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You have to look at this metaphorically. If you look at it literally, it makes
no sense. Literally, humans and apes evolved from common ancestors. The concept
of "soul" is a metaphor. We say humans have a "soul". "The human soul" is a
metaphor for what makes humans so different from other animals. To say that
"humans always had a soul" can be seen as metaphorically true, even though it
is literally true that, say, one billion years ago, humans did not exist yet. I
suppose you could say that, even one billion years ago, the Ideal of "Humanity"
existed as a Concept, a Platonic Ideal.
-- Ron, Firestorm, or others:
See:
'Abdu'l-Bahá, Some Answered Questions, p. 191-4 and 'Abdu'l-Baha: Promulgation
of Universal Peace, pages 358-9
------
The word "species" used by Abdu'l-Baha is not the same definition as the
"species" used by scientists or biologists. The word species is used here to
explain the distinction which has always existed between "man" and "animal"
despite material physical biological makeup. It does not have the current
specialized biological meaning. And I used the word "man" and "animal" in
quotes not to confuse with the idea that the difference between "man" and
"animal" to be a physical or scientifically observable. Abdu'l-Baha is not
trying to present proofs or argue against scientific findings of Darwin, rather
the opposite, that he is saying that the fundamental doctrine of Bahaullah is
compatible with Darwinian evolution. Abdulbaha is simply laying down a
spiritual *timeless* principles that unfolded over time in a physical way. If
you consider darwinian evolution from a "timeless" perspective, then you say
that man was always meant to be. But Science, rightfully,
never considers the "timelessness" of it because that's more of a
philosophical, not a scientific, question.
Here, the word "species" is a non-scientific term (Abdu'l-Baha is not a
scientist) to convey the essential reality of the "Universe" that man will
evolve if the environmental conditions are right, like they were right on earth
after millions of years of evolutionary process for man to evolve to become
what you and I are today. That's all. Its just an observation of the past based
on where we are today.
This is not meant to be a scientific principle, but a fundamental doctrine to
convey this simple spiritual principle: that the names of God are reflecting in
the mirror of existence... And since God's names seem to be more advanced today
than they were 5 million years ago, (*(*(*(*Abdu'l-Baha simply says that the
"species" of man was always in existence though they were not physically
manifested since man had not yet evolved.*)*)*)*)
Again, these statements are more about the Universe or God than they are about
man or darwinian evolution.
Again, these statements are more about the Universe or God than they are about
man or darwinian evolution.
Yet from a scientific view, God and spirit or soul are only metaphorical
realities, because they cannot and will never be observed - by definition.
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