The Oneness of Religion

Religion is often viewed as a source of contention, and admittedly it often has been so. But Bahá'u'lláh asserts that the purpose of religion is quite the contrary, and that we pervert it when we allow it to become such:

"The purpose of religion as revealed from the heaven of God's holy Will is to establish unity and concord amongst the peoples of the world; make it not the cause of dissension and strife. The religion of God and His divine law are the most potent instruments and the surest of all means for the dawning of the light of unity amongst men."          ~ Bahá'u'lláh, Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh, p129

Indeed, Bahá'ís are instructed to "consort with the followers of all religions in a spirit of friendliness and fellowship." This principle runs deeper than it might at first seem, for Bahá'u'lláh taught that all religions, except those few that are clearly the result of human perversity, were established by Prophets sent by God for the purpose of educating humanity in spiritual matters. Bahá'ís recognize Abraham, Moses, Zoroaster, Krishna, the Buddah, Jesus, Muhammad, the Báb, and Bahá'u'lláh as Messengers of God, but there were others besides these in the remote past and there will be more in the future. At approximately one thousand year intervals, God thus renews religion, preventing its influence from dying out and providing for the unique needs of each age:

Look at the material world about thee, see how it hath now been renewed. The thoughts have changed, the ways of life have been revised, the sciences and arts show a new vigour, discoveries and inventions are new, perceptions are new. How then could such a vital power as religion--the guarantor of mankind's great advances, the very means of attaining everlasting life, the fosterer of infinite excellence, the light of both worlds--not be made new? This would be incompatible with the grace and loving-kindness of the Lord."          ~ 'Abdu'l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, p52

The religions of the world, based on the teachings and principles of the Messengers, or as Bahá'u'lláh termed them, Manifestations of God, are therefore to be regarded as different stages in one universal faith. Their core principles are all the same, as most serious students of comparative religion readily admit. Differences in language and laws owe to the differences of the times in which these religions were established. For Bahá'ís then, there is no distinction between any of the Manifestations of God. Although each had a distinct name and personality, they were all of God. Just as Christians accept Abraham and Moses, just as Moslems accept Jesus, Bahá'ís accept all the Messengers that came before Bahá'u'lláh. Religion is one.

The Greater Columbia Bahá'í Community Website
Richland and Lexington Counties, SC