Study Group
Century of Light
This program will run five
to six weeks with a group that will have four to eight participants.
Requirements: participants must read each section before coming to the discussion.
The facilitator will guide the discussion toward the theme questions but some time will be spent on the basic details of the text.
Aim: to be able to appreciate the perspective of the Universal House of Justice on the 20th. Century and to be able to convey to others our understanding of the importance & nature of the great and fundamental change humanity experienced during the course of this century. It is hoped that participants will also considered their own life plans in the light of the call to action raised by this message.
Session I; the Foreword, Century of Light, Chapters I, II, III
Session II; Chapters IV, V
Session III; Chapters VI, VII
Session IV; Chapters VIII, IX
Session V; Chapters X, XI, XII.
Session VI; if needed.
(Note to facilitator: provide paragraph numbering to the participants.)
For each session I will list a number of questions to be asked of the group and/or topics to be introduced. The facilitator may use all or some depending on the progress of the group or the length of time that the group might take in its discussion.
Session I. The Foreword, Century of Light, chapters 1, 2, 3.
The group formation and chapter 3 may have to be done in the next session. In this case the program will take six sessions.
Foreword:
Why did the Universal House of Justice write this book? How is it supposed to help us?
Century of Light:
What is the general attitude of most people at this time in history?
What insights do we need?
How is it possible for us Bahá’ís to have these insights?
Chapter I.
Let us describe briefly the world of the early 1900’s. Who counted and why? Europe? The rest of the world? How were the peoples of the non-European world seen?
What were the accomplishments of Western civilization? Arts? Science?
Describe the philosophical culture of that time?
Describe the spiritual culture? What began to replace the old traditional religions? What did this do to us?
(To summarize ask the group to give this chapter a title)
Chapter II. Abdu’l-Bahá
Have the group briefly review the circumstances of His life.
What did He ask of the Bahá’í community in Iran? How did they respond and what were the driving forces that brought about these advances?
What was the focus of His efforts in the Holy Land? How did He extend His call to the West? What event brought Abdu’l-Bahá’s freedom? What did he do with this freedom?
Chapter III. How Abdu’l-Bahá built the Bahá’í community.
Describe the manner by which Abdu’l-Bahá introduced the Faith to Westerners. What does this tell us?
Why did those who responded by embracing this Cause demonstrate spiritual greatness?
What sort of topics did Abdu’l-Bahá choose to address? What were the responses this?
In addition to public speaking how else did Abdu’l-Bahá teach the Faith?
Have the group talk about the proclamation of the Covenant and the activity of Covenant-Breakers in both the East and the West. Is this still an important issue?
Discuss the development of WWI.
Bring up also the spread of communism, the role of science and technology as seen by leaders at that time, the effect of an increasingly urbanized population.
What effect did the great advancement of science have on our understanding of human nature?
Take note of the effect of the Treaty of Versailles and the formation and failure of the League of Nations.
What did Abdu’l-Bahá do during WWI?
In summary: how did the Bahá’í community demonstrate its ability to unify people?
Chapter IV:
Why is Abdu’l-Bahá unique?
Take note of the definition of unity given on p. 41. Do these conditions exist in the world? Where? How? Do these conditions exist within the Bahá’í community? How do we make use of this definition?
What was unknown to the Bahá’ís of Abdu’l-Bahá’s time? Why is this important?
Why is our Administrative Order unique?
Chapter V: the Guardianship
How did the world change after WWI? (Note: signs of awakening)
What was the tragedy that was now apparent?
What was the second tragedy?
Describe the challenge that was facing Shoghi Effendi?
Why was Shoghi Effendi so alone when he set out on his task? (talk about the family and the Greatest Holy Leaf)
The Guardian’s vision of the Cause: What things to he have to impress on the minds and hearts of the believers?
How did the Local Spiritual Assemblies of both the East and the West develop?
Why was the process of securing legal status for the Assemblies important? (p.57)
What was significant about the court decision in Egypt in 1925?
What is the greatest tragedy and who was responsible for it? What are the consequences? (p. 59)
The spiritual vacuum: What results from this spiritual vacuum? What are the “false gods” and why are they false? Why do we fall for these false gods? What do we learn from this?
Let’s try to describe the true nature of being human.
Session III: Chapters VI
& VII
Who were the leaders in responding to the Master’s call to teach the Faith in the Divine Plan? What is the significance of this?
(touch on the lost stories of the Iranian women)
What means did the Guardian use to arouse the North American believers to an awareness of teaching?
What vision did he give them? Is this vision still significant for us today?
When was the divine Plan actually implemented? Why then?
Discuss the role of planning and its unique nature for us. (p. 69)
Take a look at the nature of history as described on p.70 in the light of the publication of God Passes By. (urge the reading of this book)
Note: find places where text refers to predictive statements by Bahá’u’lláh and links them to some actual event.
Post-WWII can we find signs of a “fundamental shift of consciousness” that occurred. How was this period one of hope? Why was that hope short lived?
Now look at developments in the Bahá’í world; how did we take advantage of the opportunities of this time?
>7 Year Plan
>the great 10 Year Crusade: review its achievements.
Note: p. 78, para 6.32.1 “no matter how long the period….”
Reflect on the 50 year anniversaries being celebrated during 2K3.
Why are the parallel developments at the international level important?
Discuss development of the institution of the Hands of the Cause of God; what important work was accomplished in the Holy Land? Why was this significant?
What was the significance of the way in which the Bahá’í Community carried on after the death of our Guardian?
Did the Faith rise from obscurity during this time? How did the Bahá’í Community demonstrate unity?
Chapter VII.
How was the problem of succession of authority after the passing of Shoghi Effendi resolved?
Has this resolution worked? Why is it important for us to know and understand this matter?
Session IV Chapters VIII
& IX
Chapter VIII: the years following WWII.
(look for the disintegrating and the integrating forces)
What ended the post-war peace euphoria? Have we experienced a round of something similar since then? (the early ‘90s)
Where has this tragedy been most acutely felt?
What was the inspiration behind these crises? Discuss materialism and the disintegration of society?
Why was the election of the first Universal House of Justice such a pivotal event? Why can “the faithful rejoice”?
Examine the complementary relationship between the Universal House of Justice and the Guardian?
On whom rest the responsibility for establishing world government?
What is our responsibility? (this point could be an opportunity to think about what we as individuals in this group might do?)
What power does the Cause possess to influence the course of history? (see paragraph 8.20)
What power has made Bahá’í unity possible?
Chapter IX: the period since 1963
Identify the two parallel tracks of advancement.
(Three new institutions of the administrative order are developed.)
Discuss creation of the Continental Boards of Counsellors: Why was this new institution created? What other institution was created and why?
Look at the process of expansion in the early days of this period, the 1960s and the 1970s. What adjustments did pioneers and Spiritual assemblies have to make?
Discuss the setback we experienced in the later ‘70s when enrollments dropped and some believers drifted away. What effect did this have and what are we learning from this experience?
How did we get into issues of social and economic development?
Where in the world did some real progress take place? How does this review of progress affect us here in our area?
(*unifying power of the Faith)
What was the importance of the 4 Year Plan?
Who was Sadru’s-Sudur? How does this person relate to the Institute process with which we are now familiar?
What do we mean by the cyclical nature of Bahá’í history? Why are our trials necessary?
**What confidence building methods are being used by the Universal House of Justice in this book? From what source do we derive our confidence?
Session V: Chapters X, XI,
XII.
Chapter X: winning the support of the institutions of society.
When did this process begin? Why is this important? Why are apparent failures sometimes successes?
How did we get involved with the United Nations Organization?
What benefits has this involvement brought us?
What made the situation of the Bahá’ís in Iran different from other victims of persecution? What victory have these persecuted Bahá’í communities achieved?
How has the Bahá’í International Community come to be seen in the life of society?
What victories were achieved in Germany and Brazil?
Chapter XI
1st.section
What does the image of light signify?
Why does Abdu’l-Bahá use this image about this century?
Let’s see if we can discern in what sense each of unity has been achieved. (try to get specific examples)
2nd
section
What do you find significant in the United Nation’s millennial meetings? And in the Millennium Summit itself? What role did the Bahá’í International Community play in these events?
What is the continuing crisis which the world is experiencing from the end of the 20th? Century?
Why is it difficult to believe these rather statements?
Examine the two phenomena:
1) collapse of society’s moral foundation
2) globalization & www: benefits and deficits
Why does the House examine the benefits and deficits of globalization?
Where will the solution to these discrepancies be found?
3rd
section
Describe the “entrenched philosophical attitude” that allows the present inequitable system to flourish?
What are the ultimate issues?
What are we challenged to do?
Chapter XII
1st.section
Why does this chapter open with the reference to the opening statement in the Gospel of John?
(read quotation paragraph 12.2.1)
What is the “Major Plan” of God?
What did we achieve in the 20th.century?
What is yet to be achieved?
What can we expect?
2nd
section
Note divisions of time & what was accomplished in each.
How did the status of the Faith in the world change?
What is the mission on which we set out in1963? What have we achieved?
What was the importance of the publication of the Aqdas in 1992?
Why is moral certitude a potent force for us?
What sort of attacks have we overcome in the past 100 years?
3rd
section
Why is the development of the World Centre so important?
Why is the success of our teaching work assured?
How can we as individuals make use of this knowledge?
Describe the significance of Ruhíyyih Khanúm’s life?
4th
section
What are the historical developments that are converging?
What is our primary contribution to this process?
Who is the “new creation”?
What response can each of us make to this call? And our community?
How can we convey confidence in such a vision?
Ending the final session:
Ask the group participants to summarize the message of this book.
Ask members of the group to commit themselves to a project or activity that reflects what they have learned from studying this book.
Note to facilitator: look for opportunities to suggest artistic responses to what we are reading.
All done:
Belinda
17 Dec. 2K3