Reply to Phi:
Somehow or other I received a message under this heading "Baha'i - Tell me more" from Phi, but could not find the post?! So I've decided to respond to it anyway... if by chance, Phi's post got lost some how?!
I'll quote Phi and indicate my replies following:
Phi:
Hi, and thank you for inviting me to explore here. Well...I'm going to
have to do some reading & studying, but there are a couple of questions
first.
1. Oh, please, why does it ALWAYS have to be a man leader? I am really
shy of male-led religion now. What's the scoop on the female aspect of
God?
Reply:
That God is referred to as "He" or "Him" is merely due to an accident of language.... It has nothing to do conceiving of God as "male" or an "old man with a beard".... In the Baha'i Writings which were revealed by Baha'u'llah a very prominent place is given to the "Maid of Heaven" this is obviously a "feminine" spiritual concept that plays a part something like the Angel Gabriel does in Islam...
Phi:
2. What do you believe about foresight and other psychic traits in
women members? I was born this way!
Reply:
Baha'is recognize that there is a spiritual world and that people could have psychic abilities. We do not however encourage people to be psychics or to consult mediums or those who "channel" ....
Phi:
3. Who's the leader of your particular church or group? Why isn't it a
woman? (just guessing)
Reply:
Actually we have no priests or priestesses in the Baha'i Faith. We have no professioanl clergy whatsoever. The Faith is administered by elected representatives in institutions known as Local Spiritual Assemblies, National Spiritual Assemblies and the Universal House of Justice. Women serve on all levels of our administration with the exception of the nine member Universal House of Justice. We also have an appointive arm known as the Counselors and Auxiliary Board Memebers who serve limited terms and women also serve in these offices.
Phi:
4. Ballulah: male or female
Reply:
"Baha'u'llah" was the title of Mirza Husayn Ali Who was the Prophet Founder of the Baha'i Faith. He was a "man" Who was what we Baha'is consider to be a Manifestation of God and He lived in nineteenth century Persia. Baha'u'llah taught that men and women are equal at a time when there were no female professions and when women were excluded from voting.
Phi:
I know I sound like a feminist, and I suppose I am when it comes to
religion, but the word "feminist" has some negative connotations and
associations I don't really care for, so please don't look for my sexual
persuasion nor my politics in this term. I believe with all of my soul
that women are equal to men, and will not chance getting back into a
patriarchy.
Reply:
Well Phi it may interest you to know that Baha'is agree with your sentiments. As noted above Baha'is are very stong on the principle of the equality of men and women! Baha'is have many projects around the world stressing education and training of women and we also stress empowering women to assume their rightful place in human society.
Phi:
If all Gods are men in heaven, I do not want eternal life. I cooked &
cleaned long enough down here...
Really, I do love men, my best friend is one (husband) and so was my
Dad.
So are my two brothers and so will be my grandson (he's 2, so cute!)
but if your God is a man, and always referred to as one, well he's only
half of mine. Been there, done that, know better now.
Reply:
As noted above Phi, that we use terms like "He" for God is an accident of language and has nothing to do with God being a "man". Also Heaven for us is not a place where you'll be in a servile relationship to men... Heaven is a spiritual state of being close to God.
Phi:
Thanks for your help. Sorry if I sound a little outrageous, but I
really am just outspoken and honest.
Reply:
I wouldn't have it any other way!
- Art
