The Physical and Spiritual Dimensions of Human Nature

Abstract

The Bahá’í teachings about the physical and spiritual dimensions of human nature are grounded in an emanationist metaphysics in which mankind is the border between the spiritual and material planes in the hierarchy of creation. God is the undiminished, absolutely independent, and essentially unknowable emanative Source of all existence. Human nature, its various cultural and historical presentations notwithstanding, is common to all peoples, regardless of race, gender, time, place, and circumstance. It is distinguished from the lower (though perfect in their own degrees) material planes by the ‘rational soul’ and is engaged in the evolutionary process of actualizing its infinite divinely bestowed potentials and, thereby, controlling (not suppressing) its physical nature for the good of endless spiritual, intellectual, and social development. The resulting worldview presents a logically coherent account of the personal and societal implications at work throughout human history in the process of ‘progressive revelation’ guided by the Manifestations of God. Service to humanity as a whole is regarded as the most effective way to achieve personal, societal, spiritual, and material progress towards a unified federal world commonwealth of nations.