In answer to Robert's question as to why Baha'i engage in inequitable treatment of women and gays

[diamondsouled]

Robert: "I still don't understand why some Baha'is ignore the Baha'i
principles that clearly call for the equality of men and women, the
independent investigation of truth, the equality of all people,
including gays, the reconciliation of religion and science etc. It
doesn't make any sense to me, unless they are just giving lip service
to the principles without really following them."

My answer: It's the symptom of a malaise that has afflicted the
Baha'i Faith since it's origin Robert. Ever since exceptions to the
oneness of humanity were made by Baha'u'llah himself in regards to his
half brother Azal, his family his children, and those Babis who chose
to remain loyal to the Babs appointment of Azal as leader of the Babi
Faith. A malaise that continued when Abdu'l-Baha' himself made
exceptions to the oneness of humanity in regards to his half brother
Muhammad, his family his children, when Muhammad chose to hold to a
more unitarian interpretation of Baha'i. A malaise that Shoghi Effendi
fully embraced when he alienated his entire family in total disregard
of the principle of the oneness of humanity. A malaise that continues
to afflict the Baha'i Faith till this day in it's continuing disregard
of the reality of the oneness of humanity, the full equality of women
with men, the equality of all peoples including gays and lesbians.
This malaise has influenced the Baha'i Faith from day one and what we
see today comes about as a direct result of that malaise. It is
unlikely that this malaise will ever be effectively dealt with by the
Baha'i World Faith, by Baha'is, because this malaise originated with
the founders of their religion, founders who are held to be divinely
guided, infallible, when clearly they were simply as human, as
fallible, as the next person.

Cheers

Larry Rowe