Creating a Culture of Intimacy

A study published in the June 2006 edition of the American Sociological Review entitled "Social Isolation in America: Changes in Core Discussion Networks over Two Decades" finds a startling decline over the past 20 years in the number of confidants with whom Americans discuss important matters. A great deal of interest has been sparked by this work, including an excellent interview on Forum. The study, authored by Miller McPherson, Lynn Smith-Lovin and Matthew E. Brashears, compares the results of the General Social Survey conducted in 1985 with the results of the same survey conducted in 2004, finding:

(1) the typical American discussion network has slightly less than one fewer confidant in it than it did in 1985, and (2) that in 2004 an adult, noninstitutionalized American is much more likely to be completely isolated from people with whom he or she could discuss important matters than in 1985.

The study further found that in particular, "ties with local neighborhoods and groups have suffered at higher rates than others." One of the central questions arising out of the dialogue surrounding this study is, "What can be done to address this?"

It is interesting in this light to consider the role of the activities that the Bahá'ís around the world are focusing on--devotional gatherings, study circles, children's classes and junior youth activities. These activities, which involve small groups of people coming together to pray, study and discuss spiritual principles, or provide spiritual education to children, have been described as creating a "culture of intimacy" in communities, and have been found to be particularly effective in creating such a culture in neighborhoods and among other groups such as co-workers and friends. A fitting remedy to the ills identified in the study, calling to mind the following words of Bahá'u'lláh:

The All-Knowing Physician hath His finger on the pulse of mankind. He perceiveth the disease, and prescribeth, in His unerring wisdom, the remedy.