Call for Papers

[Susan Maneck]

The Executive Committee of the Association for Bahá’í Studies extends a warm invitation to you to attend and participate in the 28th Annual Conference of the Association for Bahá’í Studies – North America   "Spirit and Intellect: Advancing Civilization" 28th Annual Conference of the Association for Bahá’í Studies – North America 3-6 September 2004 Hyatt Regency Hotel Calgary, Alberta, Canada This conference simultaneously draws attention to the spiritual quality of the human intellect and the intellectual quality of the human spirit. "Before all else," the Bahá’í Writings state, "God created the mind. . . ." Civilizations, in all their ever-changing diversity, are the _expression_ of intellect and wisdom, and human happiness results from the upliftment of others achieved through the investigation of reality and the application of the knowledge obtained. Scholarship, then, is a spiritual, social, and scientific endeavor, through which individuals simultaneously realize their potential, foster all human potential, and create new understandings of physical, social, and spiritual reality. Within the academy, there is currently little formal acknowledgement of the spiritual nature of scholarship. The very words of the conference theme can be problematic. Many in the natural sciences question the meaning of "spirit" and "intellect." Those in the social sciences and humanities largely concur, and add further questions about the meaning and value of terms like "advancing" and "civilization," given their recent associations with the injustices of nineteenth- century colonial expansion, twentieth-century totalitarian regimes, and increasingly destructive levels of consumption. Yet these very questions continually spur investigation into what can only be called matters of the spirit. However challenging such questions may be for the Bahá’í scholar, they stimulate a rigorous examination and exploration of Bahá’í texts as well as works of contemporary thought. The result can and should be a transformed understanding of both. The theme particularly invites exploration of the definition of scholarship and the identity of the scholar; the importance of spiritual goals and motivations of the scholar; the importance of scholarship in aiding spiritual development; the integration of individual and social goals; the role of the scholar in civilization; the contested understandings of civilization, knowledge, and natural and social realities. Possible topics include the cultures and societies in which contemporary social and physical science emerged, and their assumptions about nature, society, and history; the rising need for interdisciplinary and multi-disciplinary studies as traditional disciplines fail to address complex social and natural realities; ethical concerns raised by increased corporate influence in natural and health sciences; the growing need for and use of traditional indigenous knowledge; exploring different ways of thinking and the role of the imagination in science, including inductive, deductive, and reductionist reasoning, but also meditation, inspiration, and consultation; ongoing debates on the role of genes versus social and natural environments in determining human nature; and the increasing questioning of worldviews which separate humans and nature, the individual and society, and the natural and spiritual. Call for Presentations Proposals are invited for presentations and workshops on (but not limited to) the above themes, as well as performing arts presentations. Proposals must include (1) an abstract or description of the presentation (250–400 words), (2) biographical information, and (3) a current address, phone number, and e-mail address. Presentations must be substantially original work, unpublished and not previously presented. Papers will be considered for publication in the Journal of Bahá’í Studies. Youth and first-time ABS presenters are especially encouraged to submit proposals (contact ABS if you would like assistance in preparing the proposal). The deadline for submitting proposals is 15 April 2004. Send proposals to: Association for Bahá’í Studies, 34 Copernicus St., Ottawa, ON, Canada K1N 7K4; fax: 613-233-3644; e-mail: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>. Registration and Hotel Information For information about the conference and to register, contact Parvin Rowhani, Conference Coordinator, Association for Bahá’í Studies, 34 Copernicus St., Ottawa, ON, Canada K1N 7K4; tel.: 613-233-1903; fax: 613-233-3644; e-mail: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>. Updates on the conference including the registration form will be posted on the ABS Web site: <www.bahai-studies.ca>. Hotel reservations must be made directly with the conference hotel, the Hyatt Regency Calgary, 700 Centre Street S.E., Calgary, AB, T2G 5P6; tel: 403-717-1234; toll-free reservation number: 800-233-1234. Web site: <www.calgary.hyatt.com>. Mention the Association for Bahá’í Studies conference to receive the special conference rate. Room rates (in Canadian Dollars): single/double: $109 (approximately US$80); triple: $119; quad: $129 __________________________________________________ You are subscribed to Baha'i Studies as: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Baha'i Studies is available through the following: Mail - mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Web - http://list.jccc.net/read/?forum=bahai-st News - news://list.jccc.net/bahai-st http://www.escribe.com/religion/bahaist (public) http://www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED] (public)