Bahai Faith And Christianity: Key Differences And Contradictions

The Baháʼí Faith is a monotheistic religion founded in the 19th century that teaches the essential worth of all religions and the unity of all people. While it shares some similarities with Christianity, such as the belief in the importance of prayer and service to others, there are also significant differences between the two religions. Baháʼís believe in the oneness of God, the oneness of religion, and the oneness of humanity, and that all religions come from the same source and are part of a single, progressive revelation. This is in contrast to the Christian belief in the Holy Trinity, where God is three persons in one: the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit. Baháʼís also believe that Jesus Christ is a Manifestation of God, a divine messenger sent to guide humanity, rather than the Son of God who died on the cross for the sins of humanity as Christians believe. Additionally, Baháʼís have a different view of the afterlife, believing in the concept of the soul's journey and continued progress after death, rather than the Christian concept of heaven and hell.

The nature of God: Baháʼí Faith emphasises the oneness of God, while Christians believe in the Holy Trinity

The Baháʼí Faith is a monotheistic religion that began in the mid-1800s in Persia (now Iran). It teaches that God is a single, unified, and indivisible entity, with an unknowable essence. Baháʼís believe in the oneness of God, and that all religions come from the same source. This belief encourages Baháʼís to promote unity and harmony among people of different religions and cultures, as they all share a connection to the same divine source.

In contrast, Christians believe in the Holy Trinity, which is the idea that God exists in three persons: the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit. This concept is central to Christianity, and it represents both the unity and diversity within the Godhead.

Baháʼís view God as a singular and all-encompassing divine presence, uniting everyone and everything in the universe. They believe that God is revealed through Manifestations, which include Jesus, as well as other religious figures like Abraham, Krishna, Zoroaster, Moses, Buddha, Muhammad, the Báb, and Baháʼu'lláh. Baháʼís see Jesus as a divine messenger and an important spiritual teacher who brought love, compassion, and wisdom to the world.

On the other hand, Christians believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that he died on the cross for the sins of humanity. They hold that Jesus is both fully God and fully human, and that he is the only way to salvation and eternal life.

While Baháʼís emphasise the oneness and unity of God, Christians affirm the Trinity, highlighting both the unity and diversity within the Godhead. These differing views on the nature of God are a significant divergence between the Baháʼí Faith and Christianity.

The role of Jesus Christ: Baháʼís believe Jesus is a Manifestation of God, while Christians believe he is the Son of God

The Baháʼí Faith refers to what are commonly called Prophets as Manifestations of God, or simply Manifestations. Baháʼís believe that God expresses His will at all times and in many ways, including through a series of divine messengers referred to as Manifestations of God or sometimes divine educators.

Baháʼís believe that Jesus Christ is a Manifestation of God. This means that they believe Jesus is a divine educator, who is both fully human and fully divine, and has been sent by God to educate and guide humanity. Baháʼís believe that Manifestations of God are not incarnations of God, but rather intermediaries between God and humanity.

Christians, on the other hand, believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. This belief is based on various passages in the Bible, including the announcement of Jesus' birth to the virgin Mary by an angel, who referred to Jesus as the "Son of the Most High". Throughout the Bible, Jesus is referred to as the Son of God by various individuals, including His disciples, those who witnessed His miracles, and even demons.

Jesus Himself also referred to God as His Father, saying, "I and the Father are one" (John 10:30). This statement led the Jews to try to stone Him, as they believed He was guilty of blasphemy. However, Jesus is not claiming to be God; rather, He is claiming to be one with God as His Son. This concept of the Trinity—one God in three Persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit)—is a fundamental aspect of Christian theology.

While Baháʼís view Jesus as a Manifestation of God, they do not believe in the Trinity. Instead, they believe in the unity of all religions, seeing the teachings of all the major religions as components of a single plan directed by the same God. They believe that religion is cyclical in nature and becomes corrupted over time, requiring new divine educators to be sent by God to guide humanity.

The different understandings of the role of Jesus Christ—as either the Son of God or a Manifestation of God—represent a significant contradiction between the Baháʼí Faith and Christianity.

The afterlife: Baháʼís believe in the soul's journey, while Christians believe in heaven and hell

The Baháʼí Faith teaches that the soul is immortal and that after death, it continues its journey towards God, whereas Christianity teaches that after death, the soul is judged by God and sent to either Heaven or Hell.

In the Baháʼí Faith, the soul is believed to be the "essential identity" of a human being and is described as "rational and immortal". The soul is seen as distinct from the body, which it illuminates and from which it draws sustenance. Baháʼu'lláh, the founder of the Baháʼí Faith, uses the metaphor of the sun to explain this relationship:

> "The soul of man is the sun by which his body is illumined, and from which it draweth its sustenance, and should be so regarded."

According to the Baháʼí teachings, the soul's journey towards God is an eternal one, and it is through the exercise of the soul's powers that human progress is achieved. ʻAbdu'l-Bahá, Baháʼu'lláh's son and appointed successor, explains that the soul:

> "...can discover the realities of things, comprehend the peculiarities of beings, and penetrate the mysteries of existence. All sciences, knowledge, arts, wonders, institutions, discoveries and enterprises come from the exercised intelligence of the rational soul."

This journey of the soul is a process of spiritual advancement, where the soul reflects divine attributes to the extent that it is cleansed of worldly attachments and purified.

In contrast, traditional Christian beliefs hold that after death, the soul will be judged by God and sent to either Heaven or Hell, depending on whether the person has led a virtuous or sinful life. Heaven is described as a place of unending happiness and bliss, where one will be surrounded by favourite things and experience God's presence and love. Hell, on the other hand, is depicted as a place of terrible suffering and God's absence.

While many Christians continue to hold these traditional beliefs, modern interpretations of Heaven and Hell have emerged. Some Christians today believe that Heaven and Hell are not physical places but rather states of mind. Additionally, the concept of Purgatory, a place of purification for souls before they enter Heaven, is accepted by Roman Catholics.

The differences in beliefs about the afterlife among Christians are often due to varying interpretations of the Bible. While some Christians take the scriptures literally, others interpret them as metaphors, symbols, or myths.

Salvation: Baháʼís believe salvation is attained by following the Word of God, while Christians believe it is through acceptance of Christ

The Baháʼí Faith teaches that salvation is attained by following the Word of God, while Christians believe it is through acceptance of Christ.

Baháʼís believe that salvation is attained through acceptance and obedience to the Word of God. Baháʼu'lláh, the founder of the Baháʼí Faith, wrote that the first duty prescribed by God for his servants is the recognition of the one who is the Dayspring of His Revelation and the Fountain of His laws. Baháʼu'lláh states that those who achieve this duty have attained all good, and those deprived of it have gone astray, even if they are the authors of every righteous deed. Baháʼís believe that the references to the "Son" and to "I" in John's Gospel are references to the eternal Logos, and a basis for recognising that all great religious teachers spoke as the voice of God.

Christians, on the other hand, believe that salvation is attained through acceptance of Christ. In the Christian doctrine of atonement, salvation is the saving of human beings from sin and its consequences, which include death and separation from God, by Christ's death and resurrection. The idea of Jesus' death as an atonement for human sin was recorded in the Christian Bible, and elaborated in Paul's epistles and in the Gospels. Paul saw the faithful redeemed by participation in Jesus' death and rising. Early Christians regarded themselves as partaking in a new covenant with God, open to both Jews and Gentiles, through the sacrificial death and subsequent exaltation of Jesus Christ.

Christians believe that Christ, through His death and resurrection, has obtained justification and atonement for all sinners. They believe that individuals receive this free gift of forgiveness and salvation not on the basis of their own works, but only through faith.

While Baháʼís believe that salvation is attained by following the Word of God, Christians believe that salvation is attained through acceptance of Christ.

Sin: Baháʼí teachings state that humans cannot fully comprehend God, while Christians believe God is directly accessible

The Baháʼí Faith, established by Baháʼu'lláh in the 19th century, is a monotheistic religion that teaches the essential worth of all religions and the unity of all people. Baháʼí teachings state that God is too great for humans to fully comprehend, and that human understanding of God is achieved through the recognition of the person of the Manifestation and through the understanding of his revelations via his Manifestations. In this context, Manifestations of God refer to the founders of major world religions throughout history, including the Buddha, Jesus, and Muhammad, who are seen as being sent by God to reveal his message. Baháʼís believe that God is generally regular and periodic in revealing his will through these Manifestations, and that this process of revelation is never-ending.

In contrast, Christians believe in a direct and personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. The Bible is clear that God is ultimately incomprehensible, yet it also teaches that God can be known truly, personally, and sufficiently. While God can never be exhaustively understood, Christians believe that God has personally revealed himself so that he can be truly known. This belief is fundamental to the Christian faith, which is considered a revealed religion.

The Baháʼí view of God is that he is a personal God, but one who is unknowable and inaccessible. While the Baháʼí writings teach that God has a personality, including the capacity to reason and feel love, they also state that direct knowledge of God is not possible. Baháʼu'lláh taught that human knowledge of God is limited to those attributes and qualities that are perceptible to us, and that knowledge of God's attributes is revealed to humanity through his messengers or Manifestations.

While Christians believe in the Trinity—God as three persons in one substance—Baháʼís believe in the unity of God as a single, all-powerful being. This concept of the Oneness of God is central to Baháʼí teachings, along with the Oneness of Religion and the Oneness of Humanity. Baháʼís regard the world's major religions as fundamentally unified in their purpose but divergent in their social practices and interpretations. They believe that religion is cyclical in nature and becomes corrupted over time, and that God periodically sends divine messengers to reveal his will and transform the character of humankind.

In summary, the Baháʼí teachings state that humans cannot fully comprehend God, as he is too great for human understanding, while Christians believe that God has revealed himself and is directly accessible through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. These contrasting views on the comprehensibility and accessibility of God highlight a significant difference between the Baháʼí Faith and Christianity.

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