
One Light - many Lamps
Bahá’ís believe the crucial need facing humanity is to find a unifying vision of the future of society and of the nature and purpose of life. Such a vision unfolds in the writings of Bahá’u’lláh.
“Let your vision be world embracing…” — Bahá’u’lláh
Throughout history, God has sent to humanity a series of divine Educators—known as Manifestations of God—whose teachings have provided the basis for the advancement of civilization. Among these Manifestations still known to history are Abraham*, Krishna, Zoroaster, Moses, Buddha, Jesus, and Muhammad. Bahá’u’lláh, the latest of these Messengers, explained that the religions of the world come from the same Source and are in essence successive chapters of one religion from God.
Sabaean* - origin date unknown
Sabaeans insist their religion is one of the oldest in the world and consider themselves to be the followers of the message given to Adam, whom the Bible says is the first man created on Earth. Others say it is the religion revealed by Abraham (c. 1813 BCE). Sabeans are mentioned three times in the Quran as a 'People of the Book', implying they were the adherents of a 'Revealed' religion.
Krishna - c. 2000 BCE - spoke of the coming of the 10th Avatar (Krishna was the 8th & Buddha was the 9th Avatar) which indicates 7 Avatar's (or Manifistations of Divinity) before Him.
Moses - Moses was probably born c.1300 BCE in Goshen (Egypt)
Deuteronomy 18:15 The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me, unto him ye shall hearken;
Zoraster - Zoroastrian Faith - c.1000 BCE in Persia
Magi (three Kings or three Wise Men) - ... the term refers to the Persian priestly caste of Zoroastrianism. ....the teachings of the spiritual leader Zoroaster (also known as Zarathushtra)
Zoroastrian Prophecies for the Coming ... http://www.iawwai.com/ZoroastrianProphecies.html
Buddha - c 500 BCE
'I am not the first Buddha [ awakened one ] who has come upon the Earth, nor will I be the last. In due time another Buddha will rise in the world, a holy one, a supreme enlightened one, endowed with auspicious wisdom embracing the universe, an incomparable leader of men, a ruler of gods and mortals. He will reveal to you the same eternal truths, which I have taught you. He will establish his law [ Religion ], glorious in its origins, glorious at the climax and glorious at the goal in the spirit and the letter. He will proclaim a righteous life wholly perfect and pure, such as I now proclaim. His disciples will number many thousands, while mine number many hundreds. He will be known as Maitreya.' - Buddha Gautama (Siddhartha Gautama)
Jesus the Christ - c. 1 CE
(46) For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me.
(47) But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words? The Gospels, John 5: 46 - 47
Muhammad c. 570 CE
Founder of Islam. According to Islamic doctrine, he was a prophet, sent to preach and confirm the monotheistic teachings of Adam, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and other prophets. He taught these central principles; that "God is One", that complete "Islām" (submission) to God is the right way of life .
Twin Manifestations 1819, 1817 CE
The Báb - Born in - Shiraz, Persia on October 20, 1819. The Báb (which in English means 'the Gate) who announced during his ministry 'The One whom God would make manifest' publicly declared his mission in 1844.
Baha'u'llah - Born in Tehran Persia (now Iran) on November 12, 1817, publicly declared his mission in April 1863 founding The Baha'i Faith.
Divine Educators, a brief overview - with some links for further investigation
Baha'i Principles
The oneness of God
The essential unity of religion
The unity of mankind
Equality of men and women
Elimination of all forms of prejudice
Harmony of religion and science
Independent investigation of truth
The need for universal compulsory education
The need for a universal auxiliary language
Obedience to government and non-involvement in partisan politics
Elimination of extremes of wealth and poverty