Bahá'í Faith and world religions

Bahá'ís see their religion as the latest, but not final, in a series of prophetic dispensations, which include various world religions as previous cycles. Their scriptures specifically acknowledge the divine origin of most of the major world religions.

:There can be no doubt whatever that the peoples of the world, of whatever race or religion, derive their inspiration from one heavenly Source, and are the subjects of one God. The difference between the ordinances under which they abide should be attributed to the varying requirements and exigencies of the age in which they were revealed. All of them, except a few which are the outcome of human perversity, were ordained of God, and are a reflection of His Will and Purpose.::Bahá'u'lláh, from "Proclamation of Bahá'u'lláh" [http://reference.bahai.org/en/t/b/PB/pb-59.html]

The Bahá'í teaching of Progressive Revelation teaches that God sends different prophets at different times throughout history, who reveal new scriptures and new laws which are suitable for the people of that time. Major named prophets include Abraham, Krishna, Zoroaster, Moses, Buddha, Jesus, and Muhammad as well as the Báb and Bahá'u'lláh.

The Bahá'í teachings state that later dispensations are held to supersede earlier ones and thus Jews should have recognized Jesus Christ, that Jews and Christians should have accepted Muhammad, and today, followers of all religions are called upon to accept the divinity of Bahá'í founder Bahá'u'lláh, and thus be faithful to their respective covenants.

This formulation is unlikely to be embraced by representatives of the religions whose sacred history the Bahá'í Faith aspires to incorporate. This entry is devoted to showing major points of debate between Bahá'ís and other religious people, as well as with academic scholars of religion.

Bahá'í Faith and comparative theology

As seen, the Bahá'í Faith recognizes the divine origins of Hinduism, Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and the Bábí movement. Sabeanism is also acknowledged (as in Islam), but historians are unsure as to precisely what a Sabean is or was.

Other religions which are not specifically named in the writings--such as Taoism, Sikhism, or Native American religions--are nevertheless acknowledged to contain genuine spiritual influences. It is also assumed that some genuine revelations are now lost to history, or remembered only very dimly.

In an aside, Bahá'u'lláh alludes to a few religions which are the product of "human perversity." These are unnamed, but presumably include Satanism and Covenant-breakers.

Regardless of which category they fall into, followers of other religions naturally take issue with the Bahá'í formulation. Following are some major points of disagreement.

Judaism

The loss of Jewish distinctiveness

A major presumption of Judaism is that Jews are--and ought to be--different from gentiles (non-Jews). Any trend that threatens to eradicate this divide, such as conversion or intermarriage, raises questions about the survival of Jews as a distinct people.

*Argument

:Because of Diaspora, the only common culture of the Jews is Judaism and thus if Jews convert to the Bahá’í Faith en masse, and/or intermarry with Gentiles--as Bahá’í theology expects to eventually happen--this will be the end of Jews as a distinct people. Instead the culture should be preserved.

*Response

:Bahá’ís believe that anyone becoming a Bahá’í will not have to give up their cultural individuality. Human diversity will continue to exist and be celebrated. There is no reason to think that existing cultures, even those attached to a religious tradition, will not continue on into the indefinite future.

:In Israel, Bahá’ís have refrained from accepting any Jewish converts.

:In response to a new Bahá’í asking if he should continue to associate with his previous religious community, `Abdu'l-Bahá said the following:

::"You must not dissociate yourself from it. Know this; the Kingdom of God is not in any Society... If you belong to a Society already do not forsake your brothers. You can be a Bahá’í-Christian, a Bahá’í-Freemason, a Bahá’í-Jew, a Bahá’í-Muhammadan. The number nine contains eight, and seven, and all the other numbers, and does not deny any of them.":::`Abdu'l-Bahá, in "`Abdu'l-Bahá in London", p. 97. [http://reference.bahai.org/en/t/ab/ABL/abl-16.html#pg97]

:Shoghi Effendi wrote the following to a new believer:

::"The fact that he is by origin a Jew or a Christian, a black man or a white man, is not important anymore, but, as you say, lends color and charm to the Bahá’í community in that it demonstrates unity in diversity.":::Shoghi Effendi, March 12, 1949. [http://reference.bahai.org/en/t/se/DG/dg-25.html]

The Messiah

The Bahá'í writings are clear that Jesus was the Messiah prophesized in Jewish literature.
*Argument

:The Messiah is a human descendant of King David (Isaiah 11:1) who will rebuild the nation of Israel and the Temple in Jerusalem (Ezekiel 16:55;40). He will bring world peace by restoring the Davidic Kingdom. Knowledge of God will fill the world, all of the dead will rise, every person will see him, and His name would be Immanuel (respectively, Isaiah 11:9; 26:19; 40:4; 7:13). (see Jewish Messiah for more details)

:Jesus did not fulfill any of these prophecies. Specifically, he cannot claim to be a descendant of David through Joseph because Jesus is not a son of Joseph.

*Response

:Bahá'ís believe that these prophecies were fulfilled with Jesus Christ. However, the prophecies are seen to have a spiritual significance, which was lost to the Jews of the time. This idea of spiritual interpretation is used in the Bahá'í writings to show Bahá'u'lláh's fulfillment of the return of Christ.

::"All the words of the prophets were fulfilled, but because the Jews held tenaciously to hereditary interpretations, they did not understand the inner meanings of the Holy Bible; therefore, they denied Jesus Christ, the Messiah.":::"The Promulgation of Universal Peace", p. 199. [http://reference.bahai.org/en/t/ab/PUP/pup-71.html#gr11]

:Many of the prophecies of the Messiah were described individually by `Abdu'l-Bahá. The following is an example:

::"In His day, according to prophecy, the wolf and the lamb were to drink from the same fountain. This was realized in Christ. The fountain referred to was the Gospel, from which the water of life gushes forth. The wolf and lamb are opposed and divergent races symbolized by these animals. Their meeting and association were impossible, but having become believers in Jesus Christ those who were formerly as wolves and lambs became united through the words of the Gospel.":::"The Promulgation of Universal Peace", p. 199. [http://reference.bahai.org/en/t/ab/PUP/pup-71.html#gr16]

Christianity

"The way, the truth, and the life"

Perhaps no verse in the Bible is more quoted to Bahá'ís than John 14:6. Christians have this and similar verses to hold an exclusivity about their religion [http://www.sbc.net/bfm/default.asp] , while Bahá'ís believe that religion is progressively revealed by God through many Prophets [http://www.bahai.org/dir/beliefs/oneness_religio] .

*Argument

:Jesus Christ is the "one and Only Begotten Son of God" (John 3:16). There is no other one in all of history like Him. He is the only way to God.

::(KJV) John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

:Other similar verses include (John 1:1-14; 5:17-18; 8:56-59; 10:30-33; Col. 1:15-20; 2:9).

*Response

:A fundamental Bahá'í principle is the Unity of religion, which asserts that all the divine Educators are Manifestations of God on earth. Bahá'ís believe in the divinity of the Bible [http://www.safnet.com/bahai/docs/christ.html] , and believe John 14:6 is true and accurate [http://www.bahai-library.com/articles/exclusivist.html] . These Manifestations are regarded as one, and thus this verse is applicable to all of them.

::"Know thou assuredly that the essence of all the Prophets of God is one and the same. Their unity is absolute. God, the Creator, saith: There is no distinction whatsoever among the Bearers of My Message. They all have but one purpose; their secret is the same secret. To prefer one in honor to another, to exalt certain ones above the rest, is in no wise to be permitted."::::Bahá'u'lláh in "Gleanings", p. 78. [http://reference.bahai.org/en/t/b/GWB/gwb-34.html#gr3]

:However, the exclusivity that most people have found in John 14:6 is not lost in the Bahá'í writings [http://www.bahai-library.com/articles/exclusivist.html] .

::"The first duty prescribed by God for His servants is the recognition of Him Who is the Dayspring of His Revelation and the Fountain of His laws, Who representeth the Godhead in both the Kingdom of His Cause and the world of creation. Whoso achieveth this duty hath attained unto all good; and whoso is deprived thereof hath gone astray, though he be the author of every righteous deed."::::Bahá'u'lláh in "The Kitáb-i-Aqdas", p. 17. [http://reference.bahai.org/en/t/b/KA/ka-4.html]

::"Be thou assured in thyself that verily, he who turns away from this Beauty hath also turned away from the Messengers of the past and showeth pride towards God from all eternity to all eternity."::::Bahá'u'lláh in the "Tablet of Ahmad". [http://reference.bahai.org/en/t/c/BP/bp-173.html]

Divinity of Jesus

The Bible states that Jesus is God (John 8:24; 8:58; 10:30; 12:45; 14:9; 14:11), and Christians find conflict in the idea that there could be any others like Him, whether before or after His life.

*Argument

:Jesus is the unique incarnation (embodiment) of God who perfectly reveals God's nature and character to mankind (Heb. 1:1-2). He was, is, and always shall be the Second Person of the eternal Holy Trinity.

*Response

:The divinity of Jesus is established in the Bahá'í writings.

::"As to the position of Christianity, let it be stated without any hesitation or equivocation that its Divine origin is unconditionally acknowledged, that the Sonship and Divinity of Jesus Christ are fearlessly asserted..."::::Shoghi Effendi in "The Promised Day is Come", p. 113. [http://reference.bahai.org/en/t/se/PDC/pdc-28.html#gr5]

:A common analogy derived from talks by `Abdu'l-Bahá is that the divine Manifestations of God are like perfect mirrors which reflect the light of God. Although the sun can be seen in them, at no time did the sun enter them, or leave its place. A person looking at the mirror could say "I'm looking at the sun", or they could say "I'm not looking at the sun". Therefore some verses in the Bible refer to Jesus and God as the same (John 8:24; 10:30; 12:45; 14:9; 14:11), while others refer to them as different (Mark 13:32-33 John 1:18; 5:30; 5:37; 8:28; 14:5-6; 14:28 IKing 8:27 I Jn 4:12 Phil 2:6-7 Colossians 3:17).

::"For God to descend into the conditions of existence would be the greatest of imperfections; on the contrary, His manifestation, His appearance, His rising are like the reflection of the sun in a clear, pure, polished mirror... So the Reality of Christ was a clear and polished mirror of the greatest purity and fineness. ...but from the exaltation of its holiness, and the heaven of its sanctity, the Sun did not descend to dwell and abide in the mirror."::::`Abdu'l-Bahá in "Some Answered Questions", p. 113. [http://reference.bahai.org/en/t/ab/SAQ/saq-27.html#gr4]

:Bahá'u'lláh explained His relationship with God in the following text.

::"Manifold and mysterious is My relationship with God. I am He, Himself, and He is I, Myself, except that I am that I am, and He is that He is."::::Bahá'u'lláh in "Gleanings", p. 66. [http://reference.bahai.org/en/t/b/GWB/gwb-27.html#gr4]

Islam

eal of the Prophets

Muslims hold fast to the belief that Muhammad is the most recent, and final of God's prophets. Bahá'ís regard the Báb and Bahá'u'lláh to be prophets that came after Muhammad. This is "the major theological barrier between the Bahá'í Faith and Islam." [http://bahai-library.com/articles/jbs.5-3.fazel.html]

*Argument

:Muhammad was the Seal of the Prophets, and anyone claiming prophethood after Him is an Apostate. [http://www.thewaytotruth.org/islamandhumanity/thesealofthe.html]

::"Muhammad is not the father of any of your men, but the Apostle of God, and the Seal of the Prophets."::::The Qur'an (E.H. Palmer tr), Surih 33:40

*Response

:Bahá'ís believe in the divinity of the Qur'an and regard (33:40) as true and accurate. They also refer to Bahá'u'lláh's texts which specifically address this verse, which states:::"How many are those who, through failure to understand its meaning, have allowed the term "Seal of the Prophets" to obscure their understanding, and deprive them of the grace of all His manifold bounties! Hath not Muhammad, Himself, declared: "I am all the Prophets?" Hath He not said as We have already mentioned: "I am Adam, Noah, Moses, and Jesus?" Why should Muhammad, that immortal Beauty, Who hath said: "I am the first Adam" be incapable of saying also: "I am the last Adam"?::::Bahá'u'lláh in "The Kitáb-i-Íqán", p. 161. [http://reference.bahai.org/en/t/b/KI/ki-6.html#pg162]

Finality of Islam

Muslims believe that Islam is the final religion from God, and God's message was completed with the Qur'an [http://bahai-library.com/articles/jbs.5-3.fazel.html] . Bahá'ís believe that the need for divine Messengers will always exist, and another will come after the passing of one thousand years (Gleanings, p. 345).

*Argument

:Islam contains all that mankind will ever require until the Day of Judgement and no further revelation of the divine purpose can or will occur - Islam is the final and perfect religion.

::"Verily, (the true) religion in God’s sight is Islam."::::The Qur'an (E.H. Palmer tr), Surih 3:19.

::"Whosoever craves other than Islam for a religion, it shall surely not be accepted from him, and he shall, in the next world, be of those who lose."::::The Qur'an (E.H. Palmer tr), Surih 3:85.

*Response

:Islam literally means: submission (to God). And Muslim, which comes from the same root means: one who submits (to God).

:In the Qur'an, Noah is called a Muslim in (10:73), Moses and his followers are called Muslims (10:84/90 and 7:123) and in 3:67, "Abraham in truth was not a Jew, neither a Christian; but he was a Muslim". Abraham says to Jacob and his children "truly God hath chosen a religion for you; so die not unless ye be also Muslims," (2:128). Elsewhere Joseph prays to God to have him "die a Muslim" (12:102), and the disciples of Christ responded to God's revelation by saying, "We believe, and bear thou witness that we are Muslims" (5:111).

:Verse (42:11) shows that Islam is the religion that was "commanded" to Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus. Bahá'ís see Islam in the context of a universal religion of God, as distinct from the historical tradition that didn't exist before 622AD.

::"This is the changeless Faith of God, eternal in the past, eternal in the future"::::Bahá'u'lláh in "Gleanings", p. 136. [http://reference.bahai.org/en/t/b/GWB/gwb-70.html]

Hinduism

Polytheism

Most forms of Hinduism accept that polytheism and worship of idols (Sanskrit "murti"--"statues", "images") are legitimate ways of relating to the divine. In the Bahá'í Faith, Hinduism is recognized as a divinely inspired religion. However, strict monotheism is practiced, and people are encouraged to avoid idol worship. So much so, that Bahá'u'lláh's picture is not circulated among Bahá'ís.

*Argument

:By denying the several gods of the Hindu tradition, Bahá'ís--contrary to their expressed claims--deny the divine character of Hinduism. In Hindu writings, the word "gods" is used in a plural sense.::"Worship the gods thereby; The gods shall yield thee grace.":::Bhagavad Gita (Edwin Arnold tr), chapter 3.

:In other cases, the gods are mentioned by name.::"Let us not anger thee with worship, Rudra, ill praise, Strong God!":::Vedas, Rig Veda - Book 2, verse 4.

*Response

:Bahá'ís prefer to stress aspects of Hinduism that could be considered monotheistic. Bahá'í scriptures claim that although Krishna was the founder of the Hindu Faith, the religion today no longer has the original teachings. Traces of the original intention can be seen still, but Hinduism today is a wide variety of differing traditions, which in some cases bear no resemblance to the original teachings of Krishna.

:As with all the religious traditions that Bahá'ís recognize as divine, recognition of Hinduism's divine basis does not entail acceptance of all its major provisions.

:The different gods in Hindu text can also be seen as different names of the one true God. For example, the Bible refers to "the God of patience and consolation", "the God of hope", and "the God of peace" (Romans 15). Left alone and isolated from the other verses, and given several centuries to germinate, these verses, which clearly do not support polytheism, could turn into a polytheistic interpretation similar to "VISHNU lord of heavenly light", "YAMA monarch of the dead", and "DHARMA god of human duty and of human righteousness". (Ramayana book 5)

:The god Rudra (mentioned above), is mentioned as a name of "the brilliant God".::"We serve the brilliant God with adorations, we glorify, the splendid name of Rudra.":::(Vedas, Rig Veda - Book 2, verse 8)

:Interestingly, several modern Hindu reformers have rejected polytheism and idol worship. These include Brahmo Samaj founder Ram Mohan Roy as well as Rabindranath Tagore. Furthermore, on closer inspection many forms of Hinduism turn out to elevate one or another of the gods as the supreme being, of whom all the other gods are manifestations. This is usually termed henotheism but is at least closely related to monotheism.

Reincarnation

*Argument

:Most Hindus accept reincarnation and karma as basic components of the Hindu religion. Bahá'ís reject these concepts.

*Response

:Bahá'ís say that these are misunderstandings of divine truth. References interpreted as meaning reincarnation ("tanasukh" in Persian) really speak of "return" ("rijat"), a process whereby the archetype of some saint or prophet manifests itself aeon after aeon. Bahá'u'lláh, for example, was the "return" of Imam Husayn.

::"See [http://bahai-library.com/?file=warwick_hinduism_bahai this article] for more about Hindu/Baha'i beliefs."

Buddhism

Bahá'ís see Buddha as a "prophet" of "God." Both of these concepts are alien to Buddhism.

"God" in Buddhism

*Argument

:The historical Buddha recorded in Buddhist scriptures is not a theist. Sutras acknowledge the existence of certain types of gods (e.g. devas) but they are more akin to a genie and subject to death and reincarnation. Buddha specifically rejected the Hindu concept of true soul or ultimate reality (atman). The concept of the Oneness of religion is only correct if Buddhism is defined as non-religious, due to its rejection of God. Arguments that Buddhist records regarding core concept of Buddhism are fabricated would mean Buddhism is false and it merely another faith with the misappropriated name of Buddhism. Acceptance of the teachings of the Bahá'í faith would require a Buddhist to give up Buddhism entirely.

*Response

:Bahá'ís suspect that the sources have become corrupted, and that Buddhist teachings do allude to an "unborn, uncreated, undying, unmanifest" reality which is the closest that Indian culture could come to the concept of theism.

:`Abdu’l-Bahá said:

::The real teaching of Buddha is the same as the teaching of Jesus Christ. The teachings of all the Prophets are the same in character. Now men have changed the teaching. If you look at the present practice of the Buddhist religion, you will see that there is little of the Reality left. Many worship idols although their teaching forbids it.

:::::`Abdu’l-Bahá in "`Abdu’l-Bahá in London", p. 63. [http://reference.bahai.org/en/t/ab/ABL/abl-16.html#gr37]

Buddha as "prophet"

*Argument

:The Bahá'í concept of prophethood is different from the Buddhist concept of Buddhahood. According to record, historical Buddha achieved realisation through his own effort and did not receive truth/revelation from God, which Buddhism does not recognise. Prophets (in the Bahá'í writings) are said to have been distinguished from ordinary people from before the creation of the world. But Buddhism holds that any sentient being is capable of achieving the same enlightenment and many have done so especially during Buddha's life time. The teachings of the Bahá'í Faith would appear as an abandomement of Buddhism itself.

*Response

:Early Buddhist iconography avoids depicting the Buddha himself, but symbolizes him with an umbrella or the like. This shows that he was, in fact, regarded as especially divine, and similar standards of avoiding depiction are applied to Muhammad in Islamic tradition.

:The state of Buddhahood, the state of enlightenment, or nirvana, have counterparts in Western terminology. In Christianity, Jesus was known as the Son of God, a title referring to a relationship which can also be achieved by any believer "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God." (ROM 8:14) The state of "nirvana" is very similar to the Christian state "salvation". Compare:

::"That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened;":::(King James Bible, Ephesians 1:17-18)

::"This is the Middle Path which the Perfect One has found out, which makes one both to see and to know, which leads to peace, to discernment, to enlightenment, to Nirvana.":::(The Eightfold Path, Buddha, the Word)

Bahá'í Faith and religious studies

*Argument

:Bahá'ís often liken their religion to Christianity, Islam, and so on. But closer comparisons would be with Mormonism, the Unification Church, Theosophy, Islamic ghulat sects, Sant Mat, and other non-mainstream sects.

*Response

:Bahá'í literature describes the faith as an "independent world religion." Mormon and Unification Church literature, by contrast, describes those churches as Christian. Meanwhile Theosophy claims not to be a religion at all, while the ghulat sects lie clearly within the Islamic fold, and often describe themselves as cultural rather than religious groupings.

:Sociologically, it is possible and even likely that the Bahá'í Faith has much in common with other groups of roughly its size and age. However, Bahá'ís believe that their faith has quite a different destiny.

*Argument

:There exist in the world several independent religions which are newer than the Bahá'í Faith. What do Bahá'ís think of Caodaism, I-Kuan Tao, Tenrikyo, Oomoto, Chondogyo, and Wicca?

*Response

: Bahá'ís recognize that the same spiritual energies which led to their faith's emergence, may also have indirectly inspired other religious movements as well. Many of the ones listed here, for instance, emphasize the unity of humanity, and/or the unity of the world's religions. However, the religion cannot officially recognize their prophets or founders.

: If the intent is to group the Bahá'í Faith with these other new religions, then Bahá'ís believe that time will tell. It is surely significant, however, that the ones listed above appear to be largely confined to single ethnic groups--respectively Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, Koreans, and Caucasians.

*Argument

:Isn't the Bahá'í Faith just a cult?

*Response

:That depends on the definition of the word "cult". Originally, the word simply meant a group of people organized to support the worship of some god or hero. In that sense, most religions are cults.

:Today the word often means "a religion I don't like" or, "a religion not accepted by my society." In that case the answer will depend on how open-minded the reader or his/her society is.

:Several researchers have attempted to compile lists of criteria in order to distinguish destructive cults more objectively. Judging from these lists, the worst sin committed by the Bahá'í Faith may be that it has developed its own jargon. Certainly Bahá'ís do not attempt to isolate one another, restrict thought, or otherwise coerce believers.

External links

See [http://bahai-library.com/?file=essays_new_religious_movement these articles for more information] and [http://bahai-library.com/?file=schaefer_bahai_sect_religion] [http://bahai-library.com/?file=fazel_religious_pluralism_insight]