The first bestowal of God to the world of humanity is religion because religion consists of divine teachings. Certainly divine teachings are preferable to all other sources of instructions.
Religion confers upon man life everlasting. Religion is a service to the world of morality. Religion guides humanity to eternal happiness. Religion is the cause of everlasting honor to the world of man. Religion has ever helped humanity towards progress. (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, excerpt from and a talk given at Temple Emmanu-El, San Francisco, California, October 12, 1912; Mahmud’s Diary)