Comments on: Maxwell Baha’i School Closes http://bahairants.com/maxwell-bahai-school-closes-413.html A personal Baha'i blog. Sun, 23 Nov 2008 10:18:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: baha i regional councils http://bahairants.com/maxwell-bahai-school-closes-413.html#comment-54306 baha i regional councils Sun, 03 Aug 2008 11:52:44 +0000 http://bahairants.com/maxwell-bahai-school-closes-413.html#comment-54306 [...] [...] […] […]

]]> By: Maxwell Bahai School Closes http://bahairants.com/maxwell-bahai-school-closes-413.html#comment-41740 Maxwell Bahai School Closes Mon, 28 Jan 2008 15:44:19 +0000 http://bahairants.com/maxwell-bahai-school-closes-413.html#comment-41740 [...] three months ago I was the first to break the sad story that the Maxwell Baha’i school in Canada would be closing after 20 years of [...] […] three months ago I was the first to break the sad story that the Maxwell Baha’i school in Canada would be closing after 20 years of […]

]]> By: Frankie http://bahairants.com/maxwell-bahai-school-closes-413.html#comment-40196 Frankie Sun, 06 Jan 2008 04:42:37 +0000 http://bahairants.com/maxwell-bahai-school-closes-413.html#comment-40196 The disunity of Baha'is "who don't tote the party line" are Baha'is who are no longer "firm in the Covenant" and/or are Covenant breakers. Abdu'l-Baha warned us in His Will & Testament about Covenant breakers and show we should deal with them: "And now, one of the greatest and most fundamental principles of the Cause of God is to shun and avoid entirely the Covenant- breakers, for they will utterly destroy the Cause of God, exterminate His Law and render of no account all efforts exerted in the past. O friends! It behoveth you to call to mind with tenderness the trials of His Holiness, the Exalted One and show your fidelity to the Ever-Blest Beauty. The utmost endeavor must be exerted lest all these woes, trials and afflictions, all this pure and sacred blood that hath been shed so profusely in the Path of God, may prove to be in vain. O ye beloved of the Lord! Strive with all your heart to shield the Cause of God from the onslaught of the insincere, for souls such as these cause the straight to become crooked and all benevolent efforts to produce contrary results." (Compilations, Baha'i World Faith, p. 447) The disunity of Baha’is “who don’t tote the party line” are Baha’is who are no longer “firm in the Covenant” and/or are Covenant breakers. Abdu’l-Baha warned us in His Will & Testament about Covenant breakers and show we should deal with them:

“And now, one of the greatest and most fundamental principles of the Cause of God is to shun and avoid entirely the Covenant- breakers, for they will utterly destroy the Cause of God, exterminate His Law and render of no account all efforts exerted in the past. O friends! It behoveth you to call to mind with tenderness the trials of His Holiness, the Exalted One and show your fidelity to the Ever-Blest Beauty. The utmost endeavor must be exerted lest all these woes, trials and afflictions, all this pure and sacred blood that hath been shed so profusely in the Path of God, may prove to be in vain.
O ye beloved of the Lord! Strive with all your heart to shield the Cause of God from the onslaught of the insincere, for souls such as these cause the straight to become crooked and all benevolent efforts to produce contrary results.”

(Compilations, Baha’i World Faith, p. 447)

]]> By: eim http://bahairants.com/maxwell-bahai-school-closes-413.html#comment-39739 eim Sun, 30 Dec 2007 21:16:01 +0000 http://bahairants.com/maxwell-bahai-school-closes-413.html#comment-39739 To get back to the original issue..... My daughter began attending Maxwell International School for grade 11 this Sept. She declared as a Baha'i this spring after much serious reflection and discussion with me and her mentors in the tiny pioneering Baha'i group here in the Inuit community of Arviat, Nunavut. Unlike Baha'i s in more populated centres, my daughter was very isolated here and did not have the support of larger groups and classes with other students her own age. She was also subject to some serious criticism of her spiritual choice. Most of her school mates were totally uninterested in spiritual matters or were condemning her from the perspective of fundamentalist Christianity. Although she has always been able to discuss and question all aspects of life with me at home, in the process of developing her own identity, she needs to be able to discuss and share her seeking with other people her own age. At Maxwell she has been able to be nurtured in her chosen faith and to pursue her spiritual quest in unity and harmony with other people from cultures and backgrounds very different from hers. Even after a few months, I see a maturity, confidence, and breadth of vision and experience that amaze me. I have no regrets at all about sending her to Maxwell, even if it is only for one year. I pray that Maxwell will be able to continue so that other young people may have this amazing opportunity to live in a warm, caring multi-cultural community and be nurtured in their spiritual development during the crucial teenage years. Nothing can replace the role of parents and family in the nurturing and education of their children, and I applaud the efforts of Baha'i s everywhere to support their children in growing spiritually. At some point, however, young people need to leave home to make their own ways in the wider world. For many this step occurs when they go to university or other post-secondary institutions, but some need to take this step sooner, for various reasons. As an only child, my daughter needs the experience of living and sharing with other people than her mother. This is something I cannot give her at home. At Maxwell, she can have this experience in a safe, supportive community that shares the values she has chosen and which I support whole-heartedly. I saw Maxwell for the first time this September and my impression was very positive. I saw a warm, comfortable but not luxurious facility in a beautiful setting. My daughter's dormitory has a courtyard with lovely flowers and trees and a small fountain. The view of the lake and the mountains from her dorm room is stunning. The room itself is spacious and light-filled. In the staff and the facilities I saw a school where the spiritual development of the students is what's important, not a school where appearances and possessions matter. Maxwell is not a "prep school" for the rich. It's fees are much more affordable than most other boarding schools in Canada. I am a teacher and a single parent and it is not easy to find the money to provide this experience for my daughter, but it IS possible. Please consider giving your child or a deserving child you know this important experience! Yes, the needs of people in the developing world are urgent, but our children growing up in affluent, materialist, individualist North American society are in grave danger of malnutrition of the spirit if we leave them totally open to the prevailing culture and values and don't give them as many opportunities as possible to experience the life of the spirit. Maxwell provides one significant way to do this. To get back to the original issue…..
My daughter began attending Maxwell International School for grade 11 this Sept. She declared as a Baha’i this spring after much serious reflection and discussion with me and her mentors in the tiny pioneering Baha’i group here in the Inuit community of Arviat, Nunavut. Unlike Baha’i s in more populated centres, my daughter was very isolated here and did not have the support of larger groups and classes with other students her own age. She was also subject to some serious criticism of her spiritual choice. Most of her school mates were totally uninterested in spiritual matters or were condemning her from the perspective of fundamentalist Christianity. Although she has always been able to discuss and question all aspects of life with me at home, in the process of developing her own identity, she needs to be able to discuss and share her seeking with other people her own age.
At Maxwell she has been able to be nurtured in her chosen faith and to pursue her spiritual quest in unity and harmony with other people from cultures and backgrounds very different from hers. Even after a few months, I see a maturity, confidence, and breadth of vision and experience that amaze me. I have no regrets at all about sending her to Maxwell, even if it is only for one year. I pray that Maxwell will be able to continue so that other young people may have this amazing opportunity to live in a warm, caring multi-cultural community and be nurtured in their spiritual development during the crucial teenage years.
Nothing can replace the role of parents and family in the nurturing and education of their children, and I applaud the efforts of Baha’i s everywhere to support their children in growing spiritually. At some point, however, young people need to leave home to make their own ways in the wider world. For many this step occurs when they go to university or other post-secondary institutions, but some need to take this step sooner, for various reasons. As an only child, my daughter needs the experience of living and sharing with other people than her mother. This is something I cannot give her at home. At Maxwell, she can have this experience in a safe, supportive community that shares the values she has chosen and which I support whole-heartedly.
I saw Maxwell for the first time this September and my impression was very positive. I saw a warm, comfortable but not luxurious facility in a beautiful setting. My daughter’s dormitory has a courtyard with lovely flowers and trees and a small fountain. The view of the lake and the mountains from her dorm room is stunning. The room itself is spacious and light-filled. In the staff and the facilities I saw a school where the spiritual development of the students is what’s important, not a school where appearances and possessions matter. Maxwell is not a “prep school” for the rich. It’s fees are much more affordable than most other boarding schools in Canada. I am a teacher and a single parent and it is not easy to find the money to provide this experience for my daughter, but it IS possible. Please consider giving your child or a deserving child you know this important experience! Yes, the needs of people in the developing world are urgent, but our children growing up in affluent, materialist, individualist North American society are in grave danger of malnutrition of the spirit if we leave them totally open to the prevailing culture and values and don’t give them as many opportunities as possible to experience the life of the spirit. Maxwell provides one significant way to do this.

]]> By: Robert Clifton http://bahairants.com/maxwell-bahai-school-closes-413.html#comment-39665 Robert Clifton Sat, 29 Dec 2007 18:55:31 +0000 http://bahairants.com/maxwell-bahai-school-closes-413.html#comment-39665 Hello World Citizen My name is given above, my unified card number is 007358 and I am being actively shunned by the unified Baha'is in my city. I investigated Mason Remeys claim and in discussions of those claims with other enrolled in good standing Baha'is I was brought to face a continental counselor who recommended that I be expelled from the faith. No enrolled Baha'i today will engage in conversation with me face to face. That sort of blocks instructions on which way to paddle. All that said: I would personally like to enroll in the Maxwell school. I am a dedicated covenant breaker. When is the next semester? I will bring my own money. I would like to learn what others have to say about the concept you addressed. We were all united behind Abdul Baha but that has become a horrendously devisive issue. Is that a wrongness being corrected? Wouldn't your canoe concept dictate that the UHJ, Joel, Jacques, Dave, John, you, me, sincere friend and everyone else with a vested interest sit down and discuss this? Robert Clifton Hello World Citizen
My name is given above, my unified card number is 007358 and I am being actively shunned by the unified Baha’is in my city.
I investigated Mason Remeys claim and in discussions of those claims with other enrolled in good standing Baha’is I was brought to face a continental counselor who recommended that I be expelled from the faith. No enrolled Baha’i today will engage in conversation with me face to face. That sort of blocks instructions on which way to paddle.
All that said:
I would personally like to enroll in the Maxwell school. I am a dedicated covenant breaker. When is the next semester?
I will bring my own money.
I would like to learn what others have to say about the concept you addressed. We were all united behind Abdul Baha but that has become a horrendously devisive issue. Is that a wrongness being corrected?
Wouldn’t your canoe concept dictate that the UHJ, Joel, Jacques, Dave, John, you, me, sincere friend and everyone else with a vested interest sit down and discuss this?

Robert Clifton

]]> By: Sincere Friend http://bahairants.com/maxwell-bahai-school-closes-413.html#comment-39628 Sincere Friend Sat, 29 Dec 2007 04:26:48 +0000 http://bahairants.com/maxwell-bahai-school-closes-413.html#comment-39628 What was commented about it being better to be unified than to be right, bears some further examination. As I understand it that if we are unified but not right in due time it will be apparent that we were not correct and then can turn to a better solution, all together, but sometimes the fight between two parties about how to do something spoils the whole picnic for everyone, and that I understand is why the teaching on being united. It doenst necessarily exclude being right or speaking your mind, but in my experience staying united, even when some or many think the path is incorrect, is better than the problems that arise when there is arguing and conflict. What was commented about it being better to be unified than to be right, bears some further examination. As I understand it that if we are unified but not right in due time it will be apparent that we were not correct and then can turn to a better solution, all together, but sometimes the fight between two parties about how to do something spoils the whole picnic for everyone, and that I understand is why the teaching on being united. It doenst necessarily exclude being right or speaking your mind, but in my experience staying united, even when some or many think the path is incorrect, is better than the problems that arise when there is arguing and conflict.

]]> By: Peyamb http://bahairants.com/maxwell-bahai-school-closes-413.html#comment-39625 Peyamb Sat, 29 Dec 2007 03:53:47 +0000 http://bahairants.com/maxwell-bahai-school-closes-413.html#comment-39625 well WC, the truth is already aparent. In the community I live in, they've been struggling to have an assembly for decades. I haven't heard of an enrollment in years. In the larger metropolitan area, yes they have a very slight growth- but hell the city is growing like crazy, so they should at least see a couple of people per year becoming Bahais. So you can keep paddling to nowhere. I've decided there are more creative ways to serve humanity and show my love for God, than to sit in committe meetings or boring ruhi classes. In most religioius communities, people like me would be just as welcome (not all Catholics tote the party line 24/7; but they are still united), but unfortunatley among the Bahais it's a different story. THUS, you get so many disgruntled ones expresing themselves online. Make sense? well WC, the truth is already aparent. In the community I live in, they’ve been struggling to have an assembly for decades. I haven’t heard of an enrollment in years. In the larger metropolitan area, yes they have a very slight growth- but hell the city is growing like crazy, so they should at least see a couple of people per year becoming Bahais. So you can keep paddling to nowhere. I’ve decided there are more creative ways to serve humanity and show my love for God, than to sit in committe meetings or boring ruhi classes. In most religioius communities, people like me would be just as welcome (not all Catholics tote the party line 24/7; but they are still united), but unfortunatley among the Bahais it’s a different story. THUS, you get so many disgruntled ones expresing themselves online. Make sense?

]]> By: Kevin C http://bahairants.com/maxwell-bahai-school-closes-413.html#comment-39622 Kevin C Sat, 29 Dec 2007 03:03:23 +0000 http://bahairants.com/maxwell-bahai-school-closes-413.html#comment-39622 ... and let me guess... the direction you want everyone to paddle is the one of your choosing, right? Unity is fine and dandy, but the mistake that Baha'is make is to concentrate on it, rather than the prerequisites it requires. You do those and unity takes care of itself naturally. What are those prerequisites? Oh, I'm sure you're smart enough to figure that out yourself. Wouldn't want to get in the way of your individual investigation of truth :-) … and let me guess… the direction you want everyone to paddle is the one of your choosing, right? Unity is fine and dandy, but the mistake that Baha’is make is to concentrate on it, rather than the prerequisites it requires.

You do those and unity takes care of itself naturally. What are those prerequisites?

Oh, I’m sure you’re smart enough to figure that out yourself. Wouldn’t want to get in the way of your individual investigation of truth :-)

]]> By: World Citizen http://bahairants.com/maxwell-bahai-school-closes-413.html#comment-39619 World Citizen Sat, 29 Dec 2007 02:33:35 +0000 http://bahairants.com/maxwell-bahai-school-closes-413.html#comment-39619 Peyamb, I apologize for any hurt feelings, but what I now is this: no lasting solution to any problem, be it disunity, war, poverty, corruption, or any other issue has ever arisen from anything except unity. I also know that if everyone in a group is unified behind whatever it is they do, weather or not what they are doing is right will be made apparent quickly, for example: Five canoers are on a trip. They become lost, and three canoers believe that they have to go south to reach their destination. The other two canoers believe that they must travel west to reach their destination: if three canoers paddle south, and two paddle west, the canoe won't go anywhere anytime soon. However, if all five of them paddle in the same direction, it will be made clear weather or ot that direction is right or wrong. What I have gleaned from the writings is that (this is my personal interpretation and I in no way expect you to adopt it as gospel) it is better to be unified than to be right. I don't want you to shut up for the sake of unity, I simply ask that we all paddle in the same direction until the truth becomes apparent. Peyamb, I apologize for any hurt feelings, but what I now is this: no lasting solution to any problem, be it disunity, war, poverty, corruption, or any other issue has ever arisen from anything except unity. I also know that if everyone in a group is unified behind whatever it is they do, weather or not what they are doing is right will be made apparent quickly, for example:

Five canoers are on a trip. They become lost, and three canoers believe that they have to go south to reach their destination. The other two canoers believe that they must travel west to reach their destination: if three canoers paddle south, and two paddle west, the canoe won’t go anywhere anytime soon. However, if all five of them paddle in the same direction, it will be made clear weather or ot that direction is right or wrong.

What I have gleaned from the writings is that (this is my personal interpretation and I in no way expect you to adopt it as gospel) it is better to be unified than to be right. I don’t want you to shut up for the sake of unity, I simply ask that we all paddle in the same direction until the truth becomes apparent.

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