New volume explores spiritual insights on America’s evolving story
WASHINGTON, DC — How can diverse communities move beyond fragmented narratives of the past to forge a shared vision of the future that honors truth while fostering unity?
This question lies at the heart of a recent collaboration between the Bahá’í Office of Public Affairs of the United States and the Aspen Institute’s Religion and Society Program. Growing out of shared efforts of the Office’s Narratives of America Project and the work of the Religion and Society Program, this partnership has culminated in a volume of essays that draws on insights from religion to explore America’s evolving story.
This initiative was born out of a profound need to counter the effects of racial and economic injustice that continue to shape the American experience. Selvi Adaikkalam Zabihi, a member of the Office of Public Affairs, said in conversation with the News Service, “Recognizing that unity is at the heart of these challenges, the project aims to explore how a shared narrative can help build a collective identity and vision for the future that honors the dignity and contributions of all communities.”
The volume, titled Religious Perspectives on the Narratives of America: The Search for Just, Honest, Inclusive and Forward-looking Tellings, brings together 11 essays authored by people from diverse religious and cultural backgrounds, including Sikh, Jewish, Christian, Muslim, and the Bahá’í Faith, as well as the traditions of Indigenous Americans, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.
The Bahá’í National Spiritual Assembly of the United States, in a message to the Bahá’ís of that country, emphasized the significance of the project, stating: “Narratives are important for both individual and shared understanding. They help us interpret the world and shape our sense of purpose and identity. Narratives can offer hope or preclude it, obscure the truth or help us search for it. It is clear that, as a nation, we need unifying, ennobling, and empowering narratives to help us move forward collectively.”
PJ Andrews, a member of the Bahá’í Office of Public Affairs, in a conversation with the News Service, observed that “when we engage with America’s story through the lens of spiritual teachings, we can move beyond simply documenting historical events to understanding their deeper significance in humanity’s journey toward unity.”
Through a series of gatherings convened by the Aspen Institute’s Religion and Society Program in collaboration with the Office of Public Affairs at Green Acre Bahá’í School and online spaces for dialogue, contributors to the volume engaged in deep conversations about how religious insights could illuminate pathways toward healing and transformation. These discussions created an environment where challenging topics could be explored with both candor and hope.
“Consultation was essential in creating a sense of community among the contributors,” Mr. Andrews noted. “In these spaces they could share their thinking and their writing with each other, thus creating a cohesive and enriching narrative that reflects the diversity and unity of America.”
Mr. Andrews further elaborated, “America is a country with many contested stories about how we got here and who we are. We are interested in articulating a shared identity that transcends secondary identities like race, gender, or national origin.
“When we think of narratives,” he continued, “there are three components we believe are essential: a conception of history, a sense of identity, and a vision of the future.”
Mr. Andrews explained these elements draw from the perspective offered by the Bahá’í Faith on spiritual and social transformation—that despite the upheavals and seemingly insurmountable struggles it is facing, humanity is moving through stages of collective development toward an age of maturity characterized by unity.
“This perspective allows us to engage with historical challenges while maintaining hope and purpose in working toward the realization of the oneness of humanity,” he said. “It helps us recognize that the current struggles we face as a nation are part of a larger process of spiritual and social maturation.”
Ms. Zabihi elaborated, explaining that the Bahá’í teachings highlight the idea of an ever-advancing civilization in which both forces of disintegration and constructive forces have been operating throughout history. “Understanding this dual process helps us recognize that while we face serious challenges, we can also identify and strengthen the constructive forces at work,” she said. “This perspective allows individuals to see their role in social transformation and contribute to building unity while acknowledging difficult truths about the past and present.”
At the launch event, Audrey Price, Deputy Director of the Religion and Society Program and co-editor of the volume with Ms. Zabihi, expressed her enthusiasm for the project:
“I am excited about the release of this collection of essays. The authors bring forth rich and diverse narratives that are often hidden and marginalized in America.”
Rev. Dr. Price added: “Through masterful and personal storytelling, we experience the beautiful, mosaic tapestry of the communities who define America. We hear voices that invite us to see, affirm, and cherish the human dignity of everyone.”
Mr. Andrews highlighted the significance of collaboration in shaping a just and inclusive narrative for the nation.
“One of the remarkable aspects of this project is its ongoing nature. At its core are essential questions about the narrative of America that we seek—a narrative that is just, honest, forward-looking, and helps us heal while moving forward together. No single person has all the answers, but the process of figuring this out is collaborative,” he remarked.
Ms. Zabihi emphasized the significance of the project at a time when profound questions about identity, belonging, and social cohesion are at the forefront of national consciousness. “This moment calls for expanding our conversations about America’s narratives,” she said. “The divisions we see today make it clear that new approaches to building understanding across differences are urgently needed.”
She added: “Religion can be a significant source of ideas and inspiration for this narrative work. We aim to learn how religious perspectives can enrich the broader conversation about social transformation without imposing beliefs on others or being constrained by secular dogmatism.
“Through this process,” she continued, “we are discovering how spiritual principles can help create spaces for meaningful dialogue that acknowledges historical truths while fostering hope and unity.”
Speaking about the broader aims of the Narratives of America Project, Mr. Andrews explained, “Rather than advocating for particular positions, the focus is on developing capacity for collective exploration of truth and building pathways to unity.”
He continued: “As communities across America grapple with questions of identity and belonging, the volume of essays demonstrates how engaging with diverse perspectives can help transform fragmented narratives into a shared vision for the future.
“Through creating spaces where truth and unity can coexist, where historical acknowledgment can foster healing rather than division, new possibilities emerge for moving forward together. The ongoing nature of this work suggests that the process of building such narratives is itself part of the journey toward social transformation.”
Article sourced from Bahai World News Service.
