• All Faiths Public Gathering for Prayer and Devotions ~ December 4^th, 5^th, 19^th, 26^th
• Informational Talks ~ December 17^{th &} 18^th.
• Human Rights Awards~ December 5^th

~ Ádbu'l'Bahá

The purpose of the Oxnard-Ventura Bahá'í News is to provide information about the Bahá'í Faith and activities of the Bahá'í's to those who wish to learn more or attend Bahá'í devotional gatherings. If you have comments or do not want to receive the Bahá'í News, write PO Box 7344, Oxnard, CA 93031, call 648-1222. No donations requested or accepted.

Informational Talks
A brief talk on a general topic about the Bahá'í Faith is followed by discussion. A time to bring up any question in your heart about spiritual topics.

Friday, December 17^th, 7:30 PM
         Tuman Residence, 984-1222

Saturday, December 18^th, 7:30 PM
 Special Guest Speaker Red Grammer!
         Quick Residence, 984-1222

Human Rights Awards
Human Rights Awards - December 5, Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, 10:30 am-2:00 pm, $30 per person. A wonderful opportunity to expose your friends to the Faith in a very dignified setting. Please call and let us know if you want tickets! Alice Quick 659-4660.

Questions: Bahá'i Faith & Christ
Question: Do you believe that Christ is the one true Messiah?

Bahá'ís believe that Jesus Christ was the Son of God and the Messiah. The Bahá'í Writings teach that Christ is not the only Prophet of God sent to humanity but rather that God has sent a series of Divine Messengers to progressively educate humanity about God and our purpose on earth. Bahá'ís feel that no Prophet of God, including our own, is superior to or in contradiction with another.

The Bahá'í Writings state that the confusion regarding the differences between religions stem from the difference between spiritual and social principles. Spiritual principles, like variations on the Golden Rule which are found in all major world religions, are unchanging. However, social teachings, like prohibitions on eating certain foods, are linked to the specific social requirements of the world at the time of the Revelation. Therefore they are subject to change as humanity evolves.

Therefore, it is evident that the bounties of Christ transformed the eye which was blind into a seeing one, rendered the ear which was formerly deaf, attentive, and made the hard, callous heart tender and sensitive. 

In other words, the meaning is that although the people possess external eyes, yet the insight, or perception, of the soul is blind; although the outer ear hears, the spiritual hearing is deaf; although they possess conscious hearts, they are without illumination; and the bounties of Christ save souls from these conditions. It is evident, then, that the manifestation of the Messiah was synonymous with universal mercy. His providence was universal, and His teachings were for all. His lights were not restricted to a few. ('Abdu'l-Bahá, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, 444)

The Bahá'í Writings teach, and other religious Scriptures support, that all Prophets of God come from the same source. In each Holy Book mention is made of the Prophet of God Who will follow and the coming of the One Who will fulfill all religious scripture. Bahá'ís believe that this latter Prophet, referred to as the Prince of Peace, the Lord of Hosts, the Fifth Buddha, the Reincarnation of Krishna, the Imam Husayn, and the Shah Bahram, is Bahá'u'lláh. Religious teachings are not in contradiction; they are sent to progressively educate humanity. For example, we cannot read without first learning to recognize letters and sounds. No step is more important than the other, and, although superficially different, they are fundamentally connected to the process of learning to read.

[Bahá'u'lláh] asserts the relativity of religious truth and the continuity of Divine Revelation; affirms the unity of the Prophets, the universality of their Message, the identity of their fundamental teachings, the sanctity of their scriptures, and the twofold character of their stations. (Shoghi Effendi, God Passes By, 139)

Bahá'ís believe that in each period of divine revelation, the Manifestation of God for that period is the only way to reach God. Therefore, when Jesus said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me," the Bahá'í Writings agree. However, Jesus teaches us in the Bible that He would come again and under another name. 

Jesus also told his followers to prepare for the next religious dispensation. Therefore, when Muhammad revealed the religion of Islam, He became the Way and the Light. Jesus declared that He had many things to tell us but we could not bear them now. Bahá'ís believe that the religious dispensations of Muhammad, Bahá'u'llah's forerunner the Báb, and Bahá'u'lláh were sent as the world community matured and our spiritual capacities increased in order to tell us the things we could not bear at the time of Christ. The Bahá'í Writings state that the limitations placed on the Manifestations of God regarding the extent of Their Revelations do not reflect the capacity of the individual Prophet but rather the spiritual immaturity of humanity. (John 14:6, Revised Standard Version)

To Him [the return of Christ]

Jesus Christ has referred as the 'Prince of this world,' as the 'Comforter' Who will 'reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment,' as the 'Spirit of Truth' Who 'will guide you into all truth,' Who 'shall not speak of Himself, but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak,' as the 'Lord of the Vineyard,' and as the 'Son of Man' Who 'shall come in the glory of His Father' 'in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory,' with 'all the holy angels' about Him, and 'all nations' gathered before His throne… (Shoghi Effendi, God Passes By, 95)

-- Special Thanks to Planet Bahá'i www.planetbahai.org

All Faiths Public Gathering for Prayer and Devotions

4^th Sunday of the Month, December 26^th, 10:00 a.m. at the Clubhouse, 3700 Dean Drive.