These are excellent questions. I propose we take it one step at a time. Lets consider who Baha'u'llah is and take it from there
The Life of Bahá’u’lláh | What Bahá’ís Believe
Bahá'u'lláh - Wikipedia
OK, I have checked out the links (thank you) and I see that Baha'u'llah was a follower of Baba and that he is considered a prophet, like others.....Jesus and Mohammad. (Correct me if I'm wrong)
These four topics are listed on Baha'is home page.....
"The Human Soul »
Every human being possesses an immortal, rational soul that passes through this world for a brief time and continues for eternity to advance towards God. Our life’s purpose is to progress spiritually by serving our fellow human beings. In doing so, we acquire the divine qualities we will need in the life to come.
Devotion »
Acts of devotion such as prayer, meditation, fasting, pilgrimage, and service to others are inherent to religious life. Through them, individuals and communities are able to continually reinforce the unique bond that exists between God and humanity.
A Life of Generous Giving »
Just as a candle’s purpose is to provide light, the human soul was created to give generously. We fulfil our highest purpose in a life of service in which, with humility and detachment, we offer our time, energy, knowledge, and financial resources.
Character and Conduct »
The cultivation of spiritual qualities in this world is inseparable from an ongoing refinement of our conduct in which our actions increasingly come to reflect the nobility and integrity with which every human being is endowed. Such spiritual qualities are not acquired through focusing on the self; they are developed in service to others."
Apart from the first mention of an immortal human soul, there is much that we agree upon.
From my perspective though, I see that the scriptures (the Bible in my case) list God's prophets and their words and deed as having been used by him in directing his people, in specific instances. The apostle Paul relates....
Hebrews 1:1-4:
"Long ago God spoke to our forefathers by means of the prophets on many occasions and in many ways. 2 Now at the end of these days he has spoken to us by means of a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the systems of things. 3 He is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact representation of his very being, and he sustains all things by the word of his power. And after he had made a purification for our sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. 4 So he has become better than the angels to the extent that he has inherited a name more excellent than theirs."
Because we believe that Jesus is "the son of God" and the 'last' prophet sent by God to correct mankind, we see no need of any successors. It would be impossible to prove anyhow because the age of miracles is long passed and many wise sages have come and gone in the world's various religions....all with some merit to their teachings.
However, we do not believe that God would provide conflicting prophets and give mankind conflicting books of scripture.
Jesus gave this illustration.....
Matthew 21:33-41:
“.....There was a man, a landowner, who planted a vineyard and put a fence around it and dug a winepress in it and erected a tower; then he leased it to cultivators and traveled abroad. 34 When the fruit season came around, he sent his slaves to the cultivators to collect his fruit. 35 However, the cultivators took his slaves, and they beat one up, another they killed, another they stoned. 36 Again he sent other slaves, more than the first group, but they did the same to these. 37 Lastly he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ 38 On seeing the son, the cultivators said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and get his inheritance!’ 39 So they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. 40 Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those cultivators?” 41 They said to him: “Because they are evil, he will bring a terrible destruction on them and will lease the vineyard to other cultivators, who will give him the fruits when they become due.”
This pictures the treatment given to prophets that God sent to correct his nation. You see that "lastly" he sent his son in the hope that he would be respected....but no, those wicked men plotted to kill him. God would destroy the murderous cultivators and then give the "vineyard" over to those who would "give him the fruits when they become due".
Universalism is a nice concept, but not one that is supported by the Bible.
Jesus told the Samaritan woman.....
John 4:22-24:
"You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, because salvation originates with the Jews. 23 Nevertheless, the hour is coming, and it is now, when the true worshipers will worship the Father with spirit and truth, for, indeed, the Father is looking for suchlike ones to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit, and those worshiping him must worship with spirit and truth.”
If "salvation originates with the Jews", then it is clear that it does not end with them, since Jesus also said...
Matthew 23:37-39:
“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the killer of the prophets and stoner of those sent to her—how often I wanted to gather your children together the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings! But you did not want it. 38 Look! Your house is abandoned to you. 39 For I say to you, you will by no means see me from now until you say, ‘Blessed is the one who comes in Jehovah’s name!’”
The Jews have never made such an acknowledgement. They still await their Messiah.
And even those who do acknowledge Jesus as "Lord" will not be guaranteed salvation. Jesus says to "many" of these ones....
Matthew 7:21-23:
“Not everyone saying to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the Kingdom of the heavens, but only the one doing the will of my Father who is in the heavens will. 22 Many will say to me in that day: ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and expel demons in your name, and perform many powerful works in your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them: ‘I never knew you! Get away from me, you workers of lawlessness!’
I am sure that God would love it if we all acknowledged him as our Creator and obediently presented ourselves to do his will. (2 Peter 3:9) But we know that "many" will not....only "few" will be found on the cramped and difficult "road to life". (Matthew 7:13-14) It isn't God who made the way hard.
If we do not have the right idea about why we are here, why God made us as material beings on a material planet in such a vast universe, and why the majority of humans at present fail to acknowledge the Creator or want to serve his interests, then life on earth will be a bit of an unsolvable mystery, with an unknown future and only man to look to for hope of relief. Given his track record, that would give us nothing to look forward to.
Heaven and earth exist, but what do we really know about their relationship?
I have one source of truth and one prophet whose teachings govern my whole life. Do you see Bahá'u'lláh the same way that I see Jesus Christ? Or are all prophets relatively equal in your faith?
How do Baha'is see the future if they regard all scripture and prophets to be from God?
Do they seek political office or vote in candidates to further God's will on earth?
Do they celebrate religious holidays? If so, which ones?
Thanks for the info in advance.....
