Oneness of the many religions of God.

 

163. Oneness of the religions of the world: Having demonstrated that all the manifestations of God come from the same God, (See Oneness of God and Oneness of the prophets for more information) then it only stands to reason that the religions of the world are one in essence and origin coming from the same God:  Babi Religion: “Every religion proceedeth from God, the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting.”

(The Bab, Selections from the Writings of the Bab, p. 138)

BAHA’I FAITH: “The term progressive revelation is used to denote the continuous number of prophets, or manifestations of God, that have been sent to the earth as divine educators of mankind. The Reality of the divine Religions is one, because the Reality is one and cannot be two. All the prophets are united in their message, and unshaken. They are like the sun; in different seasons they ascend from different rising points on the horizon. Therefore every ancient prophet gave the glad tidings of the future, and every future has accepted the past.” “It is the outward practices of religion that are so different, and it is they that cause disputes and enmity — while the reality is always the same, and one.” “The fundamental basis of the revealed religion of God is immutable, unchanging throughout the centuries, not subject to the varying conditions of the human world.”

(Bahá’í Faith, Abdu’l-Baha, Abdu’l-Baha in London, p. 28, Paris Talks p. 120 and Baha’i World Faith – Abdu’l-Baha Section, p. 275)

 BABI RELIGION: “UNTO every people We have sent down the Book in their own language.”

        (The Bab, Selections from the Writings of the Bab, p. 44)

 CHRISTIANITY: Mark 6:34 “And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.”

The Bahá’í Writings clearly indicate that the overall essence of religion is one, but what do the other religions say on the subject?

In the bible, Christ tells us that he has other sheep not of this fold:  Christianity: John 10:16 “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.” With this one statement Jesus implies the oneness of religion. He has other sheep not of the fold he is with; the other religions. Christ tells us John 10:16 “Them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd,” or there will be one religion with one shepherd overseeing all through the oneness of religion. This is not an indication that Catholics, Protestants, Lutherans, Baptists etc.. will all be brought together into one fold, as I have heard some people claim. These different religious sects all belong to the same religion and didn’t even exist at the time Christ made this statement. So, it only stands to reason that Christ was talking about Judaism, Hinduism, Zoroastrianism, Buddhism, Sabeanism  etc… which are all other religions that are based on The One over all Creator and Supreme Being; which can be discovered when these religions are looked at and studied closely. Hebrews 13:20 “Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,” Here is, demonstrated to us by Paul that Jesus was that shepherd being spoken of at that time:

I have also found, in other places in the Holy scriptures, talk indicating that God’s prophets have been appearing since the beginning of creation:  Christianity: 2 Peter 3:1 “I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: 3:2 That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, 3:4…as they were from the beginning of the creation.”  Judaism: Sirach 36:15 “Give testimony unto those that thou hast possessed from the beginning, and raise up prophets that have been in thy name.” (Deuterocanonical Apocrypha,)

Muhammad tells us, in the Quran, that God has established the same religion with his (Muhammad’s) followers as He did with the manifestations of the past religions: Islam: 106. “None of Our revelations do We abrogate or cause to be forgotten, but We substitute something better or similar; knowest thou not that Allah (God) hath power over all things?”

(The Qur’an (Yusuf Ali tr), Surah   2)

 ISLAM: 10. “We did send Messengers before thee amongst the religious sects of old:” “But never came a Messenger to them but they mocked him.”

(The Qur’an (Yusuf Ali tr), Surah  15)

Islam: “Let every nation follow what they used to worship, and now we are waiting for our Lord.’ Then the Almighty will come to them in a shape other than the one which they saw the first time, and He will say, ‘I am your Lord,’ and they will say, ‘You are not our Lord.”’ They will be blind to the new manifestation of God, Allah will send them. They have eyes to see, but don’t see the true light of Allah when it dawns, and fail to hear the truth of His words. 13. “The same religion has He established for you as that which He enjoined on Noah-the which We have sent by inspiration to thee-and that which We enjoined on Abraham, Moses, and Jesus: Namely, that ye should remain steadfast in Religion, and make no divisions therein: to those who worship other things than Allah, hard is the (way) to which thou callest them. Allah chooses to Himself those whom He pleases, and guides to Himself those who turn (to Him).”

(The Qur’an (Yusuf Ali tr), Surah 42 and Hadith, Bukhari Vol 9, Book 93, # 532)

Muhammad also tells us that all the prophets are paternal brothers and their religion is one: Islam: “Allah’s Apostle said, “Both in this world and in the Hereafter, I am the nearest of all the people to Jesus, the son of Mary. The prophets are paternal brothers; their mothers are different, but their religion is one.”

(Islam, Hadith, Bukhari Vol 4, Book 55, # 652)

Zoroaster tells us to worship of the former religions, that they are Holy religions from Ahura Mazda (God) which were instituted at the very beginning of creation:  Zoroastrianism: 3. “And we worship the former religions of the world devoted to Righteousness which were instituted at the creation, the holy religions of the Creator Ahura Mazda, the resplendent and glorious.”

(The Zend-Avesta, Avesta – Yasna 16)

And, Krishna tells us that he comes whenever righteousness declines and wickedness increases on the earth. He tells us as he had been before in the previous religions, so he will be again a new Krishna come to reinstitute the laws of God and re-establish virtue in the world:  Hinduism: “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.” “As I before have been, So will I be again for thee; with lightened heart behold! Once more I am thy Krishna, the form thou knew’st of old!”

(Hindu, Bhagavad Gita (Edwin Arnold tr) chapters 4 and 9)

As for Buddha, he tells us pretty much the same thing Krishna did. He comes and goes teaching the same eternal truths as those of the messengers before him and reinstating once more the eternal religion of God on the face of the earth:   Buddhism: “I am not the first Buddha who came upon earth, nor shall I be the last. In due time another Buddha will arise…. He shall reveal to you the same eternal truths which I have taught you. He will preach to you His religion, glorious in its origin, glorious at the climax and glorious at the goal, in the spirit and in the letter.” [1 Sermon of the Great Passing.]

 Buddhism: “By tranquility is meant Oneness, (oneness of religion, oneness of God etc…) and Oneness gives birth to the highest Samadhi which is gained by entering into the realm of Noble Wisdom that is realizable only within one’s inmost consciousness.” Through the words of Brahma’s (God‘s) teachings. (Buddha, Lankavatara Sutra)

 SABEANISM: “In the Name of The Great Life (Haiyi or God). Vines shone in the water, And in the Jordan mighty they grew. Ye are flourishing offshoots. Messengers hither I bring you.” “Establishing Your likeness and giving us light, Let Your radiance shine upon us.” “Arise (mankind) and worship and praise The Great Life (Haiyi/God); and praise His Counterpart that is the image of The Life (God).” (Adam, the manifestation of Haiyi/God, the Image of God on this earth) (Sabeanism, Ginza Rba- chapters 89, 114, 177 and 382)

 BABI RELIGION: “He Who is the Eternal Truth beareth me witness, whoso followeth this Book hath indeed followed all the past Scriptures which have been sent down from heaven by God, the Sovereign Truth. Verily, He is well informed of what ye do…”

(The Bab, Selections from the Writings of the Bab, p. 44)

Another way we can see the expression of the oneness of God’s Holy Religion on this earth is by following the progress of God’s Holy Covenant (God’s agreement with man) as it is passed down throughout the ages from one manifestation of God to the next bringing mankind always a little closer to God with each new covenant. We can see the oneness of religion at work through progressive revelation by following the progression of the holy covenant God has made with man through his divine prophets throughout the ages.

 SABEANISM: “And it was revealed to me (?) and to all of them in this book, and they acted upon this reliable baser acting according to this (its) light and removing nothing from this writing of great revelation that was given to Adam the first man.’ ‘And Thou hast spoken to us with Thy Word And hast commanded us with Thy commandment – Be My glory and I will be your Glory. Be my light and I will be your Light. And my name shall be in your mouths And I will be with you’. Thou art He who over-throwest (false) gods in their high-places And bringest reproach on the divinity of (false) deities.” This is an agreement, or covenant, The Great First Life (Haiyi, God) made with Adam the father of mankind. (Sabeanism, Ginza Rba- chapter 75)

After Adam, who began the Adamic cycle, God made a covenant with Noah:  Judaism: (Noah) Genesis 6:18 “But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons’ wives with thee.” Genesis 9:1 “And God blessed Noah and his sons,” Genesis 9:9 “And I, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you;”

 Judaism: (Abraham) Genesis 15:18 “In the same day The LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:” Genesis 17:7 “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.”

 HINDUISM: (Krishna) “I will give to thee that by which I am this world! He said, ‘Yes.’ (He replied), ‘Let us make a compact (covenant); let Me enter thee.’ ‘If thou dost enter Me, in what way wilt thou enjoy Me?’ ‘I will kindle thee; I will enter thee for thine enjoyment.”’

(Hindu, Vedas, Yajur Veda – Kanda II)

 Judaism: (Moses) Exodus 2:24 “And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.” Exodus 19:5 “Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:” Exodus 24:7 “And he (Moses) took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that The LORD hath said will we do, and be obedient.” Exodus 34:28 “And he (Moses) was there with The LORD forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments.”

 ZOROASTRIANISM: (Zoroaster) 14. “O Zarathushtra, what righteous man is thy friend for the great covenant? Who wills to have good fame? It is the Kava Vishtaspa at the consummation. Those whom thou wilt unite in one house with thee, these will I call with words of Good Thought.”

(The Zend-Avesta, Avesta – Yasna 48)

 BUDDHISM: (Buddha) 20. “Making the effort is your affair. The Buddhas have pointed out the Way. Those who are on the way and practicing meditation will be freed from Mara’s bonds.” 18. “Make yourself an island; work hard; be wise. When your impurities are purged and you are free from guilt, you will enter into the heavenly world.” ((God, through Buddha, is telling man if you live by the right path then we will enter heaven (God’s eternal covenant with man in promised redemption)).

(Buddhist, Dhammapada – Sayings of the Buddha 1 and 2 (tr. J. Richards))

 CHRISTIANITY: (Jesus Christ) Malachi3:1 “Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith The LORD of hosts.” Hebrews 10:16 “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith The Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;” Hebrews 12:24 “And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.” Hebrews 13:20 “Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,”

 ISLAM: (Muhammad) 7. “And remember We took from the Prophets their Covenant as (We did) from thee: from Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus the son of Mary: We took from them a solemn Covenant:” 67. “For every Message is a limit of time,”

(The Qur’an (Yusuf Ali tr), Surah 6 and 33)

Islam: (Muhammad) 40. “O children of Israel! call to mind the (special) favor which I bestowed upon you, and fulfill your Covenant with Me as I fulfill My Covenant with you and fear none but Me.”

(Islam, The Qur’an (Yusuf Ali tr), Surah   2)

Islam: (Muhammad) 81. “Behold! Allah (God) took the Covenant of the Prophets, saying: ‘I give you a Book and Wisdom; then comes to you a Messenger confirming what is with you; do ye believe him and render him help.’ Allah said: ‘Do ye agree, and take this My Covenant as binding on you?’ They said: ‘We agree.’ He said: ‘Then bear witness, and I am with you among the witnesses.”’

(The Qur’an (Yusuf Ali tr), Surah   3)

 BABI RELIGION: “FEAR ye God and breathe not a word concerning His Most Great Remembrance other than what hath been ordained by God, inasmuch as We have established a separate covenant regarding Him with every Prophet and His followers. Indeed, We have not sent any Messenger without this binding covenant and We do not, of a truth, pass judgement upon anything except after the covenant of Him Who is the Supreme Gate hath been established.” “The Lord of the universe hath never raised up a prophet nor hath He sent down a Book unless He hath established His covenant with all men, calling for their acceptance of the next Revelation and of the next Book; inasmuch as the outpourings of His bounty are ceaseless and without limit.”

“PRAISE be to Thee, O Lord, my Best Beloved! Make me steadfast in Thy Cause and grant that I may be reckoned among those who have not violated Thy Covenant nor followed the gods of their own idle fancy.”

(The Bab, Selections from the Writings of the Bab, pp. 46, 86 and 215)

BAHA’I FAITH: (The Bab and Baha’u’llah) “His Holiness Christ made a covenant concerning the Paraclete (Comforter or helper, the Holy Ghost) and  gave the tidings of His coming. His Holiness the Prophet Muhammad made a covenant concerning His Holiness (the Bab) and the Bab was the One promised by Muhammad, for Muhammad gave the tidings of His coming. The Bab made a Covenant concerning the (Blessed Beauty of Bahá’u’lláh) and gave the glad-tidings of His coming for the Blessed Beauty was the One promised by His Holiness the Bab. Bahá’u’lláh made a covenant concerning a promised One who will become manifest after one thousand or thousands of years. He likewise, with His Supreme Pen, entered into a great Covenant and Testament with all the Bahá’ís whereby they were all commanded to follow the Center of the Covenant after His departure, and turn not away even to a hair’s breadth from obeying Him.”

(Bahá’í Faith, Abdu’l-Baha, Baha’i World Faith – Abdu’l-Baha Section, p. 358)

 BABI RELIGION: “Verily He doth exercise undisputed authority over His revelations unto all mankind.” “Thus is divine revelation inaugurated in each Dispensation at Our behest. We are truly the supreme Ruler. Indeed no religion shall We ever inaugurate unless it be renewed in the days to come. This is a promise We solemnly have made. Verily We are supreme over all things…” “Thy Lord hath never raised up a prophet in the past who failed to summon the people to His Lord, and today is truly similar to the times of old, were ye to ponder over the verses revealed by God.”

(The Bab, Selections from the Writings of the Bab, pp. 33, 158 and 160)