JoAnn Borovicka “What Can We Assume When Central Figures of the Bahá’í Faith Cite Ancient Traditions

Because of the authenticity of the Bahá’í Writings, one might assume that when a Central Figure of the Faith mentions a character or event from an ancient religious tradition, that mention confirms the factual validity of the story. However, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá indicates that a more nuanced understanding is called for. He states, “When certain matters are actually myths, the Divine Manifestations bring them out as though they were real and elucidate them.” (Amr va Khalq 2:211).