Recently, the Baha’is were contacted by someone through www.bahai.us and asked this question:
“How
[does someone] introduce the Baha'i Faith to other people w/o having a debate?”
This is of course a wonderful question, and the response that was
provided by a Baha'i is as follows . . . .
There is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about becoming a better
teacher of the Baha’i Faith by attending a study circle, or informal, small
study group using the book “Teaching the Cause,” the sixth book in a series of
books published by the Ruhi Institute that all Baha’is are encouraged to
participate in, which also includes putting what one learns into practice.
Some quotations shared in this book from Baha’u’llah, ‘Abdu’l-Baha, and
the Guardian of the Baha’i Faith, that you may find helpful include the
following:
"Among the teachings of
Bahá’u’lláh is His declaration that religion must be the cause of love and
fellowship, must be the source of unity in the hearts of men. If religion
becomes a cause of enmity and hatred, it is evident that the abolition of
religion is preferable to its promulgation . . .”
“If ye be aware of a certain truth, if
ye possess a jewel, of which others are deprived, share it with them in a
language of utmost kindliness and good-will. If it be accepted, if it fulfil
its purpose, your object is attained. If any one should refuse it, leave him
unto himself, and beseech God to guide him. Beware lest ye deal unkindly with
him. A kindly tongue is the lodestone of the hearts of men. It is the bread of
the spirit, it clotheth the words with meaning . . .”
“The teaching work “should be tempered
with wisdom--not that wisdom which requireth one to be silent and forgetful of
such an obligation, but rather that which requireth one to display divine
tolerance, love, kindness, patience, a goodly character, and holy deeds . . . ”
"Not everything that a man knoweth
can be disclosed nor can everything that he can disclose be regarded as timely,
nor can every timely utterance be considered as suited to the capacity of those
who hear it."
“In accordance with the divine
teachings in this glorious dispensation we should not belittle anyone and call
him ignorant, saying: "You know not, but I know". Rather, we should
look upon others with respect, and when attempting to explain and demonstrate,
we should speak as if we are investigating the truth, saying: "Here these
things are before us. Let us investigate to determine where and in what form
the truth can be found." The teacher should not consider himself as
learned and others ignorant. Such a thought breedeth pride, and pride is not
conducive to influence. The teacher should not see in himself any superiority;
he should speak with the utmost kindliness, lowliness and humility, for such speech
exerteth influence and educateth the souls.”
“They must be neither provocative nor
supine, neither fanatical nor excessively liberal, in their exposition of the
fundamental and distinguishing features of their Faith. Thy must be either wary
or bold, they must act swiftly or mark time, they must use the direct or
indirect method, they must be challenging or conciliatory, in strict accordance
with the spiritual receptivity of the soul with whom they come in contact,
whether he be a nobleman or a commoner, a northerner or a southerner, a layman
or a priest, a capitalist or a socialist, a statesman or a prince, an artisan
or a beggar. In their presentation of the Message of the Baha'u'llah they must
neither hesitate nor falter. They must be neither contemptuous of the poor nor
timid before the great. In their exposition of its verities they must neither
over stress nor whittle down the truth which they champion, whether their
hearer belong to royalty, or be a prince of the Church, or a politician, or a
tradesman, or a man of the street. To all alike, high or low, rich or poor,
they must proffer, with open hands, with a radiant heart, with an eloquent
tongue, with infinite patience, with uncompromising loyalty, with great wisdom,
with unshakeable courage, the Cup of Salvation, at so critical an hour, to the
confused, the hungry, the distraught and fear-stricken multitudes . . ."
Finally, we are assured that . . .
“Whoso openeth his lips in this Day and
maketh mention of the name of his Lord, the hosts of Divine inspiration shall
descend upon him from the heaven of My name, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. On
him shall also descend the Concourse on high, each bearing aloft a chalice of
pure light.”
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