Weird solicitation calls from the house of worship?

wombatwolf · 07-26-2012, 07:15 AM

A visitor to the House of Worship in Wilmette describes her experience a day ago-

"...The temple is an absolute stunning architectural masterpiece by Louis Bourgeois with nine lattice towers of cement and white quartz, which encircle a take-your-breath-away dome. The temple is surrounded by pristine gardens with tulips, roses and waterfalls. It is one of eight Baha’i temples around the world and the only one in the U.S. The Baha’is call this one the Mother Temple....

Speaking of which if you hang around too long they will call you. Yes, that is right. We stayed for the devotions, which entailed readings of scriptures that did not translate in a cohesive or even understandable manner and a whole lot of a capella “singing.” Afterward we wandered down around the gardens to the visitor center where a local lawyer/devotee with a power point and a salesman glint in his eye made for one hasty exit.

Hours later, despite the fact that no one in our party gave our numbers to anyone at the temple, nor were we asked, we received voicemail messages left at the same time on our cell phones with a strange man’s voice urging us to pray. Oh my god! "

Does anyone know what's going on with these phone calls, if this is a thing that is regularly happening, or was this just some weird incident? Because this is NOT a thing that should be happening, IMO.

arthra · 07-26-2012, 09:56 AM

You can get information about the programs at the House of Worship at

Programs and Activities – Bahai Faith | Baha'i Faith | United States Official Website

You can have a virtual tour at

Virtual Tour – Bahai Faith | Baha'i Faith | United States Official Website

You can see the virtual tour of the visitor's center at

http://benningphoto.com/New%20Flash%...i%20VC%207.swf

wombatwolf · 07-26-2012, 11:59 AM

Okay...those links have absolutely nothing to do with the issue I presented.

Are visitors to the House of Worship being left strange, unsolicited phone calls after their visits, or do you think this is just one random incident that this woman describes?

It's not good if well-meaning visitors are now being prodded into things or harassed like salespeople. We don't want to go that route, we really, really don't.

Sen McGlinn · 07-26-2012, 03:19 PM

Since the story goes that they did not give their numbers at the House of Worship, but were called simultaneously, the most likely explanation is that someone who knew them all and knew they were going to some temple-thing, called them. Either as a joke, or perhaps seriously needing prayers to be said.

Fadl · 07-26-2012, 07:12 PM

Are you sure it was even Baha'is that called, and are you even sure of the truthfulness of this account?

Certainly it is not in the capacity of the house of worship staff to secretly obtain phone numbers of visitors. It is possible to register your interest to be contacted by Baha'is, but even if that happened, the approach used by these callers is not the Baha'i style.

LordOfGoblins · 07-26-2012, 07:25 PM

Yep as per above post... Could be a setup to slander the Bahais...

Essence of GOD · 07-26-2012, 09:25 PM

how can one person call multiple people at the same time?
was it automated? or was he using multiple phones?

wombatwolf · 07-27-2012, 11:07 AM

I for one find it extremely odd as well (and kind of impossible), I was just wondering if anyone here had heard of a similar thing happening.

Greg Newing · 08-03-2012, 12:43 PM

I visited the House of Worship in Wilmette a bit over a month ago and did not have that experience. That just sounds very odd... I doubt it's true.

07-26-2012, 07:15 AM	#1
wombatwolf Member Joined: Jul 2011 From: Georgia Posts: 70	Weird solicitation calls from the house of worship? A visitor to the House of Worship in Wilmette describes her experience a day ago- "...The temple is an absolute stunning architectural masterpiece by Louis Bourgeois with nine lattice towers of cement and white quartz, which encircle a take-your-breath-away dome. The temple is surrounded by pristine gardens with tulips, roses and waterfalls. It is one of eight Baha’i temples around the world and the only one in the U.S. The Baha’is call this one the Mother Temple.... Speaking of which if you hang around too long they will call you. Yes, that is right. We stayed for the devotions, which entailed readings of scriptures that did not translate in a cohesive or even understandable manner and a whole lot of a capella “singing.” Afterward we wandered down around the gardens to the visitor center where a local lawyer/devotee with a power point and a salesman glint in his eye made for one hasty exit. Hours later, despite the fact that no one in our party gave our numbers to anyone at the temple, nor were we asked, we received voicemail messages left at the same time on our cell phones with a strange man’s voice urging us to pray. Oh my god! " Does anyone know what's going on with these phone calls, if this is a thing that is regularly happening, or was this just some weird incident? Because this is NOT a thing that should be happening, IMO.

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07-26-2012, 09:56 AM	#2
arthra Senior Member Joined: Jun 2006 From: California Posts: 3,958	You can get information about the programs at the House of Worship at Programs and Activities – Bahai Faith \| Baha'i Faith \| United States Official Website You can have a virtual tour at Virtual Tour – Bahai Faith \| Baha'i Faith \| United States Official Website You can see the virtual tour of the visitor's center at http://benningphoto.com/New%20Flash%...i%20VC%207.swf

07-26-2012, 11:59 AM	#3
wombatwolf Member Joined: Jul 2011 From: Georgia Posts: 70	Okay...those links have absolutely nothing to do with the issue I presented. Are visitors to the House of Worship being left strange, unsolicited phone calls after their visits, or do you think this is just one random incident that this woman describes? It's not good if well-meaning visitors are now being prodded into things or harassed like salespeople. We don't want to go that route, we really, really don't.

07-26-2012, 03:19 PM	#4
Sen McGlinn Senior Member Joined: Aug 2010 From: Leiden, the Netherlands Posts: 392	Since the story goes that they did not give their numbers at the House of Worship, but were called simultaneously, the most likely explanation is that someone who knew them all and knew they were going to some temple-thing, called them. Either as a joke, or perhaps seriously needing prayers to be said.

07-26-2012, 07:12 PM	#5
Fadl chief bottle washer Joined: Jun 2011 From: "Here am I, Here am I" Posts: 945	Are you sure it was even Baha'is that called, and are you even sure of the truthfulness of this account? Certainly it is not in the capacity of the house of worship staff to secretly obtain phone numbers of visitors. It is possible to register your interest to be contacted by Baha'is, but even if that happened, the approach used by these callers is not the Baha'i style.

07-26-2012, 07:25 PM	#6
LordOfGoblins Senior Member Joined: Dec 2010 From: Australia Posts: 2,056	Yep as per above post... Could be a setup to slander the Bahais...

07-26-2012, 09:25 PM	#7
Essence of GOD Senior Member Joined: Nov 2010 From: EARTH Posts: 334	how can one person call multiple people at the same time? was it automated? or was he using multiple phones?

07-27-2012, 11:07 AM	#8
wombatwolf Member Joined: Jul 2011 From: Georgia Posts: 70	I for one find it extremely odd as well (and kind of impossible), I was just wondering if anyone here had heard of a similar thing happening.

08-03-2012, 12:43 PM	#9
Greg Newing Junior Member Joined: Dec 2009 From: Montreal, Quebec, Canada Posts: 22	I visited the House of Worship in Wilmette a bit over a month ago and did not have that experience. That just sounds very odd... I doubt it's true.