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Martha Root — An Astonishing Life
Today I am at a Baha’i meeting, and I want to say thank you for the blessing of having such times in my life. To each and every soul who helps to make so many of those gatherings a veritable corner of paradise — thank you. This morning we are reflecting on the life of Martha Root, a woman whose life was inspired and transformed by Bahá’u’lláh. We will be reading about her life as introduced on the website bahaiteachings.org. I hope you can join us in spirit and read along. In one of his earlier works, the Hidden Words, Bahá’u’lláh observes that “words are the property of all alike” and that “guidance hath ever been given…
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Women and Men Have Been and Will Always Be Equal
“Women and men have been and will always be equal in the sight of God.”[1] With these words, Bahá’u’lláh challenges the age old oppression of women. Thus, the following concept applies as much in respect of gender equality as elsewhere: Know ye not why We created you all from the same dust? That no one should exalt himself over the other.[2] The general assertion of gender equality is addressed by Bahá’u’lláh in a diversity of fields in which, historically, gender equality has been denied. On work, Bahá’u’lláh states: … It is incumbent upon each one of you to engage in some occupation – such as a craft, a trade or the like.[3] There is no distinction…
