One light, many histories: exploring the unity of religion

Love ye all religions and all races with a love that is true and sincere and show that love through deeds and not through the tongue; for the latter hath no importance, as the majority of men are, in speech, well-wishers, while action is the best.

Rev Bixby: Did Abraham embody the Word?

A. B: We cannot differentiate the attributes of the Word of God;--we cannot differentiate perfections. Abraham announced the Divine Truth. It is not necessary to lower Abraham to raise Jesus. It is not necessary to lower Jesus to proclaim Baha'u'llah. We must spread the Truth of God wherever we behold it. The essence of the question is that all these Great Messengers came to raise the Divine Standard of Perfections. All of them shine as stars in the same heaven of the Divine Will.

The Purpose of the one true God, exalted be His glory, in revealing Himself unto men is to lay bare those gems that lie hidden within the mine of their true and inmost selves. … These principles and laws, these firmly established and mighty systems, have proceeded from one Source, and are the rays of one Light. That they differ one from another is to be attributed to the varying requirements of the ages in which they were promulgated.

The purpose of religion as revealed from the heaven of God's holy Will is to establish unity and concord amongst the peoples of the world; make it not the cause of dissension and strife. The religion of God and His divine law are the most potent instruments and the surest of all means for the dawning of the light of unity amongst men.

Another of the teachings of Baha'u'llah is this: that religion must be the cause of fellowship and love. If it become the cause of hatred and enmity, irreligion is better. For religion is the remedy for the maladies of humankind; if the remedy itself become the cause of sickness, then assuredly to abandon it is preferable. If religion become the cause of enmity, it is the very essence of evil; therefore its non-existence is better than its existence.

First consider the people of religions - if religious people are followers of God and obedient to divine teachings, the divine teachings command that there should never be prejudice, for the divine teachings are explicit that human beings must deal with each other with love, and humans should see any shortcomings in themselves, not in others, and never prefer themselves to others, for the good end is unknown.

O my God! Assist Thou all of them and pour upon them the showers of Thy Supreme Confirmations; so that they may become the cause of the tranquility of the world of creation; to be the servants of the human race; to become, with all their hearts and souls, the real friends of all nations; to become with the utmost joy and fragrance, the spiritual companions of the adherents of all religions; to dispel the darkness of strangeness and to spread the lights of friendship in this transitory world!

O friends of 'Abdu'l-Baha! After reading this letter, gather in groups of nineteen in various places and at different times, mixing together friends from among the followers of the Qur'an and of Moses, and after reciting verses and prayers, read this letter from this yearning one and recite the prayer, and shake hands and embrace one another, renewing the covenant of love and oneness.

Good tidings of unity and harmony among the friends in Hamadan, both Muslim and Jewish, arrive continually, for praise be to God, they attend each other's gatherings and are in full accord.

O beloved friends of 'Abdu'l-Baha! The indication of unity and harmony among the Jewish and Muslim friends has become the cause of glad tidings and joy.

Whenever these people mention each other's leaders with due reverence then all sufferings and contentions shall cease and instead of hatred there will be love and instead of enmity and disunity there will be harmony and affection.

Associate with all religions in a spirit of friendliness and fellowship, and should wisdom dictate, convey the word of truth.

I have no doubt that much good will be accomplished and many misunderstandings will be removed if the Musulmans attend the churches of the Christians with reverence in their hearts and sincerity in their souls and likewise the Christians may go to the Mohamadan Mosques and magnify the Creator of the universe. … All these houses of different names - Church, Mosque, Synagogue, Pagoda, Temple are no other than the Houses of prayers. What is there in a name? Man must attach his heart to God and not to a building.

One can worship God everywhere, and if only the Christians would go to Moslem mosques and Jewish synagogues, similarly if the Mahomedans would go to the church and the Jews to the mosque all the quarrel between these three great religions would vanish.

… I can go to all Temples and worship God.

All of the leaders must, likewise, go to the churches of one another and speak of the foundation and of the fundamental principles of the divine religions.

Tonight they are holding the Feast of Elijah on the top of Mount Carmel in memory of his ascent to heaven in a chariot of fire. It is most significant that the Jews, Christians and Mohamadans are celebrating this feast in common without any religious prejudices.

That the divers communions of the earth, and the manifold systems of religious belief, should never be allowed to foster the feelings of animosity among men, is, in this Day, of the essence of the Faith of God and His Religion. These principles and laws, these firmly-established and mighty systems, have proceeded from one Source, and are rays of one Light. That they differ one from another is to be attributed to the varying requirements of the ages in which they were promulgated.

There can be no doubt whatever that the peoples of the world, of whatever race or religion, derive their inspiration from one heavenly Source, and are the subjects of one God. The difference between the ordinances under which they abide should be attributed to the varying requirements and exigencies of the age in which they were revealed. All of them, except a few which are the outcome of human perversity, were ordained of God, and are a reflection of His Will and Purpose.

The diversity in Faiths is also a cause of separation. The true foundation of all Faiths must be established, the outer differences abolished. There must be a Oneness of Faith.

Most of the servants are perplexed by the differences between religions, whereas these differences have been and shall continue to be the cause of the education of souls and their advancement. For divine laws are revealed according to the requirements of the time, age and epoch. Consider, for example, the differences between hours, and observe the variations between seasons. If a person of insight reflects even briefly, he will assuredly know that these differences have been and continue to be the cause of the unity of the servants and the preservation of all who dwell in the lands.

Religion can be divided into two parts: the first is the spirit which never changes; and the second the laws which are regulated according to the time. The spirit of religion is expressed in the Attributes of GOD -- truthfulness, justice, mercy, humility, sanctity.

This Cause acknowledges the truth of all the Books and all the Manifestations of God. The heavenly teachings are composed of two kinds of commandments. One kind is concerned with spiritual verities, with the perfections and virtues of the world of humanity. These commandments never change or alter. Each of the Books and the Prophets was the promulgator of these principles upon which all the religions are based, hence the foundation of all the divine religions is one.

Look to the foundation of divine religions, which is one reality, and the principles of the Manifestations of Truth, which are one principle - not the branches that pertained to the requirements of times and ages, nor the traditions that have caused difference and conflict among people - so that you may raise the banner of peace and harmony and become the sign of the Most Great Name among the peoples of the world.

Although the religions of God undergo change and transformation yet the primal objects are immutable. The original aim of the divine religion is the moral instruction of the world of humanity, the perfection, the illumination and the spirituality of the world of humanity. These are some of those things which are not changed, are not abrogated and secure in every religion, no matter how much superimposed by outward dogmas.

The spring of this year is the same as the spring of last year. The origins and ends are the same. The sun of today is the sun of yesterday. In the coming of Christ, the divine teachings were given in accordance with the infancy of the human race. The teachings of Baha'u'llah have the same basic principles, but are according to the stage of the maturity of the world and the requirements of this illumined age.

Our meaning is this: the religion of God is one, and it is the educator of humankind, but still, it needs must be made new.

O thou seeker after truth! The world of the Kingdom is one world. The only difference is that spring returneth over and over again, and setteth up a great new commotion throughout all created things. Then plain and hillside come alive, and trees turn delicately green, and leaves, blossoms and fruits come forth in beauty, infinite and tender. Wherefore the dispensations of past ages are intimately connected with those that follow them: indeed, they are one and the same, but as the world groweth, so doth the light, so doth the downpour of heavenly grace, and then the Daystar shineth out in noonday splendor.

For example, the people of religions find, in the teachings of Baha'u'llah, the establishment of Universal Religion--a religion that perfectly conforms with present conditions, which in reality effects the immediate cure of the incurable disease, which relieves every pain, and bestows the infallible antidote for every deadly poison. For if we wish to arrange and organize the world of mankind in accordance with the present religious imitations and thereby to establish the felicity of the world of mankind, it is impossible and impracticable--for example, the enforcement of the laws of the Torah and also of the other religions in accordance with present imitations. But the essential basis of all the Divine Religions which pertains to the virtues of the world of mankind and is the foundation of the welfare of the world of man, is found in the teachings of Baha'u'llah in the most perfect presentation.

The teachings of Christ have been promulgated by Baha'u'llah, Who has also revealed new teachings applicable to present conditions in the world of humanity. He has trained the people of the East through the power and protection of the Holy Spirit, cemented the souls of humanity together and established the foundations of international unity.

A friend asked how the teachings of Baha'u'llah contrasted with the teachings of Jesus Christ.

"The teachings are the same." declared Abdu'l-Baha; "It is the same foundation and the same temple. Truth is one, and without division. The teachings of Jesus are in a concentrated form. Men do not agree to this day as to the meaning of many of His sayings. His teachings are as a flower in the bud. Today, the bud is unfolding into a flower! Baha'u'llah has expanded and fulfilled the teachings, and has applied them in detail to the whole world.

We do not oppose the religion of anyone. We act in accordance with the Gospel. But we must also act in accordance with the teachings of Baha'u'llah. They are--the oneness of the world of humanity, independent investigation of truth, abandonment of prejudice, universal peace, etc. You must act in accordance with these teachings.

The essential thing is the spiritual law - the outer material law is of small moment, because material life has natural laws to protect it, but humanity lacks spiritual education and needs instruction on the divine qualities. Christ gave this great foundation, as did Mohammed, the Bab and Baha'u'llah. They are all one. There is no difference in their teachings. When we come to kind actions and to striving for the highest ideals of humanity, these things remain the same in all ages, in all countries and in all tongues.

The fundamental principles of all religions are one. They are unchangeable and do not differ. This is what Christ meant when He said, "I am not come to destroy the law of the Torah but to promote it."

The divine Manifestations have been iconoclastic in Their teachings, uprooting error, destroying false religious beliefs and summoning mankind anew to the fundamental oneness of God. All of Them have, likewise, proclaimed the oneness of the world of humanity. The essential teaching of Moses was the law of Sinai, the Ten Commandments. Christ renewed and again revealed the commands of the one God and precepts of human action. In Muhammad, although the circle was wider, the intention of His teaching was likewise to uplift and unify humanity in the knowledge of the one God. In the Bab the circle was again very much enlarged, but the essential teaching was the same.

Verily, O my daughter, I say to you: all the great religions are as phases passed through, educational bridges to the last, the Religion of Unity. Our Religion of Unity was not given to us in order to dissolve, to destroy the previous religions, but in order to add to them, to fulfil them and to fuse them into a higher unity.

To the adept this is the same springtime, the same fountain, the same garden, the same Artist and the same Universal teacher. For he lays the same emphasis on the spiritual life; he intensifies the true objects of all the past religions and gives to each their real perspectives.

The Cause of Baha'u'llah is the same as the Cause of Christ. For example this room is now lighted, but some one comes in and turns off the light through his ignorance, and we are steeped in darkness. Then another person coming in and hearing voices and lamentation turns on the lights and the room is again illumined. He may renew some of the furnitures but the light and the room - are always the same.

The great unity of thought transformed humanity and created a new world. Again, after a time, all this was forgotten by the people. The teachings of God no longer influenced their lives. His prophecies and commandments became fainter and were finally obliterated from their hearts, and tyranny and thoughtlessness once more prevailed.

Baha'u'llah then came and once more renewed the foundation of Faith.

The point is, that the Cause of Baha'Ullah is inclusive of all perfections and supplies all the needs of the world of humanity. But this cannot be accomplished in a short time. Time is needed. This will gradually be realized.

This is that which hath descended from the realm of glory, uttered by the tongue of power and might, and revealed unto the Prophets of old. We have taken the inner essence thereof and clothed it in the garment of brevity, as a token of grace unto the righteous, that they may stand faithful unto the Covenant of God, may fulfill in their lives His trust, and in the realm of spirit obtain the gem of Divine virtue.

Say: This is the very soul of all Scriptures which hath been breathed into the Pen of the Most High, causing all created beings to be dumbfounded, save only those who have been enraptured by the gentle breezes of My loving-kindness and the sweet savours of My bounties which have pervaded the whole of creation.

… With faces beaming with joy, hasten ye unto Him. This is the changeless Faith of God, eternal in the past, eternal in the future. Let him that seeketh, attain it; and as to him that hath refused to seek it--verily, God is Self-Sufficient, above any need of His creatures.

It is clear and evident to thee that all the Prophets are the Temples of the Cause of God, Who have appeared clothed in divers attire. If thou wilt observe with discriminating eyes, thou wilt behold them all abiding in the same tabernacle, soaring in the same heaven, seated upon the same throne, uttering the same speech, and proclaiming the same Faith. Such is the unity of those Essences of being, those Luminaries of infinite and immeasurable splendor. Wherefore, should one of these Manifestations of Holiness proclaim saying: "I am the return of all the Prophets," He verily speaketh the truth.

The likeness of Him Whom God shall make manifest is as the sun in heaven: whether it riseth or setteth, it is but one and the same sun. Likewise, whenever the Messengers are sent or will be sent, that which is manifest in them is one Will. Thy knowledge of that Will in each Revelation is thy knowledge of thy Lord and thy certitude in thy Creator.

For ye have drunk from the Living Waters while your companions remained deprived, and ye have attained the eternal bounty while your fellow believers were forbidden.

… Furthermore, for the Prophets - they who have been the Dawning-Places of divine revelation and the Daysprings of divine inspiration - there are stations which names cannot access. They are all seen as one soul, for they speak but one word and stand firm upon one cause. Blessed is he who immerseth himself in this vast ocean whose shores none hath reached, how much less its depths. This is the station of the Sun of unity and the Ocean of oneness.

Know thou that the paths unto God are as numerous as the breaths of created things, yet the soul is but one, so set thy face steadfastly. Religion is but one religion, and it is the Command of God, and Our Command is but one, so "set thy face steadfastly toward the true Faith -- that innate nature [fitrat] which God hath instilled into mankind. There is no altering God's creation."

Say: We believe in what hath been sent down unto Us in this Tablet, and in what was sent down unto Moses and Jesus, and in what was sent down unto Muhammad the Messenger of God, and in what was sent down unto 'Ali before Nabil from holy and exalted verses. We make no distinction between any of them, and We are, verily, on a straight path.

That is: Religion with God is Islam, from Adam to the Seal, as God, glory be to Him and exalted is He, has said "Abraham was a Muslim community." Thus all the Prophets and Messengers were Muslims because they were all upon the manifest truth - "We make no distinction between any of His Messengers."

… But as for the fundamental foundation, there is absolutely no change or alteration, and you will never find any change in God's way.

Know thou that I am a servant who hath believed in God and the Manifestations of His Self and the Daysprings of His Cause and the Treasuries of His Revelation and the Repositories of His Knowledge and the Dawning-places of His Guidance and the Outpourings of His mercy and the Clouds of His bounty unto the worlds.

Say: Your God is One God. There is no God but He, the Mighty, the Best Beloved. He it is Who hath sent forth the Messengers from His presence, that ye should worship none but God, for all Temples speak of God and through Him. And He it is Who hath sent down the Books from His presence, that ye should associate naught with God, your Lord, and that ye should be assured of the signs of God.

I testify that the Book is the Word of God from the Sun of Truth in every Dispensation, howsoever God willeth and in whatsoever tongue He revealeth it.

After affirming the oneness of God and acknowledging what His Prophets and Messengers brought, and their Seal Muhammad - peace be upon him - His Messenger whom He adorned with the crown of "But for thee" and the mantle of the Seal, and his family and companions, I submit that your esteemed letter reached this lowly one.

He sent forth the Messengers and revealed the Books as a token of His grace, and commanded them to guide His servants that they might manifest that which would exalt them in all His worlds, until the divine ordinances were completed through that which was revealed in the Qur'an to the Seal of the Prophets and the Chosen Ones.

O people! He hath appeared with the signs of Ali, the proof of Muhammad, the evidence of the Spirit, the testimony of Moses, the traces of the Friend, and the proofs of all the Prophets and Messengers.

Say: O people! By God, the Torah hath testified to Him to Whom even the pebbles have borne witness, and the Gospel crieth out unto the Glorious Lord, and the Qur'an proclaimeth the advent of the All-Merciful, and the Bayan circleth round the Throne. Yet the people remain wrapped in a thick veil. Verily, they who have turned away have in truth turned away from God throughout all ages.

Although the days of every manifestation may in one sense be called the Day of God, yet this Day is, in all the Books, Psalms and Scriptures, specifically God's and attributed to Him.

Thus it is that at the time of every Manifestation, all on earth stand equal before God. Whoever from any group believes becomes counted before God among the people of faith, affirmation and the exalted ones. And whoever does not attain to faith is and will be reckoned among the people of denial, the debased, the rejectors and negation.

Were We not to counsel you in the Book of God, how would you comprehend God's Cause until the next Resurrection? And were We to send down knowledge in the Book and manifest deeds among you, how would those who come after you understand? Verily, in every Dispensation God desireth that all should enter beneath the shade of His verses and that those souls who worship not God, their Lord, should perish. This is God's way in every Dispensation, would ye but understand it.

Nay, all religions and faiths are from Thee, like a pomegranate given to a child to occupy him.

O Ahmad! Praise be to God that thou hast attained unto the word of unity and hast testified to that whereunto God, exalted be His glory, hath testified - that blessed and goodly Word "There is none other God but God," at which the limbs of the idolaters and transgressors have trembled and continue to tremble.

The Sun of Divinity and of Reality has revealed itself in various mirrors. Though these mirrors are many, yet the Sun is one. The bestowals of God are one; the reality of the divine religion is one.

Fifthly: 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.

'Abdul-Baha answered: The Manifestation of the Essence of God is like unto the sun, which has different risings. The dawning places are different but the sun is always the same. The lamps are different but the light is one.

Consider with the eye of reality. The aim of life is reality, and reality is one. Reality does not accept multiplicity.

'Abdu'l-Baha answered: "Baha'u'llah is the same Light in a new Lamp. To see, we must look at the Light and not at the Lamp. This is Spiritual Sight. The sun is one orb, but it has different rising-points on the horizon. One point was Jesus, one Moses, one Baha'u'llah, and so on.

Now all the followers of the great religions of the world are veiled because they are looking at the old dawning places and are not watching for the coming of the Sun. Your lover must love you, not your house. If he really loves you he will recognize you in whatever house you may appear; but if he is attached to the house, he will not find you if you appear in a new house.

Religions are many, but the reality of religion is one. The days are many, but the sun is one.

The foundation of the divine religions is reality; were there no reality, there would be no religions. Abraham heralded reality. Moses promulgated reality. Christ established reality. Muhammad was the Messenger of reality. The Bab was the door of reality. Baha'u'llah was the splendor of reality. Reality is one; it does not admit multiplicity or division. Reality is as the sun, which shines forth from different dawning points; it is as the light, which has illumined many lanterns.

Man must be a lover of the light, no matter from what dayspring it may appear. He must be a lover of the rose, no matter in what soil it may be growing. He must be a seeker of the truth, no matter from what source it come. Attachment to the lantern is not loving the light. Attachment to the earth is not befitting, but enjoyment of the rose which develops from the soil is worthy. Devotion to the tree is profitless, but partaking of the fruit is beneficial. Luscious fruits, no matter upon what tree they grow or where they may be found, must be enjoyed. The word of truth, no matter which tongue utters it, must be sanctioned. Absolute verities, no matter in what book they be recorded, must be accepted. If we harbor prejudice, it will be the cause of deprivation and ignorance.

"There may be many lights, with coloured bulbs of various hues and shades. But the source of all those lights is the same--and there must be sources; it is the dynamo that is hidden from sight. So it is with all the religions. They sparkle here and there in various colours--but there is but one source for them all, just one Light, and that is God.

It is fitting that in such an age all nations unite, all religions become united, and regions become one region, for humanity is like one tree and religions and nations are like its branches and twigs. Therefore they must be in utmost harmony, be educated by the heat of the Sun of Truth, and grow and develop through the rain of bounty until the human world becomes illumined and divine, and perfect unity is achieved between people and unity between nations is realized.

The tree of humanity is one and is planted by God. The origin is one and the end must be also one.

Question.- What is 'Abdu'l-Baha's teaching concerning the different Divine manifestations?

Answer. - The Reality of all is One. Truth is one. Religions are like the branches of one Tree. One branch is high, one is low and one in the centre, yet all draw their life from the one stem. One branch bears fruit and others are not laden so abundantly.

The saplings of the world have appeared from one Tree, and the drops from one Sea, and all existence from one Soul.

It is my hope that others as well will achieve illumined eyes and hearing ears, and attain to everlasting life: that these many rivers, each flowing along in diverse and separated beds, will find their way back to the circumambient sea, and merge together and rise up in a single wave of surging oneness; that the unity of truth, through the power of God, will make these illusory differences to vanish away. This is the one essential: for if unity be gained, all other problems will disappear of themselves.

… The fourth candle is unity in religion which is the corner-stone of the foundation itself, and which, by the power of God, will be revealed in all its splendour.

Perchance the effects of such music may not be praiseworthy; perhaps such melodies may not have the sweet qualities which are the characteristic indications of a true melody - Therefore let us search and find out the one glorious song which has run throughout all ages, with thousands of entrancing accompaniments, the effect of which have changed millions of human beings.

His Holiness Baha'u'llah likened the religions of the world to musical instruments, each divine messenger having been sent to sound a different key, but the instruments have become out of tune and discord has resulted. Therefore Baha'u'llah brought a new musical instrument and put it into our hands, saying: "Play on this. It includes all notes, all harmony.

O thou who rejoicest in the glad-tidings of God! In every age and century, the Dayspring of the world is made manifest, shining with a particular splendour and revealed through a mighty sign. In the time of the Friend of God, the horizon of existence was illumined with the lights of friendship. During the era of Him Who conversed with God, the dawning-place of creation was brightened by the Light that glowed upon Sinai. In the days of the Spirit of God, the realm of being was perfumed by the sweet savours of holiness. With the dawning of the Day-Star of Medina, the horizon of the world was flooded with the light of love and grandeur. When the veil of concealment was rent asunder from the beauty of the Primal Point, the Morn of divine guidance was adorned with the resplendent rays of the most joyful tidings. And with this Most Great Revelation and the dawning of the Day-Star of the Ancient Beauty, the horizons of the world have been encompassed, blessed, and made evident and complete by all the divine bounties, effulgences, names, and attributes combined. For the Most Great Ocean possesseth and embraceth all the perfections that are to be found in every sea, gulf, river, spring, and stream.

This was written with a broken-nibbed pen. The pen hath been changed and the theme is now elaborated.

Consider the Writings of the Blessed Beauty on every matter, and the truth will become clear and evident. Examine the works of the Most Exalted Pen and compare them with all other Scriptures. Reflect upon the manifestation of His overpowering majesty, and ponder how in the Most Great Prison, singly and alone, with none to help or succour Him, He withstood all the peoples and governments of the world in the utmost sovereignty and glory.

For example, see how during the days of the Apostle of God---may the life of the worlds be offered up for Him---those who repudiated Him would say, as is clearly stated in the Qur'an: "And when they see Thee, they do but take Thee in mockery. 'What! Is this he whom God hath sent as an Apostle?'" In this most mighty Revelation, however, the faithful as well as the froward, the rebellious, and the deniers all speak of the greatness of this Cause and the majesty of the Blessed Beauty---that is, even those that have not accepted and followed the fundamentals of His Faith. As thou hast witnessed, all the widely circulated publications of the world have testified to this. The humility and submissiveness shown by His enemies at all times, even within this afflictive prison, are the greatest proof thereof, as are the signs of the influence of His dawning and transcendent Revelation, whose rays have been shed upon the whole world. Indeed, all historians have regarded this wondrous age, this new century, as the king of all ages and the sovereign of all centuries, and have regarded its achievements as transcending those of all previous ages. That is, shouldst thou compare the achievements of one hundred centuries to those of this single one, they could in no wise compare with it.

In brief, this Revelation is distinguished and exceptional in all respects. In gratitude for these bounties and bestowals, then, it behoveth us to forget all things in our yearning for the love of the Blessed Beauty and, with all our power and strength, centre our thoughts and words on teaching the Cause of God and diffusing the divine fragrances. In this day, this endeavour, that is, teaching the Cause of God, receiveth confirmation and is assured of victory by the aid of the hosts of the Abha Kingdom.

I swear by the Ancient Beauty---may my life be offered up for the dust ennobled by the footsteps of His loved ones! Were the weakest of all creatures to arise in this Day to fulfil this momentous task, that is, to diffuse the divine fragrances, it would become the mightiest of all created things. The drop would become like unto a sea, and the atom would attain the power of the sun. Although the hoopoe was a frail and feeble bird, yet the hosts of Solomon were its support. So it was that the Queen of Sheba, with all her legions, could not resist its powers and found no recourse but to surrender. Now, should any soul arise to diffuse the sweet savours of God, the hosts of the Abha Kingdom will be his helpers and succourers, and the Almighty Lord his refuge and shelter.

'Abdu'l-Baha answered: "The word 'same' means that the reality is one. Just as the sun arises from several points. This sun after one month will arise from another point. It is just like this; but the reality is the same sun."

A.B... "There is no difference... the past is like the future. This is what Christ said: "Compare my days with those in the future." His Holiness Muhammad said that the past and future are like a pair of shoes... the same way the days of Moses are like my days.

The available source contains an omission or incomplete wording; sentence boundaries need review.

Christ said, "What has happened in the past will happen again in the future." The reason of this is that all things are under the operation of Divine Law which is the same today, yesterday, and forever.

The sun of truth rises in each season from a different point of the horizon -- to-day it is here, yesterday it was there, and to-morrow it will appear from another direction. Why do you keep your eyes eternally fixed on the same point? Why do you call yourselves Christians, Buddhists, Mohammedans, Bahais? You must learn to distinguish the sun of truth from whichever point of the horizon it is shining!

People think religion is confined in an edifice, to be worshipped at an altar. In reality it is an attitude toward divinity which is reflected through life.

The religious conceptions of every creed postulate the existence of a medium, or intermediary between God and man. The spiritual teaching of each medium, the Word of God, whether Moses, or Elijah, or Christ, or Mahomet, was the same. The light is the same. The mediums are identical, that is, derive their radiance from the same source. Moses, Mahomet, Christ-what are these but names? What do names, mere words, matter? And yet people quarrel about these names. And the teaching is that the true object of religion, of spiritual progress, is to make every soul reflect the Divine. Each soul must become radiant as a lamp.

Whoso turneth to names because of their connection to God, he is indeed among the believers. And whoso fixeth upon them in themselves and for themselves, he is among the worshippers of names and is accounted among the idolaters.

Most great it is, yet should a soul become illumined with the light of unity, he would see all else but God as non-existent and count it as nothingness, and would regard himself as transcending all the peoples of the world. Names would no longer hold him back from reality and meaning. The ranks and multitudes of nations and the might of the world would not prevent the men of this field from turning towards Him, and the diverse winds would not move the trees of this garden.

The Ancient Beauty said: "O Shaykh! This unity with whose mention you occupy yourselves night and day, and because of which you consider yourselves rich and independent - if God, exalted be His grandeur, were to erase this unity or roll up its carpet and place it under the throne, what then would you have and with what remembrance would you occupy yourselves?"

O people of God! Today the Sun of Truth is shining and the light of divine unity is manifest and clear. Blessed is the soul that hath attained unto the lights of true unity and hath received its portion from the divine fragrances of this Day.

There is no doubt that the Truth is one and the path leading to Him is one.

The Shining Reality which is the Spirit of the world today is One and not many.

Religion is reality, and reality is one. The fundamentals of the religion of God are, therefore, one in reality. There is neither difference nor change in the fundamentals.

… The foundations of all the divine religions are peace and agreement, but misunderstandings and ignorance have developed. If these are caused to disappear, you will see that all the religious agencies will work for peace and promulgate the oneness of humankind.

The Prophets of God have been inspired with the message of love and unity. The Books of God have been revealed for the upbuilding of fellowship and union. The Prophets of God have been the servants of reality; Their teachings constitute the science of reality. Reality is one; it does not admit plurality. We conclude, therefore, that the foundation of the religions of God is one foundation.

Since the foundation of divine religions is one - it is reality, and reality does not admit multiplicity or division - therefore complete harmony and unity will be established among all religions. Divine religion will appear in the utmost perfection and beauty in the assemblage of the human world.

Therefore, we must investigate reality in order that by its light the clouds and darkness may be dispelled. Reality is one reality; it does not admit multiplicity or division. If the nations of the world investigate reality, they will agree and become united.

The foundations of the divine religions are one. If we investigate these foundations, we discover much ground for agreement, but if we consider the imitations of forms and ancestral beliefs, we find points of disagreement and division; for these imitations differ, while the sources and foundations are one and the same.

… The essentials of the divine religion are one reality, indivisible and not multiple. It is one. And when through investigation we find it to be single, we have a basis for the oneness of the world of humanity.

For knowledge is the discoverer of reality, and all divine religions are reality itself. But now the human world is drowned in the sea of traditions, and these traditions are mere superstitions. Knowledge will uproot these traditions and disperse these dark clouds that veil the Sun of Reality. The reality of divine religions will become manifest, and since reality is one, all divine religions will become united. No differences will remain, conflict and contention will utterly cease, human unity will become evident.

All the peoples have a fundamental belief in common. Being one, truth cannot be divided, and the differences that appear to exist among the nations only result from their attachment to prejudice. If only men would search out truth, they would find themselves united.

If the nations and peoples of today would abandon imitation and investigate reality, all would become united, for imitation differs but reality and the foundation of divine religions is one.

The hope is that this gathering will investigate truth and cast aside all traditions in order to discover the reality of divine religions, and that the religion which today is the cause of the life of the world, the luminosity of this century, and the cause of the unity of the human world, will become evident with utmost clarity - so that the foundation of differences may be demolished and all religions may find harmony and gather at a single point.

Question. - Can 'Abdu'l-Baha suggest any lines on which it could best be worked out?

Answer. - Search for truth. Seek the realities in all religions. Put aside all superstitions. Many of us do not realize the Reality of all Religions.

The differences among the religions of the world are due to the varying types of minds. So long as the powers of the mind are various, it is certain that men's judgements and opinions will differ one from another. If, however, one single, universal perceptive power be introduced -- a power encompassing all the rest -- those differing opinions will merge, and a spiritual harmony and oneness will become apparent.

By religion I mean the lights of the Sun of Reality, and the foundation of divine religions is one - it is one reality, one spirit, one light. It has no multiplicity.

When we look to the reality of divine religions, we see that there is one reality, for all divine religions are reality and reality does not accept multiplicity or division.

The foundation underlying all the divine precepts is one reality. It must needs be reality, and reality is one, not multiple. Therefore the foundation of the divine religions is one.

The foundation of all religions is one in terms of fundamental principles and all are based on truth. Therefore there is no difference between the Manifestations of God's Cause and divine religions.

Praise be to God that the foundation and basis of divine religions is one - we are all of one mind.

So shall we see the truth in all religions, for truth is in all and truth is one!

The foundations of the religions of God are one. The teachings of God are one. His Holiness, Abraham, was the head of reality, for the religion of God is ever reality. His Holiness, Moses, was the head of reality. His Holiness, Christ, was the founder of reality. His Holiness, Zoroaster, was the founder of reality. His Holiness, Buddha, was the founder of reality. His Holiness, Baha'u'llah, was the founder of reality. All the present religions are fundamentally one, and that is reality.

The holy Manifestations Who have been the Sources or Founders of the various religious systems were united and agreed in purpose and teaching. Abraham, Moses, Zoroaster, Buddha, Jesus, Muhammad, the Bab and Baha'u'llah are one in spirit and reality. Moreover, each Prophet fulfilled the promise of the One Who came before Him and, likewise, Each announced the One Who would follow.

Moses promoted reality, as did Christ, Abraham, Muhammad, the Bab, and Baha'u'llah - all established and promoted reality.

There is one God; mankind is one; and the foundations of religion are one. Let us worship Him, and give praise for all his great prophets and messengers who have manifested his brightness and glory.

The unity which is productive of unlimited results is first a unity of mankind which recognizes that all are sheltered beneath the overshadowing glory of the All-Glorious, that all are servants of one God; for all breathe the same atmosphere, live upon the same earth, move beneath the same heavens, receive effulgence from the same sun and are under the protection of one God.

For example, the Torah explicitly states that all humans are God's creation and are under the Lord's protection, not Satan's creation. The Gospel explicitly states that God's sun shines upon both the obedient and the disobedient alike. And in the Qur'an it states: "No imperfection canst thou see in the creation of the God of Mercy." This is the foundation of God's holy Manifestations.

The God of Persia is the God of France, of Turkey, of Italy, etc. He is One and the same, so in loving Him we are united.

No. The birth of our Lord was for all; those who shall know of Him and those who shall not. The Spirit is the same everywhere. Under whatsoever name men address Him, He will respond to their call.

The foundation of all religions is one and the aim of all creeds of the world is also one. All are believers in the oneness of God. All believe that a mediator between the Creator and the creatures is needed.

"There are prepared souls in every religion. Today God is working in all the religions, instructing a number of souls in the school of Celestial brotherhood. These souls are related together by the invisible tie of the Spirit.

All the great Teachers are from God, and teach the same thing; the differences in the results which have followed from their teachings have been due to the varieties of character-the degrees of ignorance or knowledge, of materiality or spirituality-of mankind.

From these three premises there results the conclusion with convincing logic: Religion is an organic unity. Denomination, sects, religious confessions are but a variously close or loose connection with God: adorned with additions which are different with time and place.

Through the revelation of Books and the sending of Messengers, God hath desired the unity and concord of His servants and the education and tranquility of all who dwell in the lands.

All the divine Manifestations have proclaimed the oneness of God and the unity of mankind. They have taught that men should love and mutually help each other in order that they might progress. Now if this conception of religion be true, its essential principle is the oneness of humanity. The fundamental truth of the Manifestations is peace. This underlies all religion, all justice. The divine purpose is that men should live in unity, concord and agreement and should love one another.

All the different religions of God that have risen on the face of the earth have one purpose: to educate man and to inform him of the spiritual, the luminous, the divine, so that he may partake of heavenly spirit and find eternal life, show forth the virtues of mankind, and from a world of darkness enter a world of light.

There is no other reality of meaning to the different religions. Their purpose is one, the teaching is one.

All the divine manifestations and prophets taught this truth, and the purpose of all of them was love. Abraham was the servant of this Cause; Jesus Christ sacrificed himself for it; Muhammed, the prophet, promulgated this teaching; his highness, the Bab, lighted this candlestick; his holiness Baha'u'llah manifested this brilliant star. This is the original purpose, the essential part of the Cause, the reality of the teachings of God.

The foundation of the divine religion is one, the Law of God is one. All the Prophets were sent to spread it. Therefore every nation that acted according to divine counsels reached reality. The divine teachings are one, the foundation of the love of God is one, and this is the cause of the unity and oneness of humanity.

Each of the holy Manifestations announced the glad tidings of His successor, and each One confirmed the message of His predecessor. Therefore, inasmuch as They were agreed and united in purpose and teaching, it is incumbent upon Their followers to be likewise unified in love and spiritual fellowship.

Look how Abraham strove to bring faith and love among the people; how Moses tried to unite the people by sound laws; how the Lord Christ suffered unto death to bring the light of love and truth into a darkened world; how Muhammad sought to bring unity and peace between the various uncivilized tribes among whom he dwelt. And last of all, Baha'u'llah has suffered forty years for the same cause -- the single noble purpose of spreading love among the children of men -- and for the peace and unity of the world the Bab gave up his life.

God sent all His Prophets into the world with one aim, to sow in the hearts of men love and goodwill, and for this great purpose they were willing to suffer and to die. All the sacred Books were written to lead and direct man into the ways of love and unity; and yet, in spite of all this, we have the sad spectacle of war and bloodshed in our midst.

The divine Prophets are conjoined in the perfect state of love. Each One has given the glad tidings of His successor's coming and each successor has sanctioned the One Who preceded Him. They were in the utmost unity, but Their followers are in strife.

The point is that differences lie in the branches, but the foundation and basis of divine religions is one. Therefore every Prophet gave news of the following Prophet, and every subsequent Prophet confirmed the previous Prophet. All the Prophets were at peace with one another and loved one another. So why should their followers differ?

The prophets had for one another the utmost love. They exalted one another. They offered one another the greatest homage. Then why should the followers of these mighty teachers wage war on one another and kill one another?

For thirteen hundred years there has been warfare - what results have been achieved? This is sheer madness. Is God pleased with this? Is Christ pleased? Is Muhammad pleased? It is evident they are not. They praised one another. Muhammad said that Christ was the Spirit of God - this is explicitly stated in the Qur'an. He said Christ was the Word of God, and He lavished the highest praise upon the disciples and upon Mary. Likewise, Christ praised Moses, spread the Torah, and carried the fame of Moses to East and West. The point is that they were in the utmost love and fellowship with one another, yet these peoples are enemies, shedding each other's blood.

All the Manifestations of God came with the same purpose, and they have all sought to lead men into the paths of virtue. Yet we, their servants, still dispute among ourselves! Why is it thus? Why do we not love one another and live in unity?

It is because we have shut our eyes to the underlying principle of all religions, that God is one, that He is the Father of us all, that we are all immersed in the ocean of His mercy and sheltered and protected by His loving care.

The foundation of divine religions is love. Religion is for the education of humanity, guiding to human virtues. Its foundation is cooperation and mutual assistance. It is a heavenly foundation, a cause of connection between human beings.

The foundation of the Divine teaching is this unity and harmony. Moses strove for unity among men; the Christ did all to promote this understanding, and Muhammad proclaimed the necessity of this union. The Buddha also worked for the same great goal. The Gospel, the Qur'an, and all Holy Writings are the basis for this unity. The foundation of the religions of God is one; the faith of God is one: to bring between men love and understanding.

All the divine Prophets were Manifestations of truth. Moses proclaimed the truth, Christ promoted the truth, Muhammad established the truth, all the divine ones proclaimed the truth, and Baha'u'llah raised high the banner of truth. All holy souls who came to the world were lamps of truth. Truth is the oneness of the human world, truth is love between human beings, truth is the proclamation of justice, truth is divine guidance, truth embodies human virtues, truth is equality among humankind, truth is the illumination of the human world.

The basis of the teaching of Baha'u'llah is the Unity of Mankind, and his greatest desire was that love and goodwill should live in the heart of men.

He declared that the reality of all religion is one, that all religions have the same foundation for their teaching. He taught men that the foundation of the religion of God is love.

All the religions are revealed for the sake of good fellowship. The fundamentals, the foundations of all are fellowship, unity and love. The heavenly books were revealed and divine love bestowed to bring about peace.

The Law of God is one and the Religion of God is one, and that is love and fellowship.

The divine religions have descended for love and amity among mankind. They have been founded for unity and the purpose of affinity among mankind. They have descended for the purpose of cementing together the human family.

The divine religions were revealed for love and amity and have brought out harmony among the different peoples and nations.

In reality there has been and there will ever be only one religion and that is the religion of Truth, one faith and that is the faith of Love. All other things are non-essentials.

That foundation which was meant to be the underlying principle of all the Prophets, that foundation which Christ Himself laid, that is the basis of the oneness of the world of humanity.

That foundation is Universal Love.

That foundation is Universal Peace amongst the nations.

That foundation is Universal Peace amongst the countries.

Therefore, it is evident that the Prophets of God have come to unite the children of men and not to disperse them, to establish the law of love and not enmity. Consequently, we must lay aside all prejudice -- whether it be religious, racial, political or patriotic; we must become the cause of the unification of the human race.

The foundation of the divine religions is one and that is the truth which generates love and affection and is the cause of the unity of mankind. But imitations vary and they are the cause of disagreements and are the destroyers of spiritual foundations.

Divine religions are not the cause of dissension, nor do they beget enmity and hatred, for the foundation of all of them is truth and truth is one, it has no plurality.

The differences which we find are the results of imitations.

The central purpose of the divine religions is the establishment of peace and unity among mankind. Their reality is one; therefore, their accomplishment is one and universal -- whether it be through the essential or material ordinances of God.

… Inasmuch as the essential reality of the religions is one and their seeming variance and plurality is adherence to forms and imitations which have arisen, it is evident that these causes of difference and divergence must be abandoned in order that the underlying reality may unite mankind in its enlightenment and upbuilding.

The clouds and mists of imitations have obscured the Sun of Truth. We must forsake these imitations, dispel these clouds and mists and free the Sun from the darkness of superstition. Then will the Sun of Truth shine most gloriously; then all the inhabitants of the world will be united, the religions will be one, sects and denominations will reconcile, all nationalities will flow together in the recognition of one Fatherhood, and all degrees of humankind will gather in the shelter of the same tabernacle, under the same banner.

Differences have arisen because of this, causing clouds and darkness to overshadow again the glorious luminary of Reality. When the mists and darkness of superstition and prejudice are dispersed, all will see the Sun aright and alike. Then will all nations become as one in its radiance.

Every sect and community has gathered around itself certain imitations of Reality in ceremonies and forms, and as these imitations differ, contentions follow. Each division is encompassed with thick clouds through which the Sun of Reality cannot penetrate. If these divisions should forget the differences in imitations and seek for the underlying Reality, all would be united and agreed and fellowship would be established between the organizations of mankind.

"All the Prophets of God were Manifestations of Truth and Reality. But because imitations have crept into religions, divisions and misunderstanding have resulted. These imitations cannot be found in the reality of religion.

Most regrettable of all is the state of difference and divergence we have created between each other in the name of religion, imagining that a paramount duty in our religious belief is that of alienation and estrangement, that we should shun each other and consider each other contaminated with error and infidelity. In reality, the foundations of the divine religions are one and the same. The differences which have arisen between us are due to blind imitations of dogmatic beliefs and adherence to ancestral forms of worship. Abraham was the founder of reality. Moses, Christ, Muhammad were the manifestations of reality. Baha'u'llah was the glory of reality.

For example the strict adherents of the present day religions consider each other as infidels and contaminating, as apostates in the sight of God and man, as deserving to be thrown to the bottom of hell and in the jaws of Satan; but Baha'u'llah addressing the world of humanity says:- 'Ye are the leaves of one branch and the fruits of one tree'.

From the beginning the followers of all religions have believed in two seas, -- one salt and one fresh; in two trees -- the tree of good and the tree of evil. For this men have called one another heretics.

This was His announcement; this was His promise of the oneness of the world of humanity. Anathema and execration were utterly abrogated. He said, "It is not becoming in man to curse another; it is not befitting that man should attribute darkness to another; it is not meet that one human being should consider another human being as bad; nay, rather, all mankind are the servants of one God; God is the Father of all; there is not a single exception to that law.

But the Ancient Beauty---exalted be His most mighty remembrance---removed the word of negation. He said: Ye are all the fruits of one tree and the leaves of one branch. At most, some are sick and must be healed; they are ignorant and must through training be made wise; they are untaught and must be made learned.

O people of the earth! Make not God's religion a cause of variance among you. Verily it hath been sent down in truth for the unification of all who dwell in the world.

Say: By the life of God! The divine religion and His Faith have come to unite and accord, not for difference and discord. The Mother Book beareth witness to this, but the people hear not.

Among the teachings is the independent investigation of truth, and among the teachings is that religion must be the cause of fellowship, unity and oneness, not the cause of alienation. If religion becomes the cause of bloodshed, it has no necessity for the human world.

"Religion must be the cause of affection. It must be a joy-bringer. If it become the cause of difference, it were better to banish it. Should it become the source of hatred, or warfare, it were better that it should not exist.

Religion should be the cause of fellowship and unity among mankind, but misunderstandings have made it the cause of discord, dissension, sedition and hatred. Religion is a remedy destined to be the means of healing unto the nations, but the misapplication of that remedy has caused disease, resulting in the greatest dissension and discord.

All these holy souls were founders and promulgators of the one reality, and this reality is not subject to plurality or divisibility.

One of the teachings of Baha'u'llah relates to the unification of religion. Religion should be a bond to connect the hearts of men. It should be a cause of the illumination of the human world. It should be a center of attraction to the hearts. It should be a channel for the mercy of God. If it prove to be a cause of discord, enmity and bloodshed, then irreligion would be preferable, because religion should be a door to the knowledge and love of God.

Nothing is so true as the oneness of the world of humanity. Verily it is the foundation of the divine religions. But a thousand times alas! religions have discarded this fundamental basis, and have held to certain traditional dogmas, which have resulted in dissension and warfare, which was not the intention of religion. Religion should be a remedy for the afflictions of humanity, but it has fallen into the hands of unskilled physicians and the results have been disastrous.

3 - Religion has to be a cause of harmony for mankind. When religion breeds enmity and hate, it is preferable that religion does not exists.

That which the Lord hath ordained as the sovereign remedy and mightiest instrument for the healing of all the world is the union of all its peoples in one universal Cause, one common Faith. This can in no wise be achieved except through the power of a skilled, an all-powerful and inspired Physician.

The Blessed Beauty gathered all peoples under the shadow of His wings of grace, consoled them all, and showed kindness to all. Therefore His Cause is the mercy of all worlds, and His Manifestation is the cause of salvation for all on earth and the joy of all nations. He removed the decree of the sword, and in place of the sword established true love. He abolished hatred and estrangement, and established affection and attraction among all.

But in contrast, you Baha'is know that the foundation of God's religion is to consort with all religions in spirit and fragrance. Baha'u'llah proclaimed the oneness of mankind, abolished the law of the sword, and addressed all humanity saying: "Ye are all the fruits of one tree, and the leaves of one branch." He declared all people to be God's sheep, and the Lord their kind Shepherd who shows bounty and favor to all His flock, nurturing, sustaining and protecting them all beneath the shade of His mercy.

All the Prophets were sent forth to establish amity among the people, not estrangement; they came for union, not division; they were raised up for love, not hatred and enmity.

The divine religions must be the cause of oneness among men, and the means of unity and love; they must promulgate universal peace, free man from every prejudice, bestow joy and gladness, exercise kindness to all men and do away with every difference and distinction.

We have no objection to or quarrel with religions. We simply call all to the oneness of humanity. But all people must drink from the fountain of Baha'u'llah's teachings so that this war and strife and conflict and tribulation may be removed from among humanity.

May you consider all religions the instruments of God and regard all races as channels of divine manifestation. May you view mankind as the sheep of God and know for a certainty that He is the real Shepherd.

A Baha'i denies no religion; he accepts the Truth in all, and would die to uphold it. He loves all men as his brothers, of whatever class, of whatever race or nationality, of whatever creed or colour, whether good or bad, rich or poor, beautiful or hideous.

They should be kind to all people and embrace all religions with spirit and fragrance.

I beseech God to make thee a sign of guidance among the people and a lamp of dazzling light in that extensive and large city, so that pure and good souls may be illuminated by the light of the knowledge of God and thus serve the merciful Threshold by showing earnest desire for love, peace, affinity and harmony with the people of all religions.

Become ye brothers in God's one religion upon the straight path. God desireth that your hearts be mirrors unto your brethren in faith, that ye be reflected in them and they in you. This is the path of God, the Mighty, through truth, and God is witness over what ye do. We, verily, have made from water every living thing, according to what God hath ordained in the Mother Book concerning the point of water round about the fire.

Arise to serve the Cause of God in complete unity - that is, be occupied with His mention, His praise and the promotion of His Cause. Any matter that today becometh the cause of someone turning away or the source of grief is not acceptable in the sight of God.

That which is obligatory and essential today, and hath been repeatedly revealed from the Most Exalted Pen, is the unity and concord of the known souls who have been honored with special distinction, as well as the other loved ones.

Be ye agreed, therefore, with Our Most Great Name concerning the Cause, for We have made it for you a lamp that shineth. Be ye united in the Cause of God and His religion, that no اختلاف arise amongst you. This is of a command which We have loved from everlasting, and have sent down in guarded Scrolls of might.

The servants of this mighty Cause must be the loved ones of God. Therefore, the friends must manifest such unity, harmony and oneness that they become the cause of wonder to others and set an example for all peoples, nations, religions and tribes.

Consider how the religions of God served the world of humanity! How the religion of Torah became conducive to the glory and honor and progress of the Israelitish nation! How the breaths of the Holy Spirit of His Holiness Christ created affinity and unity between divergent communities and quarreling families! How the sacred power of His Holiness Muhammad became the means of uniting and harmonizing the contentious tribes and the different clans of Peninsular Arabia--to such an extent that one thousand tribes were welded into one tribe; strife and discord were done away with; all of them unitedly and with one accord strove in advancing the cause of culture and civilization, and thus were freed from the lowest degree of degradation, soaring toward the height of everlasting glory!

For instance, Christ appeared; the Jews believed in him; the Romans, Greeks, Anglo-Saxons believed in him. So he gathered all again and made them one, made them Christians. The religions that were before Christianity were abolished. This was done through the Word of God. It cannot be done through the power of the philosophers.

About sixty years ago the greatest enmity and strife existed among the various peoples and religious denominations of Persia. Throughout the world generally war and dissension prevailed. At this time Baha'u'llah appeared in Persia and began devoting Himself to the uplift and education of the people. He united divergent sects and creeds, removed religious, racial, patriotic and political prejudices and established a strong bond of unity and reconciliation among varying degrees and classes of mankind.

The different religions have one truth underlying them; therefore, their reality is one.

Do not question the practicability of this, and be not astonished. It has been accomplished and effected in Persia. In that country the various religionists have conjoined in investigating reality and have united in complete fellowship and love. … Furthermore, those souls who have followed Baha'u'llah and attained this condition of fellowship and affiliation are Muslims, Jews, Christians, Zoroastrians, Buddhists, Nestorians, Sunnites, Shiites and others.

Those people who have harkened to the teachings of Baha'u'llah-Hindus, Mohammedans, Christians, Zoroastrians, Buddhists, Jews-such people have discarded their past rancour and are associating with the utmost love and unity. Take my example and see with what degree of love I am associating with you tonight, loving you with all my heart and soul.

When Baha'u'llah appeared from the East, He dispelled all these vain imaginings. He bestowed new life upon souls, cast a celestial radiance into hearts, expanded minds, and revealed mighty teachings. So much so that today Baha'is who were formerly Jewish, Christian, Zoroastrian, Muslim, and Buddhist all associate with one another in the utmost fellowship, such that if you were to enter their gathering, you would not know which had been Christian, which Jewish, which Persian, which Muslim. All consort with one another in the utmost fellowship and love, for the first teaching of Baha'u'llah is the oneness of the human world--that all humanity is immersed in the ocean of God's mercy, and God is kind to all, loves all, and provides sustenance to all.

He guided people from all nations and religions, cemented different denominations and united diverse nationalities to such an extent that if you attend their meetings you cannot say who is a Jew, who is a Muslim, who is a Parsi or who is a Christian.

Today in the Orient those souls from amongst the various sects, religions and nations who have accepted the teachings of Baha'u'llah are cemented together with the power of affinity and love. Were you to enter any of their conferences in the Orient you would behold the Mussulmans, Buddhists, Jews, Christians and Zoroastrians associating together in a spirit of unity and brotherhood to such degree that no one could differentiate one race from another.

… Be it known that there is but one foundation to the religion of God. The apparent differences have come through ignorance. Words differ but the purpose is one.

The Lord of Hosts has kindled such a flame that it has brought Jews, Christians, Muslims, Zoroastrians and Babis - nay, all the peoples and religions of the world - beneath one tent. Now people from all religions have entered beneath the shadow of the Cause of God, and all arise in gatherings of unity, harmony, love and fellowship.

And believe that the disciples were the servants of God even as were the Israelitish prophets. They are capable of advancing rational, conclusive arguments concerning the prophethood of Christ, citing proofs and quoting prophecies that are not known to the Christians. These Bahai Jews acknowledge Mohammed also, and are able to offer rational and traditional proofs regarding his prophethood. Religious tolerance of this kind would have been hitherto impossible and inconceivable but during this century of radiance such progressive thought is made possible by the dispensation of Baha'u'llah.

All the teaching of the Prophets is one; one faith; one Divine light shining throughout the world. Now, under the banner of the oneness of humanity all people of all creeds should turn away from prejudice and become friends and believers in all the Prophets. As Christians believe in Moses, so the Jews should believe in Jesus. As the Muhammadans believe in Christ and Moses, so likewise the Jews and the Christians should believe in Muhammad. Then all disputes would disappear, all then would be united.

Perchance this may prove an impetus for their respect for, and belief in Christ, that this strife and contention that has lasted between the two nations for two thousand years may disappear, and the oneness of the world of humanity be unveiled.

Baha'u'llah spread the Cause of Christ and opened the book of the Christians and Jews. He removed the barriers of names. He proved that all the divine Prophets taught the same reality and that to deny One is to deny the Others, for all are in perfect oneness with God.

They do not realize the Bounty of this Manifestation in that it upholds the Truth of all the Religions and unifies mankind upon the basis of faith in one God.

Praise be to God that we have presented the Proofs of God and His Manifestations to the inhabitants of the East and the West. We have rend asunder the veils of misunderstanding from amongst the religions and nations. In many churches and innumerable gatherings we demonstrated that Abraham, Moses, Christ and Mohamad were the prophets of God.

Baha'u'llah states that Mohammed was a prophet of God, that Christ was the word of God and Moses the Friend of God. He affirms the principles, the spirit, the reality of each religion, giving lordly and abiding arguments and never indulging in vague sentiments.

The Beloved gently spoke to them about the fundamental identity of all religions - a principle which they quite disliked - the validity of the religion of Mohamad which stupefied them and many other points.

The truth of the religion of Moses and of Baha'u'llah is one.

Question: Are not all Christians Baha'is? Is there any difference?

Answer: When Christians act according to the teachings of Christ, they are called Baha'is. For the foundations of Christianity and the religion of Baha'u'llah are one. The foundations of all the divine Prophets and Holy Books are one. The difference among them is one of terminology only.

Bahá’u’lláh has announced that the foundation of all the religions of God is one, that oneness is truth and truth is oneness which does not admit of plurality. This teaching is new and specialized to this Manifestation.

The fundamental basis of the divine religions, having been forgotten, is being reformed and reestablished by the Bahai movement. It is a reformation. The basis of the divine religions is one. It is not multiple, for reality is one and not multiple. The fundamental basis of all the divine religions is one and the same. Because the Bahai movement has reformed and reestablished all the fundamental tenets of religions, therefore every religion will find its essential basis in the Bahai religion.

The Christians, the Jews, the Mohammadans, the Buddhists, the Zoroastrians, the Theosophists, the Freemasons, the Spiritualists, etc etc do find their highest aims in this Cause, while this cannot be applied to other religions, sects and societies.

In this Movement there is the quintessence of all religions, for all religions will find their purposes embodied in it.

What are their purposes? To discover the fundamental basis of Truth.

Every one receiving these instructions will think, 'How like my own religion!' This is because they are so broad that they include all truths; and all religions are built upon the same foundation. All intolerance must go.

The Baha'i message is a call to religious unity and not an invitation to a new religion, not a new path to immortality, God forbid!

It is the ancient path cleared of the debris of imaginations and superstitions of men, of the debris of strife and misunderstanding and is again made a clear path to the sincere seeker, that he may enter therein in assurance, and find that the Word of God is one Word, though the Speakers were many.

Question: "What do the Baha'is teach?"

Answer: "They teach that the internal, spiritual Idea is the same in all the religions, that a unique, general plan underlies the foundation of the past Faiths, that priestcraft has discredited the religion of God, that the palpitating divine Idea is hidden under the encrustation of dead ecclesiasticism, that religion must shuffle off its tattered garments of medieval Ages and put on the robe of Universal precepts of God."

In other words, all the religions and societies find their principles not only unfolded in this Dispensation but well-developed.

For example: The real principles of the Masonic Order are found in the Baha'i reality. The principles of Christ are found in the Baha'i Cause, and so are the principles of all other faiths.

A student of the modern methods of the higher criticism asked Abdu'l-Baha if he would do well to continue in the church with which he had been associated all his life, and whose language was full of meaning to him.

Abdu'l-Baha answered: "You must not dissociate yourself from it. Know this; the Kingdom of God is not in any Society; some seekers go through many Societies as a traveller goes through many cities till he reach his destination. If you belong to a Society already do not forsake your brothers. You can be a Baha'i-Christian, a Baha'i-Freemason, a Baha'i-Jew, a Baha'i-Muhammadan. The number nine contains eight, and seven, and all the other numbers, and does not deny any of them. Do not distress or deny anyone by saying 'He is not a Baha'i!' He will be known by his deeds. There are no secrets among Baha'is; a Baha'i does not hide anything."

In reply to the question about the church (most important to Mr Miller as he is considering resigning his chair at Columbia to enter the ministry) the Master said religion was one truth which the sectarians had divided; however, the Light can be found everywhere, and it was good to unite with the people, especially in work for humanity and when one's own motive was pure.

Teach them as the truths contained in their own religion; and after you have instructed them and gladdened their hearts, you may tell them of the Messenger, and remind them of the promise of Buddha that another teacher should come, teaching the same truths.

...it matters not what name each calls himself - The Great Work is One. Christ is ever in the world of existence. He has never disappeared out of it... Rest assured that Christ is present. The Spiritual beauty we see around us today is from the breathings of Christ.

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For each and every people, and every religion, await a Promised One, and Baha'u'llah is that One Who is awaited by all; and therefore the Cause of Baha'u'llah will bring about the oneness of mankind, and the tabernacle of unity will be upraised on the heights of the world, and the banners of the universality of all humankind will be unfurled on the peaks of the earth.

The Cause of Baha'u'llah is in fulfillment of all the prophecies in all the books of the religions of the world.

An extensive talk was given about the oneness of the Holy Manifestations - Abraham, Moses, Christ, Muhammad, the Bab, and the universal Manifestation of Baha'u'llah - which they listened to with the utmost joy and delight.

Read some passages from Tajalliyat, Kalimat, Ishraqat and the Kitab-i-Aqdas regarding the Most Great Peace, unity with all humanity, oneness of mankind, and fellowship and kindness, in such a way that it appears as a narrative.

Concerning what you wrote about those two eminent scholars seeking to uncover mysteries - they have surely become informed of the truth of all matters, the conduct and behavior of the friends, the foundation of the path of the Most Merciful, the oneness of mankind, the reconciliation of the hearts of all peoples, the unification of all sects and religions, sacrifice in the path of God, goodwill and kindness toward all humanity, and respect and consideration for religious leaders.

For in all churches and mosques there is the remembrance of God. All are specifically established for praising the Truth and educating and bringing together humanity. All peoples worship one God; none worship Satan. If one has an eye to reality, what difference is there between these temples?

If you outline such a practical, universal, all-inclusive program and then invite me I will come again to Green-Acre. You must lay such a foundation so that the influence of the confederation of religions and sects may permeate to all parts of the world from Green Acre and Green-Acre for all the future ages and cycles may become the standard-bearer of the oneness of the world of humanity.

However were it possible to bring about those ideal forces which shall make the realization of a world Conference of religions, it shall yield immensely greater results to the human race.

… Thus through the wise deliberations of such an august assemblage the religions of the world may abandon all those doctrines which are mere dogmas and traditions and retain only what is absolute and fundamental. In this manner they shall discover that the object of all the past religions has been no other than the inculcation of reality, and absolute reality is never susceptible to multiplication or disunion.

He asked what caused Turkey's weakness. I said it was due to the existence of different religions. He asked what the remedy was. I said, "All the religious leaders of the Ottoman and Islamic sects should gather in Istanbul and discuss agreement and unity on one religion."

Today 'Abdu'l-Baha told amazing stories regarding the World War and the proclamation of jihad by the Muslims, and He remarked, 'If the Covenant-breakers had not frustrated My efforts, I would have assembled some of the Muslim and the Christian chiefs and exhorted them to disallow internal conflict [in the nation]. However, the violators of the Covenant resisted and blocked Me.'

While i was living in Acca I was always able to establish peace amongst the Christians, the Jews and the Mohamadans, but when an orthodox priest or a Mullah or Rabbi would come to head these various sects, immediately the fire of hatred would be ignited by them.

Pursuing my conversation with the German Consul and others, I said: In reality all the inhabitants of Europe owe their allegiance to one Religion, and that is the Religion of His Holiness Christ; they also belong to one racial stock, which is no other than Aryan, which parent stock migrated from Asia in ancient times and settled in the different parts of that uninhabited country.

Leaving the prison of 'Akka, I traveled to countries in Africa, Europe and America, called people to these blessed teachings and invited nations and religions to the oneness of the foundation of all religions and the abandonment of prejudices, wars, dogmatic imitations and superstitions.

I have come to visit the peace societies of America because the fundamental principles of our Cause are universal peace and the promotion of the basic doctrine of the oneness and truth of all the divine religions. Differences between religions are due to misunderstanding and imitation. If these imitations were to be eliminated, all religions would be united.

I spoke to them of the oneness of humanity and the oneness of religions. I said that fanaticism must be forgotten and religions become one.

My discourses in various gatherings have been founded on principles that are in conformity with reality as well as with the utmost wisdom. For instance, I say that the foundation of all divine religions is the same and that the Prophets are the dawning places of truth. No one can take exception or say that the principles of the Prophets and the truth of their teachings are different. Then I state that the basic teachings of Baha'u'llah are universal peace; the oneness of humanity; prohibition of execration and calumny; association with the followers of all religions in harmony and unity of nations, of races and of governments; and such like.

Mothers will not give their sons as sacrifices upon the battlefield after twenty years of anxiety and loving devotion in rearing them from infancy, no matter what cause they are called upon to defend. There is no doubt that when women obtain equality of rights, war will entirely cease among mankind. Baha'u'llah promulgated the fundamental oneness of religion. He taught that reality is one and not multiple, that it underlies all divine precepts and that the foundations of the religions are, therefore, the same. Certain forms and imitations have gradually arisen. As these vary, they cause differences among religionists. If we set aside these imitations and seek the fundamental reality underlying our beliefs, we reach a basis of agreement because it is one and not multiple.

The teachings of Baha'u'llah are like the rays of the sun - they illuminate East and West, quicken the dead souls, unite different religions, and are proof of the oneness of God, for they gather all the peoples of the world beneath the tabernacle of the oneness of humanity.

My message is the oneness of humanity and universal peace; the harmony of true science and religion; the equality of rights; the elimination of religious, racial and political prejudices; the truth of all the divine religions; the removal of religious imitations and superstitions; the education of women to such a degree that they may have equal rights with men; the adjustment of the economic condition of all people so that if a rich man enjoys honor and affluence, the poor man may also have a mat to lie on and a house to dwell in; the establishment of spiritual civilization; the reformation of human morals; the unity of all religions, so that when the people of the world recognize the truth of all religions, they may become united since truth is one - if they follow imitation, war and dissension shall remain, because imitations are the cause of differences.

My objects are the establishment of the Cause of international arbitration, the promotion of the oneness of the world of humanity, the conformity of religion with science and reason, the elucidation of the essential unity of the divine religions, the explanation of the continuity of the prophetic revelation, the instruction of mankind in the knowledge of human brotherhood, the inculcation of the primordial oneness of all phenomena, the upraising of the standard of the solidarity of the human race, the creation of a nucleus for bringing about the universal race, the spread of the precepts of spiritual civilization, the teachings of the synthesis of the heavenly philosophy, the readjustment of the economic relations between the capitalists and laborers, so that each individual member of the world of humanity may enjoy the utmost welfare and prosperity, the organization of the Arbitral Court of justice - in order that all the nations of the world may settle before that Court their international disputes and thus remove all the traces of enmity and hatred and the upholding of the principle of one auxiliary, universal language.

Then the people divided this land into sections and named one "England," another "France," "Germany," " America," etc., and they began to fight and make battle. He created man gentle, peaceful and social, without sharp claws and long canine teeth. Then man invented the sword and death-dealing instruments.

Therefore, universal peace must be established, religions must be unified and equality must be accomplished.

I called all to the unity of the human world and invited them to universal peace, peace between nations, peace between religions, peace between races, and peace between regions. … And I proclaimed that the foundation of divine religions is one and these differences are from traditions - if the people of religions abandon traditions, all will unite.

My purpose is that perchance you may illumine the world of humanity; that all men may unite in perfect love and friendship; that religious prejudices, national prejudices, race distinctions, all may be completely abandoned.

The religions of today consist of dogmas. Because these dogmas differ from each other, discord and even hatred is manifest. Religion must be the basis of all good fellowship.

He has not tied together the iron bars - the religions of the world - with the rope of indulgent tolerance or ordinary amenities of human necessity which are liable to break at any time - but with the fire of the love of God He has melted them first and then casting them into one mould of spiritual brotherhood.

But if material civilization shall become organized in conjunction with divine civilization, if the man of moral integrity and intellectual acumen shall unite for human betterment and uplift with the man of spiritual capacity, the happiness and progress of the human race will be assured. All the nations of the world will then be closely related and companionable, and the religions will merge into one, for the divine reality within them all is one reality. Abraham proclaimed this reality; Jesus promulgated it; all the Prophets who have appeared in the world have founded Their teachings upon it.

Observe how the light of the glorious Gospel shone upon all regions and formed what a mighty nation, though at first it had no importance in the eyes of the Pharisees. Later it became clear that the heavenly teachings bring life to all horizons.

Therefore we hope that once again the reality of the teachings of the sacred religions, which is one teaching, will again illumine the horizons and the oneness of the human world will be proclaimed, and these dark clouds of war and conflict and imitative prejudices will be dispersed, and the light of truth will illumine both East and West.

I became very happy through reading it. I hope that this love and unity may increase day by day, and its effects may reach other regions. The purpose of the coming of the Manifestation of the Mount is the unification of the world of humanity.

I have come to America to raise the standard of universal peace and to promote the unity of mankind. My aim is to create love and harmony among the religions.

'Abdul-Baha replied: "While all the other religions are hating and denouncing each other, the Baha'is are the friends of all religions and the lovers of all peoples, and their aim is to unite and harmonize all."

The Blessed Beauty has provided the means for the unification of the world of humanity and has removed religious and social conflicts. No longer is a person to be defined by such labels as Jewish or Christian. All are embraced by the effulgence of the Faith, and all dwell beneath the tabernacle of unity.

The basic principles of all religions are the same and the dawning point. Hence, the Baha'is believe in the fundamental truth of all the religions and turn to the Sun of truth.

Reality is the love of God, reality is the knowledge of God, reality is the second birth, reality is receiving the breaths of the Holy Spirit, reality is the oneness of humanity, reality is fellowship between people, reality is friendship, reality is justice, reality is equality between people. All divine Prophets established and promoted this. Therefore divine religions are one.

Whosoever is the servant of God he is a follower of all the teachings of the Divine prophets; those spiritual teachings which were taught by Mohamad, Christ and other Messengers of God. We must obey and practice these principles.

The hearts are being illumined with the rays of the Sun of Reality and the souls are awakened through the Breathes of the Holy Spirit.

the Spirit of God is using these instruments in all parts of the world to create a mighty synthesis of all that which is best in the past religions - thus all mankind may associate with each other with the deepest fellow-feeling and universal consciousness.

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We must visualize the Universal harmony of religions.

Misunderstandings have been among the people. People have bowed to imitations. Now, praise be, a century of light ahs appeared, and superstition shall pass away. All seek truth in the foundations of religion, and all foundations of divine religion are one.

Each sentence is a prophecy soon in vision: that all religion become one, that all differences may be removed. And this is that, I hope, all people be of one creed and all nations as one.

This is the day of universal peace, of universal brotherhood, of a universal language and of the union of all religions.

May it promote the concept of one homeland, of one nation and of the basic unity of all religions.

Day by day you may become more quickened, and be the cause of converting the life of others; that all your intentions be devoted to the good pleasure of God, and all your wishes be to illuminate the world of God, so that the world of man may, through the light of love, be the cause of illuminating the world of humanity; that the world of humanity may become as one world, that mankind may become as one family; all nations as one nation; all religion be united and made one, all sect become one sect; until all humankind attain the greatest felicity under the bounty of the Merciful.

He illumined the world with the light of unity and commanded the peoples to manifest spiritual deeds and heavenly attributes.

It is sure and certain that the entreaty and the supplication of these servants will be acceptable at the Divine Threshold, for we wish naught among men and aim at nothing save the eradication of ignorant prejudices; so that all religions and races, embracing one another, may gather under the shade of the Pavilion of the Oneness of God.

O compassionate Lord! Unite all, reconcile the various religions, make of all nations one nation that they may become parts of one household and consider the whole earth as one homeland and live together in perfect unity.

O Thou Almighty Lord! Strengthen all mankind that they may do according to the instructions and teachings recorded in these writings, so that wars and strifes may be eliminated from the world of man; that the roots of enmity may be destroyed and the foundations of love and affection be established; that the hearts may be filled with love and the souls be attracted; that wisdom may advance and the faces become brightened and illumined; that there be no more wars and strifes and that reconciliation and peace appear; that the Unity of the world of man may pitch its tent on the "apex of the horizons," so that peoples and parties become as one nation, that different continents become as one continent and the whole earth as one land; that the sects of antagonizing and dogmatic religions be unified; that the world of creation be adorned and all the people of the earth abide in unity and peace. Verily, Thou art the Giver, the Bestower, the Beholder!

The Message of Krishna is the message of love. All God's prophets have brought the message of love. None has ever thought that war and hate are good. Every one agrees in saying that love and kindness are best.

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It is this Primal Will which appeareth resplendent in every Prophet and speaketh forth in every revealed Book. It knoweth no beginning, inasmuch as the First deriveth its firstness from It; and knoweth no end, for the Last oweth its lastness unto It. In the time of the First Manifestation the Primal Will appeared in Adam; in the day of Noah It became known in Noah... Hence the inner meaning of the words uttered by the Apostle of God, 'I am all the Prophets', inasmuch as what shineth resplendent in each one of Them hath been and will ever remain one and the same sun....

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The foundation of all the divine religions is one. All are based upon reality. Reality does not admit plurality...

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...the foundations of the religions of God are one foundation. This foundation is not multiple, for it is reality itself.

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...this Faith is now increasingly demonstrating its right to be recognized, not as one more religious system superimposed on the conflicting creeds which for so many generations have divided mankind and darkened its fortunes, but rather as a restatement of the eternal verities underlying all the religions of the past...

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...refusing to be labeled as a mere philosophy of life, or as an eclectic code of ethical conduct, or even as a new religion, the Faith of Baha'u'llah is now visibly succeeding in demonstrating its claim and title to be regarded as a World Religion, destined to attain, in the fullness of time, the status of a world-embracing Commonwealth...

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...the Revelation identified with Baha'u'llah abrogates unconditionally all the Dispensations gone before it, upholds uncompromisingly the eternal verities they enshrine...

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...the Revelation identified with Baha'u'llah ... readily and gratefully recognizes their respective contributions to the gradual unfoldment of one Divine Revelation, unhesitatingly acknowledges itself to be but one link in the chain of continually progressive Revelations...

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...the Revelation of God may be likened to the sun. No matter how innumerable its risings, there is but one sun, and upon it depends the life of all things. … The process of the rise and setting of the Sun of Truth will thus indefinitely continue--a process that hath had no beginning and will have no end.

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The fundamental principle enunciated by Baha'u'llah... is that religious truth is not absolute but relative, that Divine Revelation is a continuous and progressive process, that all the great religions of the world are divine in origin, that their basic principles are in complete harmony, are but facets of one truth, that their functions are complementary, that they differ only in the non-essential aspects of their doctrines, and represent successive stages in the spiritual evolution of human society.

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In the Bayan the Bab says that every religion was meant to be universal and also deserved to become so. The only reason why they have all failed to stand up to that mark was due to the inability of the followers who where entrusted with that task.

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My heart has become capable of every form: it is a pasture for gazelles and a convent for Christian monks; and a temple for idols and the pilgrim's Ka'ba and the tables of the Tora and the book of the Koran. I follow the religion of Love: whatever way Love's camels take, that is my religion and my faith.

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Say ye: We believe in Allah, and the revelation given to us, and to Abraham, Isma'il, Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes, and that given to Moses and Jesus, and that given to (all) Prophets from their Lord: We make no difference between one and another of them: And we bow to Allah (in Islam).

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One cannot call one world Faith superior to another, as they all come from God; they are progressive, each suited to certain needs of the times.

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