Does the Bah?'? Faith actually have a definitive definition of Heaven and Hell?
After some research, it seems as if some believe that Heaven and Hell are spiritual connections to God, yet not physical places. The website having a statement such as "...the concepts of Heaven and Hell are allegories for nearness and remoteness from God...Heaven and Hell are not physical places, but spiritual realities," would make one think that this idea is fundamental in Bah?'? belief.
But another little blurb on the Bah?'?'s official website says, "Beyond this, the exact nature of the afterlife remains a mystery. The nature of the soul after death can never be described," Bah?'u'll?h writes.
If the definitions of Heaven and Hell are beyond even Bah?'u'll?h's comprehension, how can any followers of the Bah?'? Faith even have a definitive answer as to what they are? If one of the central figures to the Bah?'? Faith can't describe the ideas of the afterlife, why does the website seem to have such a definitive answer?
Mainly, my question is, if Bah?'u'll?h can not (or chose not to) describe exactly what the afterlife is, why does the website claim that Heaven and Hell are spiritual places, and not physical places per SE?
Under the Bah?'? Faith, is it required for one to believe that Heaven and Hell are only spiritual connections? Or do some Bah?'? Followers believe that Heaven and Hell are actual physical places?
Given the cloud of uncertainty based on Bah?'u'll?h's quote, I would think that the followers would be able to choose what they believe in, and have their own opinion of Heaven, Hell, and the Afterlife.
I'd just like to know if a certain, definitive answer or belief about these things is required under the faith. Can somebody who only believes in a spiritual afterlife and a person who believes in both a spiritual and physical afterlife both be followers of the Bah?'? Faith?
why can't you get over the heaven and hell not being physical? heaven nor hell exist to them as a reality, it's more like a label, like black is bad, white is good, IE." you were wandering in the dark today. " the dark do sent exist it's a metaphor for doing something bad, and by doing something bad you are in a bad place spiritually.
'Under the Bah?'? Faith, is it required for one to believe that Heaven and Hell are only spiritual connections?" to be live them to be physically real, is to put yourself in a psych ward, so to speak, it just doesn't make sense to be live in that.
"Can somebody who only believes in a spiritual afterlife and a person who believes in both a spiritual and physical afterlife both be followers of the Bah?'? Faith?"
yes.
66. THE EXISTENCE OF THE RATIONAL SOUL AFTER THE DEATH OF THE BODY
Question.--After the body is put aside and the spirit has obtained freedom, in what way will the rational soul exist? Let us suppose that the souls who are assisted by the bounty of the Holy Spirit attain to true existence and eternal life. But what becomes of the rational souls--that is to say, the veiled spirits? ["Veiled spirits" here signify rational souls, souls not possessing the spirit of faith. Cf. "Soul, Spirit and Mind," p. 208.]
Answer.--Some think that the body is the substance and exists by itself, and that the spirit is accidental and depends upon the substance of the body, although, on the contrary, the rational soul is the substance, and the body depends upon it. If the accident--that is to say, the body--be destroyed, the substance, the spirit, remains.
Second, the rational soul, meaning the human spirit, does not descend into the body--that is to say, it does not enter it, for descent and entrance are characteristics of bodies, and the rational soul is exempt from this. The spirit never entered this body, so in quitting it, it will not be in need of an abiding-place: no, the spirit is connected with the body, as this light is with this mirror. When the mirror is clear and perfect, the light of the lamp will be apparent in it, and when the mirror becomes covered with dust or breaks, the light will disappear.
The rational soul--that is to say, the human spirit-- has neither entered this body nor existed through it; so after the disintegration of the composition of the body, how should it be in need of a substance through which it may exist? On the contrary, the rational soul is the substance through which the body exists. The personality of the rational soul is from its beginning; it is not due to the instrumentality of the body, but the state and the personality of the rational soul may be strengthened in this world; it will make progress and will attain to the degrees of perfection, or it will remain in the lowest abyss of ignorance, veiled and deprived from beholding the signs of God.
Question.--Through what means will the spirit of man--that is to say, the rational soul--after departing from this mortal world, make progress?
Answer.--The progress of man's spirit in the divine world, after the severance of its connection with the body of dust, is through the bounty and grace of the Lord alone, or through the intercession and the sincere prayers of other human souls, or through the charities and important good works which are performed in its name.
THE IMMORTALITY OF CHILDREN
Question.--What is the condition of children who die before attaining the age of discretion or before the appointed time of birth?
Answer.--These infants are under the shadow of the favor of God; and as they have not committed any sin and are not soiled with the impurities of the world of nature, they are the centers of the manifestation of bounty, and the Eye of Compassion will be turned upon them.
I don't think there's a contradiction here. It is because heaven and hell are not physical "places," that we cannot describe them. Try describing "love" in a way that would make sense to someone who had never experienced it. Or for that matter, "your experience of the taste of blueberries." Blueberries can be described precisely, but subjective realities, and especially spiritual realities, can only be pointed to through metaphors.
As for how we know definitely that heaven and hell are not physical places, first of all, because we can't go there, or see them! More rationally, Abdu'l-Baha writes:
You question about eternal life and the entrance into the Kingdom. The outer expression used for the Kingdom is heaven; but this is a comparison and similitude, not a reality or fact, for the Kingdom is not a material place; it is sanctified from time and place. It is a spiritual world, a divine world, and the center of the Sovereignty of God; it is freed from body ... To be limited to place is a property of bodies and not of spirits. Place and time surround the body, not the mind and spirit. ... the spirit and mind of man travel to all countries and regions -- even through the limitless space of the heavens -- surround all that exists, and make discoveries in the exalted spheres and infinite distances. This is because the spirit has no place; ... .
Abdu'l-Baha, Some Answered Questions, p. 240
http://reference.bahai.org/en/t/ab/SAQ/saq-68.html
Question about the Bah?'? Faith.?
