I am of the opinion that bahai are close to humanists, they believe jesus was a messenger, but all the services seem to be toward the man who founded it, and he was not a god , such as buddaha also, just a different version of humanists with no supernatural diety just men

revpo

Then I would respectfully suggest that what you have is only a superficial knowledge of the Baha'i Faith. One of our obligatory daily prayers says this:

"I bear witness, O my God, that Thou hast created me to know Thee and to worship Thee. I testify, at this moment, to my powerlessness and to Thy might, to my poverty and to Thy wealth. There is none other God but Thee, the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting."

Not exactly a prayer to be uttered by someone who doesn't believe in God. It does, however, sum up what we believe our entire purpose here is: to know and to worship God. Baha'is all over the world recite this prayer every day, at noon. It helps keep everything in the proper perspective.

Indeed, our Writings tell us that the whole purpose God had in creating the universe at all was to enable us to know Him:

"Thou didst wish to make Thyself known unto men; therefore, Thou didst, through a word of Thy mouth, bring creation into being and fashion the universe."

O SON OF MAN!
Wert thou to speed through the immensity of space and traverse the expanse of heaven, yet thou wouldst find no rest save in submission to Our command and humbleness before Our Face.

__________________
Self-reverence, self-knowledge, self-control;
these three alone lead one to sovereign power.
Tennyson

Thanks for more information you have passed on, will read more
revpo

Any time, my friend!

__________________
Self-reverence, self-knowledge, self-control;
these three alone lead one to sovereign power.
Tennyson

While bahai-sojourner has responded to the part about "no supernatural diety" the rest of your post also needs reaction I think - Baha'is do wrestle with the matter of the relationship and positions of the Messenger and God. It is true indeed that Baha'is destinguish the two. However in some aspects it's hard to know really where to draw the line in detail - both are "above" humanity in general. As such it is only what they find instructive or useful for us to know that allows us to really know the difference between them.

So for example we have such quotes as this: "Every time I attempt to make mention of Thee, I am hindered by the sublimity of Thy station and the overpowering greatness of Thy might. For were I to praise Thee throughout the length of Thy dominion and the duration of Thy sovereignty, I would find that my praise of Thee can befit only such as are like unto me, who are themselves Thy creatures, and who have been generated through the power of Thy decree and been fashioned through the potency of Thy will. And at whatever time my pen ascribeth glory to any one of Thy names, methinks I can hear the voice of its lamentation in its remoteness from Thee, and can recognize its cry because of its separation from Thy Self. I testify that everything other than Thee is but Thy creation and is held in the hollow of Thy hand. To have accepted any act or praise from Thy creatures is but an evidence of the wonders of Thy grace and bountiful favors, and a manifestation of Thy generosity and providence."

However infinitely positioned God is, therefore, it is not an imposition, a limiting, to have the Prophet, or Messenger. God does not need an intermediary - we do(par. 50). "These Prophets and chosen Ones of God are the recipients and revealers of all the unchangeable attributes and names of God. They are the mirrors that truly and faithfully reflect the light of God. Whatsoever is applicable to them is in reality applicable to God, Himself, Who is both the Visible and the Invisible. The knowledge of Him, Who is the Origin of all things, and attainment unto Him, are impossible save through knowledge of, and attainment unto, these luminous Beings who proceed from the Sun of Truth. By attaining, therefore, to the presence of these holy Luminaries, the "Presence of God" Himself is attained. From their knowledge, the knowledge of God is revealed, and from the light of their countenance, the splendour of the Face of God is made manifest. Through the manifold attributes of these Essences of Detachment, Who are both the first and the last, the seen and the hidden, it is made evident that He Who is the Sun of Truth is "the First and the Last, the Seen, and the Hidden." Likewise the other lofty names and exalted attributes of God. Therefore, whosoever, and in whatever Dispensation, hath recognized and attained unto the presence of these glorious, these resplendent and most excellent Luminaries, hath verily attained unto the "Presence of God" Himself, and entered the city of eternal and immortal life. Attainment unto such presence is possible only in the Day of Resurrection, which is the Day of the rise of God Himself through His all-embracing Revelation."

And there are many such quotes, each with a particular angle to view the topic with.

What is the point of such a relationship you may ask? How many a religionist seems to have lead a life apparently wholy devoted, and yet useless to the suffering of humanity. A humanist may in comparison seem far more useful to the people - their focus is afterall, humanity, and suffering brings a human response, a mercy, to our fellows who we are in a position to help: "`Should Prayer take the form of action?' `Yes: In the Bahá'í Cause arts, sciences and all crafts are (counted as) worship. The man who makes a piece of notepaper to the best of his ability, conscientiously, concentrating all his forces on perfecting it, is giving praise to God. Briefly, all effort and exertion put forth by man from the fullness of his heart is worship, if it is prompted by the highest motives and the will to do service to humanity. This is worship: to serve mankind and to minister to the needs of the people. Service is prayer. A physician ministering to the sick, gently, tenderly, free from prejudice and believing in the solidarity of the human race, he is giving praise'. And further, in the middle of explaining the position of Baha'u'llah's son, the exempler of the Baha'i Faith, He himself explained..."My name is `Abdu'l-Bahá...., and servitude to all the human race my perpetual religion."

Both the international Baha'i website and the US national Baha'i website have prominant sections on Social Action. Categories include:

Social and Economic Development
Human Rights
Advancement of Women
Moral Development
Bahá’í Activities at the United Nations
Social & Economic Development
Baha'is in Iran
Sustainable Development
Advancement of Women
Addressing Domestic Violence
International Criminal Court
Race Unity

And beyond words, whole institutions in diverse parts of the world undertake spirited action. Examples include a trust, a legal services center, a long standing sustained effort on the issue of race in the US, a long standing school for women in India and Colombia has an awarded institute as well.

__________________
Possess a pure, kindly and radiant heart!
They that believe in vain thoughts forsake their own mercy.