Author Archive for Baquia

Iranians Curious About “Bahai”, Americans Not

Published
by
Baquia
on August 8, 2008
in Chile, Internet and Iran
. 84 Comments

Google, being the most widely used search engine, collects an unbelievably large amount of data about how we use the internet and what we search for. Since their motto is “Don’t be evil” they are rather transparent and open up a lot of this data, offering an intriguing view into what people around the world are curious about.

According to Google, a lot of folks are interested to learn more about the Baha’i Faith on the internet. The keyword “bahai” ranks at around 80, which is relatively high (out of 100). The trend over the past 4 years is moderately decreasing however.

Google also breaks down the search volume for keywords by geography. Perhaps you would be surprised to learn that, by far, the most curious, are Iranians:

bahai-internet-interest

According to Google, Iran’s search volume for the keyword Baha’ is 100 (the highest). I’m amazed to see such unbridled curiosity from the cradle of the Faith. Not just because I tend to read from most parts that people there are generally apathetic but also because of the technological limitations imposed by a nationwide firewall which rivals China’s.

If you drill down into the Iranian data, you discover that there has been a dramatic drop off in search volume for Baha’i in the past 4 years. It has gone from 100 to low double digits. Maybe that’s when the firewall went into effect. Or perhaps it was ratcheted up.

Understandably, the second spot goes to Israel, at a respectable 67. I don’t know about you, but I would be a tiny bit interested to learn more about this “Baha’i” thing if I had scores of Baha’is in my backyard every year.

Unfortunately for the proclamation efforts of the NSA of the United States, Americans are apathetic at an index reading of just 39. However, the people in the state of Illinois, for some strange reason, show the highest interest. Followed very closely by Alaska.

Another country scraping the bottom of the barrel in terms of interest is Chile. Hopefully once the Santiago Temple is finished, that will change things.

If you want to tinker with the data, here is the link for the Google Insight worldwide, and Iran specific search data.

The Challenge of Homosexuality

Published
by
Baquia
on July 2, 2008
in Theology
. 83 Comments

A recent research report out of Stockholm shows that the structure and function of homosexual brains is similar to that of the opposite sex. That is, a homosexual man’s brain is similar to that of a heterosexual woman’s brain. The study’s sample size was only 90 persons: 25 heterosexual women (HeW), 25 heterosexual men (HeM), 20 homosexual men (HoM), and 20 homosexual women (HoW).

Previous research had shown that men and women’s brains were “wired” differently. This research showed that there was a similar difference between sexual orientation. So finally we have scientific proof that women love to go shopping with their gay male friends.

Using PET and MRI scans which measured blood flow the study showed:

  • The brains of heterosexual men (HeM) and homosexual women (HoW) were similar in that the volumes of their two brain hemispheres were not symmetrical (rightward cerebral asymmetry).
  • The brains of homosexual men (HoM) and heterosexual women (HeW) were similar in that the volumes of their two brain hemispheres were symmetrical.
  • There were also opposite sex similarities between the gay and heterosexual participants in the way their amygdalae connected.

The authors of the study conclude: “The results cannot be primarily ascribed to learned effects, and they suggest a linkage to neurobiological entities”. You can read the report here. The next step is to find what exactly accounts for the difference and by what mechanism it is activated.

homosexuality-brain-scan-image

More and more science is taking baby steps towards an explanation of homosexuality that is anchored in biological rather than behavioral basis. That is, it may eventually offer conclusive proof that homosexuality arises from human genetic makeup. Some scientists are persuaded already by the present findings of this and other research but not all.

We are certainly not there yet but the trend from recent research reports points that way. If this is indeed realized at some time in the future, then I believe it will present the Baha’is with a severe challenge because most believe that homosexuality is an aberration from the “natural” and that, more importantly, it is a “spiritual affliction” which can be overcome by expressing a moral choice and through conscious effort (such as prayer).

Such views would become anachronistic if homosexuality is shown to be a genetic substrate wholly outside a person’s volition and choice.

Here is a thought provoking essay on “Sex and Values” from the late R. Jackson Armstrong-Ingram.

Mona’s Dream Film Update

Published
by
Baquia
on June 30, 2008
in Movies
. 13 Comments

It is a year and a half since we last visited the project to make a feature film about Mona Mahmudnizhad and the 9 other Baha’i women who were killed for their beliefs. It has been more than three and a half years since the first story was first mentioned (Passion of Mona).

But finally things seem to be coming together. The film, Mona’s Dream will go into pre-production in the fall with shooting planned for this winter and post-production into early next year.

Which would mean that if the everything goes to plan we can see the film next summer. The project has currently half of its financial budget ($7 million) and will hopefully be able to raise the rest going into (pre-)production.

Here are the confirmed actors so far for the project:

keisha-castle-hughes-monas-deam-film
Keisha Castle-Hughes to play Mona Mahmudnizhad
Keisha was catapulted into stardom with the movie “Whale Rider” in 2002; for which she received an Academy Award nomination. There is no question she is a talented actress but I’m surprised by this casting because Keisha is twice the age of Mona (Steve corrected me - see comments).

shohreh-aghdashloo-monas-dream-film
Shohreh Aghdashloo to play Mona’s mother
Ms. Aghdashloo was the first high profile actor to be linked to Mona’s Dream.

cas-anvar-monas-dream-film
Cas Anvar to play main interrogator
The Canadian born actor has been prolific both on the stage as well as in film with many roles in both TV and movies.

nazanin-tahirih-monas-dream-film
Nazanin Afshin-Jam (in her debut) to play Tahirih
The Canadian model (Miss World Canada 2003 and Miss World runner-up) and singer is active in human rights causes. She first took on the cause of Nazanin Mahabad Fatehi who was sentenced to death in Iran but who later received a new trial and was exonerated.

As well, a new foundation, inspired by the project and Mona’s life, has been created: Freedom to Believe Foundation.

Guidelines For Baha’is Serving on Institutions

Published
by
Baquia
on June 11, 2008
in Administrative Order
. 154 Comments

If you’ve ever served on an LSA or other Baha’i institution, these guidelines may be familiar to you:

(1) Insist on doing everything through “channels.” Never permit short-cuts to be taken in order to expedite decisions.

(2) Make “speeches.” Talk as frequently as possible and at great length. Illustrate your “points” by long anecdotes and accounts of per­sonal experiences. Never hesitate to make a few appropriate “patriotic” comments.

(3) When possible, refer all matters to committees, for “further study and considera­tion.” Attempt to make the committees as large as possible — never less than five.

(4) Bring up irrelevant issues as frequently as possible.

(5) Haggle over precise wordings of com­munications, minutes, resolutions.

(6) Refer back to matters decided upon at the last meeting and attempt to re-open the question of the advisability of that decision.

(7) Advocate “caution.” Be “reasonable” and urge your fellow-conferees to be “reason­able” and avoid haste which might result in embarrassments or difficulties later on.

(8) Be worried about the propriety of any decision — raise the question of whether such action as is contemplated lies within the juris­diction of the group or whether it might conflict with the policy of some higher echelon.

Even though you may not have seen them spelled out exactly as above, you probably have seen most of these guidelines implemented if you’ve ever served on an assembly, council or other institution. Heck, you may have even done exactly one or two or more of them yourself.

Guess what?

They come from a 1944 CIA manual on how to sabotage an organization from within.

red-tape

You can view and download the whole declassified document: Simple Sabotage Field Manual (see page 28 for the excerpt above).