Interview with Sascha Gätzschmann: ‚My Baha’i Faith’

Q: You were Catholic, then you became a Baha’i. Will you please tell us what encouraged you to do it?

Sascha: There is one religion of God, which is renewed in every age according to the needs of the time. God´s plan unfolds by unique and holy Persons – the Manifestations of God or Prophets of God. They work hand in hand. Among these Manifestions of God are Krishna, Buddha, Zoroaster, Abraham, Moses, Christ, Muhammad, the Báb and of course Bahá´u´lláh, whose teaching of the unity of mankind attracted me from the start. I became a Baha’i, as I understood that Bahá´u´lláh´s message is divine and that the same spirit that animated Jesus Christ also animated Bahá´u´lláh. Through the teachings of Bahá´u´lláh I understood that the Prophets are all one and that the teachings of Christ applied to a certain time. The teachings of Bahá´u´lláh are directed to the needs of humanity today. I am happy to work with many people – may they be Bahais or not – for the old dream of a unified and happy mankind.

Q: How is the Baha’i Faith different from Christianity or Islam?

Sascha: The Baha’i Faith is the same in spirit as Islam or Christianity, but its teachings apply to the present day. There are some changes in the laws – we for example pray at least once a day and read the Holy Writings at least twice a day – but most importantly the focus has changed: every human being should consider himself as a world citizen and work for the betterment of the world. The teachings of Bahá´u´lláh help us with that. His work embraces about 100 volumes of Writings. So there is plenty to study and to apply.

Sascha Gätzschmann: ‘The teachings of Bahá´u´lláh are directed to the needs of humanity today’

Sascha Gätzschmann: ‘The teachings of Bahá´u´lláh are directed to the needs of humanity today’

Q: If God is one, then why is it important to change religion? You can find Him everywhere, right?

Sascha: God is one and His religion is one, but as humanity progresses there are many new lessons to learn. That is why I am a Baha’i. The teachings of Bahá´u´lláh apply to the needs of the time, but I am united with everyone who believes and works for the betterment of the world.

Q: How many Bahais are out there?

Sascha: The Baha’i Faith has worldwide about 7 million followers. It constitutes an interesting fact that the ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITANNICA stipulates the Baha’i religion as the second most widespread religion in the world after Christianity. There are Baha’i communities in virtually every country of the world and demonstrating thereby also the unity of mankind. The community in Germany is built on a historic foundation as the Son of Bahá´u´lláh, named `Abdu´l-Baha, visited Germany 100 years ago in April 1913. The community counts about 5000 believers today. To find out more about the world wide community go to www.bahai.org and for more information about the German community go to www.bahai.de and for Halle go to www.bahai.de/halle

Thank You.

*Sascha Gätzschmann (36), lives in Halle since 1999. He studied science of education and is excited about the role of the youth who should be the driving force of development all around the world. In his private time, he gathers people for devotional meetings and study circles, works with youth, plays table tennis and soccer and loves laughter, singing and friendship.

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