It is easy to take quotes of a religion out of context and portray it as being something it isn't. We need to look at all the writings to gain balance and perspective.
Women having babies does not lock women into household servitude. Each family is free through consultation where men and women are equals to decide how best to manage the roles of caring for children, managing the home, and providing an income. Sometimes the most practical approach is for the man to stay at home and for the woman to work and there is absolutely nothing that stops a couple from making such a decision. Baha'i couples often have to make the same compromises as any other couple. For example the women because of her education may be in a better position to support the family financially. Sometimes it is simply preference rather than necessity that causes coupes to reverse roles.
Do assemblies step in and try to counsel the couples to take more traditional roles. No.
Abdu'l-Baha who said this, wished only to be know as 'Servant of God' which is what name literally means if translated. As Baha'is, men and women are chief concern is to serve humanity and that is the highest honour and rank.
Marriage is essentially an intimate relationship between two equals:
O ye two believers in God! The Lord, peerless is He, hath made woman and man to abide with each other in the closest companionship, and to be even as a single soul. They are two helpmates, two intimate friends, who should be concerned about the welfare of each other.
If they live thus, they will pass through this world with perfect contentment, bliss, and peace of heart, and become the object of divine grace and favor in the Kingdom of heaven. But if they do other than this, they will live out their lives in great bitterness, longing at every moment for death, and will be shamefaced in the heavenly realm.
Strive, then, to abide, heart and soul, with each other as two doves in the nest, for this is to be blessed in both worlds.
Abdu'l-Baha
The true marriage of Bahá’ís is this, that husband and wife should be united both physically and spiritually, that they may ever improve the spiritual life of each other, and may enjoy everlasting unity throughout all the worlds of God. This is Bahá’í marriage.
Abdu'l-Baha
Consultation between husbands and wives is central to decision making. Neither husband or wife should dominate:
Wives, in some cases, have a tendency to exert an unjust degree of domination over their husbands which, of course, is not right, anymore than that the husband should unjustly dominate the wife. (Universal House of Justice, Lights of Guidance, p. 225)
There are, therefore, times when a wife should defer to her husband, and times when a husband should defer to his wife, but neither should ever unjustly dominate the other. In short, the relationship between husband and wife should be as held forth in the prayer revealed by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá which is often read at Bahá’í weddings: ‘Verily they are married in obedience to Thy command. Cause them to become the signs of harmony and unity until the end of time. (Universal House of Justice, Lights of Guidance, p. 225)
There is only monogamy, and polygamy is not permitted in the Baha'i faith. You have provided no context to the above verse. I hope this helps.
Bahá'í Reference Library - The Kitáb-i-Aqdas, Pages 205-206
You have suggested that Baha'i men can commit adultery. Adultery is not permissible whether it be men or women.
The Bahá’í teaching on sexual intercourse is very clear. It is permissible only between a man and the woman who is his wife. (Universal House of Justice, Lights of Guidance, p. 344)
Chastity implies both before and after marriage an unsullied, chaste sex life. Before marriage absolutely chaste, after marriage absolutely faithful to one’s chosen companion. Faithful in all sexual acts, faithful in word and in deed. (Universal House of Justice, Messages 1963 to 1986, p. 233)
Women having babies does not lock women into household servitude. Each family is free through consultation where men and women are equals to decide how best to manage the roles of caring for children, managing the home, and providing an income. Sometimes the most practical approach is for the man to stay at home and for the woman to work and there is absolutely nothing that stops a couple from making such a decision. Baha'i couples often have to make the same compromises as any other couple. For example the women because of her education may be in a better position to support the family financially. Sometimes it is simply preference rather than necessity that causes coupes to reverse roles.
Do assemblies step in and try to counsel the couples to take more traditional roles. No.
Abdu'l-Baha who said this, wished only to be know as 'Servant of God' which is what name literally means if translated. As Baha'is, men and women are chief concern is to serve humanity and that is the highest honour and rank.
Marriage is essentially an intimate relationship between two equals:
O ye two believers in God! The Lord, peerless is He, hath made woman and man to abide with each other in the closest companionship, and to be even as a single soul. They are two helpmates, two intimate friends, who should be concerned about the welfare of each other.
If they live thus, they will pass through this world with perfect contentment, bliss, and peace of heart, and become the object of divine grace and favor in the Kingdom of heaven. But if they do other than this, they will live out their lives in great bitterness, longing at every moment for death, and will be shamefaced in the heavenly realm.
Strive, then, to abide, heart and soul, with each other as two doves in the nest, for this is to be blessed in both worlds.
Abdu'l-Baha
The true marriage of Bahá’ís is this, that husband and wife should be united both physically and spiritually, that they may ever improve the spiritual life of each other, and may enjoy everlasting unity throughout all the worlds of God. This is Bahá’í marriage.
Abdu'l-Baha
Consultation between husbands and wives is central to decision making. Neither husband or wife should dominate:
Wives, in some cases, have a tendency to exert an unjust degree of domination over their husbands which, of course, is not right, anymore than that the husband should unjustly dominate the wife. (Universal House of Justice, Lights of Guidance, p. 225)
There are, therefore, times when a wife should defer to her husband, and times when a husband should defer to his wife, but neither should ever unjustly dominate the other. In short, the relationship between husband and wife should be as held forth in the prayer revealed by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá which is often read at Bahá’í weddings: ‘Verily they are married in obedience to Thy command. Cause them to become the signs of harmony and unity until the end of time. (Universal House of Justice, Lights of Guidance, p. 225)
There is only monogamy, and polygamy is not permitted in the Baha'i faith. You have provided no context to the above verse. I hope this helps.
Bahá'í Reference Library - The Kitáb-i-Aqdas, Pages 205-206
You have suggested that Baha'i men can commit adultery. Adultery is not permissible whether it be men or women.
The Bahá’í teaching on sexual intercourse is very clear. It is permissible only between a man and the woman who is his wife. (Universal House of Justice, Lights of Guidance, p. 344)
Chastity implies both before and after marriage an unsullied, chaste sex life. Before marriage absolutely chaste, after marriage absolutely faithful to one’s chosen companion. Faithful in all sexual acts, faithful in word and in deed. (Universal House of Justice, Messages 1963 to 1986, p. 233)
, finally maybe we will all be working for the good of each other with quality of discussion.
