The era is also changed. The world and its events are to be reckoned from the Bahai cycle. Just what this is seems to be doubtful, for some date from the Declaration of the Bab and write 1914 as the year 70. The Star of the West is so dated. Some date from the birth of Baha Ullah and count this as the year 97, as on the title page of "The Bahai Movement," by Remey. Even the year of Abdul Baha's accession (1892) is used as a date.[263] Thus Bahaism has no Christian era, no Christian Sabbath, no Easter, no Christmas, no Trinitarian formula in benediction, doxology, or sacrament, no symbol of the cross, no hymns to Christ, no Apostles' Creed, no Lord's Prayer. Yet it claims to be Christian!
XII. In conclusion, Bahaism is antichristian in its aim and propaganda. Whenever it comes in contact with Christian missions, in Persia, Syria, Egypt, India, or Burmah, it is the opposer of the messenger of Christ and His Gospel. A hope cherished thirty years ago, by some missionaries and others, that it might be a stepping stone for Moslems to Christ has not been fulfilled; albeit some of the best converts from Islam have first sought the broken cisterns of Bahaism.[264] Bahaism is plainly antichristian. It is a new and a different, an inferior and a false religion. Its claims are contradictory to the claims of Christ. It would draw men's allegiance to another person, to other Scriptures, to a system of doctrine and way of salvation inconsistent with the Gospel, to forms of worship, ceremonies, and festivals at variance with those of Christianity. It declares that Christianity is abrogated and superseded. Its erroneous dictum is that "the revelation of Jesus is no longer the point of guidance for the world." Why cannot Christian people see that its claims annul faith and loyalty to Christ? Surely giving Bahaism countenance, assistance, and encouragement or opportunity for its propaganda is to wound Christ in the house of His friends.
FOOTNOTES:
[223] Phelps' "Life of Abbas Effendi," p. 69.
[224] "Answered Questions," pp. 209, 238, 317; S. W., June 5, 1913, p. 90.
[225] Phelps, p. 116.
[226] "Answered Questions," p. 209.
[227] Ibid., p. 213.
[228] Phelps, p. 137.
[229] Page 173.