Theist, if your asking about Bahai.....the analagy is often used, that the soul is like a mirror, that reflects the Lord's light, the cleaner the mirror is, the better the reflection, and the closer to the Lord you are. Bahai's don't believe in God on earth, just a manifistation of his divine presence, which is really God on earth if you think about it. I think that also, the Lord has always been a concious creator, and a personal God, we may not understand his ways because he is divine substance, which is the reason he doesn't manifest directly, why would he? This goes a bit hand in hand with Christian ideology about God the father as well.
P.S. This is not an attack on Krshna, so please lets discuss.