our activities

Children's Classes

As children are the future of the community, their spiritual education is viewed by Baha’is as the most important and meritorious of services.  In light of this, the Bahá’í community of Whitby offers a children’s class.  The class provides spiritual and moral education to children – usually from ages 5 to 11. The classes are held regularly on a weekly basis and are open to all children.

Each child is unique, endowed by God with specific talents and faculties.  The purpose of the classes is to assist children to acquire spiritual qualities and an upright character, revealing those gems latent within them.  Lessons include various modes of learning, memorization of quotations, storytelling, games, songs, and art.

Children are instructed to use an attitude of love and understanding, guiding their behavior in order to create a joyful and disciplined learning environment, respecting the nobility of the children.  Special training helps teachers to conduct the classes with love and discipline.  Some of the spiritual qualities taught include Generosity, Justice, Kindness, Unity, Courage, and Truthfulness.

Junior Youth Program

Junior youth classes help youth ages 11-14 develop spiritual and intellectual capacities.

The classes combine learning with service, teaching youth to put spiritual principles into practice in their lives.  The curriculum helps them to enhance their spiritual perception and make sound moral decisions.

Youth are at an important part of their lives, where they will be making decisions and forming habits that will have a great deal of influence on their character as they grow older.  Junior youth classes help them to understand how they can develop a sound character through spiritual understanding and upright conduct.  The philosophy behind the classes assumes that youth at this age have great potential and that even at a young age they can make a valuable contribution to the betterment of the world.  Junior youth classes help them to achieve this potential.

The classes also help youth develop the power of expression through the arts. Classes include singing, drama, crafts, and other art forms to help teach spiritual principles.  The classes are designed to be engaging for the youth while instilling in them positive values.

Study Circles

Study circles are a series of courses designed to help individuals create a conscious basis for a life of service to humanity, and to find practical applications of spiritual principles. They are usually conducted in small groups with one individual serving as a tutor to facilitate the learning process.

The Ruhi Institute – introduced by the Universal House of Justice in the 1990s, was developed to support individuals in gaining spiritual and practical insights by studying the Baha’i teachings.  These teachings, provided by Bahá’u’lláh, aid individuals in their efforts to effectively serve their communities thus contributing to the advancement of civilization.  The Ruhi education system takes place in the form of a “study circle” which consists of a tutor, persons aged 15 or older – Baha’i or not, and course materials that instill the importance of turning Bahá’u’lláh’s teachings into reality.  The Ruhi course materials include sections from the Baha’i Writings which cover topics such as Prayer, Life and Death, The Spiritual Path, etc. The members of the study circle will meet once a week – in a member’s home or location within the community to discuss such topics in an effort to apply the teachings to their personal and collective lives.

If you are concerned about your spiritual and moral education and are interested in participating in a Ruhi class, please contact us to learn more about the ongoing free classes.

Devotional Gatherings

Regular devotional meetings are essential to the spiritual life of the community. They serve to both reinforce the spiritual growth of the individual and foster the dynamics of love and unity within the community.

 

Devotional gatherings consist of friends and families, young and old alike, uniting in a spirit of prayer and worship. The programs are simple and free from rituals.  Participants are encouraged to share prayers from their respective Faiths. It encourages respectful and meaningful conversations about human existence and spirituality in a casual environment.  Bahá’ís host gatherings in which friends, Bahá’ís and others alike, unite together in prayer, often in one another’s homes. Devotional meetings are open to all and you are warmly welcome to join us.