But Trailblazer, does the Baha'i Faith believe all must come to believe in Baha'u'llah?
The "one common faith" quote below is what I base it on. The claim is that Baha'u'llah is the Christ, is the Mahdi, is Kalki, is the Maitreya. The Baha'is claim he is the fulfillment of the promised one of all the major religions. The Baha'i plan is for the unity of the whole world... not a bad plan to have... if it's true... and if it can work. And it all starts with... is Baha'u'llah really all he claims to be?
The issue is, you are taking the thoughts of another, who is yet to see the full concept plan, as being factually correct, I can assure you those thoughts are erroneous and not factually correct.
"Erroneous"? Then show me where I'm wrong. Here' some
more stuff from your own religion...
The answer the Bahá'í Faith provides to this question is "revealed religion." In one of His major works, the Kitab-i-Iqan (the Book of Certitude),
Bahá'u'lláh explained that
God, the Creator, has intervened and will continue to intervene in human history by means of chosen Messengers. These Messengers, Whom Bahá'u'lláh called "
Manifestations of God," are principally the Founders of the major revealed religions, such as Abraham,
Moses, Buddha, Zoroaster,
Jesus, Muhammad, and so forth...
Thus the principle of the unity of religion means that all of the great religious Founders--the Manifestations--have come from God, and that all of the religious systems established by Them are part of a single divine plan directed by God.
In reality, there is only one religion, the
religion of God. This one religion is continually evolving, and each particular religious system represents a stage in the evolution of the whole. The Bahá'í Faith represents the current stage in the evolution of religion.
Again, not bad... if it's true. But... every religion has very different beliefs about who God is. Or even, how many Gods are there. How do Baha'is deal with these
"apparent" contradictions?
Baha’u’llah attributes the differences between the divinely revealed religions to two essential causes: First, each messenger of God, while affirming certain basic truths already revealed by other prophets of God, also brings specific laws and teachings necessary for the time in which he lives.
Second, the followers of previous religions, either through ignorance or corruption, have always misunderstood to some extent the meanings of the past teachings. Rituals, superstitions, and spurious beliefs are added to the religions, thereby enhancing their apparent differences. This problem is compounded by strong attachments to tradition that prevent people from investigating the truth of matters.
Yeah, what's so wrong with that? Are we all one people? Do we all share one planet? But are all religions one? Did they all come from one God? Baha'is say, "yes". If that's true, then sure, they are the next religion from God in the progression. But, again, is that true?
You at least revealed with that passage from your scripture that Baha’is are an institution that the rest of us must be wary and suspicious of.
Be wary of all of the proselytizing religions. They all can't be right. Each thinks that they have the truth, and that they need to share that truth with all people. Baha'is can sound like they accept all religions as is... that they aren't interested in converting people to their religion. I don't think that's true.
And, if by chance, what they are preaching is true, then they should be telling everybody. And we should all listen... and even join them. But I have listened. And I have some doubts about their claims. It doesn't mean I'm right. Maybe they're right. But... by the way they answer my questions, it has only increased my doubts.
But, my disclaimer, I believe most any religious belief will work and will help people... if those people believe it is true and apply its teachings. So, I believe the Baha'i Faith is working for those people that have chosen to believe in it.
