Sustaining a Bahá’í Identity on a College Campus
by Andra Nahal Behrouz
Summary of Workshop Themes
This workshop examines the role of clubs and community in the development
and support of individual religious identity, namely that of a Bahá’í
college student. It touches upon the ways and means of upholding the
Bahá’í standard, living the “Bahá’í
life”, contributing to community development, and connecting the
hearts of others with the Bahá’í Faith and its community
of believers. The college experience offers a unique challenge and opportunity
for Bahá’í students across the country. The ultimate
goal of this workshop, therefore, is to inspire the participants to
keep striving, by day and by night, to live a life worthy of the glorious
Cause of Bahá’ú’lláh.
Outline of Information Presented
1. It is essential to maintain a
religious identity—a Bahá’í identity, more specifically—on
the college campus.
a. Aspects of the Bahá’í
identity and the ways in which it is distinct from ‘typical’
college student life.
b. Discussion of college as a ‘fertile
field’ and the characteristics of college life that make it a very
important place for teaching and personal growth.
2. There are a number of ways to
sustain a religious identity, and the two most effective ways are through
a sense of community (namely through a campus club) and through adherence
to the laws and principles of the Faith.
a. How to start a Bahá’í
club and related organizations.
b. The importance of prayer, fasting,
teaching, and the daily effort to ‘live the life’.
3. A demonstration and discussion
of practical ways to maintain a personal Bahá’í identity
on campus, and to make the distinguishing factors of this way of life
known to other people on campus.
a. How Bahá’í
clubs can serve to promote the Bahá’í identity.
b. How to cope if you are the only
Bahá’í on campus.
c. Withstanding peer pressure and
holding to the Bahá’í ideal: practical applications
and helpful advicce.
Additional Resource: Bahá’í Club of Columbia University
E-mail: bahai@columbia.edu
Web site Address: www.columbia.edu/cu/bahai
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Sustaining
a Bahá’í Identity on a College Campus
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