| The change and development of the physical or spiritual self. ‘Abdu'l-Bahá states: ‘Know that nothing which exists remains in a state of repose, that is to say, all things are in motion. Everything is either growing or declining, all things are either coming from non-existence into being, or going from existence into non-existence.'23 |
| As to spiritual evolution, ‘Abdu'l-Bahá says, ‘. . . as the spirit continues to exist after death, it necessarily progresses or declines; and in the other world, to cease to progress is the same as to decline; but it never leaves its own condition, in which it continues to develop.'24 |
| Regarding physical evolution, Bahá'ís do not believe that man was once another species, although in physical form man may have resembled other species of animals. ‘Abdu'l-Bahá states: ‘. . . as man in the womb of the mother passes from form to form, from shape to shape, changes and develops, and is still the human species from the beginning of the embryonic period — in the same way man, from the beginning of his existence in the matrix of the world, is also a distinct species, that is, man, and has gradually evolved from one form to another. Therefore this change of appearance, this evolution of members, this development and growth, even though we admit the reality of growth and progress (i.e. if we admit, for example, that man had formerly been a quadruped, or had had a tail), does not prevent the species from being original. Man from the beginning was in this perfect form and composition, and possessed capacity and aptitude for acquiring material and spiritual perfections, and was the manifestation of these words, "We will make man in our image and likeness." He has only become more pleasing, more beautiful, and more graceful.'25 |
| [BD 81] |
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