Posted by Nick Stone on May 27, 2101 at 19:50:21:
In Reply to: Re: Baha'u'llah can't be a prophet of God. posted by David on May 27, 2101 at 13:07:02:
Hi Dave,
It's late again, and I was about to go to sleep, but the chance to tell someone about Baha'u'llah is too important to let go.
The proofs that Baha'u'llah is the divine Messenger of God for this age are:
1.) His person.
Baha'u'llah's perfect character was attested to even by his most dedicated and forsworn enemies. Even they called him "the honourable Baha'u'llah." Baha'u'llah was eulogised by people from all religions. Before he became cognisant of his divine mission, he was known as the "father of the poor." Many people became devoted followers from merely entering into his presence. Adversaries who came to argue and dispute and disprove his cause became dumbfounded and lost for words in his presence.
I cannot even begin to do justice to the nature of Baha'u'llah's character here. Suffice to say you must read for yourself the accounts of his life and then make your decision.
2.) His knowledge is innate.
I have mentioned this point before. Baha'u'llah received only a basic education. As child he was renowned for his incredible wisdom. Every learned and scientific man who entered his presence had their questions answered and all acknowledged he was unique in his perfections. I also will mention that he had never studied Arabic, yet his compositions in that language brought astonishment to the most accomplished Arabic scholars, both in their elegance and in their calligraphy. You did not express much surprise before at these statements, but imagine a child with the education of a 6 year old say, producing works of Shakespeare, or of even greater merit.
Again, I cannot prove these things are true. Baha'u'llah mentions in his writings that he did not attend any school or read any of the scholars dissertations. He also challenges the reader to ask the scholars of his time to verify this fact. I would imagine if Baha'u'llah had been studying, these self-same scholars would have been quick to point out that he was lying.
3.) He endured hardship and suffering and he upheld his claim in face of all opposition.
All messengers from God are opposed. It is a logical necessity. They come to bring teachings and educate humanity. They come to bring light into the world. If the world wholeheartedly accepted them, then it would be already educated and what need of the teacher to come? Those people who claim to be prophets, who found religious orders and cults, they pander to the desires of the masses and acquire huge followings. Often they acquire great riches and worldly possessions as a result. Baha'u'llah was born into nobility. His father had served on the court of the Shah. He was expected to go on and make a career in the government. When he was arrested and imprisoned and tortured for his proclamation that he was the promised one that the Muslims and all the other religions had been waiting for, he could have at any time, renounced his claim, and been given back his huge mansion, family possessions and riches. He would have been released from captivity and shame.
Baha'u'llah also endured his sufferings with incredible fortitude. In every prison he was sent to, wherever he was banished to, the people recognised his light and he attracted new followers, and so he was exiled yet further away. He was imprisoned for 40 years. Baha'u'llah wrote to the Kings of the world individually whilst in prison and instructed them to mend their ways but they ignored them. All these kings lost their empires soon afterwards and went down to dust in great loss. Although the majority of people opposed Baha'u'llah, yet they could not extinguish his light.
4.) His revelation establishes unity and raised illumined individuals.
Despite his lack of education, Baha'u'llah's teachings have transformed the hearts of millions, destroying hatred and prejudice and forming love and unifying people from virtually every race, tribe, nationality, ethnicity in the world. Ask any Baha'i how reading the words and following the teachings of Baha'u'llah has affected their life and brought them closer to God. The word of God must be creative, its purpose is to transform the life of mankind. Baha'u'llah's teachings must pass this test. In previous religions, only the simple hearted were the first people to accept the Messeger from God. Baha'u'llah also attracted souls who were amongst the most erudite of their age. 20,000 early believers in the Babi and Baha'i Faiths gave up their lives in the most hideous manner imaginable rather than recant their faith.
5.) He foretold things to come.
The prophecies of Baha'u'llah are numerous and many were fulfilled in his lifetime. You can check some of them out at http://bci.org/prophecy-fulfilled/ They include short term and long term events, the fall of the kings and rulers of the world, the 2 world wars, scientific developments and so on.
6.) His teachings are the means of mankind's education.
All messengers of God have brought forth civilisations. They come to the most wretched societies of their time and raise them up to great heights. Baha'u'llah's teachings are the perfect medicine for the ills of mankind today. This is obvious to all, I need not elaborate. Not only this, but Baha'u'llah's teachings are not found in the religions of the past. They are unique to him, and they only came into the world with his appearance. Check out the equality of men and women and universal compulsory education, unheard of before Baha'u'llah, yet are now being put into practice. The same with all the others, and if they are not yet apparent in the world, the need for their realisation grows daily ever more desperate.
7.) His teachings provide the basis for individual transformation.
I touched on this earlier. Getting too tired sorry!
8.) He has explained the religious books of the past. Have you heard a better explanation of how the world's religions fit together than Baha'u'llah's? If so, please tell me about it. He also explained all the mysteries in the previous religions, the meanings of the symbols, everything that was not understood or misunderstood has been explained so that even a child can comprehend.
9.) He has fulfilled the prophecies of the previous religions.
This is a contentious subject, as many religionists would deny that Baha'u'llah fulfils their prophecies. However, the evidence strongly suggests that he has. You must investigate for yourself how strong the evidence is. Though few people accept Baha'u'llah on the basis of this criterion, if Baha'u'llah is the promised one of all ages, he has to fulfil the prophecies. Check out http://bci.org/prophecy-fulfilled/ again.
From a personal point of view Dave, Baha'u'llah has the greatest, all encompassing theory of life I have come across. It encompasses all the scopes of all other theories. It provides the means for solving the tremendous problems of the world. It provides the means by which we can improve ourselves as human beings. It solves all the questions of the past, brings unity, peace and love. If you can find me someone else who better explains the other religions, someone who has found a better way to unite everyone, someone who has found a way to end war and eradicate poverty and suffering and prejudice, someone who can better educate mankind - someone whose teachings you would prefer to follow other than Baha'u'llah's. Please tell me about that person. I am always on the look out for something better, but no one can even satisfy me on one single point yet! But if you can't find something better, then you must acknowledge Baha'u'llah. Then you will be a Baha'i. Ha ha ha!
OK, that took 20 minutes to type, now I must be off to bed!
Nicholas.
PS. Go find your local Baha'i community. They could have given you the exact same answers but better and in half the time. Then you can also investigate them as people and see if Baha'u'llah's magic is working on them too.
this topic is closed - post at bahai-library.com/forum