Baha'ism claims to be the ultimate
fulfillment of Judaism, Buddhism, Islam, Zoroastrianism, Hinduism, and
Christianity. While proclaiming the merits of all
world religions, Baha'ism also insists that these faiths must now concede to the
supremacy of God's fulfilled revelation in Baha'u'llah.
Baha'i is the world's second
fastest growing religion and is taking college campuses by storm.
A 25-year-old businessman, known as Mirza All Muhammad (1819-1850), announced in
1844 that he was the Bab ("Gate"), the forerunner of the "Promised
One" who would be a manifestation of God. Six years later,
he was killed. One of his followers, a Persian nobleman named Mirza Husayn Ali,
known today as Baha'u'llah ("the glory of God"), came to believe he
was the one prophesied by Mirza All Muhammad.
Baha'u'llah declared that he was the promised Madhi (Messiah), a progressive
revelation of God onward from Abraham, Moses, Krishna, Buddha, Zoroaster, Jesus,
and Muhammad. This is the nine godhead theory that they espouse.
The 12 principles of faith:
1. The independent search for truth
2. The oneness of the human race
3. The unity of all religions
4. The elimination of all prejudice
5. The harmony of science and religion
6. The equality of men and women
7. Universal education
8. A universal language
9. Abolition of extreme wealth and poverty
10. A world court
11. Work as worship
12. Justice with universal peace
The religious practices of Baha'ism are similar to Islam though the two faiths
are entirely separate religious systems. The Baha'i faith seriously offends
orthodox Muslims in its belief that the line of prophets does not end with
Muhammad but includes Baha'u'llah and prophets yet to come.
Worship is held every 19 days at
the "19 Day Feast". The plan of salvation for Baha'i is the striving for the
possibility of evolution through spiritual development to attain nearness to God. Those who don't reach this level of consciousness are
doomed to be separated from God for eternity.
Baha'i
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