An exploration of Bahá’í-inspired approaches to depolarization building on what we've been learning over the past few episodes from the world's leading luminaries in this discourse.

Part One explores what we can do to limit the influence of toxic polarization in our own lives and how we can best regulate our own behavior so we don't unintentionally contribute to the problem.

Show notes:
Dr. Peter Coleman's Polarization Detox Challenge: https://startswith.us/pdc/
Gary Friedman: https://understandinginconflict.org/training/

Chapters
0:00 Introduction
8:09 Five Principles for Depolarization
10:26 Polarization as Social Pollutant
21:41 An Etiquette of Expression
29:10 Training for Depolarization
31:32 Closing Thoughts

An exploration of the Ridvan Message of 2024 by the Universal House of Justice.

The message explores the interaction between the forces of disintegration and integration at work in the world today - highlighting the inescapable need for a sustained, rapid rise in the number of those committing their time, energy and concentration to the success of our peace-building initiatives.

CONTENTS:
0:00 Introduction
1:26 Dark Times
8:15 Our Role as Haven
11:24 Methods & Instruments
12:58 Our Message
16:19 Closing Thoughts

In this episode we explore the recent message which the Universal House of Justice sent to the Baha'is in Iran on Naw Ruz (March 20th, 2024). The message is not only important for the love and admiration which the Universal House of Justice showers on the Persian Bahá’i community, suffering under intense and relentless persecution, but also because in many ways, it represents the next chapter, building on its November 28, 2023 message - helping us navigate a path to universal peace. The episode also explores the Universal House of Justice's message of January 18, 2019, which they reference here, exploring strategies for peace building and the promotion of the oneness of the human race.

Key references
Mar 20, 2024 Naw Ruz Message: https://payamha-iran.org/en/document/833
Nov 28, 2023 Message: https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/the-universal-house-of-justice/messages/20231128_001/1
Jan 18, 2019 Message: https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/the-universal-house-of-justice/messages/20190118_001/1

CONTENTS:
0:00 Introduction

2:12 Love for Persian Baha’is

7:55 State of the World

12:40 Key Milestones for Peace

19:44 Disintegration on the Rise

24:07 A Crisis of Identity

29:36 Agency & Peace Building

34:11 Peace as Meta Narrative

37:19 Closing Thoughts