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Abstract: Table comparing the lives of the Founders of the world's religions. Notes: This table has been copied from Momen's article Bahá'u'lláh's prophetology: Archetypal patterns in the lives of the founders of the world religions"; see complete article for a better understanding of the details outlined below. |
Comparative Lives of the Founders of the World Religions
by Moojan Momen
published in Bahá'í Studies Review, 5.1London: Association for Bahá'í Studies English-Speaking Europe, 1995
| Buddha | Moses | Jesus | Muhammad | The Báb | Bahá'u'lláh | |
| Event precipitating ministry | Enlightenment under Bodhi Tree | The Burning Bush | The Descent of the Dove from Heaven | Vision of the Angel Gabriel | Vision of the Head of the Imám Husayn | Vision of the Maid of Heaven in a dungeon in Tehran |
| Gathering of first disciples | First group of monks | Aaron | The twelve disciples | Khadija, 'Ali, Abu Bakr | The eighteen Letters of the Living | Small group of followers in the Riván Garden |
| Period of solitude and doubt | Meditated over his course of action | Forty days in wilderness | Period of doubt | Two years in the hills of Sulaymaniyya | ||
| Break with previous
religion |
Breaking of the Sabbath | Change of direction of prayer | Conference of Badasht abolishes Islamic Law | Challenge to Azal | ||
| Rulers and religious leaders to whom public declaration made | His father, the king, and to many Brahmins | Pharaoh | Pontius Pilate and Jewish religious leaders | Emperors of Persia and Byzantium | Shah of Iran and Iranian religious leaders | Shah of Iran, Sultan of Turkey, Rulers of Europe, the Pope and other religious leaders |
| Promise of a future saviour | Maitreya Buddha | The Messiah | Return of Christ | The Mahdi and the return of Jesus | He whom God shall make manifest | Future Manifestation of God |
| Internal opposition | Devadatta the Buddha's cousin | The making of the Golden Calf | Judas Iscariot | Ibn Ubayy and the Munáfíqun | Group of three disciples | Azal's opposition |
| External opposition | Pharaoh | Jewish religious leaders | Leaders of Mecca | Religious leaders and state in Iran | Religious leaders and state in Iran and Turkey | |
| Migration | Wandering with monks | Migration of Israelites out of Egypt | Journeys of Paul and Peter | Migration from Mecca to Medina | Internal exile within Iran | Exile to Baghdad, Edirne and Akka |
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