Christian view on Bahai?

[curiouswanderer]

Hello
I am curious to know what the christian stance is on Bahaism?
I am making an assumption that Christians don't acknowledge Bahaullah as a prophet the same way that Muhammad is not recognised as a prophet.
But I am curious about what the specific reasons are as to why Bahaullah is discredited by the christian community?
Thanks

 

[Chesterton]

Just FYI, there's a forum which is probably more appropriate for this thread - Christianity And World Religion

In my opinion, inherent in Christianity from the beginning is the idea that there will be no more legitimate prophets, and we are even warned about the coming of false ones, so yes, we do not accept Muhammad, Bahaullah, Ellen White, Joseph Smith, etc. either. Especially since they preach "a different gospel" which we are also warned to avoid.

As for more specific reasons, Baha'is don't accept Christian ideas such as the Trinity, among others, so the two faiths are incompatible.

 

[curiouswanderer]

So the connections between the second coming of Christ and Bahaullah are not legitimate enough to believe in this?
What are the signs that would be necessary to confirm that a person is the second coming of Christ?

I was unaware that Bahai did not speak about the trinity and I wonder if this is a misunderstanding because I have heard a Bahai person talk about it. I think the difference was that Bahai don't hold the three at an equal status and also claim that Jesus never did either. Is this a misconception on the part of Bahai followers?
The person I heard gave the analogy that God is the sun, the rays of light are the Holy Spirit, and the prophets are like mirrors that reflect the light perfectly.

 

[Chesterton]

So the connections between the second coming of Christ and Bahaullah are not legitimate enough to believe in this?

There are no connections. The attempts to make connections I've seen are as specious as with any Protestant who gets out his Bible and his calculator and tells you that the world will end at 5:17 p.m. next Tuesday.

What are the signs that would be necessary to confirm that a person is the second coming of Christ?

It will be a momentous event, you'll know it. He won't have to send spam mail to heads of state to convince everyone he is who he is.

I was unaware that Bahai did not speak about the trinity and I wonder if this is a misunderstanding because I have heard a Bahai person talk about it. I think the difference was that Bahai don't hold the three at an equal status and also claim that Jesus never did either. Is this a misconception on the part of Bahai followers?
The person I heard gave the analogy that God is the sun, the rays of light are the Holy Spirit, and the prophets are like mirrors that reflect the light perfectly.

I didn't say they didn't speak about the Trinity, but their conception is not Christian, so yes, from our view it's a misconception.

 

[curiouswanderer]

This may digress from the original question, but I guess that's the nature of discussion...

When you say it will be a momentous event, what are some of the signs that this will happen? Is it stated specifically in the bible as a momentous event? How will we know?
I feel like the coming of Jesus the first time was certainly not a momentous event, and only 3 wise men who saw it in the stars identified him as the Messiah. In fact, the belief that he was the Messiah wasn't even a commonly held belief until about 300 years after his time on earth.
If Jesus is remanifesting as a human to usher people into a new deeper connection with God, then surely it would again go unnoticed by the majority of the world to begin with?


Also, just on a side note, I think it's worth noting that Bahaullah's existence was very momentous for the part of the world that he was born in. More than 2000 people were killed for following the Bab, and Bahaullah was exiled constantly from nations because revolutions were happening wherever he went. Regardless of whether he is a prophet or not, he has had a pretty significant impact on the world.

 

[Chesterton]

This may digress from the original question, but I guess that's the nature of discussion...

When you say it will be a momentous event, what are some of the signs that this will happen? Is it stated specifically in the bible as a momentous event? How will we know?
I feel like the coming of Jesus the first time was certainly not a momentous event, and only 3 wise men who saw it in the stars identified him as the Messiah. In fact, the belief that he was the Messiah wasn't even a commonly held belief until about 300 years after his time on earth.
If Jesus is remanifesting as a human to usher people into a new deeper connection with God, then surely it would again go unnoticed by the majority of the world to begin with?

The belief in Jesus as Messiah began immediately after his resurrection. And Jesus will not "remanifest" to usher people into a new connection with God, but to end the world as we know it.

Also, just on a side note, I think it's worth noting that Bahaullah's existence was very momentous for the part of the world that he was born in. More than 2000 people were killed for following the Bab, and Bahaullah was exiled constantly from nations because revolutions were happening wherever he went. Regardless of whether he is a prophet or not, he has had a pretty significant impact on the world.

When your part of the world is under Islamic law, and you resist Islamic law, and your followers want to foment revolution, and attempt to assassinate political leaders, yeah you're probably going to create a stir.

 

[KWCrazy]

Christians reject all false prophets and all false Christs. The Scriptures warned us that they would come and would deceive many. Probably the most evil of them was Mohammed, a violent thug and warlord whose false teachings have led more than a billion astray from the one true God. There are many tests for false prophets, but the easiest way to recognize them regards who they think Jesus is. If they contend that Jesus is not the son of God and the only hope for forgiveness of sins, then they are a false prophet regardless of what lovely poems they may write.

 

[curiouswanderer]

The belief in Jesus as Messiah began immediately after his resurrection. And Jesus will not "remanifest" to usher people into a new connection with God, but to end the world as we know it.

It was believed by a few people, but not enough to convert a state. The same way that Bahaullah has an enormous following.
But I didn't want to get into a conversation about this, I was curious as to what are the specifics behind why Bahaullah is not recognised as atleast a Holy man. What are the characteristics that make Christians think that he is not working on behalf of God?

When your part of the world is under Islamic law, and you resist Islamic law, and your followers want to foment revolution, and attempt to assassinate political leaders, yeah you're probably going to create a stir.

Where did you read that Bahai followers were trying to assassinate political leaders? I would be curious to read that.

 

[curiouswanderer]

Woops I wrote my response in the quote..... I wrote:
It was believed by a few people, but not enough to convert a state. The same way that Bahaullah has an enormous following.
But I didn't want to get into a conversation about this, I was curious as to what are the specifics behind why Bahaullah is not recognised as atleast a Holy man. What are the characteristics that make Christians think that he is not working on behalf of God?

 

[Chesterton]

They tried to assassinate the Shah. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bahá'u'lláh#S.C3.ADy.C3.A1h-Ch.C3.A1l

 

[curiouswanderer]

They tried to assassinate the Shah. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bahá'u'lláh#S.C3.ADy.C3.A1h-Ch.C3.A1l

Ok thanks for that link, I wasn't aware of that.


what are the specifics behind why Bahaullah is not recognised as atleast a Holy man. What are the characteristics that make Christians think that he is not working on behalf of God?

 

[Arthra]

So the connections between the second coming of Christ and Bahaullah are not legitimate enough to believe in this?
What are the signs that would be necessary to confirm that a person is the second coming of Christ?
I was unaware that Bahai did not speak about the trinity and I wonder if this is a misunderstanding because I have heard a Bahai person talk about it. I think the difference was that Bahai don't hold the three at an equal status and also claim that Jesus never did either. Is this a misconception on the part of Bahai followers?
The person I heard gave the analogy that God is the sun, the rays of light are the Holy Spirit, and the prophets are like mirrors that reflect the light perfectly.

I believe you are generally correct.
It might be good to provide a citation of a fairly well known explanation among Baha'is of the trinity provided by Abdul-Baha over a century ago and published in a book entitled "Some Answered Questions":

The epitome of the discourse is that the Reality of Christ was a clear mirror, and the Sun of Reality—that is to say, the Essence of Oneness, with its infinite perfections and attributes—became visible in the mirror. The meaning is not that the Sun, which is the Essence of the Divinity, became divided and multiplied—for the Sun is one—but it appeared in the mirror. This is why Christ said, “The Father is in the Son,” meaning that the Sun is visible and manifest in this mirror.
The Holy Spirit is the Bounty of God which becomes visible and evident in the Reality of Christ. The Sonship station is the heart of Christ, and the Holy Spirit is the station of the spirit of Christ. Hence it has become certain and proved that the Essence of Divinity is absolutely unique and has no equal, no likeness, no equivalent.

http://reference.bahai.org/en/t/ab/SAQ/saq-27.html.utf8?query=trinity&action=highlight#gr1

 

[Arthra]

As to the assassination attempt on the life of the Shah it occurred without any authorization by the leaders of the Babi community... Juan Cole wrote the following summary:

On his arrival, however, Bahá'u'lláh discovered the assassination plot, and denounced it. The plot was carried out on August 15, 1852, by some young fanatics, but failed when the pistol misfired. Bahá'u'lláh was staying with his brother-in-law, a secretary to the Russian ambassador. The shah demanded that the Russian legation allow Bahá'u'lláh to be surrendered to the government, but the Russians handed him over to the vizier, Aqa Khan Nuri, who was sympathetic to him. The vizier found it impossible to protect Bahá'u'lláh when anti-Babi riots broke out in Tihran, and Bahá'u'lláh was arrested and made to walk in chains to the Siyah-Chal, the Black Pit dungeon. The vizier, furious, offered his resignation over Bahá'u'lláh's false arrest. During his imprisonment in the filthy, disease- ridden dungeon Bahá'u'lláh saw several Babi friends executed and suffered horribly. He underwent mystical experiences, feeling energy wash over his body from the crown of his head, and saw a visions that encouraged him to arise to reform the Babi community (NN, 595-650).

Bahá'u'lláh was found innocent of complicity in the assassination plot, but it was clear that he was not now welcome in Iran.

http://bahai-library.com/cole_encyclopedia_bahaullah

It should also be noted that the Baha'i Faith in it's present form began in the Spring of 1863 in Baghdad and all forms of Holy War or Jihad were then stricken from the Book:

When Bahá’u’lláh appeared, He declared that the promulgation of the truth by such means must on no account be allowed, even for purposes of self-defense. He abrogated the rule of the sword and annulled the ordinance of “Holy War.” “If ye be slain,” said He, “it is better for you than to slay. It is through the firmness and assurance of the faithful that the Cause of the Lord must be diffused. - Abdul-Baha

http://reference.bahai.org/en/t/o/BNE/bne-139.html.utf8?query=Holy|War&action=highlight#gr2

After the Spring of 1863 the term 'Baha'i" began to be used.

 

[Chesterton]

what are the specifics behind why Bahaullah is not recognised as atleast a Holy man. What are the characteristics that make Christians think that he is not working on behalf of God?

It's not necessary that a Christian think Bahaullah is not working on behalf of God. There's an old saying among orthodox Christians - "we know where the Church is; we do not know where it is not." Any man or woman could be working on behalf of God, any man could be a holy man in some way.