Guest Author - Lisa Schaffer-Harris


There is an abundance of shows on television referencing the paranormal, especially shows on hauntings and contact with the dead. Some of these shows even explore the topic of evil spirits or demons.

Baha’is believe in an afterlife, we also believe that we our prayers can help the progress of the souls who have left this world for the next. Abdul Baha, cautions that communication with spirits is often pure imagination. There are instances of pure inspiration, where an angel or a spirit visits someone; however, it is often difficult to discern what a real spiritual communication is and what may be imagination, or worse, mental illness.

In a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer in 1939 it states, “…it is very difficult to distinguish between true visions which are spiritual experiences of the soul and imaginations which have no reality in spiritual truths. True visions, however, can be granted to those who are spiritually pure and receptive, and are not therefore confined to the prophets alone.”

In regards to evil spirits or demonic possession, there are also specific writings.
The Baha’i view of evil likens it to the absence of sunlight. Goodness in the world is like the sun that shines upon us, evil is like the absence of that sunlight. Evil in and of itself is not powerful; however, that is not to say it does not exist. Abdul Baha explains evil spirits or Satan as being the lower nature of man. Because of that definition, and because we believe that evil does not possess power in and of itself, demons or evil spirits taking over a person as understood in the Catholic rite of exorcism, we believe does not exist. More often there is a more scientific explanation for these circumstances such as mental psychosis which require a skilled physicians intervention rather than an exclusively spiritual one.

Shoghi Effendi also discouraged what he termed “psychic dabbling.” Abdul Baha further warned that it was dangerous to cultivate psychic powers in this world. From a letter written on behalf of the guardian in 1946 it stated, “We do not understand [the] nature [of psychic powers] and have no way of being sure of what is true and what is false in such matters.”

Baha’is are summoned to very much live in this world and to be a positive influence in it. Therefore, this quote from another letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi summarizes why we should not preoccupy ourselves with the paranormal.

“Spiritual experiences have undoubtedly great influence on us individually, and therefore, arouse deep interest, but of paramount importance in this day is to forget them and to go out into the world trying to save the human race from its threatening condition. This is the call of the day, this is the duty of every soul who desires to follow the path traced by Baha’u’llah.”