Ruhi Redux

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My previous commentary on the Ruhi course got a lot of feedback so I wanted to revisit the topic. Previously, I didn’t really delve into any specifics. I hope to remedy that here.That Ruhi has become a controversial and polarizing topic within Baha’i communities is not in doubt. In fact, it has almost become a secret handshake of sorts that distinguishes free thinking Baha’is from others.Some have pointed out the similarity between Ruhi and its Chrisian kissing cousin, the Alpha course. I can’t comment on a comparison in any significant way because I haven’t taken the Alpha course. But I think it is totally conceivable that some cross pollination (to put it politely) took place when the Alpha course began to take off in the Christian world in the early 1990′s. Its not hard to imagine that some in the Baha’i administration saw its success and took note. From what I read about the Alpha course, it seems much more flexible and customizable than Ruhi. It also seems much more open ended and intellectually stimulating. If anyone has taken both courses, please feel free to drop a comment below.

The first and most important point that must be made when talking about validity and quality of Ruhi is that it is based upon a foundation of implied assumptions. These are that a systematic and standardaized curriculum is best – or atleast, better. I can not overstate how important, yet silent, assumptions these are. I have never really seen anyone point them out or to question them. Instead they are unblinkingly accepted. I do question these assumptions and wonder why such a fundamental element of Ruhi is never discussed. My take on this is that it isn’t because it can not withstand intellectual scrutiny.

I have no doubt that Ruhi met with great success when it was first introduced in Columbia. Arbab created something which worked great teaching and consolidating poor and semi-literate Baha’is in the rural communities of Latin America. Unfortunately, with these initial successes, the man with a hammer began to see the whole world as a nail.

The whole essence of Ruhi is taqlid (blind and unquestioning imitation in action or belief). At the time of Baha’u'llah this was a big deal since much of Shi’ite doctrine (and the orthodox authority of the Mullah’s and Mutjahid) rested on taqlid. Baha’u'llah instructs Baha’is to put it aside and instead use individual investigation of truth. We have anectodal evidence (where Baha’u'llah admonishes a student for parroting the teachers lesson and then rewards him when he comes to a personal understanding and puts the lesson in his own words) as well as explicit texts which condemn taqlid.

Another negative aspect of Ruhi is that it has a strong crowding out effect in every community that it is implemented. Each person and each community has a finite amount of time, energy, money, etc. And when we devote our resources in one direction, we are simultaneously denying them to any other area. Since the Baha’i community has been pushed into doing the sequence of Ruhi courses they have very little resources to devote elsewhere. Like the Mashriq’ul-Adhkar, charitable and SED projects, deepenings, teaching projects and the like. I’ve even seen some groups take it over and over again in a sort of crazy Groundhog Day scenario.

Putting aside all that, the strongest argument against Ruhi is its own content. It is a jumble of authenticated Baha’i texts (from the writings of the central Figures), pilgrims notes (which have dubious historical accuracy) and the commentary and interpretation of the editors and creators of the Ruhi courses themselves. What’s more, no distinction is made between these differing sources. Also non-existent is any sort of context for the quotes. The student is expected to treat them all the same way, that is read, write in the questions, repeat, and memorize.

Yet, for all of its flaws, in a very short time Ruhi managed to become sacrosanct. The how and the whys of this are rather simple. It is the only such program mentioned repeatedly by name by the House of Justice and the ITC in their official communiques. Actually it is not only mentioned by the highest Baha’i institutions, it is strongly recommended and aggressively promoted by them. The NSAs, LSAs and individual Baha’is in turn take these cues for what they are.

For these same reasons, any criticism of the weaknesses of Ruhi is interpreted as a direct criticism or attack on the House of Justice and the ITC. This has resulted in a situation where, as a Baha’i, you either get with the program or are branded as covenantally weak. The poisonous effects of this on the Baha’i world community are already apparent and will be even more pronounced with time.

For some other ideas on Ruhi, you can read this essay by Anthony Lee.

*********************

From the Ruhi Course To the Collaborators (if you are unfamiliar with Ruhi vocabulary, this refers to any and all who participate in the Ruhi program, either as students or as teachers – er, sorry…tutors):

“It is natural that a verse from the Writings should bring to mind myriads of noble and beautiful ideas. To share these ideas with the friends on appropriate occasions conduces to joy and happiness. But care must be exercised so that this practice does not become an exercise in the expression of ego and an insistence on the sovereignty of personal opinion.”

Interesting. Especially when you consider the elevated station that the individual’s conscience has in the Baha’i writings. Also interesting when you consider that individual investigation of truth is a major tenet of the Baha’i Faith. I also wonder what role ego has to play when the writers of Ruhi, without any distinction, comingle their own words and understanding with the sacred texts and impose on the students to study and memorize them in the same way.

The experience of the Ruhi Institute has shown that we do not suppress the imagination or the personality of the participants when we refrain from posing questions such as, “What does this mean to you?”

Not only is this never shown by the Ruhi Institute to be the case, the anecdotal evidence contradicts it:

This reminded me of an experience last summer: several Baha’is and guests were gathered for a monthly potluck social. A relatively new believer came into the drive, leapt from his car, stormed over to our group by the barbeque- obviously agitated. In a firm voice he said: “I will NOT be indoctrinated!” It took a bit of consoling to arrive at the source of his distress. As a new believer he had been encouraged to participate in a Ruhi Book I study circle. He explained that he was so insulted by the “shallowness” of the material that he couldn’t take it any more and walked out…

Unfortunately, since the same group (Arbab, Correa, Lample, etc.) that created and promoted Ruhi are now in the highest positions within the Baha’i Administration, it will be long time until we put it all behind us. For this small group of persons, there is just too much personal interest at stake. I can empathize. Its never easy to admit that one is wrong. That’s just human. But usually when we fall prey to this defect of human nature, it is only ourselves that we hurt. But in the case of Ruhi, the whole Baha’i community is suffering.

Related:

Check out Alison’s post on taqlid.

Related posts:

  1. Sault College Offers Ruhi Course
  2. Baha’i Ruhi Institute Course
  3. Ruhi
  4. Did You Ruhi Today?
  5. Ruhi: Mistaking Correlation for Causation

← Older Comments
  • Bill

    Alpha Course? You must be joking! Is this how far you have to go to find ways to criticize the plans of the Baha’i community and nourish your strange belief that the Baha’i Faith is fundamenalist? The Ruhi courses have been under development in Colombia and other parts of Latin America for more than three decades, field tested among tens of thousands of people.

    The “controversy” over the Ruhi courses appears to me to be manufactured by people much too enamored of their own intellectual acumen and influence, having no concept of how the Ruhi courses can get people started on meaningful lifelong Baha’i learning. If you have not been out helping lift people from their despair through direct teaching of the Faith, then I think you have little standing to criticize. If you have not actually studied these courses, in fellowship with others, and engaged in the communal practices of Baha’i life they engender, then you have no moral standing by which to be given any credence as you speak against it.

  • ep

    Bill, even if you accept that the EXPANDED IMPLEMENTATION of Ruhi/Institutes is a legitimate method to “fulfill needs” of underdeveloped communities, they are abjectly incapable of addressing the needs of more mature communities in developed countries where a more “evolved” or “enlightened” paradigm of social change is desperately needed to bring about “an ever advancing civilization”.

    By evoking the romanticized notion of a simple, pure, primitive culture you are engaging in a classic form of PARADIGM REGRESSION, which is a sign that tribalism and fascism are to come.

    The advanced countries are engaged in a perfectly legitimate process of cultural evolution that has very complex needs to integrate spirituality with capitalism, science, technology and democracy.

    bahai blather criticising “intellectual acumen and influence” is an evasion that is designed to deflectr attention from the failures of the dominant paradim that operates in bahai culture.

    in my experience, bahais (in contradiction to the Guardian’s clear instructions) very rarely have a clue about what the leading edge of thought is in the world. People that DO have a clue about leading though are frequently the target of ridicule and bullying by crass bahai apparatchiks seeking “influence”.

    If you study the “real” history of both the american and iranian bahai communities, you will find that all sorts of attempts to bring “street activism” (social justice orientation, etc.) into the community have been “put down” by the bahai leadership elites for the last 80 years or so. The fact that abdul-naha himself was an accoplished street activist is *studiously ignored* by the bahai mainstream.

    To infer that the latest attempt of the leadership “system” to “colonize the lifeworld” (of the people) is “anti-elitist” is a bizarre inversion of plain reality.

    Elitists have long been running the bahai faith and viciously attacking Blessed Souls, such as Louis Gregory, who tried to keep the cause of social justice alive in the american bahai community.

    The very history of how meaning was constructed by the early working-class and populist bahais who struggled in social justice causes has been erased in the collective bahai mind. Just as the early construction of meaning by “sufi” bahais in iran has been erased.

    The sad reality is that “systems” collectivists/corporatists took over the bahai faith and have dehumanized it and turned it into a piece of bureaucratic machinery in some kind of horribly distorted and poorly conceived attempt at “building a better mousetrap” for social change and world peace.

    The mousetrap never worked, but the “spin” about a “better future” and a rebirth of hope keeps a failed marketing alive, like a zombie is “living dead”. A soul-less machine. In reality the bahai “mousetrap” was just another failed version of the kind of dumbed-down bureaucracy building that was taking place all over the world during the last century.

    So, there were huge problems in bahai communities in the USA and many other places LONG before Ruhi/Institutes existed that Ruhi DOES NOT ADDRESS. Which makes the EXPANDED Ruhi/Institutes just another recucled version of a failed attempt at a better mousetrap.

    I’ve known SED people from all over the world, some of whom saw the Ruhi/Institutes idea develop in the collective bahai “mind” (such as it is). There was an early pattern of observations from those people that a conformist mindset and other dysfunctional “agendas” drove the EXPANDED IMPLEMENTATION of Ruhi/Institutes.

    (That was EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE of what was “really needed” by bahais in the usa and other similar communities who had had their spiritual blood drained by dishonest, power seeking bahai bureaucrats for decade after decade.)

    Many predictions were made by the SED people that thought policing would result from the prevailing/dominant Ruhu/Institute IMPLEMENTATION, and that the tedency toward fundamentalism, literalism and theological/doctrinal conformity would be reinforced.

    And of course that is exactly what happened.

    Which is kinda predictable when you think about it: Ruhi/Institute EXPANDED IMPLEMENTATION is a TOP DOWN attempt to create BOTTOM UP “inititative”.

    Pure silliness and a massive contradiction. – see Ivan Illich.

    The bahai bureacrats have spent decades destroying grass-roots “inititative” (by “sanitizing the snakepits of human nature” as Illich says), and now blame their own appalling TOP-DOWN failures on the “lack of initiative” at the BOTTOM! Which they aren’t even HONEST enough to admit, THEY THEMSELVES CAUSED!!!

    The sad reality is that one of the few semi-real SED success stories in the bahai world (the “original” Ruhi in S. America) was taken out of context and used as an instrument by people that want to stay in an insularized bubble of power, and who also want to promote more dysfunctionality, more thought policing, and more conformity.

    Whatever honest and legitimate value Ruhi originally had has long since been hijacked and taken down in flames by the dehumanizing “system” of dysfunctional global bahai bureaucracy.

    It is pure rot.

    Adios!
    Eric P.
    (ex-bahai, after 30+ years)
    Sacramento, Ca.

    [quote comment="54212"]Alpha Course? You must be joking! Is this how far you have to go to find ways to criticize the plans of the Baha’i community and nourish your strange belief that the Baha’i Faith is fundamenalist? The Ruhi courses have been under development in Colombia and other parts of Latin America for more than three decades, field tested among tens of thousands of people.

    The “controversy” over the Ruhi courses appears to me to be manufactured by people much too enamored of their own intellectual acumen and influence, having no concept of how the Ruhi courses can get people started on meaningful lifelong Baha’i learning. If you have not been out helping lift people from their despair through direct teaching of the Faith, then I think you have little standing to criticize. If you have not actually studied these courses, in fellowship with others, and engaged in the communal practices of Baha’i life they engender, then you have no moral standing by which to be given any credence as you speak against it.[/quote]
    [quote comment=""][...] One of the readers of this blog, Farhan Yazdani, was kind enough to share these after another person requested them in a discussion. [...][/quote]

  • ep

    Bill, even if you accept that the EXPANDED IMPLEMENTATION of Ruhi/Institutes is a legitimate method to “fulfill needs” of underdeveloped communities, they are abjectly incapable of addressing the needs of more mature communities in developed countries where a more “evolved” or “enlightened” paradigm of social change is desperately needed to bring about “an ever advancing civilization”.

    By evoking the romanticized notion of a simple, pure, primitive culture you are engaging in a classic form of PARADIGM REGRESSION, which is a sign that tribalism and fascism are to come.

    The advanced countries are engaged in a perfectly legitimate process of cultural evolution that has very complex needs to integrate spirituality with capitalism, science, technology and democracy.

    bahai blather criticising “intellectual acumen and influence” is an evasion that is designed to deflectr attention from the failures of the dominant paradim that operates in bahai culture.

    in my experience, bahais (in contradiction to the Guardian’s clear instructions) very rarely have a clue about what the leading edge of thought is in the world. People that DO have a clue about leading though are frequently the target of ridicule and bullying by crass bahai apparatchiks seeking “influence”.

    If you study the “real” history of both the american and iranian bahai communities, you will find that all sorts of attempts to bring “street activism” (social justice orientation, etc.) into the community have been “put down” by the bahai leadership elites for the last 80 years or so. The fact that abdul-naha himself was an accoplished street activist is *studiously ignored* by the bahai mainstream.

    To infer that the latest attempt of the leadership “system” to “colonize the lifeworld” (of the people) is “anti-elitist” is a bizarre inversion of plain reality.

    Elitists have long been running the bahai faith and viciously attacking Blessed Souls, such as Louis Gregory, who tried to keep the cause of social justice alive in the american bahai community.

    The very history of how meaning was constructed by the early working-class and populist bahais who struggled in social justice causes has been erased in the collective bahai mind. Just as the early construction of meaning by “sufi” bahais in iran has been erased.

    The sad reality is that “systems” collectivists/corporatists took over the bahai faith and have dehumanized it and turned it into a piece of bureaucratic machinery in some kind of horribly distorted and poorly conceived attempt at “building a better mousetrap” for social change and world peace.

    The mousetrap never worked, but the “spin” about a “better future” and a rebirth of hope keeps a failed marketing alive, like a zombie is “living dead”. A soul-less machine. In reality the bahai “mousetrap” was just another failed version of the kind of dumbed-down bureaucracy building that was taking place all over the world during the last century.

    So, there were huge problems in bahai communities in the USA and many other places LONG before Ruhi/Institutes existed that Ruhi DOES NOT ADDRESS. Which makes the EXPANDED Ruhi/Institutes just another recucled version of a failed attempt at a better mousetrap.

    I’ve known SED people from all over the world, some of whom saw the Ruhi/Institutes idea develop in the collective bahai “mind” (such as it is). There was an early pattern of observations from those people that a conformist mindset and other dysfunctional “agendas” drove the EXPANDED IMPLEMENTATION of Ruhi/Institutes.

    (That was EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE of what was “really needed” by bahais in the usa and other similar communities who had had their spiritual blood drained by dishonest, power seeking bahai bureaucrats for decade after decade.)

    Many predictions were made by the SED people that thought policing would result from the prevailing/dominant Ruhu/Institute IMPLEMENTATION, and that the tedency toward fundamentalism, literalism and theological/doctrinal conformity would be reinforced.

    And of course that is exactly what happened.

    Which is kinda predictable when you think about it: Ruhi/Institute EXPANDED IMPLEMENTATION is a TOP DOWN attempt to create BOTTOM UP “inititative”.

    Pure silliness and a massive contradiction. – see Ivan Illich.

    The bahai bureacrats have spent decades destroying grass-roots “inititative” (by “sanitizing the snakepits of human nature” as Illich says), and now blame their own appalling TOP-DOWN failures on the “lack of initiative” at the BOTTOM! Which they aren’t even HONEST enough to admit, THEY THEMSELVES CAUSED!!!

    The sad reality is that one of the few semi-real SED success stories in the bahai world (the “original” Ruhi in S. America) was taken out of context and used as an instrument by people that want to stay in an insularized bubble of power, and who also want to promote more dysfunctionality, more thought policing, and more conformity.

    Whatever honest and legitimate value Ruhi originally had has long since been hijacked and taken down in flames by the dehumanizing “system” of dysfunctional global bahai bureaucracy.

    It is pure rot.

    Adios!
    Eric P.
    (ex-bahai, after 30+ years)
    Sacramento, Ca.

    [quote comment="54212"]Alpha Course? You must be joking! Is this how far you have to go to find ways to criticize the plans of the Baha’i community and nourish your strange belief that the Baha’i Faith is fundamenalist? The Ruhi courses have been under development in Colombia and other parts of Latin America for more than three decades, field tested among tens of thousands of people.

    The “controversy” over the Ruhi courses appears to me to be manufactured by people much too enamored of their own intellectual acumen and influence, having no concept of how the Ruhi courses can get people started on meaningful lifelong Baha’i learning. If you have not been out helping lift people from their despair through direct teaching of the Faith, then I think you have little standing to criticize. If you have not actually studied these courses, in fellowship with others, and engaged in the communal practices of Baha’i life they engender, then you have no moral standing by which to be given any credence as you speak against it.[/quote]
    [quote comment=""][...] One of the readers of this blog, Farhan Yazdani, was kind enough to share these after another person requested them in a discussion. [...][/quote]

  • farhan

    Bill wrote:
    “The “controversy” over the Ruhi courses appears to me to be manufactured by people much too enamored of their own intellectual acumen and influence, having no concept of how the Ruhi courses can get people started on meaningful lifelong Baha’i learning.”

    Dear Bill,

    I am just back from pilgrimage and the talks by Gustavo Correa and Paul Lample brought us crystal clear insight into the institute Process of which Ruhi books are only one instrument. Following the example of the UHJ, I would be very patient with with all the learning mistakes that are being made in our transition from a top-down procedure to a down-up procedure of community life.

    The efforts of the UHJ since perhaps 1993, very obviously aim at reversing the ubiquity of the top-down structure of human societies into an empowerment at grass roots by developping human ressources.

    This is so new, that those already engaged in Baha’i activities sometimes felt disempowered by seeing inexperienced new comers taking over activities they had been efficiently performing, and those newly engaged in activities through the Ruhi courses sometimes made mistakes by adopting attitudes of superiority.

    The talks we listened to at the BWC confirmed my understanding of the Institute Process posted here, and in addition, I found it very touching to see how lovingly patient the UHJ is in accepting all our mistakes. This is an extract of my Pilgrim’s notes from Paul Lample’s talk :

    “Schools teach you that learning is about getting the answer correct first time. You take exams and if you get the answer correct, you have passed, and otherwise you have failed in your learning. Scientists don’t make mistakes: they make experiments, and they learn from their experiments, and then they make more experiments and so on and so forth. This should be our attitude towards learning.

    The Guardian used to point to areas of activity, which had proved to be successful and would then tell other believers to do the same. For example, He wrote to the friends in India that they should follow the example of the friends in the USA who had pioneered since this type of activity had proven to be effective. In some parts of the world Baha’is invited their friends to their homes and spoke about the Faith. This proved to be successful and so elsewhere He pointed out that Firesides which had been tried in some parts of the world and which proved to be successful, should be tried.

    The Universal House of Justice is following in His footsteps. The UHJ tries a few activities or experiments and when it sees that it has worked, informs the Baha’i World that this type of activity has proven to be effective and that they should follow it.

    When the UHJ first spoke of “Areas of Growth”, it did not know how it would work. It was tried in a few places in the world and most of them by and large failed. In some areas it was found that if the area was so small that all the people who were interested in the Faith already knew about it and the rest had already expressed their disinterest, there was not enough geographical scope to move around. In other places it was found that the area was so large that the friends could not get together due to the distances involved. So this led to areas of growth of a convenient size. When a toddler starts to walk and falls down, the parents do not say, ‘let’s throw the kid away’, they get the video recorder out and encourage the baby and upload the images on Face Book.

    So it was decided to adjust this area of growth so that it was big enough so that you had enough people to talk to and engage in conversation and at the same time, small enough so that the Baha’is could get together for reflection and learning from each others’ activities.

    It was also somehow found that when around 50 people had finished the Ruhi books, then a certain type of momentum took over and they started certain activities. These were put together and the UHJ informed the Baha’i world that they should follow this since it has proven to be effective. Yet still, in its messages, it only mentioned that the activities should contain expansion and consolidation, but without giving any details.

    Of course, when people heard of this figure of 50, they said, well we can do this faster: let’s forget about the exercises, or even better, let’s fill in the blanks at home and save time during the study circles. And then when they reached 50, they said OK, we have 50 now, but nothing has happened, where is the entry by troops? But of course you have to do some things during and after you have done these books; you can’t just sit still and wait for things to happen by themselves.

    In other parts of the world, we hear that people go to reflection meetings and somebody says I have a question, and they say, you’re not allowed to ask questions. Well then, this is not a reflection meeting at all. In other places, it was suggested to invite seekers to study circles and this proved to be a good way of teaching. So they said we don’t need fires sides any more. People would say that all you have to do is to do the core activities and forget everything else.

    The UHJ never said, “Do not have firesides”; it merely said that this is the priority of the plan, which should be done as well as, and not instead of other activities. The function of an LSA is to make sure that all the talents and potentialities of the community are developed and used.”

  • Farhan Yazdani

    Bill wrote:
    “The “controversy” over the Ruhi courses appears to me to be manufactured by people much too enamored of their own intellectual acumen and influence, having no concept of how the Ruhi courses can get people started on meaningful lifelong Baha’i learning.”

    Dear Bill,

    I am just back from pilgrimage and the talks by Gustavo Correa and Paul Lample brought us crystal clear insight into the institute Process of which Ruhi books are only one instrument. Following the example of the UHJ, I would be very patient with with all the learning mistakes that are being made in our transition from a top-down procedure to a down-up procedure of community life.

    The efforts of the UHJ since perhaps 1993, very obviously aim at reversing the ubiquity of the top-down structure of human societies into an empowerment at grass roots by developping human ressources.

    This is so new, that those already engaged in Baha’i activities sometimes felt disempowered by seeing inexperienced new comers taking over activities they had been efficiently performing, and those newly engaged in activities through the Ruhi courses sometimes made mistakes by adopting attitudes of superiority.

    The talks we listened to at the BWC confirmed my understanding of the Institute Process posted here, and in addition, I found it very touching to see how lovingly patient the UHJ is in accepting all our mistakes. This is an extract of my Pilgrim’s notes from Paul Lample’s talk :

    “Schools teach you that learning is about getting the answer correct first time. You take exams and if you get the answer correct, you have passed, and otherwise you have failed in your learning. Scientists don’t make mistakes: they make experiments, and they learn from their experiments, and then they make more experiments and so on and so forth. This should be our attitude towards learning.

    The Guardian used to point to areas of activity, which had proved to be successful and would then tell other believers to do the same. For example, He wrote to the friends in India that they should follow the example of the friends in the USA who had pioneered since this type of activity had proven to be effective. In some parts of the world Baha’is invited their friends to their homes and spoke about the Faith. This proved to be successful and so elsewhere He pointed out that Firesides which had been tried in some parts of the world and which proved to be successful, should be tried.

    The Universal House of Justice is following in His footsteps. The UHJ tries a few activities or experiments and when it sees that it has worked, informs the Baha’i World that this type of activity has proven to be effective and that they should follow it.

    When the UHJ first spoke of “Areas of Growth”, it did not know how it would work. It was tried in a few places in the world and most of them by and large failed. In some areas it was found that if the area was so small that all the people who were interested in the Faith already knew about it and the rest had already expressed their disinterest, there was not enough geographical scope to move around. In other places it was found that the area was so large that the friends could not get together due to the distances involved. So this led to areas of growth of a convenient size. When a toddler starts to walk and falls down, the parents do not say, ‘let’s throw the kid away’, they get the video recorder out and encourage the baby and upload the images on Face Book.

    So it was decided to adjust this area of growth so that it was big enough so that you had enough people to talk to and engage in conversation and at the same time, small enough so that the Baha’is could get together for reflection and learning from each others’ activities.

    It was also somehow found that when around 50 people had finished the Ruhi books, then a certain type of momentum took over and they started certain activities. These were put together and the UHJ informed the Baha’i world that they should follow this since it has proven to be effective. Yet still, in its messages, it only mentioned that the activities should contain expansion and consolidation, but without giving any details.

    Of course, when people heard of this figure of 50, they said, well we can do this faster: let’s forget about the exercises, or even better, let’s fill in the blanks at home and save time during the study circles. And then when they reached 50, they said OK, we have 50 now, but nothing has happened, where is the entry by troops? But of course you have to do some things during and after you have done these books; you can’t just sit still and wait for things to happen by themselves.

    In other parts of the world, we hear that people go to reflection meetings and somebody says I have a question, and they say, you’re not allowed to ask questions. Well then, this is not a reflection meeting at all. In other places, it was suggested to invite seekers to study circles and this proved to be a good way of teaching. So they said we don’t need fires sides any more. People would say that all you have to do is to do the core activities and forget everything else.

    The UHJ never said, “Do not have firesides”; it merely said that this is the priority of the plan, which should be done as well as, and not instead of other activities. The function of an LSA is to make sure that all the talents and potentialities of the community are developed and used.”

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  • Frank

    As an ex-Baha’i (and and ex-Baha’i for a long time now, so it’s not as if I’m bitter and Jaded) I can truly say that it was the Ruhi Class that was the final straw in my decision to return my Baha’i card. As soon as I attended the classes I felt as if I were part of a cult. This may not be the case, but a group activity that does not allow for free thought (simply regurgitation of what’s already on the page) was a nice push to the exit doors for me.

  • Frank

    As an ex-Baha’i (and and ex-Baha’i for a long time now, so it’s not as if I’m bitter and Jaded) I can truly say that it was the Ruhi Class that was the final straw in my decision to return my Baha’i card. As soon as I attended the classes I felt as if I were part of a cult. This may not be the case, but a group activity that does not allow for free thought (simply regurgitation of what’s already on the page) was a nice push to the exit doors for me.

  • Greg

    Abha All
    Please forgive my lateness infinding this thread, i would like to make a comment or three if I may, having been a baha’i in good standing now for over 30 years I am distress at what appears to be fairly recent event…. namely the idea of Door knocking (aka home visits from ruhi book 2)… I am a Baha’i( and loyal to the House of Justice) but if expect me to go door knocking …. IT will not happen… I find it totally disgaceful …. I am not a Mormon and to be quiet honest ….. horrified at a cooment aim at me at the last feast ……. that “Baha’is of 30 plus years that have not completed Ruhi… are a waste of space”,,,,,, I have no intention of doing any more of the ruhi books ( completed 1 and 2)….I have got to trhe stage where I am seriously consisdering handing back my Baha’i ID and calling it quits…… I will not bring the Faith into disgrace …. I point blank refuse….
    Any advise on this matter will be carefully considered.
    Rhanks
    Greg

  • Greg

    Abha All
    Please forgive my lateness infinding this thread, i would like to make a comment or three if I may, having been a baha’i in good standing now for over 30 years I am distress at what appears to be fairly recent event…. namely the idea of Door knocking (aka home visits from ruhi book 2)… I am a Baha’i( and loyal to the House of Justice) but if expect me to go door knocking …. IT will not happen… I find it totally disgaceful …. I am not a Mormon and to be quiet honest ….. horrified at a cooment aim at me at the last feast ……. that “Baha’is of 30 plus years that have not completed Ruhi… are a waste of space”,,,,,, I have no intention of doing any more of the ruhi books ( completed 1 and 2)….I have got to trhe stage where I am seriously consisdering handing back my Baha’i ID and calling it quits…… I will not bring the Faith into disgrace …. I point blank refuse….
    Any advise on this matter will be carefully considered.
    Rhanks
    Greg

  • http://www.bahairants.com Baquia

    Greg,
    first of all welcome and thanks for your comment. I’m glad that you voiced your concern because only through dialogue can we hope to understand each other.

    Now to address your comment, the UHJ does not expect every Baha’i to do Ruhi, nor does it wish to force those that are uncomfortable with door to door teaching to do so. Personally I share your discomfort and reluctance. Even more so, I’m shocked that the institutions are even suggesting such a tactic.

    In any case, it is extremely important to differentiate between certain bullies that mouth off about what they think every Baha’i should be doing… and what the Baha’i Faith actually stands for.

    As a Baha’i you should feel free to teach in a way that is in harmony with your character and strengths. We all have something to contribute. For some it is time, for others money, for others friends and connections, etc. At no time should we mistake the UHJ’s suggestions or guidance to be a straight-jacket.

    Unfortunately, there are some elements of every community that become a little too overzealous and steamroll others. At this point, it is the responsibility of not only every single Baha’i present, but also the ABM and Counsellors, to clarify the point of unity in diversity. In my experience, they have a spotty record at this. Some do while others err on the side of silence.

    It can be difficult. Especially if you are reluctant to do Ruhi and take part in all the activities that seem popular now – as the lingo goes “the framework for action”. Ugh, how distasteful is this new Baha’i speak. But this is no different that the continuous challenges that we face as Baha’is. Our most pressing “test” is each other!

    So my humble suggestion to you is to go to the source and read what the Guardian says about teaching, read the other central figures and also read the actual letters of the UHJ. They can be rather dry, but they do clearly spell out the fact that it is ok to not do Ruhi and that no one should make you feel any worse for it.

    Allison’s latest message may also be illuminating.

    Hope that helps a little. Allah-abha :)

  • http://www.bahairants.com Baquia

    Greg,
    first of all welcome and thanks for your comment. I’m glad that you voiced your concern because only through dialogue can we hope to understand each other.

    Now to address your comment, the UHJ does not expect every Baha’i to do Ruhi, nor does it wish to force those that are uncomfortable with door to door teaching to do so. Personally I share your discomfort and reluctance. Even more so, I’m shocked that the institutions are even suggesting such a tactic.

    In any case, it is extremely important to differentiate between certain bullies that mouth off about what they think every Baha’i should be doing… and what the Baha’i Faith actually stands for.

    As a Baha’i you should feel free to teach in a way that is in harmony with your character and strengths. We all have something to contribute. For some it is time, for others money, for others friends and connections, etc. At no time should we mistake the UHJ’s suggestions or guidance to be a straight-jacket.

    Unfortunately, there are some elements of every community that become a little too overzealous and steamroll others. At this point, it is the responsibility of not only every single Baha’i present, but also the ABM and Counsellors, to clarify the point of unity in diversity. In my experience, they have a spotty record at this. Some do while others err on the side of silence.

    It can be difficult. Especially if you are reluctant to do Ruhi and take part in all the activities that seem popular now – as the lingo goes “the framework for action”. Ugh, how distasteful is this new Baha’i speak. But this is no different that the continuous challenges that we face as Baha’is. Our most pressing “test” is each other!

    So my humble suggestion to you is to go to the source and read what the Guardian says about teaching, read the other central figures and also read the actual letters of the UHJ. They can be rather dry, but they do clearly spell out the fact that it is ok to not do Ruhi and that no one should make you feel any worse for it.

    Allison’s latest message may also be illuminating.

    Hope that helps a little. Allah-abha :)

  • Craig Parke

    Hi Greg,

    You are not alone. Many long time Baha’is have left the Faith because they are no longer acceptable in the new top down Ruhiized Baha’i Faith. If you have not done the Ruhi Full Sequence of Courses and you are not going door to door for the Faith, you are not fully accepting the UHJ as the Voice of God on Earth and, as such, you are the “enemy of God” full of ego, self, and passion completely corrupted by liberal Western values and thinking and you will, in the end, sink in their depths. That is pretty much it these days in the Baha’i Faith. Furthermore, if you are not studying the personal speeches of Peter Khan warning about slack and dangerous fellow Baha’is in a study circle with the proper enthusiasm like the Baha’is of Toronto were a few years back, you are highly suspect as a Covenant Breaker.

    http://bahai-library.com/talks/mental.tests.html

    So it goes in the total North Korean Communist Party groupthink the Faith has become. As that person said to you, “Baha’is of 30 plus years that have not completed Ruhi… are a waste of space.” If these people had guard dogs and railroad box cars to load people up at gathering points and send them to re-education camps, we would all be in them right now.

    “We have inherited a dangerous delusion from Christianity that our
    individual conscience is supreme. This is not a Baha’i belief. In the end, in the context of both our role in the community and our role in the greater world, we must be prepared to sacrifice our personal convictions or opinions. The belief that individual conscience is supreme is equivalent to ‘taking partners with God’ which is abhorrent to the Teachings of the Faith.”

    - Douglas Martin
    Former Member of the Universal House of Justice
    Baha’i Faith

    In the new top down total lock step totalitarian indoctrinated Ruhiized Baha’i Faith if the UHJ tells you to murder your children in their sleep, as a good Baha’i you have to do it. You have no choice if you are to remain loyal to the Covenant. No individual conscience is permitted.

    “The experience of the Ruhi Institute has shown that we do not suppress the imagination or the personality of the participants when we refrain from posing questions such as, ‘What does this mean to you?’; on the contrary, we are helping to nurture the development of communities which look first to the Writings as the principal basis of consultation whenever they are faced with a question.

    We believe that the habit of thinking about the implications of the
    Writings with the minimum of personal interpretation would eliminate a great share of the disagreements which afflict consultation in many communities, and would make the activities of our communities more effective.”

    “TO THE COLLABORATORS” – Ruhi Book One

    I served the Faith for 32 straight years with total dedication. I will no longer sit in the same room with these people. That is what it came to for me.

  • Craig Parke

    Hi Greg,

    You are not alone. Many long time Baha’is have left the Faith because they are no longer acceptable in the new top down Ruhiized Baha’i Faith. If you have not done the Ruhi Full Sequence of Courses and you are not going door to door for the Faith, you are not fully accepting the UHJ as the Voice of God on Earth and, as such, you are the “enemy of God” full of ego, self, and passion completely corrupted by liberal Western values and thinking and you will, in the end, sink in their depths. That is pretty much it these days in the Baha’i Faith. Furthermore, if you are not studying the personal speeches of Peter Khan warning about slack and dangerous fellow Baha’is in a study circle with the proper enthusiasm like the Baha’is of Toronto were a few years back, you are highly suspect as a Covenant Breaker.

    http://bahai-library.com/talks/mental.tests.html

    So it goes in the total North Korean Communist Party groupthink the Faith has become. As that person said to you, “Baha’is of 30 plus years that have not completed Ruhi… are a waste of space.” If these people had guard dogs and railroad box cars to load people up at gathering points and send them to re-education camps, we would all be in them right now.

    “We have inherited a dangerous delusion from Christianity that our
    individual conscience is supreme. This is not a Baha’i belief. In the end, in the context of both our role in the community and our role in the greater world, we must be prepared to sacrifice our personal convictions or opinions. The belief that individual conscience is supreme is equivalent to ‘taking partners with God’ which is abhorrent to the Teachings of the Faith.”

    - Douglas Martin
    Former Member of the Universal House of Justice
    Baha’i Faith

    In the new top down total lock step totalitarian indoctrinated Ruhiized Baha’i Faith if the UHJ tells you to murder your children in their sleep, as a good Baha’i you have to do it. You have no choice if you are to remain loyal to the Covenant. No individual conscience is permitted.

    “The experience of the Ruhi Institute has shown that we do not suppress the imagination or the personality of the participants when we refrain from posing questions such as, ‘What does this mean to you?’; on the contrary, we are helping to nurture the development of communities which look first to the Writings as the principal basis of consultation whenever they are faced with a question.

    We believe that the habit of thinking about the implications of the
    Writings with the minimum of personal interpretation would eliminate a great share of the disagreements which afflict consultation in many communities, and would make the activities of our communities more effective.”

    “TO THE COLLABORATORS” – Ruhi Book One

    I served the Faith for 32 straight years with total dedication. I will no longer sit in the same room with these people. That is what it came to for me.

  • Grover

    Hi Greg,

    I’m in a similar boat to you, I don’t like Ruhi, no way in hell will I encourage my friends to do it, and there is absolutely no way I would even consider doing door knocking. In my community they’ve just started doing the door knocking, supposedly just to invite people to events, but we all know what will happen next. I don’t like the pressure that has been applied through Feast, Cluster meetings, newsletters and various events to force us to do Ruhi, teach, etc etc, and get our mates to do Ruhi. I’ve been inactive for sometime now and its been great. This blog and others has become my faith community now. While the discussion is rough sometimes, at least everyone is open and honest with what they think.

  • Grover

    Hi Greg,

    I’m in a similar boat to you, I don’t like Ruhi, no way in hell will I encourage my friends to do it, and there is absolutely no way I would even consider doing door knocking. In my community they’ve just started doing the door knocking, supposedly just to invite people to events, but we all know what will happen next. I don’t like the pressure that has been applied through Feast, Cluster meetings, newsletters and various events to force us to do Ruhi, teach, etc etc, and get our mates to do Ruhi. I’ve been inactive for sometime now and its been great. This blog and others has become my faith community now. While the discussion is rough sometimes, at least everyone is open and honest with what they think.

  • Greg

    Thank You All for your rapid replies.
    You thoughts and comments go a long way with the way i see Ruhi course of forced thinking/mind set….. however please allow to be very clear…… when one looks at the early history of the Faith …..one find brave souls that were willing and able to think and act outside the square and paid a high price for it….I will not be told how to think and when ( aka lock step)…. isnt that the whole point of having no priests/clergy??? to put it more simply….. arent we instructed as Baha’i's to read and study for ourselves and ” not thur the eyes of our neighbour”??? unless of course I have mis understood the second hidden word???
    I thought it was clear enough for even a meat head like me to get
    The weekend of the 24-26/1/09 here in Sydney they are holding a Conference about the current 5 year plan…. dont be too surprise if you hear of Baha’i being Tared and Feathered…..that will probably be me… as I have a gut ful of this door knocking nonsense…
    Cheers.
    greg

  • Greg

    Thank You All for your rapid replies.
    You thoughts and comments go a long way with the way i see Ruhi course of forced thinking/mind set….. however please allow to be very clear…… when one looks at the early history of the Faith …..one find brave souls that were willing and able to think and act outside the square and paid a high price for it….I will not be told how to think and when ( aka lock step)…. isnt that the whole point of having no priests/clergy??? to put it more simply….. arent we instructed as Baha’i's to read and study for ourselves and ” not thur the eyes of our neighbour”??? unless of course I have mis understood the second hidden word???
    I thought it was clear enough for even a meat head like me to get
    The weekend of the 24-26/1/09 here in Sydney they are holding a Conference about the current 5 year plan…. dont be too surprise if you hear of Baha’i being Tared and Feathered…..that will probably be me… as I have a gut ful of this door knocking nonsense…
    Cheers.
    greg

  • farhan

    Greg wrote :
    isnt that the whole point of having no priests/clergy??? to put it more simply….. arent we instructed as Baha’i's to read and study for ourselves and ” not thur the eyes of our neighbour”???

    Yes Greg, I agree, but at the same time, in addition to our personal deepening, some of us need help from those who are in a position to offer help, and these helpers need training. This is the very purpose of the Institute Process of which Ruhi is just an ingredient: building up human ressources. Here is hwo Bah’u’llah words it:

    “Baha’u'llah has enjoined upon the Baha’is the sacred obligation of teaching. We have no priests, therefore the service once rendered by priests to their religions is the service every single Baha’i is expected to render individually to his religion. He must be the one who enlightens new souls, confirms them, heals the wounded and the weary upon the road of life, and gives them to quaff from the chalice of everlasting life – the knowledge of the Manifestation of God in His Day.” (From a letter dated 5 July 1957 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to the Bahá’ís of the Benelux countries)

  • Farhan yazdani

    Greg wrote :
    isnt that the whole point of having no priests/clergy??? to put it more simply….. arent we instructed as Baha’i's to read and study for ourselves and ” not thur the eyes of our neighbour”???

    Yes Greg, I agree, but at the same time, in addition to our personal deepening, some of us need help from those who are in a position to offer help, and these helpers need training. This is the very purpose of the Institute Process of which Ruhi is just an ingredient: building up human ressources. Here is hwo Bah’u’llah words it:

    “Baha’u'llah has enjoined upon the Baha’is the sacred obligation of teaching. We have no priests, therefore the service once rendered by priests to their religions is the service every single Baha’i is expected to render individually to his religion. He must be the one who enlightens new souls, confirms them, heals the wounded and the weary upon the road of life, and gives them to quaff from the chalice of everlasting life – the knowledge of the Manifestation of God in His Day.” (From a letter dated 5 July 1957 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to the Bahá’ís of the Benelux countries)

  • farhan

    Oops, sorry for the collateral damage from copy paste; please replace “Here is hwo Bah’u’llah words it:”
    by “Here is how Shoghi Effendi words it”

  • Farhan Yazdani

    Oops, sorry for the collateral damage from copy paste; please replace “Here is hwo Bah’u’llah words it:”
    by “Here is how Shoghi Effendi words it”

  • farhan

    Craig wrote :
    How can Shoghi Effendi’s statement and Glenford Mitchell’s statement be reconciled?

    Craig, please ask him and publish his reply here.

  • Farhan yazdani

    Craig wrote :
    How can Shoghi Effendi’s statement and Glenford Mitchell’s statement be reconciled?

    Craig, please ask him and publish his reply here.

  • farhan

    Creg,
    I would like to add that if “We have no priests, therefore the service once rendered by priests to their religions is the service every single Baha’i is expected to render individually to his religion”, at the same time,concerning those who have acquired talents and competences for organising Baha’i activities, the UHJ is very clear: no specific privilege or rank is in store for those having completed the curriculum, other than the ability to serve better. Let us not forget Baha’u'llah’s words:

    “From two ranks amongst men power hath been seized: kings and ecclesiastics.” (quoted in The Promised Day is come)

  • Farhan yazdani

    Creg,
    I would like to add that if “We have no priests, therefore the service once rendered by priests to their religions is the service every single Baha’i is expected to render individually to his religion”, at the same time,concerning those who have acquired talents and competences for organising Baha’i activities, the UHJ is very clear: no specific privilege or rank is in store for those having completed the curriculum, other than the ability to serve better. Let us not forget Baha’u'llah’s words:

    “From two ranks amongst men power hath been seized: kings and ecclesiastics.” (quoted in The Promised Day is come)

  • Greg

    Gday All
    The response has been thought provoking( as it should be)….. but here the question thats rattling my single cell of brain matter that I have left…….does “teaching” include or should it include banging on complete stranges doors and inviting them to some event….. whatever that entails……the first thought that goes screaming thur my single brain cell is a loud and complete NO…..however I do see merit in the line of thought of trying something when the”old” approaches dont seem to be working……I would prefer something with a little more thought behind it…… hmmmm didnt Shogi Effendi say something alongb the lines of the “fireside method” being the best approach….. now heres a novel idea ….. lets try the fireside method????… personel contact ( aka invite a friend) to dinner/lunch andwithout so much of the formal talk….. just likely try a Baha’i view point or n5??????….. Granted this doest have the Mass … lets get the numbers signing cards appeal….. but it may just avoid the diseater that the LSA I am on…. went thur with a book one decarant being electied to the LSA and going into meltdown……
    Changing the subject slightly …… when will door knocking produce ENTRY BY TROOPS????????? or am I just being a stick in da mud???

    Cheers
    Greg

  • Greg

    Gday All
    The response has been thought provoking( as it should be)….. but here the question thats rattling my single cell of brain matter that I have left…….does “teaching” include or should it include banging on complete stranges doors and inviting them to some event….. whatever that entails……the first thought that goes screaming thur my single brain cell is a loud and complete NO…..however I do see merit in the line of thought of trying something when the”old” approaches dont seem to be working……I would prefer something with a little more thought behind it…… hmmmm didnt Shogi Effendi say something alongb the lines of the “fireside method” being the best approach….. now heres a novel idea ….. lets try the fireside method????… personel contact ( aka invite a friend) to dinner/lunch andwithout so much of the formal talk….. just likely try a Baha’i view point or n5??????….. Granted this doest have the Mass … lets get the numbers signing cards appeal….. but it may just avoid the diseater that the LSA I am on…. went thur with a book one decarant being electied to the LSA and going into meltdown……
    Changing the subject slightly …… when will door knocking produce ENTRY BY TROOPS????????? or am I just being a stick in da mud???

    Cheers
    Greg

  • Grover

    Greg asked

    [quote post="68"]does “teaching” include or should it include banging on complete stranges doors and inviting them to some event…[/quote]

    It really depends on the culture and country you are living in as to how well its received. I would certainly not recommend it in Auz because mostly everyone hates door knockers.

    You are right, traditional teaching using Shoghi Effendi’s method and ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s approach is probably best in Western cultures, certainly in Auz. Almost everyone hates people that push religion on them.

    I don’t actively “teach”, partly because of Ruhi, but mainly because I have a large number of “non-Baha’i” friends that I associate with and do activities with everyday. They hate it when people push religion on them. Hell, they were even worried about me initially. Some of them had negative experiences with overzealous Baha’is. These non-Baha’i friends were just as good as if not better than the Baha’is I knew from my community, and far more level headed, knowledgeable, sensible, capable and open minded. So whats the point of trying to rope them into something that is pretty dysfunctional and stupid? The “healing message of Baha’u'llah” hasn’t helped the Baha’is very much.

    If people want to know, I just tell them the ungarnished truth about the Faith so they don’t have any idealistic misconceptions, and tell them not to encourage overzealous Baha’is with undue patience.

    [quote post="68"] but it may just avoid the diseater that the LSA I am on…. went thur with a book one decarant being electied to the LSA and going into meltdown…… [/quote]

    Lol, let me guess, the person freaked?

    Door knocking won’t ever produce entry by troops, but probably end up recruiting a bunch of weak-minded lonely dysfunctional people as a lot of the charismatic churches do now. All door knocking will do is make Baha’is the pariah of the normal people like the Mormons and JWs are now.

  • Grover

    Greg asked

    [quote post="68"]does “teaching” include or should it include banging on complete stranges doors and inviting them to some event…[/quote]

    It really depends on the culture and country you are living in as to how well its received. I would certainly not recommend it in Auz because mostly everyone hates door knockers.

    You are right, traditional teaching using Shoghi Effendi’s method and ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s approach is probably best in Western cultures, certainly in Auz. Almost everyone hates people that push religion on them.

    I don’t actively “teach”, partly because of Ruhi, but mainly because I have a large number of “non-Baha’i” friends that I associate with and do activities with everyday. They hate it when people push religion on them. Hell, they were even worried about me initially. Some of them had negative experiences with overzealous Baha’is. These non-Baha’i friends were just as good as if not better than the Baha’is I knew from my community, and far more level headed, knowledgeable, sensible, capable and open minded. So whats the point of trying to rope them into something that is pretty dysfunctional and stupid? The “healing message of Baha’u'llah” hasn’t helped the Baha’is very much.

    If people want to know, I just tell them the ungarnished truth about the Faith so they don’t have any idealistic misconceptions, and tell them not to encourage overzealous Baha’is with undue patience.

    [quote post="68"] but it may just avoid the diseater that the LSA I am on…. went thur with a book one decarant being electied to the LSA and going into meltdown…… [/quote]

    Lol, let me guess, the person freaked?

    Door knocking won’t ever produce entry by troops, but probably end up recruiting a bunch of weak-minded lonely dysfunctional people as a lot of the charismatic churches do now. All door knocking will do is make Baha’is the pariah of the normal people like the Mormons and JWs are now.

  • Greg

    You have it about right when you said “Door knocking won’t ever produce entry by troops, but probably end up recruiting a bunch of weak-minded lonely dysfunctional people as a lot of the charismatic churches do now. All door knocking will do is make Baha’is the pariah of the normal people like the Mormons and JWs are now.”
    And just for the record I came from an athieist background…..and on a regular basis had ding dong arguments with a Jesuit ( you may or may not like Jesuits…. but they are not totally stupid people) so I can say for myself … I not totally scared of being close the cutting edge….but as I sit here I cant help but wonder what other little surprises does the Ruhi school of mass conversion hold?? We have seen Home Visits out of Book 2 turn into door to door sales pitch?? Now that I think of it ….. could it be possilbe that some had aidea or even a seris of ideas ( door knocking included) and built the uhi Books around them …. in order to door knocking etc etc started???
    Cheers
    Greg

  • Greg

    You have it about right when you said “Door knocking won’t ever produce entry by troops, but probably end up recruiting a bunch of weak-minded lonely dysfunctional people as a lot of the charismatic churches do now. All door knocking will do is make Baha’is the pariah of the normal people like the Mormons and JWs are now.”
    And just for the record I came from an athieist background…..and on a regular basis had ding dong arguments with a Jesuit ( you may or may not like Jesuits…. but they are not totally stupid people) so I can say for myself … I not totally scared of being close the cutting edge….but as I sit here I cant help but wonder what other little surprises does the Ruhi school of mass conversion hold?? We have seen Home Visits out of Book 2 turn into door to door sales pitch?? Now that I think of it ….. could it be possilbe that some had aidea or even a seris of ideas ( door knocking included) and built the uhi Books around them …. in order to door knocking etc etc started???
    Cheers
    Greg

  • Grover

    I think the next innovation will be hand clapping at the musical firesides ;P

  • Grover

    I think the next innovation will be hand clapping at the musical firesides ;P

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  • farhan

    Greg, door knocking, bell ringing, E Mailing, poster painting, singing in the subway or on the radio, letter writing… are mere means of inviting people of our neighbourhoods into existing community activities. To invite people we first have to have activities to invite them to. The LSA can decide where at what time the community can gain or loose from such a procedure.

    Once enough tutors, regular children's classes, junior youth activities, devotionals, fire sides, etc have been established, the community can open up from individual teaching to mass teaching, i.e. to larger numbers or “troops” of new people instead of sitting around in a closed community and finding an occasional hearing ear.

    Door knocking is one way that has produced results, including in France where traditionally, peoples homes are considered as a sacred sanctuary, but where in fact every one hopes to find a way out of solitude. People can avoid it or try it, before adopting or abandoning it.

  • farhan

    Grover wrote: The “healing message of Baha'u'llah” hasn't helped the Baha'is very much.

    Grover, Baha'is are far from perfect, but I believe that a person who has been in contact with Baha'i teachings is liable to a better understanding of our world. In any case, I am convinced that had I not been in contact with the Baha'i teachings, I would be a far worse person than I am now.

  • farhan

    Greg, door knocking, bell ringing, E Mailing, poster painting, singing in the subway or on the radio, letter writing… are mere means of inviting people of our neighbourhoods into existing community activities. To invite people we first have to have activities to invite them to. The LSA can decide where at what time the community can gain or loose from such a procedure.

    Once enough tutors, regular children's classes, junior youth activities, devotionals, fire sides, etc have been established, the community can open up from individual teaching to mass teaching, i.e. to larger numbers or “troops” of new people instead of sitting around in a closed community and finding an occasional hearing ear.

    Door knocking is one way that has produced results, including in France where traditionally, peoples homes are considered as a sacred sanctuary, but where in fact every one hopes to find a way out of solitude. People can avoid it or try it, before adopting or abandoning it.

  • farhan

    Grover wrote: The “healing message of Baha'u'llah” hasn't helped the Baha'is very much.

    Grover, Baha'is are far from perfect, but I believe that a person who has been in contact with Baha'i teachings is liable to a better understanding of our world. In any case, I am convinced that had I not been in contact with the Baha'i teachings, I would be a far worse person than I am now.

  • Baquia

    Here's an interesting discussion which took place a couple of months ago on LJ's Baha'i forum. Keep in mind that the moderators over there are extremely strict so people write as if they are walking on egg shells – even so, you can't stifle the truth which is that Ruhi leaves much to be desired. It is always interesting to read the “yes, but…” justifications.

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