Judge Nelson introduces Ms. Eisler was born in Vienna and escaped from the Nazis. At 14 she came to America and completed a law degree. In 1967 she became an active feminist; founded the “Women’s Law Center”, wrote and produced feminist plays, and authored two books, including a handbook on the equal rights of men and women. Her next book, “The Chalice and the Blade”, which explores the partnership relationship between women and men. Ms. Eisler says whenever she encounters Bahá’í gatherings it’s like coming home. She said her work and the theme of this conference are the same. It has really been at the heart of all she has tried to do. “The Chalice and the Blade” derived from a twelve year study. The truth about our past social history is not that men were dominant in an hierarchical society but women played a very significant role. Civilization is much older than previously thought, by thousands of years. “There was a time when the yin—the feminine principle—was not subordinate to the yang—male principle.