We have considered the questions you put forward concerning
door-to-door calling in connection with Bahá'í activities. . . .
The principles you should bear in mind are:
1. The dignity of the Faith. This should be carefully
safeguarded in all Bahá'í activities, and it is clear from the following
quotation that the Guardian felt that door-to-door distribution of pamphlets
was undignified: "He feels that to distribute Bahá'í pamphlets from
door-to-door . . . is undignified and might create a bad impression of the
Faith. No doubt, it is the eagerness and devotion of the friends that led them
to make this proposal, but he does not think that the best interests of the
Cause are served by such a method. . . ."
2. Bahá'u'lláh's injunction as recorded in The Hidden Words:
"The wise are they that speak not unless they obtain a hearing." It
is important that no teaching activity should be an encroachment on people's
privacy nor should it force the teachings upon unwilling listeners.
3. Integrity and sincerity. If people are to be asked to
answer a questionnaire [1] it should be for the reason that it is necessary for
the sponsor to know the answers. Bahá'ís should not use such a method as a
subterfuge to press the message upon people.
- The Universal House of Justice (From a letter dated December 16, 1965, to a National Spiritual Assembly; Developing
Distinctive Baha'i Communities, 1998 edition)
[1] The proposed questionnaire was to ascertain the wishes
of the public in a given area concerning religious education in schools.
