So do we have a real messenger? There should be things we look at to check that, right?
Below are my criteria for a true Messenger of God. Of course these criteria cannot be used for a Messenger who came in recent times a Messenger we can study and know something about. It cannot be used for the Messengers/Manifestations of God of the past because we really have no way to know much about them, except Moses, Jesus and Muhammad.
The minimum criteria would be:
1. He had good character as exemplified by his qualities such as love, mercy, kindness, truth, justice, benevolence, gracious, merciful, righteous, forgiving, patient.
2. He believed he had been given a mission by God and did everything he could to see that it was carried out. He was completely successful before his death, and he accomplished everything that he set out to do.
3. He wrote much about God and God's purpose for humans both individually and collectively, or scriptures were written by others who spoke for him. He firmly believed that the work he was doing was for the Cause of God.
4. He had many followers while he was alive, and there are still millions who follow his teachings and gather in groups based on the religion he founded.
5. His followers have grown more numerous in recent times.
Other criteria he would have to meet is that his religion could not contradict or be in opposition to any of the world religions that are already established and he could not talk down any of those religions and say his religion is the only true religion from God.
So... how about by what he and the Baha'i Faith says? So I ask...
CG Didymus said: ↑
The Baha'i Faith says Adam, Noah, Abraham and Moses were also manifestations. Were they? Did they really exist? Are the Bible stories about them accurate? Why did one religion need to have four manifestations? Plus, not one of them was the "perfect" reflection of God, so if they don't fit the description of a manifestation, why make them manifestations? Then, some sects in Hinduism have several incarnations of Vishnu, but Baha'is never mention them, only Krishna.
Were these people manifestations? Judaism and Christianity and maybe even Islam don't make them manifestations. Did they really exist? Sure, if you believe the Bible literally. But Baha'is don't. Then the Baha'i Faith says that a manifestation is a "perfect" reflection of God. These people were not perfect.
Then there's the Krishna problem... is he a manifestation or an incarnation as believed by some Hindus? Plus, he was said to be an incarnation of Vishnu... one of many Hindu Gods. And finally, Hindus believe there were several other incarnations of Vishnu. Baha'is don't seem to recognize them at all... only Krishna.
Can you tell me why it
matters if these individuals were Manifestations of God or not? How would that determine if Baha'u'llah was a Manifestation of God or not? How would any of the questions you asked above determine if Baha'u'llah was a Manifestation of God or not?
You already know why Baha'is do not believe what Hindus believe and it make s perfect sense. (1) Hinduism has no original scriptures, only what mean said the teachings were many decades later and (2) what they did have has been misinterpreted by the Hindus and (3) given all the sects of Hinduism, how can anyone know what is the most accurate, closest to what was originally revealed?
Don't resolve them answer them. What is the Baha'i answer to these? "I don't care"? Is not a very good answer. But it seems to be your favorite answer. Which sounds a lot like "I don't know. And I don't care to know." Which reflects badly on your religion and its claim of "progressive" revelation. A belief that does connect all the older religions with the Baha'i Faith.
There is no "Baha'i answer" to these questions and all Baha'is will answer it in their own way. However, you won't see many Baha'is answering them, just me and Tony and maybe Duane (Truthseeker9).
Baha'is not not 'claim' progressive revelation. Just because we believe that there have been other revelations that preceded Baha'u'llah that does not mean we are obligated to explain them all!
Baha'is are under no obligation to explain anything about any other revelation except the Revelation of Baha'u'llah. Moreover, Baha'is have been enjoined to disregard the former revelations from God and focus on Baha'u'llah, Him Who is the Day Spring of His Revelation, and to whatsoever things He hath manifested.
“Our purpose is to show that should the loved ones of God sanctify their hearts and their ears from the vain sayings that were uttered aforetime, and turn with their inmost souls to Him Who is the Day Spring of His Revelation, and to whatsoever things He hath manifested, such behavior would be regarded as highly meritorious in the sight of God….
Magnify His Name, and be thou of the thankful. Convey My greetings to My loved ones, whom God hath singled out for His love, and caused them to achieve their objects. All glory be to God, the Lord of all worlds.”
Gleanings From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 172