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1.
1772. What is Commonly Called Evil spirits is Normally an Imaginary
Creation But Evil Exists Both in This World And The Next
"In regard to your question concerning evil spirits and their
influence upon souls, Shoghi Effendi wishes me to inform you that what
is generally called evil spirit is a purely imaginary creation and has
no reality whatever. But as to evil, there is no doubt that it exerts
a very strong influence both in this world and in the next.
'Abdu'l-Bahá in the "Some Answered Questions" gives us a thorough and
true analysis of the problem of evil. You should preferably refer to
that book for further explanation on that point."
(From letter written on behalf of the Guardian to an individual
believer, November 1, 1934)
(Compilations, Lights of Guidance, p. 521)
Everything I read about the next world tells me that it is a world of
lights, of realties, where Truth is apparent. This sentence alone --
that evil exerts a very strong influence in the next world -- says the
opposite. Therefore, I conclude that the meaning of this sentence --
that evil exerts a strong influence in the next world is this:
A pregnant woman drinks alcohol. That alcohol exerts a strong negative
influence on the baby, both in the world of the womb, and in this world.
To bring this back to the statement from the Guardian's letter, the evil
has influence in the next world, i.e. the evil acts of people in this
world, "exerts a very strong influence" in the next world, in that the
evil done in this world has consequences after the person's death. Not,
that evil is rampant in the next world like it is here, that people can
lie in the next world, that people can commit injustice in the next
world. The next world is where the truth emerges, where lies have no
place, where no one is capable of lying or of injuring another, where
injustices that occurred in this world are rectified.
My second purpose in writing is to offer a thought about why Baha'u'llah
refers to jinn, without explaining that they are symbolic: He is
writing to the Muslims, and He uses the terms in their Book.
In similar fashion, Baha'u'llah tries to impact on the deeds of Muslims
by quoting to them about their own opinions of how the resurrection will
work:
"Rememberest thou not God's warning uttered in times past, that thou
mayest be of them that heed His warning? He said, and He, verily,
speaketh the truth: "From it (earth) have We created you, and unto it
will We return you, and out of it will We bring you forth a second
time." This is what God ordained unto all them that dwell on earth, be
they high or low. It behoveth not, therefore, him who was created from
dust, who will return unto it, and will again be brought forth out of
it, to swell with pride before God, and before His loved ones, to
proudly scorn them, and be filled with disdainful arrogance. Nay, rather
it behoveth thee and those like thee to submit yourselves to them Who
are the Manifestations of the unity of God, and to defer humbly to the
faithful..."
(Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 231)
Even though in other places in His Writings, Baha'u'llah explains that
the resurrection does not mean resurrection of the body, it has entirely
spiritual meaning; in this passage, Baha'u'llah quotes a verse from the
Qur'an without giving it a spiritual meaning, to impact on his reader.
And I am saying that by analogy, Baha'u'llah makes reference to the
jinn, in a passage that Gary is having difficulty understanding, not to
backtrack on His other statements that jinn have no actual existence,
just as a way of using the fear of God as a tool to get people to act
differently.
That's my understanding.
Brent
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