The views expressed in our content reflect individual perspectives and do not represent the authoritative views of the Baha'i Faith.
Progressive Revelation is the prospect that humanity is guided regularly and developmentally with Messages from the Divine realm. It is the sequential teachings and legacies of Revealers, or periodic sets of moral-social-spiritual guidance that shape history. Creative minorities catalyze social transformation toward a new religious civilization (Toynbee’s formulation). Humanity enjoys intermittent progress after social-cultural-spiritual declines, or ever higher degrees of religious unity. Religions are essentially one, and their differences are attributable to their varying historical-cultural contexts, as well as to generally advancing human capacities.
“The holy Manifestations Who have been the Sources or Founders of the various religious systems were united and agreed in purpose and teaching. Abraham, Moses, Zoroaster, Buddha, Jesus, Muhammad, the Báb and Baha’u’llah are one in spirit and reality. Moreover, each Prophet fulfilled the promise of the One Who came before Him and likewise, Each announced the One Who would follow”.
(Abdul-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace pp 198)
“The holy Manifestations of God, the divine Prophets, are the first Teachers of the human race. They are universal Educators, and the fundamental principles they have laid down are the causes and factors of the advancement of nations. Forms and imitations which creep in afterward are not conducive to that progress.”
(Abdul-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace pp 86)
“All humankind are as children in a school, and the Dawning-Points of Light, the Sources of divine revelation, are the teachers, wondrous and without peer. In the school of realities they educate these sons and daughters, according to teachings from God… so that they may develop along every line, show forth the excellent gifts and blessings of the Lord, and combine human perfections; that they may advance in all aspects of human endeavor, whether outward or inward, hidden or visible, material or spiritual, until they make of this mortal world a widespread mirror, to reflect that other world which dieth not.”
(Abdul-Baha, Selections From the Writings of Abdu’l-Baha pp 128)
Harold is a community interfaith educator with three master's degrees in education, religion and philosophy. Harold teaches courses on world religions for community and university audiences. His aim is to facilitate interfaith understanding and cooperation, as well as to provide hope for humanity’s spiritual progress....
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