The Ascent of Society by Hatcher, John -- Read -- Imperial Library of Trantor

Index

Cover Half Title Page Title Page Copyright Dedication Contents Acknowledgments Introduction 1 / The Basis for a Global Perspective

Background to the Bahá’í Faith Fundamental Bahá’í Teachings The Authoritative Texts of the Bahá’í Faith Ontology of the Prophets of God The Solution to Religious Conflict The Need to Institutionalize Religion

2 / Knowledge in Action: Linking the Dual Components of Human Reality

To Know Thee Some Sources of Confusion about the Knowledge of God Independent Investigation Does Not Imply Complete Autonomy To Worship Thee Parallel Statements of These Two Duties

Capacities Unique to Human Beings

Creation Focused on Human Ascent

Action as Worship The Articulation of This Process in the Most Holy Book The Integral Nature of This Process Attributes of the Process

The Twin Duties in Relation to Physical Reality The Twin Duties as Parallel to the Twin Stations of the Prophets

The Station of Essential Unity The Station of Distinction

3 / Our Twin Duties: Manifestations Show the Way

How an Ordinary Human Artist Translates Insight into Artifact

Causality in Art Artist as Visionary

Spiritual Ascent as Artistic Process Some Essential Implications in This Process

The Need for a Metaphysical Reality The Need for Renewal Refinement, Not Transmutation

The Manifestation of God as Divine Artificer

Manifestation as Functionary Manifestation as Artist

4 / The Social Imperative in Personal Salvation

The Social Dimension of Individual Salvation Why Acquiring Virtue Requires Interaction The Social Imperative in Our Salvation The Focus of Revelation on a Framework for Collective Ascent

The Ever-Expanding Sense of Self

The Importance of Detachment in This Process The Social Self as Confirmed by the Social Sciences

The Individual as a Social Being The Power of the Social Self

The Bahá’í Concept of the Social Self

Essential Interdependence A Further Examination of Detachment Aging as a Teaching Device about Detachment Other Useful Images of Aging and Detachment Detachment as a Social Process

Achieving Selflessness in a Contemporary Environment

Social Identity in a Period of Transition—Dead Canaries Everywhere!

The Dual Bahá’í Perspective about This Period of Transition The Importance of Human Volition

5 / Evolution of the Social Self: Human History as a Spiritual Dynamic

The Bahá’í Concept of Universal Organization

The Creator and the Creation Physical Creation Focused on the Human Reality

The Inherent Social Dimension of Creation

The Paradigm of Human Development The Fundamental Properties of Human Evolution The Need for External Assistance The Collective Consciousness

Religion as the Process by which Manifestations Educate Humankind

Progressive Revelation and the “Covenant” Dealing with Disunity and Dissension Cycles, Independent Prophets, and“Minor” Prophets

Gradual Unification of the Process The Cyclical Paradigm of Human History: Rebuilding the City of God

The Grouping of Dispensations in Universal Cycles Teach Humans in the “Normal” Way

The Strategic Importance of the Present Age

Attaining Planetary Maturation What the Future Holds

The Global Paradigm

6 / A New Wineskin for the New Wine

The Relationship of the Wineskin to the Wine

Continuity after the Passing of the Manifestation

How Can the Plan of an Omnipotent God Be Diverted?

The Logic and Benefit of a Historical Perspective What We Have Learned So Far

The Most Immediate Problem for the New Jerusalem

Some Origins of the Schism in Christianity The Disciples Don’t Get It

Some Inferences about This Schism What Will Make a Difference?

7 / Choice Wine at the Family Reunion

The Transition from “Day” to “Day”

Resurrection Reunion “This Day” The New “Wineskin” Free Will and Human Response

The Pervasiveness and Importance of “Vineyard” Imagery

The “Choice Sealed” Wine Unsealing the Choice Wine A “Twofold Language” for Twin Purposes The Twofold Language and the Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh

The Choice Wine Sealed with Musk Unsealing the Wine at the Family Reunion

8 / How to Get There from Here: The Pathway to the Lesser Peace

Getting There from Here

Some Initial Steps New Wrenches in the Works

America’s Strategic Role and Plight in This Process

Patriotism Is Not the Problem The Cell Analogy (Again) The Emerging Vision of World Polity

The Cleansing Fire of Ordeal Ordeal as a Gradual and Cleansing Process

Has the Climactic Tempest Already Occurred?

What This Ordeal Will Accomplish

A Medical Procedure for a Pathological Illness

The Lesser Peace

Establishing a Permanent Accord Other Features of This Binding Pact

9 / A Changed Perspective: The World Government of the “Lesser Peace”

The Importance of a Peacekeeping Force The Initial Structure of a Global Commonwealth of Nations

A Process over Time Possible Paradigms of Structure for a Federated Global Government 1. A World Legislature 2. A World Executive 3. A World Tribunal 4. A World Force

The Stage of “Establishment“—Climax of the Lesser Peace The Covenant and Continuity

10 / The New Wineskin: A Basic Bahá’í Model of the New Jerusalem

The Vision of the Bahá’í Commonwealth as the New Jerusalem The Bahá’í Administrative Order: Modeling the Future Some Unique Attributes of Bahá’í Administrative Structure

Chart of Three-Tiered Global Paradigm

Lines of Authority in Relation to the Twin Duties of Human Purpose

Present-Day Bahá’í Administrative Order

11 / Procedures and Protocols of Governance in the Present-Day Model of the Bahá’í Commonwealth

Distinguishing Characteristics of Bahá’í Elections

Who Is Eligible? The Electoral Process The Consultative Process Fundamental Steps in the Consultative Process Appealing a Decision Other Resources on the Consultative Process

A Divine Economy

Some Ingredients of a Future Economy Retention of Profit Motive Charitable Systems in a Commonwealth The Critical Function of the “Right of God”

The “Arc” as Metaphor for the Administrative Order

“Arc” as Metaphor or Divine Pun Symbolic Relation of the Arc to the Shrine of the Báb The Prospect for the Future of the Bahá’í World Center

A Unique Form of Governance It’s the Community That Counts

12 / The Local Community: The Heart of a Global Society

Evolution of Bahá’í Community Life

The Local Community and the Tribal Model The Local House of Justice as Tribal Council The Process of Consultation The Bahá’í House of Worship as Megaron The Individual and the Tribal Perspective The Importance of History and Heroes The Calendar as a Symbol of a Shared Perspective

The Bahá’í Calendar

Bahá’í Feasts, Anniversaries, and Days of Fasting Rites and Rituals Associated with the Cycle of Life

Law Enforcement and the Community

Law and Order as Integral to Socialization Retribution and Justice

An Abiding Image of a World Commonwealth

A New Race of Men

Conclusion: The Music of the Spheres Notes Bibliography

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