4. The Book for Seekers
Problem: What one "book" to give to Seekers that explains to them the basic history, goals, and laws of the Faith?
Solution: The Book of Seekers. This book can be mass-produced and include 9 sections:
*Title Page
*Introduction to the Seeker of Truth (from the NSAUS)
*A Brief History of Christ, Muhammad, The Báb, and Bahá'u'lláh, Abdu'l-Bahá, and Shoghi Effendi. Photos (black and white) and maps should be included.
Baha'u'llah's Tablet to the Christians
*Prophecy Fulfilled (i.e. Joel Smith's website material showing how Bahá'u'lláh fulfilles Jewish, Buddhist, Christian, Muslim, Mormon, and Native American prophecies)
*Questions and Answers section (What does the Faith teach about Christ? What does the Faith teach about the Afterlife? What does the Faith teach about homosexuality? Do Bahá'ís believe in evolution? etc.)
*The 95 Tenets
-The 19 Beliefs (already listed)
-The 19 Obligations (Daily Obligatory Prayer, etc.)
-The 19 Forbiddens (cannot use opium, drink alcohol, etc.)
-The 19 Prohibitions (do not wear hair over ears if male, etc.)
-The 19 Admonitions (i.e. do not smoke, attend the 19-Day Feast, vegitarianism, etc.)
*An Invitation for the Seeker to Declare their Belief in Bahá'u'lláh (inviting the Seeker to sign a Declaration card and become a Believer)
*Glossary of Baha'i Terms
*Index
The book should not exceed 200 pages. It should be written in language that a 12 year old can read without trouble.
The NSAUS should form a Book for Seekers Committee to write the book, then mass-produce it very inexpensively; with a black and white cover; no color photos. I highly recommend that Gary L. Matthews and Joel Smith be on that Committee. The Book for Seekers can be the one "book" given to all Seekers in English-speaking countries (U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, Namibia, Bostwana, Zimbabwe, Liberia, Sierre Leone, Ireland, Great Britain, Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, Papau New Ginea, Guyana, Belize); telling them everything a Seekers need to to know about Baha'i history, belief, and practice before declaring.
Instead of the Friends constantly trying to explain the Faith to Seekers, giving their own "spins" or trying to think of the "right" Baha'i literature to give them, they can simply give ALL Seekers The Book for Seekers.
