A new believer shares: “I think of Baha'i as a way of life”

A woman, who is a polyglot and a professional linguist, visited the Baha'i World Centre in Haifa Israel. She shared this message when reaching out to the American Baha'is at www.bahai.us:

“I visited the Baha'i Centre in Haifa last year. Since then, I wanted to get involved with Baha'i religion. I was contacted last year by a member, but could not answer as I had to travel abroad for family reasons. Now I would like to meet with someone to get more information.”

A Baha'i who lives near the woman reached out to her by visiting her home, leaving a prayer book, and how to contact her for more information. The Baha'i later shared that:

“I had a wonderful conversation on the phone with her this evening. I learned that since her visit to the Baha'i Centre in Haifa last year she has considered herself a Baha'i.”

With her husband, the Baha'i made another visit to the woman’s home. Together they discussed the fundamental verities of the Baha'i Faith, engaging in a conversation like Anna that they learned themselves while studying from the sixth book in the Ruhi sequence of courses. The woman posed a question about Baha'i identity:

My husband and I had a wonderful visit. Her only question was 'What does one do as a Baha'i?'

To investigate this question, the woman along with the Baha’i and her husband joined together to study the course “Reflections on the Life of the Spirit” which discusses the principles of service to the community, meditation on the Word of God, spiritual growth, and the importance of daily prayer.

Already this new believer has begun to serve her community by hosting a study group within her home. She has begun to identify herself as a Baha'i, and is demonstrating knowledge of the Baha'i teachings. The Baha’i shared that she is now an enrolled member of the community.

At the end of the evening she expressed one reservation. She said 'I have trouble thinking of this as a religion. I think of Baha'i as a way of life.' We talked some more about that in terms of ‘What is the definition of religion?’

Bahais believe...

“To be a Baha'i simply means to love all the world; to love humanity and try to serve it; to work for universal peace and universal brotherhood.” - Abdul-Baha