Comments on: Difference Between Proselytizing And Teaching

By: Desir0101

Desir0101 — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 17:12:00 +0000

Verhae,
Praise be to you.
Word is powerful tool and each one must learn how to use it for the best.
You have allow words create a spiritual vibe in you. Great.
I wish you great spiritual harvest.

Bye,

By: Verhae

Verhae — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 11:15:00 +0000

I just want to speak about the door to door issue, because I am one of those people who, because of door to door was able to see the Baha’i Faith. If the Baha’is had not knocked on my door, I would be committing bad things, and for safety I won’t disclose what those may be. When they knocked on my door, I was an atheist, I didn’t believe in God because I thought, what God would create so many religions that hate each other and didn’t connect. When I opened the door, they greeted me with smiles, and I got a really good vibe from them. They told me about the Junior Youth program, and did not mention the Baha’i Faith or anything regarding the faith, until I asked more questions. My line of questioning was as followed: What does the Junior Youth Program Teach? Reply: We teach spirituality, and the Oneness of Humankind. Me: Is this related some sort of Sunday school? Reply: No, its a program to teach the unity of Humankind, and that all the major religions are from God in a progressive revelation. Me: How exactly are religions connected, and what do you believe in? Reply: I am a Baha’i Me: A what? Reply: Teaching time!!!
Now weather this is proselytizing or not is up for debate. But the main thing that should be drawn from this is that had they not have told me about the Junior Youth program, and further more the Baha’i faith, I would be contributing to the already massive amounts of pain and suffering this world experiences.
I think if your intentions are well placed, and your purpose is not to convert but merely teach, then God will direct you to the souls that need aid. That is the case for me, and for many others. I would only say that for those souls that are not in search, and they are aware of the faith, then let them be. God will take care of them somehow.

By: Baquia

Baquia — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 11:18:00 +0000

Jane, thanks for your comment. The quote you cite is from a statement prepared by the "Bahá’í International Community" titled "Baha'u'llah". It was published in 1992 to commemorate the centenary of the Revelation of Baha'u'llah and to introduce Him to a general audience. As such, the authorship of the document and quote is unknown - but it is probably a committee. Therefore it is hardly authoritative Baha'i Writings. In any case, even if we were to accept the idea that it presents as a reflection of other authoritative Writings, then the question would be, what does "aggressive" mean? who is to define that? etc.

By: Jane

Jane — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 03:52:00 +0000

I was doing some research and came across your site. I was curious and looked up the actual quote from the Baha’i writings and this is what I found. ”The aggressive proselytism that had characterized efforts in ages past to promote the cause of religion is declared to be unworthy of the Day of God. Each person who has recognized the Revelation has the obligation to share it with those who he believes are seeking, but to leave the response entirely to his hearers”It looks like it’s not proselytism that is unworthy, but aggressive proselytism.

By: Does proselyzing hurt or harm people? - Page 5 - Religious Education Forum

Does proselyzing hurt or harm people? - Page 5 - Religious Education Forum — Wed, 25 May 2011 17:31:16 +0000

[...] This is a very interesting link about Bahai's and proseltysing. Difference Between Proselytizing And Teaching | Baha'i Rants Its quite the dilemma or controversy, not just within the Bahai, but within many other groups. [...]

By: Amado de Dios

Amado de Dios — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 17:03:00 +0000

No clergy?! Well, maybe at one time. What useful difference can you show between a lay preacher for some church (or their equivalents in other religions than Christianity) and a part-time Auxiliary Board member; or between a Counselor / staff person for the “Institute” and any member of any clergy? We had a nice religion without a clergy, with the ideal of all teaching, all learning as Shoghi Effendi described it – and then started to fill up the Faith with a hierarchy!

By: fubar

fubar — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 18:04:00 +0000

It is a common practice in many (haifan) bahai communities to attempt to convert people to bahaism. shoghi effendi used to word “convert” in his communications to bahais.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proselytism

excerpt:

“Today, the connotations of proselytizing are often negative and the word is commonly used to describe attempts to force people to convert.”

- – -

I think that the use of the word “proselytizing” in bahai communities is farily close to the Wiki definition, but even still there are examples of a pattern in which bahais are overly aggressive and/or “enthusiastic” in their attempts at converting people to bahaism.

(I was coerced into signing a declaration card.)

The real question is: how much authenticity and spiritual depth is involved when people convert to bahaism? are such people being partly exploited for reasons that are unethical? is psychological manipulation happening? are converts really given enough accurate information prior to conversion to ensure that they understand the implications of conversion?

In my opinion, conversion to bahaism has dysfunctional characteristics that are part of a larger pattern of dysfunction in most other areas of bahai culture.

By: Barbruthw

Barbruthw — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 18:59:00 +0000

That’s an interesting definition. It doesn’t fit with my Webster’s, though: to induce someone to convert to one’s faith (induce: to move by persuasion or influence). 2. to recruit someone to join ones party, institution, or cause.

I’m not sure where the UHJ’s definition came from – perhaps it originated with them? I certainly have never understood proselytizing to be what they say it is.

Barb

By: Kam

Kam — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 17:46:00 +0000

I think the definition of proselytizing is clearly defined by the House of Justice as follows in May 5, 1982:
Proselytizing implies bringing undue pressure to bear upon someone to change his Faith. It is also usually understood to imply the making of threat or the offering of material benefits as an inducement to conversion.