Becoming a Baha'i

Prayer gatherings can be held anywhere: in a center owned by a local or national Baha'i community, in a park, or in a home. The most common are organized by individuals or families in their own homes, and consist of friends, colleagues, and neighbors praying together. While you'll often see Baha'is reciting memorized prayers or reading from prayer books, there might also be people saying prayers from their own faith traditions, meditating silently, or praying in their own words.

There's no set form for prayer gatherings. Some groups like to set a theme, like prayers for peace, healing, or community. Some like to include a lot of music and singing. Some are energetic, while others are quiet and meditative. Some hosts like to serve refreshments. There are no complicated rules of deportment to follow; basic courtesy is all you need to get along.

One of the best ways to get a taste of the Baha'i community firsthand is joining a study circle. In a study circle, a small group of friends works together through a course (Reflections on the Life of the Spirit is often the first such course chosen) with the assistance of an experienced tutor. The courses focus on studying the Baha'i writings in order to develop the knowledge, attitudes, and skills needed in fostering the growth of strong, spiritual communities. Practicing basic acts of service is an important component of every study circle, as is inclusion of the arts in various forms.

While the course itself is grounded in the Baha'i Writings, it is not necessary to be a Baha'i to participate in a study circle. Anyone who is interested in spiritually-based development is welcome to participate.

The spiritual education of young people is a major focus of the Baha'i community. Classes for children are held at a neighborhood level, much like study circles are for older youth and adults. These classes are open to children of any or no religious background, and emphasize such universal spiritual qualities as truthfulness, generosity, compassion, humility, and steadfastness.

The junior youth groups are for those in middle school, around ages 11-14. These groups are led by an "animator," who takes a mentor-type role in the group, rather than that of a teacher (as with children's classes). The purpose of these groups is to foster spiritual empowerment in adolescents, who will soon attain the age at which they will begin making more independent choices about their lives and the the paths they will choose to follow. Topics like working towards one's aspirations, media literacy, and dealing with prejudice and injustice are tackled from a spiritual perspective. In addition, junior youth groups provide a strong social group, and involve community service, the arts, sports, and social activities.

The trainings to assist people to become children's class teachers or junior youth animators are themselves study circle courses, and open to all.