Lecture

Specifically encouraged

Very essential in giving a wonderful picture of subject matter (though need accompaniment by study classes and seminar work)

"Shoghi Effendi feels that the real purpose of these Summer Schools is to deepen the knowledge of the friends. Lectures are very essential for they give a wonderful picture of the subject matter. But it is not sufficient to have a picture; the friends should deepen their knowledge and this can be achieved if, together with the lectures, there are study classes and seminar work carried on by the same lecturer. The world is undoubtedly facing a great crisis and the social, economic and political conditions are daily becoming more complex. Should the friends desire to take the lead in informing the world, they should start by educating themselves and understand what the troubles and problems really are which baffle the minds of men. It is in these Summer Schools that this training should be provided for the friends."

(From a letter written on behalf of the Guardian to an individual believer, January 27, 1932: Ibid., pp. 1-2, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1894)

Lectures at summer school will familiarize non-Bahá’ís with the principles underlying the New World Order

"Through daily association with the believers, non-Bahá’ís will come to see the Cause functioning as an active and living community entirely dedicated to the service of what is best and highest in the world. The lectures will familiarize them with the principles underlying the New World Order, while their participation in the social life of the believers will enable them to see the way in which these very same principles are put into operation."

(Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, in a letter of the Universal House of Justice to all National Spiritual Assemblies of Europe, September 26, 1969, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1892)

Summer Schools affords believers an opportunity to deepen their knowledge of the Teachings including through lectures

"… The institution of the Summer School constitutes a vital and inseparable part of any teaching campaign, and as such ought to be given the full importance it deserves in the teaching plans and activities of the believers. It should be organized in such a way as to attract the attention of the non-believers to the Cause and thus become an effective medium for teaching. Also it should afford the believers themselves an opportunity to deepen their knowledge of the Teachings, through lectures and discussions and by means of close and intense community life."

(From a letter written on behalf of the Guardian to the National Spiritual Assembly of the British Isles, October 17, 1936: Centers of Bahá’í Learning, pp. 2-3, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1896)

Studying under qualified others encouraged

One can find the verities of the Faith (great teachings and fundamentals) by studying under Bahá'í scholars at summer schools and in classes

By "verities of the Faith" he means the great teachings and fundamentals enshrined in our Bahá'í literature; these we can find by reading the books, studying under Bahá'í scholars at summer schools and in classes, and through the aid of study outlines.

(From a letter dated 19 April 1947 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, Importance of Deepening Our Knowledge and Understanding of the Faith, no. 147)

Blessed souls and the old ones to gather youths in schools of instruction

"Amongst other things is the holding of meetings for teaching so that blessed souls and the old ones from amongst the believers may gather together the youths of the love of God in schools of instruction."

('Abdu'l-Bahá, Bahá’í Meetings, no. 22)

Lack of people who know the teachings and deeper truths thoroughly so they can teach the souls properly

"There is a real lack in the Cause of people who know the teachings thoroughly, especially their deeper truths, and who can consequently teach the souls properly and lay a permanent foundation, one that tests and trials will not shake down."

(On behalf of Shoghi Effendi, Importance of Deepening Our Knowledge and Understanding of the Faith, no. 157)

Seek enlightenment from the "illumined in heart" (regarding the intricacies of God's Faith and the abstruse allusions in the utterances of the Daysprings of Holiness)

"Inasmuch as it hath been clearly shown that only those who are initiated into the divine mysteries can comprehend the melodies uttered by the Bird of Heaven, it is therefore incumbent upon every one to seek enlightenment from the illumined in heart and from the Treasuries of divine mysteries regarding the intricacies of God's Faith and the abstruse allusions in the utterances of the Daysprings of Holiness. Thus will these mysteries be unravelled, not by the aid of acquired learning, but solely through the assistance of God and the outpourings of His grace. "Ask ye, therefore, of them that have the custody of the Scriptures, if ye know it not.""

(Bahá'u'lláh, Kitáb-i-Íqán, par. 212; also in Importance of Deepening Our Knowledge and Understanding of the Faith, no. 20)

No priests to interpret or answer for us

"The friends need only read the Writings; the answers are all in them; we have no priests in this Faith to interpret or answer for us."

(On behalf of Shoghi Effendi, Importance of Deepening Our Knowledge and Understanding of the Faith, no. 165)

See also

• Learned
• Speech
• Feast#Uplifting talks