Annual Report, 2004
English
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'IRFÁN COLLOQUIUM IN 2004
A Brief Report
In 2004 the `Irfán Colloquium managed to break some of its past records:
- For the first time a group of 10 young Bahá'í scholars from Iran participated at the `Irfán Colloquium held at the Center for Bahá'í Studies in Acuto, Italy, and presented high level scholarly papers. This was the first such experience for the friends in Iran since the beginning of the new regime.
- One in every three paper presenters were young Bahá'ís;
- Nearly one fourth of the paper presenters were women;
- Two prominent non-Bahá'í scholars volunteered to participate, and presented their research papers related to Bahá'í scriptures; and
- A new series of annual books of proceedings of the `Irfán Colloquium in German was launched.
- A database was added to the 'Irfán Colloquium's website which greatly facilitates searching for various information on the 'Irfan activities and publications.
The `Irfán Colloquia held seven separate sessions in 2004 in Persian, English and German. They were held in North America at Bosch and Louhelen Bahá'í Schools; in Britain at London University; in Italy at Acuto Center for Bahá'í Studies; and in Germany at Tambach Conference Center. A total of 400 friends attended those events. The entire facility at all four Bahá'í host institutions was booked for `Irfán Colloquia and they were unable to accommodate all those applying due to limited space.
In those seven gatherings 62 scholars from 14 countries (see Attachment I) made a total of 89 presentations on topics related to
- Bahá'í Scripture;
- The relationship of the Bahá'í Faith with world religions, philosophy, mysticism, and science;
- The theological principles of the Bahá'í Faith
Of those presentations, 43 were delivered in Persian, 37 in English and 9 in German. The presentations were mainly focused on the Writings of the Báb and `Abdu'l-Bahá. (See Attachment II) The Writings of Bahá'u'lláh had been the main focus of the presentations from 1997 to 2001.
`Irfán Colloquium publications in 2004 included 5 in Persian, 5 in English and 2 in German. Altogether 2000 copies of these publications were distributed among the participants of the `Irfán Colloquia in that year. Four of these publications may be ordered from Bahá'í Distribution Service and Images International in the United States. The reception of one of these publications, The Images of Christ in the Writings of 'Abdu'l-Bahá by Maryam Afshar, was very encouraging; its first printing was sold out within six months. It appears that it was a useful item for firesides.
`Irfán Colloquium was founded by Haj Mehdi Arjmand Memorial Fund in 1993 and continues to be mainly sponsored by that Fund. The 'Irfán activities have gradually attracted some financial support from, Nadia Saadat Memorial Scholarship Fund, and Nasser Derakhshan Scholarship Fund as well as an annual contribution in the memory of Nurreddin Momtazi. Colloquium sessions have been organized under the auspices, and with the support, of the National Spiritual Assemblies in the countries where they are held and have received technical assistance from the Persian/American Affairs Office of the Bahá'i national Center of the United States. The `Irfán Colloquium so far has held a total of 58 sessions and produced 79 items of publications. In 2004 there were 36 recipients of token grants of `Irfán Fellowships and Scholarship. All paper presenters were exempted from paying registration fees and were offered a set of the Irfan publications. In addition all `Irfán publications offered for sale are substantially subsidized to reduce per copy prices.
The main aims of the `Irfán Colloquium is to promote scholarly and systematic studies of Bahá'í Scripture; the interface between the Bahá'í Faith and other religions, philosophies and schools of thought; and the fundamental principles of the Bahá'í belief system. Special effort is exerted to attract the younger generation of Bahá'ís to such studies and giving them a chance to be recognized, supported and encouraged. The `Irfán Colloquium is an opportunity for the Bahá'í scholars to meet, exchange views, plan joint studies. It particularly provides an opportunity for younger Bahá'í scholars to meet and develop scholarly relations with the more established scholars. One of the unique features of the `Irfán Colloquium is systematically familiarizing the participants with the often unpublished and less known items in the Bahá'í Writings.
Selected texts of papers presented at the colloquia, together with some other items relevant to the aims and objectives of the `Irfán Colloquium, are published annually in three series in Persian (Safiniy-i-'Irfán), English (The Lights of 'Irfán) and German (Beiträge des 'Irfán-Kolloquiums). Safíniy-i-`Irfán, also includes previously unpublished items of the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, the Báb and 'Abdu'l-Baha that are being provided by the Bahá'í World Centre. `Irfán publications also include booklets including the program and abstracts of the presentations for each session of the `Irfán Colloquium, a series of guidebooks on the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh and `Abdu'l-Bahá with annotated bibliographies, and a number of occasional papers. A set of annual publications are given to each participant of the `Irfán Colloquium to assist and encourage their personal studies and to promote advanced studies in the Bahá'í Faith.
Iraj Ayman
Chicago: January 2005
`IRFÁN COLLOQUIA 2004 PAPER PRESENTERS
(In alphabetical order)
Mehry Afnan Canada)
Muhammad Afnan (Canada)
Muin Afnani (USA)
Soheila Afnani (USA)
Mona Alizadeh (Kuwait)
Tooraj Amini (Iran)
Armaghan Asadi (USA)
Iraj Ayman (USA)
Saba Ayman-Nolley (USA)
Sheila Banani (USA)
Vahid J. Brown (USA)
Ghasem Bayat (USA)
Sateh Bayat (USA)
Farah Dustdar (Luxembourg)
Kamran Ekbal (Germany)
Sadegh Erfanian (USA)
Armin Eschraghi (Germany)
Arman Fahandej (Iran)
Ala' Ghods-Djourabchi (USA)
Sima Ghoddosi (Canada)
Daniel Grolin (Denmark)
Faruq Izadinia (Iran)
Behrooz Jabbari (Canada)
Farzaneh Jaber-Ansari (Bahrain)
Mozhan Khadem (USA)
Rouhullah Khoshbin (Canada)
Wolfgang Klebel (USA)
Ian Kluge (Canada)
Stephen Lambden (U.K. & USA)
Augusto Lopez-Claros (Switzerland)
Daryush Ma'ani (Austria)
William McCants (USA)
Jack McLain (Canada)
Manooher Mofidi (USA)
Nooshin Mohajerin (Iran)
Moojan Momen (U.K.)
Hushidar Motlagh (USA)
Franak Nikookar (Iran)
Badi' Panahi (Germany)
Roger Prentice (U.K.)
Sholeh Quinn (USA)
Vahid Ra'fati (Israel)
Farid Radmehr (Iran)
Fathiyyih Rashidi (Arabia)
Shapour Rassekh (Switzerland)
Habib Riazati (USA)
Mehrzad Rouhani (USA)
Sana Rouhani (USA)
Erfan Sabeti (Iran)
Enayat Sadeghian (Germany)
Parivash Samandar-Khoshbin (USA)
Oliver Scharbrodt (U.K. & Germany)
Heshmat Shahriary (USA)
Moshe Sharon (Israel)
Robert Stockman (USA)
Sharareh Taj Taraghi (Iran)
Enoch Tanyi (Cameroon)
James Thomas (USA)
Tajan Tober (Germany)
Ramin Vasli (Iran)
Hansjorg Walther (Germany)
Bruce Wannell (U.K.)
TOPICS PRESENTED AT THE 'IRFÁN COLLOQUIA IN 2004
A Partial List
Writings of Bahá'u'lláh
* Lawh-i-Hudaj: Its background and contents
* The Role and Significance of the Divine Names and Attributes in Bahá'í Prayers: A Comparative Study
* The translation of al-Kitáb al-Aqdas into Hebrew: Some notes on contents and style
* Qasidiy-i- zizith- Varqa'iyyih, A Mystical Poem of Baghdad Period
* Gems of Divine Mysteries, An Epistle Revealed during Baghdad Period
Writings of the Báb:
* An Introductory Review of the Book of Bayán
* The Book of Bayán: A Content Analysis
* A manuscript of the early Writings of the Báb
* Autobibliography in the Writings of the Báb: An Analysis of the Sources and Their Theological Significance.
* The Báb's Dalá'il-i- Sab`ah. (Seven Proofs)
* Chinese Tea and Spiritual Wayfaring in the Early Writings of the Báb
* The Báb's Tablets to Muhammad Shah.
* The Báb's Writings addressed to the Kings and Rulers
* Qur'anic commentaries in the Writings of the Báb
* Resurrection, Heaven and Hell in the Writings of the Báb
* The Báb's encounter with Muslim leading clergy
* The Báb's commentary on hadíth: “To know God Know yourself”
* References of the Báb to Shaykhi thoughts and concepts
* Textual Resurrection: Book, Imam, and Cosmos in the Qur'án Commentaries of the Báb
Writings of `Abdu'l-Bahá
* A Review of a tablet of 'Abdu'l-Bahá
* Commentary on the Islamic Tradition of “Hidden Treasure” (Kuntu Kanz):
1. Significance and Historical Context
2. Content Analysis
* A Review of 'Abdu'l-Bahá's Tablet of Universe (Aflakiyyih)
* A Preliminary Account of Shi'i Esoteric Commentary on the Hadith-e Haqiqat
* Commentary on the concept of reincarnation
* Lawh-i-Hizár Baytí (One Thousand verses) Addressed to Jalíl Khu'í
* Concept of Humility in the Writings of `Abdul-Bahá
* The Will and Testament of `Abdu'l-Bahá in the Context of Other Related Tablets
* A Review of the English Translation of `Abdu'l-Bahá's Tablets
* Tablet of Two Calls
* Role-models and anti-models: Islam and 'the West' in 'Abdu'l-Bahá's Secret of Divine Civilization
* “Love” in the Writings of `Abdu'l-Bahá
* Answers to some questions in the Writings of `Abdu'l-Bahá
* `Abdu'l-Bahá's treatise for the future order in the World
* Intellectualism as seen from the point of view of the Writings of `Abdu'l-Bahá
* `Abdu'l-Bahá's guidelines for education of children
* The Signs of Prophethood (an Exposition on a Tablet by 'Abdu'l-Bahá)
* A Review of the English Translation of `Abdu'l-Bahá's Tablets
* The Báb and Bábí Community in the Writings of `Abdu'l-Bahá
* An analytical Study of the Tablet of Seven Candles
* Encounter of Islam and the West in Secret of Divine Civilization
* The Life and Times of August Forel. (In reference to 'Abdu'l-Bahá's Tablet to August Forel)
Writings of Shoghi Effendi
* The Writings of Shoghi Effendi: Assessing Their Import For Bahá'í Studies
Bahá'í Writings
* A dynamic shift in theological and social aspects of religious systems: Reflections on the contributions of Persian Bayán and Kitáb-i-Iqán
* Commentaries on Bismellah in the Writings of the Báb and `Abdu'l-Bahá: Some Themes from Tablets on the Meaning of “In the Name of God, the Compassionate, and the Merciful”
* Islam, Muhammad and Qur'an in the Bahá'í Writings
* Ismailiyyih: Past and Present
* A Review of the Bahá'í Writings on the Concept of Reincarnation
* The Kingdom of God and the World of Creation
Other Topics
* Bahá'í Ontology: A Basic Survey, Explication and Commentary
* The Role of Tahirih in the Bábí Dispensation: Her Writings and Influence
* Siyyid Kazak Rasta's Commentary Upon the Graphical Form of the Mightiest Name of God
* God of Islam and God of Christianity
* Spiritualizing Pedagogy: Mystical and Ontological aspects of Bahá'í-inspired education
* True to Thyself: Firstness and Lastness, Outwardness and Inwardness (Ken Wilber's Integral Philosophy seen in the light of Bahá'u'lláh's mystical writings.)
* Love: Why creation exists?
* Translation of Scripture
* Secularism from the Bahá'í point of view
* Coping with the Challenges of Globalization: Five Key Lessons
* The Spirituality of Cinematic Experience
* A Bahá'í Perspective on Superstition and Idol Worship and Some of its Implications in Some Selected Beliefs and Concepts
* Ismailiyyih: Past and Present -- with a view to a comparison between some of the Isma'ili and Bahá'í Theological concepts
* God of Islam and God of Christianity
* Power and the Bahá'í Community
* An interface of Rum's Works and the Bahá'í Teachings
* Genetics and Ethics in Bio-Political Framework aimed at formulating an Ethical Standpoint.
* Bahá'i Faith and Islamic Mysticism
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