When Principle and Authority Collide: Baha'i Responses to the Exclusion of Women from the Universal House of Justice

The Baha'i faith regards the equality of men and women as one of its fundamental tenets, yet excludes women from service on its international governing body, the Universal House of Justice, based on what are believed to be infallible interpretations of Baha'i scripture. This article outlin...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Bacquet, Karen (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: University of Californiarnia Press 2006
In: Nova religio
Year: 2006, Volume: 9, Issue: 4, Pages: 34-52
Online Access: Volltext (JSTOR)
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Parallel Edition:Non-electronic
Description
Summary:The Baha'i faith regards the equality of men and women as one of its fundamental tenets, yet excludes women from service on its international governing body, the Universal House of Justice, based on what are believed to be infallible interpretations of Baha'i scripture. This article outlines how the exclusion developed, and describes challenges from liberal Baha'i scholars, as well as the response to these challenges from the administration and rank and file adherents. It demonstrates that, when confronted with a contradiction between a basic principle upheld by religious teaching and loyalty to authority, the Baha'i administration and the majority of adherents have chosen the latter.
ISSN:1541-8480
Contains:Enthalten in: Nova religio
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1525/nr.2006.9.4.034