Firesides
A relaxed evening in someone's home to explore the Bahá'í teachings with anyone curious — coffee, conversation, and real questions.
Firesides are explicitly for friends of every background. Bring your honest questions.
A fireside is an old and beloved Bahá'í tradition: a small, informal evening hosted in someone's home where anyone curious about the Bahá'í teachings is welcome to come, listen, ask questions, and stay as long as they wish.
The name comes from the early decades of the Faith in North America, when Abdu'l-Bahá encouraged Bahá'ís to invite their friends to gather around the fireplace and share what they had come to believe — quietly, in friendship, without pressure.
What to expect
First 15 minutes
Arrival and conversation
Coffee or tea, dessert, and unhurried conversation as people gather.
30–45 minutes
A theme, a prayer, a talk
The host or a friend may share a short talk on a Bahá'í teaching — the oneness of religion, the harmony of science and faith, the equality of women and men, the elimination of prejudice — followed by open questions and discussion.
Open-ended
Real conversation
The heart of a fireside: any question, any tradition, in a spirit of friendship. People often stay long after the official close.
Who comes
- Bahá'ís and the friends, colleagues and neighbours they have personally invited.
- People at every stage of curiosity — first-timers, regulars, sceptics, scholars.
- Adults; sometimes youth and families.
What to do
- Bring your honest questions — the harder the better.
- Bring a friend.
- Stay for as long or as little as you'd like.
What you don't need to do
- You won't be asked to commit to anything.
- There is no script or pressure to agree.
A sample programme
Every gathering has its own rhythm — this is one realistic outline.
- 7:30 pm
- Arrival, coffee and dessert
- 7:45 pm
- Opening prayer
- 7:50 pm
- A short talk on a Bahá'í theme
- 8:15 pm
- Open questions and discussion
- 9:00 pm
- Continued conversation; people leave as they need to
Origins & meaning
Firesides were encouraged by Abdu'l-Bahá and have been a staple of Bahá'í life in the West ever since. Many Bahá'ís first learned of the Faith at a friend's fireside decades ago.
The format is intentionally informal — a deep conversation in a friend's home rather than a lecture or class.
Frequently asked questions
Is a fireside a religious service?+
No. It's an informal evening of conversation about the Bahá'í teachings, hosted in a home.
Will I be pressured to join the Bahá'í Faith?+
No. Bahá'ís believe each person must investigate truth independently, in their own time.
What kinds of questions can I ask?+
Any. Hard ones especially welcome.
How is a fireside different from a devotional?+
A devotional is centred on prayer and readings; a fireside is centred on conversation about the Bahá'í teachings. Many firesides include a short prayer at the start, but the heart of the evening is discussion.
Are firesides public?+
Usually they're 'open to invited friends' rather than publicly advertised, because the warmth comes from being someone's guest.
Find one near you
The next upcoming firesides across Canada.
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Your first visit — a small checklist
- RSVP so the host knows to set a place
- Bring a question you've been carrying
- Optional: a small dessert or treat to share
Other kinds of gatherings
Devotional
A simple, prayerful hour where neighbours of every background read sacred writings, share music, and reflect together.
Read the guide →
Reflection meeting
Periodic neighbourhood gatherings where friends look back on what they've learned, celebrate small victories, and plan what to do next.
Read the guide →
Study circle
A small group that meets weekly to read together, reflect, and try out practical themes — prayer, service, raising children, the nobility of the human spirit.
Read the guide →