If you want to join others to serve the children and youth in your neighborhood, for example, you're welcome to participate in the Study Circles. The materials discussed in the Study Circles are taken from the writings of the Baha'i faith. This is necessary because the Baha'i faith sees humankind as a whole wherein if any part of the whole is not equally treasured and helped to advance the local community and society in general will suffer.
In every case, reflecting together in Study Circles on various aspects of the Baha'i writings that apply to human potential and development, for example, increases both the capacity for service and the joy that comes from selfless service. The important thing is local communities improve from Study Circles.
Devotionals are open to people of all religions, and even to people who are not religious but are curious about the nature of prayer and worship. So there is no format for how prayers are to be voiced. Many Christians spontaneously pray from their hearts. Just as Christians pray the Lord's Prayer, Baha'is are accustomed to pray the prayers revealed in the sacred scripture of the Baha'i faith.
The welcoming spirit of the Devotionals is a spirit of peace wherein individuals may ask for prayer for a specific reason such as healing, or for any reason they require. There is no rigid format, simply praying together for the love of God.
Everyone with an open mind can see that we live in a new age, wherein, for example, men and women are equal, mankind is one, and the world is one country as seen from space. Therefore there is a desperate need to impart the consciousness of oneness to girls and boys so they can be leaders in this new age, and share their vision.
Therefore the materials used in the Children's Classes are inspired by the Baha'i writings. For example, in a coloring book for children the images show children of different races playing together and may have a phrase associated with a belief taught in the sacred scripture of the Baha'i faith.
In no case is anything done in children's classes to make any child feel less than another. In fact, quite the opposite. Baha'is are taught to be the dust beneath the feet of the peoples of the world and not to denigrate others, or exalt themselves in anyway above others, and, of course, that includes children.
While the themes explored in the Jr Youth Spiritual Empowerment program are seen from a Baha'i perspective, they are not religious instructions as such. In fact, quite the opposite. Instead they focus on helping youth develop a strong moral identify that empowers them to live up to their determination to serve their communities. The inherent potential of youth is to transform themselves and society and thus contribute to the advancement of civilization. The reason Jr. Youth enjoy the Spiritual Empowerment program is they're at the center of every activity, and they are empowered to express, discover and develop their inherent potential.
