Bahá'ís believe that all the great world religions have been inspired by God. In describing the various religions that have appeared in history, Bahá'u'lláh has said:

"These principles and laws, these firmly established and mighty systems, have proceeded from One Source and are the rays of One Light."

Bahá'u'lláh taught that the founders of the major world religions, including Krishna, Moses, Zoroaster, Buddha, Jesus Christ and Muhammad, are all messengers of the same God. Their teachings were geared to the people, the time and the part of the world in which they appeared.

Bahá'ís are deeply committed to promoting dialogue and understanding with other faiths:

"Consort with the followers of all religions in a spirit of friendliness and fellowship," Bahá'u'lláh advised, "The manifold systems of religious belief, should never be allowed to foster the feelings of animosity among men ...

These principles and laws, these firmly-established and mighty systems, have proceeded from one Source ... That they differ one from another is to be attributed to the varying requirements of the ages in which they were promulgated."

The soul, which comes into existence at the time of conception, is what distinguishes human beings. The soul is characterised by many attributes or virtues that mirror the qualities of God - for example - courage, generosity, honesty. Our life on earth is considered to be a workshop for the development of these attributes. Bahá'ís believe that after the death of the body, the human soul survives continues its journey. Bahá'u'lláh says:

"... the soul is a sign of God, a heavenly gem whose reality the most learned of men hath failed to grasp, and whose mystery no mind, however acute, can ever hope to unravel. ... If it be faithful to God, it will reflect His light, and will, eventually, return unto Him."

Home