Belief3

BOOK 2 INTRODUCING BAHA'I BELIEFS SECTION 3: Educators
	The first passage you are being asked to study, which will help you often in your conversations, concerns the need for an Educator: When we consider life in all its aspects, we see that, invariably, there is need for an educator. If a man is left alone in the wilderness, he will take on the ways of the animal. If he is educated, he can reach the greatest heights of accomplishment. Were it not for educators, there would be no civilization. Education is of three kinds: material, human and spiritual. Material education is concerned with the development of the body. Human education is about civilization and progress. It deals with government, administration, charitable works, trades, arts and handicrafts, sciences, great inventions and discoveries. Spiritual education consists in acquiring divine perfections. This is true education, for by its aid the spiritual, the higher nature of the human being is developed. In order to progress, humanity needs an educator who has clear authority as a material, human and spiritual educator. If someone should say, "I possess perfect intelligence, and I have no need of such an educator," he would be denying that which is clear and evident. It would be like a child saying, "I have no need of education; I will act according to my reason and intelligence, and will reach perfection by myself." Humanity has always been in need of such a perfect educator, one who can help it organize matters related to the nourishment and health of the body, inspire it to advance in knowledge, invention and discovery, and, most importantly, breathe into it the real life of the spirit. No ordinary human being can achieve these formidable tasks. Only the Manifestations of God have the power to accomplish them. These are chosen Souls who are sent by God from time to time to be the Universal Educators of humanity.
1)	Read the above passage several times in your group and help one another learn its content well. As in other courses, you should ask each other questions related to the ideas presented in the passage and practice expressing them in your own words.
2)	Some conversations would be more suitable than others for you to introduce the ideas presented in this passage. Below is a list of topics of conversation. Mark the ones into which you could introduce the above ideas in a natural way. It would be helpful for you to discuss in your group how you would go about doing this. ____ The conditions of society today ____ Life after death ____ Literacy ____ The need for one to have a trade or profession in life
3)	Statements made in conversation, on subjects such as the one you have just studied, often lead to a discussion of some aspect of the Faith. What would you answer if someone asked: "Who are some of these Educators you are talking about?"
4)	Below are a few quotations from the Writings of Baha'u'llah related to the ideas presented in the above paragraphs. Reflect on them and make every effort to memorize them. In this way, you will be able to weave passages from the Writings into your speech and thus influence the hearts of your listeners. "All men have been created to carry forward an ever-advancing civilization." "The Purpose of the one true God, exalted be His glory, in revealing Himself unto men is to lay bare those gems that lie hidden within the mine of their true and inmost selves." "God's purpose in sending His Prophets unto men is twofold. The first is to liberate the children of men from the darkness of ignorance, and guide them to the light of true understanding. The second is to ensure the peace and tranquility of mankind, and provide all the means by which they can be established." "Men at all times and under all conditions stand in need of one to exhort them, guide them and to instruct and teach them."


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