Anyone ever been to a Bahai meeting? (Seekers)

[Sirona]

Hi forum,

has anyone of you seekers ever been to a Bahai meeting (where texts of various religions are read)? How would you describe your experience? I read on a Bahai website that "participation is expected". To which degree? I also read they have no clergy so each meeting might be different, depending on how it is organized. Please share your thoughts.

 

[Dawnofhope]

I've been a Baha'i for nearly 30 years so have been to heaps of devotional meetings and arranged many myself. They are very easy to prepare. Its usually best to have music, preferably live. It good to have writings that reflect the occasion and participants. For example when a devotional gathering was arranged earlier in the year to commemorate those affected by the Mosque shootings where 51 people died we had writings from the Quran. We could easily have verses from the Vedas and currently the local Hindu community hire our community centre long term for Poojas until they establish their own temple.

Participation should ideally be optional as not everyone is comfortable, especially if they are attending for the first time. That being said, Baha'i meetings are almost always friendly occasions where visitors are made welcome. There is no need or role for clergy at our meetings though any member including leaders of different religious faiths are welcome.

 

[Sirona]

I've been a Baha'i for nearly 30 years so have been to heaps of devotional meetings and arranged many myself. They are very easy to prepare. Its usually best to have music, preferably live. It good to have writings that reflect the occasion and participants. For example when a devotional gathering was arranged earlier in the year to commemorate those affected by the Mosque shootings where 51 people died we had writings from the Quran. We could easily have verses from the Vedas and currently the local Hindu community hire our community centre long term for Poojas until they establish their own temple.

Participation should ideally be optional as not everyone is comfortable, especially if they are attending for the first time. That being said, Baha'i meetings are almost always friendly occasions where visitors are made welcome. There is no need or role for clergy at our meetings though any member including leaders of different religious faiths are welcome.

Thanks for your reply, @adrian009 ! Are visitors required to join in reciting prayers or to recite a creed?

 

[Dawnofhope]

Thanks for your reply, @adrian009 ! Are visitors required to join in reciting prayers or to recite a creed?

You’re welcome
There’s no Creeds in the Baha’i Faith. There is no requirement for visitors or anyone who doesn't want to recite a prayer to join in. The host may ask you to say a reading. Politely decline if you are not comfortable.

 

[Sirona]

You’re welcome
There’s no Creeds in the Baha’i Faith. There is no requirement for visitors or anyone who doesn't want to recite a prayer to join in. The host may ask you to say a reading. Politely decline if you are not comfortable.

Thanks again! What about etiquette? Like taking the shoes off, covering the head ...

 

[Dawnofhope]

Thanks again! What about etiquette? Like taking the shoes off, covering the head ...

There is no Baha'i etiquette in regards covering head or wearing shoes. However some places ask you remove shoes. My wife is part Japanese so it is part of our family culture to remove shoes. Many cutures are like this. I mention that because many devotional meetings are held in peoples homes.

 

[arthra]

Hi forum,

has anyone of you seekers ever been to a Bahai meeting (where texts of various religions are read)? How would you describe your experience? I read on a Bahai website that "participation is expected". To which degree? I also read they have no clergy so each meeting might be different, depending on how it is organized. Please share your thoughts.

Most communities have informal meetings in private homes. We have devotional meetings that are open to anyone There may be a theme but anyone who attends can share their views or prayers. There are also Study Circles that are held on various topics and again anyone is free to attend and participate.

There are also every nineteen days (a Baha'i month) where the Baha'is in a given community gather for prayers and discuss business and socialize and share refreshments. Every community that has nine adult members can elect a Local Spiritual Assembly that decides issues for their local jurisdiction.

We have Unit Conventions once a year where Baha'i topics are discussed and we elect delegates to represent us at annual National Conventions, these National Conventions elect the nine member National Spiritual Assembly.

 

[Sirona]

Most communities have informal meetings in private homes. We have devotional meetings that are open to anyone There may be a theme but anyone who attends can share their views or prayers. There are also Study Circles that are held on various topics and again anyone is free to attend and participate.

There are also every nineteen days (a Baha'i month) where the Baha'is in a given community gather for prayers and discuss business and socialize and share refreshments. Every community that has nine adult members can elect a Local Spiritual Assembly that decides issues for their local jurisdiction.

We have Unit Conventions once a year where Baha'i topics are discussed and we elect delegates to represent us at annual National Conventions, these National Conventions elect the nine member National Spiritual Assembly.

Thank you for your reply!

 

[TransmutingSoul]

Hi forum,

has anyone of you seekers ever been to a Bahai meeting (where texts of various religions are read)? How would you describe your experience? I read on a Bahai website that "participation is expected". To which degree? I also read they have no clergy so each meeting might be different, depending on how it is organized. Please share your thoughts.

I hope you can find some that have done so, that are not Baha'i. What I have found over the last 35 years is that the meetings varied according to the background of the host and what influenced them.

Regards Tony