science and religion.
    Don Rogers-"The Function of Revelation in Artistic Expression".
    Glen Eyford-"Spiritual Education".

    A decision was taken to begin the publication of Bahá'í Studies.

    In addition, the “Ballet Shayda” presented a group of three dances on Saturday evening. [BC Issue 291 February 1976 p6]

    Cedar Glen, ON Abdul-Missagh Ghadirian; Bahai Studies, Associations for; Ballet Shayda; Abdul-Missagh Ghadirian; Douglas Martin; Luc Dion; Hossain Danesh; William Hatcher; Don Rogers; Otto Rogers; Glen Eyford
    1976. 31 Dec - 1 Jan The second annual meeting of the Canadian Association for Studies took place at Cedar Glen, in Bolton, and was attended by some 100 Bahá'ís from all the provinces and a few from the United States.

    Three original papers this year were presented by Dr. William Hatcher, Mr. Douglas Martin and Dr. John Hatcher. Two students, Heida Lakshman and John Taylor also presented papers.

    The Ottawa company, based in Ottawa, Le Ballet Shayda presented their original piece entitled Journey. [BC Issue 300 February 1977 p6]

    Bolton, ON Bahai Studies, Associations for; Ballet Shayda; William Hatcher; Douglas Martin; John Hatcher; Heida Lakshman; John Taylor
    1977. 30 Dec - 1 Jan The third Annual Bahá'í Studies was held at Rosemary Heights, in Surrey, BC. A record 168 registrants attended the 12 formal presentations and many viewed an art display arranged for the Association by local Bahá'í artists. The Annual Meeting is composed of three distinct elements:
    1) The membership meeting, during which the executive of CASBF, appointed by the National Spiritual Assembly, reviews the budget and consults with the membership on the aims and direction of the Association.
    2) A forum for the formal presentation of original papers and reviews of subjects pertinent to the Faith. Peer review of submitted manuscripts and scheduled discussion of designated papers are intended to maintain a high level of scholarship.
    3) The opportunity for Bahá'ís with scholarly interests to meet and informally discuss their own studies and the work of the Association.
    This year’s meeting was marked by the active participation of Bahá'í youth, many of whom came from the Pacific Youth Conference on Vancouver Island. The National Spiritual Assembly recently assigned CASBF a membership goal of 200 youth, and has consequently encouraged Canadian youth to become involved in its work. The executive also underlined the need for more input from Association members with regard to the possibility of establishing courses on the Faith in specific institutions of higher learning, and in identifying reference materials which contain statements about the Faith.
    Formal presentation of the following 12 papers.
    1) “Health and Healing”, by Dr. Hossain Danesh (presented by Dr. Peter Morgan).
    2) “A Review of Maitrya-Amitabha Has Appeared”, by Jane Nishi-Goldstone.
    3) “The Rise and Fall of the Russian Bahá'í Community: An Historical Sketch”, by Anthony Lee.
    4) “In Search of a New Visual Myth”, by Keith Bloodworth.
    5) “The World Centre of the Bahá'í Faith: An Analysis of the Sacred Landscape”, by Ken Goldstone.
    6) “Nazorean/Ebionaean Christianity and the Emergence of Historical Theology”, by Christopher Buck.
    7) “Zarathustra and the Bahá'í Faith”, by Alan Coupe [Doug Couper].
    8) “Towards a Universal Auxiliary Language”, by Kay Balser.
    9) “Erikson and the Worldwide Crisis of Identity”, by Dr. Anne Schoonmaker.
    10) “The Legal Personality of Baha’i Assemblies”, by Richard Heiser.
    11) “The Dispersion of the Baha’i Faith in North America”, by Michael Vermilyea and Spike Hampson.
    12) “Human Rights as God-given Rights”, by William Barnes. [BC Issue No 312 February 1978 p5] .
    Surrey, BC Bahai Studies, Associations for; Hossain Danesh; Peter Morgan; Jane Nishi-Goldstone; Anthony Lee; Keith Bloodworth; Ken Goldstone; Christopher Buck; Alan Coupe; Kay Balser
    1979. 28 - 30 Dec In June of this year the executive office of the Canadian Association for Studies on the Bahá'í Faith moved to Ottawa. After consultation on the message to Canada from the Universal House of Justice which stated to ‘‘... further develop the Canadian Association for Studies on the Bahá'í Faith’’, the executive committee decided to lower membership rates to encourage wider membership. It was also decided to renew memberships each Naw-Ruz.

    Four regional conferences were held in this, the 4th year of the Association for Bahá'í Studies, in Halifax, Toronto, Saskatoon and Vancouver, all on the same dates. [BC Vol 2 No 3 July/August 1979 p9]

    Halifax, NS; Toronto, ON; Saskatoon, SK; Vancouver, BC Bahai Studies, Associations for
    1980 2 May The first Bahá’í International Conference on Health and Healing was held in Ottawa, Canada, under the sponsorship of the Association for Bahá’í Studies. [BW 18:201] Ottawa, ON Bahai Studies, Associations for; Conferences, Bahai; Conferences, Health; Conferences, International; First conferences
    1980. 2 - 4 Jun Fifth Annual Conference of the Association of Bahá'í Studies was held in Ottawa.

    A group of lectures were given on the life and work of Hand of the Cause Mr. Hasan Balyuzi. Dr. Abbas Afnan and Dr. Muhammed Afnan, both of whom are relations of Mr. Balyuzi and belong to the family of the Blessed Bab, talked about Mr. Balyuzi’s illustrious lineage. Hand of the Cause of God, Mr. John Robarts provided an appreciation of Mr. Balyuzi’s service as a member of the Institution of the Hands of the Cause. Mr. Douglas Martin gave the final talk of the lectureship session reviewing the immense work of Mr. Balyuzi as an historian. The Association has established a continuing lectureship in Bahá'í history, in Mr. Balyuzi’s honour.

    Another new feature of the annual conference was the presentation of awards for the three best essays and research on Bahá'í studies. Catherine Nelson-McDermott of British Columbia was the recipient of an award for the best essay in the high school category for her paper, “Tahirih”. Alanna Robertson of Prince Edward Island was chosen in the univer- sity category for her essay entitled; “Music: Its Influence on the Spirit”. Robert Stockman of Rhode Island received the award for the best research in the individual category for his work, “‘A History of the Rhode Island Baha’i Community”. Each winner was the guest of the Association, presented his/ her paper during the conference, and received a commemo- rative plaque.

    The presentations on the theme of history were very well received. Dr. Alan Ward’s talk, “‘Abdu’1l-Bahá and the American Press”, set the tone of the conference, with ease, humour and clarity. Gol Aidun recounted the relationship of Manakji Limji Hataria, an historical figure in the Zoroastrian community, with the Bahá'í Faith. Stephen Whitney’s paper entitled “The Second Century”, reviewed the condition of the major religions in their second century of existence and compared their history to the second century of the Bahá'í Faith. A major presentation by Dr. Jean-René Milot of the University of Montreal entitled “L’Origine de la foi baha’i sur l’arriére plan shi’ie”, was given. This talk by an invited guest speaker enabled the friends to witness the accuracy and fairness with which truly informed non-Baha’i scholars could view the Bahá'í Faith.

    The panel presentation on ‘‘Baha’i Scholarship” was inaugurated this year and was very successful. A special addition was a presentation by Mr. Richard St. Barbe Baker en- titled ‘‘The Founding of the Men of the Trees”.

    News of the decision to proceed at once with the planned purchase of a building to house the offices of the Association and gradually expand into a Centre for Baha’i Studies gave a final note of excitement and confirmation to the year’s proceedings. [BCVol 2 No 12 September/October 1980 p29]

    Ottawa, ON Bahai Studies, Associations for; Abbas Afnan; Muhammed Afnan; John Robarts; Douglas Martin; Catherine Nelson-McDermott; Alanna Robertson; Robert Stockman; Alan Ward; Gol Aidun; Stephen Whitney; Jean-René Milot; Jean-René Milotr
    1981 Apr Canadian Association for Studies on the Bahá’í Faith was renamed the Association for Bahá’í Studies. [BBD202; VV24–5] Ottawa, ON Bahai Studies, Associations for
    1981. 29 - 31 May The 6th annual Conference of the Association for Bahá'í Studies was held in Ottawa and was attended by some 350 Bahá'ís.

    This year, with the approval of the Universal House of Justice, the name of the Association was changed from the Canadian Association for Studies on the Bahá’í Faith to the Association for Bahá’í Studies in recognition of its increasingly international character. Also, the Association recently purchased a modest house on the campus of the University of Ottawa to serve as a Center for Bahá’í Studies and as an administrative headquarters for the organization.

    The presentations included: “The Psychological and Spiritual Aspects of Personal Growth,” by Hossain Danesh, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of Canada who is a practicing psychiatrist; a discussion of the use of computers in indexing the Bahá’í Writings, presented by Edward Fox, a doctoral candidate in computer science at Cornell University; “John the Baptist—The Forgotten Manifestation,” by Jack McLean, a doctoral candidate in religious studies at the University of Ottawa; and a presentation on the life and works of Mishkín-Qalam, the famous Bahá’í calligrapher, by Gol Aidun of Brandon, Manitoba.

    Also included in the conference was the second annual Ḥasan Balyúzi Lectureship—given this year by Douglas Martin, secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of Canada, who spoke on the persecutions of the Bahá’ís in Iran under the Pahlavi regime, and by Glenford E. Mitchell, secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States, who discussed the reaction of people in the West to the current wave of persecutions in Iran.

    The last presentation of the conference was that of Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum who had recently arrived in North America after several months in Central America. Although not entirely recovered from an illness acquired during her travels, she spoke vigorously—although, uncharacteristically, while seated. Her principal theme was the corrosive effects of the prejudice of the educated toward the illiterate, though she stressed the importance of the contribution of the educated in the Faith and in society.

    She also urged the Bahá’ís to redouble their efforts, citing a passage pointed out to her by the beloved Guardian, Shoghi Effendi, in which Bahá’u’lláh, while still in Baghdád, had said that if the Bahá’ís had busied themselves with what He had commanded them to do, “now the entire world would be clothed in faith.” [BN Issue 607 October 1981 p7; BCVol 3 No 5 July/August 1981 p5]

    Ottawa, ON Bahai Studies, Associations for; Hossain Danesh; Edward Fox; Jack McLean; Gol Aidun; Douglas Martin; Glenford E. Mitchell; Ruḥiyyih Khanum
    1982 10 - 11 Apr Bahá’í International Health Agency was established as an affiliate of the Association for Bahá’í Studies. [BW18:201; VV25] Bahai Studies, Associations for; Health
    1982. 30 Aug - 2 Sep The Seventh Annual Conference of the Association for Bahá'í Studies was held at the Chateau Laurier Hotel in Ottawa and was attended by some 650 people, among them, Hand of the Cause of God John Robarts. The Conference theme, “The Bahá’í Option,” was explored in a variety of addresses and papers, and in workshops and symposia on scholarship, curricula, health, and international development.

    Also among the Conference participants were Dr. Farzam Arbáb, a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors for the Americas; three members of the National Spiritual Assembly of Canada, Dr. Hossain Danesh, Glen Eyford and Douglas Martin; and three members of the U.S. National Spiritual Assembly, Dr. Wilma Brady, Judge Dorothy W. Nelson and Judge James F. Nelson. Also attending were Counsellor Raul Pavón; Dr. Victor de Araujo, the representative of the Bahá’í International Community at the United Nations; and Dr. Betty J. Fisher, general editor of the U.S. Bahá’í Publishing Trust.

    This year’s Hasan Balyúzi Lectureship was delivered by Gayle Morrison, a Bahá’í historian and educator from Hawaii who is the author of To Move the World, a biography of the Hand of the Cause of God Louis G. Gregory. Mrs. Morrison’s topic was “A New Creation: The Power of the Covenant in the Life of Louis Gregory.” [BC Vol 3 No 8 February 1982 p17-17]

    Ottawa, ON Bahai Studies, Associations for
    1988. Mar The publication of the first edition of the trilingual quarterly publication The Journal of Bahá'í Studies.
  • See the Editorial Statement.
  • Current and past issues are available at their website.
  • Bahai Studies, Associations for; Journal of Bahai Studies
    2013. 24 Jul The Universal House of Justice addressed a message the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Canada regarding the Association for Bahá'í Studies. The Universal House of Justice reiterated a number of issues that the Association had addressed since its inception in 1975:
    -an appreciation for the importance of personal study of the Revelation,
    -correlating the teachings with contemporary thought,
    -defending the Cause,
    -encouraging young believers in their academic pursuits,
    -attracting the interest and involvement of non-Bahá’í academics to the extent possible, a
    -providing a forum for Bahá’í academics to collaborate with one another, thereby helping to raise capacity among those who participate within a wide range of disciplines and, particularly, in specific fields associated more directly with the study of the Faith, such as history, the study of religion, and translation.
    Canada Bahai Studies, Associations for

    from the main catalogue

    1. Associations for Bahá'í Studies, by Universal House of Justice (2008). Some explanation on when it is appropriate for a country to form an ABS organization. [about]
    2. Next Stage, The, by Douglas Martin, in Journal of Bahá'í Studies, 23:1-4 (2013). Bahá'í scholars find themselves at a stage in the Faith’s development where they must construct a discourse that is free of "haughty intellectualism." The Association for Bahá’í Studies can help promote the Bahá'í cause to institutions of higher learning. [about]
    3. Yerrinbool Report on Scholarship: 1997, by Graham Hassall (1998). Overview of worldwide Bahá'í scholarship projects, publications, and events - 1997. [about]
    4. Yerrinbool Report on Scholarship: 1998, by Graham Hassall (1999). Overview of worldwide Bahá'í scholarship projects, publications, and events - 1998. [about]
    5. Yerrinbool Report on Scholarship: 1999, by Graham Hassall, in Australian Bahá'í Studies, vol. 2 (2000). Overview of worldwide Bahá'í scholarship projects, publications, and events - 1999; includes a progress report on the growth of the Bahá'í Library Online. [about]
     
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