Read the Gospel and the other Holy Books.
You will find their fundamentals are one and the same.
- Abdu'l-Baha -
You will find their fundamentals are one and the same.
- Abdu'l-Baha -
Dear Angels,
By nature, God's revelation is eternal and successive. The end of this divinely ordained process is to unite us at last as a loving, peaceful, organized, powerful and illumined human family, one in God, the Father of all.
Taking to heart the above counsel to read the Gospel and the other Holy Books in search of the perennial wisdom enshrined in Divine Revelation, let's see if the quotes below, drawn from the main religious sources convey the oneness of God and the spiritual unity of the Prophets, and illustrate that God's plan was revealed to humanity in stages from seed to the full bloom Rose of our Heart. The aim is to help dispel the antagonisms generated by the ignorance of these Holy Writings, for when these are shown together, one's perspective can change entirely.
Taking to heart the above counsel to read the Gospel and the other Holy Books in search of the perennial wisdom enshrined in Divine Revelation, let's see if the quotes below, drawn from the main religious sources convey the oneness of God and the spiritual unity of the Prophets, and illustrate that God's plan was revealed to humanity in stages from seed to the full bloom Rose of our Heart. The aim is to help dispel the antagonisms generated by the ignorance of these Holy Writings, for when these are shown together, one's perspective can change entirely.
THE RETURN OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
THROUGH THE PROPHETS
THROUGH THE PROPHETS
Unto every nation hath an Apostle been sent.
- Muhammad
I am not the first Buddha, nor shall I be the last. In due time, another BUDDHA shall arise in the world, a holy one... He will reveals to you the same eternal truths wich I have taught you...
- Buddha
I come, and go, and come. When Righteousness declines, O Bharata! When Wickedness is strong, I rise, from age to age, and take visible shape, and move a man with men, succouring the good, thrusting the evil back, and setting Virtue on her seat again.
- Krishna
The process of the rise and setting of the Sun of Truth will thus indefinitely continue--a process that hath had no beginning and will have no end.
- The Bab
Whenever there is decay of righteousness... and there is exaltation of unrighteousness, then I Myself come forth... for the destruction of evil-doers, for the sake of firmly establishing righteousness, I am born from age to age.
- Krishna
When a thousand two hundred and some years have passed from the inception of the religion of the Arabian and the overthrow of the kingdom of Iran and the degradation of the followers of My religion, a descendant of the Iranian kings will be raised up as a Prophet.
- Zoroaster
Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.
- Hebrews
This is the same Moses who told the Israelites, 'God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own brothers.'
- Acts
As the rays of the sun bring the light and warmth of the sun to the earth, giving life to all created beings, so do the Manifestations bring the power of the Holy Spirit from the Divine Sun of Reality to give light and life to the souls of men.
- Abdu'l-Baha
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.
- John
The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the LORD, and the excellency of our God.
- Isaïah
Say ye: "We believe in God, and that which hath been sent down to us, and that which hath been sent down to Abraham and Ismael and Isaac and Jacob and the tribes: and that which hath been given to Moses and to Jesus, and that which was given to the prophets from their Lord. No difference do we make between any of them: and to God are we resigned. "
- Muhammad
Well is it with him who in every Dispensation recognizeth the Purpose of God for that Dispensation, and is not deprived therefrom by turning his gaze towards the things of the past.
- The Bab
As regards Vahram-i Varjavand (God of Victory or Sháh Bahrám), it is manifest that he will come forth with full radiance, and having settled the adjudged and true position of Religion, he will restore these Iranian villages which I, Ahura Mazdá, created. Avarice, indigence, revenge, anger, lust, envy, and wickedness will wane from the world. The wolf age will pass away and the lamb age will enter.
- Zoroaster
And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.
- Daniel
And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.
- Genesis
This is the changeless Faith of God, eternal in the past, eternal in the future.
- Baha’u’llah
DEVOTIONS AND PRACTICES,
THE TWO PARTS OF GOD'S HOLY DISPENSATIONS
As thou canst see, every nation on earth hath been enlightened by one of these brightly shining Suns. Whoso denieth Them remaineth deprived.
Religion has two main parts: the Spiritual, the Practical.
The spiritual part never changes. All the Manifestations of God and His Prophets have taught the same truths and given the same spiritual law. They all teach the one code of morality. There is no division in the truth. The Sun has sent forth many rays to illumine human intelligence, the light is always the same.
The practical part of religion deals with exterior forms and ceremonies, and with modes of punishment for certain offences. This is the material side of the law, and guides the customs and manners of the people.
- Abdu'l-Baha
The great ones come, primarily, to remind man of this law which remains the same in all ages -- immutable, unchangeable, eternal, and which deals with man attaining immortality. The mundane laws, these governing human conduct and regulating the Sabbath, divorce, capital punishment, etc., vary with each age according to the capacity of the people.
- Abdu'l-Baha
As we have just seen, the great Prophets announced each other's successive coming, sharing with us essentially the same message of love, justice and unity. As their spiritual teachings complement one another, it is important to read them all to get a clearer overview of God's plan for humanity.
It must be understood, however, that the social organization of the time of each of their appearance, commanded distinct social laws. This is why many social laws were repealed by the Prophet that followed, as to better correspond to social evolution.
It becomes evident as well that each Prophet praised the preceding or following Prophets. Therefore, it is ignorant and futile for the followers of one Prophet to throw anathema to the followers of the others, and vice versa. In conclusion, the final aim of the successive appearance of these Holy Messengers is to unite us, at this point in our history, as a peaceful, loving human family for in the sight of God, we are only ONE people.
It must be understood, however, that the social organization of the time of each of their appearance, commanded distinct social laws. This is why many social laws were repealed by the Prophet that followed, as to better correspond to social evolution.
It becomes evident as well that each Prophet praised the preceding or following Prophets. Therefore, it is ignorant and futile for the followers of one Prophet to throw anathema to the followers of the others, and vice versa. In conclusion, the final aim of the successive appearance of these Holy Messengers is to unite us, at this point in our history, as a peaceful, loving human family for in the sight of God, we are only ONE people.
Loesha
Share this page...