Asha Vahishta Seminar/Colloquium II: #7
We the Faithful: Can Faith Institutions Be Democratic Spaces?
The 7th Session of Phase II is being held at the OZCF:
Date - February 17, 2018
Time - 2:30 pm onwards for 2-3 hours
In this session, participants will discuss all remaining Articles of Faith (Tenets of Belief), within the important context of application.
The Asha Vahishta Seminar Series (AVSS) is after all, part of the Asha Vahishta Initiative (AVI). AVSS has maintained that education, or for that matter re-education, cannot be transformative unless accompanied by concrete action. It is for this reason that we now consider how to make the knowledge we gain and the consensus we gather within the AVSS, actionable.
How would a diasporic Daena Mazdayasni look like, from the perspective of the Articles of Faith? More importantly, how would such a faith and fellowship operate? Is it possible to construct and maintain democratic institutions that serve as democratic spaces for faith and fellowship? Can the Articles of Faith serve as a blueprint for the design of these institutional spaces?
Therefore, in our seventh session of the AVSS Phase II, we envisage what the systems architecture of Daena Mazdayasni might look like if it adhered to a vision and mission statement as supplied by the Articles of Faith. We also ask if a congregational (anjuman) model of faith governance has the potential, and may be considered legitimate, to supply a vision of faith and fellowship in diaspora for the 21st century.
Can the content of the Articles provide articulation, not only to the 'mission statement', but for the 'operating system' of Daena Mazdayasni? Can this ‘code of conduct’ extend outward to provide the basis for a clergy of pastors of faith? Might the election of such people to lead the anjuman, provide the unity of vision that is currently lacking?
Remember the proverb that ‘people deserve the government they have’…… The institutions you tolerate, suggest the character of the faith and fellowship you have…. The AVSS begins to ask whether we deserve contemporary Zoroastrianism.
If you plan to attend please contact Ervad Nozer Kotwal at (905) 820-0461.
For those who would like to join in via Skype, please contact Ervad Xerxes Madan atxerxes_madan@hotmail.com
A gentle reminder to participants to bring with them a pen. Paper shall be provided.
