Daily Frameworks for 12 July 2025

Jalál, 01 Kalimát (Words), 182 B.E.

Social Action: The Nature of Bahá’í Social and Economic Development

Quotes for Reflection:

The pattern of spiritual and social life taking shape in clusters that involves study circles, children’s classes, junior youth groups, devotional meetings, home visits, teaching efforts, and reflection meetings, as well as Holy Day observances, Nineteen Day Feasts, and other gatherings, provides abundant opportunities for engagement, experience, consultation, and learning that will lead to change in personal and collective understanding and action. Issues of prejudice of race, class, and color will inevitably arise as the friends reach out to diverse populations, especially in the closely knit context of neighborhoods. There, every activity can take a form most suited to the culture and interests of the population, so that new believers can be quickened and confirmed in a nurturing and familiar environment, until they are able to offer their share to the resolution of the challenges faced by a growing Bahá’í community. For this is not a process that some carry out on behalf of others who are passive recipients—the mere extension of a congregation and invitation to paternalism—but one in which an ever-increasing number of souls recognize and take responsibility for the transformation of humanity set in motion by Bahá’u’lláh. In an environment of love and trust born of common belief, practice, and mission, individuals of different races will have the intimate connection of heart and mind upon which mutual understanding and change depend. As a result of their training and deepening, a growing number of believers will draw insights from the Writings to sensitively and effectively address issues of racial prejudice that arise within their personal lives and families, among community members, and in social settings and the workplace. As programs of growth advance and the scope and intensity of activities grow, the friends will be drawn into participation in conversations and, in time, initiatives for social action at the grassroots where issues pertaining to freedom from prejudice naturally emerge, whether directly or indirectly. — Universal House of Justice ¹

Question for Consideration

How can activities be designed to take forms “most suited to the culture and interests of the population, so that new believers can be quickened and confirmed in a nurturing and familiar environment, until they are able to offer their share to the resolution of the challenges faced by a growing Bahá’í community?”

Perplexity Pro Response ²

To ensure that Bahá’í activities are most suited to the culture and interests of the population—creating a nurturing and familiar environment for new believers—several principles and practical approaches can be applied:

Start with Deep Listening and Consultation

• Engage the local population in genuine consultation to understand their unique cultural practices, interests, and social realities.
• Involve local voices in the design and adaptation of activities, ensuring that initiatives are not imposed from outside but emerge organically from within the community [1] [2].
  

Adapt Core Activities to Local Context

• Children’s classes, junior youth groups, study circles, and devotional meetings should reflect local languages, stories, music, and art forms, drawing on familiar cultural expressions to foster belonging and relevance.
• Devotional gatherings can incorporate local traditions of prayer, music, or storytelling, making them accessible and meaningful to participants.
• Feasts and Holy Day observances may include foods, customs, and artistic expressions that resonate with the community’s heritage [1] [2].
  

Create a Nurturing and Familiar Environment

• Host activities in homes or community spaces that are welcoming and familiar, rather than formal or unfamiliar venues.
• Foster an atmosphere of love, trust, and mutual support—prioritizing hospitality, warmth, and genuine friendship over formality or hierarchy.
• Encourage participation at all levels, allowing new believers and friends to contribute according to their interests and abilities, thus building confidence and a sense of ownership [1] [2].
  

Promote Universal Participation and Capacity Building

• Empower individuals from the local population to take on roles as facilitators, teachers, and animators, rather than relying solely on external “experts.”
• Build capacity through training and accompaniment, enabling new believers to gradually assume responsibility for activities and community life.
• Encourage service projects and social action that address local needs and priorities, allowing the community to see tangible results of their collective efforts [1] [2].
  

Integrate Material and Spiritual Dimensions

• Link spiritual teachings with practical action—for example, combining study of the Bahá’í Writings with service-oriented projects that address education, health, or social well-being.
• Emphasize the harmony of science and religion, drawing on both spiritual principles and practical knowledge to address community challenges [1] [3].
  

Foster a Culture of Learning and Adaptation

• Regularly reflect on experiences through consultation and reflection meetings, adjusting activities to better suit the evolving needs and interests of the population.
• Value diversity of expression—welcoming different cultural backgrounds, languages, and traditions as strengths that enrich the community [1] [2].
  

Practical Examples

Activity Type	Ways to Adapt to Local Culture and Interests
Children’s Classes	Use local stories, songs, and crafts; invite parents to share cultural games.
Junior Youth Groups	Incorporate service projects relevant to local needs; use local role models.
Devotional Gatherings	Blend prayers with traditional music or poetry; rotate hosting among homes.
Study Circles	Discuss topics of local concern; use examples from community life.
Feasts & Holy Days	Integrate local foods, music, and artistic traditions.

Key Principles

Organic Growth

Activities should start small, grow naturally, and be sustained by the local community, not by external resources [1].

Ownership and Participation

The process is not done “for” the community but “with” it—everyone is a protagonist in their own transformation [1] [2].

Learning Mode

Communities should approach all activities as opportunities for collective learning, adapting as they gain experience [1].

By following these principles and approaches, Bahá’í activities can become authentic expressions of the local culture, fostering an environment where new believers are nurtured and empowered to contribute meaningfully to the life and progress of the community [1] [2] [3].

Citations

[1] Community Building – Bahá’í Quotes

[2] The Importance of the Arts in Promoting the Faith

[3] Social Action-A Compilation Prepared by the Research Department of the Universal House of Justice August 2020 – Bahá’í Reference Library

[4] The Nature of Bahá’í Social and Economic Development – Bahá’í Reference Library

[5] THE ONENESS of Humanity – Bahá’í of the United States

[6] Communities find engagement in activities leads to unity, bonds of love

[7] Sacred Baha’i Architecture – Bahá’í Library Online

[8] Learning and the Evolution of the Bahá’í Community (PDF) – Bahá’í Library Online

[9] Cultural Diversity in the Age of Maturity – Bahá’í Library Online

[10] 19 March 2025 – To the Bahá’ís of the World – Bahá’í Reference Library

[11] Social Action – The Bahá’í Faith

[12] What are some ways we can help spread the Baha’i Faith? – Reddit

[13] 30 December 2021 – To the Conference of the Continental Boards of Counsellors – Bahá’í Reference Library

[14] Community and Collective Action – The Bahá’í World

[15] Struggling to maintain faith in Bahai activities – Reddit

[16] Valuing Spirituality in Development – Bahá’í International Community

[17] Transcript: Speaking on Learning and the Evolution of the Bahá’í Community – Bahai.works

[18] Outreach – Bahá’í Quotes

[19] Baha’i International Community Engagement with the Sustainable Development Goals – International Environment Forum

[20] How to be involved in community life – Reddit

[21] One Planet, One Habitation: A Baháʼí Perspective on Recasting Humanity’s Relationship With the Natural World – Bahá’í International Community

Follow-Up Approaches Proposed by Perplexity

• Develop culturally relevant curricula for study circles and youth groups.
• Incorporate local traditions into devotional and community gatherings.
• Train facilitators to address racial prejudice sensitively in activities.
• Create feedback loops to adapt programs based on participant input.
• Foster leadership roles for new believers within their cultural context.

1. Research Department of the Universal House of Justice. “Social Action.” Bahá’í Reference Library, August 2020. https://www.bahai.org/r/957685529. ↩
2. Perplexity Pro. “Designing Activities Suited to Culture and Interests in Bahá’í Community Building.” Edited by Steve Bosserman. July 11, 2025. https://www.perplexity.ai/search/the-pattern-of-spiritual-and-s-Y2X7WTFjTPaRJ34qblwWEw. ↩