February 12 Web Talk: Greg Dahl on “Globalization and Current Events: A Bahá’í Perspective"

The Wilmette Institute is welcoming Gregory Dahl as its second Web Talk speaker in 2017. His talk is scheduled for Sunday, February 12. Greg’s topic could not be more timely: “Globalization and Current Events: A Bahá’í Perspective.” As usual, the talk will begin at 2 p.m. Eastern Time in the United States (7 p.m. in the UK, 8 p.m. in Western Europe). To listen to the talk live and to be able to participate in the question-and-answer session, you need to sign up for the free talk here. Greg notes that, “as the world around us grows ever more dangerous and the voices of contention, discord, and prejudice grow louder and louder, it is timely for us to step back and attempt to gain some perspective in the light of the Bahá’í teachings.” He says that he will examine a range of relevant Bahá’í principles and guidance, such as:

• the central principle of the unity of humankind;
• the fundamental importance of truthfulness and trustworthiness;
• the need to avoid false dichotomies and oversimplification and to overcome prejudices, and the role of consultation in this process;
• the desirability of moderation;
• the importance of a positive attitude;
• cooperation and reciprocity, as opposed to competition, as the basis of human society;
• the many Bahá’í teachings relating to equality; and,
• most important for this discussion, the role of tests in the learning process.

Greg goes on to say that he will then examine “globalization and the current political dysfunction in the light of these principles as well as that of historical experience and the role we must play in contributing to the building of a new world order.” Gregory Dahl is author of One World, One People: How Globalization Is Shaping Our Future (U. S. Bahá’í Publishing, June 2007) and numerous articles. After studying economics at Harvard, he pursued a twenty-seven-year career as an economist and senior official of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), working with top-level government officials in different areas of the globe to try to resolve economic problems and promote development. For ten years he served as the resident representative of the IMF in Haïti, Sierra Leone, Bulgaria, and Madagascar. His IMF position gave him first-hand experience with the practical dilemmas faced by leaders as well as their human and often moral shortcomings in dealing with those dilemmas. He is a second-generation Bahá’í and has traveled and visited Bahá’í communities in over one hundred countries. He served on the National Spiritual Assembly of Bulgaria for ten years and as its secretary for five years and has been a Deputy Trustee of Ḥuqúqu’lláh since 2008. Recently he launched a website that includes many historical photographs and recordings (see an article about it in the January eNewsletter). Greg currently lives in the Czech Republic with his family. All Wilmette Institute Web Talks are free and open to the public, but they require you to sign up in advance. Check “Web Talks/Webinars” in this issue; or watch for flyers and announcements; or keep checking http://wilmetteinstitute.org and then clicking on “Web Talks.” The Web Talks use a system that transmits audio and video of the speakers and the PowerPoint slides they generally use. Audience members listening to the live broadcast can comment on the talks and ask questions by typing them into a “chat” box. Anyone viewing the talk at a later date will hear the questions and answers from the live broadcast. The talks are held on Sundays at 2 p.m. Eastern Time (11 a.m. PT; 7 p.m. in the UK; 8 p.m. in Western Europe). After a live Web Talk is given, it is generally posted on the Wilmette Institute’s YouTube channel, usually within 24 hours, where you can access 2015, 2016, and 2017 (after they are given) Web Talks.