Proclamation
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The word proclamation is generally used in any situation where it is first announced (proclaimed) that Bahá'u'lláh has come, and has brought in a new age in religion. Thus mention of Bahá'u'lláh or His Faith at any meeting could technically be termed proclamation, but the word is more usually used for any organised activity in which the Bahá'ís set out to announce publicly that the Faith exists. Over the years there have been a number of Proclamation Campaigns, some of which were on a widespread basis.
Proclamation as a necessary part of the teaching process[edit]
Shoghi Effendi repeatedly stressed the need for proclamation:
"They must labour continually, .... proclaim courageously, .... for the consolidation and recognition of the Faith..." [1]
At Ridván, 1967, the Universal House of Justice wrote:
"...an enduring and intensive proclamation of the healing message that the Promised One has come and that the unity and well-being of the human race is the purpose of His Revelation. This long-to-be-sustained campaign... may well become the spearhead of other plans..." [2]
"The Proclamation of Bahá'u'lláh"[edit]
A book entitled "The Proclamation of Bahá'u'lláh" was prepared and copies were presented to rulers and leaders of thought worldwide in 1967. This was in a hardback format, with a dust cover tastefully decorated in dark green and gold. It consisted largely of direct quotations from Bahá'u'lláh.
The Promise of World Peace[edit]
On United Nations Day, 1985, the message from the Universal House of Justice entitled The Promise of World Peace was released, and a campaign of presentation of this message continued throughout 1986 (the International Year of Peace) and beyond. As well as arguing the case for an early institution of a world peace conference and treaty, it served to proclaim the nature and purpose of the Bahá'í Faith itself. This message was translated into a great number of languages, and many tens of thousands of copies were distributed, not just to political leaders, but to persons prominent in civil society, to ministers of religion, and to thoughtful people generally.
Mention of the Faith on News Media[edit]
A very different style of proclamation from these organised campaigns has continued now for decades through Bahá'í activities being mentioned in newspapers and magazines, and through items, interviews and programmes on radio and television. In around 1986 the B.B.C. (British Broadcasting Corporation) commissioned a television programme explaining the Faith, and even interviewing Ruhiyyih Khanum herself at home in Haifa. Such media coverage can be very positive in tone, although at times it is clear from the narrative that the Bahá'í position has not been fully understood.
A significant proportion of this proclamation of the Faith comes from interviews with "celebrities" - that is, persons known to sections of the viewing public because they are actors, singers, or otherwise relatively high profile. Examples include interviews with Raine Wilson, Linda Kavelin Popov, and Omid Djalili. Such interviews are frequently re-posted onto You Tube by Bahá'ís.
Proclamation through Bahá'í radio stations[edit]
In some countries, the Bahá'ís have set up radio stations, which include proclamation of the Faith among their objectives. Other objectives would include health education, cultural support, and social development.
Proclamation via the Internet[edit]
The Internet has opened up huge possibilities for the proclamation of the Faith. Obviously, any websites explaining the Bahá’í Faith are in competition for the public's attention with millions of others. There are also individuals with malevolent intent who wish to denigrate the Bahá’í Faith, but the advice from the Bahá’í World Centre is to simply swamp out such discordant voices with the sheer amount of positive Bahá’í presence on the web. Certain World Centre sites do not have a www address, and are really designed for reference by Bahá’ís or by media professionals, but the biggest Bahá’í force on the (more open) worldwide web is Bahai.org, which features text in several languages (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Persian, Portuguese and Spanish).
One area of positive Bahá’í presence is Wikipedia, which has a Bahá’í portal. Interestingly, Bahá'u'lláh Himself prophesied that soon "will a portal open up, through which the masses can enter the Faith of God". It is also easy for Bahá’ís to edit Wikipedia articles on their home towns, and add, for example, that there is "a small but active Bahá’í group" in the town. The Bahá’í articles on Wikipedia surely constitute permanent proclamation. However, it still remains for each individual member of the public to actually come across this Bahá’í presence in the course of events, so small items such as "home-town" references are important in ensuring that people will actually find the Bahá’í presence, and in a way that may spark their curiosity. As with other movements subject to possible written attack, Wikipedia has protected the actual Bahá'í articles from hostile editing.
Another area of success is that of You Tube, where individuals can post small videos or even songs. A host of Bahá’í items now exist there, and again, wait to be found by others.
"Blogging" is another avenue which can be taken up relatively easily. A "blog" is some form of on-line diary or periodic open writing. A Bahá'í can, for example, simply recount their daily routine, mentioning, of course, attendance at Feasts, devotional meetings, etc., and being conscious all the time that some of their non-Bahá'í friends will be reading it. Another alternative is for the Bahá'í to post their thoughts on current world issues, probably including a Bahá'í take on what is happening.
An increasing number of documented cases exist of individuals who have come across the Bahá'í Faith on the internet, and have then conducted extensive research in private, before approaching the Bahá'í community, expressing their wish to become a Bahá'í.
In July, 2014, an organisation hosting educational quizzes put onto the internet a series of quizzes, designed by Bahá’ís. (See Quizzes on the internet.) The original intention of the website was to attract people preparing for public examinations, but more recently other quizzes have been added which would be of interest to the wider public. These can safely be promoted by Bahá’ís for use by their fellow believers or by enquirers.[3]
Proclamation via "Social Media"[edit]
In the early years of the twenty-first century, there has been a huge growth in the use of "social media". Different "platforms" come and go, but chief among them at the time of writing are Facebook and Twitter. Both Facebook and Twitter allow individual Bahá’ís to share, (for example on their "status"), how they feel about not just their family, and little events in their lives, but also about Bahá’í activities and the Faith itself. Their non-Bahá’í friends will tolerate such comments as these comments are not targeted/directed at them as individuals, and therefore they do not feel threatened. This constitutes a form of individual proclamation. Facebook also allows "groups" to flourish, in which people with similar interests can "converse" in writing. As the Bahá'í groups tend to consist of only Bahá’ís, however, most of these could hardly be termed proclamation.
Recently, a Facebook group with the title <Famous Bahá'ís> has been set up, intended to be a group towards which Bahá'ís can direct their non-Bahá'í friends. The members of the group are not themselves famous Bahá'ís (with certain exceptions), but believers who have set up a growing amount of information on Bahá'ís of note (in various fields - Bahá'í service for some, public recognition for others). The intention is to provide, on Facebook, an accessible entry point for non-Bahá'ís to learn about Bahá'ís of note.
Interfaith Meetings[edit]
Bahá’í presence at "inter-faith" meetings could be considered as a form of proclamation. It would be difficult to successfully generalise such activities, because the Bahá’ís themselves have a wide range of approaches to such meetings, and the responses to a Bahá’í presence in a group can also vary widely. Some Bahá’ís expect interfaith meetings to be fertile ground for teaching the Faith. Although individuals receptive to the Faith may be met, and teaching may subsequently take place, open and direct proclamation of the Faith at such meetings is often considered discourteous to the beliefs of others, besides being inimical to the spirit of mutual respect which may be being inculcated.
At the same time, Shoghi Effendi made clear that acceptance of the Bahá’í Faith "alongside its sister religions" was an essential step in the process of development towards the establishment of a Bahá’í world. It might be thought that Bahá’í participation in inter-faith activities should promote this stage of development.
Exhibitions and stalls[edit]
Proclamation of the Faith is sometimes possible through the medium of exhibitions or through the use of a stall or booth. This type of activity can take place in several quite different settings. For example, the Bahá’ís may hire a hall, an empty shop, exhibition space in a shopping mall, etc., and provide a Bahá’í exhibition, preferably on vertical display units. Maps showing geographical spread or early Bahá’í history, photographs of Bahá’í meetings, Houses of Worship or literature, displays explaining Bahá’í Teachings, etc., are samples of the types of material which could be displayed. Such material could alternatively be mounted in a booth during a "fair" or "Festival" of some type, alongside other organisations.
A lower-status presentation can instead be made by simply providing a table, probably displaying leaflets. Again, display material could be used, perhaps attached to the table. In practice, it may be difficult to keep a high standard of aesthetic sense in using this method, but the public may not expect anything different. Leaflets should probably be provided free of charge, and in many cultures, lively discussion should be forthcoming. However, it has been suggested that, in cultures where people are not initially keen on becoming involved in discussion, it is a good tactic to leave the stall or display temporarily unmanned, as more people then approach the stall and take leaflets. In this scenario, it is probably wise to remain at a discreet distance, both to avoid unwanted actions on the part of the malevolent, and also to open up the possibility of a "meaningful conversation" should someone linger for a while. In most circumstances, it is a good idea to ensure that each leaflet has current contact details. This leaflet table idea can be used on the street, in markets or similar open-air situations, as well as at Festivals. Some Bahá’í communities, living in "free" countries, purchase a light-weight collapsible table which is kept with their leaflet stock for ready use.
Individual Proclamation Tools[edit]
Those Bahá'ís who are determined that everyone should become aware of the Faith make use of particular tools. Stickers exist which mention the Faith, and which could be attached to a letter. There are lapel badges with Bahá'í symbols, there are pendants and rings. Bigger badges ("buttons" in North America) can be worn on jumpers, etc. Small cards (similar to a calling card), with a Bahá'í quote or a list of principles, can be carried on the person and given to others. Bumper stickers on cars can bring the attention of the Faith to others.
Letter columns in local papers or to magazines, intended to announce a Bahá'í presence or Bahá'í principles can also be used as avenues of proclamation. However, in all these sorts of activity, audacity needs to be tempered with wisdom.
