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Best Baha'i response to what the world needs, according to the House of Justice

Jim

Nets of Wonder
Note: To clarify my intentions for the topic of this thread, in case anyone would like to know, what I want to discuss in this thread is only about what the Baha'i Universal House of Justice is calling a culture of growth, which it has been promoting for Baha'i communities for 20 years or more. It is not about economic and social development projects, interfaith initiatives, or any other activities that Baha'i communities or their members might be involved in, other than the culture of growth. What I want to discuss in this thread is only about the culture of growth, which will be explained below in another post. There is another thread for other Baha'i activities here:
What Baha'is do on the local, national, and international level

I'm posting this for Baha'is, but I'm posting it here in the interfaith forum instead of in the Baha'i DIR forum because I don't want to be a member of any DIR forum. Besides, I disagree with other Baha'is about God and religion as much as I do with anyone else, so my discussions with them are interfaith discussions as much as my discussions with anyone else. If anyone else besides Baha'is has any interest in this, and wants to comment or ask questions, that's okay with me. I'm posting it in a non-debate forum because I don't want there to be any debating in this thread.

The message to Baha'is, "One Common Faith," was commissioned and supervised by the House of Justice, and commended by it to Baha'is for thoughtful study. In its introduction to the message, the House of Justice says that "the disease of sectarian hatreds, if not decisively checked, threatens harrowing consequences that will leave few areas of the world unaffected." It says that in general its 2002 message delivered personally to many of the world's religious leaders was warmly welcomed; that a significant number of them reproduced it and distributed it to others, and that it feels hopeful that the message helped open the way to new understanding of religion's purpose. Then it says that however that may be, the concern of Baha'is must be with our own responsibility in the matter.

It says that "the accelerating breakdown in social order calls out desperately for the religious spirit to be freed from the shackles that have so far prevented it from bringing to bear the healing influence of which it is capable," and that "If they are to respond to the need, Bahá’ís must draw on a deep understanding of the process by which humanity’s spiritual life evolves." It says that it commissioned and supervised the message for that purpose, and that it commends it to our thoughtful study.

The message itself discusses the challenge that needs to be addressed, then it says "The culture of systematic growth taking root in the Bahá’í community would seem, therefore, by far the most effective response the friends can make to the challenge discussed in these pages." Then it reviews that culture of systematic growth in some detail.

According to that message--commissioned and supervised by the House of Justice for us to study thoughtfully, to deepen our own understanding, the understanding of Baha'is, of the process by which humanity's spiritual life evolves--according to that message, the culture of systematic growth that the House of Justice has been promoting for 20 years or more, is not only the most effective response for Baha'is to help free the religious spirit to exert its healing influence, it is also part of what the whole world needs to see, as evidence that all the people of the world, in all their diversity, can live and work peacefully and happily together.

I repeat, according to that message, commissioned and supervised by the House of Justice, the culture of systematic growth that the House of Justice has been promoting for 20 years or more, is not only the most effective response for Baha'is to help free the religious spirit to exert its healing influence on the ills afflicting humanity, it is also part of what the whole world needs to see, as evidence that all the people of the world, in all their diversity, can live and work peacefully and happily together.

In this thread I'm planning to discuss that culture of systematic growth, and how anyone who wants to can be part of it, regardless of their circumstances and capacities.
 
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Dawnofhope

Non-Proselytizing Baha'i
Staff member
Premium Member
One of the main focuses for me is to ensure children and young people that I have immediate connections with have the opportunity to learn about the spiritual dimension of life in a coherent and meaningful way. Its been relatively easy to find a group of like minded adults to study with and share dovotional meetings with. Its much more challenging to be involved in creating spaces for our your people to grow and develop.

Beyond that, what I've seen evolve over the last 20 years is a training institute for people from the age of 5 year onwards that empowers them to walk the spiritual life each day. That pogramme is available to anyone who wants to make use of it.

Has this programme had any impact on my community? It has certainly helped me and some of my friends contribute to the community in ways we wouldn't have thought possible a few years back.
 

Jim

Nets of Wonder
I'll start by giving one example of how anyone who wants to can be part of the culture of systematic growth that the House of Justice has been promoting for 20 years or more, which is not only the most effective response for Baha'is to help free the religious spirit to exert its healing influence on the ills afflicting humanity, but also part of what the whole world needs to see, as evidence that all the people of the world, in all their diversity, can live and work peacefully and happily together.

One way that I see that anyone who wants to can be part of it, regardless of their circumstances and capacities, is by:
- Studying what the House of Justice has said about it, again and again and again and again, relating it to Baha'u'llah's purposes and what the world needs.
- Making time for it.
- Roleplaying it.
- Corresponding with Baha'is who are directly and deeply involved in it, and trying to find ways to encourage and support them, at the very least to be someone they can talk to about it.

That's one way I see that anyone who wants to can be part of it, regardless of their circumstances and capacities. If anyone has any other ideas, I hope you will post them.
 

Dawnofhope

Non-Proselytizing Baha'i
Staff member
Premium Member
I've attached a message received a few days ago from our Prime Minister, the Right Honourable Jacinda Ardern, extending a warm greeting and praise of the New Zealand Bahá’í community.

Here's the website about the race unity speech awards we've had running in New Zealand for the last 18 years.

About — Race Unity Speech Awards
 

Attachments

  • Message for the Race Unity Speech Awards and Hui 7 May 2019.pdf
    86.3 KB · Views: 0

Jim

Nets of Wonder
I've added a note to the OP, to clarify my intentions for the topic of this thread.
 

Jim

Nets of Wonder
I see the House of Justice saying that the culture of growth that it has been promoting for Baha'i communities is not only the best way for us to respond to the needs of the world today, it's also part of what the world needs to see, as evidence that all the people of the world, in all their diversity, can live and work together peacefully and happily, for the benefit of all and not just for a few at the expense of others. I'll come back to that later. For now, here's a description of the culture of growth, from this year's annual message from the House of Justice:
...devotional meetings infuse a new spirit into the life of a community. Interwoven with educational efforts for all ages, they reinforce the lofty purpose of those efforts: to foster communities distinguished by their worship of God and their service to humankind.
Devotional meetings, study circles, children's classes, and junior youth programs, are four of the activities that the House of Justice has been promoting for Baha'i communities, all aimed at developing capacities for service and applying them in a spirit of service, which according to Baha'u'llah counts as worship of God.

Here's another description of the culture of learning and growth that the House of Justice has been promoting from its 2008 annual message:
Thousands upon thousands, embracing the diversity of the entire human family, are engaged in systematic study of the Creative Word in an environment that is at once serious and uplifting. As they strive to apply through a process of action, reflection and consultation the insights thus gained, they see their capacity to serve the Cause rise to new levels. Responding to the inmost longing of every heart to commune with its Maker, they carry out acts of collective worship in diverse settings, uniting with others in prayer, awakening spiritual susceptibilities, and shaping a pattern of life distinguished for its devotional character. As they call on one another in their homes and pay visits to families, friends and acquaintances, they enter into purposeful discussion on themes of spiritual import, deepen their knowledge of the Faith, share Bahá’u’lláh’s message, and welcome increasing numbers to join them in a mighty spiritual enterprise. Aware of the aspirations of the children of the world and their need for spiritual education, they extend their efforts widely to involve ever-growing contingents of participants in classes that become centres of attraction for the young and strengthen the roots of the Faith in society. They assist junior youth to navigate through a crucial stage of their lives and to become empowered to direct their energies toward the advancement of civilization. And with the advantage of a greater abundance of human resources, an increasing number of them are able to express their faith through a rising tide of endeavours that address the needs of humanity in both their spiritual and material dimensions. Such is the panorama before us as we pause this Riḍván to observe the progress of the worldwide Bahá’í community.]

It all revolves around building healthier, happier, more loving communities by developing capacities for service and applying them in a spirit of service. Devotional meetings to help put us in the right spirit for the work that we're doing, study circles, children's classes and junior youth programs to develop qualities and capacities for service. Spending time together and with others in each other's homes, learning to raise the level of our everyday conversations to discussions that lead to action, about how to respond to the needs of the world today. The more that a community's capacities for service and spirit of service have progressed, the more it can participate in beneficial ways in economic and social development activities responding to the needs of the world. I don't want to discuss those activities in this thread. There's a link to a thread for that, in the OP.
 

PureX

Veteran Member
What's so great about "growth"?

It seems to me that one of humanity's more basic problems is that no matter what we have, it's never enough. We want there to be more of it, to make it bigger, more effecting, more, more, more. When we actually manage to do something right, we ruin it by trying to improve it, extend it, exaggerate it, "grow" it. We get a good idea and suddenly we want everyone else to know of it, and share in it, when maybe it's not that great of an idea, from their perspective. In a lot of ways, "growth" is an ego thing, and a greed thing, and not a goof thing for we humans to be supporting and engaging in.

Perhaps the more important goal here is not "growth", but discernment, and relative applicability. These are certainly key ideals that I would like to see our younger generations learning about. Especially in a ciulture that is obsessed with excess, and extremes, and emotional abandon.

Just sayin'.
 

Jim

Nets of Wonder
Sometimes a Baha’i might not have access to any Baha’i community where this kind of development is happening, or they might be alienated from the community where they live, or prevented from participating in it for one reason or another. Regardless of circumstances, a person can roleplay the culture of learning and growth, or at the very least, fantasize it. I might post some more details about it, to help with that. One way of learning about it for the purpose of roleplaying it might be to read stories and watch videos about communities where it’s happening. Roleplaying it might be a good way to understand it better. I don’t think that all Baha’is need to be directly involved in it, but all of the followers of Bahá’u’lláh might want to understand it as well as they possibly can, to be able to see better how to support it, for example in their communications with people who are directly involved in it.
 

Jim

Nets of Wonder
I’m hoping to stir up whatever love there might be here for Bahá’u’lláh or Abdu’l-Baha, in service to what Abdu’l-Baha called “the potent sources of the progress of man, at all times and under all conditions,” and what the person that Abdu’l-Baha appointed for us to follow called “the one joy and yearning” of his life. Part of what I think that means currently for all of us is to do everything we can find to do, to be actively involved with all our hearts in everything that the House of Justice is promoting for Baha’i communities, and not to allow any circumstances or conditions of life to prevent us from finding ways to do that. Later I’ll try to explain my reasons for thinking that. For now I’ll give examples of how a person can do that, even without any access to any Baha’i community, and even permanently confined to a bed. That is by roleplaying every part of it, and if that isn’t possible, then by fantasizing it, preferably with help from read stories or watching videos about it.

If there’s any doubt or question about the value of that, first a person can think of it as a way of praying with all sincerity, not only in words but in action, praying for the work that the House of Justice is calling for Baha’i communities to do. Another reason is that roleplaying or at least fantasizing the kind of community life the House of Justice is promoting can help us come to a deeper understanding of it, and more love for it, which can make our communications with people who are directly involved in it more encouraging, fruitful and beneficial for them and for us.

“O ye the faithful loved ones of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá! It is incumbent upon you to take the greatest care of Shoghi Effendi, the twig that hath branched from and the fruit given forth by the two hallowed and Divine Lote-Trees, that no dust of despondency and sorrow may stain his radiant nature, that day by day he may wax greater in happiness, in joy and spirituality, and may grow to become even as a fruitful tree.”

“And now as I look into the future, I hope to see the friends at all times, in every land, and of every shade of thought and character, voluntarily and joyously rallying round their local and in particular their national centers of activity, upholding and promoting their interests with complete unanimity and contentment, with perfect understanding, genuine enthusiasm, and sustained vigor. This indeed is the one joy and yearning of my life, for it is the fountainhead from which all future blessings will flow, the broad foundation upon which the security of the Divine Edifice must ultimately rest.”
 
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Jim

Nets of Wonder
What I’m saying here is for Baha’is, but I don’t want to post in any DIR, and I don’t want to exclude friendly questions and comments from other people.

I want to appeal to any love and trust that any Baha’is may have for Baha’u’llah, Abdu’l-Baha and/or Shoghi Effendi, to think of the House of Justice not only as an authority for us to obey, but also as the best guide for our community to trust and follow, for Baha’u’llah’s purposes. Shoghi Effendi said that the one joy and yearning of his life was for us to rally round our local and especially national centers of activity. I think that would apply even more to rallying round the House of Justice. Besides, the national assemblies have rallied round the House of Justice from the time it was formed, so rallying round our national assemblies includes rallying round the House of Justice. Shoghi Effendi, appointed by Abdu’l-Baha for us to trust and follow, said to uphold and promote their interests with complete unanimity and contentment, with perfect understanding, genuine enthusiasm and sustained vigor. He said that was the one joy and yearning of his life.

I think that whatever the writings say about spiritual assemblies applies to the Universal House of Justice, because “spiritual assembly” is just a name that we’re currently using for local and national houses of justice. Whatever the writings say about spiritual assemblies is really about houses of Justice. Abdu’l-Baha wrote:
... for these are the basis for spreading the sweet savours of God, exalting His Word, uplifting the lamp of His grace, promulgating His religion and promoting His Teachings, and what bounty is there greater than this? These Spiritual Assemblies are aided by the Spirit of God. Their defender is ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. Over them He spreadeth His wings. What bounty is there greater than this? These Spiritual Assemblies are shining lamps and heavenly gardens, from which the fragrances of holiness are diffused over all regions, and the lights of knowledge are shed abroad over all created things. From them the spirit of life streameth in every direction. They, indeed, are the potent sources of the progress of man, at all times and under all conditions. What bounty is there greater than this?
“Spiritual assembly” is just another name for “house of justice.” I think that all of that applies to the Universal House of Justice as much as to local and national ones.

I would like to see Baha’is thinking more about all that when they think of the House of Justice.
 

Jim

Nets of Wonder
I don’t think that all Baha’is are called to be directly involved in the community building that the House of Justice is promoting. I think that there might be many Baha’is whose interests, capacities and possibilities are better used in other ways. Even so, I’m hoping that Baha’is will be moved more and more by their love for and trust in Bahá’u’lláh, Abdu’l-Baha and/or Shoghi Effendi, to try with all their hearts to understand, support and promote what the House of Justice is promoting, along with whatever else they’re doing and promoting.
 

Jim

Nets of Wonder
I’ll be discussing here how anyone who wants to can practice the kind of community building that the House of Justice is promoting for neighborhoods and villages all around the world, even if there are no Baha’is in the neighborhood or village. There can be good reasons for some Baha’is not to be practicing what the House of Justice is promoting for community building, but being the only Baha’i in a neighborhood or village is not a reason at all.
 

Jim

Nets of Wonder
Even people who aren’t members of the Baha’i community and who don’t believe what we say about God and His messengers can do everything that the House of Justice is promoting for community building, so the absence of Baha’is and help from Bahai institutions is not a reason at all for any Baha’is not to be practicing it. As I said, there can be good reasons for not practicing it, but being the only Baha’i and not having help from Baha’i institutions is not a reason at all.
 

Jim

Nets of Wonder
The kind of community building that the House of Justice is promoting is not for Baha’is only, not even only for people who might become members some day. It’s for anyone who sees value in it, no matter if they have any interest in becoming members or not.
 

Jim

Nets of Wonder
For any Baha’i who wants to try to practice what the House of Justice is promoting, in challenging circumstances, for example where there are no other Baha’is and there is no help available from Baha’i institutions, roleplaying the core activities, the home visits and the cluster gatherings can help a person get ideas about what they can actually do, in their circumstances, to practice what the House of Justice is promoting. It can also be a way of praying, not only in words but also in action. Besides all that, it can be rewarding in itself, and help improve a person’s life, and service to the cause of Bahá’u’lláh.
 

Jim

Nets of Wonder
Another benefit from roleplaying what the House of Justice is promoting is that it can help a person understand better what the House of Justice is saying about it. Even for Baha’is who are called away from direct involvement in the core activities, the better they understand the purpose, aims and goals of the community building, the better they can encourage and support people who are directly involved in it, in their communications with them.
 

Jim

Nets of Wonder
@Tony Bristow-Stagg I decided to look at the website of the Baha’is of Australia, to see what it says about community building, and here’s what I found:

Building vibrant communities - Australian Baha'i Community

It lists four of the core activities at the heart of community building, and it has a link to a film about it. If you read that page and watch that film, it might help you understand better what I’ll be saying in this thread.
 

Jim

Nets of Wonder
I also looked on the New Zealand Baha’i website, and it also discusses the community building and those same four activities: devotional meetings, study circles, children’s classes and junior youth programs.
 

TransmutingSoul

Veteran Member
Premium Member
@Tony Bristow-Stagg I decided to look at the website of the Baha’is of Australia, to see what it says about community building, and here’s what I found:

Building vibrant communities - Australian Baha'i Community

It lists four of the core activities at the heart of community building, and it has a link to a film about it. If you read that page and watch that film, it might help you understand better what I’ll be saying in this thread.

Thank you Jim, I am aware of the activities and I have watched that video a few times.

Our invitations to date, have not had any resulting activities.

Regards Tony
 
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Jim

Nets of Wonder
I'll try to summarize everything I'm thinking about this because I'm not sure I'll be posting much more.

Anyone who wants to participate in what the House of Justice is promoting can roleplay it if they can't be directly involved in it any other way. It can be a way of praying with actions, and of understanding better what the House of Justice is promoting, in order to better encourage and support people we know who are directly involved in it. It can also be rewarding in itself, and help improve a person's life and service to the Faith.

The message "One Common Faith," commissioned and supervised by the House of Justice for all Baha'is to study, says that the community building that the House of Justice is promoting, along with a deep understanding of the process by which humanity’s spiritual life evolves, is the best way for Baha'is to respond to the urgent need to remedy the disease of sectarian hatreds, and free the religious spirit to exert its healing influence on the social order. Anyone who wants to can participate in that community building by studying what the House of Justice says about it, and if they can't actually be directly involved, they can roleplay it, to better understand it and support it, to pray for it with actions, for the rewards in it, and to improve their lives and their service to others.

Besides being the best response for Baha'is to help remedy the disease of sectarian hatreds, I also see it as the best way to help reduce the damage from disasters and help communities recover from them, and the best way to help improve the lives of all people everywhere, now and into the future. I think that the best way for anyone to see that for themselves is to try it. If they can't be directly involved in it, they can roleplay it, to understand it better, and by understanding it better, they can see for themselves if what I'm saying about it is true or not.

Anyone, Baha'i or not, can practice and promote the kind of community building that the House of Justice is promoting, even if they don't believe what we say about God and Baha'u'llah, and even if they have no interest in becoming members, so being the only Baha'i in a community is no reason not to do it.

According to "One Common Faith," the community building is also what the world needs to see, to see that it is possible for all the people of the world, in all their diversity, to live and work together peacefully and happily.in ways that help bring out the best in people and in society. Seeing the community building that we're doing can help strengthen, encourage and inspire anyone who is trying to help improve the world for all people everywhere, no matter if they believe what we're saying about God and Baha'u'llah or not.
 
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