The ABS(ESE) Annual Conference was held this year at the London School of Economics and Political Science on the theme 'The role of Morality and Ethics in Society'. Up to 50 people from seven different countries heard papers of outstanding quality.

Proceedings commenced with an Introduction and welcome by Executive Committee chairperson Seena Fazel in which he gave a brief history of the work of the ABS. The first paper entitled 'Dancing Mind: a Holistic Education Model for Moral Education' was presented by Roger Prentice. This was based both on theoretical knowledge and practical experience in the speaker's professional field. The approach combined points of educational theory with eiements of psychiatry and philosophy, and principles drawn from Baha'f belief, offering in all a model for future education.

Geeta Kingdon spoke next on the topic 'The Education of Females and Socio-Economic Development'. The paper was a model of how to correlate the writings of the Faith to society's current needs. The beneficial indicated the Baha'f principle of the priority of female education were demonstrated within the context of socio-economic development. Presenting evidence from contemporary research, the speaker addressed her chosen topic clearly and compellingly in the arenas of economics, sociology, and human rights.

During lunchtime, a colourful book-sales display was provided by Steven Vickers and the first session after lunch was given by Dorothy Marcie who had travelled specially from the Czech Republic to make her presentation. Dorothy, In the course of her talk on 'The Wisdom of Love Creating Values in Organizations', gave an exciting and polished account of the role played by ethics in the activities of business. This was followed by assorted workshops: Dorothy Marcie led a discussion on 'The Role of Ethics In Business'; John Danesh read a paper by Udo Schaeffer entitled 'The New Morality' and facilitated discussion afterwards; Roger Prentice conducted a workshop on 'Morals and education'; and Mark Peckham on 'Baha'f Societies: their morality?'.

The Conference concluded with the presentation of the Annual Report followed by a period of general consultation. A spirit of renewed commitment was evinced by participants, reinforced by the enrolment of many additional members and the formation of a new Education SIG.

The ABS-ESE would like to appeal to its members to inform their friends, Bahá’ís in nearby communities and anyone with an interest in Bahá’í Studies about our existence. We are now also encouraging LSA's to join. The rate for institutional membership is the same as that for individuals (£12 per annum). In addition to receiving the publications ofof the Association, institutions would be supporting the work of the ABS-ESE in the promotion of Bahá’í Studies through their membership. If you would like further information about the work of the Association or membership forms please contact the secretary, Fariba Hedayati (see Gender Studies SIG report below for address: e-mail communication if possible).

This took place during September on the theme: 'From the UN to a WorldCommonwealth. The president of the German World Federalists and Y. Dror, who recently wrote a book on global governance for the Club of Rome. were present. The German ABS last year went through a slow process of reconstitution and so not much activity took place. Now, however, there is hopefully a new spirit and new motivation for additional people to become active in the field of scholarship. One thing, however, gave reason for serious concern: virtually no youth participated, which indicates the need to provide both stimulation and training for German Bahá’í students.

19 Bahá’í students managed to find their way to the conference and were joined by 2 non-Bahá’ís. The weekend's discussion centred on the Bahá’í view of crime, treatment of criminals and approaches to punishment. Various speakers looked at the writings of 'Abdu'l-Baha on the subject (particularly"Some Answered Questions"), while others turned to the practical implications of a future Bahá’í Commonwealth and its influence on issues relating to crime. It has to be said that at this stage we found ourselves in deep speculative waters - we agreed, I think, that this was a result of weak knowledge of the Guardian's World Order letters. There was plenty of talk though. each session running way over time. We also had the characteristic brain-storming session about our society activities, the conclusion of these being to 'use EBSAN more (the European Bahá’í Student emaillist serve).

The general feeling at the end of the weekend was that it had been quite successful; the only serious concern being the overwhelming majority of Bahá’ís present. Inviting other societies to join the proceedings next year would be a real step forward, and also help to provide for more speakers. All the speakers were students, and the talks included: Greg Messiah (Oxford): 'Crime and Punishment: Kafka's fear of God'; Aryan Steadman (Kent): 'Crime and law'; and Danesh Sarooshi (lSE): 'International Criminal Law-whodunnit and what good is it?'; Varqa Khadem (Imperial College): 'Punishment in a Bahá’í Society' (workshop); Bill Jenkins (Nottingham): 'The Purpose of Punishment'; Miriam Sohrab (Kent): 'Crime and the Family'; Suzie Howard (Brighton): 'Crime and Morality'; and Steven Powells (LSE): 'Capital Punishment'.

MICHAElMAS TERM: We had a large influx of "new blood" boosting the number of Bahá’í students from three to seven. We decided to hold speaker meetings almost every week, if possible. At the Societies Fair, an impressive 70 or so people signed our "interested" mailing list. The talks were:
1 ) Danesh Sarooshi on Global Security
2) Dr. Sepi Taheri on "What is Bahá’í?"
3) Mahsa Javid on her Year of Service in Albania
4) Babak Javid on "Religion – Still an Opiate?"

OXFORD UNIVERSITY BAHA'I SOCIETY 1994-5

THE BAHÁ’Í CHAIR FOR WORLD PEACE

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The first meeting of this new SIG was held on November 19 in Leatherhead, Surrey, UK. This SIG is intended primarily for those currently engaged in research in the field of education. Meetings of more general interest will be arranged as the group develops. The first aim of the SIG is to establish a support network for such researchers and encourage local support groups. Two themes which appear to be emerging are the education of the whole child/person and education and development studies. Anyone interested in attending future meetings or presenting aspects of their research or work in progress in this field at a future seminar should contact: Roger Prentice. Phone +44-1403256-790; e-mail: rogerpren@pncl.co.uk

Following the Group's successful inaugural conference held last August BIPOLIG invites all those interested to the second conference. Papers to be presented cover a range of topics, including international human rights, international politics/ relations, international organisation, international political economy, internationallaw and world order studies. The conference will take place over the weekend of 27-8 January 1996 at the London School of Economics and Political Science and speakers and participants are expected from an international audience. The conference is for anyone with an interest in examining the correlation between the Bahá’í writings and the afore.mentioned subjects and a number of specialists will be in attendance.

The cost of the two day conference is only £15 for waged and £5 for unwaged. To register please forward name, address and phone no. by 19 January to the following address, together with appropriate fee and indicate whether information on accommodation is required: Naz GhaneaHercock, Heather Glade, Madeley, Cheshire. United Kingdom CW3 9EF. Phone: +44-1782- 751-824

The Institute for Bahá’í Studies is sponsoring a conference on "The New World Order in Bahá’í Perspective" from 7 p.m. Friday. January 26. 1996, through noon, Sunday. January 28, 1996, at the Bahá’í National Center in Wilmette. The Bahá’í scriptures call for the establishment of a new world order as the basis of a united, peaceful global civilization and society. Yet as this idea has gained momentum in outside society, forces of opposition have grown and have portrayed the idea of a new world order as a satanic conspiracy. The conference will examine the idea of a new world order from a scholarly perspective, addressing the following issues:
1 . What sort of new world order do the Bahá’í scriptures envisage?
2. What are the elements in this new world order - such as:
equality of the races and sexes, strong families, environmental preservation, social and economic development, widespread prosperity, universal education. cultural advancement, establishment of justice and the rule of law, human rights. collective security, and international police force, and new forms of diplomacy - and how can they be attained, either collectively or individually?
3. What is the history of the term "new world order"? What are the concepts of world order outside the Bahá’í Faith. and how are they similar to or different from the concepts in Bahá’í scripture? How is "world order" a process and not simply an event?
4. What are the successes and failures of the United Nations; how can the current United Nations be improved? 5. What is the nature of opposition to the new world order, and how can it be countered?
Presentations on any of these topics, or related topics, are welcome.

To offer a presentation send a five-hundred word abstract (one single-spaced page or two double-spaced pages) to: Mrs. Lynne Yancy at the address below as soon as possible. Because of space, conference attendance must be limited to 100. Registration fee: Please send a cheque for $60 (includes $30 for all meals) payable to "Bahá’í Services Fund" to the attention of Mrs. Yancy, c/o Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

Hotel reservations: $65/night single or double occupancy at the North Shore Hilton, 9599 Skokie Blvd., Skokie, IL; 708-6797000. Reserve rooms by January 12 to receive the conference rate.

This event, co-sponsored by the Haj Mehdi Arjmand Memorial Fund and the Institute for Baha'f Studies will be held at the Bahá’í National Center on March 26-28, 1996. The Colloquium will focus on presentations of papers replying to criticisms and attacks made against the Bahá’í Faith. It will also include presentations on the significance of the Kitab-i-Aqdas and the application of its laws. Those wishing to present on either topic are invited to send a short abstract (500 words) to the Research Office, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, 708733-3425 (phone), 708-733-3563 (FAX), research@usbnc.org (e-mail) before January 15, 1996.

In the interests of accuracy, it should be said that the Bahá’í Encyclopedia is a project of the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States, which has paid virtually all the costs connected with it. The Bahá’í Publishing Trust is the presumed lead publisher, although it is not their project as such. It is run by an editorial board consisting of Betty Fisher, the general editor of the American Publishing Trust; Larry Bucknell, the former general manager of the BPT; Firuz Kazemzadeh, who is an emeritus professor of history at Yale and the longest serving member of the American NSA; and Will van den Hoonaard. Heshmat Moayyad. Todd Lawson, and myself, who are all professional academics, and Moojan Momen. I was the original general editor, until Ileft for another job in 1991, after which Moojan Momen took over. until his resignation this fall. Will van den Hoonaard was also for most of the history of the project the editor for articles on the sociology of the Bahá’í community. The editorial board is responsible for setting policy and for review. both editorial and Bahá’í. When the project was proposed, the prospectus was reviewed successively by the Publishing Trust, the American NSA, and by the House of Justice before the American NSA finally committed to the project. The editorial board was set up so that review could be done as the project proceeded, rather than by third parties at the end, though articles of. special concern to particular Bahá’í institutions were normally sent to them for comment – i.e., NSAs were sent the articles on their own countries, and articles on various aspects of the World Centre were sent there. The project has received a great deal of cooperation from the World Centre over the years. but it belongs to the American NSA.

We estimate that the encyclopedia would be two volumes of about half a million words each – somewhere between 1500 and 2000 pages. Cost to date has been something in excess of $500,000 US over a ten-year period. (Serious encyclopedias cost about $500 per page to produce.)

The articles are generally directed at informed adult Bahá’í readers, although that varies somewhat depending on the content. The average article is probably a little over a thousand words, although varies greatly, depending on content with the longest articles over 10,000 words (about 10-12 couble-column large pages).

Last year a committee at the World Centre formed to review the article "Bahá’í World Centre" raised a number of questions about the tone and content of that article. Further correspondence made it clear that the concerns of the House did not have to do with a single article but touched on the most fundamental editorial aspects of the project. Dr. Momen then resigned as general editor, leaving the project without day-to-day staff, so most work ceased. On reviewing the current draft of the first volume, the House of Justice stated that it was concerned about the content of a number of other articles and about the tone and fundamental methods of the work, as a whole. The House also instructed the Board not to procede further with the encyclopedia until these editorial issues were resolved to the satisfaction of the House. There have been no further developments since December, so far as I am aware.

The House's concerns dealt with the propriety of an official Bahá’í publication using the methods and tone of neutral scholarship about fundamental Bahá’í topics. They also had concerns about matters of accuracy. Given that there is now no editor and no immediate prospect of solving the policy problems that have arisen, it Is quite possible that the encyclopedia wilt not appear.

A recent issue of Time magazine explored a significant social trend: the search for spirit: 'Maybe it's a critical mass of baby-boomers in the contemplative afternoon of life. Or anxiety over the coming millenium. Or a general dissatisfaction with the materialism of the modern world. For these reasons and more, millions of Americans are embarking on a search for the scared in their lives'. Apparently, the seekers fit no particular profile. 'They include Wall Street investment bankers who spend their lunch hours in Bible-study groups, artists rediscovering religious themes, fitness addicts who've traded aerobics classes for meditation and other spiritual exercises. No matter what path they take, the seekers are united by a sincere desire to find answers to profound questions, to understand their place in the cosmos'. The trend is particularly significant among the babyboomers: 'Spirituality was off their radarscope. Instead, as a generation, boomers embraced political activism, careerism, even marathon running, with an almost religious zeal. Now it is suddenly OK, even chic, to use the S-words - soul, sacred, spiritual, sin. In a Newsweek poll, a majority of Americans (58%) say they feel the need to experience spiritual growth. And a third of all adults report having had a mystical or religious experience'. An anthropologist is reported as saying: "We have stripped away what our ancestors saw as essential the importance of religion and family... People feel they want something they've lost, and don't remember what it is they've lost. But it has left a gaping hole.. That, in essence, is the seeker's quest: to fill the hole with a new source of meaning'.

The Promise of World Peace provides a Bahá’í perspective. The spiritual quest is identified as an inclination towards transcendence, 'a reaching towards an invisible realm, towards the ultimate reality, that unknowable essence of essences called God'. In support, it quotes Toynbee's, reference to religion as a 'faculty of human nature'. The Prosperity of Humankind statement addresses the same theme. It points out that the promptings of the spiritual dimension of human nature influence the lives of the majority of the earth's inhabitants and cites the dramatic events around the world as evidence that 'the longings it awakens are both inextinguishable and incalculably potent'.

The next Gender Studies Seminar is due to take place sometime in May 1996 in Edinburgh, Scotland, details of which will be announced. If you wish to contribute a presentation please contact Fariba Hedayati, 3OC Victoria Square, Jesmond, Newcastle upon Tyne. NE2 4DE. United Kingdom. email: fariba@hedayati.demon.co.uk.

Meantime plans are afoot for a Seminar in Dublin, Ireland on February 3, 1996. Offers of papers and enquiries to: Seosamh Watson, 2 Harlech Downs, Dublin 14. Ireland. Phone +353-1-298-4474, e-mail address: watson@irleam.ucd.ie

Although many members from abroad find it difficult to attend the various ABS-ESE seminars, it is worth pointing out that only through their support and continuing membership of the organisation is it possible to organise such events.

The first Gender Studies Seminar ever to be held by the SIG took place in Newcastle upon Tyne 21-23 July. Abstracts of the presentations made there are reproduced here and it is anticipated that revised versions of some of these will appear in a special issue of Baha'i Studies Review.

Abstracts of July 1995 Seminar: Lil Abdo: 'Gender and Sex Equality – A Bahá’í Perspective'
The purpose of this paper was to consider the concept of gender and sex equality in the light of the Bahá’í Writings on the subject. The first part of the paper examines the social construction of gender and the contention that biological determination of gender is implicit in the Bahá’í Writings. The second part looks at the development of a specifically Bahá’í understanding of gender and sex equality and Its relationship to secularfeminism. Finally, the development of gender and sex equality within the Bahá’í community is examined. In this context the laws relating to marriage, divorce and family relations in the Kitab-i-Aqdas are considered, as well as the contradiction of sex autonomy and unity in diversity.
Trevor R.J. Finch: 'What are Men For? (A Model of Positive Remasculinisation)
This paper seeks to explore some of the issues related to an area, identified in a recent article in BSR 4.1 on secondary Bahá’í literature on women, as a gap in our literature: that of the contribution of men in the arena of equality. It is not meant to be rigorous or authoritative, but to set out some of the key questions and identify some potentially fruitful avenues of enquiry. The paper starts with a survey of the present situation regarding the attitudes and feelings of man, identifying some points of difficulty, such as how men may express their masculinity in non-threatening ways. It then moves on to explore what men can do for . women in the arena of equality, what men can do for themselves and each other to develop their feminine characteristics, and finally what men can do to remasculinate themselves in positive ways.

Mark Hellaby: 'Gender Issues in the Kitab-iAqdas' This presentation focuses on gender issues in the Kitab-i-Aqdas, discussing the question of how the cardinal principle of the equality of men and women is addressed and upheld in Baha'u'llah's most holy book. Various specific issues in this area are reviewed.

Joseph Housseal: 'The Taoist and Zen Roots of Gender Indifference in the Japanese Noh Theatre'
Noh is the oldest extant multi-art dance theatre in the world. Its longevity has much to do with the actuality of spiritual vitality it is able to create in performance. This actuality is a shared perception of ever greater unity: God, Tao, existence itself, has no attributes. All distinction, including gender distinction, arises out of a unifying spiritual reality which is the true subject of Noh. How this spiritual truth is embodied in art forms is demonstrated and explained in contrast to gender-distinct dance forms such as ballet and Kabuki, highlighting Noh's worldly entities. Noh's fundamental aesthetic dynamic 'Hana' (flower) is discussed relative to Zen awareness. From a Bahá’í perspective the need for the artistic evolution of gender equality, while gaining much from Noh's lofty example, is clear.

Movement from a rejection of sexuality to a different but equal sexuality is called for.

Stephen Lambden: 'Immortal Heroines'
Partially rooted in Islamic Prophetic traditions, there exist various texts within Baha'i Scripture which accord select female figures in religious history the status of 'immortal heroines' (a phrase of Shoghi Effendi's, see GPB). Among those referred to in this way are Sarah, (fl. ?19th cent. BCE) wife of Abraham, Asiyih (fl. ?c. 13th cent. BCE) wife of Pharaoh, Mary (fl. 1st cent. CE), mother of Jesus, Fatimih (d. 633 CE) daughter of the Prophet Muhammad, Tahirih (d. 1852 CE) a disciple of the Bab, and Bahiyyih Khanum (d. 1932 CE), daughter of Baha'u'llah. This presentation examines what is known about their lives within history and explores select 'heroic' dimensions of their spirituality.

Moojan Momen: 'The Feminist Study of Religion'. This paper presents a survey of the feminist view of religion and the feminist study of religion. It then goes on to look at some of the main academic approaches to the study of religion. These are divided into the scientific (empiricist or reductive) approaches which try to an lyse religion in terms of sociological or psychological factors at work and the synthetic (or holistic) approaches which see religion as being more than just the result of sociological and psychological factors and try to describe the place and functioning of religion more on its own terms.

Wendi Momen: 'The Changing Role of Women in BaM'i Administration in the West: Preliminary Notes' From the earliest days of the development of the Baha'i Faith in the West women played an outstanding role as teachers and administrators. The level of their participation in each of these dimensions of service to the Baha'i community has fluctuated over time. This paper is the beginning of a research project that intends to look at the development of the participation of women in the administrative branches of the Faith in the West and those factors which influenced their participation.

Sheshe Sherwani: 'Women and Art' This paper takes an historical look at how women are perceived in art in the biological, sociological and spiritual senses, and also how they themselves are participants. This is done with a view to highlighting how their development has been repressed as as a direct result of cultural stereotyping. By drawing on particular examples of works of art which deal with gender, an outline is given of how patterns of change are evolving within the 'art arena' to enable women to contribute in the contemporary era. A link is being created between cultural values and religious influences. The relationship of this to Baha'i teachings is explored, which, by throwing new light on women's social and spiritual role'is, the presenter argues, are in synchronisation with the momentum of the age. Although the paper focuses mainly on Asian and, in particular, Indian art, it does, nevertheless, reflect a much wider development for women, namely the point of transition from tradition to modernity.

Sonja van Kerkhoff: 'Gendered Categories - a Multi-media Presentation'
We are female or male, and ignoring this so as to identify ourselves in the first instance as a person means, in this society, accepting the male hegemony. Feminism is not just a recognition of gender identity but also a debate about sexuality and power. And this is the reason for the focus of the paper in the first place on the very idea of category as a foundation for addressing the issue of gender. 'There's something about categorising things, about putting things in their place. Maybe it's about a kind of comfort. Maybe it's about setting things straight, putting first things first. Whatever it is, it surely has a hold on us. We seem intent on labelling and ordering. It's how we get on with our lives, how we proceed...' (Barbara Kruger in Remote Control). This is not to argue against the very category of gender itself: in fact the presentation argues that 'individulity is not a unitary abstraction but an embodied and sexually differentiated expression of the unity of humankind'. (Elizabeth Gross in Feminist Challenges).