Community III

At this time, the building of the community revolves around four activities:

• Study Circles

• Devotionals

• Children's Classes

• Junior Youth Groups

Each serves its own purpose in the progression of society. Many times before, we have looked at the Bahá'í Writings and tried to understand topics as complex as the progression of the soul and justice. Such topics are admirable, but we cannot get into the heart of the meaning of the Bahá'í Faith without looking at the core principle.

As a Bahá'í, I believe that I was created to know God and to obey His Teachings. It seems a little strange, believing in an unknowable essence. I cannot see God. I cannot taste, touch nor understand Him. In fact, if it were not for His Manifestations, I doubt I would have ever thought of His existence. The world would simply find me wandering the planet as an animal, looking for my next meal. Each of the Manifestations give us a glimpse at the Power of God's Word. They come and bring down with them Teachings which allow us to progress as a society. Confirmation such as this is why I believe in God. These Great Beings come with Teachings, all claiming to come from One Source; if it works, why should I not believe?

Obeying the Teachings of God is another story. To do so, we need to serve our fellow man. And how do we do this? The core principle of the Faith of Bahá'u'lláh is to unite all the peoples of the earth. This grand scheme seems near impossible. With the constant violence, unending prejudice and injustice enthroned within our hearts and minds, it is impossible. That is why we must start at the grassroots.

Would it not be wonderful to go to the kings and rulers of the earth and say, "The tabernacle of unity hath been raised; regard ye not one another as strangers. Ye are the fruits of one tree, and the leaves of one branch, " or "O rulers of the earth! Be reconciled among yourselves, that ye may need no more armaments save in a measure to safeguard your territories and dominions."? And better yet, "Be united, O kings of the earth, for thereby will the tempest of discord be stilled amongst you, and your peoples find rest, if ye be of them that comprehend. Should any one among you take up arms against another, rise ye all against him, for this is naught but manifest justice."

Unfortunately, much of this has already been advised to the rulers of the earth, but they refused to heed to the call of Bahá'u'lláh. This means the normal layman must go out and teach the Cause and serve humanity-hence going to the grassroots.

Society is based on the community which is based on the family. A family needs a mother, the first educator of the child. The family needs a father, the bread winner and the enforces of education for the child. This does not mean that the mother does not work and that the father does not help the mother with the initial education. Since the child has been reared by the mother for nine months, he has a special connection with her, hence the first educator. The child in turn must be obedient to his parents for they have his best interest at heart. Obedience to the parents is the child's proof of Faith and love.

If the family unit is united, then the next step can be taken to the community and this is where the core activities mentioned at the very beginning come into place.

First we have Study Circles. Here, the community members come together to study the words of God or learn various skills which help with the building of the community. The current set of books used by Bahá'ís is called the Ruhi books, printed by Palabra Publications, and created initially in Colombia. Here is the list of the books:

• Book 1: Reflections on the Life of the Spirit. In this book, the participant learns the importance of prayer and spirituality in life and the continuation of life after the passing of the physical body. The skill learned from this book is the creation of devotionals.
• Book 2: Arising to Serve. The key of this book is to learn the joy of service and its importance in daily life. The skill learned from this book is simply how to serve.
• Book 3: Teaching Children's Classes. Here, as the title states, the participants learn how to teach classes for children. Currently, there are two books available, for grades I and II respectively, with a grade III becoming geared up for publication.
• Book 4: The Twin Manifestations. Here, the participant learns the history of the Bahá'í Faith and its implications for the future. They key is to learn to tell the stories from the Faith with eloquence-in this way, we can improve our public speaking and also allow others to learn about the history.
• Book 5: Releasing the Powers of Junior Youth. The participant learns the psychology first of being a Youth and the of being a Junior Youth; they learn what the goal is (the stage of youth, a servant to the community), and see what they will be working with (the junior youth, full of potential-but stuck in a conflicted point of life). From here, the participant will learn how to animate a group of Junior Youth (12-14 year olds)-more on this in a little bit.
• Book 6: Teaching the Cause. Multiple times in previous posts we have learned that teaching is the greatest gift of God. Through teaching, we find receptive souls who desire to serve the community alongside us. Teaching the Cause does not mean we make people Bahá'ís. It means we find people who want to serve.
• Book 7: Walking Together on a Path of Service. In this book, one learns how to become a tutor for Ruhi Books 1-6. Being a tutor does not mean one has the material mastered, but rather can give ideas and take ideas from the participants.
  
• Book 8: The Covenant of Bahá'u'lláh. Currently in production, this book focuses on the idea of the Covenant and what it truly means to follow the Bahá'í Faith.

Through these books, we gain the skills to do the next three core activities, along with various other acts of service.

The second of the activities is devotionals. The community comes together to pray and meditate. They converse on spiritual ideas which are often neglected and, this way, become more spiritually close to one another.

The third of the activities is Children's Classes. It is easy to mold children. Through children's classes, the child learns various spiritual qualities which he would not gain through modern education. These spiritual qualities will last the child through the rest of their lives. Imagine a future community where all children have learned to be truthful, detached, steadfast, determined, loving, kind, etc. to all people. This vision is only enhanced with the following program-the Junior Youth Animating program.

The forth of the core activities is the Junior Youth Group. These groups aim at empowering those who are no longer children yet not yet adults. They will learn their potentials and capacities which they can use for their futures. There are four aspects of the Junior Youth Group.

• Art activities-to enhance the creativity of the Junior Youth
• Outdoor activities-to allow Junior Youth to exert energy
• A set of books. There are 8 titles planned for each age (12, 13 and 14)-2 from each of the below sub groups:

1. Continuation of Bahá'í Children's Classes. The title says it all. This set allows the Junior Youth to cover issues that range from evolution to the existance of God. Only groups with Bahá'í Junior Youth are obligated to complete this sequence.
2. Language. The Junior Youth learn the power of expression and the proper method to execute such expression. They then will become great teachers and great animators of Junior Youth Groups in the future. The power of language is extremely important. A proper understanding of various forms of argumentation from logos, pathos and ethos must be learned and administered properly. Otherwise, one becomes corrupt like the modern politician.
3. Science and Mathematics. Logic and rational thinking are absent from scientific education many times until a person hits upper level science classes in high school or even college. Here the Junior Youth learns to think scientifically from a younger age-thus progressing science (think about it, training people from a younger age mean they have more room and time to advance by the time they hit college).
4. Living in Society. Growing up in today's world is not easy, thus learning how to stand up morally in society and also thinking about the implications of one's actions on the future are key to assist with progression. The more people we have who live life with high standards, the more we will see society progress.

• Service projects make up the forth activity of Junior Youth Groups. Service is how one puts into action everything they have learned. With everything mentioned beforehand, there is much to put into action. Projects are dedicated to assist with the building of the community. Junior Youth have been to start classes for children, community learning projects (i.e. importance of recycling and caring for the environment), fundraisers, painting murals, clothes drives, etc. It is the culmination of the Junior Youth Animating program and prepares Junior Youth for a life of service.

Once a community dedicated to united service is established, it can be expanded to the level of the city (which is made much easier when there are dozens, if not hundreds, of neighborhoods dedicated to the same thing). And from the city, to the region, to the nation and finally to the world. None of this is conditional to people becoming Bahá'ís. It is conditional on people following the Word of Bahá'u'lláh and desire to serve humanity.

And it will not end here. After a thousand years or so have passed, another Manifestation will come to continue assisting us with the progression of mankind through its various stages.

Next, we will discuss the various institutions of the Bahá'í Faith and how they assist with the entire process of community building and the creation of a new world civilization.