The Body of God: A Reader's Guide to Bahá’u’lláh’s Surih of the Temple

This study of Bahá’u’lláh’s Súrih of the Temple is intended to provide the reader with tools to gain insight into the complex symbols and structure that underlie any attempt at interpreting the meaning and purpose of this critical work. To this end, Hatcher unravels the major symbols employed by Bahá’u’lláh, and explains the challenging framework whereby complex matter has been framed by Him into a dialogue between Himself, as He lies imprisoned in the Siyáh-Chál, and the Holy Spirit, personified as the Maid of Heaven.

Incorporated into this rendering of the Súrih are five representative epistles among those Bahá’u’lláh addressed to the most prominent kings and rulers of the world. Hatcher demonstrates how these letters become integrated into the central themes of the Súrih as Bahá’u’lláh examines and delineates how God has delegated authority through the Manifestation to these rulers and, ultimately, to humankind.

The book culminates in revealing how the divine plan for global unity and justice can come about solely by the collaboration of world leaders who, though having failed to recognize the station of Bahá’u’lláh, can still heed His salient and rational guidance for hastening a “Lesser Peace.” The Súrih of the Temple is thus critically pertinent to present-day conflicts and challenges we face, whether as a global community, as nations, or as individuals striving to create the foundation for global change by establishing collaborative and nurturing communities — the essential framework for urgently needed global transformation.