The Baha'i Studies Listserv
On 29 Jul 2010 at 9:39, Lord Norbit wrote:
> Who is the angel Gabriel? Is he a figure from history? A manifestation
> that has passed away from this world or from another planet? Or is he
> simply a symbol of the holy spirit and not an actual individual.
The last of these I think. In the Iqan Gabriel is defined as "the
Voice of Inspiration" (p. 116) and Shoghi Effendi treats Gabriel, the
Maiden, the burning bush etc as various metaphors for the Most Great
Spirit:
"at so critical an hour and under such appalling circumstances [as
the Siyah Chal] the "Most Great Spirit," as designated by Himself,
and symbolized in the Zoroastrian, the Mosaic, the Christian, and
Muhammadan Dispensations by the Sacred Fire, the Burning Bush, the
Dove and the Angel Gabriel respectively, descended upon, and revealed
itself, personated by a "Maiden," to the agonized soul of
Bahá'u'lláh.
(Shoghi Effendi, God Passes By, p. 100)
Sen
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Sen McGlinn http://senmcglinn.wordpress.com
Happy are those who spend their days in gaining knowledge, in
discovering the secrets of nature, and in penetrating the subtleties
of
pure truth! Woe to those who are contented with ignorance, whose
hearts
are gladdened by thoughtless imitation, ... who have wasted their
lives!"(~Abdu'l-Baha, Some Answered Questions p.137)
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