Greetings all,
Long time lurker here, first time poster (first time signing up as well). I first became aware of the Baha'i Faith a few months ago during a search to learn about the main religions of the world. At first, I wrote it off as a "false" (for lack of a better term) belief that was created by a man. As I have grown to learn and love most religions though, my interest in the Baha'i Faith finally sparked and has been a flame to me for the past few weeks. The more I read about it, the more I feel it fits who I am during my search of the perfect community to embrace God.
It has been a difficult ride for me to find the one faith that fits me perfect. The two faiths I hold dear to my heart are "Nontrinitarian" Christianity and Buddhism. For a while, I had wished there was a "Monotheistic Buddhism" because that would be perfect for me. However, the closest I can find to this concept is the Baha'i Faith. I'm so interested and want to embrace such a brilliant concept of God, but I have a few questions in regards to it that I hope someone can help me out with. I apologize if these have been asked a thousand times before -
1. The idea of embracing all world religions is brilliant to me, but I do not understand why Baha'i's follow different rules rather than a combination of all of them? Would it be wrong for me to follow Hinduism a little more closely than I would Christianity?
2. Is it ok for Baha'i's to value one Manifestation of God more than another? Personally, I feel no one can even compare to the brilliance of Christ.
3. Is it ok to believe that Bahaullah was not a Manifestation of God to the level of Christ, Buddha or Mohammed? I mean no offense by this, but I (like most people) become skeptic when men make rules unless you can see their ability or have traditions passed such as Christ or Moses. I don't doubt Bahaullah's "power" but I do not feel it deep down as definite.
Thanks so much for helping me out! Best wishes and peace be with all of you.
Long time lurker here, first time poster (first time signing up as well). I first became aware of the Baha'i Faith a few months ago during a search to learn about the main religions of the world. At first, I wrote it off as a "false" (for lack of a better term) belief that was created by a man. As I have grown to learn and love most religions though, my interest in the Baha'i Faith finally sparked and has been a flame to me for the past few weeks. The more I read about it, the more I feel it fits who I am during my search of the perfect community to embrace God.
It has been a difficult ride for me to find the one faith that fits me perfect. The two faiths I hold dear to my heart are "Nontrinitarian" Christianity and Buddhism. For a while, I had wished there was a "Monotheistic Buddhism" because that would be perfect for me. However, the closest I can find to this concept is the Baha'i Faith. I'm so interested and want to embrace such a brilliant concept of God, but I have a few questions in regards to it that I hope someone can help me out with. I apologize if these have been asked a thousand times before -
1. The idea of embracing all world religions is brilliant to me, but I do not understand why Baha'i's follow different rules rather than a combination of all of them? Would it be wrong for me to follow Hinduism a little more closely than I would Christianity?
2. Is it ok for Baha'i's to value one Manifestation of God more than another? Personally, I feel no one can even compare to the brilliance of Christ.
3. Is it ok to believe that Bahaullah was not a Manifestation of God to the level of Christ, Buddha or Mohammed? I mean no offense by this, but I (like most people) become skeptic when men make rules unless you can see their ability or have traditions passed such as Christ or Moses. I don't doubt Bahaullah's "power" but I do not feel it deep down as definite.
Thanks so much for helping me out! Best wishes and peace be with all of you.