1989
Dr. John Hatcher begins with the distinction between the Bahá'í view of the equality of men and women, and the view held by the non- Bahá'ís. Bahá'u'lláh states that the purpose of religion is to raise human conciousness to the realities of the spiritual world. Bahá'u'lláh further tells us that the equality of men and women has always been a reality in the sight of God. Society is now ready to accept this reality. Dr. Hatcher uses the Bahá'í views of the different roles of mother and father in raising and training children, toward the advancement of society. He concludes with the example of the branch and leaf, as having co-equal status, with complimentary functions for the welfare of the tree. This is complimentarianism.