Studying the Writings of Shoghi Effendi:
Introduction to The Advent of Divine Justice
(see also the Complete
Catalogue for more description)
OVERVIEW OF THE COURSE:
In response to the call of the National Spiritual Assembly that the American Bahá'ís study The Advent of Divine Justice from April through June 2000, the Wilmette Institute has scheduled a distance-learning course on the book. The course will begin April 1 and, including time to give firesides and deepenings based on the work, will end June 30.
Study of The Advent of Divine Justice should be a priority of every Bahá'í. Composed in 1938, near the middle of Shoghi Effendi's Guardianship, it is one of most important of the Bahá'í writings to understand. It is addressed to the Bahá'ís of the United States and Canada, whose community it extols as the "chief remaining citadel" of the Faith. Much of the book addresses the "faults, habits, and tendencies which they have inherited from their own nation" that they must "weed" out and the "distinctive qualities and characteristics" of the Faith they must "patiently and prayerfully" cultivate. In it Shoghi Effendi identifies the "most vital and challenging issue confronting the Bahá'í community," defines a "chaste and holy life," and delineates the "spiritual prerequisites of success" in teaching. He especially addresses the Bahá'í youth and places all the actions of the American Bahá'ís in the context of the destiny of America. Understanding and living by the standards set in The Advent of Divine Justice are fundamental to building an inclusive community based on virtue and holiness and to fostering the process leading to entry by troops.
Tuition for the course is $100, although a twenty percent discount is available to groups of three or more who pledge to study the book together at least twice a month, and some financial aid is available for students in need. Students will be given access to the course's password-protected website, will be added to its e-mail listserver (where students can discuss the book by e-mail as they study it and receive commentary about it from the faculty) and will be able to join weekly conference calls with fellow students and faculty. The course comes with a syllabus, study questions, and learning projects; students should supply their own copy of the text. The course emphasizes the importance of giving classes and courses on Advent locally, in order to help others fulfill the National Spiritual Assembly's mandate.
If space is available, registration may be possible two or more weeks into the course, but because the course may fill up, students are urged to register soon. Registration and secure payment by credit card are possible on the web by going to wilmetteinstitute.org/applications. Registration information can also be requested by writing info@wilmetteinstitute.org or calling our new toll-free number, 877-WILMETTE. Registrations can be e-mailed to the first or faxed to the second as well.
DETAILS OF THE COURSE:
DATES:
April 1 2000, to May 31
2000
TEXTS:
Students should purchase or download a copy of
The Advent of Divine Justice. Students may also wish to purchase Morton Bergsmo's Studying
Shoghi Effendi's Writings, but it is not required. The Institute will supply other study
material.
FACULTY (tentative):
Mr. Geoff Marks
Mr. Charles Nolley
Dr. Nosratullah Rassekh
Dr. Robert Stockman
COST:
$100
A twenty percent discount is
available when registering as part of a local group of three or more (who pledge
to meet together semimonthly to study the texts). Larger discounts are available
for even larger groups who plan to study the course together.
There are no residential
requirements, for the course is conducted by correspondence and over the
internet. College credit and scholarships may be available. Contact the
registrar for more information.
REQUIREMENTS:
The course is taught at the undergraduate level of difficulty. Therefore, it
is open to those with a high school degree or equivalent. The course may be taken at the
introductory level (a basic course that will help students teach the
Faith more effectively), the intermediate level (for more in-depth study)
or the advanced level (equivalent to graduate-level
study).
THE THREE-TIERED SYSTEM:
All of our distance-education courses can be taken at three difficulty levels: introductory (roughly equivalent to a late high-school or early college level), intermediate (roughly equivalent to a standard undergraduate college course), and advanced (graduate level). Students in all three levels are assigned the same reading, but prepare different types of homework. Introductory students prepare an informal self-evaluation at the end of each unit, discussing what they learned and their reactions to or thoughts about it. Intermediate students prepare a more formal learning project for each unit, such as an essay, presentation, fireside, or artistic project. Advanced students, who will be mentored only by a professor with a doctorate, will work with their advisor one-on-one to prepare an individually-tailored course of study. Students at all levels will participate in the same listserver and conference calls, and receive the same course materials.
WORK EXPECTATIONS:
The course will take five to
ten hours of work each week and will involve:
- Reading and using the knowledge you acquire.
The course is divided into a series of units, each of which involves reading
part of Dispensation and related texts. The course offers a series of study
questions, learning projects, and sample tests on Dispensation, including
giving a deepening or fireside; doing an artistic project; or finishing a
writing project about it.
- Assistance by a mentor/advisor, who reviews and
comments on all homework you do, and answers your questions.
- For those who are part of local study groups,
discussion assignments are provided.
- Participation in "Dispensation" the course's
email discussion group. Because of the speed and efficiency that email
provides, all students are urged to acquire email for the
course.
- Access to the course's password-protected web
site, which includes additional study material and completed sample homework
assignments.
- Voluntary participation in conference calls
with up to five other students and a faculty member.
- Completion of a final project that involves
review of the material studied, evaluation of what one has learned, and
systematic application of it to teaching and deepening.
GRADING OPTIONS:
The course is usually taken
pass/fail with review and comments about assignments by the instructor. It may
be taken for a grade (A, B, C, D, F).
