Sequence of teaching

Order of subjects to teach

Teaching beginning by proving existence of transcendental God and validity of past Prophets and bounties of God and immortality of spirit and spirit comprises virtues

Highly acceptable to begin by proving existence and oneness of God, then validity of prophets, then the signs and wonders of the universe

"The method of instruction you have devised, namely, to begin by proving the existence and oneness of God, the Lord of Eternity, then to establish the validity of the mission proclaimed by the prophets and messengers, and finally to explain the signs, the marvels and wonders of the universe, is highly acceptable and you should proceed accordingly. Confirmations from the Lord of Glory will assuredly be vouchsafed. Memorizing the texts of the holy Tablets, and of perspicuous words and statements is highly praiseworthy. You should exert the utmost endeavour in your efforts to educate, to expound, and to instruct."

('Abdu'l-Bahá, from a newly translated Tablet of Abdu'l-Bahá, Importance of Deepening Our Knowledge and Understanding of the Faith, no. 32)

One must first prove Divinity, and then prove the transcendental bounty of God encompassing humanity, then the imperishable nature of the virtue-comprised spirit of man

"If we review history, we will observe that human advancement has been greatest in the development of material virtues. Civilization is the sign and evidence of this progression. Throughout the world, material civilization has attained truly wonderful heights and degrees of efficiency--that is to say, the outward powers and virtues of man have greatly developed, but the inner and ideal virtues have been correspondingly delayed and neglected. It is now the time in the history of the world for us to strive and give an impetus to the advancement and development of inner forces--that is to say, we must arise to service in the world of morality, for human morals are in need of readjustment. We must also render service to the world of intellectuality in order that the minds of men may increase in power and become keener in perception, assisting the intellect of man to attain its supremacy so that the ideal virtues may appear. Before a step is taken in this direction we must be able to prove Divinity from the standpoint of reason so that no doubt or objection may remain for the rationalist. Afterward, we must be able to prove the existence of the bounty of God--that the divine bounty encompasses humanity and that it is transcendental. Furthermore, we must demonstrate that the spirit of man is immortal, that it is not subject to disintegration and that it comprises the virtues of humanity."

('Abdu'l-Bahá, Promulgation of Universal Peace, pp. 325-326)

See also

• Bounties of God

Non-authoritative text calling for speaking to those interested in the lives and history of the prophets and then gradually discussing this Revelation

"Whenever you teach in Yazd you should first speak to those interested in the lives and history of the prophets of the past, and then, little by little, discuss this Revelation with them."

(Furútan, ‘A. citing Bahá'u'lláh, Stories of Bahá'u'lláh, quoted in Teaching, the Crown of Immortal Glory, p. 149).

Non-authoritative text from Taherzadeh whereby it was supposed to have been advised by Baha'u'llah to begin teaching with an account of the history of the religions of the past and their Founders, as in the Kitáb-i-Íqán

"Bahá'u'lláh often counselled His followers how to teach the Faith. For example, He directed Hájí Muhammad-Táhir-i-Málmírí, when he was leaving His presence, to engage in teaching the Cause in his native city of Yazd and gave him some instructions as to how to teach. Foremost among these instructions was to pray for the seeker and urge him also to pray so that the confirmations of God might reach him and open his eyes to the truth of the Cause. Another counsel was to begin teaching with the account of the history of the religions of the past and their Founders, similar to the accounts given in the Kitáb-i-Íqán. This would enable the enquirer to get an insight into his own religion that he might recognize the truth and the reality of the Founder of his own Faith. When this stage was reached, the individual would be ready to appreciate and understand the Cause of God for this day."

(Adib Taherzadeh, Revelation of Bahá'u'lláh, vol. 3, p. 334)

To recognize the sequence of the Divine religions

"While maintaining intact their belief in the Divine origin of their respective religions, it [the Faith of Bahá'u'lláh] has enabled them to visualize the underlying purpose of these religions, to discover their merits, to recognize their sequence, their interdependence, their wholeness and unity, and to acknowledge the bond that vitally links them to itself."

(Shoghi Effendi, World Order of Bahá'u'lláh, p. 197)

Teaching Jews of Christ and Christians of Muhammad

'Abdu'l-Bahá was marvelous in His frankness while demonstrating the prophetic Mission of Jesus to Jews and the Divine origin of Islám in churches and synagogues

"...marvelous in His frankness while demonstrating, from platform and pulpit, the prophetic Mission of Jesus Christ to the Jews, of the Divine origin of Islám in churches and synagogues, or the truth of Divine Revelation and the necessity of religion to materialists, atheists or agnostics;...He, the incarnation of every Bahá'í virtue and the embodiment of every Bahá'í ideal, continued for three crowded years to trumpet to a world sunk in materialism and already in the shadow of war, the healing, the God-given truths enshrined in His Father's Revelation."

(Shoghi Effendi, God Passes By, pp. 282-283)

(Memorize and utilize statements of 'Abdu'l-Bahá to rabbi about Christ being the Word of God)

“It was not possible to make the subject completely plain to the rabbi last night, as he was very much pressed for time, but today the opportunity was sufficient for a reconsideration of the statements in detail. I wish you to understand them thoroughly and memorize them in order that you may discourse with the Jews and thus, perchance, become instrumental in leading them aright...”

"What harm could result if the Jews were in a similar attitude toward Christianity, declaring that Christ was the Word of God, that the Gospel is the Book of God? Such an attitude as this would cause the enmity of many centuries to pass away."

('Abdu'l-Bahá, Promulgation of Universal Peace, pp. 411, 413-414)

(Eventually to establish truth of Islam in the West)

"The friends should uphold Islám as a revealed Religion in teaching the Cause but need not make, at present, any particular attempt to teach it solely and directly to non-Baha'is at this time.

"The mission of the American Baha'is is, no doubt, to eventually establish the truth of Islam in the West.”

(From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, July 30, 1941, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1665)

A prerequisite of admittance into the Bahá'í fold is the acceptance of the legitimacy of the institution of the Imamate

"...the essential prerequisites of admittance into the Bahá'í fold of Jews, Zoroastrians, Hindus, Buddhists, and the followers of other ancient faiths, as well as of agnostics and even atheists, is the wholehearted and unqualified acceptance by them all of the divine origin of both Islám and Christianity, of the Prophetic functions of both Muhammad and Jesus Christ, of the legitimacy of the institution of the Imamate, and of the primacy of St. Peter, the Prince of the Apostles. Such are the central, the solid, the incontrovertible principles that constitute the bedrock of Bahá'í belief, which the Faith of Bahá'u'lláh is proud to acknowledge, which its teachers proclaim, which its apologists defend, which its literature disseminates, which its summer schools expound, and which the rank and file of its followers attest by both word and deed."

(Shoghi Effendi, Promised Day is Come, par. 270)

Bahá'u'lláh and the New Era is (at the time of writing) best book possessed for a necessary introduction before delving into the fundamental tenets in the Kitáb-i-Íqán

"Even though the book [Bahá'u'lláh and the New Era] was written by a Christian [Dr. Esslemont] and was meant to be for people of that Faith to read, yet it is a very fine presentation of the teachings as a whole and might prove interesting to other people as well. Shoghi Effendi surely hopes that before long the Cause may produce scholars that would write books which would be far deeper and more universal in scope, but for the present this is the best we possess to give a general idea as to the history and teachings of the Faith to new seekers. After reading this they get the necessary introduction to delve more deeply into the fundamental tenets such as are explained in the Íqán. Shoghi Effendi hopes that these books will greatly stimulate the teaching work in India and become the cause of guidance to many sincere souls."

(On behalf of Shoghi Effendi, Messages of Shoghi Effendi to the Indian Subcontinent, October 19, 1932, p. 88)

See also

• https://bahai-library.com/uhj_quran_introductory#page2 on more recent books which may be recommended in the Writings

General guidance

Not to expect too much or too little before entry into the Faith

"The believers must discriminate between the two extremes of bringing people into the Cause before they have fully grasped its fundamentals and making it too hard for them, expecting too much of them, before they accept them. This requires truly keen judgment, as it is unfair to people to allow them to embrace a movement the true meaning of which they have not fully grasped. It is equally unfair to expect them to be perfect Bahá'ís before they can enter the Faith. Many teaching problems arise out of these two extremes..."

(Directives from the Guardian, pp. 9-10)

Not to press too much (as by sending material to person not wishing it) after entry into the Faith

"The Guardian thinks that it is wise not to influence ... by sending him material which he does not at present wish to receive. He is, judging from his letter, a sincere but immature believer...."

(On behalf of Shoghi Effendi, Unfolding Destiny, p. 278)

Should not start with difficult points in teaching (as abstinence from wine), but explain gradually

"He feels you should, in teaching, certainly not start with such a difficult point as abstinence from wine; but when the person wishes to join the Faith he must be told...."

(On behalf of Shoghi Effendi, 7 April 1947 to two believers, Prohibition on Drinking Alcohol, no. 1800)

"Such questions as ... abstention from alcoholic liquors should not be thrust upon the newcomer, but explained to him gradually, so that he himself may be convinced of the truth underlying these ordinances of the Cause."

(From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, February 17, 1938, in Lights of Guidance, no. 237)

To-dos for this page

• Sequence of teaching activities from proclamation->expansion->consolidation, etc.