By Daniel Pschaida | FāVS News Columnist
The views expressed in this opinion column are those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the views of FāVS News.
Q: I’ve been doing some studying of Baháʼí. Would it be fair to call it a progressively unfolding religion that rolls forth in stages; but each stage is simply a more advanced version of the previous one (e.g., Judaism, leading to Christianity, leading to Islam, leading to Baháʼí, etc.).
Does the Baháʼí Faith essentially teach that God gives revelation for the current day; revelation which may expand upon what was given in the past?
Yes, that is correct. As humanity matures, due largely from the impetus of the previous Revelation from God, a fuller measure of God’s truths for human flourishing, can be revealed by the next Manifestation of God.
In this day, humanity is seen to be in the tumultuousness of adolescence, yet we are on the cusp of the calm and wisdom of collective human maturity, and so we can begin to understand and apply the central truth of the Bahá’í Revelation — the oneness of humanity — to our relationships with each other, from the global to local and neighborhood level.
Bahá’u’lláh says:
“The utterance of God is a lamp, whose light is these words: Ye are the fruits of one tree, and the leaves of one branch. Deal ye one with another with the utmost love and harmony, with friendliness and fellowship. He Who is the Daystar of Truth beareth Me witness! So powerful is the light of unity that it can illuminate the whole earth. The one true God, He Who knoweth all things, Himself testifieth to the truth of these words.”
— Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh
Editor’s Note: The original question has been edited down for clarity and length.
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