Christianity

Founder

• Christ

Historical developments

• Reformation
• Holy war

Other figures

• John the Baptist
• Peter
• Paul

Teachings which are corrected or clarified in the Baha'i Faith

• Original sin
• Redemption (or atonement)
• Repentance
• Resurrection
• Sacrifice
• Trinity

Divine origin

The Bahá'í Faith Recognizes the Divine Origin of Christianity

"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, that the divine inspiration of the Gospel is fully recognized, that the reality of the mystery of the Immaculacy of the Virgin Mary is confessed, and the primacy of Peter, the Prince of the Apostles, is upheld and defended. The Founder of the Christian Faith is designated by Bahá'u'lláh as the 'Spirit of God,' is proclaimed as the One Who 'appeared out of the breath of the Holy Ghost,' and is even extolled as the Essence of the Spirit. His mother is described as 'that veiled and immortal, that most beauteous countenance,' and the station of her Son eulogized as a 'station which hath been exalted above the imaginings of all that dwell on earth', whilst Peter is recognized as one whom God has caused 'the mysteries of wisdom and of utterance to flow out of his mouth'...."

(Shoghi Effendi, Promised Day is Come, pp. 109-110, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1643)

Same as the Cause of Bahá'u'lláh

“The Cause of Bahá’u’lláh is the same as the Cause of Christ.”

('Abdu'l-Bahá, Bahá'í World Faith, p. 400)

"Question: Are not all Christians Bahá'ís? Is there any difference?

"Answer: When Christians act according to the teachings of Christ, they are called Bahá'ís. For the foundations of Christianity and the religion of Bahá'u'lláh are one. The foundations of all the divine Prophets and Holy Books are one. The difference among them is one of terminology only. Each springtime is identical with the former springtime."

('Abdu'l-Bahá, Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 247)

Laws

According to the Gospel Jesus gave only two material ordinances

"...in regard to the material ordinances and ceremonies instituted by Jesus, the Guardian would suggest that you should point out that, only so far as it is recorded in the Gospel, Jesus gave two material ordinances only. Our knowledge of Jesus' life and teachings is rather fragmentary and so it would be more correct if you specify that these ordinances are only those recorded in the Gospel, and they may not be the only ones. There may be other teachings and ordinances too, of which no record is left."

(From a letter written on behalf of the Guardian to an individual believer, November 12, 1933, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1645)

Gospels only contain spiritual directions as Christ's ministry was short, and the spiritual is the essential

"I have been asked this question: In the Gospels one finds only spiritual directions, not particular directions for conduct as in the old testament. How is this?

"The teachings of Christ covered a period of three years; the dispensation of Moses lasted forty years. After Moses led the people of Israel from the land of bondage, he found it necessary to inaugurate certain physical rules to show them how to live. In the lifetime of Christ only a small group gathered around him. After his declaration, his mission lasted but three years; there was neither time nor occasion for a complete code of laws. The essential thing is the spiritual law — the outer material law is of small moment, because material life has natural laws to protect it, but humanity lacks spiritual education and needs instruction on the divine qualities. Christ gave this great foundation, as did Mohammed, the Bab and BAHA'O'LLAH. They are all one. There is no difference in their teachings. When we come to kind actions and to striving for the highest ideals of humanity, these things remain the same in all ages, in all countries and in all tongues.

"The sun is always the sun. According to the position of the earth we receive its radiation differently."This content belongs to Pilgrim's notes, notes known not to have an original language text or transcript and which "may be interesting but not authoritative" to Bahá'ís

(Attributed to 'Abdu'l-Bahá, 'Abdu'l-Bahá on Divine Philosophy, pp. 68-69)

See also

• Islám (for its larger number of laws)

To-dos for this page

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