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== Bahá'í ==

== Bahá'í ==

{{main|Manifestation of God}}

{{main|Manifestation of God}}

The [[Bahá'í Faith]] refers to what are commonly called prophets as ''Manifestations of God'', or simply ''Manifestations'' (''mazhar'') who are directly linked with the concept of [[Progressive revelation]].  Bahá'ís believe that God expresses this will at all times and in many ways, including through a series of divine messengers referred to as ''Manifestations of God'' or sometimes ''divine educators''.{{cite encyclopedia | last = Hutter | first = Manfred | editor = Ed. Lindsay Jones | encyclopedia = Encyclopedia of Religion | title = Bahā'īs | edition = 2nd ed. | year = 2005 | publisher = Macmillan Reference USA | volume = 2 | location = Detroit | id = ISBN 0-02-865733-0 | pages = p737-740}} In expressing God's intent, these Manifestations are seen to establish religion in the world.  Thus they are seen as an intermediary between God and humanity.<ref name="manifestation">{{cite journal | first = Juan | last = Cole | title = | year = 1982 | title = The Concept of Manifestation in the Bahá'í Writings | journal = Bahá'í Studies | volume = monograph 9  | pages = pp. 1-38 | url = http://bahai-library.org/articles/manifestation.html}}

The [[Bahá'í Faith]] refers to what are commonly called prophets as ''Manifestations of God'', or simply ''Manifestations'' (''mazhar'') who are directly linked with the concept of [[Progressive revelation]].  Bahá'ís believe that God expresses this will at all times and in many ways, including through a series of divine messengers referred to as ''Manifestations of God'' or sometimes ''divine educators''.{{cite encyclopedia | last = Hutter | first = Manfred | editor = Ed. Lindsay Jones | encyclopedia = Encyclopedia of Religion | title = Bahā'īs | edition = 2nd ed. | year = 2005 | publisher = Macmillan Reference USA | volume = 2 | location = Detroit | id = ISBN 0-02-865733-0 | pages = p737-740}} In expressing God's intent, these Manifestations are seen to establish religion in the world.  Thus they are seen as an intermediary between God and humanity.  

The Concept of Manifestation in the Bahá'í Writings | journal = Bahá'í Studies | volume = monograph 9  | pages = pp. 1-38 | url = http://bahai-library.org/articles/manifestation.html}}

The Manifestations of God are not seen as an incarnation of God, but they are also not seen as an ordinary mortals. Instead, the Bahá'í concept of the Manifestation of God emphasizes simultaneously the humanity of that intermediary and the divinity in the way they show forth the will, knowledge and attributes of God; thus they have both human and divine stations.<ref name="manifestation" /> This view resembles the [[Christianity|Christian]] view of [[Jesus|Christ]], as well as the  [[Shi'a Islam|Shi'a]] understanding of the prophets and [[Shi'a Imam|Imams]].   

The Manifestations of God are not seen as an incarnation of God, but they are also not seen as an ordinary mortals. Instead, the Bahá'í concept of the Manifestation of God emphasizes simultaneously the humanity of that intermediary and the divinity in the way they show forth the will, knowledge and attributes of God; thus they have both human and divine stations. This view resembles the [[Christianity|Christian]] view of [[Jesus|Christ]], as well as the  [[Shi'a Islam|Shi'a]] understanding of the prophets and [[Shi'a Imam|Imams]].   

[[Bahá'u'lláh]] referred to several historical figures as Manifestations. They include the figures in the Abrahamic Faiths such as [[Noah]], [[Abraham]], [[Moses]], [[Jesus]], and [[Muhammad]], but also include the founders of great non-Western religions such as [[Zoroaster]], [[Krishna]], and [[Gautama Buddha|Buddha]]. The [[Báb]], as well as himself, were included in this definition, and Bahá'u'lláh wrote that God will send more Manifestations in the future, when necessary. Thus religious history is interpreted as a series of [[dispensationalism|dispensations]], where each ''Manifestation'' brings a somewhat broader and more advanced [[revelation]], suited for the time and place in which it was expressed.  

[[Bahá'u'lláh]] referred to several historical figures as Manifestations. They include the figures in the Abrahamic Faiths such as [[Noah]], [[Abraham]], [[Moses]], [[Jesus]], and [[Muhammad]], but also include the founders of great non-Western religions such as [[Zoroaster]], [[Krishna]], and [[Gautama Buddha|Buddha]]. The [[Báb]], as well as himself, were included in this definition, and Bahá'u'lláh wrote that God will send more Manifestations in the future, when necessary. Thus religious history is interpreted as a series of [[dispensationalism|dispensations]], where each ''Manifestation'' brings a somewhat broader and more advanced [[revelation]], suited for the time and place in which it was expressed.  

These Manifestations are taught to be "one and the same", and in their relationship to one another have both the station of unity and the station of distinction.<ref name="manifestation" /> Bahá'u'lláh wrote in the ''[[Kitáb-i-Íqán]]'' that in respect to their station of unity "if thou callest them all by one name. and dost ascribe to them the same attribute, thou hast not erred from the truth."The Book of Certitude |publisher=Bahá'í Publishing Trust |location=Wilmette, Illinois, USA |id=ISBN 1-931847-08-8 |url=http://reference.bahai.org/en/t/b/KI/ki-5.html#gr34 In this sense, the Manifestations of God all fulfill the same purpose and perform the same function by mediating between God and creation. In this way each Manifestation of God manifested the Word of God and taught the same religion, with modifications for the particular audience's needs and culture. Bahá'u'lláh wrote that since each Manifestation of God has the same divine attributes they can be seen as the spiritual "return" of all the previous Manifestations of God.  Bahá'u'lláh then states the diversity of the teachings of the Manifestations of God does not come about because of their differences, since they are one and the same, but because they each have a different mission.

These Manifestations are taught to be "one and the same", and in their relationship to one another have both the station of unity and the station of distinction.  Bahá'u'lláh wrote in the ''[[Kitáb-i-Íqán]]'' that in respect to their station of unity "if thou callest them all by one name. and dost ascribe to them the same attribute, thou hast not erred from the truth."The Book of Certitude, Bahá'í Publishing Trust, Wilmette, Illinois, USA ISBN 1-931847-08-8 |url=http://reference.bahai.org/en/t/b/KI/ki-5.html#gr34 In this sense, the Manifestations of God all fulfill the same purpose and perform the same function by mediating between God and creation. In this way each Manifestation of God manifested the Word of God and taught the same religion, with modifications for the particular audience's needs and culture. Bahá'u'lláh wrote that since each Manifestation of God has the same divine attributes they can be seen as the spiritual "return" of all the previous Manifestations of God.  Bahá'u'lláh then states the diversity of the teachings of the Manifestations of God does not come about because of their differences, since they are one and the same, but because they each have a different mission.

In addition to the Manifestations of God, in the Bahá'í view, there are also minor prophets. While the Manifestations of Gods, or major Prophets, are compared to the sun, which produces its own heat and light. The minor prophets, on the other hand, are likened to the moon, which receive their light from the sun. [[Moses]], for example, is taught as having been a Manifestation of God and his brother [[Aaron]] a minor prophet. Moses spoke on behalf of God, and Aaron spoke on behalf of Moses ([[Exodus]] 4:14-17). Other Jewish prophets are considered minor prophets, in the Bahá'í view, as they are considered to have come in the shadow of the dispensation of Moses to develop and consolidate the process he set in motion.

In addition to the Manifestations of God, in the Bahá'í view, there are also minor prophets. While the Manifestations of Gods, or major Prophets, are compared to the sun, which produces its own heat and light. The minor prophets, on the other hand, are likened to the moon, which receive their light from the sun. [[Moses]], for example, is taught as having been a Manifestation of God and his brother [[Aaron]] a minor prophet. Moses spoke on behalf of God, and Aaron spoke on behalf of Moses ([[Exodus]] 4:14-17). Other Jewish prophets are considered minor prophets, in the Bahá'í view, as they are considered to have come in the shadow of the dispensation of Moses to develop and consolidate the process he set in motion.