Understandable that some people have disdain towards religions, given their history. Like we keep saying, we all have to make up our own minds about what to believe. I’m not sure what “secular faith” is, however. Faith in what? And what is “religious spirituality”? Does that apply to any religion or just to spirituality? Hard to say.

Interesting question. It seems to me that such ideas that other religions are beneath their own are not what the founding Messengers taught. People will insert their own views over time, which may or may not be in accord with the origional teachings. It’s up to us to search for truth and figure out if a tree has good fruit or bad, as Jesus instructed.

David,
I would have to agree with Bill Carsley. As a Bahai my understanding of the Bahai teachings is that all true religions (and yes, there are false religions originating from man) are tailored for their time period and cultural history and that the Baha’i Faith is the fulfillment of the prophecies of earlier religions.

Consider this, a spiritual believer who investigates the Bahai Teachings and turns away due to their strong attachment to an earlier dispensation is in error. While it is not a Bahai’s duty to judge that person, it is our duty to seek to guide them as long as they are seeking such guidance. Why? Because as Bahai’s we are certain that our path, the Bahai’ path, is the truest for this dispensation.

I would only point out that “inclusivists” usually also believe that “multiple religious beliefs can and should coexist in the world.” This tolerant and generous view is not “exclusive” to pluralists. I would describe myself as an inclusivist Christian in that mold. It has been my observation that most Baha’is fall into a similar inclusivist category. There is no question that Baha’is believe their religion is “the truest” for the present time in history, while also recognizing truth in other religions and understanding that each of us is accountable only for the spiritual light that has come to us.