Weekly small groups · Greater Boston
Explore life's biggest questions
Small group discussions about who we are, why we're here, and what kind of world we want to build.
About discussion groups
Spaces to explore what it means to be spiritual beings, and what the Baha'i Faith has to say about the questions that matter most.
The format
What is a discussion group?
A small group of people meets regularly to explore a topic together through reading and conversation. Everyone's perspective matters, and the discussion goes wherever the group takes it.
Each session uses a short text that combines questions with passages from the Baha'i writings. The questions come first. Something like "Have you ever felt a connection to something greater than yourself?" Everyone shares. Then the group reads a passage that offers the Baha'i perspective on that question, and the conversation continues.
Groups meet in community centers and homes across the Boston area. Usually 4 to 8 people, most in their twenties and thirties. It's one of the ways a young adult community forms here, over time and around real conversation. There are topics for wherever you are, from exploring what it means to be a spiritual being to diving into the Baha'i teachings on justice, community, and the soul. You don't need to know anything about the Baha'i Faith to join.
What we explore
Some questions we discuss
Is there something greater than all of this?
What does it actually mean to be happy?
What does it really mean to be one people?
Why does the world feel so broken right now?
How do I live a life that matters?
What does it mean to have a soul?
Have all the world's religions been telling the same story?
Why do we need each other?
What would a just society actually look like?
Is there a reason to be hopeful about the future?
Common questions
Questions people ask
What happens at a discussion group?
A small group of 4 to 8 people meets in a community space for about 90 minutes. You read a short passage together, then talk about it. The tone is conversational, and the materials are structured, but the discussion goes wherever the group takes it.
What do you actually discuss?
Big questions. What does it mean to live a meaningful life? How do we build communities that actually work? What is the soul? What does justice look like in practice? The readings come from Baha'i texts and are designed to spark reflection and thoughtful, participatory conversations that welcome all perspectives.
Where do groups meet?
What if I don't know anything about the Baha'i Faith?
Most people who come don't. The group doesn't assume any background knowledge. You don't need to have read anything or believe anything. The conversation starts from the text in front of you, not from years of study. If something comes up that's unfamiliar, people explain it naturally.
Will someone try to convert me?
No. The purpose of the group is exploration, not recruitment. You'll read from Baha'i texts and discuss the ideas in them, but no one will ask you to accept anything or make any commitment. Come because the questions interest you.
What's the age range?
There's a mix of ages, but most groups in Boston tend to be university students and people in their twenties or thirties. You won't be the only young person in the room.
Why talk in groups vs individual study and reflection?
Reading alone goes deep; talking together goes wide. A group brings perspectives you can't generate on your own, and saying an idea out loud tests it in a way private reflection doesn't.
Baha'is call this consultation: the conviction that understanding grows when people examine a question together rather than defend positions. Many people do both, studying on their own and bringing what they find to the group.
Get started
Join a discussion group
Tell us a little about yourself and we'll connect you with a group near you. No commitment required.
A real person will follow up within a few days.