Baháʼí text containing ʻAbdu'l-Bahá's views on religion, philosophy and science
Some Answered Questions Persian version:Mufáviḍát-i-‘Abdu'l-Bahá ) is a compilation of table talks ofʻAbdu'l-Bahá that were collected byLaura Clifford Barney between 1904 and 1906 across several pilgrimages. The book was first published in English in 1908.[ 1] Baháʼu'lláh , the founder of theBaháʼí Faith , and was appointed by him as his successor and interpreter of his words.[ 2]
The book covers a variety of subjects, including religion, philosophy, science, human evolution, immortality of the soul, labor strikes, reincarnation, and a variety of Christian topics.[ 3]
ʻAbdu'l-Bahá's answers were first written down inPersian by a secretary, and afterwards revised twice by ʻAbdu'l-Bahá. In 1908, three first editions were published: The Persian text byE.J. Brill inThe Netherlands ; the English translation of Laura Clifford Barney by Regan Paul, Trench, Trübner & Co. inLondon ; and a French edition translated byHippolyte Dreyfus [fr ] , published by Ernest Leroux inParis .[ 3]
A new English translation revised by a committee at theBaháʼí World Centre was published in 2014 and made available in early 2015.
The book is divided into five parts:
I. On the Influence of the Prophets in the Evolution of Humanity [ edit ] Part one covers topics such as the one universal law that governsnature , rational, and spiritual proofs of the existence ofGod ,[ 4] Manifestations of God [ 5] Abraham ,[ 6] Moses ,[ 7] Jesus ,[ 8] Muhammad [ 9] wives andbattles , theBáb ,[ 10] Baháʼu'lláh ),[ 11] Biblical prophecies from chapters 8, 9, and 12 of theBook of Daniel (seeDay-year principle ),[ 12] Book of Isaiah and chapters 11 and 12 of theBook of Revelation .[ 13] [ 14] [ 15]
II. Some Christian Subjects [ edit ] Part two consists of subjects of Christian interest, such as the significance ofsymbolism ("intelligible realities and their expression through sensible forms"[ 16] Bible , the story ofAdam and Eve ,[ 17] birth of Jesus , the "greatness of Christ,"[ 8] baptism ,[ 18] miracles ,[ 19] Eucharist ,Peter and thePapacy , theresurrection of Jesus ,[ 20] Holy Spirit , thesecond coming of Jesus, theDay of Judgement , theTrinity ,sin ,[ 21] blasphemy ,[ 22] predestination .[ 23]
III. On the Powers and Conditions of the Manifestations of God [ edit ] Part three speaks about topics such as the five aspects of spirit[definition needed ,[ 24] Manifestations of God ,progressive revelation ,[ 25] Prophets ,[ 26] [specify [ 27] infallibility .[ 28]
[ edit ] The fourth part includes a Bahai commentary on the theory ofevolution ,[ 29] [ 30] origin of the universe ,[ 31] difference between man and animal ,[ 32] soul ,mind , and spirit,[ 33] human nature ,[ 34] relationship between the spirit and the body , the relationship between God and man (emanationism ),[ 35] [ 34] immortality of the spirit, the state and progress of thespirit after death ,[ 33] fate ,[ 23] influence of the stars ,[ 36] free will ,[ 37] visions ,dreams [ 38] communication with spirits ,[ 39] spiritual andphysical healing .[ 40]
V. Miscellaneous Subjects [ edit ] Part five goes into topics such as the nonexistence ofevil ,[ 41] torment ,[ 42] punishment of criminals,strikes ,reality ,pre-existence ,reincarnation ,[ 43] pantheism ('Unity of Existence '),[ 44] comprehension ,[ 45] ethics .[ 46] [ 47]
^ Smith, Peter (2000)."Some Answered Questions" .A concise encyclopedia of the Baháʼí Faith . Oxford: Oneworld Publications. p. 325.ISBN 1-85168-184-1 ^ Tai-Seale, Thomas (1992).Thy Kingdom Come: A Biblical Introduction to the Baháʼí Faith 194– 195.ISBN 0933770936 ^a b Foreword to the 2014 edition ofSome Answered Questions . ^ Smith, Peter (2000)."God" .A concise encyclopedia of the Baháʼí Faith . Oxford: Oneworld Publications. pp. 164– 165.ISBN 1-85168-184-1 ^ Smith, Peter (2000)."manifestations of God" .A concise encyclopedia of the Baháʼí Faith . Oxford: Oneworld Publications. p. 231.ISBN 1-85168-184-1 ^ Smith, Peter (2000)."Abraham" .A concise encyclopedia of the Baháʼí Faith . Oxford: Oneworld Publications. p. 22.ISBN 1-85168-184-1 ^ Smith, Peter (2000)."Moses" .A concise encyclopedia of the Baháʼí Faith . Oxford: Oneworld Publications. p. 251.ISBN 1-85168-184-1 ^a b Smith, Peter (2000)."Jesus" .A concise encyclopedia of the Baháʼí Faith . Oxford: Oneworld Publications. p. 214.ISBN 1-85168-184-1 ^ Smith, Peter (2000)."Muhammad" .A concise encyclopedia of the Baháʼí Faith . Oxford: Oneworld Publications. p. 251.ISBN 1-85168-184-1 ^ Smith, Peter (2000)."Báb" .A concise encyclopedia of the Baháʼí Faith . Oxford: Oneworld Publications. pp. 55– 61.ISBN 1-85168-184-1 ^ Smith, Peter (2000)."Baháʼu'lláh" .A concise encyclopedia of the Baháʼí Faith . Oxford: Oneworld Publications. pp. 73– 86.ISBN 1-85168-184-1 ^ Riggs, Robert (1998).I, Daniel ^ Sours, Michael (1996).Understanding Biblical Prophecy . Oxford, UK: George Ronald.ISBN 9781851681112 ^ Tai-Seale, Thomas (1992).Thy Kingdom Come: A Biblical Introduction to the Baháʼí Faith ISBN 0933770936 ^ Able, John (2011).Apocalypse Secrets: Baha'i Interpretation of the Book of Revelation ^ Lepain, Jean-Marc (2015) [2002].The Archeology of the Kingdom of God ^ Smith, Peter (2000)."Adam" .A concise encyclopedia of the Baháʼí Faith . Oxford: Oneworld Publications. p. 23.ISBN 1-85168-184-1 ^ Smith, Peter (2000)."baptism" .A concise encyclopedia of the Baháʼí Faith . Oxford: Oneworld Publications. p. 90.ISBN 1-85168-184-1 ^ Smith, Peter (2000)."miracles" .A concise encyclopedia of the Baháʼí Faith . Oxford: Oneworld Publications. p. 249.ISBN 1-85168-184-1 ^ Smith, Peter (2000)."resurrection" .A concise encyclopedia of the Baháʼí Faith . Oxford: Oneworld Publications. p. 293.ISBN 1-85168-184-1 ^ Smith, Peter (2000)."sin" .A concise encyclopedia of the Baháʼí Faith . Oxford: Oneworld Publications. pp. 322– 323.ISBN 1-85168-184-1 ^ Momen, Moojan (2009)."Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit: Chapter 31 of Some Answered Questions" .Irfan Colloquia . Vol. 10. Wilmette, IL: Irfan Colloquia. pp. 275– 294. ^a b Smith, Peter (2000)."fate" .A concise encyclopedia of the Baháʼí Faith . Oxford: Oneworld Publications. p. 157.ISBN 1-85168-184-1 ^ Smith, Peter (2000)."metaphysics" .A concise encyclopedia of the Baháʼí Faith . Oxford: Oneworld Publications. pp. 245– 246.ISBN 1-85168-184-1 ^ Smith, Peter (2000)."time" .A concise encyclopedia of the Baháʼí Faith . Oxford: Oneworld Publications. pp. 338– 339.ISBN 1-85168-184-1 ^ Smith, Peter (2000)."prophets" .A concise encyclopedia of the Baháʼí Faith . Oxford: Oneworld Publications. p. 279.ISBN 1-85168-184-1 ^ Hemmat, Amrollah (2008).Adam's Wish: Unknown Poetry of Tahirih 23– 24.ISBN 978-1-890688-36-3 ^ Smith, Peter (2000)."infallibility" .A concise encyclopedia of the Baháʼí Faith . Oxford: Oneworld Publications. pp. 196– 197.ISBN 1-85168-184-1 ^ Smith, Peter (2000)."evolution" .A concise encyclopedia of the Baháʼí Faith . Oxford: Oneworld Publications. p. 136.ISBN 1-85168-184-1 ^ Brown, Keven, ed. (2001)."Evolution and Baháʼí Belief: ʻAbdu'l-Bahá's Response to Nineteenth-Century Darwinism" .Studies in the Bábí and Baháʼí Religions . Vol. 12. Los Angeles, US: Kalimat Press. pp. 179– 180. ^ Smith, Peter (2000)."creation" .A concise encyclopedia of the Baháʼí Faith . Oxford: Oneworld Publications. p. 116.ISBN 1-85168-184-1 ^ Filson, Gerald.Mind: ‘the Power of the Human Spirit' animal cognition ^a b Smith, Peter (2000)."soul" .A concise encyclopedia of the Baháʼí Faith . Oxford: Oneworld Publications. pp. 325– 326.ISBN 1-85168-184-1 ^a b Smith, Peter (2000)."evolution" .A concise encyclopedia of the Baháʼí Faith . Oxford: Oneworld Publications. p. 186.ISBN 1-85168-184-1 ^ Taherzadeh, Adib (1987).The Revelation of Baháʼu'lláh, Volume 4: Mazra'ih & Bahji 1877-92 41– 42.ISBN 0-85398-270-8 ^ Smith, Peter (2000)."astrology" .A concise encyclopedia of the Baháʼí Faith . Oxford: Oneworld Publications. p. 52.ISBN 1-85168-184-1 ^ Smith, Peter (2000)."free will" .A concise encyclopedia of the Baháʼí Faith . Oxford: Oneworld Publications. p. 160.ISBN 1-85168-184-1 ^ Smith, Peter (2000)."dreams and visions" .A concise encyclopedia of the Baháʼí Faith . Oxford: Oneworld Publications. p. 125.ISBN 1-85168-184-1 ^ Smith, Peter (2000)."psychic powers" .A concise encyclopedia of the Baháʼí Faith . Oxford: Oneworld Publications. pp. 279– 280.ISBN 1-85168-184-1 ^ Smith, Peter (2000)."health and healing" .A concise encyclopedia of the Baháʼí Faith . Oxford: Oneworld Publications. pp. 178– 180.ISBN 1-85168-184-1 ^ Smith, Peter (2000)."evil" .A concise encyclopedia of the Baháʼí Faith . Oxford: Oneworld Publications. p. 135.ISBN 1-85168-184-1 ^ Smith, Peter (2000)."suffering" .A concise encyclopedia of the Baháʼí Faith . Oxford: Oneworld Publications. p. 328.ISBN 1-85168-184-1 ^ Smith, Peter (2000)."reincarnation" .A concise encyclopedia of the Baháʼí Faith . Oxford: Oneworld Publications. p. 289.ISBN 1-85168-184-1 ^ Brown, Keven (2001)."ʻAbdu'l-Bahá's Response to the Doctrine of the Unity of Existence" .Journal of Baháʼí Studies . Vol. 11:3-4. Ottawa, CA: Association for Baháʼí Studies. pp. 1– 29. ^ Smith, Peter (2000)."knowledge" .A concise encyclopedia of the Baháʼí Faith . Oxford: Oneworld Publications. p. 221.ISBN 1-85168-184-1 ^ Schaefer, Udo (2007).Baháʼí Ethics in Light of Scripture, Volume 1 - Doctrinal Fundamentals ISBN 978-0-85398-505-1 ^ Schaefer, Udo (2009).Baháʼí Ethics in Light of Scripture, Volume 2 - Virtues and Divine Commandments ISBN 978-0-85398-518-1 ʻAbdu'l-Bahá (1990) [1908].Some Answered Questions ISBN 0-87743-162-0 ʻAbdu'l-Bahá (2014) [1908].Some Answered Questions ISBN 978-0-87743-374-3 Kluge, Ian (2009).Some Answered Questions: A Philosophical Perspective Ma'ani, Baharieh Rouhani (2017).Some Answered Questions" and Its Compiler Oliveira, Marco (2020).Some Answered Questions: An Introduction to Bahá’í Teachings Ruhi Institute .Spirit of Faith Ruhi Institute .The Power of the Holy Spirit Terry, Peter (2024).Philosophy: Material and Spiritual
Some Answered Questions public domain audiobook atLibriVox