The Purpose of Physical Reality

Why do spiritual beings--human souls--begin their lives in the physical world? According to well-known Baha'i author, scholar, and educator John Hatcher, the world is a classroom designed by God to instigate and nurture mental and spiritual growth. The Purpose of Physical Reality examines the components of this classroom to show how everyday experience leads to spiritual insight. Viewing life in this way, we can learn to appreciate the overall justice of God's plan and the subtle interplay between human free will and divine assistance in unleashing human potential. The idea of physical reality as a divine teaching device not only prepares us for further progress in the life beyond, it also provides practical advice about how to attain spiritual and intellectual understanding while we are living on earth.

Hatcher suggests resolutions to the dilemma of why spiritual beings should begin their existence in the physical world. Through a comparison and contrasting of the Bahá'í writings with the solutions of Job, Plato, Boethius and Milton, the author demonstrates that physical experience assists spiritual development in preparation for life after death.