Society and Culture
Bahá’í Articles and Websites

Last Revised: April 2014

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•  Arbab, F. (1987). Process of social transformation. In The Baha'i Faith and Marxism. Ottawa, ON: Bahá'í Studies Publication. Retrieved from http://bahai-library.com/arbab_social_transformation 
  Baha'i concepts of social change contrasted with other common paradigms.
• Buchinder, H. (1987). Strategies and processes of social change. In The Baha'i Faith and Marxism. Ottawa, ON: Bahá'í Studies Publication. Retrieved from http://bahai-library.com/buchbinder_social_change
• Hanson, H. (1993). Overview of Bahá'í social and economic development. Bahá'í World, 21. Retrieved from http://bahai-library.com/hanson_social_economic_development
  Evolution of Bahá'í involvement in social and economic development, and some current projects.
• van den Hoonaard, W. C. (2008). Emergence from obscurity: The journey of sociology in the Bahá’í community. Journal of Bahá'í Studies, 18. Retrieved from http://bahai-library.com/hoonaard_journey_sociology
  The field of sociology and the Bahá’í Faith share important principles and both challenge widely-held beliefs, yet there has sometimes been a wall of silence separating them. This paper explores how the Faith informs the sociology of Baha'i scholars.

II.  Human Nature

• Human Nature and Human Society: A Baha'i Viewpoint, by William S. Hatcher, in The Baha'i Faith and Marxism (1987). Introduction to the Bahá'í understanding of human beings and social structures.
• Same Yet Different, The: Creating Unity Among the Diverse Members of the Bahá’í Faith, by Deborah Clark Vance, in Journal of Intergroup Relations (a publication of the National Association of Human Rights Workers), Volume 29:4 (2002)

III. Human Rights

• Human Rights: Reflections from a Bahá’í Viewpoint, by Michael Curtotti, in Human Rights, Faith, and Culture (2001).
• Examination of the Cultural Relativity of Human Rights, An, by Jonathan Patrick, in Associate, 36 (2001). On the discourse between proponents of the universality of human rights, and those of their cultural and religious relativity. Are human rights inherent in the individual, or imposed by a neo-imperialist West?
• Rights and Responsibilities in the Bahá’í World Order: From “Me” to “Us” — Confronting the Fear, by Martha L. Schweitz, in Bahá’í-inspired Perspectives on Human Rights (2001)
• Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Cultural Relativism and the Persecution of the Bahá’ís in Iran, The, by Cheshmak Farhoumand-Sims , in Bahá’í-Inspired Perspectives on Human Rights (2001).
• Rights to Human and Social Development: A Survey of the Activities of the Bahá’í International Community, by Graham Hassall, in Bahá’í-Inspired Perspectives on Human Rights (2001).
• Rise of Justice in the Spiritual and Secular Life of Man, The: excerpts from The Advent of Divine Justice by Shoghi Effendi, by James B. Thomas, in Lights of Irfan, Volume 9 (2008).
• Understanding and Eliminating Oppression: Baha'i Writings and ...
  The theme of oppression is addressed frequently in the Baha'i Writings. This article examines good/evil and social theory to analyze race, gender, ...
  bahai-library.com/gervais_understanding_eliminating_oppression

• Evolving toward a Bahá’í Economic System, by Gregory C. Dahl, in Journal of Bahá'í Studies, 4:3 (1991). Ideals are fruitless if not implemented. There needs to be a balance and an interplay between goals and actions. A "Bahá’í economic system" suggests a number of topics for further research.
• Economic Prosperity: A Global Imperative, by Mary Fish, in Journal of Bahá'í Studies, 7:3 (1997). Economic growth does not necessarily enhance human welfare. The Prosperity of Humankind recognizes the role of economics in igniting the capacity of humankind. The Baha'i concept of human nature opens a dialogue between religion and economists.
• Economic Justice and the Creation of a New International Economic Order, by Keith Suter, in 75 Years of the Bahá'í Faith in Australasia (1996). The "New Right," history of economic philosophy and the role of the Church in Europe, challenges of the global economy, the failure of the UN to deal with the problems of the globalized economy, and how NGOs and individuals can work for economic justice.
• Spiritual Approach to Microcredit Projects, A, by Michel P. Zahrai (1998). Spiritual considerations that should guide the elaboration and implementation of microcredit schemes and measure their success.
• Spiritual Dimensions of Microfinance, The: Towards a Just Civilization and Sustainable Economy, by Barbara J. Rodey (2001). Prepared for the Microcredit Summit to emphasize the importance of universal spiritual principles to achieve the real benefits of microfinance services
• Perspectives on the Global Economy at the Dawn of the 21st Century: An Irish Bahá’í View, by Eamonn Moane, in Solas, 1 (2001). The state and issues of the global economy, including Ireland, at the start of the 21st century. Though not intended to be a general Bahá’í critique of the world economy, the paper concludes with a Bahá’í contribution to the issues raised.

• Just System of Government: The Third Dimension to World Peace, by John Huddleston, in The Baha'i Faith and Marxism (1987). Highlights a few points in the Bahá'í approach to government and collective action.
• Is It Unethical to Evade Taxes in an Evil or Corrupt State?: A Look at Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Mormon and Baha'i Perspectives, by Robert W. McGee, in Journal of Accounting, Ethics & Public Policy, 2:1 (1999). The ethics of tax evasion has been a neglected topic in both the accounting and ethical literature. This article reviews the recent literature, focusing on the question of whether tax evasion is ethical in a corrupt country.

• Education of women and socio-economic development, by Geeta Gandhi Kingdon, in Reason and Revelation: Studies in the Babi and Baha'i Religions, volume 13 (2002). The findings of recent research on the social and the economic benefits of female education, which provides insights as to why Bahá'u'lláh stressed its importance.
• Woodman, M. (1989). The role of the feminine in the new era. Journal of Bahá'í Studies, 2(1). Retrieved December 2013, from http://bahai-library.com/woodman_role_feminine_era

• Racial Unity: An Imperative for Social Progress, by Richard Thomas
  Racial Unity: An Imperative for Social Progress Author: Richard W. Thomas Publisher: Association for Bahá'í Studies, Ottawa, 1993. rev. ed., 224 pages
  bahai-library.com/hassall_thomas_racial_unity
  

  The Atlanta Bahá'í Community and Race Unity Atlanta, Georgia, at the turn of the century was a city divided by race and class, deeply entrenched in the Jim Crow racial caste system. In 1895 it was the site of ... bahai-library.com/mcmullen_atlanta_bahai_community

  Prejudice and Discrimination Prejudice is cultural. History shows no society is immune. U.S. Baha'is facilitated Racial Amity groups in the 20s and 30s, and found ignorance plu... bahai-library.com/hoonaard_encyclopedia_prejudice_discrimination Baha'i Writings and Vision of Race Unity prescience Jul 12, 2009 ... While no one is arguing we're anywhere near past racial strife (on the contrary I'm afraid, some of it seems to be hiding under its more socially ... bahai-library.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=5014 African American Baha'is, Race Relations and the Development of ... Mar 8, 2005 ... Robert Turner, Susie Steward, Louis Gregory, and the roles played by blacks in the history of the Baha'is of the US. bahai-library.com/thomas_race_relations_us Race unity is still the most challenging issue! Dec 28, 1997 ... It is the same Bible that later on creates exclusiveness for the Jews as a chosen race. The other nations are not part of the chosen race. bahai-library.com/newspapers/1997/122897.html Alain Locke: Race Leader, Social Philosopher, Bahá'í Pluralist, in World Order 36:3 (2005). Pages 7-36.

• Peace and Prosperity, by Louis Damore (2001).
• Protecting the Human Family: Humanitarian Intervention, International Law, and Bahá’í Principles, by Brian D. Lepard, in Journal of Bahá'í Studies, 13:1-4 (2003).
• Unity Principle, The: Ideas of Social Concord and Discord in the Bahá’í Faith, by Robert Stockman, in Research in Human Social Conflict, Volume 2, ed. Joseph Gittler, (2001).

• Baha'i Faith and the Environment, The, by Richard Landau, in Encyclopedia of Global Environmental Change volume 5: Social and Economic Dimensions of Global Environmental Change, ed. Peter Timmerman (2002). Participation of the Baha'i International Community in UN-sponsored development and environmental initiatives for resolving the difficult challenges before humanity.
• Ecological Stewardship as Applied Spirituality: A Bahá'í Perspective, by John Thelen Steere, in Journal of Bahá'í Studies, 15:1-4 (2005). The significance and dimensions of environmental stewardship — the name given to the emerging practice of habitation restoration, land conservation, resource management, and parks and recreation — and its relationship to the Bahá’í teachings.
• Spiritual Foundations for an Ecologically Sustainable Society, by Robert A. White, in Journal of Bahá'í Studies, 7:2 (1995)
• Toward a New Environmental Stewardship, by Michael Karlberg, in

• Will Globalization Lead to a World Commonwealth?, by Sohrab Abizadeh, in Journal of Bahá'í Studies, 15:1-4 (2005).

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