TY - JOUR AU - Gourdine, Christopher AU - Edgren, Justin AU - Trice, Thomas AU - Zlatic, Joseph PY - 2019/12/01 Y2 - 2024/03/29 TI - Social Affinity Flow Theory: A New Understanding of Both Human Interaction and the Power of the Bahá’í Training Institute Process JF - The Journal of Bahá’í Studies JA - JBS VL - 29 IS - 4 SE - Articles DO - 10.31581/jbs-29.4.3(2019) UR - https://journal.bahaistudies.ca/online/article/view/261 SP - 53-80 AB - <p>This article presents a new theoretical construct, Social Affinity Flow Theory (SAFT), which both describes and predicts fl ow phenomena across a diversity of human social systems and is founded upon constructal law. Constructal law and its associated s-curves describe many phenomena, both in nature and in human societies. Extrapolated from the work of Bejan and Zane and integrating social science research, it provides a foundational explanation of social rifts prevalent in many societies today as well as constructive efforts of social change, whether secular or religiously based. A primary example of constructive change explained by SAFT is the community-building work of the Bahá’í Faith, as reflected in both its teachings and its training institute process.</p> ER -