Understanding the Bahá’í Faith through Study of the Christian Faith

Abstract

Any discussion of the Bahá'í Faith with Christians will reveal certain common criticisms of it. The purpose of this paper is not to discuss specific criticisms and responses in detail, but to illustrate an approach to responding to criticisms based on an understanding of the seeker's own religion. Adib Taherzadeh, in The Revelation of Bahá'u'lláh, describes such an approach as follows:The Kitáb-i-Íqán is the best example of how to teach the Cause of God. Instead of explaining at once the proofs of the authenticity of the Message of the Báb, Bahá'u'lláh first speaks about other Prophets, portrays Their lives and Their sufferings, demonstrates the truth of Their missions and describes the common features of Their Faiths. In this way He brings to the understanding of the reader the truth of his own religion and enables him to recognize the reality of his own Prophet. Having built this strong foundation He then, towards the end of the book, speaks of the Báb and His Message and applies to this new Revelation the standards He has applied in verifying the truth of the other Prophets (vol. 1, p. 161).