April 5, 2025 • 43 mins
An exploration of two key messages by the Universal House of Justice exploring Bahá’í family life: The message of March 19th, 2025 and its Naw Ruz message (2025) to the Baha'is of Iran.
We explore the evolution of a new construct in our new Society Building aspirations: 'The Bahá’í Home' - focusing on marriage, family, community and the role of family in elevating conditions in wider society.
The episode concludes with an original song summarizing the theme: "The Bahá’í Home".
Note: The close of the episode made reference to a collection of new songs produced by Duane and his new virtual AI band "The Society Builders". The lyrics were composed by him, but the musical composition, instruments and vocals were AI-generated. You can find this collection of songs at:
BahaiTunes.org
You can also find it on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music and other leading music platforms. Just search for: THE Society Builders (don't forget to include the THE). Or here:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0QEeUb5QRnyTCy0UYzenHj
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/the-society-builders/1800068934
Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/artists/B0DZ85P2BG/the-society-builders
CONTENTS:
0:00 Introduction
2:15 Overview
6:14 Urgency of the hour
17:34 New patterns
23:14 Marriage
25:37 Family
29:02 Community
31:54 The Bahá’í Home
37:26 Closing thoughts
39:52 Song: "The Bahá’í Home"
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
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[music]Society Builders pave the way
(00:03):
To a better world - to a better dayA united approach to building a new society
Join the conversationFor social transformation
Society Builders
[voiceover] Society Builders, with your host Duane Varan
(00:25):
[Duane] Welcome to another exciting episode of Society Builders and thanks
for joining the conversation, for social transformation.
We interrupt our normal sequence of episodes today for a special episode. It s not so much
an interruption it s more of a special treat. As avid listeners will know, we re in the middle of
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our sequence of episodes exploring social action . We just completed four episodes
exploring what social action looks like from a Baha i perspective and we re gearing up for a
sequence of case studies highlighting what social action looks like in practice. And we were already
planning on a special treat coming in the middle of this sequence anyway with this year s Ridvan
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message. But now we have an additional special treat because on March 19th the Universal House
of Justice gave an incredible treasure to the Baha i world a message focusing on the theme of Baha i
family life and I believe it has a very particular application which we re going to explore in today
s episode. And we get additional insight here from yet another message the Naw Ruz message of the
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Universal House of Justice to the Baha is of Iran which further expands on this March 19th message
on family life. So we have a lot learn from all this Divine guidance that we can learn from here.
So stop the presses. We interrupt your normally schedule program for a special episode where
we can explore these latest messages from the Universal House of Justice. So today,
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we will be exploring the role of the Baha i Home in our larger Society Building narrative.
(musical interlude)
Now the March 19th and the Naw Ruz messages are incredibly profound. They have incredible nuance
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to them that s easy to miss- particularly when you read them thinking you already know what
they re about. I think it s easy to give these messages a quick read and walk away thinking
that these are just nice letters reminding us about how important Baha i family life is.
But I think that kind of reading misses the point. Yes these messages ARE about family
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life but they represent a very significant advance in how we understand all of this.
And that shift is deeply profound. It s something you ll want to consult extensively
about in your marriage, in your family, in your groupings and in your communities.
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It s not a summary of what our Writings say about family life there are other spaces for that
including the compilation of family life and a few statements by the Baha i International Community,
for example. But this I think is something different. These are messages which help
situate the Baha i Home within the larger narrative of society building and that,
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I think, is a particularly unique contribution within these messages. And once you read and try
to understand these messages, it will change the way you understand society
building. In fact, in some ways, I think it adds another dimension to society building.
Now, I m not going to be able to do these letters justice with a short podcast like
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this. So my goal is not to give you a summary. Instead I want to draw your
attention to a number of key concepts which I hope will help you in your own reflecting,
deepening and consultations on this. And I promise, we will eventually do a whole
sequence of episodes on this theme of the Baha i Home because there s just so much ground to cover.
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So today, I ll simply highlight a number of key concepts drawing
your attention to some of the features that stood out to me in these messages.
And I want to clarify that I ll primarily be focusing on the March 19th message looking to
the Naw Ruz message to the Baha is in Iran for some additional clarification related
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back to the March 19th message. Because in the Naw Ruz message,
the Universal House of Justice itself makes reference to the March 19th message
encouraging the Baha is in Iran to study it while highlighting some additional themes.
Now one more thing before we get to our main story here. In these messages, I think,
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the Universal House of Justice is doing three things. First, there are parts of the messages
that remind us of our existing Writings on Baha i family life so here the Universal
House of Justice is doing some curation helping us better understand our Writings, for example.
Then, there are also parts in these messages where they extend these Writings helping us see some of
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the implications that we might not have previously noticed or helping apply this to new situations.
And then, finally, and this is best finally, there are parts where they introduce new
ideas and new constructs altogether. And that s particularly exciting.
And all three of these different kinds of applications are truly gifts gifts that help
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us look to family life and to society building in entirely new ways. But from time to time today,
I ll try to clarify which of these three different types of gifts are
at work particularly when it appears that the Universal House of Justice is covering new ground.
So that s something else to keep in mind today in today s little journey.
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(musical interlude)
So - what is the March 19th message really about?
Again, you ll want to draw your own conclusions but to me,
the key to understanding the larger objectives of that message is articulated in both the very
beginning and towards the end of the message. So we can look to the bookends of the message,
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so to speak, to understand it s main objectives.
The introduction ends with what I think is a summary of this goal. They say:
Learning about a new pattern of family life is, therefore, an integral part of
the effort to learn about the release of the society-building power of the Faith.
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So there are two key constructs here that should immediately grab our attention. First,
that this is about NEW patterns of family life that word NEW is very telling. It means
we shouldn t assume that we already understand what they are. So this is your first big clue
that you shouldn t read this thinking you know what it s about. Because it s about
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NEW patterns. So let s look to the message to help get some clues about these new patterns.
And the second important idea here is that it s an integral part of
the release of the society-building power of the Faith. And that s really, I think,
the over-arching goal here with this message that we grapple with how the Baha i home fits
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in with our larger society-building aspirations. And this represents a significant advance in
how we understand society building. So in that context this is a very, very important message.
So it turns out, it's not, I think, a message about Baha i family life as we
might have initially assumed. It s a message of the role of the Baha i home in the larger
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process of society-building. I mean it sounds similar but it s actually quite different.
And I think this becomes even more evident as the message builds to
its conclusions towards the end of the message which further clarifies this focus.
Towards the end, we see the Universal House of Justice talking about the forces of disintegration
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that are assailing families an inseparable feature of this age of transition. And as we
respond by releasing the society building powers of the Faith, they say that the part played by
Bah Ւ families will be increasingly necessary and impactful in the years and decades ahead.
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Now there s a part of me that was a bit terrified when I read this. Again,
it s hard to know what our future has in store for us but clearly it s painful and dark and in
this social milieu you have to wonder what the role of family is because it s clear from this
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message that family will be both necessary and impactful in navigating the storms.
The messages of the Universal House of Justice are truly precious gifts to us a special bounty.
And one of the reasons is that it gives us our best way of understanding the conditions in the
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world around us. And across these two messages, we have descriptions that paint this dark picture.
The Naw Ruz message to the Baha is in Iran, for example, talks about this time when the
earth is caught in the grip of chaos, confusion, and instability; and its political, economic,
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and social order is ever more volatile and out of control; when the peoples
of the world are seized by various ordeals and hardships and are struggling against incurable
ills; when despair and hopelessness and a lack of confidence about the future and the erosion of the
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bonds of trust have led to a widespread crisis, particularly among many young people in the world.
The March 19th message also addresses this dark condition. They describe it as: the forces of
disintegration that are an inseparable feature of an age in transition. These forces assailing
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society have particularly affected the family, sundering its ties, and taking a heavy toll on its
members, especially on children. They can expose family members to some of the most destructive
social pathologies (11:08):
an absence of love and care, neglect of the things of the spirit,
dehumanization, poverty, insecurity, and violence. Individuals are tempted to surrender
to a life of material distractions or personal gratification, thereby becoming mere objects to
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be manipulated by those who seek to impose their designs on society. Contrasting ideologies and
identities, incompatible with the ideals of the oneness of humanity and a peaceful world,
vie for the allegiance of the masses and contend for superiority with one another. Some
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of these movements plant seeds of prejudice and fanaticism which ultimately yield estrangement,
conflict, and contention among the peoples of the world. Others may seem to conform to
some aspect of the Teachings, only to subtly lead the friends away from Bah u ll h s straight path.
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WOW! This is very, very dark, right?
And I know you feel this.
And this dark condition is the reason why we so desperately need this guidance. They say:
The family, and the community as a whole, will need to learn to examine existing circumstances,
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grasp the nature and impact of such forces, and, with full reliance on divine assistance, develop
preventive and remedial measures in order to weather the tumultuous storms of a perilous age.
So we need to read our social reality free from the noise we
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hear all around us and with full reliance on divine assistance,
we need to develop both PREVENTIVE and REMEDIAL measures to weather the storms.
Let s start with this appeal for us to examine existing circumstances and grasp
the nature and impact of such forces well, this is something all of us are going to have
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to do in consultation with our families and communities. You can literally work your way
through the list of these conditions that the Universal House of Justice identifies
here in this message and ask yourself how does this speak to your conditions.
For example, the Universal House of Justice says: Individuals are tempted to surrender to a life of (13:42):
undefined
material distractions or personal gratification, thereby becoming mere objects to be manipulated
by those who seek to impose their designs on society. So this raises the question how are
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you being manipulated in this way? And I ll give you just one little example here
There s an interesting case that s made the news recently where a former senior executive
at Facebook claims that they would target young girls when they exhibited signals of
personal insecurity. ?So on occasions with these girls, for example, they would take down images
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of themselves on Facebook probably because they didn't feel particularly pretty that
day or reflecting some kind of insecurity at the time. And Facebook would then use
that as a signal - the signal of them removing their images to indicate that this was a target
suffering from this kind of personal insecurity, and that condition would make them particularly
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receptive to ads from cosmetic advertisers.And then they would sell that particular audience
segment to those advertisers, essentially preying on these young girls' vulnerabilities, and this is
just a mild example of the kind of manipulation that is increasingly becoming the norm.
I mean, remember in our discussion on depolarization in that previous episode where
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we talked about the role that Facebook played in the ethnic cleansing that unfolded in Myanmar.
There are plenty of these kind of horrific stories that you read about every day about how we're
increasingly being manipulated in these ways.So what the Universal House of Justice is
calling us to do is to not drink the Kool-Aid to stop and reflect open our eyes and see all
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the nefarious forces at work in our own lives. To become aware of these forces.
So becoming aware is step one here.
Then they call on us to develop preventive and remedial measures to weather these forces.
Preventive and remedial.
Preventive to help reduce the influence this
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cancer is having on our family life. Remedial to heal the damage done.
That s a lot to reflect on, right?
And note that they don t even say we can achieve this with our own faculties like
we shouldn t fool ourselves into thinking we re smart enough to resolve this all on our
own. The challenge is so great that we need to rely on the power of divine assistance.
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I mean that says a lot, right.
And in the Naw Ruz message to the Baha is in Iran, they expand further on this process of
reflection so that we not only protect the institution of the family from the
darts of destruction but make it a space for acquiring perfections and a haven from harm
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ultimately turning it into a constructive and potent instrument for social transformation.
WOW!
So hopefully this really gets your attention. It explains the urgency of our circumstances.
So what new patterns can we weave that will empower us
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to both prevent and remedy these horrible social ills?
THAT, my friends, is the focus, I think, of this message.
(musical interlude)
Now towards the beginning of the message, the Universal House of Justice explores this idea
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of patterns. They remind us how Abdul-Baha explained that the family is a microcosm of
larger society He says (17:45):
A family is a nation in miniature - The conditions surrounding the
family surround the nation. How our skills and abilities to interact with others are
shaped first in the family and how we take these patterns to our friendships,
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our workplace and ultimately to the fabric of our entire nation.
Now this is that curation role I was talking about earlier they re
reminding us of our teachings they re giving us a guided tour, for example,
of what Abdul-Baha has already taught us about these patterns.
But then they introduce a new concept and that is the idea that family as a construct is inherently
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dynamic. That s changing that it s ever changing. Now this is fascinating! I may be mistaken is
asserting this but I can t think of any of our Writings that frame family quite this way.
I mean, it s a logical extension but I think it s still a new way of framing it for us.
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And this is really important to our narrative here because we probably all think that we
already know a lot about our teachings on family. So this is key to helping us wake
up and smell the coffee and realize that WHOA we evolve and the institution of family evolves too.
This is fascinating right?
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They explain how expectations of parents change how our kinship allegiances
change and how gender roles change and these, of course, are just examples. So
this requires us to re-evaluate the thoughts and theories of past ages.
Just a little side note here. I m a baby boomer and most of our
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baby boomer mothers raised us on guidance they received from a book written by Dr.
Benjamin Spock called Baby and Child Care . I know this was the book that my mother used when
she raised me. So I think it s hilarious that Dr. Spock came out some years ago to confess
that he thinks he got it all wrong! Ha ha. That probably explains a lot about me. So clearly,
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there s a need for change, right? I mean, even Dr. Spock says he got it all wrong.
Anyway back to our story.
What the Universal House of Justice is drawing our attention to is that conditions change societies
change and the patterns of family change in response. And that s not inherently a bad
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thing they have to respond to the exigencies of the various stages of human social development.
But here s the catch!
How are those changes how are those new patterns emerging?
And herein is our challenge to examine the present practices in their societies,
weigh them in light of the Teachings, weed out any undesirable tendencies,
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and learn to establish new patterns of family life suited to the needs of a new age.
Now at this stage you re probably thinking OK I m sold. So tell me what that new pattern looks like.
Aha I caught you. Because we don t know what it looks like yet! We re still too
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nascent there are different conditions across different societies so it s not
about adhering to one specific formula. It s like everything else society building we
have to engage in a learning process and it s a learning process that will accelerate
greatly in the coming years as we grow in capacity and work to apply our Teachings.
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And they raise a series of questions for us to consider
as we engage in this learning process. Like -
What are the characteristics of Bah Ւ family life and how are
they distinguished from the way family life is understood in society today?
What is the distinctive nature of Bah Ւ marriage and how does it foster family life?
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How do Bah Ւ families contribute to the process of transformation
in neighbourhoods and villages, and beyond?
What are the current pitfalls and obstacles facing
Bah Ւ families that prevent them from achieving this aim?
How does the framework for action of the current stage of the Divine Plan
both strengthen family life and create opportunities for vibrant
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families to contribute to the process of community building?
And by the way, later in the message they explore what this kind of reflection and
learning looks like and they describe it in very similar terms to what we discussed
recently in that episode when we discussed action learning here they talk about prayer,
study, consultation and reflection on action.
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So you can see that there s a lot there for us to explore. And as we explore,
we will increasingly see these new patterns evolve in our family lives.
So as families let s roll up our sleeves and discover.
(musical interlude)
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Now, it shouldn t be surprising that if we re going to explore family inherently
that exploration is going to start with marriage the starting point, so to speak,
of all of this, the inscrutable instrument for the fulfillment of our destiny , as Baha u llah says.
So here again, we see a curation of many of our Writings on marriage how marriage is a partnership
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of both mind and heart, how it helps us improve the spiritual life of each other, and how we
can become even as one soul. And this is key as we work towards both develop our potentialities
and contributing to an ever-advancing civilization. And how this union affects
the forging of countless new relationships with others helping to reshape lives and communities.
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Then you see clear criticism by the Universal House of Justice of many
of the social practices that are evolving around marriage that are evolving around us.
And there are some very specific practices that they seem to be highlighting - but in
my own simple way of understanding all of this I think what they re reminding
us here is that the concepts of marriage that pervade in the world around us are warped and
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that we need to cling to our teachings to navigate the perversity of our age.
And throughout this message and in this section on marriage they raise the importance
of full equality between men and women again reminding us of how this cultivates patterns
patterns including how we raise our children that ultimately shape society.
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But they clarify that equality doesn t mean that a husband and wife are doing the same
thing that as a starting point, mothers are the first educators of the child,
fathers have an obligation to support the family financially. But the point here is that based on
their understanding of the teachings, the couple together determine the best way to
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manage their affairs in light of the challenges and opportunities they face. But in doing so,
they need to ensure both the wife and husband s spiritual, intellectual and professional progress.
(musical interlude)
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Now the Universal House of Justice then ladders us up from marriage to family
identifying two key principles that should govern our affairs as families:
justice and reciprocity. Justice and reciprocity. So that s another one
of those things you ll want to reflect on how do these two principles speak to your
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pattern of family life. Does each member of the family receive their rights does
each fulfill their responsibilities? And this is something we have to actively cultivate.
And our challenge here is to raise children so that they learn to live
a meaningful and purposeful life of devotion, virtue and service.
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And parents do this both through loving conversations and through their example.
Now, here again, they go beyond the existing Writings, again introducing this principle of how
dynamic this process is, highlighting how parents have to adapt their methods and
approaches across every stage of development, from infancy to maturity. At an early age they
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cultivate virtues and learn to turn to God, as they get older they learn how to address hardship,
practice self-discipline and accountability, learn to become forgetful of self and they study. And
as they increasingly step into the world on their own, they learn to develop an attitude of service,
to diffuse and apply the divine teachings, to resolve differences and participate in
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consultation, to remain steadfast in the Covenant, to work for the betterment of the
world, and to direct themselves to those things that lead to everlasting honor.
And the Universal House of Justice encourages us here to use both the Writings and other resources
in our quest to provide for the material, social and spiritual needs of our children.
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And they also explain how the financial affairs of the family need attention
including how money is earned, spent and saved. I m reminded here of their message of March 1,
2017 where they address economic issues with that amazing quote. They say:
Every choice a Bah Ւ makes as employee or employer, producer or consumer,
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borrower or lender, benefactor or beneficiary leaves a trace, and the moral duty to lead
a coherent life demands that one s economic decisions be in accordance with lofty ideals,
that the purity of one s aims be matched by the purity of one s actions to fulfil those aims.
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And here the Universal House of Justice is applying a similar
principle in managing the financial affairs of the family, highlighting
how the family provides a space to learn in practice about generosity, responsibility,
the difference between needs and wants, and the management of material means.
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Again- you see how these are patterns patterns we take on
ultimately to our interaction with society.
(musical interlude)
OK now for another one of those unique gifts in the message another NEW insight, I think.
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Now let me digress before I discuss this next section and share a little story with you.
My wife and I were once on a summer school committee and as we were planning we suggested
that the theme that year be on parenting. And to this one of the committee members who had grown
children already said (29:28):
I think that s a terrible idea. All I m going to learn is what I did wrong!
Now I think that s hilarious but it raises a good point. I can see how there might be
people who see this message and think ah it s not really meant for me I don
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t have kids or I m not married or my kids are all grown up already.
OK so stop right there. That s what s so exciting about this next section.
Because the Universal House of Justice next widens the circle yet again like a telescope
and this time they explore family from a different angle - bringing in the role of extended family
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and friends. So they start with immediate nuclear family you know, siblings and grow
to extended family grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins all with guidance on their roles.
But then they go further exploring how these relationships extend to fellow Baha is and
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other friends. And one of the things that really put an immediate smile on my face was a reference
that they make here to spiritual aunts and uncles how delicious is that. Now in layman terms we talk
about spiritual aunts and uncles all the time but here the Universal House of Justice is referencing
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it I mean, it s now official. Officially now we have a construct of spiritual aunts and
uncles. Again, this is another example of a new construct, I think, that they re introducing.
So suddenly, everyone is connected to family in some way: Elders youth I mean everyone. So
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for every family there are suddenly a whole host of links a whole host
of support mechanisms. And the Universal House of Justice describes how the sense of oneness,
of love, care, trust, and solidarity that are initially cultivated in the family
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begin to be woven into the fabric of relationships in the community.
(musical interlude)
And then the Universal House of Justice widens the circle yet again this time to the dynamic
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interaction of family with wider society. And they draw once again on how the coherence we cultivate
between our beliefs and actions impacts society. How our belief in the equality of women and men,
for example or our adherence to the principle of the oneness of humanity how these cultivate
relationships of unity and oneness in a divided world. We become bridges. And in
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so many other ways in the skills we bring for consultation in upholding qualities
such as justice and compassion and so here we re applying these new patterns as we learn to
apply our Teachings in our family life it creates patterns that extend to the world we encounter.
And it s in this context this widening of the circle to wider society that the
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Universal House of Justice introduces a new construct or a new institution:
The Baha i Home. And, I think, this is a big deal.
I mean you can read this casually and think oh yeah the Baha i Home. But,
I think the Universal House of Justice is actually introducing a new construct a new institution
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like the way they introduced the construct of cluster and neighborhood . I mean those
terms have their own meaning but they take on a different meaning in the context of our Plans.
They become part of a new shared language with a whole system of meaning behind them.
So it s not that family is new but the way we re now talking about it is new.
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And we know that this reference to the Baha i Home is a reference to it as an
institution because the Universal House of Justice tells us so,
in it s Naw Ruz message . In that message they encourage: the friends to reflect on
the influence of the divine teachings on the progress of the family as an institution and
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the significant consequences that such progress has for the advancement and upliftment of society.
So fasten your seat belts because increasingly we re going to be framing this new institution
in our formal planning the Baha i Home. And trust me, we re going to be learning a lot about this
in the immediate years ahead.And they say: In a Bah Ւ home,
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warm hospitality combines with spiritual quickening and intellectual progress.
So we have three aspirations here for our homes hospitality spiritual quickening and
intellectual progress. And they summon us here: Through activities that every
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Bah Ւ family can offer in its home, it can demonstrate a way of life that can be
emulated by all those who seek to counteract the divisive forces that feed discontent,
conflict, and self-interest, and to weave the bonds of trust,
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cooperation, and constructive action upon which a healthy community depends.
So the Baha i Home is a refuge for a suffering people here.
And they explore how this all ties in to the other facets of community
life so we have coherent lives of service sacrificial service advancing together in
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our communities. But they also give us a warning here a limit they say:
Sacrifice makes possible greater service, but it is not the family itself that is to be sacrificed.
So we need to maintain due regard for the needs of the family.
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But make no mistake in this message the Universal House of Justice is helping draw our attention to
a critical discourse in society and one which we should actively engage in and that is this
discourse on family. And we know that they are framing it this way because they directly explain
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this in the Naw Ruz message calling on us to participate in the discourse related to family.
And the message concludes with an inspiring quote from Abdul-Baha:
My home is the home of peace - My home is the home of joy and delight. My home is the home
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of laughter and exultation. Whosoever enters through the portals of this home, must go out
with gladsome heart. This is the home of light; whosoever enters here must become illumined.
And the close the message with these beautiful words: May your families and homes, dear friends,
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increasingly become a haven and pillar to sustain all humanity.
(musical interlude)
Wow! These were incredibly inspiring messages that really expand our understanding of the
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world around us and of the role of family in society building.
Now I want to emphasize here again that this is not a message that you can just read. It
s a message you have to study, reflect on and consult on as families. You ll want to
stop read each sentence and specifically address all of the questions that they
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raise throughout and ask yourself how that speaks to you and your circumstances and
opportunities. There s simply no substitute for this the message is just far too meaty
and far too impactful. Remember you re trying to discover these new patterns in your family life.
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So gather your family if you re in a relationship exploring marriage if you re a couple planning on
having kids and if your kids are all grown and you re exploring how to support other families in all
these ways this is the perfect opportunity to reflect and see how this speaks to you.
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And the most exciting part let s see what amazing NEW patterns
evolve for the Baha i Home in this tumultuous age.
So much to learn and discover.
So that s it for today.
Stick around to hear a song I ve written, with the help of AI, that attempts to summarize all
of this. I call the song The Baha i Home . By the way you can find a collection of all the songs I
m now writing on a new website (39:00):
BahaiTunes.Org. Or you can search for my new virtual AI band
which I m calling The Society Builders don t forget the word THE in there but you can search
for The Society Builders on Spotify, Apple Music and the like. I m also leaving a few
(39:21):
links in the episode description. But if nothing else you can find the music at BahaiTunes.org.
And let me know what you think of the music and whether it helps you in summarizing the episode.
And our next episode will explore another treasure the upcoming Ridvan message of the
Universal House of Justice. So that s an episode you won t want to miss
(39:41):
So thanks again for joining the conversation on social transformation.
I look forward to joining you again in our journey next time - on Society Builders
(song (39:56):
The Bahá’í Home)
Living in the age of transitionTrying to counter all the disintegration
(40:19):
Where families feel assailed - from every sideFrom a society that is so disunified
As we weather the tumultuous storms we seeWe need to focus on our promise of unity
Because the Bahá’í Home is a haven you knowWhere society building can flourish and grow
(40:43):
[bridge]It s the
fabric of communityAs we build a new society
[chorus]
The Bahá’í Home is a critical keyTo helping build a new society
Creating patterns of trust, love and serviceThat in a troubled age will help to preserve us
(41:07):
Because the home is a nation in miniatureWhat happens in the nation happens there too
It s the building block of communityThat s why we need a new focus on family
[verse]Marriage lays a solid foundation
(41:36):
It s a partnership of cooperationA union of both mind and heart
That gives the family a solid startAs families grow they navigate hardships
Through consultation - we work through conflicts
(41:56):
As we extend our circle ever widerWith uncles, aunties, friends and accompaniers
[bridge]
It s the fabric of communityAs we build a new society
[chorus]The Bahá’í
(43:02):
Home is a critical keyTo helping build a new society
Creating patterns of trust, love and serviceThat in a troubled age will help to preserve us
Because the home is a nation in miniatureWhat happens in the nation happens there too
(43:26):
It s the building block - of communityThat s why we need a new focus on family
(43:47):
[musical interlude]
[chorus]The Bahá’í
Home is a critical keyTo helping build a new society
Creating patterns of trust, love and serviceThat in a troubled age will help to preserve us
Because the home is a nation in miniatureWhat happens in the nation happens there too
It s the building block - of communityThat s why we need a new focus on family
[music]Society Builders pave the way
(00:03):
To a better world - to a better dayA united approach to building a new society
Join the conversationFor social transformation
Society Builders
[voiceover] Society Builders, with your host Duane Varan
(00:25):
[Duane] Welcome to another exciting episode of Society Builders and thanks
for joining the conversation, for social transformation.
We interrupt our normal sequence of episodes today for a special episode. It s not so much
an interruption it s more of a special treat. As avid listeners will know, we re in the middle of
(00:48):
our sequence of episodes exploring social action . We just completed four episodes
exploring what social action looks like from a Baha i perspective and we re gearing up for a
sequence of case studies highlighting what social action looks like in practice. And we were already
planning on a special treat coming in the middle of this sequence anyway with this year s Ridvan
(01:10):
message. But now we have an additional special treat because on March 19th the Universal House
of Justice gave an incredible treasure to the Baha i world a message focusing on the theme of Baha i
family life and I believe it has a very particular application which we re going to explore in today
s episode. And we get additional insight here from yet another message the Naw Ruz message of the
(01:35):
Universal House of Justice to the Baha is of Iran which further expands on this March 19th message
on family life. So we have a lot learn from all this Divine guidance that we can learn from here.
So stop the presses. We interrupt your normally schedule program for a special episode where
we can explore these latest messages from the Universal House of Justice. So today,
(02:00):
we will be exploring the role of the Baha i Home in our larger Society Building narrative.
(musical interlude)
Now the March 19th and the Naw Ruz messages are incredibly profound. They have incredible nuance
(02:22):
to them that s easy to miss- particularly when you read them thinking you already know what
they re about. I think it s easy to give these messages a quick read and walk away thinking
that these are just nice letters reminding us about how important Baha i family life is.
But I think that kind of reading misses the point. Yes these messages ARE about family
(02:47):
life but they represent a very significant advance in how we understand all of this.
And that shift is deeply profound. It s something you ll want to consult extensively
about in your marriage, in your family, in your groupings and in your communities.
(03:08):
It s not a summary of what our Writings say about family life there are other spaces for that
including the compilation of family life and a few statements by the Baha i International Community,
for example. But this I think is something different. These are messages which help
situate the Baha i Home within the larger narrative of society building and that,
(03:34):
I think, is a particularly unique contribution within these messages. And once you read and try
to understand these messages, it will change the way you understand society
building. In fact, in some ways, I think it adds another dimension to society building.
Now, I m not going to be able to do these letters justice with a short podcast like
(03:56):
this. So my goal is not to give you a summary. Instead I want to draw your
attention to a number of key concepts which I hope will help you in your own reflecting,
deepening and consultations on this. And I promise, we will eventually do a whole
sequence of episodes on this theme of the Baha i Home because there s just so much ground to cover.
(04:21):
So today, I ll simply highlight a number of key concepts drawing
your attention to some of the features that stood out to me in these messages.
And I want to clarify that I ll primarily be focusing on the March 19th message looking to
the Naw Ruz message to the Baha is in Iran for some additional clarification related
(04:41):
back to the March 19th message. Because in the Naw Ruz message,
the Universal House of Justice itself makes reference to the March 19th message
encouraging the Baha is in Iran to study it while highlighting some additional themes.
Now one more thing before we get to our main story here. In these messages, I think,
(05:02):
the Universal House of Justice is doing three things. First, there are parts of the messages
that remind us of our existing Writings on Baha i family life so here the Universal
House of Justice is doing some curation helping us better understand our Writings, for example.
Then, there are also parts in these messages where they extend these Writings helping us see some of
(05:24):
the implications that we might not have previously noticed or helping apply this to new situations.
And then, finally, and this is best finally, there are parts where they introduce new
ideas and new constructs altogether. And that s particularly exciting.
And all three of these different kinds of applications are truly gifts gifts that help
(05:45):
us look to family life and to society building in entirely new ways. But from time to time today,
I ll try to clarify which of these three different types of gifts are
at work particularly when it appears that the Universal House of Justice is covering new ground.
So that s something else to keep in mind today in today s little journey.
(06:09):
(musical interlude)
So - what is the March 19th message really about?
Again, you ll want to draw your own conclusions but to me,
the key to understanding the larger objectives of that message is articulated in both the very
beginning and towards the end of the message. So we can look to the bookends of the message,
(06:34):
so to speak, to understand it s main objectives.
The introduction ends with what I think is a summary of this goal. They say:
Learning about a new pattern of family life is, therefore, an integral part of
the effort to learn about the release of the society-building power of the Faith.
(06:55):
So there are two key constructs here that should immediately grab our attention. First,
that this is about NEW patterns of family life that word NEW is very telling. It means
we shouldn t assume that we already understand what they are. So this is your first big clue
that you shouldn t read this thinking you know what it s about. Because it s about
(07:20):
NEW patterns. So let s look to the message to help get some clues about these new patterns.
And the second important idea here is that it s an integral part of
the release of the society-building power of the Faith. And that s really, I think,
the over-arching goal here with this message that we grapple with how the Baha i home fits
(07:43):
in with our larger society-building aspirations. And this represents a significant advance in
how we understand society building. So in that context this is a very, very important message.
So it turns out, it's not, I think, a message about Baha i family life as we
might have initially assumed. It s a message of the role of the Baha i home in the larger
(08:09):
process of society-building. I mean it sounds similar but it s actually quite different.
And I think this becomes even more evident as the message builds to
its conclusions towards the end of the message which further clarifies this focus.
Towards the end, we see the Universal House of Justice talking about the forces of disintegration
(08:31):
that are assailing families an inseparable feature of this age of transition. And as we
respond by releasing the society building powers of the Faith, they say that the part played by
Bah Ւ families will be increasingly necessary and impactful in the years and decades ahead.
(08:54):
Now there s a part of me that was a bit terrified when I read this. Again,
it s hard to know what our future has in store for us but clearly it s painful and dark and in
this social milieu you have to wonder what the role of family is because it s clear from this
(09:15):
message that family will be both necessary and impactful in navigating the storms.
The messages of the Universal House of Justice are truly precious gifts to us a special bounty.
And one of the reasons is that it gives us our best way of understanding the conditions in the
(09:38):
world around us. And across these two messages, we have descriptions that paint this dark picture.
The Naw Ruz message to the Baha is in Iran, for example, talks about this time when the
earth is caught in the grip of chaos, confusion, and instability; and its political, economic,
(10:02):
and social order is ever more volatile and out of control; when the peoples
of the world are seized by various ordeals and hardships and are struggling against incurable
ills; when despair and hopelessness and a lack of confidence about the future and the erosion of the
(10:27):
bonds of trust have led to a widespread crisis, particularly among many young people in the world.
The March 19th message also addresses this dark condition. They describe it as: the forces of
disintegration that are an inseparable feature of an age in transition. These forces assailing
(10:52):
society have particularly affected the family, sundering its ties, and taking a heavy toll on its
members, especially on children. They can expose family members to some of the most destructive
social pathologies (11:08):
an absence of love and care, neglect of the things of the spirit,
dehumanization, poverty, insecurity, and violence. Individuals are tempted to surrender
to a life of material distractions or personal gratification, thereby becoming mere objects to
(11:34):
be manipulated by those who seek to impose their designs on society. Contrasting ideologies and
identities, incompatible with the ideals of the oneness of humanity and a peaceful world,
vie for the allegiance of the masses and contend for superiority with one another. Some
(11:55):
of these movements plant seeds of prejudice and fanaticism which ultimately yield estrangement,
conflict, and contention among the peoples of the world. Others may seem to conform to
some aspect of the Teachings, only to subtly lead the friends away from Bah u ll h s straight path.
(12:16):
WOW! This is very, very dark, right?
And I know you feel this.
And this dark condition is the reason why we so desperately need this guidance. They say:
The family, and the community as a whole, will need to learn to examine existing circumstances,
(12:41):
grasp the nature and impact of such forces, and, with full reliance on divine assistance, develop
preventive and remedial measures in order to weather the tumultuous storms of a perilous age.
So we need to read our social reality free from the noise we
(13:04):
hear all around us and with full reliance on divine assistance,
we need to develop both PREVENTIVE and REMEDIAL measures to weather the storms.
Let s start with this appeal for us to examine existing circumstances and grasp
the nature and impact of such forces well, this is something all of us are going to have
(13:28):
to do in consultation with our families and communities. You can literally work your way
through the list of these conditions that the Universal House of Justice identifies
here in this message and ask yourself how does this speak to your conditions.
For example, the Universal House of Justice says: Individuals are tempted to surrender to a life of (13:42):
undefined
material distractions or personal gratification, thereby becoming mere objects to be manipulated
by those who seek to impose their designs on society. So this raises the question how are
(14:04):
you being manipulated in this way? And I ll give you just one little example here
There s an interesting case that s made the news recently where a former senior executive
at Facebook claims that they would target young girls when they exhibited signals of
personal insecurity. ?So on occasions with these girls, for example, they would take down images
(14:26):
of themselves on Facebook probably because they didn't feel particularly pretty that
day or reflecting some kind of insecurity at the time. And Facebook would then use
that as a signal - the signal of them removing their images to indicate that this was a target
suffering from this kind of personal insecurity, and that condition would make them particularly
(14:48):
receptive to ads from cosmetic advertisers.And then they would sell that particular audience
segment to those advertisers, essentially preying on these young girls' vulnerabilities, and this is
just a mild example of the kind of manipulation that is increasingly becoming the norm.
I mean, remember in our discussion on depolarization in that previous episode where
(15:12):
we talked about the role that Facebook played in the ethnic cleansing that unfolded in Myanmar.
There are plenty of these kind of horrific stories that you read about every day about how we're
increasingly being manipulated in these ways.So what the Universal House of Justice is
calling us to do is to not drink the Kool-Aid to stop and reflect open our eyes and see all
(15:41):
the nefarious forces at work in our own lives. To become aware of these forces.
So becoming aware is step one here.
Then they call on us to develop preventive and remedial measures to weather these forces.
Preventive and remedial.
Preventive to help reduce the influence this
(16:04):
cancer is having on our family life. Remedial to heal the damage done.
That s a lot to reflect on, right?
And note that they don t even say we can achieve this with our own faculties like
we shouldn t fool ourselves into thinking we re smart enough to resolve this all on our
own. The challenge is so great that we need to rely on the power of divine assistance.
(16:30):
I mean that says a lot, right.
And in the Naw Ruz message to the Baha is in Iran, they expand further on this process of
reflection so that we not only protect the institution of the family from the
darts of destruction but make it a space for acquiring perfections and a haven from harm
(16:54):
ultimately turning it into a constructive and potent instrument for social transformation.
WOW!
So hopefully this really gets your attention. It explains the urgency of our circumstances.
So what new patterns can we weave that will empower us
(17:15):
to both prevent and remedy these horrible social ills?
THAT, my friends, is the focus, I think, of this message.
(musical interlude)
Now towards the beginning of the message, the Universal House of Justice explores this idea
(17:39):
of patterns. They remind us how Abdul-Baha explained that the family is a microcosm of
larger society He says (17:45):
A family is a nation in miniature - The conditions surrounding the
family surround the nation. How our skills and abilities to interact with others are
shaped first in the family and how we take these patterns to our friendships,
(18:05):
our workplace and ultimately to the fabric of our entire nation.
Now this is that curation role I was talking about earlier they re
reminding us of our teachings they re giving us a guided tour, for example,
of what Abdul-Baha has already taught us about these patterns.
But then they introduce a new concept and that is the idea that family as a construct is inherently
(18:35):
dynamic. That s changing that it s ever changing. Now this is fascinating! I may be mistaken is
asserting this but I can t think of any of our Writings that frame family quite this way.
I mean, it s a logical extension but I think it s still a new way of framing it for us.
(18:58):
And this is really important to our narrative here because we probably all think that we
already know a lot about our teachings on family. So this is key to helping us wake
up and smell the coffee and realize that WHOA we evolve and the institution of family evolves too.
This is fascinating right?
(19:20):
They explain how expectations of parents change how our kinship allegiances
change and how gender roles change and these, of course, are just examples. So
this requires us to re-evaluate the thoughts and theories of past ages.
Just a little side note here. I m a baby boomer and most of our
(19:42):
baby boomer mothers raised us on guidance they received from a book written by Dr.
Benjamin Spock called Baby and Child Care . I know this was the book that my mother used when
she raised me. So I think it s hilarious that Dr. Spock came out some years ago to confess
that he thinks he got it all wrong! Ha ha. That probably explains a lot about me. So clearly,
(20:08):
there s a need for change, right? I mean, even Dr. Spock says he got it all wrong.
Anyway back to our story.
What the Universal House of Justice is drawing our attention to is that conditions change societies
change and the patterns of family change in response. And that s not inherently a bad
(20:29):
thing they have to respond to the exigencies of the various stages of human social development.
But here s the catch!
How are those changes how are those new patterns emerging?
And herein is our challenge to examine the present practices in their societies,
weigh them in light of the Teachings, weed out any undesirable tendencies,
(20:55):
and learn to establish new patterns of family life suited to the needs of a new age.
Now at this stage you re probably thinking OK I m sold. So tell me what that new pattern looks like.
Aha I caught you. Because we don t know what it looks like yet! We re still too
(21:16):
nascent there are different conditions across different societies so it s not
about adhering to one specific formula. It s like everything else society building we
have to engage in a learning process and it s a learning process that will accelerate
greatly in the coming years as we grow in capacity and work to apply our Teachings.
(21:41):
And they raise a series of questions for us to consider
as we engage in this learning process. Like -
What are the characteristics of Bah Ւ family life and how are
they distinguished from the way family life is understood in society today?
What is the distinctive nature of Bah Ւ marriage and how does it foster family life?
(22:03):
How do Bah Ւ families contribute to the process of transformation
in neighbourhoods and villages, and beyond?
What are the current pitfalls and obstacles facing
Bah Ւ families that prevent them from achieving this aim?
How does the framework for action of the current stage of the Divine Plan
both strengthen family life and create opportunities for vibrant
(22:26):
families to contribute to the process of community building?
And by the way, later in the message they explore what this kind of reflection and
learning looks like and they describe it in very similar terms to what we discussed
recently in that episode when we discussed action learning here they talk about prayer,
study, consultation and reflection on action.
(22:50):
So you can see that there s a lot there for us to explore. And as we explore,
we will increasingly see these new patterns evolve in our family lives.
So as families let s roll up our sleeves and discover.
(musical interlude)
(23:14):
Now, it shouldn t be surprising that if we re going to explore family inherently
that exploration is going to start with marriage the starting point, so to speak,
of all of this, the inscrutable instrument for the fulfillment of our destiny , as Baha u llah says.
So here again, we see a curation of many of our Writings on marriage how marriage is a partnership
(23:37):
of both mind and heart, how it helps us improve the spiritual life of each other, and how we
can become even as one soul. And this is key as we work towards both develop our potentialities
and contributing to an ever-advancing civilization. And how this union affects
the forging of countless new relationships with others helping to reshape lives and communities.
(24:03):
Then you see clear criticism by the Universal House of Justice of many
of the social practices that are evolving around marriage that are evolving around us.
And there are some very specific practices that they seem to be highlighting - but in
my own simple way of understanding all of this I think what they re reminding
us here is that the concepts of marriage that pervade in the world around us are warped and
(24:28):
that we need to cling to our teachings to navigate the perversity of our age.
And throughout this message and in this section on marriage they raise the importance
of full equality between men and women again reminding us of how this cultivates patterns
patterns including how we raise our children that ultimately shape society.
(24:51):
But they clarify that equality doesn t mean that a husband and wife are doing the same
thing that as a starting point, mothers are the first educators of the child,
fathers have an obligation to support the family financially. But the point here is that based on
their understanding of the teachings, the couple together determine the best way to
(25:13):
manage their affairs in light of the challenges and opportunities they face. But in doing so,
they need to ensure both the wife and husband s spiritual, intellectual and professional progress.
(musical interlude)
(25:37):
Now the Universal House of Justice then ladders us up from marriage to family
identifying two key principles that should govern our affairs as families:
justice and reciprocity. Justice and reciprocity. So that s another one
of those things you ll want to reflect on how do these two principles speak to your
(26:02):
pattern of family life. Does each member of the family receive their rights does
each fulfill their responsibilities? And this is something we have to actively cultivate.
And our challenge here is to raise children so that they learn to live
a meaningful and purposeful life of devotion, virtue and service.
(26:23):
And parents do this both through loving conversations and through their example.
Now, here again, they go beyond the existing Writings, again introducing this principle of how
dynamic this process is, highlighting how parents have to adapt their methods and
approaches across every stage of development, from infancy to maturity. At an early age they
(26:46):
cultivate virtues and learn to turn to God, as they get older they learn how to address hardship,
practice self-discipline and accountability, learn to become forgetful of self and they study. And
as they increasingly step into the world on their own, they learn to develop an attitude of service,
to diffuse and apply the divine teachings, to resolve differences and participate in
(27:10):
consultation, to remain steadfast in the Covenant, to work for the betterment of the
world, and to direct themselves to those things that lead to everlasting honor.
And the Universal House of Justice encourages us here to use both the Writings and other resources
in our quest to provide for the material, social and spiritual needs of our children.
(27:34):
And they also explain how the financial affairs of the family need attention
including how money is earned, spent and saved. I m reminded here of their message of March 1,
2017 where they address economic issues with that amazing quote. They say:
Every choice a Bah Ւ makes as employee or employer, producer or consumer,
(27:58):
borrower or lender, benefactor or beneficiary leaves a trace, and the moral duty to lead
a coherent life demands that one s economic decisions be in accordance with lofty ideals,
that the purity of one s aims be matched by the purity of one s actions to fulfil those aims.
(28:21):
And here the Universal House of Justice is applying a similar
principle in managing the financial affairs of the family, highlighting
how the family provides a space to learn in practice about generosity, responsibility,
the difference between needs and wants, and the management of material means.
(28:45):
Again- you see how these are patterns patterns we take on
ultimately to our interaction with society.
(musical interlude)
OK now for another one of those unique gifts in the message another NEW insight, I think.
(29:09):
Now let me digress before I discuss this next section and share a little story with you.
My wife and I were once on a summer school committee and as we were planning we suggested
that the theme that year be on parenting. And to this one of the committee members who had grown
children already said (29:28):
I think that s a terrible idea. All I m going to learn is what I did wrong!
Now I think that s hilarious but it raises a good point. I can see how there might be
people who see this message and think ah it s not really meant for me I don
(29:48):
t have kids or I m not married or my kids are all grown up already.
OK so stop right there. That s what s so exciting about this next section.
Because the Universal House of Justice next widens the circle yet again like a telescope
and this time they explore family from a different angle - bringing in the role of extended family
(30:13):
and friends. So they start with immediate nuclear family you know, siblings and grow
to extended family grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins all with guidance on their roles.
But then they go further exploring how these relationships extend to fellow Baha is and
(30:34):
other friends. And one of the things that really put an immediate smile on my face was a reference
that they make here to spiritual aunts and uncles how delicious is that. Now in layman terms we talk
about spiritual aunts and uncles all the time but here the Universal House of Justice is referencing
(30:56):
it I mean, it s now official. Officially now we have a construct of spiritual aunts and
uncles. Again, this is another example of a new construct, I think, that they re introducing.
So suddenly, everyone is connected to family in some way: Elders youth I mean everyone. So
(31:18):
for every family there are suddenly a whole host of links a whole host
of support mechanisms. And the Universal House of Justice describes how the sense of oneness,
of love, care, trust, and solidarity that are initially cultivated in the family
(31:39):
begin to be woven into the fabric of relationships in the community.
(musical interlude)
And then the Universal House of Justice widens the circle yet again this time to the dynamic
(32:00):
interaction of family with wider society. And they draw once again on how the coherence we cultivate
between our beliefs and actions impacts society. How our belief in the equality of women and men,
for example or our adherence to the principle of the oneness of humanity how these cultivate
relationships of unity and oneness in a divided world. We become bridges. And in
(32:28):
so many other ways in the skills we bring for consultation in upholding qualities
such as justice and compassion and so here we re applying these new patterns as we learn to
apply our Teachings in our family life it creates patterns that extend to the world we encounter.
And it s in this context this widening of the circle to wider society that the
(32:54):
Universal House of Justice introduces a new construct or a new institution:
The Baha i Home. And, I think, this is a big deal.
I mean you can read this casually and think oh yeah the Baha i Home. But,
I think the Universal House of Justice is actually introducing a new construct a new institution
(33:18):
like the way they introduced the construct of cluster and neighborhood . I mean those
terms have their own meaning but they take on a different meaning in the context of our Plans.
They become part of a new shared language with a whole system of meaning behind them.
So it s not that family is new but the way we re now talking about it is new.
(33:45):
And we know that this reference to the Baha i Home is a reference to it as an
institution because the Universal House of Justice tells us so,
in it s Naw Ruz message . In that message they encourage: the friends to reflect on
the influence of the divine teachings on the progress of the family as an institution and
(34:09):
the significant consequences that such progress has for the advancement and upliftment of society.
So fasten your seat belts because increasingly we re going to be framing this new institution
in our formal planning the Baha i Home. And trust me, we re going to be learning a lot about this
in the immediate years ahead.And they say: In a Bah Ւ home,
(34:33):
warm hospitality combines with spiritual quickening and intellectual progress.
So we have three aspirations here for our homes hospitality spiritual quickening and
intellectual progress. And they summon us here: Through activities that every
(34:54):
Bah Ւ family can offer in its home, it can demonstrate a way of life that can be
emulated by all those who seek to counteract the divisive forces that feed discontent,
conflict, and self-interest, and to weave the bonds of trust,
(35:15):
cooperation, and constructive action upon which a healthy community depends.
So the Baha i Home is a refuge for a suffering people here.
And they explore how this all ties in to the other facets of community
life so we have coherent lives of service sacrificial service advancing together in
(35:40):
our communities. But they also give us a warning here a limit they say:
Sacrifice makes possible greater service, but it is not the family itself that is to be sacrificed.
So we need to maintain due regard for the needs of the family.
(36:02):
But make no mistake in this message the Universal House of Justice is helping draw our attention to
a critical discourse in society and one which we should actively engage in and that is this
discourse on family. And we know that they are framing it this way because they directly explain
(36:23):
this in the Naw Ruz message calling on us to participate in the discourse related to family.
And the message concludes with an inspiring quote from Abdul-Baha:
My home is the home of peace - My home is the home of joy and delight. My home is the home
(36:45):
of laughter and exultation. Whosoever enters through the portals of this home, must go out
with gladsome heart. This is the home of light; whosoever enters here must become illumined.
And the close the message with these beautiful words: May your families and homes, dear friends,
(37:09):
increasingly become a haven and pillar to sustain all humanity.
(musical interlude)
Wow! These were incredibly inspiring messages that really expand our understanding of the
(37:32):
world around us and of the role of family in society building.
Now I want to emphasize here again that this is not a message that you can just read. It
s a message you have to study, reflect on and consult on as families. You ll want to
stop read each sentence and specifically address all of the questions that they
(37:54):
raise throughout and ask yourself how that speaks to you and your circumstances and
opportunities. There s simply no substitute for this the message is just far too meaty
and far too impactful. Remember you re trying to discover these new patterns in your family life.
(38:14):
So gather your family if you re in a relationship exploring marriage if you re a couple planning on
having kids and if your kids are all grown and you re exploring how to support other families in all
these ways this is the perfect opportunity to reflect and see how this speaks to you.
(38:34):
And the most exciting part let s see what amazing NEW patterns
evolve for the Baha i Home in this tumultuous age.
So much to learn and discover.
So that s it for today.
Stick around to hear a song I ve written, with the help of AI, that attempts to summarize all
of this. I call the song The Baha i Home . By the way you can find a collection of all the songs I
m now writing on a new website (39:00):
BahaiTunes.Org. Or you can search for my new virtual AI band
which I m calling The Society Builders don t forget the word THE in there but you can search
for The Society Builders on Spotify, Apple Music and the like. I m also leaving a few
(39:21):
links in the episode description. But if nothing else you can find the music at BahaiTunes.org.
And let me know what you think of the music and whether it helps you in summarizing the episode.
And our next episode will explore another treasure the upcoming Ridvan message of the
Universal House of Justice. So that s an episode you won t want to miss
(39:41):
So thanks again for joining the conversation on social transformation.
I look forward to joining you again in our journey next time - on Society Builders
(song (39:56):
The Bahá’í Home)
Living in the age of transitionTrying to counter all the disintegration
(40:19):
Where families feel assailed - from every sideFrom a society that is so disunified
As we weather the tumultuous storms we seeWe need to focus on our promise of unity
Because the Bahá’í Home is a haven you knowWhere society building can flourish and grow
(40:43):
[bridge]It s the
fabric of communityAs we build a new society
[chorus]
The Bahá’í Home is a critical keyTo helping build a new society
Creating patterns of trust, love and serviceThat in a troubled age will help to preserve us
(41:07):
Because the home is a nation in miniatureWhat happens in the nation happens there too
It s the building block of communityThat s why we need a new focus on family
[verse]Marriage lays a solid foundation
(41:36):
It s a partnership of cooperationA union of both mind and heart
That gives the family a solid startAs families grow they navigate hardships
Through consultation - we work through conflicts
(41:56):
As we extend our circle ever widerWith uncles, aunties, friends and accompaniers
[bridge]
It s the fabric of communityAs we build a new society
[chorus]The Bahá’í
(43:02):
Home is a critical keyTo helping build a new society
Creating patterns of trust, love and serviceThat in a troubled age will help to preserve us
Because the home is a nation in miniatureWhat happens in the nation happens there too
(43:26):
It s the building block - of communityThat s why we need a new focus on family
(43:47):
[musical interlude]
[chorus]The Bahá’í
Home is a critical keyTo helping build a new society
Creating patterns of trust, love and serviceThat in a troubled age will help to preserve us
Because the home is a nation in miniatureWhat happens in the nation happens there too
It s the building block - of communityThat s why we need a new focus on family
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