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Christianity,
Cults, & Religions
Copyright©
1996, 2000 RW Research / Rose Publishing, Inc. All rights
reserved.
Used by permission.
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| Key
Person or Founder, Date, Location |
Jesus Christ.
Founded about A.D. 30-33, in the Judean Province of
Palestine (Israel today), under the Roman Empire. |
Mizra Ali Muhammed (the
Bab) and Mizra Husayn Ali (Baha'u'llah). Founded 1844
in Iran. Headquarters in Haifa, Israel. |
| Key
Writings |
The Bible, written originally
in Hebrew and Aramaic (Old Testament), and Greek (New
Testament) |
Writings
of Baha'u'llah and Abdu'l-Baha: Kitab-i-Aqdas
and Kitab-i-lqan. The Bible, interpreted
spiritually to conform to Baha'i theology.
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| Who
is God? |
The one God is Triune (one
God in three Persons, not three gods): Father, Son
and Holy Spirit. Often the title "God" designates
the first Person, God the Father. He created the universe
out of nothing. He is eternal, changeless, holy, loving,
and perfect. |
God
is an unknowable divine being who has revealed himself
through nine "manifestations" (religious
leaders) including Moses, Buddha, Confucius, Jesus,
Muhammad, and Baha'u'llah. |
| Who
is Jesus? |
Jesus is God, the second
Person of the Trinity. As God the Son, He has always
existed and was never created. He is fully God and
fully man (the two natures joined, not mixed). As
the second Person of the Trinity, He is coequal with
God the Father and the Holy Spirit. In becoming man,
He was begotten through the Holy Spirit and born of
the virgin Mary. Jesus is the only way to the Father,
salvation, and eternal life. He died on a cross according
to God's plan, as full sacrifice and payment for our
sins. He rose from the dead on the third day, spiritually
and physically immortal. For the next 40 days, He
was seen by more than 500 eyewitnesses. His wounds
were touched and He ate meals. He physically ascended
to Heaven. Jesus will come again visibly and physically
at the end of the world to establish God's kingdom
and judge the world. |
Jesus
is one of many manifestations of God. Each manifestation
supersedes the previous, giving new teachings about
God. Jesus, who superseded Moses, was superseded by
Muhammad, and most recently by the greatest, Baha'u'llah
(Glory of Allah"). Jesus is not God and did not
rise from the dead. He is not the only way to God.
Jesus has returned to earth in the form of Baha'u'llah.
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| Who
is the Holy Spirit? |
The Holy Spirit is God,
the third Person of the Trinity. The Holy Spirit is
a person, not a force or energy field. He comforts,
grieves, reproves, convicts, guides, teaches, and
fills Christians. He is not the Father, not the Son,
Jesus Christ. |
Holy Spirit is divine energy
from God that empowers every manifestation. "Spirit
of Truth" refers to Baha'u'llah.
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| How
to Be Saved |
Salvation is by God's grace,
not by an individual's good works. Salvation must
be received by faith. People must believe in their
heart that Jesus died for their sins and physically
rose again, which is the assurance of forgiveness
and resurrection of the body. This is God's loving
plan to forgive sinful people. |
Faith
is the manifestation of God (Baha'u'llah). Knowing
and living by Baha'u'llah's principles and teachings.
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| What
Happens After Death |
Believers go to be with
Jesus. After death, all people await the final judgment.
Both saved and lost people will be resurrected. Those
who are saved live with Jesus in Heaven. Those who
are lost suffer the torment of eternal separation
from God (Hell). Jesus' bodily resurrection guarantees
believers that they, too, will be resurrected and
receive new immortal bodies. |
Personal
immortality based on good works, with rewards for
the faithful. Heaven and hell are conditions, not
places. |
| Other
Beliefs or Practices |
Group worship, usually
in churches. No secret rites. Baptism and Lord's Supper
(Communion). Active voluntary missionary efforts.
Aid to those in need: the poor, widows, orphans, and
downtrodden. Christians believe that Jesus is the
Jewish Messiah promised to Israel in the Old Testament
(Tanakh). Jesus said His followers would be known
by their love for one another. |
Baha'i
originated as an Islamic sect and is severely persecuted
in Iran . Baha'i teaches that all religions have the
same source, principles, and aims. Stress on oneness
and world unity. Regular local gatherings called “feasts”
occur every 19 days. Administrative meetings (at various
levels) are called “spiritual assemblies.”
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