Baha’i Faith

By Reeves 

Brief Introduction

The youngest world religion, Baha’i, Originated in 19th century as an offshoot of Shi’ite Islam. Baha’i is a movement started by an Iranian wool merchant and a Shi’ite Muslim aimed to reform Islam.

On May 23, 1844, in Shiraz, Persia, a young man, Mizra Ali Muhammed, known as the Bab, said that God’s messenger was about to appear.

Babs work was to prepare a way for this messenger, he would be the living door or “the gate.” Bab’s teaching became widely known throughout Iran, but provoked opposition

He finally died by execution. One of Bab’s earliest disciples was Mizra Husain Ali, who was assumed the name of Baha’u’llah whan he renounced his social standing and joined the Babis.

He self-proclaimed that he was the long-awaited prophet. Baha’u’llah began organizing and composed many of the now known Baha’i scriptures for the movement, which became known as Baha’i.

Baha’u’llah died at Bahji and was succeeded by his eldest son Abd ul-Baha to be the leader.

Baha’i’s Holy Book

One of the most important scripture is The Most Holy Book containing the laws governing Baha’i. The writings and spoken words of the Babs (or Bobs), Baha’u’llah, and Abd ul-Baha form the sacred literature of the Baha’i Faith. Some of the most notable of the one hundred volumes of the Baha’i scripture are:

1. Selections from the writings of the Bab.

2. Tablets of Baha’u’llah, Kitab-i-Aqdes (considered to be the most holy).

3. Book of Certitude (kitab-i-iqan).

4. Baha’i Prayers.

Baha’i Beliefs

The basic Principles of the Baha’i Faith includes the oneness of the world of humanity; the foundation of all religions as one; the religion must be the cause of unity. This is so because according the Baha’i people,”all faith is unified in the eyes of God,” and that there are certain principles under which God intended us to live.” The laws and obligations of the Baha’i Faith are:

1. Pray daily

2. Read the holy writings from various religions

3. Fasting from sunrise to sunset

4. Contribute to Baha’i financial fund

5. Abstain from drugs and alcohol

5. Avoid gossip etc

Least we forget, Baha’i Faith is a monotheistic religion such Judaism and Christianity. Baha’u’llah taught that there is one God, the eternal Creator, who is essentially unknowable.

Baha’i is syncretistic, claiming that the world’s major religions are not contradictory or even competitive but equally true. Baha’i also teaches that Abraham, Moses, Zoroaster, Buddha, Jesus and Muhammad all of whom were valid manifestations of God. Yet Baha’u’llah claimed to be more of significance than all previous manifestations including Jesus.

The key of Baha’i beliefs must be highlighted, thus the following are:

  1. The Primacy of Love
  2. New Role for Humanity
  3. The Twelve Principles
  4. Oneness of God
  5. Foundation Beliefs
  6. Successive Revelations
  7. Basic Unity of All religions
  8. Religious Dialogue
  9. Prejudice
  10. Racial Unity
  11. Equality for Women
  12. Economic Justice
  13. Universal Education
  14. World Federal System
  15. Science

Baha’i Worship

Baha’i have no clergy, sacraments or rituals. Baha’i as such is pretty much individualistic; that is they are responsible for his or her own spiritual growth.

Baha’i Faith and Christianity

It is said that Baha’i people are committed follower of Jesus Christ, but denies what the New Testament declares as truth in the same process. Basic Baha’i faith are diametrically opposed to biblical Christianity. The Baha’i also rejects the fundamental teachings of the New Testament such as:

  1. The Trinity
  2. The Deity of Christ
  3. Virgin Birth of Christ
  4. The physical Resurrection of Christ
  5. Christ’s Atonement (the doctrine concerning the reconciliation of God and humankind,)
  6. Salvation by Faith In Christ Alone
  7. The Holy Scripture as Final Authority
  8. The Second Coming of Christ

This shows that what Baha’i faith followers follows in Jesus and embrace are only those they consider authentic teachings of Christ that are in accord with their principles. This means to say is they “pick out” the ones that agrees the teaching of Baha’u’llah.

This also means that only some part of the Bible is from God but this is contrary to what the Scripture says, “All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Tim. 3:16).

Baha’i in its relativistic system teaches that all religions are valid way to God. Again, this goes against to what Jesus said namely that He is, “The Way, The Truth, The Life” (Jn. 14:6). As you can clearly see, Baha’i Faith is irreconcilable with Christianity. As Dr. Walter Martin said,

There is very little indeed that a true Christian can have in common with the faith of Baha’i. There is simply no common ground on which to meet…The Baha’i Faith is at its very core anti-Christian theology [The Kingdom of The Cult].