Doug,

I briefly wanted to clarify some points, related with my point of view (as a Bahá'í).

>As to the bit about circular reasoning there are some issues that you do not appear to be aware of or you'd see that your remark wasn't accurate.

We (the bahá'ís) believe in the Bible as a Holy Book. My comments on circular reasoning referred to the fact that I have seen several people who, indeed, used circular reasoning. "The Bible is a holy book, because the Bible says so". While I agree with the fact that the Bible is a Holy Book, I don't agree with this particular reasoning! Which I heard often.

However, we also believe that the Qur'án is a Holy Book. In fact, we believe that God sent His Messengers in different ocassions, throughout history, well before written history, and that this will continue in the future. According to this point of view, the founders of most of the worlds religions are sent by God.

>Still another interesting isue is that of prophecy. There are some 300 specific predictions of the first coming of the Christ. They were all fulfilled - one of them to the specific day - 173880 days after the proclamation to 'restore and rebuild Jerusalem'. To the day. There are over 300 specific prophecies concerning the 2nd coming. Many many many of them have come together - none more remarkable that the re-emergence of the state of Israel - specifically predicted some 5-700 years BC.

I believe you are referring to the prophecy of Daniel. The same prophecy, in my understanding, was interpreted by the 7th. Day Adventists, to announce the return of Jesus Christ in 1844. They changed their point of view later, though.

>
>Then there are the countless millions who's lives have been changed.

I am sure countless millions of lives were changed, too, by the teachings of Buddha, Krishna, Mohammad, etc.

Regards, Hilmar.