The 38th annual conference of the Association for Baha’i Studies will take place in Toronto, Ontario, 7–10 August 2014. Titled “Scholarship and the Life of Society,” the conference will focus on scholarship and its potential to contribute to the life of society.
“Th[e] culture of learning is evident within the field of Baha’i scholarship,” asserts the conference statement. “Those engaged in Baha’i scholarship represent every field of knowledge, every profession, and all areas of the arts and sciences. While their methods and approaches vary widely, they are united in striving to gain a deeper understanding of the Baha’i teachings and the implications they hold for the issues and challenges facing the wider society.”
Those interested in promoting and pursuing Baha’i scholarship in all its forms are invited to come together, share their learning, and reflect on the challenges and transformative possibilities ahead.
Read the full statement and call for proposals at http://www.bahai-studies.ca/UpcomingConference.
The Association for Baha’i Studies was founded in Canada in 1975 to promote the systematic study of the Baha’i Faith and its application to the needs of humanity. Soon afterward, the Association expanded to serve the United States and Canada. Since that time, a network of affiliated Associations has emerged in other regions around the world.
The Association for Baha’i Studies – North America operates under the supervision of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Canada, the national governing council of the Baha’i Community of Canada, and is a cooperative effort of the National Spiritual Assemblies of the Baha’is of Canada and the United States.
It holds an annual conference and sponsors occasional seminars and symposia, and publishes a peer-reviewed scholarly journal, The Journal of Baha’i Studies, occasional books and monographs, as well as other publications, including a quarterly ABS Bulletin. It is also engaged in a number of initiatives to advance Baha’i studies among students and young adults, to support the development of university courses on various aspects of the Baha’i Faith, to engage leaders of thought outside of the Baha’i community, and to stimulate interest in Baha’i studies within the wider community.
The Association operates a Centre for Baha’i Studies, located in Ottawa, Canada, which coordinates the activities of the Association in North America. The Centre also serves as a locus of research and a source of information and various forms of assistance and support for Baha’i studies.