Jan 26, 2012 -- 9:29PM, Jupiter6208 wrote:

If the Bahai Faith encourages Equality between men and Women why are there no Women on The Universal House of Justice? i assume you have been asked this  a million times before but i would like to know.

Thank you and blessings.
 

Dear Jupiter,

Thanks for your well-founded question.

It's entirely justified to ask the question. Key to the Baha'i understanding of equality is that equality doesn't logically imply identity. Equality therefore doesn't have to mean an absolute identity of roles and functions. For instance, in the Baha'i Writings the girls are given preference when children's schooling is concerned and a choice must be made. The rationale is explained and easy to understand. However, unlike in the case of girls and schools, the rationale of the exclusive male role in the House of Justice remains one of the most intentional enigmas in the Baha'i Writings. 'Abdu'l-Baha, the son and the appointed successor of Baha'u'llah, enigmatically declares that the rationale of this exclusive male arrangement will, in the future, become "as clear as the sun at high noon" for all mankind. But he asserted that now is not the time to divulge the reason. Hence, we really do not currently know the underlying reasoning of male membership in the House, but rather we trust that there is a good one.

However, we do know from other explanations in the Writings that the reason cannot be any presumed difference in the intellectual or spiritual capacities of men and women. The Writings are rather clear that men and women are equal in all their essential intellectual and spiritual powers. Only lack of equal education and encouragement has resulted in outward disparities in performance.

Meanwhile, the truth of the following words, quite unbecoming of a 19th century Persian Prisoner with a conservative Islamic upbringing, has lost none of its bite for the Baha'is:

Women and men have been and will always be equal in the sight of God. Verily God created women for men, and men for women. - Baha'u'llah

Kind regards,

Wabbit

To me it makes perfect sense that mankind, at any given time, is not mature enough to see the sense of all sensible truths. That it will see their sense in the future. I cannot find any logical contradiction in the presented view. I welcome any attempt to pinpoint one.

With kind regards,

LilWabbit

Jan 28, 2012 -- 11:22PM, Jupiter6208 wrote:

It's not really a complicated Question if you support equality among Men and Women then why not at the top of the Hierarchy?what a great way of meaning what you say. IMO.

Neither is the answer complicated. There's a good and understandable reason which mankind is not mature enough to understand yet. Obviously one has to believe that 'Abdu'l-Bahá knows what he is talking about when he gave his answer that the matter will be as clear as "the sun in high noon." Since you do not believe in the wisdom of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, your reaction is perfectly understandable. Since all Bahá'í women and men do, they are not troubled by this lack of symmetry. God's logic is expected not to be as simplistic as man's.

As I said, equality does not need to imply identity of function. Not everyone needs to do the same thing for them to be regarded equal. I have my own theories as to why such an arrangement has been instituted, but I prefer not to speculate.

With kind regards,

LilWabbit

Jan 29, 2012 -- 7:43AM, Jupiter6208 wrote:

Jan 29, 2012 -- 4:49AM, Lilwabbit wrote:

Jan 28, 2012 -- 11:22PM, Jupiter6208 wrote:

It's not really a complicated Question if you support equality among Men and Women then why not at the top of the Hierarchy?what a great way of meaning what you say. IMO.

Neither is the answer complicated. There's a good and understandable reason which mankind is not mature enough to understand yet. Obviously one has to believe that 'Abdu'l-Bahá knows what he is talking about when he gave his answer that the matter will be as clear as "the sun in high noon." Since you do not believe in the wisdom of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, your reaction is perfectly understandable. Since all Bahá'í women and men do, they are not troubled by this lack of symmetry. God's logic is expected not to be as simplistic as man's.

As I said, equality does not need to imply identity of function. Not everyone needs to do the same thing for them to be regarded equal. I have my own theories as to why such an arrangement has been instituted, but I prefer not to speculate.

With kind regards,

LilWabbit

Why not speculate? Independent investigation of truth Is that not one of the Bahai  principles?I see nothing wrong with having your own ideas. I just like to ask alot questions that's just me. Peace& Love.

An inquisitive mind is always a good thing! Trust me, the reason for me not wanting to offer my own speculation out here has nothing to do with me not feeling free to speculate or to have my own ideas. It has far more to do with respecting the discretion that 'Abdu'l-Bahá himself displayed as regards the true reasons for male membership at the top. I, too, feel the reasons (that I speculate) for such an arrangement are rather clear but such that both men and women (especially the men) are by and large immature to hear at present. I do not mind sharing my personal speculations on the subject with people I know very well.

With kind regards,

LilWabbit

So you can only ask questions if your a member of the Bahai Faith? what if someone is wanting to learn more about the faith? I'm seeing the answers to simple questions are hard to come by. I thought instead of reading more about The Bahai Faith i would ask actual members but the feeling I'm getting is these are the rules just deal with it or we just don't know..

Bahá'u'lláh taught that each human being must acquire knowledge through their processes, and not blindly believe or follow others blindly, and he made it a fundamental obligation.

Peace & Love.