Transcultural Potentials and Limits in the Global Bahá'í Community (MA thesis)

This master's thesis was submitted to the  School of Humanities and Social Sciences at Anglia Ruskin University in 2018

Abstract: The study focuses on the transcultural potentials and limits in the Bahá'í community and its practices as presented in two primary sources: “The Bahá'í Faith” by W Hatcher and D Martin (2002) and “Gardeners of God” by C Gouvion and P Jouvion (1994). I have chosen these texts because they outline the foundational Bahá'í principles, which seem to suggest transcultural potential - the oneness of religion and independent investigation of truth. I also briefly discuss two additional Bahá'í principles which address some of the intra-cultural hierarchical patterns and divisions, namely gender equality and elimination of the extremes of wealth and poverty. I argue that while these Bahá'í principles have the potential to deconstruct or at least weaken many of the divisive binaries, boundaries and hierarchies that have been prevalent in almost all societies, they are balanced by other aspects of the Bahá'í Faith: the Covenant, laws and a strong sense of identity, which help preserve unity and order within the Bahá'í community.