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Search for tag "Materialism"

from the chronology

date event locations tags see also
2010 May The publication of Rethinking Prosperity: Forging Alternatives to a Culture of Consumerism," for the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. The statement can be read at BIC10-0503. [BWNS770] New York; United States Sustainable Development; Prosperity; Consumerism; Materialism; Bahai International Community; BIC statements; Statements; Publications; United Nations; BWNS

from the chronology of Canada

date event locations tags see also
1983. 1 Sep In a message addressed to the National Spiritual Assembly of Norway the Universal House of Justice included a six-point summary of 'the essential requisites for our spiritual growth'. Written on behalf of the House of Justice, this significant letter expressed its confidence that if the believers practised the suggested disciplines they would penetrate the 'miasma of materialism' impeding the growth of the Faith in Europe. The suggestions have been gleaned from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh and were stressed again and again in the talks and Tablets of 'Abdu'l-Bahá. The points were:
  1. The recital each day of one of the Obligatory Prayers with pure-hearted devotion.
  2. The regular reading of the Sacred Scriptures, specifically at least each morning and evening, with reverence, attention and thought.
  3. Prayerful meditation on the Teachings, so that we may understand them more deeply, fulfill them more faithfully, and convey them more accurately to others.
  4. Striving every day to bring our behavior more into accordance with the high standards that are set forth in the Teachings.
  5. Teaching the Cause of God.
  6. Selfless service in the work of the Cause and in the carrying on of our trade or profession.

They also suggested that in their private meditation the believers use the repetition of the Greatest Name, Alláh-u-Abhá, ninety-five times a day which, although at that time it was not yet applied in the West, it was among the Laws, Ordinances and Exhortations of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas.

  • See Personal Pathway for Spiritual Growth : A Personal Commentary on the Universal House of Justice's Six Requisites for Spiritual Growth by David and Carol Bowie.
  • BWC Meditation; Spiritual growth; Materialism

    from the main catalogue

    1. 'Abdu'l-Bahá's Encounter with Modernity during His Western Travels, by Wendi Momen, in Lights of Irfan, 13 (2012). Abdu'l-Bahá's responses to the West's technology and innovations on the one hand, vs. its archaic racist and sexual philosophies on the other. [about]
    2. Academic Methodologies, by Universal House of Justice and Susan Maneck (1997). Two letters to the House on the relationship between "materialistic methodologies" and "doctrinal heresy" in the academic fields, followed by the House's detailed response. [about]
    3. Achieving Universal Participation of Older Adults: An Exploration of Its Challenges and Spiritual Foundations, by Catherine Bigonnesse and Jean Marc Bigonnesse, in Journal of Bahá'í Studies, 25:4 (2015). On involving older adults in the process of participation in society; some of the root causes of ageism, such as avoiding the topic of death and a materialistic view of the soul; the role of older adults in the process of community building. [about]
    4. Bahá'í Essays in the Times Colonist, by Badi Shams, in Times Colonist (2017). 39 essays: spiritual cost of higher a standard of living; religious prejudice; spiritual principles and financial planning; loving vs. fearing God; gap between rich and poor; philosophy of Karma and science and religion; role of spirituality in economics. [about]
    5. Bushido (Chivalry) and the Traditional Japanese Moral Education, by Nozomu Sonda, in Online Journal of Bahá'í Studies, 1 (2007). Japanese virtues explained by Nitobe in 1900 in comparison with the Bahá'í perspective on moral education. [about]
    6. Century of Light, by Universal House of Justice (2001). Survey of the history and dramatic changes of the 20th Century and the Bahá'í Faith's emergence from obscurity, "demonstrating on a global scale the unifying power with which its Divine origin has endowed it." [about]
    7. Challenges for Bahá'í Youth in a Western Way of Life, by Universal House of Justice (2013). Difficulties young people might face in upholding Bahá'í ideals and standards of behaviour in the context of Western culture and sexual mores. [about]
    8. Changement du climat, by Universal House of Justice (2020). Traduction provisoire. [about]
    9. Climate Change: Policies and Political Discourse, by Universal House of Justice (2017). Letter "to three individuals" on the science behind anthropogenic (human-caused) global warming, and how Bahá'ís might participate in activism and raising awareness of the issue while avoiding political divisiveness. [about]
    10. Compilation "L'état actuel de désordre et de confusion du monde," Centre International d'Enseignement, by Bahá'u'lláh and Abdu'l-Bahá (2020). Compilation du Centre International d'Enseignement. [about]
    11. Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Nine Year Plan, by Universal House of Justice (2022). Matters relating to the Nine Year Plan (2022-2031), ethnic and cultural diversity, the human family's crisis of identity, prejudice, Africa, and economic injustice. [about]
    12. Difficulty of teachings on chastity, by Universal House of Justice (2013). Discusses the need of institutions not to pry but to encourage willful obedience with the teachings on chastity; also covers conditions for removal of administrative rights. [about]
    13. Divine Art of Living, The, by Báb, The and Bahá'u'lláh (1944). Collection of thematically arranged quotations. [about]
    14. Education of Youth and Our Twentieth Century Dilemma, The, by Habib Taherzadeh, in Bahá'í News, 342 (1959). Moral education is lacking in modern societies. Bahá'í moral precepts can guide us towards the goal of moral evolution, to usher in the Golden Age of human maturity and the dawn of Divine Civilization on this planet. [about]
    15. Enacting Thought: Divine Will, Human Agency, and the Possibility of Justice, by Holly Hanson, in Journal of Bahá'í Studies, 19:1-4 (2009). Societies evolve through generations of human decision making. Using the examples of 300 years of politics in Uganda vis à vis England, processes that create injustice can be seen as gradual and unintentional, while implementing justice is deliberate. [about]
    16. "Evolution of Reality," by George Land: Commentary, by Tony Michel, in Journal of Bahá'í Studies, 3:4 (1991). [about]
    17. How Individuals Can Improve Their Understanding of the Bahá'í Teachings, by Universal House of Justice (1994). On the inability of the finite human mind to fully grasp the import of the Teachings, and how individuals can improve their understandings, even while steeped in a climate of thinking which influences and biases their reading of scientific evidence. [about]
    18. In Pursuit of Harmony between Science and Religion, by Paul Lample, in Journal of Bahá'í Studies, 26:4 (2016). The capacity to unite in the investigation of truth for the advancement of civilization requires the harmony of science and religion, in which science is freed from materialism and religion from superstition. [about]
    19. Insistent Self, The: How to Nurture Our Spirit, by Lesley Shams (2015). The nature of our ego and the effort needed to prevent this lower nature taking over and hindering our spiritual destiny; compilation of guidance from the Writings and other sources on the spiritual path, prayer, fasting, sacrifice, tests, love, etc. [about]
    20. Introduction to the Lawh-i Haqqu'n-Nas, An, by Jean-Marc Lepain, in Online Journal of Bahá'í Studies, 1 (2007). Summary of the tablet Lawh-i Haqqu’n-Nas, Tablet of the "Right of the People," on the metaphorical character of this world. [about]
    21. Marriage Breakdown in North America: A Psychosocial Perspective, by Kerry Mothersill, in Bahá'í Studies Notebook, 3:1-2 (1983). What are the effects of marital breakdown, what are its causes, and what can be done to enhance marital and family stability? [about]
    22. Materialism Wearing Away at Our Kids, by Ted Slavin, in St. Catharines Standard (2012). The materialism of modern society and media is distracting many of our children. Adults must be aware that they are key role models for their kids. [about]
    23. Meditation, Prayer, and Spiritualization, by Universal House of Justice (1983). Practicing personal spirituality and methods for achieving spiritual growth. [about]
    24. Messages from the Universal House of Justice 1963-1986: Third Epoch of the Formative Age, by Universal House of Justice (1996). [about]
    25. 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]
    26. Not Just for Consumers: An Argument for Depicting Diverse Beliefs on U.S. Television, by Deborah Clark Vance, in Diversity and Mass Communication: Evidence of Impact, ed. Amber Reetz Narro and Alice C. Ferguson (2007). Globally, with few exceptions, television is a conduit for reaffirming hegemonic beliefs. How can we respond to the pressure towards standardization and homogenization? An increased awareness of one’s own cultural assumptions is needed.  [about]
    27. One Common Faith, by Universal House of Justice (2005). Review of relevant passages from both the writings of Bahá'u'lláh and the scriptures of other faiths against the background of contemporary crises. [about]
    28. Overcoming Corruption and Safeguarding Integrity in Public Institutions: A Baha'i Perspective, by Bahá'í International Community (2001). The displacement of a transcendent understanding of life by materialism is responsible for the skepticism and alienation of modern life. The civilizing virtues of honesty and duty stem from the conscience and spirituality, not law. [about]
    29. Paradox of Protest in a Culture of Contest, The, by Michael Karlberg, in Peace and Change, 28:3 (2003). In our culture, political and legal institutions are structured as contests and reform is characterized as protest. This leads to injustice and unsustainability. Bahá'í models of elections and decision-making offer a practical alternative. [about]
    30. Permanence of Change, The: Contemporary Sociological and Bahá'í Perspectives, by Hoda Mahmoudi, in Journal of Bahá'í Studies, 18:1-4 (2008). Sociohistorical changes of the Axial Age and the Renaissance, sociological views on modernity and its contemporary challenges, and key features of modernity as identified in the Bahá’í writings as "the universal awakening of historical consciousness." [about]
    31. Perspectives on Science and Religion, by Abdu'l-Bahá and Shoghi Effendi (2013). On questions about discourses in the scientific community, the existence of the soul, and certain utterances of Abdu'l-Bahá on issues in science. [about]
    32. Power and the Bahá'í community, by Moojan Momen, in Lights of Irfan, 19 (2018). While Bahá'í social teachings may have sounded new and exciting a century ago, that is no longer the case today. The problem the world faces is not in the principles that would lead to a better society, but in their application. [about]
    33. Reading Reality in Times of Crisis: 'Abdu'l-Bahá and the Great War, by Amin Egea, in Bahá'í World (2021). How ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s analysis of the crises of His time was profoundly distinct from contemporaneous “progressive” movements and thinkers. [about]
    34. Regarding Economic Life, by Universal House of Justice (2017). Themes of Bahá'u'lláh's teachings include the reorganization of human society, how to participate in the material affairs of society in a way consistent with divine precepts, and how collective prosperity can be advanced through justice and collaboration. [about]
    35. Role of Material Goods in Spiritual Development, The, by Lin Poyer, in Journal of Bahá'í Studies, 1:3 (1989). On the challenge to develop creative, satisfying ways to live within a mass production/mass consumption 'materialistic' society; seen properly, material things can assist individuals in their personal growth rather than being a source of alientation.  [about]
    36. Spiritual Growth, Essential Requisites for, by Universal House of Justice (1983). Letter to Europe, its historically-recent turn away from religion, six ways to improve spirituality, and the importance of prayer and meditation. [about]
    37. Spiritual Nature of Reality, The: Has the Future Already Been Written?, by John S. Hatcher, in Journal of Bahá'í Studies, 10:3-4 (2000). Meditations on "Who is Writing the Future": why is spiritual development a social as well as personal matter; what is epistemological methodology for this development; how is it distinct from materialism; and how does it relate to the Covenants? [about]
    38. Teaching Problems / Success in Teaching, by Ruhiyyih (Mary Maxwell) Khanum, in Bahá'í News (1949). Three versions of an article: first published as "Teaching Problems" in March 1949, then as "Success in Teaching" in June 1949, and a Persian translation. [about]
    39. "The Role of Material Goods in Spiritual Development," by Lin Poyer: Commentary, by Will C. van den Hoonaard, in Journal of Bahá'í Studies, 1:4 (1989). [about]
    40. Three Ages of Man, The: Are They Integrated?, by Viva Rodwell, in 75 Years of the Bahá'í Faith in Australasia (1996). Childhood, adulthood, old age, and family integration in contemporary culture. [about]
    41. World's Current State of Disorder and Confusion, The, by Bahá'u'lláh and Abdu'l-Bahá (2020). Compilation of passages relevant to contemporary issues of 2020, and the appropriate disposition of the Bahá'ís. [about]
     
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