Baha’is see the young as the most precious treasure a community can possess. In them are the promise and guarantee of the future. Yet, in order for this promise to be realised, children need to receive spiritual nourishment, such as can be found in the children’s classes happening all around the world.
Purposeful Parenting – A Talk by Dr Melanie Lotfali
The Gold Coast Baha’i Community in Australia hosts information evenings that seek to explore a Baha’i perspective on topics that relate to the life of society. In this talk given on 30 August, 2018 titled “Purposeful Parenting” we hear from Dr Melanie Lotfali about parenting at this challenging time in the history of humanity. She explores such questions as: What is the purpose of parenting? What does it mean to strive to fulfil the potential of our children? What kind of relationship do we want our children to have with the society around them? What value do we assign parenting at a time when the value of so many aspects of our lives is determined by their dollar value?
Drawing on the Teachings of the Baha’i Faith, along with recent scientific research, and personal experience from two decades of parenting, Dr Lotfali provokes reflection on the practical aspects of one of our most sacred responsibilities.
Dr Melanie Lotfali has qualifications in psychology, education, sociology, and writing for children. For the past two decades she has engaged children, youth and adults in the spiritual educational processes of the Baha’i community, and facilitated several other violence-prevention and respectful relationship programs in schools and workplaces. Melanie is a counsellor who specialises in responding to gender based violence such as sexual assault and domestic violence. She is also the author of the Fellowship Farm books for 6-12 year old children which offer an example of a healthy family led by loving but spiritually disciplined parents. Most importantly, she serves as parent to four children aged 20 to 13 years.
Special thanks to the Local Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of the Gold Coast for organizing these talks and for granting Baha’i Blog permission to film them. You can find out more about the Gold Coast Baha’i Community here on their website: www.goldcoast.bahai.org.au
Naysan is passionate about using the arts and media to explore the teachings of the Baha’i Faith. Back in 2011, Naysan started up the Baha’i Blog project, channeling his experiences in both media and technology companies to help create a hub for Baha’i-inspired content online.
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