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Christianity & the Baha’i Faith: Jesus, the Manifestations, and the Uniqueness of Christ
The Baha’i Faith and Christianity both revere Jesus, believe God speaks to humanity, and long for the unity of the human family. They differ at the deepest point: Baha’is honour Jesus as one of many Manifestations of God, while Christians confess him as the unique, eternal Son of God made flesh. This is a respectful, primary-source walk through the writings of Baha’u’llah and ’Abdu’l-Baha and the Bible, where the two meet, and where they honestly part.
The Baha’i Faith is a young and irenic world religion that honours Jesus deeply, and this is a Christian reading of it, offered with respect and without caricature. We describe Baha’i teaching as Baha’is themselves hold it, and we name the real differences plainly rather than blur them. Everything here is an invitation, never a demand.
Explore the questions
Jesus and Baha'u'llahThe Baha'i Faith holds Jesus in the highest honour, as a Manifestation of God, one of a series o…Progressive revelationAt the heart of the Baha'i Faith is progressive revelation: the teaching that God has sent, and …The divinity of ChristThis is the deepest difference between the two faiths, and it deserves to be stated plainly. Bah…The resurrectionBoth faiths affirm the resurrection of Christ, and mean genuinely different things by it. In Bah…The unity of religionsOne of the most beautiful and best-known Baha'i teachings is the essential oneness of religion: …The return of ChristChristians and Baha'is both cherish the promise of the return of Christ, and understand it very …
Frequently asked questions
- What do Christianity and the Baha'i Faith share?
- A deep reverence for Jesus, a belief that God reveals himself and speaks to humanity, a longing for the unity of the human family, and a hope in the return of Christ. Baha'is honour Jesus as one of the great Manifestations of God, and Christians gladly find much that is beautiful in the Baha'i love for humanity.
- What is the main difference between the Baha'i Faith and Christianity?
- Whether Jesus is one Manifestation among many or the unique incarnate Son of God. Baha'is honour Jesus as one of a series of Messengers (Krishna, Moses, Buddha, Jesus, Muhammad, the Bab, Baha'u'llah), each reflecting God for an age. Christians confess Jesus as God the Son made flesh, final and unsurpassed. One of many, or the only Son, is the deepest difference.
- Does Living Bread represent the Baha'i Faith fairly?
- That is our aim. Living Bread is openly Christian, but we quote the writings of Baha'u'llah and 'Abdu'l-Baha accurately from the Baha'i Reference Library, describe Baha'i teachings as Baha'is themselves hold them, and name real differences with respect rather than blurring them. A Baha'i reader should be able to say we described their faith fairly.
Come and see
The Baha’i Faith honours Jesus as one of the great Manifestations of God; the Gospel invites you to meet him as the unique Son of God, God himself come near. The most direct way to know Jesus is to read his words for yourself. There is no pressure here.
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