Bahá'í-opintopiirit - Innostamisen areena [The Bahá’í Study Circles – an Arena for Animation]

The aim of the thesis about bahá’í study circles was twofold. Firstly, the thesis was to define the theo-retical framework for the educational method. The basic concepts of the thesis were clarified: the bahá’í faith, study circles in general and the bahá’í study circles. The background theory for the thesis is based on socio-cultural animation, empowerment and liberal adult education. Secondly, it was designed to examine what kind of impacts the bahá’í study circles have had on the participants. The bahá’í study circles were studied from the perspective of their participants. Qualitative research method was applied for the research. Twelve semi-structured interviews were conducted on December 2010, January and April 2011. The data was analyzed through collecting participants’ experiences and reflecting the responses in the light of socio-cultural animation theory. The analysis show that the bahá’í study circles supported the personal development of the partici-pants. The participants also described that in the study circles they have received tools to develop themselves and to become active members of the society. The findings are usefull for the bahá’í training institute for Finland in their efforts to improve the curricu-lum of the bahá’í study circles. Presumably the tutors of the bahá’í study circles find this study useful as it opens the theory behind the method and illustrates the perspective of the participants. More research is needed in the study of the community building that the bahá’í study circles are created for. Another suggestion for further research is the study of the role of the tutors as socio-cultural animators, as they are supposed to guarantee the constructive influence of the bahá’í study circle participants in their surrounding communities.