A Study Circle is usually a small group of individuals that typically meets once per week. Anyone aged fifteen or older, whether a Bahá’í or not, is welcome to take part. Each group is facilitated by a tutor who is simply someone who has previously studied the course materials and who have received some further training related to facilitating study circles with others. Everyone can potentially serve as a tutor on some occasions, while continuing to take part as a member of a study circle on others.
A core principle of the Bahá'í Faith is the independent investigation of truth. All those participating in a study circle are seen as active agents of their own learning, and tutors strive to create an atmosphere that encourages individuals to assume ownership for the spiritual educational process in which they are engaged. A study circle should be a space that leads to the spiritual and moral empowerment of individuals.
"Reflections on the Life of the Spirit" is the first in a series of capacity building materials focused on individual and community transformation. The focus of the class is largely concerned with the question of true identity and uses passages and quotes from the Bahá’í writings to explore spiritual themes related to prayer, the soul, and life after death.
The materials also include passages from the Bahá’í writings related to specific themes and acts of service. Together participants think about the application of these passages to their individual and collective lives. Among the questions they explore are how to create environments that put people in contact with the spiritual forces released through prayer and devotion, how to strengthen bonds of friendship and establish meaningful patterns of communication among people of various backgrounds, and how our own spiritual growth and development doesn't occur in a vacuum but is directly tied to the spiritual progress and wellbeing of others and of our communities.
Devotional gatherings, welcome to all, bring friends, families and neighbors together in a spirit of worship — feeding the soul through prayer, song and reflection. They inspire meaningful connections in an informal setting, and often take place in one another’s homes. In Bloomington devotional gatherings take place at the Baha’i Center, and in neighborhoods at one another’s homes.
The Junior Youth Spiritual Empowerment Program: This educational program typically engages older youth as animators or mentors of younger youth ages 11 to 15 to help them develop their powers of expression, capacities for moral reasoning, and an ethic of service to others. Within the program they discuss and analyze both the constructive and destructive forces operating in society in order to become more aware of the influence these forces exert on their thoughts and actions. The program combines study, service activities, arts and recreation in a way that builds meaningful relationships and a vision of purpose for our lives.
Baha’i children’s classes aim to nurture the hearts and minds of children. The emphasis of these classes is on helping children to learn to reflect on and apply spiritual qualities, such as love, unity, justice, generosity and patience to their own lives and to the lives of those around them. Based on the teachings of Baha’u’llah, the classes seek to inspire in children a love of God and His Messengers, and of humanity in all its diversity. The classes include short lessons comprised of stories, music, prayers, art and games, and activities to build friendship.
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