AboutRon Price Expertise I have been a Baha`i for 49 years and been associated with this new world religion for 55. I have written three books on the Baha`i Faith. Any expertise I possess is based on these many years of what I trust is a maturing experience, on the training of my mind by means of many avenues in life one of which is academic. My qualifications include: a B.A., a B.Ed., a M.A.(Qual. Thesis) and 4 party completed Graduate Diplomas. All Baha'is, in the course of their experience in the Baha'i community, strive to possess: a well-trained mind, recognized ability and mature experience. They also attempt to exemplify, to the best of their capacity, selfless devotion and unquestioned loyalty. We can but try.
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I am 64 years of age, was a teacher/lecturer for 36 years(1967-2005) and have been married for 41 years. With three grown-up children aged: 42, 37 and 31(in 2008) and two step-grandchildren age 15 and 12, I bring a background, therefore, of relevant family and employment experience to the kind of questions likely to be asked at this site.
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See my website section 24 for more details on both my Baha'i experience, my academic studies, my employment experience and my writing. Below is a summary statement of my lifeline:
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1. EMPLOYMENT & SOCIAL-ROLES: 1944-2008
1999-2008-Writer/Poet/Retired Teacher: George Town Tasmania
2002-2005-Program Presenter, City Park Radio, Launceston
1999-2004-Tutor and/or President: George Town School for Seniors Inc
1988-1999 -Lecturer in General Studies and Human Services West Australian Department of Training
1986-1987 -Acting Lecturer in Management Studies and Co-ordinator of Further Education Unit at Hedland College in South Hedland, WA.
1982-1985 -Adult Educator, Open College of Tafe, Katherine, NT
1981 -Maintenance Scheduler, Renison Bell, Zeehan, Tasmania
1980-Unemployed: Bi-Polar Disability
1979 -Editor, External Studies Unit, Tasmanian CAE; Youth Worker, Resource Centre Association, Launceston; Lecturer in Organizational Behaviour, Tasmanian CAE; Radio Journalist ABC, Launceston
1976-1978 -Lecturer in Social Sciences & Humanities, Ballarat CAE, Ballarat
1975 - Lecturer in Behavioural Studies, Whitehorse Technical College, Box Hill, Victoria
1974 -Senior Tutor in Education Studies, Tasmanian CAE, Launceston
1972-1973 -High School Teacher, South Australian Education Department
1971 Primary School Teacher, Whyalla SA, Australia
1969-1971 Primary School Teacher, Prince Edward County Board of Education, Picton, Ontario, Canada
1969 Systems Analyst, Bad Boy Co. Ltd., Toronto Ontario
1967-68 -Community Teacher, Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, Frobisher Bay, NWT, Canada
1959-67 -Summer jobs from grade 9 to end of university
1949-1967 - Attended 2 primary schools, 2 high schools and 2 universities in
Canada: McMaster Uni:1963-1966, Windsor T’s College: 1966/7.
1944-1963 -Childhood(1944-57) and adolescence(1957-63) in and around Hamilton Ontario.
Expert: Ron Price Date: 12/4/2007 Subject: Question
Question Why do we need one more religion?
Thanks
Answer CONTEXT FOR THIS ROLE OF EXPERT AT THE “ABOUT SITE”
Note: Before reading my ‘answer’ to your question, please read the passage below to place my remarks in a general and relevant context. If I don’t answer your question immediately, I will get back to you within 24 hours.
The function of an expert at this site is to act within the terms of reference as outlined by the About moderators. These terms of reference specifically define the general objectives and methods of an expert. I see my role as serving the needs of individuals who write to this site, as best I can but, specifically, the needs as they relate to the questions they have posed. I am not here to dictate arbitrarily to anyone, but rather to serve as one of the multitude of unifying factors at work in the Baha’i Faith. I try to be courteous and tactful on the one hand and to respond in a frank and honest way on the other in dealing with questions and comments that come in. Courtesy and frankness are difficult qualities to combine. I also aim to foster a spirit of independence rather than a spirit which excessively relies on others to carry out their research, their study of this Cause or, in the case of those who are Baha’is, do the work which can be done by others in the Baha’i community.
It is important, especially for Baha’is and others as well who write in, to utilize the many sources of assistance within both Baha’i administration and the burgeoning locations of expertise available in our diverse society. Evolution is forcing us to engage in a cooperative enterprize that is global--interplanetary--intergalactic now--in its reach. This site on About and my contribution is but a small part of this vast cooperative enterprize.
There are generally two kinds of Baha’i literature or writings about this Faith. One presents the official view and has the voice of authority behind it. Such words are not the personal opinions of individual Baha’is. There is a second category which includes all other writing. The writing that I place here exists in this latter category, although from time to time I insert quotations that belong to the first category to explain my answer to a particular question. The quotations, of course, are used by me in a certain way and form a part of an interpretive schema that becomes part of the second category--that is, opinion.
Truth, the correct and only answer, often cannot be found for many of the questions that arise here, even if the evidence of the Baha’i Revelation is included. This is mainly because there are often many truths, many answers, depending on the circumstances and situations—and many perspectives depending on the person answering the question and the person to whom one is writing. To put this briefly, I could simply say that truth is relative, especially religious truth which is the main variety I deal with here and with which the various questions that come in are concerned. As much as possible I try to draw on relevant quotations from the voluminous Baha’i Scriptures. Sometimes I simply do not have access to the relevant literature on a specific question since Baha’i literature in its many forms has become burgeoning, especially since the 1980s and 1990s. The Baha’i Faith had some 200,000 adherents in 1953 and some 5 to 6 million in 2003. In that half century much of its literature, originally in Persian and Arabic, has been translated into English. Still, there is much that remains untranslated.
Each Baha’i seeks to acquire, in his or her own way, a deeper understanding of the Revelation of Baha’u’llah. What is written here represents some of the fruits of my own efforts, limited as they are. As I have said above, my words are not authoritative. This site for Baha’i expertise offers but one source of opinion and is written in accordance with my capacity and understanding. Readers might like to try drawing on other Baha’i volunteer-experts at this site if they find my answers not to their satisfaction.(1) The Universal House of Justice, the internationally elected body of the Baha’i Faith, pointed out recently that “the exercise of wisdom calls for a measure of love and the development of a sensitive conscience.”(2) I am only too well aware of my incapacities on these fronts. I feel somewhat presumptuous in taking on this role of expert. I do not seek any preference or distinction; I do not regard my ideas or myself as superior in anyway. All of one’s talents in life are a gift from God, a gift as one writer put it, of some unmerited grace. After more than 50 years of association with a global Force that now has about six million adherents and that makes the claim to be the emerging world religion on this planet, I offer these words and any answers I might give to questions simply as a service to others. If you would like a more personal, direct and continued communication with me just write to the email address I have provided below. -Ron Price, http://www.allexperts.com, September 2006(Original: 9/04).
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(1) In recent years, with the extensive development of the internet and the massive number of sites that now exist on that easily accessible medium, answers to questions can now be found by seekers/questioners written by ostensibly informed members and often authoritative sources within their own religion, sect, denomination, branch, division or cult. These answers, written from the/a perspective, the point of view, of the adherents of that particular religious-sub-group, are often, if not usually, more satisfactory to such seekers for these answers: (a) usually confirm what these questioners already believe and (b) provide a much more thorough answer in the framework of experience of that religious group vis-à-vis the Baha’i Faith. Of course, I leave this approach to each seeker who comes to this “About”site.
(2) “Extracts from Letters of the Universal House of Justice on issues Related to the Study of the Baha’i Faith,” in Baha’i Canada, May 1998, p.18.
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Ron Price, Tasmania, Australia
ronprice9@gmail.com
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Your question can not be answered in a sentence, a small paragraph and some instant set of simple words; at least I am not able to do so--if you want some simplistic answer to a very complex question you will have to go elsewhere. I am going to recommend you read some or all of the following items at the international Baha'i website: bahai.org
After reading these resources, these articles/essays come back to me again and we can take this discussion, if you so desire, a step further.-Ron Price, Tasmania, Australia.
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Who is Writing the Future?
The Baha'i Faith and Other Religions
A Global Vision
And several other articles you might like to look at/read.
I wish you happy reading and feel this is the best place to begin to try to come to grips with your excellent question.-Ron
