Some Answered Questions
Texts and scriptures of the Bahá'í Faith |
---|
From the Báb |
From Bahá'u'lláh |
From `Abdu'l-Bahá |
From Shoghi Effendi |
Some Answered Questions was first published in 1908. It contains questions asked to `Abdu'l-Bahá, son of the founder of the Bahá'í Faith, by Laura Clifford Barney, during several of her visits to Haifa between 1904 and 1906, and `Abdu'l-Bahá's answers to these questions.
Prominent among the topics are detailed explanations of Christian subjects, including interpretations of chapters 11 and 12 of the Book of Revelation, chapter 11 of the Book of Isaiah, the story of Genesis, and many other subjects.
Topics covered include God, Prophets of God, Christian subjects, evolution, the soul, immortality, fate, free will, healing, the non-existence of evil, and reincarnation.
Overview
The book is divided into five parts:
- I.Part One: On The Influence Of The Prophets In The Evolution of Humanity
- II.Part Two: Some Christian Subjects
- III.Part Three:On The Powers And Conditions Of The Manifestations Of God
- IV.Part Four: On The Origin, Powers and Conditions Of Man
- V.Part Five: Miscellaneous Subjects
I.Part One: On The Influence Of The Prophets In The Evolution of Humanity
Part One of Some Answered Questions covers topics such as the one universal law that governs nature, rational and spiritual proofs of the existence of God, A summary of the description and importance and proof of the divinity of the Divine Prophets and Manifestations, and the meaning of "True Wealth".
II.Part Two: Some Christian Subjects
Part two consists of subjects and topics of Christian interest. Such as the significance of symbolism, the explanation of the Birth of Christ, The greatness of Christ, the necessity of baptism, an explanation of the symbolism of the bread and wine,a talk about miracles, the resurrection of Christ, the Holy Spirit, The second coming of Christ, An explanation of the Trinity, A thorough examination and breakdown of various verses from the Bible, Insight into the story of Adam and Eve, the meaning of Blasphemy, and Predestination.
III.Part Three:On The Powers And Conditions Of The Manifestations Of God
Part three of Some Answered Questions speaks about topics such as the five aspects of the spirit, the stations of the Divine Manifestations, The Human Condition, The Spiritual Conditions, The Universal Cycles, The Power and Influence of the Divine Manifestations, The Two Classes of Prophets, And Explanations from the Kitab-i-aqdas
IV.Part Four: On The Origin, Powers and Conditions Of Man
The Fourth part of Some Answered Questions goes into the commentary on the Theory of Evolution and the Modification of Species, The origin and the nature of the Universe, The difference between man and animal, the spiritual proofs of the origin of Man, the existence and origin of the spirit and mind of man, The reason why the spirit is in the body, The relationship between God and Man, The difference between the Soul, Mind, and Spirit, The physical and intellectual powers of man, The differences of Character in Men, The degree of Knowledge Man possess and the Knowledge the Manifestations possessed, Mans knowledge of God, The immortality of the Spirit, The limits of perfection, the state and progress of man after death, the immortality of children, Fate, Freewill, Visions and communication with spirits, and Spiritual and Physical Healing.
V.Part Five: Miscellaneous Subjects
Part five goes into topics such as the nonexistence of evil, two kinds of torment, the Justice and Mercy of God, The right method of treating criminals, Reality, An Explanation of Reincarnation and Pantheism, The four methods of acquiring knowledge and the necessity of following the teachings of the Divine Manifestations.
References
- `Abdu'l-Bahá (1990) [1908]. Some Answered Questions (Softcover ed.). Wilmette, Illinois, USA: Bahá'í Publishing Trust. ISBN 0-87743-162-0.