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The emancipation of women, the achievement of full equality between the sexes, is essential to human progress and the transformation of society. Inequality retards not only the advancement of women but the progress of civilization itself. The persistent denial of equality to one-half of the world’s population is an affront to human dignity. It promotes destructive attitudes and habits in men and women that pass from the family to the work place, to political life, and, ultimately, to international relations. On no grounds, moral, biological, or traditional, can inequality be justified. The moral and psychological climate necessary to enable our nation to establish social justice and to contribute to global peace will be created only when women attain full partnership with men in all fields of endeavor.

For the individual, the day-to-day practice of the Bahá’í Faith gradually becomes an entirely new way of life. Yet, in contrast to the image of a religious lifestyle that is cloistered or ignorant of worldly concerns, the way of life for Bahá’ís and their families is one which is at once and the same time both deeply spiritual and eminently practical.For while Bahá’ís are encouraged — indeed, it is considered a religious obligation — to pray and meditate every day, they are also expected to be wholly engaged with the world at large. In particular, Bahá’u'lláh asks that Bahá’ís view service to humanity as among their highest priorities.

As has been the case with other revealed religions, the Bahá’í Faith sees great value in the practice of fasting as a discipline for the soul . Bahá’u'lláh designated a nineteen-day period each year when adult Bahá’ís fast from sunrise to sunset each day. This period coincides with the Bahá’í month of Alá (meaning Loftiness), from March 2 to 21, inclusive.