Segregation of the sexes
Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2014 1:30 pm
Does anyone know any quotations speaking to the topic of the segregation of the sexes (or pilgrims' notes shedding light on it)?
Islamic hadith apparently prescribed this, as do a number of cultures and religions. Clearly, practice would suggest that this is not at all to be maintained in the Baha'i Faith (even if it had been practiced earlier in the Holy Land to a degree given the expectations of the Eastern pilgrims), but I'd be interested to know whether any authoritative sources have spoken to the topic (or if there are relevant anecdotes of the Baha'i Central Figures), whether in terms of speaking to public segregation practices (like women and men sitting separately in a place of worship or women expected to be accompanied) or private segregation (e.g., directives for men and women not to be alone with a member of the opposite sex).
Boys and girls needing to share the same curriculum, the practice of the veil being abandoned, etc., are separate from this issue. The early Baha'is in Iran conducted boys and girls schools (presumably according to the customs of the time), and there is this one letter from the ITC which speaks to the permissibility of meetings for women or men only (while also indicating the goal should be toward unity), but that is about all I can think of or am aware of: http://bahai-library.com/uhj_women_only_meetings
Islamic hadith apparently prescribed this, as do a number of cultures and religions. Clearly, practice would suggest that this is not at all to be maintained in the Baha'i Faith (even if it had been practiced earlier in the Holy Land to a degree given the expectations of the Eastern pilgrims), but I'd be interested to know whether any authoritative sources have spoken to the topic (or if there are relevant anecdotes of the Baha'i Central Figures), whether in terms of speaking to public segregation practices (like women and men sitting separately in a place of worship or women expected to be accompanied) or private segregation (e.g., directives for men and women not to be alone with a member of the opposite sex).
Boys and girls needing to share the same curriculum, the practice of the veil being abandoned, etc., are separate from this issue. The early Baha'is in Iran conducted boys and girls schools (presumably according to the customs of the time), and there is this one letter from the ITC which speaks to the permissibility of meetings for women or men only (while also indicating the goal should be toward unity), but that is about all I can think of or am aware of: http://bahai-library.com/uhj_women_only_meetings