AboutSuzanne Gerstner Expertise I can answer questions on all aspects of the Baha`i Faith, but am most interested in the spiritual teachings of this and other Faiths, and the interconnectedness of all religions. I believe that true religion should bring about love and unity. This is what the world really needs right now and the Baha`i teachings have a lot to offer on this subject.
Experience I've been a Baha'i for the past 23 years and have been answering questions on the newsgroup soc.religion.bahai since 1998.
Education/Credentials BA in Liberal Arts; Post Graduate Diploma in Counselling and am currently working on an MA in psychotherapy.
Expert: Suzanne Gerstner Date: 9/24/2006 Subject: What do your beliefs say on ....?
Question I am a firm Christian but am interested in other aspects of different faiths; this is where I found Baha'i. Do you believe that Jesus was the Messiah and the most important revelation of God? Do you follow the teachings of the Bible, Quran etc.? Thank you.
Answer Dear Joe,
Yes, Baha'is believe that Jesus is the Messiah. However, as it says in the Bible, Christ is pre-existenant. In the Gospel of John Jesus is quoted as saying: "Before Abraham was, I am." (John 8:58) In other words, Christ, or the Christ Spirit existed, before the virgin birth of Jesus of Nazareth, and this same Spirit is in no way limited to only one incarnation in a human Temple.
Baha'is believe there is just one God, who has revealed His Will to humanity from age to age through various human Mouthpieces. These Educators of the world of humanity are not like us. They have a "twofold nature". ON the one hand they have a human side, which is in the utmost servitude to God. This is the side Jesus was speakig from when He said, "Why do you call me good. None is good but one and that is God." (Luke 18:19). On the other hand, they so much reflect all the signs and attributes of God, and their every word and deed is of God, that if they were to say "I am God", they are speaking the truth. They are all that we limited human beings can ever know of God. At the same time, they are all channels for the same Holy Spirit which is the life of the world of humanity. They are the only way out of materialism and spiritual death.
Whenever the letter of the word becomes more important than the spirit, and whenever the world loses true Faith in God and materialism, and selfishness take over, they come to this world to renew the path to God. At one time this Spirit was shown through Abraham; at another time through Moses. At another time more directly through Jesus who shed the breath of the Holy Spirit in great abundance over all creation -- and at another time this Spirit shown through Muhammad. And in this age, Baha'is believe it has been shown through the instrumentality of Baha'u'llah, a name which is a title in Arabic meaning "The Glory of God, or the Glory of the Lord."
So, in other words, Baha'is believe that Baha'u'llah is the return of the Christ Spirit in a new human Temple.
If you want to know more, the official Baha'i website is: www.bahai.org.
