December 17, 2003
Two Important New Courses Start in December

The Wilmette Institute is launched two distance-learning courses in the month of December, both of which should prove popular and stimulating.

The World Order of Baha'u'llah: Selected Letters: In its April message of the Baha'is of the world, the Universal House of Justice singled out three letters in The World Order of Baha'u'llah for special study: "The Goal of a New World Order," "America and the Most Great Peace," and "The Unfoldment of World Civilization." The course will examine the three letters, provide background information, offer extensive discussion of them, and provide ideas for preparing local study classes on them.

The course runs Dec. 1, 2003 through Feb. 29, 2004

How to Study the Baha'i Writings: Have you ever read a passage from the Bahá'í writings and had no idea what it was about? It has been said that the Bahá'í sacred writings contain the answers to all the world's questions, but if one does not know the questions one cannot discern the answers. The course aims to provide an understanding of terms used in the Bahá'í writings; the use of allegory, metaphor, simile, and figurative language; the importance of understanding genres in interpreting their texts; and techniques for improving one's comprehension.

The course runs Dec. 15, 2003 through Mar. 15, 2004

Both courses cost $150 for individuals and $300 for local study groups (which can be as large as they wish to be). For more information, write info@wilmetteinstitute.org.