The world in the past has been ruled by force, and man has dominated over woman by reason of his more forceful and aggressive qualities both of body and mind. But the balance is already shifting; force is losing its dominance, and mental alertness, intuition, and the spiritual qualities of love and service, in which woman is strong, are gaining ascendancy. Hence the new age will be an age less masculine and more permeated with the feminine ideals, or, to speak more exactly, will be an age in which the masculine and feminine elements of civilization will be more evenly balanced. - Star of the West, vol. iii. [from report of remarks made aboard the S.S. Cedric on arrival in New York] (97:2)

Methods of Violence Discarded
In bringing about the emancipation of women as in other matters, Baha'u'llah counsels His followers to avoid methods of violence. An excellent illustration of the Baha'i method of social reform has been given by the Baha'i women in Persia, Egypt and Syria. In these countries it is customary for Muhammadan women outside their homes to wear a veil covering the face. The Bab indicated that in the New Dispensation women would be relieved from this irksome restraint, but Baha'u'llah counsels His followers, where no important question of morality is involved, to defer to established customs until people become enlightened, rather than scandalize those amongst whom they live, and arouse needless antagonism. The Baha'i women, therefore, although well aware that the antiquated custom of wearing the veil is, for enlightened people, unnecessary and inconvenient, yet quietly put up with the inconvenience, rather than rouse a storm of fanatical hatred and rancorous opposition by uncovering their faces in public. This conformity to custom is in no way due to fear, but to an assured confidence in the power of education and in the transforming and life- giving effect of true religion. Baha'is in these regions are devoting their energies to the education of their children, especially their girls, and to the diffusion and promotion of the Baha'i ideals, well knowing that as the new spiritual life grows and spreads among the people, antiquated customs and prejudices will by and by be shed, as naturally and inevitably as bud scales are shed in spring when the leaves and flowers expand in the sunshine (97:3)

Education
Education - the instruction and guidance of men and the development and training of their innate faculties - has been the supreme aim of all the Holy Prophets since the world began, and in the Baha'i teachings the fundamental importance and limitless possibilities of education are proclaimed in the clearest terms. The teacher is the most potent factor in civilization and his work is the highest to which men can aspire. Education begins in the mother's womb and is as unending as the life of the individual. It is a perennial necessity of right living and the foundation of both individual and social welfare. When education on right lines becomes general, humanity will be transformed and the world will become a paradise. (97:5)

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