Dear David, I think the passage is urging us to integrate new believers into our community. I don't think the 'introducing' part was meant to be taken literally. And you are correct that the present focus is on integrating even seekers into our community life as early as is feasible. However I think the passage you cited serves as a reminder that we don't have to introduce our seekers to other Baha'is until *we* feel they are ready. And in some cases we need to wait until they have already caught the spark of faith before we subject them to what they might find. I don't think what the Guardian wrote is simply applicable to America during the '30's rather we have to decide when it might be applicable and whether or not the three core activities we are concentrating on are likely to hurt or help them. For instance, in teaching the Faith to my colleagues Ruhi would be the last thing I would introduce them to. But I might well invite some of my students to a study circle. Likewise with the devotional meetings. Does your community have devotional meetings that an outsider might find inspirational or would we only bore them to death?
Ultimately it is the teacher who needs to gage what aspects of the community to introduce their seekers to at what point. However, once they declare they need to be introduced to community life as a whole. At least that is the way I see it. warmest, Susan ---------- You are subscribed to Baha'i Studies as: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Baha'i Studies is available through the following: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://list.jccc.net/cgi-bin/lyris.pl?enter=bahai-st news://list.jccc.net/bahai-st http://www.escribe.com/religion/bahaist (public) To unsubscribe send a blank email to mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
