An Introduction to 'Abdu'l-Bahá's The Secret of Divine Civilization
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Converging Realities : A Journal of Art, Science and Religion 1Abstract: Although The Secret of Divine Civilization was written in the nineteenth century regarding the question of the modernization of Irán, it offers a novel perspective for social and economic development based upon the vision of a new world order. This article locates ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s treatise in the context of both the Iranian social and political situation and the overall message of the Bahá’í Faith. It explicates the organization of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s text and differentiates the four levels of discourse. The first level addresses the debate concerning traditionalist patrimonialism and rationalist bureaucratization. The second debate is oriented to the controversy between religious traditionalism and atheist rationalism. The third is devoted to the historicist as opposed to the objectivist definitions of social and economic development. Finally, the fourth debate concerns the question of nationalism and internationalism. The article concludes with a brief discussion of the concept of modernity in ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s vision.
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Article from serial or periodical
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New Zealand National Baha'i Reference Library | Available | Digital Resource |
Although The Secret of Divine Civilization was written in the nineteenth century regarding the question of the modernization of Irán, it offers a novel perspective for social and economic development based upon the vision of a new world order. This article locates ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s treatise in the context of both the Iranian social and political situation and the overall message of the Bahá’í Faith. It explicates the organization of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s text and differentiates the four levels of discourse. The first level addresses the debate concerning traditionalist patrimonialism and rationalist bureaucratization. The second debate is oriented to the controversy between religious traditionalism and atheist rationalism. The third is devoted to the historicist as opposed to the objectivist definitions of social and economic development. Finally, the fourth debate concerns the question of nationalism and internationalism. The article concludes with a brief discussion of the concept of modernity in ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s vision.
Although The Secret of Divine Civilization was written in the nineteenth century regarding the question of the modernization of Irán, it offers a novel perspective for social and economic development based upon the vision of a new world order. This article locates ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s treatise in the context of both the Iranian social and political situation and the overall message of the Bahá’í Faith. It explicates the organization of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s text and differentiates the four levels of discourse. The first level addresses the debate concerning traditionalist patrimonialism and rationalist bureaucratization. The second debate is oriented to the controversy between religious traditionalism and atheist rationalism. The third is devoted to the historicist as opposed to the objectivist definitions of social and economic development. Finally, the fourth debate concerns the question of nationalism and internationalism. The article concludes with a brief discussion of the concept of modernity in ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s vision.
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