On Apr 17, 3:20=A0pm, "Susan Maneck" <sman...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
> Dear John,
>
> I don't like it myself, though I did it back in the seventies. I would
> not teach the Faith door to door, but I will go door-to-door in my
> neighborhood inviting people to enroll their kids in youth empowerment
> circles, etc. I would feel comfortable inviting people to a devotional
> meeting if was designed in such a way that would be attractive to
> people in my predominantly black and Christian neighborhood.
Personally I have no particular objection to door to door work if it
is acceptable in the society in which we live but like you I think
think such teaching is not effective and sometimes counter-
productive. However what you describe sounds pretty much like the
norm here. D2d is accepted for publicising local non-commercial
events. >
>
> I disagree [re home visits]
I think our disagreement is more about vocabulary and my bad
expression than real. I think Paul also misunderstood me. The point
I was trying to make was that I don't think Book 2, used in a Western
context, actually teaches any of the skills needed for home visits.
My comments about the Internet and books related to this. The topics
suggested in book 2 for home visits are the type of thing that any
literate Westerner would already have read. The people being visited
are declared Baha'is - in Australia they would have received probably
a fairly formal welcome and introductory material from the LSA or
similar body, be getting a magazine monthly, and really wouldn't need
visits to explain that we have a fund etc.
On the other hand, I strongly agree that visiting people at home is
excellent. Unfortunately the visit you described wouldn't be
classified as a home visit in our stats. That is only home visited
with some degree of regularity for the purpose of teaching or
deepening. Also, your book 4 Ruhi would not have been counted or
approved of unless all participants had already completed books 1 to
3. Sad really as I liked your story.
Visiting the sick and just anyone who likes visitors is something we
should all do and probably all do do. But according to the guidance
here, it isn't a home visit.
> =A0Also the implications of the book didn't
>
> > reflect Australian cultural values as to the protocol of visiting
> > people.
>
> What are the protocols in Australia.
I'm no sociologist or anthropologist and Australia has regional and
class variation but I think some things are basic.
One you can knock on strangers doors without notice but it is not rude
if they tell you to go away as they don't have time or desire to talk
to you.
You really can't knock on acquaintance's and casual friends doors
without notice or some sort of invitation. If you know them well
enough for it to be rude if they said they didn't want to talk to you
then you really have to wait for some form of invitation though you
can hint.
Even with very good friends you should tell them in adbance and make
it a request if you intend to visit them.
I don't think there is even one house in Tasmania apart from my own
that I would turn up at without previously phoning to see if it was
OK.
Once in the house it is the host(s) who informally determine the
social tone and topics of conversation. You can't lay a deepening on
someone unless they ask for it.
Of course, if someone is sick they lose all human rights and you can
pester them mercilessly but that's worldwide isn't it?
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