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Rod Missaghian
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 Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2008 1:30 pm Post subject: Teaching the faith |
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As Baha'is we are told by Baha'u'llah to: "Unloose your tongues, and
proclaim unceasingly His Cause. This shall be better for you than all
the treasures of the past and of the future, if ye be of them that
comprehend this truth.." (ADV p. 85).
There are many ways to teach the cause, and in the past few years I
have seen many different methods approached.
I was wondering what everyone thought about door to door teaching, or
direct teaching? |
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Poststructuralist
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| Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2008 8:35 pm Post subject: Re: Teaching the faith |
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Rod Missaghian wrote:
| Quote: | I was wondering what everyone thought about door to door teaching, or
direct teaching?
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I was involved in the door-to-door teaching in South Carolina and other
places in the early 1970s (Dillon and Mullins). In the late 1970s, I was
part of a your-long teaching project in Westchester County, New York,
and we were sent down to Georgia to learn how to use the "teaching
booklet" by working with Continental Counselor Hedi Ahmadiyya.
Mass teaching (including door-to-door teaching) itself is easy in some
areas. The problem is the consolidation work and the establishment of
functioning Baha'i communities and local spiritual assemblies.
My own view is that, before undertaking a door-to-door teaching project
in a poor or minority neighborhood in the U.S., there needs to be a
*formal* Baha'i center in that particular neighborhood. Relying upon
someone in the community to host events in her or his own home or
expecting people to attend meetings in another (often non-minority) area
of the city or town do not, in my experience, work too well.
--
Regards, Mark A. Foster, Ph.D. * http://www.markfoster.net
"... the modern challenge is how to live with uncertainty. The
basic fault lines today are not between people with different
beliefs but between people who hold these beliefs with an
element of uncertainty and people who hold these beliefs with
a pretense of certitude." — Peter L. Berger, sociologist |
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Douglas McAdam
Guest
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| Posted: Fri Jul 18, 2008 1:48 am Post subject: Re: Teaching the faith |
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On Jul 17, 2008, at 9:30 AM, Rod Missaghian wrote:
| Quote: | As Baha'is we are told by Baha'u'llah to: "Unloose your tongues, and
proclaim unceasingly His Cause. This shall be better for you than all
the treasures of the past and of the future, if ye be of them that
comprehend this truth.." (ADV p. 85).
There are many ways to teach the cause, and in the past few years I
have seen many different methods approached.
I was wondering what everyone thought about door to door teaching, or
direct teaching?
Hi Rod- |
Like Mark I too have had experience in the early days of mass teaching,
direct, door to door, street teaching, etc. and was not impressed with
that kind of activity. I prefer to think of teaching as my life
process, one in which I learn about my own frailties and weaknesses and
thus provide an opportunity for me to acquire virtues in which the Holy
Spirit can more freely flow to another soul. After all it is the Holy
Spirit doing the teaching, not us.
Often at meetings someone will suggest we have a teaching project or
campaign and I often mention that to me every minute of our lives is
part of a process of teaching. It is not just a campaign or project,
it is our very life process.
Rather than door to door teaching I prefer to make friends, introduce
them to the Faith when an opportunity arises, and I use indirect and
direct methods, depending on how I perceive the situation and seeker at
the time.
Here in the Western world we seem to function by way of divisive
analysis such as what science does. We put things in a box, or a name
or title and often forget the whole. We talk about Proclamation,
Teaching, Enrolling, Deepening, Consolidation and we further break down
Teaching into direct and indirect, campaigns, projects, methods and the
like when what I see is that it is a process that we must consecrate
our entire lives too. It is not just "another" activity like work,
recreation, etc.
And yet I also will support all methods, campaigns etc. when the
institution calls for it.
But I guess I would say I am not big on door to door teaching
campaigns, unless, as Mark suggests, we have a Baha'i Center in which
to invite people to.
regards,
doug |
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Rod Missaghian
Guest
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| Posted: Fri Jul 18, 2008 1:46 pm Post subject: Re: Teaching the faith |
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On Jul 17, 4:48 pm, Douglas McAdam <douglasmca...@sbcglobal.net>
wrote:
| Quote: | On Jul 17, 2008, at 9:30 AM, Rod Missaghian wrote:
As Baha'is we are told by Baha'u'llah to: "Unloose your tongues, and
proclaim unceasingly His Cause. This shall be better for you than all
the treasures of the past and of the future, if ye be of them that
comprehend this truth.." (ADV p. 85).
There are many ways to teach the cause, and in the past few years I
have seen many different methods approached.
I was wondering what everyone thought about door to door teaching, or
direct teaching?
Hi Rod-
Like Mark I too have had experience in the early days of mass teaching,
direct, door to door, street teaching, etc. and was not impressed with
that kind of activity. I prefer to think of teaching as my life
process, one in which I learn about my own frailties and weaknesses and
thus provide an opportunity for me to acquire virtues in which the Holy
Spirit can more freely flow to another soul. After all it is the Holy
Spirit doing the teaching, not us.
Often at meetings someone will suggest we have a teaching project or
campaign and I often mention that to me every minute of our lives is
part of a process of teaching. It is not just a campaign or project,
it is our very life process.
Rather than door to door teaching I prefer to make friends, introduce
them to the Faith when an opportunity arises, and I use indirect and
direct methods, depending on how I perceive the situation and seeker at
the time.
Here in the Western world we seem to function by way of divisive
analysis such as what science does. We put things in a box, or a name
or title and often forget the whole. We talk about Proclamation,
Teaching, Enrolling, Deepening, Consolidation and we further break down
Teaching into direct and indirect, campaigns, projects, methods and the
like when what I see is that it is a process that we must consecrate
our entire lives too. It is not just "another" activity like work,
recreation, etc.
And yet I also will support all methods, campaigns etc. when the
institution calls for it.
But I guess I would say I am not big on door to door teaching
campaigns, unless, as Mark suggests, we have a Baha'i Center in which
to invite people to.
regards,
doug
|
Hello Doug and Mark,
| Quote: | I prefer to think of teaching as my life process, one in which I learn ab
out my own frailties and weaknesses and |
thus provide an opportunity for me to acquire virtues in which the
Holy Spirit can more freely flow to another soul. After all it is the
Holy Spirit doing the teaching, not us.<<
I couldn't agree more.
I am from Canada, and it is interesting that you both were mass
teaching, direct teaching etc. in the 70's. In the 14 years since I
declared, this summer marks the first organized, intensive teaching
campaign (in my area at least). The friends are showing a lot of
trepidation at the prospect of having to knock on someone’s door and
tell them about the Baha'i Faith. We do have the resources, and we do
have a Baha'i Center right around the corner.
I agree that teaching the cause is a life's work and that part of that
happens on a personal level, through working on oneself at all times
trying to develop the attributes that will attract the blessings of
the Holy Spirit, which after all, works through us, as you said.
I think it is interesting that there has not been many deepening’s on
the central texts in my area in 10 years. I have been forced to study
these on my own, which is wonderful don't get me wrong, but can be
frustrating at times. This is why this type of discussion group is so
refreshing and important to me. The point being that I agree that
things in the Western world are looked at divisively and put into
boxes. For me studying the writings and teaching are not mutually
exclusive.
regards,
Rod |
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Douglas McAdam
Guest
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| Posted: Fri Jul 18, 2008 8:20 pm Post subject: Re: Teaching the faith |
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Hi Rod-
I agree with you and hope I did not create the wrong impression in
that anyone reading my comments would get the idea we should not be
doing door to door teaching. I think I was trying to get across the
idea that I would support any teaching projects an institution asked us
to do, unless of course it was clearly something opposite what the
Writings say. My point is though that I prefer to live the life and
focus on the fact that everything I do is somehow part of the process
of teaching, or at least I consider it that way. Teaching is simply
not just some additional action I do in my life. I'm conscious of all
my deeds and believe me I'm striving myself to be an example and don't
always make it, but at least I'm conscious of my actions.
By the way I'm from Canada too. I was born and raised in Saint John,
NB and came to the US in 1964.
Your comments about deepening are interesting because I have heard
others say similar things and maybe it is due to the fact that there is
so much focus on study circles and Ruhi. But my understanding is that
we still should be having deepenings.
regards,
doug
On Jul 18, 2008, at 9:46 AM, Rod Missaghian wrote:
| Quote: | On Jul 17, 4:48 pm, Douglas McAdam <douglasmca...@sbcglobal.net
wrote:
On Jul 17, 2008, at 9:30 AM, Rod Missaghian wrote:
As Baha'is we are told by Baha'u'llah to: "Unloose your tongues, and
proclaim unceasingly His Cause. This shall be better for you than
all
the treasures of the past and of the future, if ye be of them that
comprehend this truth.." (ADV p. 85).
There are many ways to teach the cause, and in the past few years I
have seen many different methods approached.
I was wondering what everyone thought about door to door teaching,
or
direct teaching?
Hi Rod-
Like Mark I too have had experience in the early days of mass
teaching,
direct, door to door, street teaching, etc. and was not impressed
with
that kind of activity. I prefer to think of teaching as my life
process, one in which I learn about my own frailties and weaknesses
and
thus provide an opportunity for me to acquire virtues in which the
Holy
Spirit can more freely flow to another soul. After all it is the Holy
Spirit doing the teaching, not us.
Often at meetings someone will suggest we have a teaching project or
campaign and I often mention that to me every minute of our lives is
part of a process of teaching. It is not just a campaign or
project,
it is our very life process.
Rather than door to door teaching I prefer to make friends, introduce
them to the Faith when an opportunity arises, and I use indirect and
direct methods, depending on how I perceive the situation and seeker
at
the time.
Here in the Western world we seem to function by way of divisive
analysis such as what science does. We put things in a box, or a
name
or title and often forget the whole. We talk about Proclamation,
Teaching, Enrolling, Deepening, Consolidation and we further break
down
Teaching into direct and indirect, campaigns, projects, methods and
the
like when what I see is that it is a process that we must consecrate
our entire lives too. It is not just "another" activity like work,
recreation, etc.
And yet I also will support all methods, campaigns etc. when the
institution calls for it.
But I guess I would say I am not big on door to door teaching
campaigns, unless, as Mark suggests, we have a Baha'i Center in
which
to invite people to.
regards,
doug
Hello Doug and Mark,
I prefer to think of teaching as my life process, one in which I
learn ab
out my own frailties and weaknesses and
thus provide an opportunity for me to acquire virtues in which the
Holy Spirit can more freely flow to another soul. After all it is the
Holy Spirit doing the teaching, not us.
I couldn't agree more.
I am from Canada, and it is interesting that you both were mass
teaching, direct teaching etc. in the 70's. In the 14 years since I
declared, this summer marks the first organized, intensive teaching
campaign (in my area at least). The friends are showing a lot of
trepidation at the prospect of having to knock on someone’s door and
tell them about the Baha'i Faith. We do have the resources, and we do
have a Baha'i Center right around the corner.
I agree that teaching the cause is a life's work and that part of that
happens on a personal level, through working on oneself at all times
trying to develop the attributes that will attract the blessings of
the Holy Spirit, which after all, works through us, as you said.
I think it is interesting that there has not been many deepening’s
on
the central texts in my area in 10 years. I have been forced to study
these on my own, which is wonderful don't get me wrong, but can be
frustrating at times. This is why this type of discussion group is so
refreshing and important to me. The point being that I agree that
things in the Western world are looked at divisively and put into
boxes. For me studying the writings and teaching are not mutually
exclusive.
regards,
Rod
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Susan Maneck
Guest
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| Posted: Fri Jul 18, 2008 8:36 pm Post subject: Re: Teaching the faith |
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| Quote: | I am from Canada, and it is interesting that you both were mass
teaching, direct teaching etc. in the 70's.
In the 14 years since I
declared, this summer marks the first organized, intensive teaching
campaign (in my area at least). The friends are showing a lot of
trepidation at the prospect of having to knock on someone's door and
tell them about the Baha'i Faith. We do have the resources, and we do
have a Baha'i Center right around the corner.
|
Dear Rod,
I did that kind of teaching in the 70's and although we got a number
of declarations this way, the long term results were not encouraging.
It will be interesting to see if the resources we've been building
make a difference or if it is the teaching technique itself which is
the problem.
warmest, Susan |
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Poststructuralist
Guest
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| Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2008 1:17 am Post subject: Re: Teaching the faith |
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Rod Missaghian wrote:
| Quote: | The friends are showing a lot of
trepidation at the prospect of having to knock on someone’s door and
tell them about the Baha'i Faith. We do have the resources, and we do
have a Baha'i Center right around the corner.
|
IMHO, if they are not comfortable with this form of direct teaching,
then, perhaps, they should not do it. I have seen enough problems
connected to door-to-door and mass teaching in cases where people were
genuinely enthusiastic about it.
Mass teaching, I think, works best in relatively poor and rural areas.
In urban and suburban locations, a combination of a media campaign with
home firesides may be more successful.
--
Regards, Mark A. Foster, Ph.D. * http://www.markfoster.net
"... the modern challenge is how to live with uncertainty. The
basic fault lines today are not between people with different
beliefs but between people who hold these beliefs with an
element of uncertainty and people who hold these beliefs with
a pretense of certitude." — Peter L. Berger, sociologist |
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| Back to top |
Kent Johnson
Guest
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| Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2008 2:40 am Post subject: Re: Teaching the faith |
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Hi Rod, some of my earliest Baha'i memories are from knocking on doors. I
can't remember where, but I must have been about nine years old when I got
bit by someone's dog trying to invite them to a Fireside. The speaker that
evening called me up to speak about what happened... I remember quite a few
details, don't remember anyone's names, but I can picture the school
auditorium where we had the meeting..
I agree with Susan on this. If there is more of a community structure in
place before knocking on the doors there might just be a better result. I
bet a lot of people would come to well-planned Baha'i events. Even me.
--Kent
"Rod Missaghian" <rod.missaghian@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:idWdnWm0YY1yNx3VnZ2dnUVZ_gSdnZ2d@giganews.com...
On Jul 17, 4:48 pm, Douglas McAdam <douglasmca...@sbcglobal.net>
wrote:
| Quote: | On Jul 17, 2008, at 9:30 AM, Rod Missaghian wrote:
As Baha'is we are told by Baha'u'llah to: "Unloose your tongues, and
proclaim unceasingly His Cause. This shall be better for you than all
the treasures of the past and of the future, if ye be of them that
comprehend this truth.." (ADV p. 85).
There are many ways to teach the cause, and in the past few years I
have seen many different methods approached.
I was wondering what everyone thought about door to door teaching, or
direct teaching?
Hi Rod-
Like Mark I too have had experience in the early days of mass teaching,
direct, door to door, street teaching, etc. and was not impressed with
that kind of activity. I prefer to think of teaching as my life
process, one in which I learn about my own frailties and weaknesses and
thus provide an opportunity for me to acquire virtues in which the Holy
Spirit can more freely flow to another soul. After all it is the Holy
Spirit doing the teaching, not us.
Often at meetings someone will suggest we have a teaching project or
campaign and I often mention that to me every minute of our lives is
part of a process of teaching. It is not just a campaign or project,
it is our very life process.
Rather than door to door teaching I prefer to make friends, introduce
them to the Faith when an opportunity arises, and I use indirect and
direct methods, depending on how I perceive the situation and seeker at
the time.
Here in the Western world we seem to function by way of divisive
analysis such as what science does. We put things in a box, or a name
or title and often forget the whole. We talk about Proclamation,
Teaching, Enrolling, Deepening, Consolidation and we further break down
Teaching into direct and indirect, campaigns, projects, methods and the
like when what I see is that it is a process that we must consecrate
our entire lives too. It is not just "another" activity like work,
recreation, etc.
And yet I also will support all methods, campaigns etc. when the
institution calls for it.
But I guess I would say I am not big on door to door teaching
campaigns, unless, as Mark suggests, we have a Baha'i Center in which
to invite people to.
regards,
doug
|
Hello Doug and Mark,
| Quote: | I prefer to think of teaching as my life process, one in which I learn ab
out my own frailties and weaknesses and |
thus provide an opportunity for me to acquire virtues in which the
Holy Spirit can more freely flow to another soul. After all it is the
Holy Spirit doing the teaching, not us.<<
I couldn't agree more.
I am from Canada, and it is interesting that you both were mass
teaching, direct teaching etc. in the 70's. In the 14 years since I
declared, this summer marks the first organized, intensive teaching
campaign (in my area at least). The friends are showing a lot of
trepidation at the prospect of having to knock on someone’s door and
tell them about the Baha'i Faith. We do have the resources, and we do
have a Baha'i Center right around the corner.
I agree that teaching the cause is a life's work and that part of that
happens on a personal level, through working on oneself at all times
trying to develop the attributes that will attract the blessings of
the Holy Spirit, which after all, works through us, as you said.
I think it is interesting that there has not been many deepening’s on
the central texts in my area in 10 years. I have been forced to study
these on my own, which is wonderful don't get me wrong, but can be
frustrating at times. This is why this type of discussion group is so
refreshing and important to me. The point being that I agree that
things in the Western world are looked at divisively and put into
boxes. For me studying the writings and teaching are not mutually
exclusive.
regards,
Rod |
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