Jesus, the only way to get to God?

 The reason I find myself addressing this one particular topic, in a book that is clearly about the oneness of religions, and not about any one particular religion, is because of a rather distasteful incident that occurred to me when I was in the checkout lane of a local retail establishment the other day. It started when I approached the checker and was asked, how am I doing? and in a cheerful voice I stated “I was doing my Bahá’í best to make the world a better place,” “preparing to put a book about the Oneness of Religions on line to help bring some much needed peace and unity to this strife torn world we find ourselves living in.'” But, to my surprise, this person, instead of giving me a positive response for trying to do something positive for the world of mankind, told me that Jesus Christ is the one and only way to get to God and that I, and everyone else who thought like me, who did not think and believe the way he did, were all going straight to hell! To say the least, this was a very distasteful comment on the part of someone who is apparently a really small minded individual. I mean to condemn someone you don’t even know to hell’s fire for all of eternity is not something you should do lightly; if you have any common sense what-so-ever. And though I never said anything about this to the store management, I have never seen that person working at that store again, and I can only assume that someone else in line had something to say to the management about the incident. I on the other hand, have heard such condemning remarks like these, from such people like this person before, on many such occasions. How anyone can assume to really know what God’s over all plans are for someone’s future let alone what their eternal future is going to be is beyond me? But then, maybe these people dictate to God what He is going to do with His creation. Maybe these people are really the true creators, and we should all just forget about all of the love, mercy and compassion we have read and learned about in The Holy Bible; because these people proclaim that hells fires are what is best for us; because these people dare to condemn us because we dare to think and investigate for ourselves and not just accept whatever we are being told to believe in is the absolute truth? Naaa! I think I will just continue to believe that God does, in fact, truly love us and that He really does want us to study everything we can find out about Him and use our very own minds and reason, to love Him, for Who He is; and try to become more like Him. And, if this means I will have to put up with the condemnation and the belittling altitudes of certain small closed minded people, so be it. I would rather think for myself and come to my very own conclusions as to what I believe God really wants for me, instead of just fitting in and being told what to do and think by someone who may not even have a clue as to what God really wants for us. I mean, I’m the first one to admit, I don’t have all the answers, I only know what God chooses to share with me in my readings and studies, nothing more. Anyway, getting back to this man’s assertion that: Jesus Christ is the one and only way, and that we can only get to God through Jesus and therefore we can only get into heaven by being a true born again Christian? I decided to look and see what the bible, and the other religious writings of God, really had to say about this subject, and not just accept this condemnation from this self-righteous, fanatical religious bigot who seems to be more interested in condemning the rest of the world then helping to save it; and this is what I found.

As before stated: 

Some people say, that Jesus Christ is the one and only possible way, for man to get to God; and so therefore, some people believe that, Jesus Christ is, absolutely, the only possible way for man to get into heaven? Acts: 4:12 “Neither is there salvation in any other: For there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” and John: 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.'” But there is much more to this story than what these people seem to think or choose to believe; you see God‘s hands are not bound by these people (and this choice is absolutely not their choice to make)! You see, that choice (BELONGS, ONLY) to The One, True Creator – (PERIOD)!!! So who are we to ostracize the rest of the world, by telling them their religious beliefs are all false, as though we really know God’s thoughts and dictate His actions?

With the advent of Jesus Christ and the coming of his teachings; the Jewish people use to tell the Christians that Jesus couldn’t possibly be the Christ, because The hands of The Creator were tied to them by the words and teachings of Moses and the prophets of The Old Testament: Baha’i Faith: “‘The hand of God,’ say the Jews, ‘is chained up.'” “Chained up be their own hands; And for that which they have said, they were accursed.” “Nay, outstretched are both His hands!” “The hand of God is above their hands.” “He saith: ‘How false is that which the Jews have imagined!‘” “How can the hand of Him Who is the King in truth, Who caused the countenance of Moses to be made manifest, and conferred upon Him the robe of Prophethood; — how can the hand of such a One be chained and fettered?” “How can He be conceived as powerless to raise up yet another Messenger after Moses?” “Behold the absurdity of their saying; how far it hath strayed from the path of knowledge and understanding!” (Baha’u’llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u’llah, p. 23)  Judaism: Isaiah: 59:1 “Behold, The LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither His ear heavy, that it cannot hear;” 59:2 “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you, that He will not hear.” 46:12 “Hearken unto Me, ye stouthearted, that are far from righteousness;” 46:13 “I bring near My righteousness; it shall not be far off, and My salvation shall not tarry.” Malachi: 3:7 “Return unto Me, and I will return unto you, saith The LORD of hosts.” Jeremiah: 23:23 “Am I a God at hand, saith The LORD, and not a God afar off.” Haggai: “I am with you, saith The LORD.”  Christianity: Acts: 7:49 “Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool saith The Lord;” 7:50 “Hath not my hand made all these things?” James: 4:8 “Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.” 4:10 “Humble yourselves in the sight of The Lord, and He shall lift you up.” Acts: 17:27 “That they should seek The Lord, if haply they might feel after Him, and find Him, though He be not far from every one of us.” Baha’i Faith: “Thou art, verily, the All-Powerful, He Whom nothing whatsoever can frustrate.” “Thou art He who from everlasting hath, through the potency of His will, been all-powerful, and will continue to remain the same for ever and ever.” “Glorified be Thy name, O Thou Who art the King of all Kings!” “He is the one God, the Incomparable, the Ever-Abiding, the Most Powerful, the All-Glorious, the All-Wise.” 59. “O SON OF BEING!” “Thy heart is My home; sanctify it for My descent. Thy spirit is My place of revelation; cleanse it for My manifestation.” “Thou hast ever been, through the wonders of Thy generosity and bounty, supreme over all things, art powerful to do all things, and art nearer unto all things than they are unto themselves.” (Prayers and Meditations by Baha’u’llah, pp. 17, 28, 30, 38 and 87, Baha’u’llah, The Arabic Hidden Words)

You see, many of the Jewish people failed to see or realize the true spirit and the true spiritual nature of the word of God at the time of the advent of Jesus Christ:  Judaism: Deuteronomy: 29:4 “Yet The LORD hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day.” For, Proverbs: 25:2 “It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.” With this one phrase David says it all. It is the Glory of God to conceal hidden spiritual things in His word, but it is up to us to search out the matter. Then, Isaiah: 42:19 “Who is blind, but my servant or deaf?” 42:20 “Seeing many things, but thou observest not; opening the ears, but he heareth not.” 42:18 “Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see;” and failing to see this true spiritual nature found within The Creators words, this is how they failed to recognize him, Jesus,  as the one true one from The Creator: Baha’i Faith: “When Christ appeared, twenty centuries ago, although the Jews were eagerly awaiting His Coming, and prayed every day, with tears, saying: ‘O God, hasten the Revelation of the Messiah,’ yet when the Sun of Truth dawned, they denied Him and rose against Him with the greatest enmity, and eventually crucified that divine Spirit, the Word of God, and named Him Beelzebub, the evil one, as is recorded in the Gospel. The reason for this was that they said: ‘The Revelation of Christ, according to the clear text of the Torah, will be attested by certain signs, and so long as these signs have not appeared, whoso layeth claim to be a Messiah is an impostor. Among these signs is this, that the Messiah should come from an unknown place, yet we all know this man’s house in Nazareth, and can any good thing  come out of Nazareth? The second sign is that He shall rule with a rod of iron, that is, He must act with the sword, but this Messiah has not even a wooden staff. Another of the conditions and signs is this: He must sit upon the throne of David and establish David’s sovereignty. Now, far from being enthroned, this man has not even a mat to sit on. Another of the conditions is this: the promulgation of all the laws of the Torah; yet this man has abrogated these laws, and has even broken the sabbath day, although it is the clear text of the Torah that whosoever layeth claim to prophethood and revealeth miracles and breaketh the sabbath day, must be put to death. Another of the signs is this, that in His reign justice will be so advanced that righteousness and well-doing will extend from the human even to the animal world — the snake and the mouse will share one hole, and the eagle and the partridge one nest, the lion and the gazelle shall dwell in one pasture, and the wolf and the kid shall drink from one fountain. Yet now, injustice and tyranny have waxed so great in His time that they have crucified Him! Another of the conditions is this, that in the days of the Messiah the Jews will prosper and triumph over all the peoples of the world, but now they are living in the utmost abasement and servitude in the empire of the Romans. Then how can this be the Messiah promised in the Torah?‘” “In this wise did they object to that Sun of Truth, although that Spirit of God was indeed the One promised in the Torah. But as they did not understand the meaning of these signs, they crucified the Word of God. Now the Bahá’ís hold that the recorded signs did come to pass in the Manifestation of Christ, although not in the sense which the Jews understood, the description in the Torah being allegorical. For instance, among the signs is that of sovereignty. For Bahá’ís say that the sovereignty of Christ was a  heavenly, divine, everlasting sovereignty, not a Napoleonic sovereignty that vanisheth in a short time. For well nigh two thousand years this sovereignty of Christ hath been established, and until now it endureth, and to all eternity that Holy Being will be exalted upon an everlasting throne.” (Selections from the Writings of Abdu’l-Baha, p. 44) “The Jews still await the coming of the Messiah, and pray to God day and night to hasten His advent.” (Abdu’l-Baha, Paris Talks, p. 54)

Well I ask you, what has changed? God‘s message was spiritual and allegorical then and it is spiritual and allegorical now:  Christianity: John: 4:24 “God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit,” 4:23 “for The Father seeketh such to worship Him.” For, 1 Corinthians: 2:4 “my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit.” For, 2:10 “God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea the deep things of God, (the hidden meanings and allusions found within His teachings).” 2:11 “For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.” For, “the Sayings (God’s Holy words and teachings) are not intended to be interpreted literally!” (From The Gospel of Thomas) “For, it is impossible to understand (all) the hidden truths of God which are in His sayings, and the multitude of their meanings!” (St. John) God‘s Holy words and teachings were spiritual in nature at the time of Moses; His words and teachings were spiritual in nature at the time of Jesus Christ; what has changed today from the days of yesteryear? The Creators words and teachings, of-course, are still spiritual in nature in this present day and time, not literal; but many people of the church, like in the days of yesteryear, are still failing to see this and realize this. Many Christians of today are still thinking or implying that God‘s hands and actions are tied to their beliefs and actions, by the words of Jesus Christ, the disciples and the words of Paul. Many of these people of today are taking the words of Jesus and The Bible all too literally, like the early Jewish people did in the time of Jesus Christ. Well, my statement to them is that The Creator’s hands are not tied to them and their beliefs, any more then God‘s hands were tied and chained to the hands of the Jewish people during the time of Jesus. The Jewish people didn’t understand the true spiritual symbolic, allegorical nature of The Creator’s words back then, any more than many Christians of today. Many Christians of today, are still failing to understanding the true spiritual symbolic, allegorical nature of God‘s holy words. So therefore, many Christians of today are failing to understand the meanings of some of the statements found within The Holy Bible, and are therefore turning some people off to Christianity by their words and actions, and in many cases their lack of empathy for the believers of other religions; because many Christians just don’t accept other peoples religious beliefs as being from God and don’t mind saying or showing it. But the big question here is; what if these people don’t understand their bible any better than the Jewish people did during the time of Jesus Christ? Many of these people are saying about their book; this is literally the way things have to be and the way things have to happen, but what if that is not really the case; because these words are meant to be taken spiritually and symbolically, not literally like in days gone by.  

Be aware:

 CHRISTIANITY: 1 Corinthians: 14:33 “God is not the author of confusion, but of peace.” So if a statement we hear or a notion we entertain leads to a lot of confusion and conflict, then we are probably not fully understanding what we are reading completely. Indeed, there is probably much more for us to know about whatever we are believing or being told to believe; because, I again state, “God is not the author of confusion, but of peace;” and so whatever is causing all of this confusion, unrest and contention within the human race, is not of God; but is strictly a perception or a creation from out of the mind of man and not a real, actual directive or a valid, factual instruction given to us from The Creator Himself! Because, “God (again) is not the author of confusion, but of peace!” For,  Judaism: Lamentations: 3:38 “Out of the mouth of The Most High proceedeth not evil.” And so, God Will Absolutely Not Bend His Will to Accommodate The Superstitions of Men!  Christianity: 1 Corinthians: 2:14 For, “the natural man receiveth not the things of The Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” John: 6:63 For, “the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life;” but, Romans: 8:5 “they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.” 1 Corinthians: 2:14 For, “the things of The Spirit, (the words, and the teachings and the knowledge found within the words of The Creator); they are spiritually discerned.”

 And so we find David asking:

 JUDAISM: Psalms: 90:13 “Return O Lord, how long?” 90:14 “O satisfy us early with thy mercy;” 90:16 “Let Thy work appear unto thy servants, and Thy glory unto their children.” 90:17 “And let the beauty of The LORD our God be upon us!” David pleads here, beseeching The One True Creator, it would appear, for the coming of one like unto Moses or in essence, the return of Moses; or in this case, the coming of Jesus Christ into the world of mankind. And Moses, further focuses on this subject in 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, (one like Moses);” but let me ask a question here; was this really the very first coming of the essence of Jesus Christ unto mankind? Because Luke tells us:  Christianity: Luke: 1:70 “He (God) spake by the mouth of His holy prophets, which have been since the world began, that we should be saved.” For, Acts: 3:21 “God hath spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.”   Hosea: 12:9 “And I that am The Lord thy God, I have also spoken by the prophets, and I have (used) multiplied visions and used similitude’s, by the ministry of the prophets.” For, 4 Kings: 21:10 “The LORD spake by His servants the prophets.” But then Paul tells us:  Acts: 4:12 “Neither is there salvation in any other.” And John tells us: John: 14:6 “no man cometh unto The Father, but by me.” And then John The Baptist tells us: John: 3:36 “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life.” So some Christians believe that every other religion on this earth is false, because of statements like these, Though these statements, which I will touch on later, are spiritual similitude’s as-well; as can be seen by notions such as this: many people, of The Bible, have come to the illogical assumption, that no one was saved or allowed into heaven from any religion, before the sacrifice of Jesus Christ; and believe that everyone that was born before this sacrifice, Jesus made for humanity, was locked away in hell for that duration of time; no matter what their life’s had been like in this earthly life! But then Abdu’l-Baha, in The Baha’i Faith, tells us: Baha’i Faith: “according to the suppositions of the People of the Book (The Christians) (if) the meaning were taken in its exoteric sense, it would be absolute injustice and complete predestination. If Adam sinned by going near the forbidden tree, what was the sin of the glorious Abraham, and what was the error of Moses the Interlocutor? What was the crime of Noah the Prophet? What was the transgression of Joseph the Truthful? What was the iniquity of the Prophets of God, and what was the trespass of John the Chaste? Would the justice of God have allowed these enlightened Manifestations, on account of the sin of Adam (one man), to find torment in hell until Christ came and by the sacrifice of Himself saved them from excruciating tortures? Such an idea is beyond every law and rule and cannot be accepted by any intelligent person.” (Some Answered Questions, p. 125) And Jesus Christ further tells us, that this was not the way things are, in Luke, where he describes people going on to heaven or hell at the time of their death:  Christianity: Luke: 16:19 “There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:” 16:20 “And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,” 16:21 “And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table.” 16:22 “And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;” 16:23 “And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.” 16:24 “And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me,” 16:25 “But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.” Clearly, Jesus indicates, with this story, that we pass on into heaven or hell at the end of our lives and not this belief that everyone was locked away in hell till the sacrifice of Jesus, which would be a grave injustice. This further indicates and proves to the truly observant investigators, that the words of God can be allusive and perplexing and easily confused and misunderstood by men; who may come to believe in half truths or false beliefs, while there may be other understandings of The Creators words to be understood. I find that the verses many Christians use to separate themselves and their religion from the other religions, also have other intended meaning when we look at the rest of The Bible for a reference, as we are told to do:  Christianity: Galatians: 3:10 “Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book.” James: 2:10 “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, (pick and choose what they wish to believe and follow, while ignoring the rest), (they) he is guilty of (disobeying) all (of The Holy Word of God).”  Judaism: Deuteronomy: 27:26 “Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them.” 24:17 “Thou shalt not pervert the judgment (the word), Malachi: 2:7 “For, ye have not kept My ways, but have been partial in the law (picked and chosen what you want to believe in, while ignoring the rest of God’s Holy Word).” Baha’i Faith: “We must never take one sentence in the Teachings and isolate it from the rest,” for our own benefit or interpretation, while ignoring what the rest of the teachings do in fact teach and say. (Compilations, Lights of Guidance, p. 403) This also applies to the acknowledgement and acceptance of other manifestations (messengers) of God by many Christians.

Peter, Paul, Luke, Hosea, Zechariah, Isaiah etc… further elaborate on the recurring, eternal nature of the prophets, indicating the repeated, returning nature of the prophets; telling us that God has been talking to all of mankind throughout the ages through His prophets:  Christianity: 2 Peter: 3:1 “I (God) stir up your pure minds,” 3:2 “that ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before, by the holy prophets, as they were from the beginning of the creation.” And Hosea states:  Judaism: Hosea: 12:9 “I That Am The Lord thy God; I have also spoken by the prophets, (Manifestations) and I have multiplied visions and used similitude’s (allegories), by the ministry of the prophets,” and Paul further states:  Acts: 3:20 “God hath spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began:” (unto all of the people; unto all of humanity and mankind, not to just a few certain people living here on this planet with us; or to only the Jewish and Christian people!). And then, Zechariah tells us:  Zechariah: 7:7 “Should ye not hear the words which The LORD hath cried by the former prophets.” 8:9 “Thus saith The LORD of Hosts; — hear these words by the mouth of the prophets.” And then, Paul further conveys to us that:  Hebrews: 9:24 “Christ, then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world,” which actually makes quite a lot of sense; because Paul further tells us: Hebrews: 1:1 “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners, spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,” and then Luke further tells us: 11:49 “I (God) will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute;” 11:50 “that the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world may be required of this generation.” For, 1 Peter: 1:11 “The Spirit of Christ, which was in them,” (or the spirit of Christ was in them as in, all of the holy manifestations or messengers of God; for Christ’s spirit or essence was to be found within all of the Holy Manifestations of God, and their spirit was to be found within Jesus; in-other-words, the repeated, returning nature of the prophets); with that spirit being the very same essence or spirit of God, that is also to be found within all of His holy manifestations (or messengers) to mankind; for Moses then further informs us:  Exodus: 4:12 “I (God) will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.” And, Deuteronomy: 18:18 “I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, (one like Moses) and will put My words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.” 18:19 “And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto My words, which he shall speak in My name, I will require it of him.” And so, we see the truth of these words spoken by Jesus, being made manifest:  John: 14:11 “I am in The Father, and The Father in me.” 1 Peter: And so, “It (That Spirit), testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow, unto whom it was revealed; not unto themselves, but The Holy Ghost (that The Creator) sent down from heaven (unto them)!” You see, John: 14:9 “Jesus saith, —- he that hath seen me hath seen The Father;” for, 14:10 “I am in the Father, and the Father (is) in me!” “The words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself; but The Father that dwelleth in me.” But I find that a great many of the people living in this world of today, don’t really see Jesus Christ and Moses as being alike or like one another; despite these spoken words from Moses:  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;” and, 18:18 “I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, (one like Moses) and will put My words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.” Despite the fact that Paul tells us:  Acts: 3:22 “For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall The Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.” 3:23 “And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people,” and Paul further tells us: Acts: 7:37 “This is that Moses (or Jesus the return of Moses spoken of in Deuteronomy, according to Paul), which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear.” and Christ further tells us: John: 14:10 “I am in the Father, and the Father (is) in me!” “The words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself; but The Father that dwelleth in me,” because John 8:26 “I speak to the world those things which I have heard of Him.” For, John 8:28 “I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.” John 12:49 “For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, He gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.” John: 7:16 For, “My doctrine is not mine, but His that sent me!” Even though Moses further tells us, that the words that he spoke, did in-fact, come from The Creator, as-well:  Numbers 16:28 For, “I have not done them of mine own mind.” Exodus: 4:11 “And The LORD said unto him, I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say;” 4:15 “And I will be with thy mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do.” And, Isaiah further tells us: Isaiah: 63:11 “remembered the days of old, Moses, and his people, saying, Where is He that brought them up out of the sea with the shepherd of His flock? Where is He that put His Holy Spirit within him (Moses),” “that led them by the right hand of Moses?” That spirit of God The Creator, you see, was also to be found within the prophet Moses, as-well, so God did in-fact, raise up a prophet like Moses in Jesus Christ! And then, Luke, Paul, Peter, Isaiah and Zachariah further tell us: 4 Kings: 21:10 “The LORD spake by His servants the prophets.” and  Luke: 1:70 “He (God) spake by the mouth of His holy prophets, which have been since the world began.” And then Acts: 3:20 “God hath spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began,” then also 2 Peter: 3:1 “Be mindful of the words which were spoken before, by the holy prophets, as they were from the beginning of the creation.” and finally Zechariah tells us:  Zechariah: 7:7 “Should ye not (all of us) hear the words which The LORD hath cried by the former prophets.” And then, Peter further tells us:  1 Peter: 1:11 “the Spirit of Christ – was in them (or the spirit of Jesus Christ was in all of the other manifestations of The Creator, again the repeated, returning nature of the prophets is seen here in this statement).” How else could this statement from Paul: Hebrews: 9:24 “Christ, then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world;” as-well-as, all of these other verses and statements from Christ, Moses, Peter, Paul, Luke, Hosea, Isaiah and Zechariah all be true; unless Christ and all of the other manifestations of The Creator, all consider themselves to be unified, and one and the same with one another, as far as The One True Creator is concerned?

Consider the sun, even though some of the days of the week may appear to differ from one another, with some days being cloudy and dreary, and some days being completely cloud free and sunny; yet the sun itself remains unaffected shining up above, sending down its light onto the world, impervious to the goings on in the world. Well God is much like the sun, He sends down His teachings like the sun sends down its rays of light; only The Creator sends down His teachings, unto mankind through His chosen teachers to distribute His words amongst the human world. What mankind decides to do with His words and teachings, has no effect on The Creator Himself, what-so-ever; and if the days of the week appear to differ from one another, the light still comes from the sun and the teachings still come from GOD! But, if some of the people in the world, appear to like or want to hold onto one particular day, of the week, over another; Saying, this day of the week is special, and the only day of the week that is important; does that really effect the days of the week or in any way effect the sun up above? Do people really believe that it affects The Creator one way or another if people believe or don’t believe, and choose to only believe and hold onto one of His messengers and ignore the rest? That decision only affects the people making that choice, and only closes doors to other sources of knowledge whereby The Creator may desire to teach them by; though that decision, may also close the doors of understanding and knowledge to other people, and other cultures around the world; and this decision, may also actually make, some of the more disturbed, dangerously-fanatical people more hateful and belligerent towards other people who do not think just exactly like them!  Judaism: Zechariah: 7:11 “But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear.” 7:12 “Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone lest they should hear the law, and the words, which The LORD of Hosts hath sent in His Spirit by the former prophets.”  Luke: 16:31 “And he said – if they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.”

Baha’i Faith: “Some souls imagine that there is a cessation to the bounties of God, as if at one time the divine bestowals are poured out, at another time withheld from mankind and ceasing. If we carefully reflect upon this matter we find that such a statement is in fact a denial of Divinity, for the reality of Divinity is evidenced by virtue of its outpourings or bestowals. The cessation of the bestowals of God at any time would be equivalent to the cessation of the sovereignty of God. The sun is the sun because of its ray and heat; it is the sun because of its bestowal; but if at any time its effulgence, splendor and radiance should cease to emanate, it would no longer be the sun. Consequently, it is inconceivable that the bounties of Divinity should cease, for the attributes of Divinity are ever-existent. God has ever been divine; He hath ever exercised His sovereignty and still possesses everlasting divinity and sovereignty. He is like the sun, which has ever had its splendor, heat and radiance and will continue to possess these bounties and attributes. If at any time its splendor and heat should cease, it would no longer be pronounced the sun. Therefore, the sound reasoning mind concludes that the bounties of The Holy Spirit are continuous and that holy souls are ever the recipients of these divine emanations. The potency of The Holy Spirit is everlasting, not temporary; for the sanctity of The Holy Spirit is its power and efficacy manifest in the spirits it quickens. We pray that all of us may become recipients of its bestowals, that we may be illumined by the lights of heaven, edified through the teachings of God and imbued with the virtues of divine character, as mirrors reflecting the light of the sun. Unless the mirror reflects the sunlight, it is only dark, inanimate matter. Likewise, the hearts and spirits of mankind, when deprived and without their portion of the bounties of the Holy Spirit, linger in the abyss of darkness and ignorance.” (Abdu’l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 313)

And so we find, that a great many of the people living in the past, and in this world of today, have closed their eyes, chosen knowingly or through ignorance to stop up their ears, and utterly and completely ignored or misinterpreted God’s Holy Words and Writings;  Christianity: Mark: 8:18 “Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember?,” and so they have thereby become: Matthew: 15:14 “blind leaders of the blind; and if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch (or both shall fall into the torments of hell)!” And so we now find, that a great many of the people living in this world of today, fall into this class of people, in that: John: 4:22 “Ye worship ye know not what!” Mark: 7:7 “Howbeit in vain do they worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” 7:8 “For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.” 7:9 “And full well ye reject the commandment(s) of God, that ye may keep your own tradition(s);” 2 Corinthians: 4:2 “handling the word of God deceitfully.” Matthew: 15:9 “But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” Romans: 1:23 “And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man.” And yet, some people think that God ends or is going to end His prophets with their prophet! Mankind is clearly tampering with and misunderstanding The Creator’s teachings and Holy Covenant:  Islam: 78. “There is among them a section who distort the Book with their tongues; (as they read or speak) you would think it is a part of the Book, but it is no part of the Book, and they say, ‘That is from God,’ but it is not from God: it is they who tell a lie against God, and (well) they know it!” (The Qur’an (Yusuf Ali tr), Surah 3) Judaism: Isaiah: 59:13 “Lying against The LORD, and departing away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood.” So, it makes absolutely no real kind of sense that God wouldn’t send another Divine teacher to mankind to refresh and renew their understanding of His Holy Word. He does this so mankind can grow in understanding and give us fresh knowledge of what He is trying to get us to understand, and see beyond the confusion of the words of man.

Clearly there was and is a lot of misunderstanding and a lot of confusion when it comes to man’s understanding of the biblical scriptures found within the Christian bible; and here is where we also run into some other problems within the teachings of The New Testament: for you see, Peter, the one chosen by Jesus to be the next in the line of succession for the people to turn unto, tells us that:  Christianity: 2 Peter: 3:15 “Our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given unto him, hath written unto you;” 3:16 “as also, in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood.” You see, Peter clearly tells us that the writings and teachings of Paul are very confusing, and very hard to understand; which he then also tells us: 3:16 “they that are unlearned and unstable wrest (or wrestle with his teachings, which can lead to more confusion and more misinterpretation, which in turn can lead), unto their own destruction.” So Peter further tells us: 3:17 “Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.” And then fall 3:16 “unto their own destruction,” 2 Timothy: 4:3 “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts, shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;” 4:4 “and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables;” Colossians: 2:22 “which all are to perish with the using; after the commandments and doctrines of men?” 1 Timothy: 4:7 So, “refuse profane and old wives’ fables;” and 1:4 “neither give heed to fables.” Romans: 16:17 “Now I beseech you brethren, mark them which cause divisions,” Ephesians: 4:14 “that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.” Titus: Therefore guard yourselves, 1:14 “not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.”

So here we can clearly see, that there was, and still is a lot of confusion and a lot of misunderstandings, to be found within humanity, as-far-as our poor, pathetically, obscure understandings of The Holy Writings of The Creator is concerned; and still a lot more misinformation that is being spread about, by people who just don’t know or are confused themselves:  Christianity: Matthew: 22:29 And, “Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures;” or other people of devious motives, using the scriptures for their very own gain, wanting something from you or something for themselves!  Christianity: Ephesians: 4:14 “by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.” Romans: 1:25 “Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature (the world or man’s creation) more than The Creator, who is blessed forever.”   Judaism: Isaiah: 59:13 “Lying against The LORD, and departing away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood.”

You see, The Holy scriptures are and can be quite confusing leaving the believers uncertain as to just where they should turn for true knowledge and enlightenment; and just who they should trust to guide them. But then, there is still another problem occurring here, that needs to be addressed; and that is: many of the people of faith, have failed to realize that some of the statements Paul makes, are completely from his very own thoughts and conjectures. He tells us this many times in his writings; for those people who may doubt this. But this is clear to people with discerning minds, who are actually paying attention. Here are just a few of Paul’s many quotes on this subject, that need to be looked at:  Christianity: Galatians: 3:15 “Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; (with the words of a man) Though it be but a man’s covenant.” And, 1 Corinthians: 7:25 “I have no commandment of The Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of The Lord to be faithful.” And so, 11:13 “Judge in yourselves.” 11:16 “But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.” And again, Romans: 6:19 “I speak after the manner of men (the words of a man).” So this is something that also leads to confusion, for mankind, within the Holy Writings of The Creator. If I run into any discrepancies between what Paul states, and what Jesus Christ has to say or do; I go with the words and actions of Jesus Christ every time. People you should really think about this, whenever confusion arises within The Holy Teachings or you are unsure of something within The Holy Writings. It also needs to be remembered that other men in this world are also giving us their conjectures and human reasonings as well, so be on guard; you should read and study for yourselves:  1 Thessalonians: 5:21 “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good,” or 5:15 “follow that which is good!” 2 Timothy: 2:15 “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 1 John: 4:1 “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God:” Colossians: 2:8 Then “beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world,” 2 Corinthians: 4:2 “handling the word of God deceitfully.” Then 3:2 “set your affection on things above not on things on the earth,” 2 Timothy 1:13 and “hold fast the form of sound words;” 1:14 “that good thing which was committed unto thee keep, 2:7 and The Lord give thee understanding in all things.” So, John: 5:39 “Search the scriptures;” Mark: 4:24 “Take heed what ye hear, with what measure ye mete” Galatians: 6:4 “Let every man (then) prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.” 6:5 “For every man shall bear his own burden.” “Be not deceived!” So, Isaiah: 34:16 “Seek ye out the book of The LORD, and read.” And then, Lamentations: 3:40 “Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to The LORD.” 2 Chronicles: 6:17 Then, “O LORD God of Israel, let Thy word be verified.” And so, Deuteronomy: 27:26 “Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words.” Then, Proverbs: 1:23 “Turn you at my reproof; behold, I will pour out My spirit unto you, (and) I will make known My words unto you.”

You see, we have seen a lot of the confusion, problems and misunderstandings within the Christian community with the Christian interactions with other people and with people of other religious beliefs. Much of this has been directly related, much of the time, to the Christian’s lack of understanding of their very own religious books; much the same way that many of the followers of Islam, and many of the adherents of the other religions, of The Creator, have also misunderstood their very own religious books and then just lashed out and attacked other believers, of other faiths, for their religious beliefs. This woeful misunderstanding and mishandling of the religious books, of the religions of the world, has been responsible for much of the poor relations and interactions with fellow adherents within their own faith, and with those people of other religious faiths. And many of the atrocities of the world and the tragic occurrences within the human race, have been directly related to this terrible problem; and it seems to be a fairly unilateral problem, plaguing pretty much all of the religions of the world. This nefarious, very human problem was also addressed by Jesus Christ himself when talking to the Jewish scholars, very early on:  Christianity: John: 5:37 “And The Father Himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His shape.” 5:38 “And ye have not His word abiding in you: for whom He hath sent, him (His prophet), ye believe not.” 5:39 “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” 5:42 “But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you.” 5:43 “I am, come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.” 5:44 “How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?” 5:45 “Do not think that I will accuse you to The Father; there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust.” 5:46 “For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me; for he wrote of me.” 5:47 “But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?”   

So clearly we see that Jesus Christ, during his time on this earth, wasn’t seen or even recognized, by most of the Jewish people, as a prophet sent from The Creator. And now, we find that many of the Christian people themselves, refuse to see or even acknowledge anyone else, besides Jesus Christ, as a prophet and Saviour sent to mankind for our redemption. So we find, that many of the Christian people are separating themselves out from the rest of the religions on this planet; thereby rebuffing and rejecting the followers of the rest of the world’s religions; though Christianity itself, is a relatively new religion, on this planet, when you compare it to some of the older faiths of this world! And yet, I have actually heard some of the preachers and pastors, within the Christian clergy, actually state that the followers of Moses will not be going to heaven like the Christian people will; but they will instead, be going to another special place in the afterlife, that may be located right here on this planet that God has created just especially for them; and that is not even considering any of the people from the other religions of The Creator, which many of the Christians, just seem to think, they are all simply going straight to hell! What is that old adage from the Holy Bible; “judge not least ye be judged:”  Judaism: 2 Chronicles: 19:6 “Take heed what ye do: for ye judge not for man, but for The LORD, who is with you in the judgment.” Therefore,  Christianity: Luke: 6:37 “Judge not, and ye shall not be judged; condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned; forgive, and ye shall be forgiven.” And, Matthew: 7:1 “Judge not, that ye be not judged.” 7:2 “For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.” 7:3 “And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?” Romans: 2:1 “Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.” 2:2 “But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.” For 1 Samuel 16:7 “The LORD seeth not as man seeth!”

You see, God is actually a Creator of love, and actually loves us; and loved our creation!  CHRISTIANITY, Revelation: 4:11 “For Thou hast created all things. For Thy pleasure (Thy love), they are, and were (all) created.” James: 1:18 “Of His Own Will, begat He us, with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of His creatures.” And so, 1 John: 4:19 “We love Him because He first loved us!”  4:1 “Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also, to love one another.” For, 4:8 “He that loveth not, knoweth not God; for God is love.” So, 4:20 “If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar; for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?” 4:21 “And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God, love his brother also.” 1 Thessalonians:  4:7 “For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.” 4:8 “He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, Who hath also given unto us His Holy Spirit.” And so, John: 15:23 “He that hateth me hateth my Father also.” Matthew: 7:12 “Therefore, – what-so-ever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them; for this is the law (of) the prophets.” So, Luke: 18:20 “Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother,” etc… So,  JUDAISM, Isaiah: 43:1 “The LORD that created thee; He formed thee — since thou wast precious (most loved) in My sight,” Jeremiah 31:3 for “I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving kindness have I drawn (made) thee.” Hosea 11:4 So, “I drew them (mankind) with (the) cords of a man; with bands of love.” For, Malachi: 2:10 “Have we not all one father?” “Hath not One God created us?” “Why do we deal treacherously, every man against his brother?” Leviticus: 19:18 Therefore “thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am The LORD.” So, Job: 31:13 “if I despise the cause of my manservant or of my maidservant;” 31:15 “Did not He that made me in the womb; fashion us (all of humanity) in the womb?” And so when we reject or despise one another, are we not all still created in His image? Genesis: 1:27 And, “so God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them.” And so, 1 Kings: 8:7 “they have not rejected thee (him or her), they have rejected Me (God);” and so, Exodus: 16:8 “your murmurings are not against us, but against The LORD.” So then, Exodus: 22:21 “Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him;” Numbers: 10:32 But, “do unto us, the same will we do unto thee.” For, 31a. “What is hateful to you, do not to your fellow men.”(The Talmud, Shabbat) Deuteronomy: 5:17 “Thou shalt not kill.” 5:18 “Neither shalt thou commit adultery.” 5:19 “Neither shalt thou steal.” 5:20 “Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbour.” etc… So then:  ISLAM, 13. “O mankind! We (loved, cherished and) created you — and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (and love each other, not that ye may hate, despise, curse and kill each other).” For, 126. “Allah (God), is your Lord and Cherisher, and The Lord and Cherisher of your fathers of old.” And so, 22. “among His Signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth;” 21, “and He has put love and mercy between your (hearts);” 8. “and they feed, for The Love of Allah, the indigent, the orphan, and the captive.” For, 10. “the believers are but a single Brotherhood: so make peace and reconciliation (one, with another).” So, “develop a mutual liking, friendship, love and (be a) help to one another.” “You should be a source of comfort, love and respect.” 50. But, “most men are averse.” 52. “Therefore listen not to the unbelievers,” 55. for, “the misbeliever (the one who misinterprets the word of God through actions, understanding and deeds) is a helper, against his own Lord,” So when you do hateful, terrible things to one another, 77.  “ye have indeed rejected Him, (turned against Allah, God)!” 23. “O mankind, your insolence is against your own souls.” 9. “It was not Allah Who wronged them but they wronged their own souls.” 13. “They contend against Allah (God).” And “if ye do (such), it would be wickedness,” for 7. “He Who has made everything, began the creation of man with clay, from a quintessence of nature (and) fluid; but He fashioned him in due proportion, and breathed into him something of His spirit.” So, when we are mean or cruel or hateful to one another, we are in-fact turning ourselves against our very own Creator, Who created all of us and placed something of His Very Own Spirit within all of us; and we are in-fact rejecting Him! “For, The Prophet said, ‘whoever believes in Allah should not hurt his neighbor, and who-so-ever believes in Allah should serve his guest generously, and whoever believes in Allah should talk what is good or keep quiet.”’ And so, Letter 31. “Do unto others as you wish others to do unto you.” For, “whatever you like for yourself, like for others, and what-so-ever you dislike to happen to you, spare others from such happenings.” “The Prophet said, ‘None of you will have faith till he wishes for his brother what he likes for himself.”’ So, “if a man, after understanding Islam and its laws and obligations, murders somebody, then his punishment is to dwell in the (Hell) Fire forever.” “Not to steal.” “Not to commit illegal sexual intercourse.” “Not to accuse an innocent person.” And 32. “in no wise covet.” (The Qur’an (Yusuf Ali tr), Surahs 4, 30, 39, 49, 76 and The Hadith, Bukhari Vol 1, Book 2, # 12 and # 17 and Vol 5, Book 58 # 194)) And so,  ZOROASTRIANISM, (the religion the three wise men of the bible came from) “O Ahura Mazda (God), Who (in His Great Love for us) made us, and has fashioned us, and Who has nourished and protected us.” For, “Thou art The Holy Father, who created us (with) Piety, O Mazda and Good Thought (and much Love).” “Maha Ratu Zarathustra enjoins love for the whole of mankind. One who does not love man, does not really love God. It should be realized that one soul resides in all. Thus one should be a friend to everyone. This social service, which is the concrete of the life of the individual, is not to be confined to any one particular country, but should extend throughout the world, to the whole of humanity.” “God (Ahura) is all love, and His loving presence may be felt everywhere.” “Mazda is not the God of any particular tribe. The doors of Mazda are not closed to foreigners. So as soon as anyone of them becomes fit, he is to be included in the fold.” But then, “all wicked, embodiments of the Druj, are scorners of The Judge, and rebels against The Sovereign;” 4. “who hate and torment us for our Faith, who persecute us.” So, “do to others as you would that they should do to you.” “Do not do to others that which you would that they would not do to you.” For, “None desires inequity to his own self. Thus one should not do to others, what he does not desire for himself.” “It is forbidden to steal,” “I renounce with vehemence the murderous.” “May all be virtuousness (do not commit adultery or fornication)” (ZOROASTER, The Zend-Avesta, Avesta – Yasna, The Fragments and Hymns of Atharvan pp. 239 547, 548, 816, 834 Yasna 10, and Vendidad 3 and The Book of Common Prayer pt. 1) So than,  HINDUISM “Pleased be The Eternal Lord (Brahma/Vishnu/God) Who loves man whom (He) created.” “From Him come they from passion (love).” “This whole creation He (Brahma) likewise produced, as He desired to call these beings (humanity) into existence;” So, 6. “show love and kindness here below.” But, drive foes away, – quell the foeman’s wrath who threatens Us –  yet, he, like the mad, challenge Vishnu/Brahma/God etc… they despise (and challenge) the holy deities!” For, “Thou art Brahma, and thou art Vishnu, thou art Rudra, thou Pragapati, thou art Agni, Varuna, Vayu, thou art Indra; for Thou art All!” He is all gods, The True, One and Only God! And 171. “Let him, though suffering in consequence of his righteousness, never turn his heart to unrighteousness;”  So, “may heaven and earth look after me,” “for I am that whereof Brahma is the likeness (His holy messenger); may the heavens surround with fire the hater of the holy practices, those who question the will of Heaven.” And so, “loveth all Which I have made, (all mankind, and all of the things found in nature); equally Loving all that lives. – let there be no violence done to others!” “Have compassion (and love), on all (of His, The Creator’s creatures), deal with others as thou wouldst thyself be dealt by. Do nothing to thy neighbour which thou wouldst not have him do to thee after.” “Manu says ‘Not to kill, not to lie, not to steal, to keep the body clean, and to restrain the senses.” (Hindu, Laws of Manu, chapters 1 and 4, – Bhagavad Gita chapters 11 and 15 (Edwin Arnold tr)) and Vedas, Rig Veda – Book 10 and (Hindu, Upanishads vol. 2, Brihadaranyaka and Maitrayana-Brahmaya-Upanishad Part 1 and Introduction to Apastamba)  BUDDHISM, And, “From all that is (or has ever been) created, you know the Uncreated, Holy One (God/Brahma/Vishnu) – “I am known by uncounted trillions of names. They address Me by different names not realizing that they are all names of The One Tathagata; the name they are using is only one of the many names of the Tathagata.” And so, “(treat all) with thoughts of love far reaching and beyond measure, all embracing, even for all things that have form or life with deep felt pity, sympathy, love and equanimity; not one is (has He) set aside.” “Regard all with mind set free and filled with deep felt love, for this is the way to a true state of union with Brahma.” Then, 15. “Let us live in joy, not hating those who hate us. Among those who hate us, we live free of hate.” For, 26. “The one I call holy, though having committed no offense, patiently bears reproach, ill-treatment, and imprisonment, and has endurance for one’s force and strength.” For, “He has cast away ill-will; he dwells with a heart free from ill-will; cherishing love and compassion toward all living beings;” So, “he who is of flawless life, wise, And endowed with knowledge and virtue, even the gods praise him; by Brahma too he is admired. So, “hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful.” “He avoids the killing of living beings and abstains from it.” “not deceiving nor telling lies, one should refrain from killing, stealing and adultery and one should not even have thoughts about any of these things.” (Buddha, the Word, The Eightfold Path The Buddhist, Dhammapada – Sayings of the Buddha, The Tevigga Sutra and The Lankavatara Sutra and Udana-Varqa, 5:18 and Surangama Sutra)  SABEANISM, (the writings of Adam, considered to be the father of mankind), “Manda-d-Hiia, Haiyi/God Sublimest of Beings, when worlds came into being and creations were called forth, Thou didst hold in Thy grasp the worlds and didst call forth the generations out of (Thy Love, and creation came into being).” So, “Praise Thee, for amongst them all hatred, Envy and dissensions exist not.” So, “be pure in all words (thoughts); and life, (and do no harm to others).” “He sundered Life from Death, And He brought out those who love His name of Truth From Darkness to Light and from Evil to Good And from Death to Life (take not life that has been made sacred by Him, Haiyi/God), and set them On roads of Truth and Faith.” “Great First Word, which assured me sight in mine eyes, pour wisdom into my heart! Open the eyes of my understanding! Be there forgiveness of sins for me, and for my father and mother, for my wife and children, for my priests and for all souls who stood for the Name of Life (God) and were firm in the sign of Manda-d-Hiia with a sincere and believing heart.” And so, “diffuse Thy light over all who love.” Therefore, we are to all love one another! Therefore, “behold me, “look on me, who have borne persecution For Thy Name!” “End for me acts of violence, for I am Thy servant and Thy child. Now I humble myself and my children to Thy name, for I have been true to Thy name, and speak (it) in my heart and talk (of it) in my mind.” (Sabeanism, Ginza Rba chapters 1, 3, 53, 75, 76, 171 and 410)  THE BABI RELIGION, “Him who created man, distinguished him from among the rest of His creatures, and caused his heart to be made the seat of His sovereignty and knowledge, and had no other desire except (his) welfare and advancement; (for) the purpose of God in creating man is but for him (man) to know Him.” For, “love, (is) the mainspring of every energy; tolerance towards each other, desire of understanding each other, knowing each other, helping each other, forgiving each other,” and to “love each other.” “You must neither defraud your neighbour nor allow him to defraud you.” “Regard ye not others save as ye regard your own selves, that no feeling of aversion may prevail amongst you.” “It is better to be killed than to kill.” “No one is to be slain for unbelief, for the slaying of a soul is outside the religion of God; … and if anyone commands it, he is not and has not been of the Bayan, and no sin can be greater for him than this.” “It is the institution of ‘Madakhil’ and of illicit pickings and stealings that is the root of the evil.” “He who speaks the Truth be made known, and he that speaks falsely shall be condemned to eternal misery and shame. Then shall the way of Truth be revealed and made manifest to all men.” “IT is seemly that the servant should, after each prayer, supplicate God to bestow mercy and forgiveness upon his parents. Thereupon God‘s call will be raised: ‘Thousand upon thousand of what thou hast asked for thy parents shall be thy recompense!‘ Blessed is he who remembereth his parents when communing with God. There is, verily, no God but Him, the Mighty, the Well-Beloved.” It behooveth you all to be one indivisible people; thus should ye return unto Him Whom God shall make manifest.” “The path to guidance is one of love and compassion, not of force and coercion.” “Indeed God hath knowledge of all things and is self-sufficient above the need of all mankind.” And, “He hath cherished and will ever cherish the desire that all men may attain His gardens of Paradise with utmost love, that no one should sadden another, not even for a moment, and that all should dwell within His cradle of protection and security.” “For His sake I have welcomed immersion in an ocean of tribulation, and He suffered for the sake of His loved ones.” (Shoghi Effendi, The Dawn-Breakers, pp. 67, 148, 270, 302, 329, 663 and The Bab, Selections from the Writings of the Bab, p. 62, 75, 86, 93, 127 and The Babi  and Baha’i Religions, pp. 27, 60 and H. M. Balyuzi, The Bab – The Herald of the Days, p. 72) BAHA’I FAITH, 3. “O SON OF MAN!” “Veiled in My immemorial being and in the ancient eternity of My essence, I knew My love for thee; therefore I created thee, have engraved on thee Mine image and revealed to thee My beauty.” “O Son of Man! I loved thy creation, hence I created thee.” So, “arise thou amongst men in the name of this all-compelling Cause, and summon, then, the nations unto God, The Exalted, The Great. Be thou not of them who called upon God by one of His names, but who, when He Who is the Object of all names appeared, denied Him and turned aside from Him, and, in the end, pronounced sentence against Him with manifest injustice.” “It was against God that they unsheathed the swords of malice and hatred and yet they perceive it not. Methinks they remain dead and buried in the tombs of their selfish desires.” So, “whoso contendeth with them hath contended with God.” For, “The divine purpose is that men should live in unity, concord and agreement and should love one another (not hate curse and despise one another)!” “Do not only say that Unity, Love and Brotherhood are good; you must work for their realization.” So, “Wish not for others what ye wish not for yourselves; fear God, and be not of the prideful.” “He should not wish for others that which he doth not wish for himself, nor promise that which he doth not fulfill.” “Ye have been forbidden to commit murder or adultery, or to engage in backbiting or calumny; shun ye, then, what hath been prohibited in the holy Books and Tablets.” “O My people! Show honour to your parents and pay homage to them. This will cause blessings to descend upon you from the clouds of the bounty of your Lord, the Exalted, the Great.”(Bahá’í Faith, The Hidden Words, The Summons of The Lord of Hosts, Baha’i World Faith pp. 245 and 442, and Divine Philosophy, p. 101 and Abdu’l-Baha in London, pp. 28, 37, 60 and The Kitab-i-Aqdas, pp. 26, 72, Baha’u’llah, The Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u’llah, p. 265 and Lights of Guidance, p. 229)

Clearly mankind is supposed to love one another, care about one another and be unified and at peace with one another; and not do bad, terrible things to one another. And so I find myself stating this, one more time, for those people who deny or just refuse to see!  Christianity: 1 Corinthians: 4:33 “God is (definitely) not the author of confusion, but of peace!!!” And,  Judaism: Lamentations: 3:38 “Out of the mouth of The Most High proceedeth not evil!” And so, if your religious beliefs and religious practices, are still not instilling thoughts of love, and thoughts of unity and peace for your fellow human brothers and sisters, into your hearts; then there is something definitely going terribly wrong, with the way you are doing things; because real love does not lead to hate, and true, actual love, does not create hatred within the human heart! Therefore, something else is creating all of this dark, unsympathetic, hatred and cold unfeeling, indifference people have towards one another, in this world of today; which is absolutely not God related in any true way or form!!!

 And so people, the one big thought provoking question I see here is: If God loves us, and loved our creation so very, very much, why would He purposely be separating us, and purposely segregating us into groups; as some people so strongly seem to believe? Believing that they, and only they, are specially chosen; and therefore, the only special chosen ones; for all of His special divine blessings and divine favors; while the rest of the human race, (as in, everybody else, who does not claim to be Christian or Muslim), are totally and completely being ignored and discarded; as if they are just useless refuse and a total waste of His divinely omnipotent time and divinity? It makes absolutely no kind of sense, what-so-ever! He created all of humanity, not just part of us or a few of us! And He absolutely, clearly states, that He loves all of us, not just a few of us or just the Christians and Muslims! If you read what all of the religions, including Christianity and Islam, actually have to say on this subject, you will see this. The statements on this particular subject are just two paragraphs above this paragraph, if any of this seems unclear to you? Read them again, if any of this seems unclear; they came from right out of your very own books if you care to look! Because, if all of these things I have been being told by various members of the clergy, about the other religions in this world are true, and based on absolute fact; then why would The One, True Creator, Who we are told, is actually all about love, and infinite caring-compassion, create all of these supposedly unloved, unwanted, unblessed other human beings; just so they can all suffer, in a fierce burning, pain filled hell, for all of eternity; it makes no sense? Because I am being told, by these people; that all of the people, from all of the other religions of The Creator, are all going to, absolutely burn in hell for all of eternity; just because they didn’t recognize or maybe, didn’t know about Jesus Christ or Muhammad; and I must ask here, just where exactly is there any kind of justice or even logic in any of this? I mean, it makes absolutely no real kind of sense! Indeed none of this makes any real kind of sense! Let alone, all of the thoughtful wondering coming from many of the people who are just wondering, at just where exactly is all of this deep felt love and most gracious mercy, The Lord is supposed to have so much of? Again, I state once more; this makes absolutely no real kind of sense what-so-ever; nor does it make any real sense to anyone else, who actually believes in a God, Who is actually, a God of infinite love, mercy and compassion! I mean, why exactly would all of this apparent cold, indifference, I am being told The Creator has for all of the rest of His Children, that are to be found within all of His other religions, make any sense to anyone? I mean really! Just why would He do that? I mean, why would He create, even the very first human soul, in the first place; if He knew that this person was going to suffer like this, in a cruel burning hell for all of eternity; let alone doing this to almost the entire human race? This is definitely not an act of love or the actions of an All Loving Creator! If a human being, did something like this, we would say that, that person was a true inhuman, sociopathic monster; and yet that persons actions are really as nothing in comparison to the actions of a being who would knowingly create, just one individual, who is knowingly being created, just so they will find themselves screaming in extreme agony in a fierce burning hell from all eternity to all eternity. And yet a great many of these supposedly God fearing, God loving people have no problem with most of the human race being cast into a burning, fire blazing hell for all of eternity! It makes absolutely no sense to a sane person; let alone being perpetrated and done by The One, True, All-Loving Creator of absolutely everything! People should really think about this! But I guess this might make some kind of sense to some people, who are less inclined to believe in a Creator, Who is truly kind, All-loving, merciful and compassionate, as opposed to a Creator, Who is instead more like a cold, unforgiving God, Who only has thoughts of delivering out severe justice with righteous anger and punishment, onto the people, the way some of these people seem to think and feel His justice should be dealt out onto humanity; Out of anger and wrath by a truly angry God! But then, God fortunately does not think like mankind!  Judaism: Isaiah: 55:8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith The LORD.” 55:9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” Please think people! The Creator knows things that we do not know or even understand for that matter: Proverbs: 16:4 For, “The LORD hath made all things for Himself; yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.” We do not know or really understand, what the true and final outcome will be for any of our actions, be they good or bad? Job: 4:17 “Shall mortal man be more just than God?” “Shall a man be more pure than his Maker?” Genesis: 18:25 “Shall not The Judge of all the earth do right?” Remember, The Creator does not think like us, and He knows the true outcome for everything we do whether good or bad. Genesis: 50:19 “And (so) Joseph said unto them (his brethren), Fear not: for am I in the place of God?” 50:20 “But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.” 50:21 “Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.” Think! God, our Creator, only creates good, not evil: Genesis: 1:31 “And God saw every thing that He had made, and, behold, it was very good.”  Christianity: 1 Timothy: 4:4 “For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused.” If something in this world appears to be bad or evil; (to the final ultimate good, will The Lord turn it); and so we must remember:  Genesis: 18:25 “Shall not The Judge of all the earth do right, (or do right by man)?” The Creator will do right by us; even if we don’t understand it! Micah: 4:12 “But they know not the thoughts of The LORD, neither understand they His counsel.” Because Isaiah: 55:8 “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith The LORD.” 55:9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” The Creator Himself, absolutely has good intentions in mind for all of His children, we just need to be patient and trust in His Good intentions; for again:  Genesis: 18:25 “Shall not The Judge of all the earth do right?” Shall He that created us, not do right by us? Job: 4:17 “Shall mortal man be more just than God?” “Shall a man be more pure than his Maker?” Shall He not do right by all of us, all of humanity; if not, why did He bother creating us in the first place?

So, it makes absolutely no sense for The Creator to only allow a very small, portion of His children into heaven, while He sends the vast majority of His children; to suffer in the fierce burning flames of hell for all of eternity? It is completely illogical! Why would a Divine being, Who is all loving, do such a thing, in such an illogical way? Do we really believe that The One, True Creator of absolutely everything, is Himself, an illogical being; or does anyone ever just stop to think, that maybe we just really don’t know, for sure, just exactly what is really going on here in His creation or on the other side? Do we really believe that The Creator, of all understanding and all knowledge is an illogical being; Who is totally bias towards many of His very, own created children; or is it, that God is unbiased, loves all of His children and wants good for all of us; and we stubborn human beings just can’t see that or just refuse to see that!

You see, what I have actually discovered is that every one of The Creator’s religions, do actually acknowledge and talk about the rest of The Creator’s religions; and all of His prophets, definitely do talk about the existences of one another, and state that God has been teachings all of His people, in all of His religions, by all of his prophets, since the very beginning; so in-other-words, all of mankind is being called, not just a few of us, as some believe.

 Christianity: For, John: 10:16 “other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: (them also I must bring), and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd!” With this one statement Jesus implies the oneness of all the religions, not just a few scattered sheep here or there. He has other sheep not of the fold he is with; the other religions. Christ tells us: John: 10:16 “Them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd,” or in-other-words, there will be one religion with one shepherd overseeing all, because there is One Creator! This is not an indication that the Catholics, Protestants, Lutherans and Baptists etc.. will all be brought together into one fold, as I have heard some Christians claim; these different religious sects, all belong to the same religion, Christianity; and did not even exist on this earth, at the time when Jesus made this statement. So, it only stands to reason that Christ was actually referring to (Hinduism, Judaism, Zoroastrianism, Buddhism, Sabeanism etc…); which are all other known religions or other sheep, that did actually exist on this earth at that particular time; that are all actually based on One, Overall, Creator and Supreme, Divine, Being; which you can discover for yourselves, if any of you will actually, carefully look into these other religious books for yourselves. John: 6:45 For “it is written in the (words of the) prophets and they shall be all taught of God, (every man, woman and child, not just a few people scattered here or there around this world, we all live on);” John: 10:16 “Them also I must bring!” Acts: 17:26 Because we are, “of One Blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, (all of humanity, not just the people of a few religions)!” Hebrews 13:20 And, “The God of Peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep;” here Paul is demonstrating to us, that Jesus Christ was the shepherd being spoken of, and talked about at this particular time, and that Christ, does in reality, have other sheep or other religious adherents, from outside of the Christian fold, he is with; that are also followers and children of The One, True, God! 8:6 “But now hath he (Jesus) obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant.”  8:7 Because, “if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.” “For finding fault with them (the covenants), He saith, a new covenant, He hath made, the first old now that which decayeth and waxeth old, is ready to vanish away.” So, clearly we can see that God does, in-fact, send other manifestations or prophets, with other covenants to mankind, when needed; hence the other messengers and the other religions of God. For Peter, again tells us: 2 Peter: 3:1 “I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: 3:2 that ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before, by (all) the holy prophets, 3:4 —– as they were from the beginning of the creation.” Luke: 1:68 For, “blessed be The Lord God of Israel; for He hath – raised up an horn of salvation for us – as He spake by the mouth of His holy prophets, (which have been since the world began),” 1:75 “in holiness and (in) righteousness before Him.” Hebrews: 1:1 Because, “God, Who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by (all of) the prophets,” Acts: 3:21 For, “God hath spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began;” John: 8:28 “Then said Jesus, I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.” 14:10 “the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.” 12:49 “For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.” So Ephesians: 3:5 “as it is now revealed unto His Holy Apostles and Prophets, by the Spirit.” Because: John: 6:63 “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing; (for) the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” For, 4:24 “God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit, and in truth.”  For, “the Sayings (God’s Holy words and teachings) are not intended to be interpreted literally!” (From The Gospel of Thomas) “For, it is impossible to understand (all) the hidden truths of God which are in His sayings, and the multitude of their meanings!” (St. John) John: 6:63 For “the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit.” Hebrews: 9:26 “Then must he (Jesus) often have suffered since the foundation of the world.” Paul is once more referencing here, to all of the persecutions and tribulations faced by all of the other manifestations of The Creator, found within the other religions of The Creator. For Peter states again: 1 Peter: 1:10 “The prophets – who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you;” 1:11 “searching what, or what manner of time THE SPIRIT of CHRIST, which was in them did signify, (the spirit of Christ and God, was to be found within all of The Other Holy Manifestations, Messengers and Prophets, and their spirits were to be found within him).” And Paul also tells us: Acts: 3:22 “For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall The Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.” 3:23 “And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people,” And Paul further states: 7:37 “This is that Moses (or Jesus the return of Moses spoken of in Deuteronomy, according to Paul), which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall The Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear.” John: 14:10 For, “the words that I speak unto you, I speak not of myself: but The Father that dwelleth in me.” 3:34 “For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God;” 12:49 “For I have not spoken of myself; but The Father which sent me, He gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.” For, 14:11 “I am in The Father, and The Father in me.” So, in-other-words, we need to treat the members of the other religions like we would desire for ourselves to be treated, Luke: 6:31 “And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise;” for they are also children of The One, Same, Divine Creator that most of the humans, in this world believe in! So, in-other-words, hating one another, and being mean, and cruel, and trying to maim or kill one another, is just something, completely and totally out of the question, for any sane being; because we are all, in-reality, one big, human family. So, 1 Thessalonians: 5:15 “see that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.” We need to start acting like a real human family; and be more kind, merciful, loving and compassionate to one another, because this is actually how a true, God Loving, loving human family should act in reality! 1 Corinthians: 12:26 “And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.” For we are all The Creator’s children, found within all of His Holy Divine Religions! John: 15:17 And so “these things I command you, that ye love one another,” so than, we all need to really, “love one another,” Romans: and then we need to all, “have mercy upon all!” 1 John: 3:17 “But (then) whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?” – and so again, one last time, we are all, Acts: 17:26 “of One Blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth (and so we are all again, one human family, all living under the love, protection and care of The One True Creator of us all)!!!” Matthew: 7:12 “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.” 

We also, all need to start thinking for ourselves and investigating for ourselves; that way those people, of devious motives or those people who are just simply blind to His Holy Teachings, can’t lead us around blindly by our noses! And The Creator’s teachings and prophets, do warn us to do this, so that other individuals, of devious motives, or just plain ignorant of His true spiritual teachings can’t lead us off down a wrong path!  Christianity: Luke 6:39 “Can the blind lead the blind?” “shall they not both fall into the ditch?” So, Matthew: 15:14 “let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch,” (or into an inferno). And so, 1 Thessalonians 5:21 “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good,” or 5:15 “follow that which is good!” Man must look for the truth in all things if he really wants to know what God is trying to say to him. 2 Timothy: 2:15 “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” And, 1 John: 4:1 “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God:” Colossians 2:8 Then “beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world,” 2 Corinthians: 4:2 “handling the word of God deceitfully.” Then 3:2 “set your affection on things above not on things on the earth,” 2 Timothy 1:13 and “hold fast the form of sound words;” 1:14 “that good thing which was committed unto thee keep, 2:7 and The Lord give thee understanding in all things.” So, John: 5:39 “Search the scriptures;” Mark: 4:24 “Take heed what ye hear, with what measure ye mete” Galatians: 6:4 “Let every man (then) prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.” 6:5 “For every man shall bear his own burden.” “Be not deceived!”

 Judaism: Psalms: 100:2 “Serve The LORD with gladness: come before His presence with singing.” 100:3 “Know ye that The LORD, He is God: it is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.” Isaiah: 63:11 So, “remember the days of old, Moses and his people, saying: where is He that brought them up out of the sea with the shepherd of His (God’s) flock?” You see, the prophet Moses, was also one of The Creator’s true shepherds, like Jesus was. And, “where is He (God) that put His Holy Spirit within him (Moses); so the spirit of The Creator was also to be found within Moses; like it was in Christ!” 63:12 “That led them by the right hand of Moses with His glorious arm?” Isaiah: But, 53:6 “We like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and (therefore) The LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” For, Jeremiah: 50:6 “My people hath been lost sheep: their shepherds (the Jewish clergy) have caused them to go astray, (and) they have turned them away.” 23:1 So, “woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture! saith The LORD.” For, Job: 37:7 “He (God) sealeth up the hand of every man; that all men may know His work.” Psalms: 64:9 “And all men shall fear, and shall declare the work of God; for they shall wisely consider of His doing.” And, 64:10 “The righteous shall be glad in The LORD, and shall trust in Him; and all the upright in heart shall glory.” Isaiah: 53:6 But, “we like sheep have gone astray; (for) we have turned every one to his own way;” Ezekiel: And Therefore, 34:6 “My sheep wander through all the mountains, and upon every high hill; yea, My flock (is) scattered upon all the face of the earth,” 34:7 “Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of The LORD;” 34:11 “For thus saith The Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, will both search My sheep, and seek them out.” 34:12 “As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out My sheep,” and 34:15 “I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith The Lord GOD.” 34:23 “And I will set up one shepherd over them (all of the sheep or all of mankind), and he (the one shepherd will) feed them;” 34:24 “And I, The LORD, will be their God; (for) I The LORD have spoken it;” 34:25 “And I will make with them a covenant of peace,” 34:31 “And ye My flock, the flock of My pasture, are men, and I Am your God, saith The Lord GOD.”

All of the manifestations are shepherds, and speak by the will of God, as they have from the beginning; and so, all of the religions of God tell us, that God’s manifestations don’t speak by their own will, but they speak what God tells them to say; because God speaks to mankind through the mouths of His prophets. Moses indicates this in Exodus,  Judaism: Exodus: 4:11 “And (I The LORD) said unto him,  4:12 “I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say!” Exodus 4:15 “And I will be with thy mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do!” God was with the mouth of Moses while he was on this earth. Moses didn’t speak for himself but spoke that which God told him to speak. Numbers 16:28 “And Moses said, Hereby ye shall know that The LORD hath sent me to do all these works; for I have not done them of mine own mind.” Deuteronomy: 4:13 “And He declared unto you His covenant, 4:14 And The LORD commanded me.” Moses was just one of many prophets and prophesied that God would raise up a prophet like him and that God would put the words into his mouth as well. For Moses told us: 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 (one like Moses);” and, 18:18 “I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, (one like Moses) and will put My words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.” And Paul later tells us:  Christianity: Acts: 3:22 “For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall The Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.” 3:23 “And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people,” and Paul further tells us: Acts: 7:37 “This is that Moses (or Jesus the return of Moses spoken of in Deuteronomy, according to Paul), which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall The Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear.” 

 Judaism: Jeremiah: 9:6 But, “thine habitation is in the midst of deceit; (and) through deceit they refuse to know Me, saith The LORD.” 8:9 Because, “the wise men are ashamed, they are dismayed: lo, they have rejected the word of The LORD; and (what wisdom is in them), (The true spiritual, symbolic nature of The message found within The Creator’s Holy Words)?“ Hosea: 12:9 For, “I That Am The Lord thy God, I have spoken by the prophets (The Manifestations and The Divine Teachers of the world), and I have multiplied visions and used similitude’s, by the ministry of the prophets.” 4 Ezra: (The Apocrypha), 6:38 For, “O Lord, thou spakest from the beginning of the creation,” (by the mouth of all of the holy prophets).  Zechariah: 7:11 “But they (men) have refused to hearken (unto My voice) that they should not hear – the law and the words which The LORD of Hosts hath sent in His spirit by the former prophets of The LORD of Hosts.” And so, Zechariah: 7:7 “Should ye not hear the words which The LORD hath cried by the former prophets (Messengers Manifestations Holy Ones)?” 28:10 “For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:” and, 28:11 “yet they would not hear.” 29:13 “Wherefore The Lord said, forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and (their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men):” Jeremiah: 9:16 “For (the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed),” 9:17 “for every one is an hypocrite and an evildoer, and every mouth speaketh folly.” Hosea: 6:5 “Therefore, have I hewed them by the prophets (and) have slain them by the words of My mouth, (the spirit within The Creator’s Holy Words).” So, Exodus: 5:9 “Let them (men) (not regard vain words), (but seek out the truth within the words).” Malachi: 2:7 “For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of The LORD of Hosts.” 2:8 “But ye are departed out of the way (and) ye have caused many to stumble at the law (and) ye have corrupted the covenant, saith The LORD of Hosts (and) ye have not kept My ways, but have been partial in the law!” For, 14:15 “The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.” 15:14 Because, “the heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness.” Proverbs: 1:20 For “wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets;” So, Isaiah: 34:16 “Seek ye out the book of The LORD, and read.” And then, Lamentations: 3:40 “Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to The LORD.” 2 Chronicles: 6:17 Then, “O LORD God of Israel, let thy word be verified.” And so, Deuteronomy: 27:26 “Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words.” Then, Proverbs: 1:23 “Turn you at my reproof; behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, (and) I will make known my words unto you.” Then, Leviticus: 19:18 “Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.” And, 19:34 “the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am The LORD your God.” Deuteronomy: 10:19 “Love ye therefore the stranger!” The Talmud, Shabbat: 31a. “What is hateful to you, do not to your fellow men.”

 Islam: “The Prophet said, ‘Allah (God) did not send any prophet but who shepherded sheep.’” “There was no prophet, who was not a shepherd.” For, “there has been no prophet but has shepherded them,” and 8 “who are shepherds of their pledge and their covenant.” “From among my followers there will be some people who will stay near the side of a mountain and in the evening their shepherd (the manifestation or messenger) will come to them – but they will say to him, ‘return to us tomorrow.’ Then, Allah will destroy them during the night and will let the mountain fall on them,” for “your Lord delights at A Shepherd who, call to prayer and performs the prayers, in awe of Me.” And, 21. “Ye have indeed, in the Messenger of Allah, a beautiful pattern for anyone whose hope is in Allah.” For, 21. “Allah has decreed: I and My Messenger  must prevail. For Allah is One Who is full of strength and able to enforce His Will.” So therefore, 63. “Deem not the summons of the Messenger among yourselves like the summons of one of you to another;” for “whatsoever is loftiest in heaven and earth is He to be likened; and He is the Mighty, the Wise!” “For such He has written Faith in their hearts, and strengthened them with a spirit from Himself.” “They are — of Allah, (like Allah, in His image, His spirit is in them).” For the, 67. “Messenger, proclaim the (Message) which hath been sent to thee from thy Lord.” 117. “Never said I to them aught except what Thou didst command me to say,” So, 50. “I tell you not that with me are the treasures of Allah, nor do I know what is hidden, nor do I tell you I am an angel. I but follow what is revealed to me.’ Say: ‘Can the blind be held equal to the seeing?’ Will ye then consider not?” 205 “And do thou (O Muhammad) remember thy Lord within thyself?” So, “remember thy Lord within thyself.” For, 101. “When We substitute one revelation for another, and Allah knows best what He reveals (in stages),” 102. “the Holy Spirit has brought the revelation from thy Lord in truth, in order to strengthen those who believe, and as a guide and Glad Tidings,” 123. “So We have taught thee the inspired (message),” “So We inspired him (with the message).” And so to, 121. “Those to whom We have sent the book study it as it should be studied!” Because, 9. “We have, without (any) doubt, sent down the Message (to the) Messengers before thee, amongst the religious sects of old:” 68. “Do they not ponder over the Word of (Allah/God), or has anything (new) come to them that did not come to their fathers of old?” 1. For “these are the symbols or (the spiritual, symbolic verses), of the Perspicuous Book. We have sent it down, as an Arabic Qur’án, in order that ye may learn (true) wisdom.” 7. “Verily in it are Signs for Seekers (after The Truth),” 121. “so judge between them by what Allah (God) hath revealed, and follow not vain desires, diverging from the truth that hath come to thee.” It is, “The Holy Spirit that has brought the revelation from, Thy Lord in truth, in order to strengthen those who believe, and as a true guide and Glad Tidings.” You see, 84. “The Spirit (of the word cometh) by the command of my Lord of knowledge; it is only a little (of it) that is communicated to you, (O men)!” 34. For, “Allah doth guide whom He will to His (true spiritual light), (for), Allah doth set forth Parables (hidden meanings; messages of the spirit), for men to follow; and Allah doth know all things.” And, 193. “with it  (the word), came down the Spirit of Faith and Truth — to thy heart and mind.” “Without a doubt, it is (announced) in The Mystic, Books of the former peoples,” 11.  “and on Allah let all men – put their trust.” “It is those who believe not in the Signs of Allah (His true message and teachings), that forge falsehood; it is they who lie!” “All this is because, they love the life of this world, better than the Hereafter; and they take no heed.” 77. “Know they not that Allah knoweth what-so-ever they conceal, and what they reveal?” 78. “And there are among them (people) who know not the Book but (see therein their own) desires, and they do nothing, but conjecture.” 79. “Then woe to those who write the Book with their own hands and then say: ‘This is from Allah,’ to traffic with it for a miserable price! Woe to them for what their hands do write,” 59. “the transgressors changed the word from that which had been given them,” 174. “they conceal Allah‘s revelations in the Book, and purchase for them a miserable profit.” 78. “There is among them a section who distort the Book with their tongues; you would think it is a part of the Book, but it is no part of the Book; and they say, ‘That is from Allah,’ but it is not from Allah: it is they who tell a lie against Allah, and (well) they know it!” 13. “They change the words from their (right) places and forget a good part of the Message that was sent them, ever bent on (new) deceits.” So then, “see how We explain the Signs of (Allah), by various (spiritual symbols): Yet they, (the people), turn aside.” 94. “O ye who believe in the Cause of Allah (God), Investigate Carefully, (LOOK and STUDY into the teachings of Allah/God, for yourselves, for these) are the ones that believe therein; those who reject faith therein, the loss is their own.” For, 7. “He it is Who hath sent down to thee The Book, in it are verses basic and fundamental, (while) others are allegorical (symbolic, mystic, and of the spirit),” with “hidden meanings and (spiritual understandings), but no one knows all of its hidden meanings and understandings, except Allah.” For, 60. “The truth (comes) from Allah (God) alone; so be not of those who doubt.” For, 23. “Allah has revealed (from time to time) the most beautiful Message in the form of a Book, consistent with itself, (yet) repeating (its teaching in various aspects)” 106. “None of Our revelations do We abrogate or cause to be forgotten, but We substitute something better or similar; knowest thou not that Allah hath power over all things?” 20. “And the messengers whom We sent before thee were all (men) who ate food and walked through the streets. We have made some of you as a trial for others; will ye have patience? “Allah’s Apostle said, ‘The prophets are paternal brothers (sons of the same father); their mothers are different, but their religion is one.’” 51. For, “It is not fitting for a man that Allah should speak to him except by inspiration from behind a veil, or by the sending of a Messenger to reveal, with Allah‘s permission, what Allah wills;” 52. “And thus have We, by Our command, sent inspiration to thee (O Muhammad); thou knowest not what was Revelation, and what was Faith; but We have made it a Light, wherewith We guide such of Our servants as We will; and verily thou dost guide (men) to the Straight Way; 136. “O ye who believe! Believe in Allah and His Messenger, and the scripture which He hath sent to His Messenger and the scripture which He sent to those before (him, to all the other messengers or manifestations)!” So, 152. “To those who believe in Allah and His Messengers and make no distinction between any of the Messengers, We shall soon give their (due) rewards: for Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” For you see, 136. “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.” 3. “It is He Who sent down to thee (step by step), in truth, the Book, confirming what went before it; and He sent down the Law (of Moses) and the Gospel (of Jesus), before this, as a guide to mankind, and He sent down the Criterion (between right and wrong).” “144. “Muhammad is no more than a Messenger, and many were the Messengers that passed away before him.” And so, “You should be a source of comfort, love and respect.” For, 10. “The believers (all of the believers in Allah/God), are (truly) but a single Brotherhood: So make peace and reconciliation between your brothers: And fear Allah, that ye may receive Mercy.” For “Allah’s Apostle said, ‘You see the believers (everybody that believes in a Creator), as regards their being merciful among themselves and showing love among themselves and being kind, resembling one body, so that, if any part of the body is not well then the whole body shares the sleeplessness (insomnia) and fever with it.”’ “Whatever you like for yourself, like for others, and whatever you dislike to happen to you, spare others from such happenings.” “Do unto others as you wish others to do unto you.” “You should be a source of comfort, love and respect to them.” (The Qur’an  (Pickthall tr), Suras 16, 23 (Yusuf Ali tr), Surahs 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 14, 16, 23, 24, 25, 33, 42, 49, 58, (Rodwell tr), Sura  30, Hadith, Bukhari Vol 3, Book 36, # 463, Vol 4, Book 55, # 618 and 652, Vol 5, Book 57, # 39, Vol 7, Book 65, # 364 and Book 69, # 494, Vol 8, Book 73 # 40 and Qudsi 7 and Ali b. Abi Taalib, Letters from Nahjul Balaagh)

 Zoroastrianism: (the religion that the three wise men of The Christian Bible came from) 1. “Zarathushtra asked Ahura Mazda: O Ahura Mazda, most Beneficent Spirit, Maker of the material world, Thou Holy One! Who was the first (manifestation, messenger, prophet), before myself, Zarathushtra (Zoroaster), with whom Thou, Ahura Mazda (God), didst converse, whom thou didst teach the Religion of Ahura, the Religion of Zarathushtra?” 2. And “Ahura Mazda answered: The fair Yima the good shepherd, O holy Zarathushtra! He was the first (mortal, manifestation, prophet), before thee, Zarathushtra, with whom I, Ahura Mazda, did converse, whom I taught the Religion of Ahura, the Religion of Zarathushtra.” 3 “Unto him, O Zarathushtra, I, Ahura Mazda, spake, saying: be thou the preacher and the bearer of My Religion!” For it, “(O Zoroaster) is through the strength of the shepherd that the (shepherd) dog leads the sheep.” And so, “O Zarathushtra, I, Ahura Mazda, spake, Saying be thou the bearer of my Religion!” So we can all clearly see that, 5. “Ahura Mazda taught Zarathushtra at discussions, at meetings, at which Mazda and Zarathushtra conversed.” 6. So than, “as Ahura Mazda taught Zarathushtra at all of their discussions, at all meetings, at which Mazda and Zarathushtra conversed.” 10. It was “Ahura Mazda (that) showed before to him; and Zarathushtra (then) taught the corporeal world (the men of the world)!” “He, (Zoroaster), himself was taught (the law, the holy teachings) by Ahura Mazda, The Holy One,” Ahura/God talked through Zoroaster and taught him what he should say, and do and teach.” For, 1. “to Thee, O Ahura Mazda (God) I (am) to thee, O Zarathushtra, we do the same; and to Thee, O Lofty Lord;” here again, we see that Zoroaster is within Ahura and that Ahura is to be found within Zoroaster as-well. So, 3. “we worship the former religions of the world devoted to righteousness which were instituted at the creation, the holy religions of the Creator, Ahura Mazda, the Resplendent and Glorious.” 3. So, “we worship the former religions of the world devoted to Righteousness which were instituted at the creation, the holy religions of the Creator Ahura Mazda, the resplendent and glorious.” And, 2. “If by reason of these things the better path is not in sight for choosing, then will I come to you all as judge of the parties twain whom Ahura Mazda knoweth, that we may live according to the Right.” For, “the busy world is apt to forget the most important lessons of life so The Merciful Mazda sends (His) prophets now and then to remind men of their highest destiny.” Because “Ahura Mazda is not unmindful of His creatures and sends a prophet to every nation and people. He had already said that the religion taught by all the prophets are one in all essential points.” So, “Zarathustra proceeds to announce the great truths that he had learned from Ahura Mazda.” For, “God speaks through His prophets.”

 For, “The path, O Ahura, which You told me to be of conscience, and which happens to be the religion of all of the prophets, and which, by good deeds promotes rectitude, and which brings to the righteous, recompense of which You are the giver; so the way of all the saints (saoshyants, peophets) may be said to be only one.” “For in essential matters, there is no difference between one prophet and another. In as much as the same God is worshiped everywhere.” For “all of them are different phases of the same religion.” And so “if one disbelieves in the spiritual experience of the prophet he deprives himself of the (true) means of salvation.” “The gospel of the prophet enables one to have a glimpse of His Spirit. All of the prophets teach the same truth. The lamps are different, but the flame is the same.” So than, “In all essential matters there is no difference between one prophet and another.” And so again We worship the former religions of the world devoted to righteousness which were instituted at the creation; the holy religions of The Creator Ahura Mazda (God), The Resplendent and The Glorious.” For, “God, in order to give joy to the good creation, had, from the beginning of the world, created, in pure and luminous essence, The Holy Zartosht (Spitaman pure spirit, Spitama Zarathustra) as an associate of the Amaha-spands, endowed with all their good qualities, thoughtful, and fully attentive. And his essence was made in the Spiritual World fitted for (the task of) proselytism, and of propagating the religion through out the world. And at the right time he was sent down to the world as a man, invested with the earthly body. At that time (i.e. when the pure Spirit of Zartosht entered this tenement of clay, the human body).” So, 14. The “righteous man is thy friend for the great covenant, and the friend of the covenant!” But, “the thieves and robbers, of the Zandas, and the sorcerers, the covenant breakers; those who tamper with the covenants!” So, 11. “I would thereby preserve Right and Good Thought for evermore, that I may instruct, do thou teach me, O Mazda Ahura, from thy spirit by thy mouth how it will be with the First Life.”

 So, “hear the best with your ears, and discern by pure mind. Choose the ought, man by man (every man), for his own self.” For, “one should rely on his own conviction, and not allow himself to be drifted by the opinions of others.”  For, 31. “this Our word, (Our spiritual message), I have proclaimed as a symbol, (The True, Spiritual, Word of Ahura), to be (discovered) and learned, and to be recited, as it were, to every one of the beings under the influence of, and for the sake of Righteousness, The Best!” So then, 2. “Hear with your (own) ears, the best things and look upon them, with clear-seeing thought for decision each man for himself.” 11. For, “this Our word I have proclaimed (to thee) as a symbol to be learned.” “These are words of spirit, Ahura Mazda, (God) declared to me; and this Our word, I have proclaimed as a symbol, (The Spiritual, Word), to be discovered and learned, and to be recited, as it were, to everyone.” “And we worship then, every Holy Spiritual Yazad;” The Gathas, “this our spiritual food, yea, which (may) be to our very souls both food and clothing, for such are these Gathas to us, guardians, and defenders, and (spiritual) food, even such they are, both food and clothing to the soul.” And so, “from This True Spirit have the liars fallen away,” “whoso, O Mazda, makes his thought (now) better, (now) worse, and likewise his self, by action, and by word, follows his own inclinations, wishes, and choices, he shall in thy purpose be in a separate place at last.” “These words of my spirit I wail unto you, O Mazda, and to the Right.”      

 And so, “Maha Ratu Zarathustra enjoins love for the whole of mankind. One who does not love man, does not really love God. It should be realized that one soul resides in all. Thus one should be a friend to everyone. This social service, which is the concrete of the life of the individual, is not to be confined to any particular country but should extend throughout the world to the whole of humanity.” “God is all love and his loving presence may be felt everywhere.” “Brotherhood of man, is the idea that appealed to Him (Mazda) most. And that is the only meaning of the Service of the soul of the world.” “For if God is the one Father of all men then all men are equal.” For, “love attracts, while fear repels.” “Thus love is the principle of unity, unity with God and unity with men.” “When men love and help one another to the best of their power they derive the greatest pleasure from loving their fellow-men.” “The religion of the Gatha is the religion of love, and Mazda is the friend of men.” So, “Do to others as you would that they should do to you.” “Do not do to others that which you would that they would not do to you.” “None desires inequity to his own self. Thus one should not do to others, what he does not desire for himself.”(Zoroaster, The Zend-Avesta, Avesta – Yasnas 12, 16, 19, 28, 31, 46, 61, 65 Vendidad, Khorda Avesta – Book of Common Prayer pt. 1 # 21, Hymns of Atharvan pp. 86, 230, 314 thru 316, 468, 473, 500, 507, 547, 548, 549, 550, 651, 769, 816, 834 and The Denkard)

 Hinduism: “Krishna The Divine – charioteer:” “Live and thrive a hundred autumns; Agni shall be thy most excellent shepherd and overseer!“ “like a herdsman, Thou by Thine own might rulest o’er all that is in heaven and on the earth;” “Krishna. Learn now, dear Prince! how, if thy soul be set Ever on Me making Me thy Refuge- thou shalt come Most surely unto perfect hold of Me. I will declare to thee that utmost lore.” “Those know Me BRAHMA: know Me Soul of Souls, The ADHYATMAN: know KARMA, my work; Know I am ADHIBHUTA, Lord of Life, and ADHIDAIVA, Lord of all the gods, and ADHIYAJNA, Lord of Sacrifice (He is all the gods, The One True All-Powerful, All-Mighty, All-Knowing, Omnipotent, Omniscient God); Worship Me well, with hearts of love and faith, And find and hold Me in the hour of death.” 9 “Fulfill, ye twain, His work, the Great, the Ancient: as heavenly blessing keep your guard around us. whose voice is like a herdsman’s.” “he surveyeth the worlds and living creatures like a herdsman.” 3 “Let them return to us again: under this herdsman let them feed. 4 “I call upon their herdsman, him who knoweth well their coming nigh, Their parting and their home-return, and watcheth their approach and rest.” 5 “Yea, let the herdsman, too, return, who marketh well their driving-forth; Marketh their wandering away, their turning back and coming home.” 6 “We know the good we gain from him the Mighty One when we attract him as a herdsman calls the kine.” 2 “I come appointed messenger he shall be made the herdsman of Our cattle (humanity).” Therefore, 20. “We speak here to all the gods (The One God) that hold to their (His) covenant, agreements, to promote the order,” but, 9 “Men who lead evil lives, who break agreements, the covenant injure.”

 So, “Krishna, Yea! I loved thee well, The secret countenance of Me, Shining, and wonderful, and majestic, manifold, Which none save thou in all the years had favour to behold; For not by Vedas cometh this nor sacrifice nor alms Nor works well-done nor penance long nor prayers, nor chanted psalms that mortal eyes should bear to view the Immortal Soul unclad, prince of the Kurus! This was kept for thee alone! Be glad! Let no more trouble shake thy heart, because thine eyes have seen My terror with My glory;” Arjuna, Krishna, I BRAHMA Am! The One Eternal GOD, And ADHYATMAN is My Being’s name, The Soul of Souls! What goeth forth from Me, Causing all life to live, is KARMA called: And, Manifested in divided forms, I am the ADHIBHUTA, Lord of Lives; And ADHIDAIVA, Lord of all the Gods, Because I am PURUSHA, who who begets. And ADHIYAJNA, Lord of Sacrifice, I- speaking with Thee in this body here- Am, Thou embodied one! (speaking unto Me with Thy spirit!)” And, at the hour of death, He that hath meditated Me alone, In putting off his flesh, comes forth to Me, Enters into My Being- doubt thou not! But, if he meditated otherwise At hour of death, in putting off the flesh, He goes to what he looked for, Kunti’s Son! Because the Soul is fashioned to its like.” For, “His (God/Brahma’s) manifestations have been declared.” “Manifestations of the Brahma-light.” “As I before have been So will I be again for thee; with lightened heart behold! Once more I am thy Krishna, the form thou knew’st of old! Sanjaya. These words to Arjuna spake Vasudev, and straight did take Back again the semblance dear Of the well-loved charioteer; Peace and joy it did restore When the Prince beheld once more Mighty BRAHMA‘S form and face Clothed in Krishna‘s gentle grace.” “O Krishna, Lord of Yoga! surely there shall not fail Blessing, and victory, and power, for Thy most mighty sake, Where this song comes of Arjun, and how with God he spake.” For, “From the beginning it was I (Brahma, Vishnu) who taught Krishna.” “Whatever words I (Krishna) speak, dependent on Thee .”

 So, 17. “Let him avoid all (means of acquiring) wealth, which impede the study of the Veda; and let him maintain himself (and) study (the teachings), because that (devotion to the Veda-study secures) the  realization of his aims.” And so, 218. “As the man digs with a spade (into the ground), obtains water, even so the obedient, pupil who digs into the word obtains the knowledge and true spiritual understanding, of that which lies hidden (within Brahma’s Holy words);” “Nor must we forget that oral tradition, is not without its dangers, many a word may have been misunderstood, many a sentence confused, as it was told.” “We must remember that those who handed down the ancestral treasures of ancient wisdom, would often feel inclined to add what seemed useful to themselves, to be handed down.” Therefore, “I come, and go, and come; When Righteousness Declines, O Bharata! When Wickedness Is Strong, I rise, from age to age, and take Visible Shape, and Move A Man With Men, Succoring The Good, Thrusting The Evil Back, and Setting Virtue on Her Seat Again.” “As I before have been, So will I be again for thee; with lightened heart behold! Once more I am thy Krishna, the form thou knew’st of old! (hence the creation of the other religions found within the world).” And so, “the hidden (spiritual, symbolic) truths of religion are embalmed within The Ancient Upanishads.” “Whoso worship me, Them I exalt; but all men everywhere Shall fall into My path.” And so, it is one religion that is actually found throughout the world and not many, as most people believe; So, 6. “Show love and kindness here below.” “Be united, be in harmony, in affection, Radiant, with kindly thought.” (Be ye a) “helper to (your) brother men.” 6. “Then thy friendship with thy friends is most mighty, Thy brotherhood.” “Be united!” 1. “Unity of heart, and unity of mind, freedom from hatred; take delight in one another, as a cow in her (new) born calf!” “The world is overcome- aye, by such as fix their faith on Unity. The sinless Brahma dwells in Unity, And they in Brahma (God).” Again, 6. “Show love and kindness here below,” 9. “speak out for brotherhood,” and 13. “confirm our brotherhood.” “Who doeth all for Me; for Love’s sole end;” 9. “seek brotherhood with holy act;” “unto friends and unto foes alike in tolerance!” “This is the sum of all true righteousness: deal with others as thou wouldst thyself be dealt by. Do nothing to thy neighbour which thou wouldst not have him do to thee after.” “Who doeth all for Me; who findeth Me In all; adoreth always; loveth all Which I have made, and Me, for Love’s sole end.” (Hindu, Bhagavad Gita (Edwin Arnold tr) chapter 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14 and 18 Vedas, Rig Veda – Books 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 10 and Upanishads vol. 1 and 2, Maitrayana-Brahmaya-Upanishad, Yajur Veda – Kanda IV, V and Atharva Veda  and The Mababharata)

 Buddhism: “Brahma (God) has not been seen by man face to face the Buddha tells us. God is in a spiritual form not a material corporal form;” and He speaks through The Buddha, his image in this world of mankind, who then performs “the duties of (the) messenger,” “The manifestation,” (Buddhist Dharma, TEVIGGA SUTTA and The Eightfold Path) But, “A truly thoroughbred man (a Buddha, a manifestation, a messenger, a prophet, a shepherd of men) is hard to find. He is not born anywhere, but where that seer is born, the people prosper. Happy is the attainment of Buddhahood, happy the teaching of the true Teaching, happy is the concord of the Sangha, happy the training of those in concord.” But, “I am not the first Buddha who came upon the earth, nor shall I be the last. In due time another Buddha will arise; He shall reveal to you the same eternal truths which I have taught you. He will preach to you His religion, glorious in its origin, glorious at the climax and glorious at the goal, in the spirit and in the letter.” [Sermon of the Great Passing). For, “All the Buddhas of the past, present and future, are of one sameness.” “The Lord Buddha continued: (through) Numberless ages ago, Subhuti, before the advent of Dipankara Buddha, there were many other Buddhas and I recall my difficult experiences while serving them and receiving their religious instruction and discipline (Brahma/God was instructing The Buddha’s from the very beginning).” (Buddha, Lankavatara Sutra and Diamond Sutra) So, “He who takes refuge in The Buddha, the Dhamma and the Saõgha Sees with wisdom.” “Such indeed is a refuge secure, Such indeed is a refuge supreme. To such a refuge, (a saviour) should one go; One is released from all sorrow.” But, 20. “Making the effort is your affair. The Buddhas have pointed out the Way.” So, 18. “Make yourself an island; work hard; be wise. When your impurities are purged and you are free from guilt, you will enter into the heavenly world.” (God, Brahma, through His shepherd Buddha, is telling man if you live by the right path then you will enter heaven, through God’s eternal covenant with humanity, Who promises us our redemption). For, “I (God) Am known by uncounted trillions of names. They address Me by different names not realizing that they are all names of the one Tathagata. Some recognize Me as Tathagata, some as The Self-Existent One, some as Gautama the Ascetic, some as Buddha. Then there are others who recognize Me as Brahma, as Vishnu. Thus in this world and in other worlds am I known by these uncounted names, but they all see Me as the moon is seen in water. Though they all honor, praise, (revere) and esteem Me, they do not fully understand the meaning and significance of the words they use; not having their own self-realization of Truth they cling to the words of their canonical books, or to what has been told them, or to what they have imagined, and fail to see that the name they are using is only one of the many names of the Tathagata.” (Buddha, Lankavatara Sutra) So, “When all lesser things and ideas are transcended and forgotten, and there remains only a perfect state of imagelessness where Tathagata and Tathata are merged into perfect Oneness, then the Buddhas will come together from all their Buddha-lands and with shining hands resting on his forehead will welcome a new Tathagata.” “Among all the Buddhas there is a sameness of Buddha-nature, there is no distinction among them except as they manifest various transformations according to the different dispositions of beings who are to be disciplined and emancipated by various means. In the Ultimate Essence which is Dharmakaya, all the Buddhas of the past, present and future, are of one sameness.” “The self-realization of Noble Wisdom by all the Tathagatas is the same as my own self-realization of Noble Wisdom; there is no more, no less, no difference.” (Buddha, Lankavatara Sutra) For, “All the Buddhas past present and future having obtained Highest Samadhi awake to find themselves realizing Parjna-Paramita (the transcendent truth). Therefore everyone should seek the self realization of Parjna-Paramita the unsurpassable truth that ends all pain, that spans the troubled ocean of life and death, safely carrying all to the other shore of enlightenment.” (Buddha, Parjna Paramita)

 So, “(Give) devout attention to the teaching(s) of the Blessed One.” “Study the words for yourself.” for, “to hear the true spiritual teaching of the Buddha, is difficult.” And, “the meaning of the Blessed One’s (Buddha’s) discourses, He has no (real, absolute) system of doctrine that can be specifically formulated. And why is this? Because of, what the Blessed One adumbrates (gives partial disclosure, or hints at) in the terms of the Dharma which is, in reality, inscrutable and inexpressible, with the true message being of a purely spiritual concept.” So, “not to speak harshly and not to harm others, this is a spiritual teaching of the Buddhas.” For again, “I am not the first Buddha who came upon (this) earth, nor shall I be the last. In due time another Buddha will arise…. He shall reveal to you the same eternal truths which I have taught you. (The same essential teaching The Creator is continually teaching to all of mankind). He will preach to you His religion, glorious in its origin, glorious at the climax and glorious at the goal, in the spirit and in the letter, (so again we are being informed by yet another one of The Creators holy ones, of the formation of The other holy religions of The Creator on this earth, by a continual message being sent to all mankind, by various divine prophets, messengers, manifestations and divine teachers, from all around the world; being sent to us from The Creator Himself).” So again we, as in all of us, need to look into God’s holy writings for ourselves, because: “There are common heretics Of this world who teach amongst humans what is not true. You will be beset by these heretics on every hand within and without. There will be plenty of these heretics about hiding themselves in the very personalities of the saints, the better to carry out their deceitful tricks on the un-weary persons.” For, “The memory-habit of erroneous intellection will ever cling to them. To make the matter worse, the simple-minded ones, poisoned by this erroneous view, will declare this incorrect way of thinking taught by the ignorant, to be the same as that presented by the All-knowing One.”(Buddhism, The Eightfold path, Buddha, Surangama Sutra)

 And so it must always be remembered that, 25. “one is one’s own guard, what other guard could one have?“ For, “one is one’s own destiny (your actions in this life lead to your own salvation; no one else can do that for you)!” 20. So again, “you yourself, should make (the) effort, for The Buddhas have only pointed out the way (the true effort is still on your part).” So “study the words for yourself!” So, “The true Samana who is seeking the way to Brahma, let him have thoughts of love everywhere throughout the whole world pervading with thoughts of love far reaching, beyond measure, all embracing. Regard all with mind set free and filled with deep felt love. this is the way to a state of union with Brahma. Be filled with thoughts of pity, sympathy and equanimity far reaching beyond measure all embracing even for all things that have form or life with deep felt pity, sympathy and equanimity not one is set aside.” (Buddha, Tevigga Sutra) Then, 14. “Not to speak harshly and not to harm others, self restraint in accordance with the rules of the Order (moral laws), moderation in food, a secluded dwelling, and the cultivation of the higher levels of consciousness – this is the teaching of the Buddhas.” (Sayings of the Buddha 1 (tr. J. Richards) So, “Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful.” Udana-Varqa, 5:18 “The virtuous man pervades all directions.” “He has cast away ill-will; he dwells with a heart free from ill-will; cherishing love and compassion toward all living beings.” (The Eightfold Path and Buddhist, Dhammapada – Sayings of the Buddha 1, 2 and 3 (tr. J. Richards))

 Sabeanism: “Thou wast in existence before all.” “In the name of The Life (God)! I worship The First Life. Thou art immeasurable, infinite and (for-ever).” “Arise, worship and praise The Great Life (Haiyi/God) .” “I worship and praise that channel of light, The messenger of all rays-of-light.” (The manifestation of God on this earth, the good shepherd) “In the Name of The Great Life. Vines shone in the water And in the Jordan mighty they grew.” “Ye are flourishing offshoots. Messengers hither I bring you.” “Establishing Your likeness and giving us light, Let your radiance shine upon us.” “And it was revealed to me (His messenger) and to all of them in this book, and they acted upon this reliable baser acting according to this (its) light and removing nothing from this writing of great revelation that was given to Adam the first man.” “And Thou hast spoken to us with Thy Word And hast commanded us with Thy commandment – Be my glory and I will be Your Glory. Be my light and I will be Your Light. And my name shall be in your mouths And I will be with you.” “Thou art He who over-throwest (false) gods in their high-places And bringest reproach on the divinity of (false) deities.” This is the agreement, or covenant God has with Adam. God has manifestations, messengers, who are His image and counterpart in this life on this world, but God Himself will never take on the imperfect shape of an earthly human; He is to grand and magnificent to become a mere mortal human. “Arise, worship and praise The Great Life And praise His Counter-part, that is the image of the Life.” “I worship and praise that channel of light, The messenger of all rays-of-light (The manifestation of God on this earth). Every day, daily, they gaze on His likeness And upon the great Countenance of Glory.” So, “Thou, my lord Manda-d-Hiia, art blessed and praised And thy praise is established (on high). This is prayer and praise which came to them from The great place of Light and the everlasting Abode.” “We have acknowledged,’ ‘Praises,’ and ‘Thee (Life)’ for Myself so that there may be commemoration for Me on earth.” So, “to you (people) do I call and (to you) do I teach; Men who have received the sign. Hearken not to the talk of all people and generations; and let not their stumblings: (doctrines, dogmas, theologies and traditions), cause you to stumble, stumble not because of their stumblings, (rantings and ravings)!” “If thou readest (the holy word and teachings), read it as it is written, and be careful and make inquiry, into the word of Haiyi (God).” For, “My chosen ones, ye sought and ye have found, moreover ye shall seek and ye shall find. Ye sought and ye have found, My chosen ones, even as the first (souls), sought and found.” “Not through coercion; but by true self investigation.” “The first (generations) sought and found: and let those that come after seek, and they will find. Seek and find for yourselves, for your eyes shall not turn away from Me unsatisfied.” Here Adam himself, hints at the coming of more prophets and more revelations that will be coming to mankind from The Creator; the other religions of God! So, “be careful; and make inquiry, display kindness, and show forth love and compassion,” For, “(the spirit of the Word of Haiyi/God), falleth on the dead man, (the spiritually dead man) and he liveth again: on the sick man and he stretcheth himself out and is well; on the blind man,  and (his eyes) are opened up and he sees; on the deaf man and hearing: is bestowed, and wisdom, and perception are infused into his soul.” For, “the one who partaketh of this bread pihta (the True spiritual living word of Haiyi/God), put out (for him), will be truly sinless in the Place of Light, the Everlasting Abode.” So, “pour out wisdom into my heart! – and open up the eyes of my True, Spiritual Understanding!” “Wreath is light, its weapon is the true living (spiritual) word of (Haiyi/God), and its seal the chosen, pure one (the manifestation of God). Every man who openeth it, (the spiritual word) and readeth (the book and teachings) therein, shall live and shall be whole, and his name will be set up in The House of Life (heaven), in the name of The Great Sublime Life (GOD), from the worlds (of light?).” So then, “Lord of The Mystic (Spiritual) Books of Truth, Lord of The ‘Letters-of-Truth’ “The name of The Life (Haiyi/God) For again, “every man who openeth it, (the spiritual word) and readeth the book and teachings therein, shall live and shall be whole, and his name will be set up in The House of Life (heaven), in the name of The Great Sublime Life (GOD), from the worlds of light.” This is His words, His covenant that He has made with His followers. So, “Diffuse Thy light over all who love.” For “Thy sake do we love all that liveth, humanity is one in love;” then, “Praise Thee, for amongst them all hatred, Envy and dissensions exist not.” “I shall be pure in all my words (thoughts); and life,” and do no harm to others. (Sabeanism, Ginza Rba- chapters 1, 35, 75, 76, 77, 114 thru 116, 177 and 382)

 THE BAB: “FEAR ye God and breathe not a word concerning His Most Great Remembrance other than what hath been ordained by God, inasmuch as We have established a separate covenant regarding Him with every Prophet and His followers. Indeed, We have not sent any Messenger without this binding covenant.” “The Lord of the universe hath never raised up a prophet nor hath He sent down a Book unless He hath established His covenant with all men, calling for their acceptance of the next Revelation and of the next Book; inasmuch as the outpourings of His bounty are ceaseless and without limit.” “Thus is divine revelation inaugurated in each Dispensation at Our behest. We are truly The Supreme Ruler. Indeed no religion shall We ever inaugurate unless it be renewed in the days to come. This is a promise We solemnly have made. Verily, We are supreme over all things.” “Verily He doth exercise undisputed authority over His revelations unto all mankind.” “Thus, according to the Shaykh, as God’s essence was totally beyond the reach and comprehension of man, it was necessary for there to be intermediaries in order for man to gain access to any of the divine attributes and teachings. These intermediaries, themselves in their essence neither God nor men, were the prophets.” “Only through the intermediary of the Manifestation of God, who manifested God‘s attributes to mankind, could the believer approach the object of his religious quest. Of these Manifestations, who included, amongst others, Abraham, Zoroaster, Moses, Christ, Muhammad and the Báb; Bahá’u’lláh was the latest, the point of religious focus for all humanity in this new age.” “O concourse of light! By the righteousness of God, We speak not according to selfish desire, nor hath a single letter of this Book been revealed save by the leave of God, the Sovereign Truth.” “Not I speak these words, but God speaketh them.” So, “Fear ye God and entertain no doubts regarding His Cause, for verily, the Mystery of this Gate is shrouded in the mystic utterances of His Writ and hath been written beyond the impenetrable veil of concealment by the hand of God, the Lord of the visible and the invisible.” “THERE is no doubt that the Almighty hath sent down these verses unto Him.” [The Bab] “When the verses of this Book are recited to the infidels they say: Give us a book like the Qur’án and make changes in the verses. Say: ‘God hath not given Me that I should change them at My pleasure.’ I follow only what is revealed unto me. Verily, I shall fear My Lord on the Day of Separation, whose advent He hath, in very truth, irrevocably ordained.” Therefore, “TAKE heed to carefully consider the words of every soul, then hold fast to the proofs which attest the truth.” For, “The path to guidance is one of love and compassion, not of force and coercion.” “WHENEVER the faithful hear the verses of this Book being recited, their eyes will overflow with tears and their hearts will be deeply touched by Him Who is the Most Great Remembrance for the love they cherish for God, the All-Praised. He is God, the All-Knowing, the Eternal. They are indeed the inmates of the all-highest Paradise wherein they will abide for ever.” “Love, (is) the mainspring of every energy, tolerance towards each other, desire of understanding each other, knowing each other, helping each other, forgiving each other.” “Regard ye not others save as ye regard your own selves, that no feeling of aversion may prevail amongst you. It behooveth you all to be one indivisible people; thus should ye return unto Him Whom God shall make manifest.” “Verily I am none other but the servant of God and His Word, and none but the first one to bow down in supplication before God, the Most Exalted; and indeed God witnesseth all things.” “Refresh my heart, O my God, with the living waters of Thy love and give me a draught, O my Master, from the chalice of Thy tender mercy,” and let, “God‘s all-encompassing love and protection surround them.” It was for words such as these that people, “renounced the world and flocked to his (the Bab’s) standard, a standard which is but a symbol of their Faith.” For it was “the Qá’im Himself (The Bab), who (was) their Shepherd.”

 “Know thou that every ear which hearkeneth unto His Words with true faith shall be immune from the fire. Thus the believer, through his recognition of Him will appreciate the transcendent character of His heavenly Words, will whole-heartedly choose Him over others, and will refuse to incline his affections towards those who disbelieve in Him. Whatever one gaineth in the life to come is but the fruit of this faith. Indeed any man whose eye gazeth upon His Words with true faith well deserveth Paradise; and one whose conscience beareth witness unto His Words with true faith shall abide in Paradise and attain the presence of God; and one whose tongue giveth utterance to His Words with true faith shall have his abode in Paradise, wherein he will be seized with ecstasy in praise and glorification of God, the Ever-Abiding, Whose revelations of glory never end and the reviving breaths of Whose holiness never fail.” “O LORD! Enable all the people, of the earth, to gain admittance into the Paradise of Thy Faith; so that no created being may remain beyond the bounds of Thy good-pleasure.”

 “Every hand which setteth down His Words with true faith shall be filled by God, both in this world and in the next, with things that are highly prized; and every breast which committeth His Words to memory, God shall cause, if it were that of a believer, to be filled with His love; and every heart which cherisheth the love of His Words and manifesteth in itself the signs of true faith when His Name is mentioned, and exemplifieth the words, ‘their hearts are thrilled with awe at the mention of God, that heart will become the object of the glances of divine favour and on the Day of Resurrection will be highly praised by God.” So, “Love (again, is) the mainspring of every energy, tolerance towards each other, desire of understanding each other, knowing each other, helping each other, forgiving each other.” “To each you will convey the expression of My love and tender affection. You will strive to inflame their hearts anew with the fire of the love of the Beauty of God; a flock the different members of which love each other so bitterly.” “He hath cherished and will ever cherish the desire that all men may attain His gardens of Paradise with utmost love, that no one should sadden another, not even for a moment!” “O LORD! Enable all the people, of the earth, to gain admittance into the Paradise.” For, All are but Thy servants and are held within Thy grasp.”

 “Be thou neither a divine without discernment nor a follower without discernment, for both of these shall perish on the Day of Resurrection.” Again, “TAKE heed to carefully consider the words of every soul, then hold fast to the proofs which attest the truth.” For, “it behooveth thee to be a discerning divine, or to walk with insight in the way of God by obeying a true leader of religion.” “In every nation thou beholdest unnumbered spiritual leaders who are bereft of true discernment, and among every people thou dost encounter myriads of adherents who are devoid of the same characteristic. Ponder for a while in thy heart, have pity on thyself and turn not aside thine attention from proofs and evidences. However, seek not proofs and evidences after thine idle fancy; but rather base thy proofs upon what God hath appointed.” “It behooveth you, O creatures of God, to help your own selves and to believe in the Verses revealed” (The Bab, Selections from the Writings of the Bab, pp. 33, 45, 57, 60, 62, 66, 75, 80, 86, 98, 100, 123, 127, 133, 178, 191, 208, The Dawn-Breakers, pp. 197, 260, 406, 463, 663, Peter Smith, The Babi & Baha’i Religions, pp. 11, 73 and Moojan Momen, The Babi  and Baha’i Religions, p. 60 and Shoghi Effendi, God Passes By, p. 181)

BAHA’I FAITH: “Among the teachings of His Holiness Bahá’u’lláh is the oneness of the world of humanity; that all human beings are the sheep of God and He is the kind Shepherd. This Shepherd is kind to all the sheep, because He created them all, trained them, provided for them and protected them. There is no doubt that the Shepherd is kind to all the sheep and should there be among these sheep ignorant ones, they must be educated; if there be children, they must be trained until they reach maturity; if there be sick ones, they must be cured. There must be no hatred and enmity, for as by a kind physician these ignorant, sick ones should be treated.” So, “It is evident that the divine prophets have appeared in the world to establish love and agreement among mankind. They have been the shepherds and not the wolves. The shepherd comes forth to gather and lead his flock, and not to disperse them by creating strife. Every divine shepherd has assembled a flock which had formerly been scattered,” “The shepherd is one and all people are of his flock.” And so, “The great ones are from all time in their glorious station; their reality is luminous from the beginning, the reality that causes the qualities of God to appear, but the day of their manifestation is the day when they proclaim themselves of this earth.” “The divine Manifestations since the day of Adam have striven to unite humanity so that all may be accounted as one soul. The function and purpose of a shepherd is to gather and not disperse his flock. The prophets of God have been divine shepherds of humanity. They have established a bond of love and unity among mankind, made scattered peoples one nation and wandering tribes a mighty kingdom. They have laid the foundation of the oneness of God and summoned all to universal peace. All these holy, divine Manifestations are one. They have served one God, promulgated the same truth, founded the same institutions and reflected the same light. Their appearances have been successive and correlated; each one has announced and extolled the one who was to follow and all laid the foundation of reality. They summoned and invited the people to love and made the human world a mirror of the Word of God. Therefore the divine religions they established have one foundation; their teachings, proofs and evidences are one; in name and form they differ but in reality they agree and are the same.” “Each of the Prophets was a mediator through whom God visited and spoke to His people. Jesus was such a mediator, and the Christians have rightly regarded His appearance as a coming of God. In Him they saw the Face of God and through His lips they heard the Voice of God. Bahá’u’lláh tells us that the ‘Coming’ of The Lord of Hosts, the Everlasting Father, the Maker and Redeemer of the World; which, according to all the Prophets, is to take place at ‘the time of the end,’ means no other than His manifestation in a human temple,” “The splendors of the perfections, bounties, and attributes of God shine forth and radiate from the reality of the Perfect Man, that is to say, the Unique One, the universal Manifestation of God. Other beings receive only one ray, but the universal Manifestation is the mirror for this Sun, which appears and becomes manifest in it, with all its perfections, attributes, signs, and wonders.” And so, “I speak naught except at His bidding, and follow not, through the power of God and His might, except His truth. He, verily, shall recompense the truthful.” “This Wronged One speaketh wholly for the sake of God;” “not I speak these words, but God speaketh them.” “The Prophets of God are the Mediators of God. All the Prophets and Messengers have come from One Holy Spirit and bear the Message of God, fitted to the age in which they appear. The One Light is in them and they are One with each other. But the Eternal does not become phenomenal; neither can the phenomenal become Eternal.”

“From the days of Adam until today, the religions of God have been made manifest, one following the other, and each one of them fulfilled its due function, revived mankind, and provided education and enlightenment. They freed the people from the darkness of the world of nature and ushered them into the brightness of the Kingdom. As each succeeding Faith and Law became revealed it remained for some centuries a richly fruitful tree and to it was committed the happiness of humankind. However, as the centuries rolled by, it (religion) aged, it flourished no more and put forth no fruit, wherefore was it then made young again,” by the coming of the new manifestation.

“The religion of God is one religion, but it must ever be renewed. Moses, for example, was sent forth to man and He established a Law, and the Children of Israel, through that Mosaic Law, were delivered out of their ignorance and came into the light; they were lifted up from their abjectness and attained to a glory that fadeth not. Still, as the long years wore on, that radiance passed by, that splendour set, that bright day turned to night; and once that night grew triply dark, the star of the Messiah dawned, so that again a glory lit the world.”

You see, “the power of the Covenant will protect (and will establish humanities further development)!” “The Holy Land was conquered by the power of the Covenant of God with Abraham, and the glory of the Solomonic wisdom and sovereignty dawned. All this was due to the religion of God, which this blessed lineage established and upheld.” “It is evident that throughout the history of Abraham and His posterity, this was the source of their honor, advancement and civilization.” For the “power of the Covenant shall heat every freezing soul, (and) shall bestow light upon everything that is dark.” “The dynamic power of the world of existence is the power of the Covenant, which like unto an artery pulsateth in the body of the contingent world.” “Gather them then, together around this Divine Law, the covenant of which Thou hast established with all Thy Prophets and Thy Messengers, and Whose ordinances Thou hast written down in Thy Tablets and Thy Scriptures. Raise them up, moreover, to such heights as will enable them to perceive Thy Call.” So, “Blessed the one who hath remained faithful to the Covenant of God, and woe betide him who hath broken it.”

O ye beloved of God, know that steadfastness and firmness in this new and wonderful Covenant is indeed the spirit that quickeneth the hearts, which are overflowing with the love of the Glorious Lord; verily, it is the power which penetrates into the hearts of the people of the world! Your Lord hath assuredly promised His servants who are firm and steadfast to render them victorious at all times, to exalt their word, propagate their power, diffuse their lights, strengthen their hearts, elevate their banners, assist their hosts, brighten their stars, increase the abundance of the showers of mercy upon them, and enable the brave lions to conquer.” So, “suffer the friends to become firm in the Covenant.” For, “trials and tribulations have, from time immemorial, been the lot of the chosen Ones of God and His beloved, and such of His servants as are detached from all else but Him, they whom neither merchandise nor traffic beguile from the remembrance of the Almighty, they that speak not till He hath spoken, and act according to His commandment.”

And so, “the first teaching of Bahá’u’lláh is the duty incumbent upon all, to investigate reality. What does it mean to investigate reality? It means that man must forget all hearsay and examine truth himself, for he does not know whether statements he hears are in accordance with reality or not. Wherever he finds truth or reality, he must hold to it, forsaking, discarding all else; for outside of reality there is naught but superstition and imagination.” “The Prophets and Manifestations of God bring always the same teaching; at first men cling to the Truth but after a time they disfigure it. The Truth is distorted by man-made outward forms and material laws. The veil of substance and worldliness is drawn across the reality of Truth.” For, “the beginnings of all great religions were pure; but priests, taking possession of the minds of the people, filled them with dogmas and superstitions, so that religion became gradually corrupt.” “For example, during the days of Jesus Christ the Jews were expecting the appearance of the Messiah, praying and beseeching God day and night that the Promised One might appear. Why did they reject Him when He did appear? They denied Him absolutely, refused to believe in Him. There was no abuse and persecution which they did not heap upon Him. They reviled Him with curses, placed a crown of thorns upon His head, led Him through the streets in scorn and derision and finally crucified Him. Why did they do this? Because they did not investigate the truth or reality of Christ and were not able to recognize Him as the Messiah of God. Had they investigated sincerely for themselves, they would surely have believed in Him, respected Him and bowed before Him in reverence. They would have considered His manifestation the greatest bestowal upon mankind. They would have accepted Him as the very Savior of man; but, alas, they were veiled, they held to imitations of ancestral beliefs and hearsay and did not investigate the truth of Christ. They were submerged in the sea of superstitions and were, therefore, deprived of witnessing that glorious bounty; they were withheld from the fragrances or breaths of the Holy Spirit and suffered in themselves the greatest debasement and degradation.” “For is it not thy clear duty to investigate (and) to inform thyself – and to cleave unto justice?” For, “God has created man and endowed him with the power of reason whereby he may arrive at valid conclusions. Therefore, man must endeavor in all things to investigate the fundamental reality. If he does not independently investigate, he has failed to utilize the talent God has bestowed upon him.”

“By the righteousness of God! I speak not falsely, and utter naught save that which God hath bidden Me.” “Bahá’u’lláh taught, that Religion is the chief foundation of Love and Unity, and the cause of (Universal) Oneness.” “His mission was to change ignorant fanaticism into Universal Love and to establish in the minds of His followers the basis of the unity of humanity and to bring about, in practice, the equality of mankind.” “The divine purpose is that men should live in unity, concord and agreement and should love one another.” “O son of man! If thine eyes be turned towards mercy, forsake the things that profit thee, and cleave unto that which will profit mankind. And if thine eyes be turned towards justice, choose thou for thy neighbor that which thou choosest for thyself.” “Wish not for others what ye wish not for yourselves.” “Do not only say that Unity, Love and Brotherhood are good; you must work for their realization.” “Know thou of a certainty that Love is the secret of God‘s holy Dispensation, the manifestation of the All-Merciful, the fountain of spiritual outpourings. Love is heaven’s kindly light, the Holy Spirit’s eternal breath that vivifieth the human soul. Love is the cause of God‘s revelation unto man, the vital bond inherent, in accordance with the divine creation, in the realities of things. Love is the one means that ensureth true felicity both in this world and the next. Love is the light that guideth in darkness, the living link that uniteth God with man, that assureth the progress of every illumined soul. Love is the most great law that ruleth this mighty and heavenly cycle, the unique power that bindeth together the divers elements of this material world, the supreme magnetic force that directeth the movements of the spheres in the celestial realms. Love revealeth with unfailing and limitless power the mysteries latent in the universe. Love is the spirit of life unto the adorned body of mankind, the establisher of true civilization in this mortal world, and the shedder of imperishable glory upon every high-aiming race and nation.” “O ye beloved of the Lord! Strive to become the manifestations of The Love of God, the lamps of divine guidance shining amongst the kindreds of the earth with the light of love and concord.” “God is loving and merciful. His intention in religion has ever been the bond of unity and affinity between humankind.” And so, “unity is the expression of the loving power of God and reflects the reality of divinity. It is resplendent in this day through the bestowals of light upon humanity.” (Bahá’í Faith, Abdu’l-Baha, Divine Philosophy, p. 52, Abdu’l-Baha in London, p. 24, 28, 37, 56, 60, 125, Selections from the Writings of Abdu’l-Baha, pp. 27, 51, 102, 208, Baha’i World Faith  pp. 217, 245, 271, 279, 285, 323, 356, 425, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, pp. 62, 312, Abdu’l-Baha, Foundations of World Unity, pp. 14, 22, 81, Dr. J.E. Esslemont, Baha’u’llah and the New Era, p. 212, Baha’u’llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u’llah, p. 126, Prayers and Meditations by Baha’u’llah, p. 106, Baha’u’llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, pp. 18, 29, Shoghi Effendi, God Passes By, p. 181, Baha’u’llah, The Summons of the Lord of Hosts, 1.125 and pp. 192, 207, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u’llah, p. 129 and The Kitab-i-Aqdas, p. 72)

And so I state again, one more time, to try and re-emphasize the importance of This message from The Creator, (yet again):  Christianity: 1 Corinthians: 4:33 “God (definitely, absolutely) is not the author of confusion, but of peace,” and so, if your religious beliefs are still not instilling thoughts of love, unity and peace into your hearts, for your fellow human brothers and sisters, than there is something definitely going terribly wrong here with the actual process of religious spiritual development and enlightenment for you. Because I still seem to hear, all too often, from  different adherents of different religious beliefs, their over whelming desires; in wishing for the destruction and damnation of their fellow human brothers and sisters, with in many, it seems, an excessive, over-zealous desire, that all of these other people, they have chosen to condemn, burn and go straight to an agonizing, pain filled hell, to suffer there for all of eternity! I mean what can I say here; in-deed, what can anyone really say about such hatefulness and heartlessness? There is something definitely going terribly wrong here with the spiritual development and the spiritual growth of anyone who would actually wish and desire something like this on someone else; and I have to ask the question, do these people really believe that this is actually what The Creator actually wishes and desires for His human children? Do they really believe that The Creator, Who we are told, knows absolutely everything, actually just creates human beings, just so He can watch them agonize and suffer and burn in hell like this, for all of eternity? What kind of a Creator, Who we are told is all-loving, all-merciful and justice incarnate, would actually create even one individual who He is knowingly creating, just so that person can suffer an excruciating, unbearably pain filled unrelenting existence for their unending, unrelenting entirety of time?  Colossians: 1:17 “And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.” What kind of monster do these people really think God is? I know this scenario is what some people seem to think and believe, and some people maybe even hope for; because I have actually heard some people state this in my presents, with my very own ears. Can you actually imagine what something like the searing temperatures of flames blazing at thousands of degrees, burning all over your body would be like, for just a few seconds, let alone feeling something like this kind of unimaginable agony and excruciating pain for all of eternity? It would have been better if The Creator had never created that person in the first place, or anyone for that matter, who is going to suffer like this, for all of eternity. I mean, it pretty much, goes without saying, that a Creator Who is truly all about love, kindness and mercy, as we are told He is, does not create beings just so He can hurt them, and throw them away into a physical fiery pit for all of eternity; that makes absolutely no real kind sense to a reasonable thinking, sane being. Fortunately for the human race, that is not what The Creator actually tells us, He actually desires and intends for His created children. You see, The Creator actually wishes better for us, and actually desires for us to join Him in heaven. He actually tells us this, within the writings of His different religions. Read them for yourselves, I have picked out a few of these quotations, on this subject stated below; and hell is fortunately for us, not what humanity seems to think it is or what some of us have been told to believe anyway. Remember, His writings are of the spirit:  John: 4:24 “God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit.” But please don’t get me wrong; I am not saying that hell does not exist! All that I am saying is that God is not a monster, hell is not a physical burning place made just to torture humans, and hell is definitely not what we think it is or have been led to believe. Hell is not a physical place made to torture human bodies, but is an ethereal place and of the spirit, dealing with our true ethereal, spiritual selves; not a place for our worn out, discarded, useless physical human bodies to reside. Besides, The Creator desires for us to reside with Him  in paradise, not in hell; focus on living a good, loving, decent, giving life, not a life of decadence, depravity and debauchery. Ezekiel: 33:10 “Turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, (subsist in hell).” 18:31 “Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit; for why will ye die, (have your existence in hell).”

Christ tells us:

 Christianity: Luke: 12:32 “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom (give you heaven).” So that, Luke: 3:6 “all flesh shall see the salvation of God.” 1 Timothy: 2:3 “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;” 2:4 “Who will have all men to be saved,” 4:10 “Who is the Saviour of all men.” 1 Thessalonians: 5:9 “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation.” You see, The Creator actually does want us up in heaven with Him; and He actually did create all of humanity for this true purpose; and not so much for hell, as some people seem to want to believe and shove down our throats. But then again, there is still a lot about all of this ethereal existence of heaven and hell, that we still don’t really, fully understand? Luke: 21:31 “Know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.” 17:20 “And when he (Jesus) was demanded of (by) the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:” 17:21 “Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.” You see, heaven is not a physical place for our physical bodies to go to; and the holy scriptures further tell us: 1 Corinthians: 15:50 “Now this I say brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God (heaven);” 15:49 “And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.” 2 Corinthians: 5:1 “For we know that if our earthly house of this (body, the) tabernacle, were dissolved, we have a building of God an house not made with hands eternal in the heavens.” 1 Corinthians: 4:20 “For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.” 2 Peter: 1:13 “Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle (body), to stir you up by putting you in remembrance;” 1:14 “Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath.” For, John: 3:6 “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” Genesis: 9:6 “For in the image of God made He man.” And, John: 4:24 “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit.” We are spirits when we die. Because, John: 3:6 “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” So, I ask you, what would be the use of a physical place to take up our new spiritual existence, and what would be the use of a physical fire to harm a spiritual, ethereal being; think about it? For, 1 Corinthians: 15:49 “As we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.” 15:50 “Now this I say brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God.” If flesh and blood, or the physical body, cannot inherit the Kingdom of God or the physical body of man has no place in heaven, think about it, why do we think that the physical body of man can go to a physical hell, and burn? If the physical body of man cannot go into heaven, then it only stands to reason, that the physical bodies of men cannot go to hell either; for when we die, we cast off this physical form we are currently living in.  Judaism: Ecclesiastes: 3:21 “The spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast (the physical body of man) that goeth downward to the earth?”  2 Corinthians: 5:4 “For we that are in this tabernacle (physical body) do groan, being burdened; 5:1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” John: 2:18 “Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?” 2:19 And, “Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 2:20 “Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?” 2:21 “But he spake of the temple of his body.” For, Mark: 14:58 “We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.” So, we should now be able to clearly see, that it is not the physical body that passes on, beyond the grave, but our true spiritual form, that is made in the same ethereal image as The Creator; and He is spirit, without a physical form; and so are we, once we pass on beyond this physical world. Therefore, hell is not a real physical place ether, but is of the spirit, contained within us, like heaven is also contained within us, or in our minds or being. And so, once those individuals get there, that are going there; The Creator can choose to bring them back out of Hell again; if He so chooses, for it is completely up to Him not us, period! Jeremiah: 3:12 “for I am merciful, saith The LORD, and I will not keep anger for ever.” Psalms: 103:8 “The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.” 103:9 “He will not always – keep his anger for ever.” Acts: 2:26 “Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope:” Acts: 2:27 “Because Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt Thou suffer Thine Holy One to see corruption (hell).” Wisdom: 16:13 “For thou hast power of life and death: thou leadest to the gates of hell, and bringest up again.” (Deuterocanonical Apocrypha) Colossians: For, 1:16 “All things were created by Him, and for Him:” 1:17 “And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist.” Ephesians 4:4 For, “there is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;” for, 4:6 “One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”

James 3:17 For “the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.” Not the cruel ravings of a brutal monster, who has planned out your excruciating, pain filled suffering, who gleefully watches you as you scream and writher in pain filled anguish, for the whole duration of an unbearable eternity! Colossians: For again, 1:17 “He is before all things, and by Him all things consist.”  Psalms: 139:8 “If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.”  Revelations: 20:14 “And (so) death and hell were cast into the lake of fire.” So hell itself gets cast into the lake of fire; so then, I must ask, where will the naughty-disbelievers/misbelievers go after their separation from the body; maybe this will be what actually happens to them, or at least in-part after they die: 2 Thessalonians Those, 1:9 “Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of The Lord.” They may be able to see the good things, in the next world, but they will not be able to partake of them themselves: Luke: 13:28 “There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out;” for Jesus Christ tells us: Luke: 16:19 “There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day;” 16:20 “and there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores;” 16:21 “desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table;” 16:22 “And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom; the rich man also died, and was buried;” 16:23 “And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.” 16:24 “And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me.” 16:25 “But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.” Wisdom: 16:13 “For Thou (God) hast power of life and death; Thou leadest to the gates of hell, and bringest up again.” (Deuterocanonical Apocrypha) Acts: 2:27 For, “Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell!” You see, all is up to God, with Him even the sinful can be liberated from hell at His discretion! Ephesians: 2:4 “God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us,” 2:5 “Even when we were dead in sins,” Micah: 7:18 For, “Who is a God like unto Thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression? (and) He retaineth not his anger for ever, because He delighteth in mercy.” 1 Timothy: 2:3 “For God our Saviour;” 4:10 “Who is the Saviour of all men,” 2:4 “will have all men to be saved,” For, 1 Thessalonians 5:9 “God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation.” Luke: 12:32 “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom (give you heaven).” For,  John: 14:2 “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.” For,  1 Corinthians: 2:9 “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them (in heaven).” 1 Peter: 1:3 “Blessed be The God and Father of our Lord, which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us,” 1:4 “To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you.”

 Judaism: Isaiah: 64:4 “Since the beginning of the world, men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside Thee, what He (God) hath prepared for him; (that waiteth for him in heaven).” 45:17 “Be saved in The LORD with an everlasting salvation!” 45:22 “Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I Am God, and there is none else.” Ezekiel: 18:32 “For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith The Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.” And, 33:11 “I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live; for why will ye die.” Psalms: 149:4 “For The LORD taketh pleasure in His people.” 49:8 “For the redemption of their soul is precious;” 49:9 “That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption (or see hell).”  Lamentations: 3:33 “For He (God) doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men.” 3:34 “To crush under His feet all the prisoners of the earth.” 3:31 “For The LORD will not cast off for ever:” 3:32 “But though He cause grief, yet will He have compassion according to the multitude of His mercies.” 3:33 “For He doth not afflict willingly;” Micah: 7:18 “that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression,  He retaineth not His anger for ever, because He delighteth in mercy,” Jeremiah: 3:12 “for I am merciful, saith The LORD, and I will not keep anger forever.” Lamentations: For, 3:35 “To turn aside the right of a man before the face of The Most High,” 3:36 “To subvert a man in his cause, The LORD approveth not.” Tobias: 13:2 “For He doth scourge, and hath mercy: He leadeth down to hell, and bringeth up again:” 1 Kings: 2:6 “The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up.” Tobias: “neither is there any that can avoid His hand.” (Deuterocanonical Apocrypha)  Psalms: 139:8 “If I ascend up into heaven, Thou (God) art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, Thou art there:” Daniel: 12:2 “And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.” Ezekiel: 20:43 “And there shall ye remember your ways, and all your doings, wherein ye have been defiled; and ye shall loathe yourselves in your own sight for all your evils that ye have committed.” Isaiah: 3:11 “Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him.” So hell like heaven, is not a physical place to take up our spiritual residence after we pass on after this physical life; these places are mental spiritual states we find ourselves in after we leave our bodies behind, where we remember our doings. Psalms: 16:10 “For Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt Thou suffer Thine Holy One to see corruption.” For, 34:22 “The LORD redeemeth the soul of His servants; and none of them that trust in Him shall be desolate.” 111:9 “He sent redemption unto His people: (and) He hath commanded His covenant for ever; holy and reverend is His name,” 130:7 “for with The LORD there is mercy, and with Him is plenteous redemption.” For, 3:8 “Salvation belongeth unto The LORD!” Jeremiah: 3:23 “Truly in The LORD our God is the salvation.” 68:20 So “He that is our God is The God of salvation.” Psalms: For, 20:6 “The Lord, – He will hear him, (us) from His Holy Heaven with the saving strength.” And so, 85:7 “Shew us Thy mercy, O LORD, and grant us Thy salvation.” For, 103:19 “The LORD hath prepared His throne in the heavens; and His kingdom ruleth over all.” 36:5 “Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens, and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.” 36:6 “Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; Thy judgments are a great deep; O LORD, (and) Thou preservest man and beast.” 36:7 “How excellent is Thy loving kindness, O God!” 36:8 “They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of Thy house (heaven); and Thou shalt make them drink of the river of Thy pleasures.” 36:9 “For with Thee is the fountain of life; in Thy light shall we see light.” 57:10 “For Thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and Thy truth unto the clouds.” 89:2 For Thy, “mercy shall be built up for ever; Thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens.” 103:17 “The mercy of The LORD is from everlasting to everlasting.” 89:11 “The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine.” 96:11 “Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad.” Jeremiah: For, 23:23 “am I a God at hand, saith The LORD, and not a God afar off?” 23:24 “Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith The LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith The LORD. 32:17 Ah Lord GOD! there is nothing too hard for Thee; 32:18 Thou shewest loving kindness unto thousands.” So, Lamentations: 3:26 “It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of The LORD.” And so, Micah: 7:7 “therefore I will look unto The LORD; I will wait for The God of my salvation.” Psalms: 130:7 “For with The LORD there is mercy and with Him is plenteous redemption.” Proverbs: For, 29:17 “He shall give thee rest; yea, He shall give delight unto thy soul.” For 20:27 “The spirit of man is the candle of The LORD.” Micah: 7:18 For, “Who is a God like unto Thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of His heritage?” For, “He retaineth not His anger for ever, because He delighteth in mercy.” Then, Isaiah: 48:16 “Come ye near unto Me, (and) hear ye this; I have not spoken (it) in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was, there am I: and now The Lord GOD, and His Spirit, hath sent me.” 48:17 “Thus saith The LORD, thy Redeemer, The Holy One of Israel; I Am The LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go.” So, Isaiah: 45:22 “Look unto Me, and be ye saved!” Isaiah: 64:4 “For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath, eye seen, O God, beside Thee, what He hath prepared for him that waiteth for Him (in heaven).” For, Proverbs: 20:27 “The spirit of man is the candle of The LORD.” So, Ecclesiastics: 7:8 “Better is the end of a thing than the beginning there-of.” (The King James Bible) “And there I saw the mansions of the elect and the mansions of the holy (heaven being prepared for man).” (Other Apocrypha, The Book of Enoch) “Now therefore give God thanks: for I (we) go up to Him (join God in heaven).” (Deuterocanonical Apocrypha, Tobias)

Again we see that The Lord God, desires for man to join Him in heaven; to be saved unto salvation, and He clearly wants to have compassion and mercy upon His children, all of His children! The Creator has no real, true desires for harshness or wrath or the punishment of humanity; He tells us this in Ezekiel, Ezekiel: 18:32 “For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith The Lord GOD;” and, 33:11 “I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live.” God wants us to live and to be blessed! For, The Creator, created us, in His True Image: Genesis: 1:26 “And God said, Let Us make man in Our Image, after Our Likeness;” 1:27 and “so God created man in His Own Image, in The Image of God created He him; male and female created He them;” God created us like Him, a spirit: 2 Corinthians: 3:17 “Now The Lord is that Spirit,” Genesis: 1:2 “The Spirit of God moved,” Job: 26:13 “By His spirit He…” 1 Kings: 10:10 “And The Spirit of God came,” 16:13 “And The Spirit of The LORD,” 2 Chronicles: 15:1 “And the Spirit of God,” 24:20 “And the Spirit of God, etc… so we should clearly be able to see, that God again is a spirit, according to Jewish teachings; and  so, we are also spirits, created in His, The Creators image. Job: 10:9 “Remember, I beseech Thee, that Thou hast made me as the clay; and wilt Thou bring me into dust again?” 10:10 “Hast Thou not poured me out as milk, and curdled me like cheese?” 10:11 “Thou hast clothed me with skin and flesh, and hast fenced me with bones and sinews.” For, 10:12 “Thou hast granted me life and favour, and Thy visitation hath preserved my spirit.” 33:4 “The Spirit of God hath made me, and The Breath of The Almighty hath given me life.” 32:8 “There is a spirit in man and the inspiration of The Almighty giveth them (men, humanity) understanding.” So we are like Him (The Creator); spirits created in His true image; and so therefore, that which is beneficial to Him; is something that is also beneficial to our true spiritual side or nature, as-well; because He has created us to be like Him, in His image! And so, He actually gives us laws and ordinances that are for the spiritual benefit of our souls, and for our further development;  and to help us get along better with one another; not because He is an All Powerful Deity, and He is just telling us what to do, because He, on a whim, just feels like telling us what to do! He does this because it is for our own good, and will help us in our integration and advancement in the next life; which is also of a spiritual nature. Isaiah: 48:17 “Thus saith The LORD, thy Redeemer, The Holy One of Israel; I am The LORD thy God, which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go;” because of-course, He is of the spiritual existence, as-well; and what exactly, would be the use of a physical heaven, for a spiritual entity to live and exist in? For, 3 Kings: 837 “the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain Thee (God)?” So, “will God indeed dwell on the earth,” 2 Chronicles: 2:6 “But who is able to build Him an house, seeing the heaven and heaven of heavens can not contain Him?” And so, in creating us, He desires for us, that which He desires for Himself; which are the good things of the next life, or the things of heaven or paradise. 2 Kings: 23:1 “Now these be the last words of David, – the man who was raised up on high.” For, Jeremiah: 51:11 “The LORD hath raised up the spirit.” Ecclesiastes: 12:7 “Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God Who gave it.” For, Proverbs: 20:27 “The spirit of man, is the candle of The LORD, (not the physical body);” Isaiah: 32:18 “And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.” – “peace and righteousness, quietness and assurance for ever.” Ecclesiastes: 3:21 And, “knoweth the spirit of man (the soul) that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast (the physical body) that goeth downward to the earth?”

So hell and heaven again, in The Old Testament, are not physical places for our souls to take up residence in, once we pass beyond this physical world; as I stated and hopefully proved earlier. So again, what is the real use of clinging, so tightly, to the physical things of this physical life; for none of that will help us, once we pass beyond this world; for the things of the next world, like us, are not physical in nature, but are spiritual in nature. So Satan will not be venomously burning our physical bodies to ash, over and over again, for all of eternity; like some people seem to imagine, and want to believe. God, is absolutely not that kind of a monster, Who would actually allow such a terrible thing to happen! Lamentations: 3:33 “For He (God) doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men.” 3:34 “To crush under His feet.” For, 3:35 “to turn aside the right of a man before the face of The Most High,” 3:36 “to subvert a man in His cause, The LORD approveth not.” The spirit or soul of man, is not physical for a physical fire to be able to burn! Ecclesiastes: “For the spirit of man (the soul) that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast (the physical body of man), that goeth downward to the earth;” and again, you absolutely can not burn the soul with physical fire; for the soul is not physical; so hell is of a spiritual nature, as-well; that The Creator actually wishes for us to avoid: Ezekiel: 18:32 “For (again) I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith The Lord GOD – turn yourselves, and live ye.” And, 33:11 “I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live.” Because He absolutely does not desire hell for us but He wishes for us to turn away from the things in this existence, that are harmful to our souls or harmful to the souls of others beings around us. God doesn’t take pleasure in our suffering, but, Psalms: 149:4 “The LORD taketh pleasure in His people,” 49:8 “For the redemption of their soul is precious, to Him.” Micah: 7:18 So, “God like(s) (to) pardoneth iniquity and transgression,” for “He retaineth not His anger forever, because He delighteth in mercy;” Jeremiah: 3:12  “for I am merciful, saith The LORD, and I will not keep anger for ever.” For, Isaiah: 38:17 “Thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption (hell), for thou hast cast all my sins behind Thy back.” The Creator does not wish Hell for us or for anyone, but desires mercy for us! For, Psalms: 30:9 of “what profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit (down into hell)?” “Shall the dust praise Thee?” “shall it declare Thy truth?” 31:1 “In Thee, O LORD, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in Thy righteousness;” and God, therefore, will eventually help those out of hell, because again, Micah: 7:18 “He retaineth not His anger for ever!” and can show forgiveness and mercy at His discretion, whenever He so chooses. Wisdom: 16:13 “For thou hast power of life and death: thou leadest to the gates of hell, and bringest up again.” (Deuterocanonical Apocrypha) Jeremiah: 3:12  “For I am merciful, saith The LORD, and I will not keep anger for ever.” For, Isaiah: 50:1 “Thus saith The LORD,” 50:2 “is My hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem? or have I no power to deliver? behold, at My rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a wilderness.” 51:11 “Therefore the redeemed of The LORD shall return, and come – and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.” 51:12 “I, even I, am he that comforteth you.” 54:8 “I with everlasting kindness, will I have mercy on thee, saith The LORD thy Redeemer.” Ezekiel: 18:32 “For (again) I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith The Lord GOD.” And, 33:11 “I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live.” So, Isaiah: 45:22 “Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I Am God, and there is none else.” Then, 45:17 “Be saved in The LORD with an everlasting salvation!” Psalms: 149:4 “For The LORD taketh pleasure in His people.” 49:8 “For the redemption of their soul is precious;” 49:9 “That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption (see hell).” For, 139:8 “If I ascend up into heaven, Thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, Thou art there.” 34:22 “The LORD redeemeth the soul of His servants!” For, 3:8 “Salvation belongeth unto The LORD!” Jeremiah: 3:23 And, “truly in The LORD our God is the salvation.” Psalms: For, 36:7 “How excellent is Thy loving kindness, O God! Lamentations: 3:33 “For (again) He doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men.” For, Psalms: 30:9 of “what profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit (down into hell)? Ezekiel: 18:32 For, 33:11 “I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live.”

Isaiah: 42:5 “Thus saith God The LORD:” 42:6 “I The LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;” 42:7 “To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison (hell), and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house, (He will bring the people out of hell).” Psalms: 16:10 “For Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.” 86:13 “For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell.” And, Jonah: 2:6 “I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars was about me for ever (hell); yet hast Thou brought up my life from corruption (hell), O LORD my God.” So, Job: 33:27 “He looketh upon men;” 33:28 “He will deliver his soul from going into the pit (hell), and his life shall see the light.” 33:29 “Lo, all these things worketh God oftentimes with man,” 33:30 “To bring back his soul from the pit (hell), (so) to be enlightened with the light of the living.” Zechariah: 9:11 “As for Thee also, by the blood of Thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit (hell)” 9:16 “And The LORD their God shall save them in that day (rescue them).” God shall eventually liberate even the souls of them that were wicked from the confines of hell! Isaiah: 24:22 “And they shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit (hell), and shall be shut up in the prison (hell), and after many days shall they be visited.” And, 24:23: “Thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption (hell): for thou hast cast all my sins behind Thy back.” 38:18 “For the grave cannot praise Thee, death can not celebrate Thee: they that go down into the pit (hell) cannot hope for Thy truth.” For, 38:20 “The LORD was ready to save me.” Jeremiah: 3:12  “For I am merciful, saith The LORD, and I will not keep anger for ever.” For, Isaiah: 50:1 “Thus saith The LORD,” 50:2 “is My hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem? or have I no power to deliver?“

 Islam: 67. “Ye desire the lure of this world and Allah desireth (for you) the Hereafter (paradise).” (The Qur’an Pickthall, Sura 8) “Ye wish to have the goods of this world, but God wishes for (you) the next (paradise)!” (The Qur’an Palmer, Sura 8) “Ye desire the passing fruitions of this world, but God desireth the next life (heaven) for you.” (The Qur’an Rodwell, Sura 8) 67. “Ye look for the temporal goods of this world; but Allah looketh (wishes for you) the hereafter (heaven).” (The Qur’an Yusuf Ali, Surah 8) 10. “Is there a doubt about Allah (God), the Creator of the heavens and the earth?“ “It is He Who invites you, in order that He may forgive you your sins and give you respite,” Clearly, Allah (God) desires heaven for us; (for all of us). 72. “Allah hath promised to believers, men and women, gardens under which rivers flow, to dwell therein, and beautiful mansions in gardens of everlasting bliss. But the greatest bliss is the Good Pleasure of Allah; that is the supreme felicity,” heaven is described as the good pleasure of God here (The Qur’an (Yusuf Ali tr), Surah 9) 198. “For those who fear their Lord, are gardens, with rivers flowing beneath, (a description of heaven for Muslims); therein are they to dwell (forever), a gift from the presence of Allah (God), and that which is in the presence of Allah is the best.” 20. “For those who fear their Lord, lofty mansions, one above another, have been built; beneath them flow rivers (of delight): (such is) the promise of Allah; never doth Allah fail in (His) promise!” For, 35. “Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth; and here is the parable of the Garden (another name for heaven for the Muslims), which the righteous are promised! — beneath it flow rivers; (and) perpetual is the enjoyment thereof and the shade therein.” “Such is the End of the Righteous and the End of Unbelievers is the Fire (hell).” Muhammad calls the garden a parable, which is something that is not to be taken literally; he also mentions hell in this parable as-well. So if heaven is not a real, literal, physical place in Islam but the good pleasure of God; so, why do we believe that hell is a literal, physical place? Hell is a place of great shame according to the words of Muhammad: 192. “Our Lord! any whom thou dost admit to the fire (hell), truly thou coverest with shame.” So a burning hell, is again a parable within Islam, not a real physical place, but a place of shame, or burning shame; for 26. “Allah disdains not to use the similitude of things;” Allah/God likes to use, similitudes or parables about matters of faith or the heart. 58. “For such He has written Faith in their hearts, and strengthened them with a spirit from Himself,” “perchance (they) might grow in spiritual understanding?” Because, “the pure spirit (at death) escapes from the bonds of the body.” So again we see, that we are spirit or a soul, created in the spiritual image of our Creator, Who is also of a spiritual nature. So we are of the spirit when we die, not a physical being to take our place in heaven or hell when we die, but a spirit or a soul, taking our place in a non-literal heaven or hell: “Allah created you with His Own Hand, and breathed into you of His Spirit meaning the spirit which he created for you.” So, 53. “soon will We show them Our Signs in the (furthest) regions (of the earth) and within their own souls.” So soon will the Allah (God) like spiritual properties, begin to reveal themselves within our demeanor, and our outward actives towards one another, if we strive towards becoming more like God. “We show them Our Signs (Our Image), within their own souls.” For, 119. “Allah will say: ‘This is a day on which the truthful will profit from their truth; theirs are Gardens, with rivers flowing beneath, their eternal home (again their heavenly home); Allah well-pleased with them, and they with Allah; that is the great Salvation.’” Again, heaven is not to be taken as a real, physical place. For, 16. “On that day, if the penalty is averted from any, it is due to Allah’s Mercy; and that would be (Salvation), the obvious fulfillment of all desire.” 17. For, “if Allah touch thee with affliction, none can remove it, but He; if He touch thee with happiness, He hath power over all things.” 18. “He is the Irresistible, (watching) from above over His worshippers; and He is the Wise, acquainted with all things.” 9. “And those saved from the covetousness of their own souls, they are the ones that achieve prosperity.” Again we see that heaven is not a physical place, but again a spiritual place or a good state of mind or being.

“Allah is most surely, full of kindness (and) Most Merciful to all people!” “Can those in such ultimate, unimaginable Bliss, coming from an all Loving, kind Creator, really be compared to such as shall dwell forever in the Fire, and be given, to drink, boiling water, so that it cuts up their bowels (to pieces)?” This is a very stark contrast to how Muhammad describes Allah in the Quran: “For Allah is to all people most surely full of (all) kindness, (and is) Most Merciful.” Which this, in reality, should tell us that hell is also non-literal just like heaven; for how could a truly All Loving God possibly create even one soul that is going to suffer throughout eternity like that; its unimaginable to the intelligent mind. But again, don’t get me wrong, there really is, very much a hell of the spiritual world, we just can’t imagine it’s true direness yet!

18. “The parable (similitude, story) of those who reject their Lord is that their works are as ashes, on which the wind blows furiously on a tempestuous windy day. No power have they over aught that they have earned; That is the straying far, far from the goal.” 72. “Those who were blind in this world will be blind in the Hereafter, and most astray from the Path.” Those who were blind to God in this world will also be blind to God in the next world. They are those: 1:9 “Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of The Lord.” These people will be blind to the presents of The Lord and to heaven in the next world, and know not where to turn for relief and salvation, from their predicament, for they cannot find the path of God, and will be punished with destruction FROM THE PRESENTS OF THE LORD!!! 49. “Among them is (many) a man who says: ‘Grant me exemption and draw me not into trial.’ Have they not fallen into trial already?“ “And, indeed, hell surrounds the unbelievers on all sides.” 63. “Know they not, that for those who oppose Allah and His Messenger, is the fire of Hell? — wherein they shall dwell, that is the supreme disgrace.” We see again, hell being described as a place of humiliation and now disgrace. These, again, are mental afflictions and torments of the mind, not the physical torments of a physical burning hell.  

Again, “Can those in such ultimate, unimaginable Bliss, coming from an all Loving, kind Creator;” “for Allah is to all people most surely full of kindness, (and) Most Merciful;” “to all people, ” “really be compared to such as shall dwell forever in the Fire, and be given, to drink, boiling water, so that it cuts up their bowels (to pieces)?” This again, is such a dark, stark contrast to how Muhammad actually describes Allah in The Quran: “For Allah is to all people most surely full of (all) kindness, (and is) Most Merciful.” Which, in reality, again tells us that hell is also as non-literal as heaven is. For how could a truly, All Loving Creator, possibly create even one soul who is going to suffer thus throughout all eternity like this; its unimaginable to the intelligent mind! The Creator Himself, in seeing this, would suffer with that person who is suffering in such agony; think about it!

“Some Sabi (Sabian war prisoners) were brought before the Prophet and behold, a woman amongst them was milking her breasts to feed and whenever she found a child amongst the captives, she took it over her chest and nursed it (she had lost her child but later she found him) the Prophet said to us, ‘Do you think that this lady can throw her son in the fire?’ (The fires of hell)? We replied, ‘No, if she has the power not to throw it (in the fire).’ The Prophet then said, ‘Allah is more merciful to His slaves (His children) than this lady to her son.’” Here we find out that Allah is more merciful than humans are; the very act of Allah/God, Who is Omniscient, All-Knowing, All-Loving and All-Merciful, knowingly creating even one soul who is going to suffer in a fiery, burning, abysmal den of hell throughout all of eternity is unthinkable and unimaginable, for such an Enlightened, Caring Being. How could a Truly Loving, kind, Mercy filled God, Who does believe in justice, knowingly create even one soul who He knows is going to suffer such a terrible fate; and Muhammad educates us to this truth here. The very idea is completely monstrous, and it would take a real monster to do such a thing; and I do not believe God is a true monster. So a real fiery hell is absolutely out of the question for a True Loving God. And Muhammad clearly indicates this here with his story about the Sabian woman. Allah/God is a True God of Love and mercy, and could not bear to even witness such a terrible thing, let alone cause it to happen; and Muhammad, with this story, definitely tells us that Allah is definitely more merciful than that. Indeed the very idea of doing such a terrible thing to any living creature is injustice incarnate. This is not the act of a Just, Merciful Creator, but the act of a deranged, maniacal, inhuman madman. But, in saying all of this, again, please don’t misunderstand me. Just because I am emphatically stating that there is no physical hell, don’t get me wrong. There is, in reality, very much a hell of the spirit; we just can’t imagine it yet! So, don’t be one of those foolish people who think they can just skate on by without incurring any real consequences for their actions here in this life. Just because the hell God has set aside for the evil acting human beings in this life, is not a real, physical hell, there is just too much being said about it, in all of the writings, from all of God’s holy manifestations and prophets, not to have an extreme caution about hell. Whatever hell may be, I can unequivocally promise you, it’s not a place or state of being you want to find yourself in. God’s messengers and chosen ones have chosen to use the most painful, frightful, worst images we can imagine in this world, here in this life, to describe hell to us; and since the earthly language of mankind cannot even begin to come close to describing the true nature of what God has been trying for thousands of years to get across to us; you do the math. Whatever hell is, it’s a thousand, thousand times worse than whatever these words are trying to convey to us, and it is a thousand, thousand times worse than anything that you can imagine, here in this life. I promise you, you do not want to go there, no matter how arrogant and self-absorbed you might be. The very thought of what hell might be, scares the hell right out of me, think about it; which is, in fact, the whole point behind this warning given to us by all of the prophets of God, in the first place. My guess is that, by the very act of God creating this wonderful heaven for us; that is so, so wonderful, hell then, is, in part, a byproduct that would naturally come into play for those individuals who are not welcome there, but who still have an existence, however diminished that existence may be. Or, in-other-words, hell is not a terrible place God, who is all love and complete mercy, purposely created for us, but actually the result of there being such a wonderful existence for us that will be getting even better and more wonderful, for His loved ones, throughout all of eternity, as they spiritually grow and develop, and can appreciate more of what He has given to them; while the wicked people, who by their very own terrible deeds and actions, right here in this life, deprived themselves of this wonderful gift, that only keeps getting better, while they keep doing without. And, as to what they may suffer and or possibly do to their own selves out of pure remorse, guilt and penance for their depraved situation, one can only guess at. But this is only a conjecture on my part, do to some of the observations I have made reading the writing of The Creator: 82. “we send down (to them) (stage by stage)… that which is a healing and a mercy to those who believe (and) to the unjust, it causes nothing but loss after loss.” Spiritual pain and anguish, after spiritual pain and anguish… 83. And, “yet when We bestow Our favors on man, he turns away and becomes remote (instead of coming to Us), and when Evil seizes him he gives himself over to the despair!” 84. “So every man acts according to his own disposition.” Accordingly, “We have made Hell a prison for those who reject (Our message and disobey Our commands).” “Every man’s fate We have fastened (around) his own neck and on the Day of Judgment We shall bring out for him a scroll, which he will see spread open.” “(It will be said to him): ‘Read thine (own) record; sufficient is thy soul this day to make out an account against thee.” “Whoso receiveth guidance, receiveth it, to his own benefit: and whoso goeth astray doth so to his own loss: no bearer of burdens can bear the burden of another, (hell or otherwise).” Therefore hell will, most likely, be of a very personal nature, conforming to the individual personality and reality of each and every individual co-inhabitant. But this is again just conjecture created from observations taken from right out of the writings of God.

For, 106. “Those who are wretched, shall be in the Fire; there will be for them therein (nothing but) the heaving of sighs and sobs:” sighs and sobs, not screaming your lungs out in writhing pain. 107. “They will dwell therein for all the time that the heavens and the earth endure, except as thy Lord willeth: for thy Lord is the Accomplisher of what He planneth.” In-other-words, we see again, that the duration of one’s stay in hell, again, depends on The Creator, for He leaves open, to Himself, the possibility of releasing the individual from hell; which is as it should be. 44. “To Allah belongs exclusively (the right to grant) Intercession; to Him belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth; in the End, it is to Him that ye shall be brought back,” (from suffering, from hell etc…) For, 147. “What can Allah gain by your (eternal, everlasting) punishment? Nay, it is Allah that recogniseth (all good), and knoweth all things.” (The Qur’an (Yusuf Ali tr), Surahs 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 13, 14, 15, 17, 24, 29, 38, 39, 41, 47, 58, 80 and The Masnavi Vol 6 and Hadith Bukhari Vol 6, Book 60, # 236, Vol 8, Book 73 # 28)

I found that the rest of the religions also state we will not be left in hell forever: “They will dwell therein (in hell) for all the time that the heavens and the earth endure, except as thy Lord willeth: for thy Lord is the (sure) Accomplisher of what He planneth.” The other religions hint at or strongly indicate that we will not be left in hell for all time as-well: 44. “To Allah belongs exclusively (the right to grant) Intercession: to Him belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth: in the End, it is to Him that ye shall be brought back.” (from suffering, from hell etc…) for 147. Again, “what can Allah gain by your (eternal, everlasting) punishment, if ye are grateful and ye believe? Nay, it is Allah that recogniseth (all good), and knoweth all things.”“Allah’s Apostle said,’ ‘have prepared for My Pious slaves things which have never been seen by an eye, or heard by an ear, or imagined by a human being. No soul, of man, knows what is kept hidden for them, of joy, as a reward for what they do, (in this earthly life).” “Allah’s Apostle said, ‘I have prepared for my pious worshipers such (wondrous) things as no eye (of man) has ever seen, no ear has ever heard of, and nobody has ever thought of.” So “I have prepared for My righteous slaves (such excellent things) as no eye hath ever seen, nor an ear hath ever heard, nor a human heart can ever think of.” 72. “Allah hath promised to believers, men and women, gardens under which rivers flow, to dwell therein, and beautiful mansions in gardens of everlasting bliss. But the greatest bliss is the Good Pleasure of Allah; that is the supreme felicity.” (The Qur’an (Yusuf Ali tr), Surahs 4, 9 and 39)

Zoroastrianism: 2. “And to Thy Good Kingdom – (heaven), O Ahura Mazda (God, The Creator), may we attain forever, and A Good King be Thou over us; and let each man of us, and so each woman, thus abide, O Thou most beneficent of beings, and for both the worlds!” 1. “Grant that reward which Thou hast appointed to our souls, O Ahura Mazda!“ 2. “Of this do Thou Thyself bestow upon us for this world and the spiritual;” 3. “Thereupon spake Mazda: Salvation to this one, whosoever he may be! May the absolute ruler Ahura grant it.” 21. “I created, O Spitama Zarathushtra! good renown and salvation of the soul;” 22. “That is to say, good renown in this world and salvation of the soul in the next.” “I will (aid him and) bring his soul over the Bridge of Chinvat, I who am Ahura Mazda, (God) (I will help him to pass over it) to Heaven (the best life),” And so, 32. “The Amesha-Spentas, will come and show thee, O Zarathushtra (Zoroaster)! the way to that world to long glory in the spiritual world, to long happiness of the soul in Paradise; To bliss and Paradise.” Here we see that Ahura/God wishes to guide us into heaven, which is a spiritual world, and that it is the soul of man and not the physical body of man, that goes to heaven, and so therefore heaven is not a real physical place in the Zoroastrian religion either, but a place of the spirit or a spiritual place.

For, “From the same jug, Mazda distributes the portion to all. But one gets honey and another gets poison as his share. The pot is the same, and so its content is the same. The mentality of the recipient makes the difference.” It is all about the mental state of the believers whether they find themselves in heaven or hell; and receive honey or poison for their actions in this life, in the next world. It is a spiritual state of mind that we shall find ourselves in, when we die; for all eyes will be opened to all the things we have done or in many cases left undone. The jug, or the abode, is the same. We will, all find ourselves in the same spiritual realm, but some will see their goodness, while others will only see the consequences of the evil actions they have performed. This is, of course, an over simplification of things to come and does not take into account God’s interactions with us or in some cases, the lack thereof; “Evil is not wholly evil! In tackling it the soul acquires moral strength i.e. competence for nearness to God. This is a relieving feature of sin.” “Even evil operates for the ultimate good.” So, “Evil is only apparently evil. It is ultimately for our good. It helps us to build our character and character is necessary for God realization, which is (for) our ultimate and permanent good.” And, “Mazda as the upholder of moral order, is sure to give His support to Zarathushtra and to punish his enemies. The punishment would, however, be for their own good, to lead them to the path of rectitude. Why should God, who is all kindness, inflict punishment on anybody unless it is for his own good  [i.e. even hell].” Denkard. Zoroaster, For, “the damnation (in hell, which they have merited); and having neglected the Deity during life, they remember Him the more at the moment of death. Because it is declared concerning those who fall into hell, that from the severity of their punishment in hell, their life which in this world they deemed to be proper (or free from blame), appears to them in hell so unfit or stained with sin [lit. so changed into unfitness], that they eagerly express the wish: ‘Would that we had never been born, or that we had not lived to follow the faith of the sinful,’ on account of which (penalty) they also exclaim that (it would have been) better if they had never been born.” Denkard. Zoroaster, “Those that are dwellers in Hell have been mentioned as (inmates) of Darkness, not of Light. Under their dominion is called (the thing) of darkness (infernal) and non-existent.” Hell is described here, as non-existent or non-literal; in-other-words, hell is not a physical, literal place for us to take up our literal residence when we die, but a spiritual place, waiting for our soul. So, “desire for pleasure should be discarded, but not desire for the good. Without the desire for self-realization or God realization, life becomes blank, mere darkness.” “Those who smother every resolution, live in an atmosphere of dense darkness. This is tantamount to the killing of the self” “Mind is its own place, and itself can make a heaven of hell and a hell of heaven. Nonchalance can turn hell into heaven, as the Mahabharata notes.” “It is strange that the man lives in the prison, though he has the keys in his hands all the while, that he lives in hell though he can live in heaven.” “It is a very true saying that what one considers to be happiness, depends very much on his mentality.” Here we see that hell and heaven are states of mind or spiritual being, and are not physical places for our spiritual selves to take up their spiritual residences.

“The sinner however is not lost forever; as soon as he gets rid of his passion, he develops conscience and nonchalance, and opens himself  to the influence of Mazda and is saved.” 7. “Praise be to The Merciful Lord who bestows rewards for meritorious deeds on those who obey his commands according to his will, and at last will liberate even the wicked from (the torture of) hell and will embellish with purity the whole creation.” Denkard. Zoroaster, “Those who are delivered from hell will obtain greatness (from the pious) and the imprisoned will be let out of hell.” (ZOROASTER, The Zend-Avesta, Avesta – Yasnas 19, 21, 40, 41, 55, Hymns of Atharvan pp. 112, 120, 121, 371,  320, 321, 405, 832, 833, Denkard and Hindu Mahabharata and The Zend-Avesta, Khorda Avesta – Book of Common Prayer and Avesta Fragments)

 Hinduism: “Now will I open unto thee- whose heart rejects not, that last lore, deepest-concealed, that farthest secret of My Heavens, which but to know shall set thee free from ills! Yea, for the soul, such light purgeth it from every sin; a light of holiness with inmost splendor shining; plain to see; inexhaustible!” “By Me the whole vast Universe is spread abroad; by Me, The Unmanifest (The Uncreated One, The One Who is of a Spiritual nature)!“ “In Me is all existences contained; Not I in them; Creating all, sustaining all, still dwell outside of all, so all things are in Me, but are not I.” 3. “Heaven’s light, most excellent, I offer, (Brahma/God offers us heaven).” 3. “He fill the heaven,” “laud He — heaven and earth – “This treasure of heaven, (Brahma, Vishnu, God’s, gift, and creation for man), that lays concealed, close and yet hidden, from the eyes of men.” Heaven is Brahma’s gift and creation for man. “He, The Lord, with power to give, The light of heaven.” So, “seek refuge in thy soul; have there thy heaven, under the spirit’s buckler from the world, which hath wisdom’s mark!” Heaven here we see, is a gift to us from The Creator and is of the spirit or spiritual in nature, and is found within the soul, not physical in nature, not a physical existence. “Krishna speaketh in this wise! Yea, and whoso, full of faith, Heareth wisely what it saith, Heareth meekly, when he dies, Surely shall his spirit rise To those regions where the Blest, Free of flesh, in joyance rest.” Krishna tells us that heaven is free of flesh or not a physical place, so with this in mind, isn’t hell also free of flesh or not a physical place? For, 240. “Single is each being born; single it dies; single it enjoys (the reward of its) virtue; single (it suffers the punishment of its) sin.” “Leaving the dead body on the ground like a log of wood, or a clod of earth, the relatives depart with averted faces; but spiritual merit follows the (soul).” “Let him therefore always slowly accumulate spiritual merit, in order (that it may be his) companion (after death); for with merit as his companion he will traverse a gloom that is difficult to traverse.” “That companion speedily conducts the man who is devoted to duty and effaces his sins by austerities, to the next world, radiant and clothed with an ethereal body.” “The heaven of the Atman is, of course liberation, that state in which the individual soul becomes merged in the Brahman or Paramatman, which is pure essence, (spiritual, with no physical body), intelligence and joy, Free of flesh.” 4. For, “to be an outcast means to be deprived of the right to follow the lawful occupations of twiceborn men,” “And to be deprived after death of the rewards of meritorious deeds.” “Some call (this condition) hell.” Clearly Krishna is telling us we are of the spirit or spiritual in nature when we die, with an ethereal body; and he also tells us that heaven and therefore hell are both free of flesh or not physical places for us to take up our new spiritual residences, but places of the mind or spirit.

And as far as hell is concerned: we will be outcasts denied the rewards of our accomplishments in this life, which is one of the conditions of hell. 207. “But he who, intending to hurt a Brahmana, has threatened (him with a stick and the like) shall remain in hell during a hundred years; he who (actually) struck him, during one thousand years.” 54. “Those who committed mortal sins (mahapataka), having passed during large numbers of years through dreadful hells, obtain, after the expiration of (that term of punishment, may be allowed into heaven, according to the will of Brahma).” (Hindu, Bhagavad Gita (Edwin Arnold tr) chapters 2, 9, 18, and Vedas, Rig Veda – Books 1 and 10 and Hindu, Laws of Manu 4 and The Dharma Sutras, Apastamba Prasna I, Patala 8, Khanda 22, Gutama 21) In-other-words, we as in all of humanity, can and will be eventually be liberated from the pains and anguish of hell!

 Buddhism: He, “Brahma (God) only desires that which is of good benefit for us;” you see, “no beings are left outside by the will of the Tathagatas; some day each and every one will be influenced by the wisdom and love of the Tathagatas and ascend the stages of heaven.” Eventually everybody will be allowed into heaven regardless of what their actions have been in their past life, no one will be left in hell forever or for all of eternity. For, “Brahma; only desires good benefit for us, [i.e. our salvation].” Brahma/God, in creating us, does want us in heaven with Him, and will eventually bring us there, all of us. “I urge deliverance.” You see, “The Tathagata guides you in the way, let Him admonish, exhort, And shield from wrong.” For the, “Tathagatas are in close fellowship with each individual comforting, encouraging, guiding, strengthening.” Again we see, that The Creator desires for us to be in heaven with Him, and desires to guide man there! For, “blind is this world, Few are they who clearly see; As the birds escaping from a net, (we escape the bonds of our mortal bodies).” Again we see, that we leave this mortal body of ours behind, when we exit this mortal world, so again, heaven and hell are not physical, literal places for us to take up our new spiritual lives. “For a man who obeys the divine laws prescribed in the holy revealed texts, gains after death, unsurpassable bliss (heaven, paradise), according to the (sacred spiritual teaching) of the revealed texts.” “The doctrines, which I advised you to penetrate, you should — so that this Holy Life may take its course for the weal and welfare of the many, as a consolation to the world, for the happiness, weal and welfare of heavenly beings (to the heavenly worlds of the spirit).” And so, “When we subject ourselves to the least differentiation or particularization, transformation takes place; otherwise all things would be as void as space, as they inherently are. By letting our minds dwell on evil things, hell arises. By letting our minds dwell upon good acts, paradise is manifested.” Again we see, that heaven and hell are both states of mind according to the Buddhist writings. “No beings are left outside by the will of the Tathagatas; some day each and every one will be influenced by the wisdom and love of the Tathagatas of Transformation, to lay up a stock of merit and ascend the stages. (The stages of heaven, the stages of spiritual development the soul has to go through).” “But, if they only realized it, they are already in the Tathagata’s Nirvana for, in Noble Wisdom, all things are in Nirvana from the beginning.” (Buddhism, The Eightfold Path, Buddha, the Word and The Sixth Patriarch, The Lankavatara Sutra, Surangama Sutra, Diamond Sutra and Tevigga Sutra) Dhammapada – Sayings of the Buddha 1 and 3 (tr. J. Richards))

 Sabeanism: “Thou hast shown us that which the eye of man hath not seen, and caused us to hear that which human ear has not heard. Thou hast freed us from death and united us with life, released us from darkness and united us with light, led us out of evil and joined us to good. Thou hast shown us the Way of Life and hast guided our feet into ways of truth and faith; so that Life cometh and expelleth darkness and goodness cometh and casteth out evil.” “Good, (the gift of heaven) is from the Good One (God/Haiyi); for the good. He (God) set His nature upon those who love His name,” goodness cometh to man from God above.  “(As) the mingling of wine with water, so may Thy truth, thy righteousness and thy faith be added to those who love Thy name of Truth; and Life be praised.” So, “Bliss and peace there shall be on the road which Adam built.” “The soul has loosened its chains and broken its fetters. It shed its bodily coat. The call of the soul is the call of life which departs from the body of refuse;” So, we are a soul or spirit when we die, casting off our bodily coat. And so, “The soul flieth and travelleth.” For, “to every man whose term of life is over Thou wilt be a Helper, Saviour and Guide.” “I (Haiyi/God), will take his hand and be his Saviour and Guide to the great Place of Light and to the Everlasting Abode; (Heaven). So here again we see The Creator’s desire for us to enter into heaven with Him; as He guides our soul, not our physical body, to takes its flight unto the road to heaven. The physical body is cast aside. Then, “raising my eyes and lifting up my countenance toward the Place which is all portals of radiance, light, glory, beauty, repute and honour and to the Abode which is all beams of light (heaven); I adore, laud and praise the Mighty, Strange (other-worldly) life.” “The assembly of souls which proceeded from Him, on the Last Day, when they leave their bodies, will rejoice in Him, will embrace Him and will rise up and behold the outer Ether and the everlasting Abode.” “For Thou knowest hearts and understandest minds and searchest out the (our) consciences (even) in the nethermost hells of darkness. Like a servant lying prostrate before Thee, our eyes are lifted to Thee, our lips give Thee praise.” Hell is darkness here, not flames or fire, and God is there with you searching out the consciences and the spiritual eyes are lifted up towards Him with praise on the spiritual lips of those He is comforting. For, “Those who seek of Him find, and to those who ask of Him it will be given. For to him that standeth at a closed door Thou wilt open the closed door. In the Place of Light Thou wilt wipe away and remove from us our sins, trespasses, follies, stumblings and mistakes and wilt cast them into the hells of the earth and the nethermost limbos (oblivion) of darkness. Thou wilt raise us up as sinless and not as guilty, as virtuous and not as vicious before Thee.” “May the gate of sin be barred to them and the gate of light be open for them. May they all be knit together in the communion of Life, in which there is no separation.” So than, “Manda-d-Hiia (God) went to the stars. His appearance loosed the bound (souls): He knit (them into) the communion that is without parting and without limit or number, by His word which issued from Him in that place. He passed by: the captives were freed. He loosed them from their sins and trespasses:” He freed the damned from their imprisonment in hell. So we see, here also, that Haiyi/God does not desire hell for us and will eventually liberate the sinful from the confines of hell and bring them into heaven with Him. (Sabeanism, Ginza Rba- chapters 9, 34, 35, 45, 48, 73, 76, 117 and 170 and Sabeanism, Bliss and Peace)

 The Babi Faith: “O LORD! Enable all the people, of the earth, to gain admittance into the Paradise,” “God hath cherished, and will ever cherish, the desire that all men may attain His gardens of Paradise, (heaven) with utmost love, that no one should sadden another, not even for a moment, and that all should dwell within His cradle of protection and security.” God, as He states in all of His religions; wishes, that all of mankind may join Him and attain unto His spiritual, heavenly kingdom. “He hath cherished, and will ever cherish, the desire that all men may attain His gardens of Paradise.” “O LORD! enable all the people of the earth, to gain admittance into the Paradise of Thy Faith; so that no created being may remain beyond the bounds of Thy good-pleasure.” “O Lord! Render victorious Thy forbearing servants in Thy days, enable their souls to ascend to the presence of God, the Most Exalted, and to attain the supreme Paradise.” All men are called, not just a certain few! “Indeed no paradise is more glorious in the sight of God than attainment unto His good-pleasure.” So, “WORSHIP thou God in such wise that if thy worship lead thee to the fire, no alteration in thine adoration would be produced, and so likewise if thy recompense should be paradise, Thus and thus alone should be the worship, which befitteth the one True God. Shouldst thou worship Him because of fear, this would be unseemly in the sanctified Court of His presence, and could not be regarded as an act by thee dedicated to the Oneness of His Being. Or if thy gaze should be on paradise, and thou shouldst worship Him while cherishing such a hope, thou wouldst make God‘s creation a partner with Him, notwithstanding the fact that paradise is desired by men. (For) that which is worthy of His Essence is to worship Him (alone) for His sake, without fear of fire, or hope of paradise.” For, “there is no paradise, in the estimation of the believers in the Divine Unity, more exalted than to obey God‘s commandments, and there is no fire in the eyes of those who have known God and His signs, fiercer than to transgress His laws and to oppress another soul, even to the extent of a mustard seed. For, “Paradise is (the) attainment of His good-pleasure and (the) everlasting hell-fire His judgement through justice.” Again we see that heaven and hell are not being looked at or explained in the more traditional sense, but more as a state of mind or being we find ourselves in or that we strive for. “O LORD! Thou art the Remover of every anguish and the Dispeller of every affliction. (And) Thou art He Who banisheth every sorrow and setteth free every slave, the Redeemer of every soul;” Eventually, every soul can and will be redeemed, at His desire and good pleasure, even from hells fires. “Thou seest Paradise and the inmates thereof; Thou beholdest the realm below (hell) and the dwellers thereof. All are but Thy servants and are held within Thy grasp.” Here, we see God is connected with man where ever he finds himself, indicating that heaven and hell are not real, physical places, but states of being: “I affirm that no Paradise is more sublime for My creatures than to stand before My face and to believe in My holy Words, while no fire hath been or will be fiercer for them than to be veiled from the Manifestation of My exalted Self and to disbelieve in My Words.” “Indeed no paradise is more glorious in the sight of God than attainment unto His good-pleasure.” Again, we see, that heaven and hell are not to be taken literally, as physical places. “O LORD! Thou art the Remover of every anguish and the Dispeller of every affliction. Thou art He Who banisheth every sorrow and setteth free every slave, the Redeemer of every soul.” Here again, The Bab hints at the possibility that God will eventually redeem every soul or retrieve, each and every person, from the dark pit of hell! For, “In Him I have found my paradise, and in the observance of His law I recognize the ark of my salvation,” so all of us, again, will eventually be brought out of hell, again by His discretion! -all destined for “the fruits of the Paradise of His good-pleasure;” so we see, that heaven again, is not thought to be a physical place, but the fruits of The Creator’s desires and good pleasure; where all people will eventually abide; “exalt the downtrodden, enrich the poor, and redeem the fallen.” For, “this mortal life is sure to perish; its pleasures are bound to fade away and ere long ye shall return unto God.” So, our bodies will soon fail and be discarded and soon we will only be of the spirit! “The soul of man is immortal; it survives physical death. The goal of the individual during his life, should be to develop those spiritual qualities and attributes which will enhance the soul in its eternal journey. Heaven is thus interpreted as the state of possessing those qualities and Hell as being bereft of them.” “I swear by Him Who createth all beings and unto Whom all shall return, if anyone at the hour of death beareth hatred towards Me or disputeth the clear tokens wherewith I have been invested, then naught but afflictive torment shall be his lot. On that day no ransom will be accepted, nor will any intercession be permitted, unless God so please, and “in very truth, on that Day (there is no) helper except God, The Exalted.” It is all up to our Creator, period, not the sordid whims of humans, it is up to Him to choose to forgive and bring the disbelievers into heaven! “THERE is no paradise, in the estimation of the believers in The Divine Unity, more exalted than to obey God‘s commandments, and there is no fire in the eyes of those who have known God and His signs, fiercer than to transgress His laws and to oppress another soul.” “The day will come when ye will earnestly desire to know that which would meet with the good-pleasure of God, but alas, ye shall find no path unto Him (true hell).” For, “We shall therefore, banish thee from Our presence, as a token of justice on Our part, Verily we are equitable in Our judgement.” This is tantamount to what Baha’is view hell to be for mankind and not a fiery pit as some people envision. “The path to guidance is one of love and compassion, not of force and coercion. This hath been God‘s method in the past, and shall continue to be in the future!” “We enjoin thee to save thyself and all the inhabitants of that land from the fire, then to enter the peerless and exalted Paradise of His good-pleasure.” (The Bab, Selections from the Writings of the Bab, pp. 12, 15, 16, 29, 33, 41, 44, 75, 77, 78, 79, 82, 86, 87, 98, 100, 101, 102, 107, 110, 136, 147, 154, 157, 159, 161, 178, 191, 193, 215 and Shoghi Effendi, The Dawn-Breakers, p. 509 and Moojan Momen, The Babi  and Baha’i Religions, p. xxiv and Baha’i Prayers, p. 199)

 The Bahá’í Faith: “Know thou, that I have wafted unto thee all the fragrances of holiness, have fully revealed to thee My word, have perfected through thee My bounty and have desired for thee, that which I have desired for My Self. Be then content with My pleasure and thankful unto Me.” “We, verily, desire for you naught save what shall profit you, and to this bear witness all created things, had ye but ears to hear.” “I confess that Thou hast no desire except the regeneration of the whole world, and the establishment of the unity of its peoples, and the salvation of all them that dwell therein.” God desires good for us, and He desires for us what He desires for Himself, and so He desires heaven for us. “There is no God, but One God, and all the Messengers, from the beginning to the Seal of the Prophets (Muhammad) were sent on the part of, The True One!” “May be raised; the flag’ (may the flag be raised) – of the oneness of the world of humanity, be unfurled, the melody of universal peace may reach the ears of the East and the West, (may the melody of universal peace be unfurled and reach the ears of the east and the west), all the paths may be cleared and straightened, all the hearts may be attracted to the Kingdom of God (and all the paths be cleared and straightened and all hearts be attracted to The Kingdom of God)!” This paragraph was written in a Spanish prose or format. I have added statements in parenthesis, within this paragraph, for those people who are not familiar with Spanish prose; to help those people who are not familiar with Spanish writing, make sense out of what is being said. “I desire for you, such a spiritual effulgence as will give you power to make ideal advancement and enter The Kingdom of El-Abha (enter heaven).” “I beg of God to illumine you with the light of His love so that you may enter into The Kingdom and draw nigh unto The Threshold.” “Enable Thy servants, O my God, to discover the things Thou didst desire for them in Thy Kingdom.” “Day and night I pray to Heaven for you that strength may be yours, and that, one and all, you may participate in the blessings of Bahá’u’lláh, and enter into The Kingdom (go to heaven).” “Issue forth from your habitations and bid the people enter The Kingdom of God, The Lord of the Day of Judgement.” “O beloved of God! Is there any giver save God? He chooseth for His mercy whomsoever He desireth. He shall open unto you the doors of His knowledge, fill your hearts with His love, rejoice your spirits by the wafting of His holy fragrances, illumine your faces by the Manifest Light and elevate your names among the people.” “Verily, thy Lord is The Mighty, The Powerful! He reviveth whomsoever He wisheth by the spirit of righteousness, and granteth unto whom He wisheth great bounty, (He) guideth whom He wisheth unto the path of life, and confirmeth whom He desireth in attaining The Kingdom of God.” “Any soul that enters The Kingdom of BAHA’U’LLAH will enjoy an eternal communion with God. It is my hope that each of you may enter This Kingdom.” For, “The light of God is verily shining in the face of the man who is of The Kingdom, spiritual, heavenly, divine.” Clearly God desires heaven for us, Baha’u’llah repeatedly tells us this. But, “if man does not become the recipient of the heavenly bestowals and spiritual bounties, he remains in the plane and kingdom of the animal; they are captives of nature, unconscious of the spiritual world, uninformed of the divine Kingdom and unaware of heavenly bestowals.” For man, “although he possesses all the virtues of the lower kingdoms (animal kingdom, etc…), he is further endowed with the spiritual faculty, the heavenly gift of consciousness.” “There he witnesses and realizes that the world of nature is a world of gloom, whereas The Kingdom (Kingdom of The Spirit), is a world of radiance; the world of nature is a world of defects, The Kingdom (heaven), is a realm of perfection; the world of nature (the physical world) is a world without enlightenment, the Kingdom of spiritual humanity is a heaven of illumination.” “If no fruits of The Kingdom appear in the garden of his soul, if he is bereft of divine bounties, spiritual susceptibilities and heavenly glad tidings, man is not in the image and likeness of God; but if those fruits are forthcoming, he becomes the recipient of ideal bestowals and is enkindled with the fire of the love of God.” “If his morals become spiritual in character, his aspirations heavenly and his actions conformable to the will of God, man has attained the image and likeness of his Creator; otherwise, he is the image and likeness of Satan.” “Therefore, Christ hath said, ‘Ye shall know them by their fruits.’” “What are the fruits of the human world? They are the spiritual attributes which appear in man. If man is bereft of those attributes, he is like a fruitless tree.” “One whose aspiration is lofty and who has developed self-reliance will not be content with a mere animal existence. He will seek the divine Kingdom; he will long to be in heaven although he still walks the earth in his material body, and though his outer visage be physical, his face of inner reflection will become spiritual and heavenly.” “Until this station is attained by man, his life will be utterly devoid of real outcomes. The span of his existence will pass away in eating, drinking and sleeping, without eternal fruits, heavenly traces or illumination — without spiritual potency, everlasting life or the lofty attainments intended for him during his pilgrimage through the human world.” “It is my wish that you shall arise to live according to these teachings and exhortations; that all of us may be divinely strengthened, enter the paradise of the spiritual Kingdom, diffuse the lights of the Sun of Truth, cause the waves of this Most Great Ocean to reach all human souls so that this world of earth may be transformed into the world of heaven and this devastated ground be changed into the paradise of Abha.” Again, it is God‘s wish that all of mankind join Him in heaven. For, “The Spirit of God is giving eternal life.” “Men have always been taught and led by the Prophets of God; The Prophets of God are the Mediators of God. All the Prophets and Messengers have come from One Holy Spirit and bear the Message of God, fitted to the age in which they appear. The One Light is in them and they are One with each other. But the Eternal does not become phenomenal; neither can the phenomenal become Eternal.” “To man, the Essence of God is incomprehensible, so also are the worlds beyond this, and their condition. It is given to man to obtain knowledge, to attain to great spiritual perfection, to discover hidden truths and to manifest even the attributes of God; but still man cannot comprehend the Essence of God. Where the ever-widening circle of man’s knowledge meets the spiritual world, a Manifestation of God is sent to mirror forth His splendour.” So, “The Essence of God is incomprehensible to the human mind, for the finite understanding cannot be applied to this infinite Mystery. God contains all: He cannot be contained. That which contains is superior to that which is contained. The whole is greater than its parts. Things which are understood by men cannot be outside their capacity for understanding, so that it is impossible for the heart of man to comprehend the nature of the Majesty of God. Our imagination can only picture that which it is able to create.”

But again, God only desires good for His children, “According to Them, Heaven is the state of perfection, and Hell that of imperfection; Heaven is harmony with God‘s will and with our fellows, and Hell is the want of such harmony; Heaven is the condition of spiritual life, and Hell that of spiritual death. A man may be either in Heaven or in Hell while still in the body. The joys of Heaven are spiritual joys; and the pains of Hell consist in the deprivation of these joys.” “They say: ‘Where is Paradise, and where is Hell?’ Say: ‘The one is reunion with Me; the other thine own self.”’ “Thy Paradise is My love; thy heavenly home, reunion with Me.” “Think ye of love and good fellowship as the delights of heaven, think ye of hostility and hatred as the torments of hell.” “From the moment the soul leaves the body and arrives in the Heavenly World, its evolution is spiritual, and that evolution is: The approaching unto God. The soul does not evolve from degree to degree as a law — it only evolves nearer to God, by the Mercy and Bounty of God.” “What fire is fiercer on the Day of Reckoning than that of remoteness from the divine Beauty and the celestial Glory?” Clearly we see, in the Baha’i writings, that heaven and hell are not physical places, but spiritual states of mind. “The paradise and hell of existence are found in all the worlds of God, whether in this world or in the spiritual heavenly worlds.” “He (God) does not punish us for our sins and shortcomings, and we are all immersed in the ocean of His infinite mercy. Inasmuch as God is clement and loving to His children, lenient and merciful toward our shortcomings, why should we be unkind and unforgiving toward each other? As He loves humanity without distinction or preference, why should we not love all?” Then again, “What fire is fiercer on the Day of Reckoning than that of remoteness from the divine Beauty and the celestial Glory?” The Creator does not wish hell and destruction on us, we do that to ourselves, without even realizing it! God is All-Loving and All-Merciful and filled with forgiveness; and so, “it is even possible that the condition of those who have died in sin and unbelief may become changed; that is to say, they may become the object of pardon through the bounty of God, not through His justice; for bounty is giving without desert, and justice is giving what is deserved.” (Baha’i Faith: Paris Talks, pp. 23, 66, 95, Abdu’l-Baha in London, p. 19, 24, 66, Selections from the Writings of Abdu’l-Baha, p. 244, Divine Philosophy, p. 99, Tablets of the Divine Plan, pp. 78, 129, Tablets of Abdu’l-Baha v1, pp. 50, 70, 207, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, pp. 177, 258, 315, 316, 332, 335, 461, Baha’i World Faith – pp. 323, 329, 386, The Arabic Hidden Words 70 and The Kitab-i-Aqdas, p. 75, The Summons of the Lord of Hosts, Prayers and Meditations by Baha’u’llah, p. 198, Baha’u’llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 132 and The Arabic Hidden Words, Gems of Divine Mysteries, p. 44, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u’llah, p. 243 and Baha’u’llah, Dr. J.E. Esslemont, Baha’u’llah and the New Era, p. 190)

So you hopefully clearly see now, God absolutely wants us in heaven with Him, all of humanity, not just a few certain, select individuals; all of His divine religions tell us this truth. What He doesn’t appear to want, is us burning away in hell, burning alive for all of eternity; which of-course is not a real, true scenario, because hell like heaven is not a real, true physical place, but a spiritual place, which I have hopefully clearly demonstrated now to all of your satisfactions; because God truly wants our spirits in heaven with Him, not suffering in hell; whatever hell may actually be!

In the Bahá’í Faith, it is accepted, that God is, in truth, a good loving Father, not some maniacal being who purposely goes out of His way to make mankind suffer, and who has ultimately arranged some terrible, everlasting, unbearable end that even some of the worst humans on this planet would find unjust. If we humans would consider this ending to be unjust, how can we attribute this kind of behavior to a God who is Love and Justice incarnate?  Judaism: Genesis: 18:25 “Shall not The Judge of all the earth do right?” Shall not God do right? It would be a grave injustice for a Creator, who knows absolutely everything to even create one soul, who He knowingly, is going to condemn to agonizing suffering for all eternity in burning fire; it would have been best to have never created that soul in the first place; and where would God’s all merciful essence play into any of this? God Who, all of His religious writings tell us, is mercy incarnate!  Lamentations: 3:33 “For He (God) doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men.” 3:34 “To crush under His feet.”  Islam: For, 147. “What can Allah (God) gain by your (eternal, everlasting) punishment?” Baha’i Faith: For, “He does not punish us for our sins and shortcomings!“ “The station of God is mercy, kindness, forgiveness, sacrifice, favor, grace, and giving life to the spirits and lighting the fire of His love in the hearts and arteries.” “God is mercy, God is justice, God is life, etc, etc…”  Hosea: 13:7 “Therefore – will I observe them:” A God who is all mercy Himself would not create even one soul, who is going to suffer such a terrible fate; nor would He allow those who go the hell, do to their actions in this life, to remain in hell, whatever that may be, without making an eventual way for that soul to come out of this anguish; not to do so, goes completely against any form of true justice. Again:“it is even possible that the condition of those who have died in sin and unbelief may become changed; that is to say, they may become the object of pardon through the bounty of God, not through His justice; for bounty is giving without desert, and justice is giving what is deserved.”  Lamentations: 3:31 “For The LORD will not cast off for ever.”  Christianity: Acts: 2:27 “Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell.” Ephesians: 2:4 “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins.” “They say: ‘Where is Paradise, and where is Hell?’ Say: ‘The one is reunion with Me; the other thine own self.”’ (Bahá’í Faith, Abdu’l-Baha, Tablets of Abdu’l-Baha v1, p. 65 and Foundations of World Unity, p. 102, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 315 and The Baha’i World Faith, p. 329 and Tablets of Baha’u’llah p. 118)

Baha’i Faith: “Light must be spread afar, so that, in the school of humanity, all may acquire the heavenly characteristics of the spirit, and see for themselves, beyond any doubt, that there is no fiercer hell, no more fiery abyss, than to possess a character that is evil and unsound; (that there is) no more darksome pit, nor loathsome torment, than to show forth qualities which deserve to be condemned.” (Bahá’í Faith, Abdu’l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu’l-Baha, p. 136)

So God, by whatever name He may be going by, in this world: God, Jehovah, I AM That I AM, Yahweh, I AM, Allah, Ahura Mazda, The First Life, Haiyi, The Most Great Spirit, Vishnu, Brahma, Indra, Agni, The Un-born One, The Un-created One, and any number of other names He may be going by, etc…, but one thing is for certain; He wants you in heaven with Him, no matter what religion you may hail from! Christians, no matter what their clergy might say, do not own exclusive rights to heaven, God does; and all of His religions, including Christianity, tell us this truth. But these statements found within the holy writings of The New Testament are also true:  Christianity: Acts: 4:12 “Neither is there salvation in any other.” John: 3:36 “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life.” And, John: 14:6 “no man cometh unto The Father, but by me.” For you see, as I have hopefully demonstrated earlier, the spiritual essence of Jesus Christ was and is to be found in all of the other holy manifestations of God, and their spiritual essences are to be found in him: 1 Peter: 1:10 “Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:” 1:11 “Searching what, or what manner of time The Spirit of Christ, which was in them [i.e. Christ’s spirit again was to be found in the other manifestations or prophets and the other manifestations essences were to be found in Jesus; again the repeated, returning nature of the prophets;]” which is what makes these statements true. There is an inherent unity and oneness, among all of God’s holy manifestations, through the presents of God, Who is to be found inside each and every one of His holy manifestations; which again, makes these statements true.  Christianity: Luke: 1:68 For, “blessed be The Lord God of Israel; for He hath – raised up an horn of salvation for us – as He spake by the mouth of His holy prophets, (which have been since the world began),” Acts: 3:21 For, “God hath spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began;” John: 8:28 “Then said Jesus, I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.” 14:10 “the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but The Father that dwelleth in me, He doeth the works.” 3:34 “For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God;” 12:49 “For I have not spoken of myself; but The Father which sent me, He gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.” So Ephesians: 3:5 “as it is now revealed unto His Holy Apostles and Prophets, by the Spirit.”  John: 6:63 for “the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit.” 15:23 “He that hateth me hateth my Father also.”

  Judaism: Isaiah: 63:11 So, “remember the days of old, Moses and his people, saying: where is He that brought them up out of the sea with the shepherd of His (God’s) flock?” You see, the prophet Moses, was also one of The Creator’s true shepherds, like Jesus was. And, 63:11 “where is He (God) that put His Holy Spirit within him (Moses); so the spirit of The Creator was also to be found within Moses; like it was in Christ!” Exodus: 4:11 “And (I The LORD) said unto him,  4:12 “I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say!” Exodus: 4:15 “And I will be with thy mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do!” Numbers: 16:28 “And Moses said, Hereby ye shall know that The LORD hath sent me to do all these works; for I have not done them of mine own mind.” 8:18 For, “I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put My words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.” Hosea: 12:9 For, “I That Am The Lord thy God, I have spoken by the prophets (The Manifestations and The Divine Teachers of the world), and I have multiplied visions and used similitude’s, by the ministry of the prophets.” Zechariah: 7:11 “But they (men) have refused to hearken (unto My voice) that they should not hear the law and the words which The LORD of Hosts hath sent in His spirit by the former prophets of The LORD of Hosts.” And so, Zechariah: 7:7 “Should ye not hear the words which The LORD hath cried by the former prophets (Messengers Manifestations Holy Ones)?” Exodus: 16:8 “your murmurings are not against us, but against The LORD.”

  Islam: 6. “But how many were the prophets We sent amongst the peoples of old?” For, 60. “The truth (comes) from Allah (God) alone; so be not of those who doubt.” 23. (Further, We sent a long line of prophets for your instruction.) 21. “Allah has decreed: I and My Messenger must prevail. For Allah is One Who is full of strength and able to enforce His Will.” “For such He has written Faith in their hearts, and strengthened them with a spirit from Himself.” “They are — of Allah, (like Allah).” For the, 67. “Messenger, proclaim the (Message) which hath been sent to thee from thy Lord.” 117. “Never said I to them aught except what Thou didst command me to say,” So, 50. “I tell you not that with me are the treasures of Allah, nor do I know what is hidden, nor do I tell you I am an angel. I but follow what is revealed to me.’ Say: ‘Can the blind be held equal to the seeing?’ Will ye then consider not?” 205 “And do thou (O Muhammad) remember thy Lord within thyself?” So, “remember thy Lord within thyself.” 101. “When We substitute one revelation for another, and Allah knows best what He reveals (in stages),” 102. “The Holy Spirit has brought the revelation from thy Lord in truth, in order to strengthen those who believe, and as a guide and Glad Tidings,” 123. “So We have taught thee the inspired (message),” “So We inspired him (with the message).” 84. “The Spirit (of the word cometh) by the command of my Lord of knowledge; And, 193. “with it  (the word), came down the Spirit of Faith and Truth — to thy heart and mind.” “Without a doubt, it is (announced) in The Mystic, Books of the former peoples, (brought by the former prophets)” 106. “None of Our revelations do We abrogate or cause to be forgotten, but We substitute something better or similar; knowest thou not that Allah hath power over all things?” 20. “And the messengers whom We sent before thee were all (men) who ate food and walked through the streets. We have made some of you as a trial for others; will ye have patience? 51. For, “It is not fitting for a man that Allah should speak to him except by inspiration from behind a veil, or by the sending of a Messenger to reveal, with Allah‘s permission, what Allah wills;” 136. “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.” 3. “It is He Who sent down to thee (step by step), in truth, the Book, confirming what went before it; and He sent down the Law (of Moses) and the Gospel (of Jesus), before this, as a guide to mankind, and He sent down the Criterion (between right and wrong).” 7. “He it is Who hath sent down to thee The Book, in it are verses basic and fundamental, (while) others are allegorical (symbolic, mystic, and of the spirit),” with “hidden meanings and (spiritual understandings), but no one knows all of its hidden meanings and understandings, except Allah.” For, 26. “Allah disdains not to use the similitude of things, lowest as well as highest.” 77. “ye have indeed rejected Him, (turned against Allah)!” 23. “O mankind, your insolence is against your own souls.” 9. “It was not Allah Who wronged them but they wronged their own souls.” 13. “They contend against Allah.” (The Qur’an (Yusuf Ali tr), Surahs 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 16, 23, 25, 26, 30, 42, 43 and 58)

Zoroastrianism: 5. “Ahura Mazda (God) taught Zarathushtra at discussions, at meetings, at which Mazda and Zarathushtra conversed.” 6. So then, “as Ahura Mazda taught Zarathushtra at all of their discussions, at all meetings, at which Mazda and Zarathushtra conversed.” 10. It was “Ahura Mazda (that) showed before to him; and Zarathushtra (then) taught the corporeal world (the men of the world)!” “He, (Zoroaster), himself was taught (the law, the holy teachings) by Ahura Mazda, The Holy One,” Ahura/God talked through Zoroaster and taught him what he should say, and do and teach.” For, 1. “to Thee, O Ahura Mazda (God) I (am) to thee, O Zarathushtra, we do the same; and to Thee, O Lofty Lord;” here again, we see that Zoroaster is within Ahura and that Ahura is to be found within Zoroaster as-well. So, 3. “we worship the former religions of the world devoted to righteousness which were instituted at the creation, the holy religions of The Creator, Ahura Mazda, the Resplendent and Glorious.” And, 2. “If by reason of these things the better path is not in sight for choosing, then will I come to you all as judge of the parties twain whom Ahura Mazda knoweth, that we may live according to the Right.” For, “the busy world is apt to forget the most important lessons of life so The Merciful Mazda sends (His) prophets now and then to remind men of their highest destiny.” Because “Ahura Mazda is not unmindful of His creatures and sends a prophet to every nation and people. He had already said that the religion taught by all the prophets are one in all essential points.” So, “Zarathustra proceeds to announce the great truths that he had learned from Ahura Mazda.” For, “God speaks through His prophets.” “For in essential matters, there is no difference between one prophet and another. In as much as the same God is worshiped everywhere.” For “all of them are different phases of the same religion.” “Mazda is not The God, of any particular tribe. The doors of Ahura Mazda are not closed to foreigners. So as soon as anyone of them becomes fit, he is to be included in the fold.” “If one disbelieves in the spiritual experience of the prophet he deprives himself of the (true) means of salvation.” “The gospel of the prophet enables one to have a glimpse of His Spirit. All of the prophets teach the same truth. The lamps are different, but the flame is the same.” So then, “In all essential matters there is no difference between one prophet and another.” But then, “all wicked, embodiments of the Druj, are scorners of The Judge, and rebels against The Sovereign;”

Hinduism: “Krishna, Yea! I loved thee well, The secret countenance of Me, Krishna, I BRAHMA Am! The One Eternal GOD, And ADHYATMAN is My Being’s name, The Soul of Souls! What goeth forth from Me, Causing all life to live, is KARMA called: And, Manifested in divided forms, I am the ADHIBHUTA, Lord of Lives; And ADHIDAIVA, Lord of all the gods, Because I am PURUSHA, who who begets. And ADHIYAJNA, Lord of Sacrifice, I- speaking with thee in this body here- Am, thou embodied one! (for all the shrines Flame unto Me!) And, at the hour of death, He that hath meditated Me alone, In putting off his flesh, comes forth to Me, Enters into My Being- doubt thou not! But, if he meditated otherwise At hour of death, in putting off the flesh, He goes to what he looked for, Kunti’s Son! Because the Soul is fashioned to its like.” For, “His (God/Brahma’s) manifestations have been declared.” “Manifestations of the Brahma-light.” “As I before have been So will I be again for thee; with lightened heart behold! Once more I am thy Krishna, the form thou knew’st of old! Sanjaya. These words to Arjuna spake Vasudev, and straight did take Back again the semblance dear Of the well-loved charioteer; Peace and joy it did restore When the Prince beheld once more Mighty BRAHMA‘S form and face Clothed in Krishna‘s gentle grace.” “From the beginning it was I (Brahma, Vishnu, God) who taught Krishna.” “The hidden (spiritual) truths of religion (that) are embalmed within The Ancient Upanishads.” (Hindu, Laws of Manu – 2 and Mahabharata) “Whatever words I (Krishna) speak, dependent on Thee .” “As I before have been, So will I be again for thee; with lightened heart behold! Once more I am thy Krishna, the form thou knew’st of old! “Who doeth all for Me; who findeth Me In all; “But, drive foes away,– quell the foeman’s wrath who threatens Us — yet, he, like the mad, challenge Vishnu/Brahma/God etc… they despise (and challenge) the holy deities!” For, “Thou art Brahma, and thou art Vishnu, thou art Rudra, thou Pragapati, thou art Agni, Varuna, Vayu, thou art Indra; for Thou art All!” (Hindu, Bhagavad Gita (Edwin Arnold tr) chapters 4, 8, 10, 11 and Upanishads vol. 2, Maitrayana-Brahmaya-Upanishad and Vedas, Rig Veda – Book  1 and 6)

Buddhism: “Brahma (God) has not been seen by man face to face the Buddha tells us. God is in a spiritual form not a material corporal form;” and He speaks through The Buddha, his image in this world of mankind, who then performs “the duties of (the) messenger,” “The manifestation,” (Buddhist Dharma, TEVIGGA SUTTA and The Eightfold Path) “I am not the first Buddha who came upon the earth, nor shall I be the last. In due time another Buddha will arise; He shall reveal to you the same eternal truths which I have taught you. He will preach to you His religion, glorious in its origin, glorious at the climax and glorious at the goal, in the spirit and in the letter.” [Sermon of the Great Passing). “All the Buddhas of the past, present and future, are of one sameness.” “The Lord Buddha continued: (through) Numberless ages ago, Subhuti, before the advent of Dipankara Buddha, there were many other Buddhas and I recall my difficult experiences while serving them and receiving their religious instruction and discipline.” (Buddha, Lankavatara Sutra and Diamond Sutra) “I Am known by uncounted trillions of names. They address Me by different names not realizing that they are all names of the one Tathagata. Some recognize Me as Tathagata, some as The Self-Existent One, some as Gautama the Ascetic, some as Buddha. Then there are others who recognize Me as Brahma, as Vishnu. Thus in this world and in other worlds am I known by these uncounted names, but they all see Me as the moon is seen in water. Though they all honor, praise, (revere) and esteem Me, they do not fully understand the meaning and significance of the words they use; not having their own self-realization of Truth they cling to the words of their canonical books, or to what has been told them, or to what they have imagined, and fail to see that the name they are using is only one of the many names of the Tathagata.” (Buddha, Lankavatara Sutra) “Among all the Buddhas there is a sameness of Buddha-nature, there is no distinction among them except as they manifest various transformations according to the different dispositions of beings who are to be disciplined and emancipated by various means. In the Ultimate Essence which is Dharmakaya, all the Buddhas of the past, present and future, are of one sameness.” “The self-realization of Noble Wisdom by all the Tathagatas is the same as my own self-realization of Noble Wisdom; there is no more, no less, no difference.” (Buddha, Lankavatara Sutra) For, “All the Buddhas past present and future having obtained Highest Samadhi awake to find themselves realizing Parjna-Paramita (the transcendent truth). Therefore everyone should seek the self realization of Parjna-Paramita the unsurpassable truth that ends all pain, that spans the troubled ocean of life and death, safely carrying all to the other shore of enlightenment.” (Buddha, Parjna Paramita) “Study the words for yourself.” for, “to hear the true spiritual teaching of the Buddha, is difficult.” And, “the meaning of the Blessed One’s (Buddha’s) discourses, He has no (real, absolute) system of doctrine that can be specifically formulated. And why is this? Because of, what the Blessed One adumbrates (gives partial disclosure, or hints at) in the terms of the Dharma which is, in reality, inscrutable and inexpressible, with the true message being of a purely spiritual concept.”

Sabeanism: “I worship and praise that channel of light, The messenger of all rays-of-light.” (The manifestation of God on this earth) “In the Name of The Great Life (God). Vines shone in the water And in the Jordan mighty they grew.” “Ye are flourishing offshoots. Messengers hither I bring you.” “Establishing Your likeness and giving us light, Let your radiance shine upon us.” “And Thou hast spoken to us with Thy Word And hast commanded us with Thy commandment – Be My glory and I will be your Glory. Be my light and I will be your Light. And my name shall be in your mouths And I will be with you.” “Arise, worship and praise The Great Life And praise His Counter-part, that is the image of The Life.” Every day, daily, they gaze on His likeness And upon the great Countenance of Glory.” “We have acknowledged,’ ‘Praises,’ and ‘Thee (Life)’ for Myself so that there may be commemoration for Me on earth.” “pour out wisdom into my heart! – and open up the eyes of my True, Spiritual Understanding!” “Wreath is light, its weapon is the true living (spiritual) word of (Haiyi/God), and its seal the chosen, pure one (the manifestation of God). Every man who openeth it, (the spiritual word) and readeth (the book and teachings) therein, shall live and shall be whole, and his name will be set up in The House of Life (heaven), (Sabeanism, Ginza Rba- chapters 1, 35, 75, 76, 77, 90, 114 thru 116, 177 and 382)

Babi Religion: “FEAR ye God and breathe not a word concerning His Most Great Remembrance other than what hath been ordained by God, inasmuch as We have established a separate covenant regarding Him with every Prophet and His followers. Indeed, We have not sent any Messenger without this binding covenant.” Each prophet is the fulfillment of these words: “my words are born of The Spirit of God.” “The Lord of the universe hath never raised up a prophet nor hath He sent down a Book unless He hath established His covenant with all men, calling for their acceptance of the next Revelation and of the next Book; inasmuch as the outpourings of His bounty are ceaseless and without limit.” “God’s essence was totally beyond the reach and comprehension of man, it was necessary for there to be intermediaries in order for man to gain access to any of the divine attributes and teachings. These intermediaries, themselves in their essence neither God nor men, were the prophets.” “Only through the intermediary of the Manifestation of God, who manifested God‘s attributes to mankind, could the believer approach the object of his religious quest. Of these Manifestations, who included, amongst others, Abraham, Zoroaster, Moses, Christ, Muhammad and the Báb; Bahá’u’lláh was the latest, the point of religious focus for all humanity in this new age.” “O concourse of light! By the righteousness of God, We speak not according to selfish desire, nor hath a single letter of this Book been revealed save by the leave of God, the Sovereign Truth. “Not I speak these words, but God speaketh them.” “THERE is no doubt that the Almighty hath sent down these verses unto Him.” [The Bab] I follow only what is revealed unto me. for “it is the immediate influence of The Holy Spirit that causes words such as these to stream from the tongue.” “Not I speak these words, but God speaketh them.” So, “Fear ye God and entertain no doubts regarding His Cause, for verily, the Mystery of this Gate is shrouded in the mystic utterances of His Writ and hath been written beyond the impenetrable veil of concealment by the hand of God, the Lord of the visible and the invisible.” “THERE is no doubt that the Almighty hath sent down these verses unto Him.” [The Bab] “I entreat Thee to guard the people of the Bayan on that Day in order that they may not pronounce censure against Thee nor contend with Thy signs.” (The Bab, Selections from the Writings of the Bab, pp. 46, 57, 66, 81, 86, 166 and Shoghi Effendi, The Dawn-Breakers, p. 258 and God Passes By, p. 181 and Moojan Momen, The Babi  and Baha’i Religions, p. 60)

Baha’i Faith: “The divine Manifestations since the day of Adam have striven to unite humanity so that all may be accounted as one soul. All these holy, divine Manifestations are one. They have served one God, promulgated the same truth, founded the same institutions and reflected the same light. Their appearances have been successive and correlated; each one has announced and extolled the one who was to follow and all laid the foundation of reality. They summoned and invited the people to love and made the human world a mirror of the Word of God. Therefore the divine religions they established have one foundation; their teachings, proofs and evidences are one; in name and form they differ but in reality they agree and are the same.” “Each of the Prophets was a mediator through whom God visited and spoke to His people. Jesus was such a mediator, and the Christians have rightly regarded His appearance as a coming of God. In Him they saw the Face of God and through His lips they heard the Voice of God. Bahá’u’lláh tells us that the ‘Coming’ of The Lord of Hosts, the Everlasting Father, the Maker and Redeemer of the World; which, according to all the Prophets, is to take place at ‘the time of the end,’ means no other than His manifestation in a human temple,” “The splendors of the perfections, bounties, and attributes of God shine forth and radiate from the reality of the Perfect Man, that is to say, the Unique One, the universal Manifestation of God. the universal Manifestation is the mirror for this Sun, which appears and becomes manifest in it, with all its perfections, attributes, signs, and wonders.” And so, “I speak naught except at His bidding, and follow not, through the power of God and His might, except His truth. He, verily, shall recompense the truthful.” “This Wronged One speaketh wholly for the sake of God;” “not I speak these words, but God speaketh them.” “The Prophets of God are the Mediators of God. All the Prophets and Messengers have come from One Holy Spirit and bear the Message of God, fitted to the age in which they appear. The One Light is in them and they are One with each other. But the Eternal does not become phenomenal; neither can the phenomenal become Eternal.” “From the days of Adam until today, the religions of God have been made manifest, one following the other, and each one of them fulfilled its due function, revived mankind, and provided education and enlightenment. “The religion of God is one religion, but it must ever be renewed. “By the righteousness of God! I speak not falsely, and utter naught save that which God hath bidden Me,” “We speak … expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.” “It was against God that they unsheathed the swords of malice and hatred and yet they perceive it not. Methinks they remain dead and buried in the tombs of their selfish desires.” So, “whoso contendeth with them hath contended with God.” (Foundations of World Unity, p. 14, Abdu’l-Baha in London, p. 24, Baha’i World Faith, p. 322, Selections from the Writings of Abdu’l-Baha, p. 51, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u’llah, p. 126, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 18, Baha’u’llah, The Summons of the Lord of Hosts, p. 51, H.M. Balyuzi, Baha’u’llah – The King of Glory, p. 261 and Dr. J.E. Esslemont, Baha’u’llah and the New Era, p. 212)

 So, as you should now hopefully see; when we read these statements found within The New Testament related to Jesus being the only way to reach God:  Christianity: Acts: 4:12 “Neither is there salvation in any other.” John: 3:36 “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life.” And, John: 14:6 “no man cometh unto The Father, but by me;” — we need to consider all of these other related statements, that we have just touched upon, when we consider the true, unequivocal understanding of these verses; because when we look more closely and thoroughly into God‘s Holy Writings we discover deeper meanings and understandings to these verses that requires more in-depth research and effort on our parts to understand the truth God‘s Holy Book is trying to convey to us.  

We need to look more closely into God‘s Holy Book if we are to truly discover and understand the true deeper meanings related to these statements found within Acts and John, because there is deeper meaning to these verses then what can be seen at face value. We need to follow the examples found within the writings of God Himself, which tell us not to take a word, sentence or verse by itself and form our entire theological belief structure all around it, without truly investigating what the rest of the book really has to say and teach us about the true hidden meanings found within the word, sentence or verse. We find we are warned against falling into this trap in all of God‘s Holy Writings, we just need to open our eyes and look:   ISLAM:“Arrive at your conclusions, but only after thoroughly studying the subject and after acquiring the knowledge necessary;” for, 85. “it is only a part of The Book that ye (profess) to believe in, and do ye reject the rest?” “But what is the reward for those among you who behave like this, but disgrace and on the Day of Judgment, they shall be consigned to the most grievous penalty; For Allah (God) is not unmindful of what ye do!” 86. “These are the people who buy the life of this world at the price of the Hereafter; their penalty shall not be lightened, nor shall they be helped.”  For, 7. “We believe in the Book; the whole of it is from our Lord; and none will grasp the (true) Message except men of understanding.” For, “they, the people of the Scriptures, (have) divided this Scripture into parts, believing in some portions of it and disbelieving in the others.” 44. “Do ye enjoin right conduct on the people, and  (yet) forget (to practice it) yourselves, and yet ye study the Scripture? Will ye not (then) understand?” For, 89. “I am indeed he that warneth openly and without ambiguity.” 90. “We sent down on those who divided (the scripture into arbitrary parts),” “as have made the Qur’án into shreds (as they please); thy Lord, We will, of a surety, call them to account, For all their deeds.” 15. “They will wander like blind ones (to and fro).” (Islam, The Qur’an (Yusuf Ali tr), Surahs 2, 3, 15 and (Ali b. Abi Taalib, Letters from Nahjul Balaagh) CHRISTIANITY: Galatians: 3:10 “Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book.” James: 2:10 “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, (pick and choose what they wish to believe and follow, while ignoring the rest), (they) he is guilty of (disobeying) all (of The Holy Word of God).” Therefore, “so speak ye, and so do, (we are absolutely not supposed to separate out one word or one sentence from His Holy word, and ignore what the rest of The Holy Book is actually saying to us and teaching us; if we do this we are truly transgressors)!” Luke: 6:39 “Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch?”  JUDAISM: Jeremiah: 48:10 “Cursed be he that doeth the work of The LORD deceitfully.” Lamentations: 3:35 “To turn aside the right of a man before the face of the most High,” 3:36 “to subvert a man, The LORD approveth not.” Deuteronomy: 27:26 “Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words.” 24:17 “Thou shalt not pervert the judgment (the word), Malachi: 2:7 “For, ye have not kept My ways, but have been partial in the law (picked and chosen what you want to believe in, while ignoring the rest of God’s Holy Word).” So, Psalms: 28:9 “Whom shall He (God) teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine?” 28:10 “For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little;” 27:18 For, “cursed be he that maketh the blind to wander out of the way (another name for God’s true teachings). 27:19 So, “cursed be he that perverteth the judgment: (God‘s Holy Word and Teachings).” Isaiah: 9:16 “For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed.” (King James Bible)  ZOROASTRIANISM: 38. “We worship the memory of Ahura Mazda (God), to keep the (whole) Holy Word. ‘We worship the understanding of Ahura Mazda, to study the (whole) Holy Word. ‘We worship the tongue of Ahura Mazda, to speak forth the (whole) Holy Word. “Whoever, O Spitama Zarathushtra! while under toning the part(s) of the Ahuna-vairya, takes ought therefrom, I Who Am Ahura Mazda will draw his soul off from the better world.” 50. “Blind are all those who, on this earth, do not follow the religion, do not benefit the living, and do not commemorate the dead.” 93. “I do not accept those libations that are drunk in my honor by the blind, by the deaf, by the wicked, by the destroyers, by the niggards, by the…., nor any of those stamped with those characters which have no strength for the holy Word,” for, “Those priests (and others) who disseminate vice among men are morally blind.” (Zoroaster, The Zend-Avesta, Avesta – Yasna 19 and The Avesta Fragments and The Khorda Avesta – Book of Common Prayer pt. 1 and The Denkard)  HINDUISM: “(He learns) with two (verses or more) – when it is not completed by one (verse), – for continuity,” “we can never fully comprehend the great moral Epic of the Hindus unless we endeavour to study fully and clearly (the whole of it).”165. “An Aryan must study the whole Veda,” not part of it, believing only parts of the word! 43. “But in consequence of the omission of the sacred rites, the Kshatriyas have gradually sunk in this world,” “Surrendered to desires insatiable, Full of deceitfulness, folly, and pride, In blindness cleaving to their errors, caught Into the sinful course, they trust this lie As it were true – this lie which leads to death,” “blind are the eyes Which deem the Unmanifested manifest.” (Hindu, Bhagavad Gita chapters 7, 16, Laws of Manu chapters 2, 10, Vedas, Yajur Veda – Kanda  V, Ramayana (R. Dutt,  abridged tr)  BUDDHISM: 17. “One should guard against hastiness in word, One should be restrained in word. Giving up verbal misconduct, One should be of good verbal conduct;” “without clinging, (to one sentence or thought, but having an open mind to what one reads and the rest of the message), an expert in the study of texts, and understanding the right.” One should be restrained in teaching the words of Buddha in a way that is demeaning or altering the true meaning of the words and look into the whole word of the Buddha, “blinded by delusion, overwhelmed, with mind ensnared, man aims at his own ruin, at others’ ruin, at the ruin of both parties;” “Blinded indeed is this world and Few are those who see the truth.” “The talk of the Brahmans versed in the three Vedas is but blind talk. The first sees not, the middle sees not, the hindmost sees not. The talk then of these Brahmans turns out to be ridiculous, mere words vain and empty.” (Dhammapada – Sayings of the Buddha 1 and 2, The Eightfold Path and TEVIGGA SUTTA))  SABEANISM: “And it was revealed to me (His messenger) and to all of them in this book, and they acted upon this reliable baser acting according to this (its) light and removing nothing from this writing of great revelation that was given to Adam the first man.” “For we have not changed that which thou hast commanded us.” “If thou readest, read as it is written.” “Any person who writeth the Book of Gadana and removeth any of the injunctions assigned and written therein, Thou wilt place in clouds of darkness. And anyone who writeth a book of rejection, or removeth any of the injunctions written therein so that they are broken, shall be cursed with a great curse.” “These are those who did not buy my wares. (Chose not to investigate into the Holy word) They went on, reached their end and lay down. they were blind and saw not, Their ears were stopped and they heard not And their hearts were not awakened To behold the Great One in the House of Perfection.” (Sabeanism, Ginza Rba- chapters 24, 70 74, 75 and 90)  BABISM: “Put into his hands a new Book, pure and holy, that this Book may be free from all doubt and uncertainty, and that no one may be able to alter or destroy it,” and “we must never take one sentence in the Teachings and isolate it from the rest.” “Grant, O my God, that I may not be reckoned among those whose ears are deaf, whose eyes are blind, whose tongues are speechless and whose hearts have failed to comprehend.” The Bab: (The Dawn-Breakers, p. 249 and The Unfolding Destiny of the British Baha’i Community, p. 457 and Selections from the Writings of the Bab, p. 215) BAHA’I FAITH: “To no one is given the right to interpret His (God’s) words, to add even a dot, or to take one away.” “To no one is given the right to tamper with the word of God, or to change the meaning. The word of God is sacred and should be treated as such.” “In The Bible and The Bahá’í Faith we are warned not to change the word in order to safe guard the sacred texts for the benefit of all mankind, so future generations will be able to study the writings with confidence in the validity of the scriptures.” So, “We must never take one sentence in the Teachings and isolate it from the rest…” for our own benefit or interpretation, while ignoring what the rest of the teachings do in fact teach and say. People of religion run into this occurrence from other people of religion all of the time. People will take one sentence or a few sentences, in their religious books, and say this is what this story means, or this is what this book is about or what the book is actually saying; but I find, much of the time, when I actually read more verses and take a closer look into the book, that the book is actually saying something completely and totally different, and the story is actually about something entirely different. You can not just read one sentence or two, or a  few sentences, without actually making sure that this is truly what the real, actual thoughts are behind the sentences. “Beware lest anyone falsely interpret these words.” For again, “we must never take one sentence in the Teachings and isolate it from the rest.” In-deed, “shall blind imitations of ancestral forms (of belief) and theological interpretations continue to guide and control the religious life and spiritual development of humanity today? Shall man gifted with the power of reason unthinkingly follow and adhere to dogma, creeds and hereditary beliefs which will not bear the analysis of reason in this century of effulgent reality? Unquestionably this will not satisfy men of science, for when they find premise or conclusion contrary to present standards of proof and without real foundation, they reject that which has been formerly accepted as standard and correct and move forward from new foundations.” (Baha’i Faith, The Covenant of Baha’u’llah, p. 101, Compilations, Lights of Guidance, p. 403 and Bahá’í World Faith p. 225 and Shoghi Effendi, The Unfolding Destiny of the British Baha’i Community, p. 457)) 

So you see, all of these statements have other verses related to them that bring out their meanings more into focus, and we need to look at these other verses if we are to ever truly understand the meanings to these verses:  Christianity: Acts: 4:12 “Neither is there salvation in any other.” John: 3:36 “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life.” And, John: 14:6 “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto The Father, but by me.” If we read further into the bible it may open up the eyes of the reader to the possibility of there being other facets of truth and understanding to these verses, and that these statements were originally made with this truth about God and His Divine Teachers in mind; as a test to see if mankind can truly see beyond the mere physical words and look into the true spiritual nature found within His Holy Words and teachings, because the major prophets/manifestations are one with each other; and it is actually God Who is, granting salvation and heaven unto mankind: His heaven, His paradise, His creation, His choice, no one else’s!

But some people wish to hold onto a name, and condemn people and claim that everybody else in the world is wrong, for it says:  Christianity:  Acts: 4:12 “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” But you see, Christ’s name is actually a title and was actually prophesied in the writings of The Old Testament for that time; so this statement is true for the time leading up to this statement. You see, the meaning of the name Christ is The Anointed One, which was a title given to him from The Old Testament. Other prophets of God have also had other titles, example Abraham was the friend of God, Moses was the servant of God, Muhammad was the apostle of God, Jesus was the anointed of God: “In Christianity, Christ (Greek Χριστός, Christós, meaning “the anointed one“) is a title for the saviour and redeemer who would bring salvation to the Jewish people and mankind. Christians believe Jesus is the Jewish messiah called Christ in both the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Old Testament.” So his name was again prophesied in The Hebrew Bible and The Old Testament:  Judaism: Habakkuk: 3:13 “Thou wentest forth for the salvation of thy people, even for salvation with thine anointed; thou woundedst the head out of the house of the wicked.” Christ appeared or went forth, into this world, for the salvation of the people, even with Thine (God‘s), (His) anointed (Christ, Christós, the name meaning The Anointed One, the one to be anointed by God) and his Christ’s head was to be wounded, with the crown of thorns, by the people of Pontius Pilate in Pilate’s place of governing, the place of wickedness and wicked men. Isaiah: 10:27 “And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing.” Galatians: 5:1 “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ (the anointed) hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” Psalms: 132:17 “There will I make the horn of David to bud: I have ordained a lamp for mine anointed.” 132:18 “His enemies will I clothe with shame: but upon himself shall his crown flourish.” Jesus Christ was a descendant of King David, so he was a bud to David; he was also God‘s anointed, called The Anointed One or The Christ and his enemies are looked on and remembered as shameful, but his religion flourished. Daniel: 9:24 “Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.” Seventy weeks or 490 prophetic years from the abomination that maketh desolate, Daniel: 9:25 “Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem,” the year 457 B.C. according to the command by Artaxerxes king of Persia, to rebuild and restore Jerusalem to the year 33 A.D., will transpire to the crucifixion of The Anointed of God, The Christ, to make and end of the sins and the ending of the daily sacrifice, by the crucifixion.  Luke: 22:66 “And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people and the chief priests and the scribes came together, and led him (Jesus) into their council, saying, 22:67 Art thou the Christ? tell us. And he said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe: 22:68 And if I also ask you, ye will not answer me, nor let me go.”  Matthew: 16:16 “And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Mark: 8:29 “And he saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Peter answereth and saith unto him, Thou art the Christ.” John: 6:69 “And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.” 

God used other names for His prophets in the past as the bible clearly shows and the bible tells us that God will use new names in the future, for future prophets, as the book attests to: Revelations: 3:12 “Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God; and I will write upon him my new name.” Luke: 21:7 “And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?” Luke: 21:8 “And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.” Matthew: 24:23 “Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.” For, Revelations: 3:12 “I will write upon him my new name.” Jesus will come with a new name and a new title, just as others came with other names and other titles; that is the way of God in the past and will be His way in the future. For, there were other names used by God at different times, and there will be new names at new times; this is the way of God and all of His Holy, Divine Prophets/Manifestations lead to Him and to His Divine Kingdom, which only makes sense in the big picture.