The Wilmette Institute offers distance-education ("correspondence") courses on various aspects of the Bahá'í Faith and its relation to the world, open to Bahá'ís and non-Bahá'ís alike. These include courses of study on Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism, Christianity, Chinese Religions, Zoroastrianism, and Islam. The courses are taught at the undergraduate level of difficulty; therefore, they are open to those with a high school degree or equivalent.

TOPIC:

Dialogue—that is, to help a Bahá'í understand the basics of other religions well enough to interact with their followers with confidence and carry out Bahá'u'lláh's exhortation to "consort with the followers of all religions with friendliness and fellowship." Such interaction is essential if one wishes to introduce the Faith to others, find waiting souls, and foster the process leading to entry by troops.

Deepening—that is, to help a Bahá'í understand better the basics of the other religion and the Bahá'í Faith. It has been said that one of the best ways to learn about one's own religion is to study another one, because comparison is a light that sheds illumination on both. Since Bahá'ís see all the world's major religions as divinely founded and based on a revelation, study of them allows one to understand the background for the revelation of the Bahá'í writings.

INTRODUCTION TO COMPARATIVE RELIGION PRESTUDY:

What is religion? How is it studied? (2 weeks) Compilation of Bahá'í writings and handout; optional learning projects

DATES:

COSTS:

Courses must be paid in full upon registration. There is a twenty percent discount per student when signing up as part of a local study group of three or more. (NOTE: All the members of the study group must pledge to work together regularly to get the discount). This works out to $120 per course.

Because there is an initial investment of office time to register a student for a course, add him or her to the listserver, assign him or her a faculty mentor, and set up the student’s grading records, the Wilmette Institute does not offer a full refund. The Institute usually offers a 75 percent initial refund, a 50 percent refund after three weeks, and after six weeks, none. Exceptions may be made in cases of emergency or hardship.

THE THREE-TIERED SYSTEM:

WORK SCHEDULE:

Course Components. The courses consist of the following:

1. Readings. For each religion the student will be given readings by both Bahá'ís and non-Bahá'ís and a schedule when to read them.

2. Discussion. Talking about what one learns is an important part of the assimilation process, especially if one can ask questions to clarify the facts and concepts. Discussion can occur four ways: by participation in the course's listserver (for those who have e-mail); a local study group (for those who are members of such a group); conference calls with fellow students, arranged by the instructor; and conversations with one's mentor/advisor. Listserver postings will be mailed every few weeks to those who do not have e-mail. Students with e-mail are expected to make a minimum of three posting to the listserver. The postings can be a brief observation about the religion under study or a question about it. Students without e-mail can fax their observation or question to their mentor.

3. Completion of a Religion Study Outline. The Wilmette Institute has developed a religion study outline, which consists of a series of twenty-nine generic questions on a typical religion. Completion of the religion study outline allows the student to organize basic information in a standardized format and helps one think about religions comparatively. Students may find it a useful exercise to complete a religion study outline for the Bahá'í Faith as well. Most of the questions are answered in the readings. Some (such as the religion's holidays) may not be and can be discussed on the listserver and conference calls or may require some special research. The outlines do not require essays, or even complete sentences, to be finished. Students should think of the outlines as their own systematic notes on the religion that they will use to give firesides and deepenings or to continue their own personal study. Students may modify the outline any way they find useful, especially by adding questions.

4. Completion of One Learning Project. Students should complete one of the following learning projects in addition to the religion study outline:

A. A fireside or deepening on the religion. The presentation can even be to members of one's family; it need not be a large gathering. Presenting information one has learned is an excellent way to reinforce it and to develop skills in organizing information to teach to others. A form to report the presentation will be provided.

B. Interaction of some sort with one or more followers of the religion. This could involve visiting a place of worship, speaking to a member of the faith, or interacting with a member over internet. Interaction with members of a faith will alway bring a human dimension to the study that reading and discussion with Bahá'ís cannot. A form for reporting the interaction will be provided.

Students are particularly encouraged to do either A or B. If possible, they should do both.

C. Other writing or artistic projects about the religion, such as essays (sample questions will be supplied), poetry, collage, music, or painting. A report form will be provided.

COMPLETION OF COURSES:

UNIVERSITY CREDIT:

Wilmette Institute courses are designed so that the majority of adult Bahá'ís can take them. They are not designed for scholars or people interested in graduate training (though a Master's degree level of work can be arranged for most courses, generally by completion of a 15-20 page paper on a topic approved by your mentor/advisor). Those wishing to take a course but are afraid they cannot complete the work on time can talk to their mentor about taking a longer period of time to finish the course.

COLLABORATION WITH FELLOW STUDENTS:

GRADING OPTIONS:

TEXTS:

Material marked "will be provided" will be available in hardcopy and on the website, both for free. The other books must be purchased or borrowed (some might be available at your local library). Many of the rest can be purchased from the Institute closer to the time each course begins. Some might also be available for ordering online, such as at Amazon.com.

1. Introduction to Comparative Religion Prestudy.

Compilation of Bahá'í writings and handout; optional learning projects

2. GS 105: Hinduism for Dialogue and Deepening

Fieser, James, and John Powers, Scriptures of the World's Religions (Boston: McGraw-Hill, 1998).

Fisher, Mary Pat. Living Religions, 3rd ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1997, ISBN: 0- 13-254806-2, chapter on Hinduism.

Momen, Moojan. Hinduism and the Bahá'í Faith. Oxford: George Ronald, 1990, ISBN: 0-85398-299-6.

Compilation of Bahá'í references to Hinduism and Buddhism (will be provided).

Optional: Radhakrishnan, Sarvepalli and Charles A. Moore, eds. A Source Book in Indian Philosophy. Princeton: University Press, 1957, ISBN: 0-691-01958-4.

3. GS 106: Buddhism for Dialogue and Deepening

Fieser, James, and John Powers, Scriptures of the World's Religions. Mary Pat Fisher, Living Religions, chapter on Buddhism.

Momen, Moojan. Buddhism and the Baha'i Faith. Oxford: George Ronald, 1995, ISBN: 0-85398- 2384-4.

Compilation of Bahá'í references to Hinduism and Buddhism (will be provided).

Optional: Radhakrishnan, Sarvepalli and Charles A. Moore, eds. A Source Book in Indian Philosophy.

4. GS 107: Chinese Religions for Dialogue and Deepening

Fieser, James, and John Powers, Scriptures of the World's Religions.

Mary Pat Fisher, Living Religions, chapter on Chinese Religions.

Phyllis Chew, Chinese Religion and the Bahá'í Faith (Oxford: George Ronald, 1993).

Optional: Chan, W. T., A Source Book in Chinese Philosophy, Princeton, N.J., Princeton University Press/London, Oxford University Press, 1963; Princeton University Press, 1969.

5. GS 108: Judaism for Dialogue and Deepening

Fieser, James, and John Powers, Scriptures of the World's Religions.

Mary Pat Fisher, Living Religions, chapter on Judaism.

The Hebrew Bible ("Old Testament"); we will assign Genesis, Exodus, and 2-3 other books.

A few chapters from an introduction to the Hebrew Bible.

Bahá'í writings on the Hebrew Bible (will be provided).

6. GS 109: Christianity for Dialogue and Deepening

Fieser, James, and John Powers, Scriptures of the World's Religions.

Mary Pat Fisher, Living Religions, chapter on Christianity.

The New Testament (we will assign one gospel, one letter by Paul, and maybe one other book).

A few chapters from an introduction to the New Testament.

Bahá'í writings on the New Testament (will be provided).

7. GS 110: Islam for Dialogue and Deepening

TEXTS:
The Qur'án (edition and translation to be chosen)

Academic textbook on Islam (to be selected; there are many choices).

Hasan Balyuzi, Muhammad and the Course of Islam.

Moojan Momen, An Introduction to Shi'i Islam (Oxford: George Ronald, 1985).

Compilation of Bahá'í references to Islam (will be provided).

Robert Stockman's chapters on Islam in Bahá'í and Comparative Perspective (will be provided).

Muhammad and the Rise of Islam (2 weeks) Hasan Balyuzi, Muhammad and the Course of Islam, selected chapters

Qur'án (2 weeks) Some reading on the Qur'án (1-2 chapters in length)

Islamic Teachings (4 weeks)

Shí'ism (3 weeks) Moojan Momen, An Introduction to Shi'i Islam, ch. 4-5

8. GS 111: Zoroastrianism for Dialogue and Deepening

Fieser, James, and John Powers, Scriptures of the World's Religions.

Mary Pat Fisher, Living Religions, chapter on Zoroastrianism.

Stockman, "Zoroastrianism in Bahá'í and Comparative Perspective" (will be provided).

Compilation of Bahá'í References to Zoroastrianism (will be provided).