User:Brettz9/Youth study meetings

Possible meeting components

'Abdu'l-Bahá called for a specific type of study meeting (variously called "spiritual meetings", "meetings for teaching", etc.) where youth were taught by adults how to study various topics.

The possible components of the meeting are below (along with other activities which are called for in our Writings in reference to meetings about study and teaching, including a grass-roots concept called "teaching institutes"). The lists are divided according to topic (with underlining indicating approximate relative emphasis given for these meetings across various quotations) and according to techniques.

0) Prepare ahead of time with spiritual and physical readiness for meeting (see 6.A-D here)

1. Proofs, arguments, prophecies, and Scriptures (no. 5, 6, and 8 (B, C) here)
2. History (no. 6 here); see no. 5 on relationship of the Faith to wider society and The Covenant (no. 8)
3. Read/Chant/Memorize Tablets, Communes, Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá (including those on teaching) (no. 4 here) (though per spiritual meetings, this is activity is to split off into the Mashriqu'l-Adhkár when available (note that these are currently in embryonic form as devotional meetings)
4. Individual: Laws and Teachings (see no. 4 here); see also Moral/Social (no. 1), Teaching (no. 2)
5. Administrative Order (see no. 4 here) and Community (no. 3)

Note that the latter two topics may be covered adequately in the training institute (study circles), whereas the frequently emphasized topics of the proofs and history might need extra coverage in study by regular teachers.

Specific activities

1. Spiritual preparation (see read/chant/memorize above and deepening on teaching)
   1. Read instructive articles (see no. 8.D.1 here)
   2. Give eloquent speeches (including those created by youth) (see no. 9.A. here)
2. Consult and make plans for implementing study and action (see no. 8.A., quote 4 here); note that this might be covered in part by reflection gatherings
3. Materials creation (out of meeting, but for use in meeting or for related firesides, socials, service projects, devotionals, etc., conducted by the group–use of arts and/or media, etc.) (see no. 8.A., quote 4 here)
4. Sing meekly at end if desired (see 3rd quotation of 4.A. here, though noting this might be more covered now with the Mashriqu'l-Adhkár per a quote at spiritual meetings)

Compilation on youth meetings

• introduction to the compilation
• regular formatting
• special formatting

Compilations including extensive reference to youth meetings

• Importance of Deepening
• Bahá'í Meetings
• Centres of Baha'i Learning

Books of particular relevance

• Proofs
  • Kitáb-i-Íqán
  • Some Answered Questions
• History
  • Traveler's Narrative
  • God Passes By
  • Dawn-Breakers

See also

• Meetings for teaching
• spiritual meetings

To-dos for this page

• The contents should be moved to spiritual meetings or meetings for teaching pages as appropriate