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| 1. How do Baha'is
know there is a God? 2. Is God male or female? 3. What is the nature of God? 4. How do humans relate to God? 5. What role does God play in this world? 6. If there is a God, why is there so much evil in the world? 1. How do Baha'is know there is a God?
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2. Is God male or female?
God is an infinite being, beyond definition as a man or a woman. God embodies both maternal and paternal attitudes. In the Baha'i writings God is commonly referred to as "He"; this is simply a convention adopted in English, since in the original writings a genderless pronoun was used. Top
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3. What is the nature of God?
God is an infinite, unknowable essence Who is above and beyond the limits we experience in this finite world: time, space, distance. God has always existed, and will continue to exist for eternity. God embodies an uncountable range of attributes: the All-Loving, the All-Knowing, the Just, the Merciful, the Generous, the Compassionate, the Healing, the Help in Peril. Discovering the nature of God is really a lifetime of work. Top
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4. How do humans relate to God?
God created us because He loves us, and placed within us a reflection of all His attributes. Our responsibility in this world is to love God in return and try to understand Him; to follow His laws out of recognition of Him as the Creator who loves us; to pray and meditate as a means of communing with God. God always answers our prayers, and always gives us what we need for our own growth and benefit, whether we realize it or not. In the Baha'i view, an important way to relate to God is to be of service to our fellow human beings. Baha'is believe that work done in a spirit of service is like worship and is another way to praise God. Top
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5. What role does God play in this world?
God is the creator of this world and all the people in it. Since the beginning, God has been guiding the development of humanity by sending a series of teachers, also known as Messengers, Prophets or Manifestations. Through their influence humans are educated and society progresses. God's presence is all around us in the world. Through prayer and good deeds we can tap into His spiritual power. God has created the world and all its physical and spiritual rules to be a source of growth for us - like a training ground for our souls. He has also given us freedom to think an act independently and to make choices, as this is the only way to really grow. As such, God plays a role that is difficult for us to understand. He is always present to help and guide us when we ask, but at the same time He does not interfere with our freedom to make the wrong decision, since this freedom is part of learning, and part of the world that He has created. Top
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6. If there is a God, why is there so much evil in the world?
God created humans with free will to choose between good and evil. Without this ability there would be no point to our existence in this material world. We could not have a world of justice and a world of freedom at the same time because as long as people are free, they can make the wrong choices and do bad things. God has sent Prophets that explain what is good and to help us make the right choices, but it is up to every individual to choose the path that he or she will follow. Unfortunately, some people choose to commit actions that cause pain for others, and this is unavoidable. But we are assured that this world is only a mirage. The real world is the spiritual world, where we are more than compensated for the injustices and suffering that we experience here. Top
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