Heaven and hell

The Bahá’í teachings regard heaven and hell as "conditions within our own beings",^[1] as representing nearness to or distance from God. Heaven and hell are therefore not physical locations, and descriptions from prior religions dispensations should be taken symbolically.^[2] Heaven is the spiritual condition of being close to God, and of having spiritual life. Hell would represent a lack of these things, and spiritual death. Additionally, these conditions exist within a person while they are still physically alive.^[3] Bahá’u’lláh states that these conditions are a necessary component of reward and punishment:

“

The world is established upon the foundations of reward and punishment. Knowledge and understanding have ever affirmed and will continue to affirm the reality of Paradise and Hell, for reward and punishment require their existence. Paradise signifieth first and foremost the good-pleasure of God. Whosoever attaineth His good-pleasure is reckoned and recorded among the inhabitants of the most exalted paradise and will attain, after the ascension of his soul, that which pen and ink are powerless to describe.

”

— Bahá’u’lláh, The Tabernacle of Unity

The Bahá’í writings teach that upon our death our soul remains in the degree of purity it attained in this life.^[4] Afterwards our soul continues to progress towards God forever.^[5]

Notes[edit]

↑ Helen Bassett Hornby, ed. (1988) [1st pub. 1983]. Lights of Guidance: A Bahá’í Reference File by Bahá’u’lláh, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Shoghi Effendi, and Universal House of Justice New Delhi: Baháí Publishing Trust. No. 703. ISBN 978-8185091464.
↑ Star of the West (July 13, 1917). Bahai News Service. Volume 8, Issue 7. Pg(s) 75. View as PDF.
↑ Dr. John Esslemont (January, 1949). "Heaven and Hell". World Order. Vol. 14, no. 10. National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. p. 340.
↑ Paris Talks, The Evolution of Matter and Development of the Soul https://www.bahai.org/r/713674720
↑ Paris Talks, The Evolution of the Spirit https://www.bahai.org/r/610561417

[1] Helen Bassett Hornby, ed. (1988) [1st pub. 1983]. Lights of Guidance: A Bahá’í Reference File by Bahá’u’lláh, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Shoghi Effendi, and Universal House of Justice New Delhi: Baháí Publishing Trust. No. 703. ISBN 978-8185091464.

[2] Star of the West (July 13, 1917). Bahai News Service. Volume 8, Issue 7. Pg(s) 75. View as PDF.

[3] Dr. John Esslemont (January, 1949). "Heaven and Hell". World Order. Vol. 14, no. 10. National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. p. 340.

[4] Paris Talks, The Evolution of Matter and Development of the Soul https://www.bahai.org/r/713674720

[5] Paris Talks, The Evolution of the Spirit https://www.bahai.org/r/610561417

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Heaven and hell

See also[edit]

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