When I visited the Baha'i Center in DC two weeks ago, I found myself comparing the Baha'i faith with Christianity. I suppose this is only natural. As I did this, I found several similarities. This is especially true if one views Christianity through the lens of the early church. Here are just a few observations.
Even their claim that Baha'i is a successor to previous revelations is a Christian theological move. From the beginning Christians have claimed that their religion was a natural successor to Judiasm, and that their savior fulfilled Jewish prophesy. The Baha'is claim that Baha'ullah is the return of Jesus, because Jesus comes again and again to different cultures with different names. They claim that Baha'i is the fulfillment of the prophesy that Jesus would come again. And just like Christians see the Old Testament as instructive, but not binding because it's part of an older covenant, the Baha'is see older scriptures as instructive, but not binding because they are part of earlier revelations for earlier time periods.
While Christians didn't adopt non-Jewish scriptures, their early apologists sometimes claimed that Jesus was the fulfillment of pagan religions hopes or even prophesies.
Baha'is also use the term "Kingdom of Heaven." I'm not sure if they mean the same thing, but the idea of God's servants bringing peace and justice to the world through love, action and faith is a dominant Baha'i theme.
The two religions fail to see eye-to-eye in several respects. Most Christians see Jesus as God, but Baha'i see his as a divine man/being who continually returns to humanity to reveal God's will. Christians are not likely to accept the idea of Jesus returning as a teacher, rather than a divine being calling them up into the sky.
Baha'is don't seem to think that Jesus died for the removal of their sins. I didn't ask. The topic never came up. Evangelicals in particular are unlikely to agree with the Baha'i understanding of Heaven and Hell. Most Evangelicals believe that Jesus (as defined by Christianity) is the only way to Heaven. Several even believe that their particular sect of Christianity is the only sure guarantee. Baha'is, on the other hand, think that one's spiritual development on earth will continue along the same path in the afterlife, regardless of dogma.
Certainly other comparisons and contrasts could be made, but I know too little to say more.
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- The Baha'i meet in houses, just like the earliest Christians
- They often have central houses for larger Sunday meetings, but not always
- During the week they meet in each other's houses for meals
- The main house is used for community events during the week (like AA meetings or yoga).
- They emphasize charitable work
- Early Christians stayed behind during plagues to care for the sick
- They paid for burial for the poor and took in orphans
- The Baha'i actively work on justice issues in their neighborhoods
- Like early Christians, they strongly encourage adoption
- They emphasize fellowship
- Early Christian worship usually involved a communal meal that culminated in the Eucharist
- The Baha'i Center is built for fellowship.
- The Baha'i meet in each other's homes for a meal during the week. They call these Fireside chats.
Even their claim that Baha'i is a successor to previous revelations is a Christian theological move. From the beginning Christians have claimed that their religion was a natural successor to Judiasm, and that their savior fulfilled Jewish prophesy. The Baha'is claim that Baha'ullah is the return of Jesus, because Jesus comes again and again to different cultures with different names. They claim that Baha'i is the fulfillment of the prophesy that Jesus would come again. And just like Christians see the Old Testament as instructive, but not binding because it's part of an older covenant, the Baha'is see older scriptures as instructive, but not binding because they are part of earlier revelations for earlier time periods.
- Paul claims that his God is the unknown God that pagans are worshiping Act 17:23
- Zoroastrian Magi visit Jesus in Matthew 2
- The Zoroastrians had a prophesy that the Savior would be born of a virgin
- They also believed in a Holy Spirit through which goodness is revealed - the ideas are not identical.
- Matthew doesn't directly say that Jesus is the fulfillment of Zoroastrian prophesy, but this is probably the only logical conclusion to draw.
Baha'is also use the term "Kingdom of Heaven." I'm not sure if they mean the same thing, but the idea of God's servants bringing peace and justice to the world through love, action and faith is a dominant Baha'i theme.
The two religions fail to see eye-to-eye in several respects. Most Christians see Jesus as God, but Baha'i see his as a divine man/being who continually returns to humanity to reveal God's will. Christians are not likely to accept the idea of Jesus returning as a teacher, rather than a divine being calling them up into the sky.
Baha'is don't seem to think that Jesus died for the removal of their sins. I didn't ask. The topic never came up. Evangelicals in particular are unlikely to agree with the Baha'i understanding of Heaven and Hell. Most Evangelicals believe that Jesus (as defined by Christianity) is the only way to Heaven. Several even believe that their particular sect of Christianity is the only sure guarantee. Baha'is, on the other hand, think that one's spiritual development on earth will continue along the same path in the afterlife, regardless of dogma.
Certainly other comparisons and contrasts could be made, but I know too little to say more.
If you enjoyed reading this, please like, subscribe and share.
Thank you!
If you have a religious tradition you'd like to learn more about, let me know in the comments below and I'll try to visit and write about it.
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