Society Builders: Recent Episodes
Duane Varan
An interview with award-winning journalist Amanda Ripley who shares insights on the science of bringing antagonistic groups together based on her recent best-selling book, High Conflict: Why We Get Trapped and How We Get Out.
Includes discussion on evidence-based strategies for depolarization and on
how the Baha'i community serves as a role model in this arena.
CONTENTS
0:00 Introduction
5:20 Background to the Book
11:29 Avoiding High Conflict
16:03 Feeling Heard
19:10 Breaking Binaries
21:00 Avoiding Conflict Entrepreneurs
32:12 Cultivating Calm
35:40 Complicating the Narrative
39:29 Reaching a Saturation Point
41:56 The Baha’i Community as Model
47:48 Hope & Human Triumph
50:15 Applications for the Workplace
53:00 Closing Thoughts
How can you best engage withe the prevalent discourses of society? In this episode, we explore FIVE stages one should consider in engaging with a discourse:
- Prioritizing which discourse to engage with.
- 'Reading society' and getting familiar with the discourse.
- Immersion in the Baha'i Writings in search of relevant insights.
- Sharing insights in ways that be best understood and welcomed.
- Reflection - an iterative cycle of action and reflection.
CHAPTERS
0:00 Introduction
3:27 Choosing a Discourse
9:39 Reading Society
17:02 Turning to the Writings
20:28 ‘Hearable’ Insights
24:27 Reflection
29:30 Closing Thoughts
The term 'discourse' means different things to different academic disciplines. There's a difference, for example, between political vs. scientific discourse. In this episode, we explore what discourse means to Baha'is, focusing on five key characteristics:
- A unifying focus;
- We view discourse as consultative;
- We strive for an uplifting approach;
- Our contributions are principled;
- We focus on constructive solutions.
We close the episode also exploring approaches which we should avoid.
CHAPTERS
0:00 Introduction
4:34 What is Discourse?
12:40 A Unifying Focus
22:38 Discourse as Consultation
29:10 An Uplifting Approach
33:50 Principled Contributions
37:53 Constructive Solutions
40:34 What to Avoid
44:36 Conclusions
In the late 19th century, governance in Iran was in desperate need of reform. Corruption was rife and the country was being sold off through foreign concessions. In this episode, eminent Baha'i scholar, Dr. Moojan Momen, provides the historical context and background to two key books authored by Abdul-Baha (one still yet to be translated) which engage in this social discourse and helped bring about Iran's first democratic institutions. This is the first of two parts - providing the background context to the larger narrative.
In a truly blockbuster episode, we discover how most modern discourse (on issues like world peace, race unity, the empowerment of women and more) was influenced by Abdul-Baha and the generation he inspired. Fasten your seatbelts for this one... you'll be blown away by what you discover. You'll be truly surprised by just how extensive the influence of the early Baha'i community was in the evolution of key ideas including affirmative action, black pride, the Parents Teachers Association, the moment of silence commemorating the fallen of the First World War and so much more. Includes interview segments with leading Baha'i scholars including (in order of appearance) Dr. Guy Emerson Mount, Dr. Robert Stockman, Dr. Roy Steiner, Dr. Moojan Momen, Kathryn Jewett Hogenson and Paul Hanley.
This episode continues the theme of reflection from episode 4. Where episode 4 celebrated our victories of the past 25 years, this episode explores some of our potential mistakes. The episode focuses on four possible mistakes: allowing our sense of focus to exclude other vital community functions; rigid approaches to the needs of the Plans; insufficient regard for the needs of those less engaged; and a lack of scientific analysis in our study and reflection of initiatives. The episode concludes with a special appeal to those who still feel hurt by such mistakes, inviting them to re-engage.
In this episode, we explore how the efforts of Baha'i communities worldwide in 'community building' over the past 25 years now lay the foundation for the 'society building' of the next 25 years. In particular, we focus on four key achievements: 1) The rise of a system of learning, empowering communities to cultivate the resources they need; 2) The shift in focus for service at the neighborhood level; 3) The fusion of believer and collaborator from wider society; and 4) the growing leadership of our youth. Each of these key achievements are critical to the pattern of society building moving forward.
This episode continues to explore how vision gets effectively translated into reality. But where Part One explores this at the individual level, Part Two explores this at a community level. How can a collective group of people work together to bring vision into fruition? And what role does vision play in stimulating and channelling unified action? It's an episode you won't want to miss.
This is the first in a two part episode exploring the capacity to translate vision into reality. When vision is accompanied by faith, determination and action, you can write the history of tomorrow, today. In this episode, we explore the art of 'fashioning' - the ability to bring vision into fruition.
The series introduction to the Society Builders podcast - a response to the call for the release of the society-building power of the Baha'i Faith in ever-increasing measures.