The Nature of Human Nature

From the Editor's (formerly McGraw), author of It's Not Your Fault: How Healing Relationships Desk Change Your Brain and Can Help You Overcome a Painful Past. Analyzing the virtual pandemic nature of affective JOHN S. HATCHER illnesses—particularly depression and anxiety disorders—McIlvride discuss- es in "Stigma, Depression, and the THE NATURE OF HUMAN NATURE Soul" how these emotional and mental problems inhibit our ability to feel that We are pleased to present in this issue we can be a useful part of the com- two particularly in-depth articles, one munity, often largely because of the on human nature and a second on the stigma attached to such debilitating affective disorder of depression, both afflictions, whether overtly or subtly, of which are artistically suggested by by family, friends, and other members Keith Mellard's cover art sculpture I of the community. This widespread Think I Am, a clever play on the Car- attitude of discomfiture, avoidance, or tesian proposition "Cogito ergo sum" ("I even condescension by others is often think, therefore I am"). accompanied by a judgmental stance The first article, by highly regard- that implies the sufferer is spiritually ed Bahá'í scholar and philosopher Ian deficient or simply unwilling to exert Kluge, is an overview of the Bahá'í sufficient willpower to overcome the teachings' engagement with one of challenges of life. the most critical and challenging is- The obvious relationship between sues we confront in this life—the the two articles, then, is that the first foundational reality of human exis- piece gives the reader the opportuni- tence. Having worked on this study for ty to analyze how the essential reality over a year, Kluge has devised in "The of the individual—the human soul Bahá'í Philosophy of Human Nature" and its powers of rational thought, a rather comprehensive analysis of the willpower, memory, and reflection— fundamental Bahá'í concept of human translates these capacities into physi- nature, its source, and its operation as cal action through the intermediary of a metaphysical essence. In particular, the brain, and the second article shows he focuses on how the human soul how this process can be impeded by produces physical effects through its various mental disorders.1 More to associative relationship with the phys- 1 Regarding this point, the reader ical apparatus that is the human brain would benefit from viewing the article and body. "The Beauty of the Human Psyche: The The second article in this issue also Patterns of Virtues" by Rhett Diessner involves a great deal of research and la- in our previous issue (vol. 26, no. 4). The bor by psychologist Patricia McIlvride Journal has also already published some 4 The Journal of Bahá'í Studies 27.1-2 2017

the point, McIlvride's piece explains Bahá'í texts providing specific insights the need for friends, caregivers, and into the particulars of this relation- the entire community to become bet- ship and, more precisely, how studying ter able to discern when someone is the relationship itself can help pre- suffering from affective disorders so pare us for the transition to the life to that intelligent assistance and comfort come. Therefore, if some impediment— can be offered to support the healing whether a physical or mental illness— process. deters the normal process whereby we Without the information that both chart the course of our lives through articles provide, our limited under- daily reflection, determination, and ac- standing of the nature of mental ill- tion, then we would obviously benefit ness and of the appropriate methods greatly from learning how to remove for interacting with those affected by or otherwise deal with this hindrance. it all too often distance individuals Furthermore, both articles deal thus afflicted, causing them to remove with areas of study that are on the themselves from community activities cutting edge of religious philosophy for fear of being stigmatized as being and science. Where does conscious- unspiritual, weak, or simply "differ- ness reside? Is there such a thing as ent." Furthermore, both discussions free will? Do millions of neurons con- are critical to the community at large struct some illusion whereby we feel because each of us is striving to com- we are in control when, in fact, all our prehend exactly how to navigate this actions may be the result of arbitrary physical stage of our existence in or- neural activity? Is memory resident in der best to prepare ourselves for the the brain? If so, then even if our soul life that lies beyond this realm. continues after the demise of the body, For while we may have some fun- does that mean we lose our recollec- damental grasp of the concept of tion of our earthly existence? the soul and how the conscious mind Similarly complex and challenging communicates with the world through are the study and treatment of emo- the intermediary of brain-body asso- tional and mental disorders. To what ciation, we find that there is a virtually extent are these maladies the result of endless supply of information in the genetics, environment, nutrition, and relationships gone awry? The fields very insightful articles on the subject of focused on the study of the brain- mental health. See, for example, Michael L. body relationship, such as psychology Penn's "Human Nature and Mental Health: and psychiatry, are in their infancy as A Bahá'í-inspired Perspective" (vol. 25, regards diagnosing, classifying, and nos. 1–2) and Abdu'l-Missagh Ghadirian's treating depression, anxiety disorders, "Depression: Biological, Psychosocial, and and other impediments to the pur- Spiritual Dimensions and Treatment" (vol. suit of those goals prescribed in the 25, no. 4). Bahá'í teachings for our advancement. From the Editor's Desk 5

Moreover, the widespread nature of physical realm, this law is symbolized these disorders is demonstrated by the by the mutual attraction of all matter. fact that few among us do not have a In the metaphysical realm and in our friend or family member beset by these spiritual relationships, it can be dis- afflictions and have not observed the cerned in the affection we have and are toll they take on both the sufferer and exhorted to develop for one another the caregivers. so that, in time, there will emerge a These two articles by Kluge and global community that will function McIlvride thus function as collabora- like one soul in many bodies and foster tive attempts to help us understand a nurturing environment sufficiently several extremely important axioms infused into the global commonwealth about the physical or embryonic stage that none need feel alone, unloved, or of our existence. Both articles indicate helpless. that the intimacy of the associative Finally, we include two poems, connection between the soul and the both dealing with the examination body/brain is not trivial, nor does our of spiritual beliefs and the effort to knowledge of this relationship, how- understand and apply those beliefs in ever sophisticated, guard us against two distinct contexts. "Shahada," by the suffering that is an inherent part Caitlin Johnson Castelaz, depicts the of our mental and physical well-being. thoughts of a student in a classroom In the midst of depression, we can learning about Islam. "The Fragrance pray for the cessation of the darkness of a Poem" is a very powerful glimpse that seems to have enveloped our in- by Mahvash Sabet of the daily life most life, and yet the assurance that she experiences as a prisoner in Go- this malady will have no long-term hardasht Prison in Iran. We have also effect on our essential self does not included a photograph of a second alone ease our pain or bring about in- sculpture by Keith Mallard, Warrior, stantaneous relief. which seems extremely apropos of the Implicit in both articles is an at- article by McIlvride that follows it. tempt to understand human nature not only at the level of the individual, but also, importantly, at the level of community, because as human beings, we are inherently and inextricably social beings. In this sense, our indi- vidual and collective objectives are in concert because the entirety of our existence, whether in this realm or the next, is governed by what 'Abdu'l-Bahá describes as the law of love, the orga- nizing force of the universe. In the