The central tendency and probably the major cause of error in modern religion is the determination to separate male and female and define them as superior or inferior in relation to each other. Even today the Catholic Encyclopedia states that women are inferior to men. “The female sex is in some respects inferior to the male sex, both as regards body and soul.”
Today, writers don’t use those terms. They might use the word ‘difference’, for example. However, the general sentiment remains the same. Christian fathers, such as Tertullian, who was born 160 AD, remain influential. Tertulian condemned all women for the part Eve played in the Garden of Eden.
The Garden of Eden is first mentioned in the second chapter of Genesis. However, some have argued that this chapter is actually an independent creation story. In the first chapter, ‘P’ or the priestly source does not mention the Garden of Eden. He only tells us that the Elohim created the earth. The Elohim also created humans, male and female.
The second chapter of Genesis was written by the J source. J stands for Jehovah. This source tends to be more politically minded. He writes of the birth of gods, or of the man-god. In this version, Yahweh creates man; then he creates the woman from the man.
This is the version that dictates the world’s social relations and organization.
In verse 23,
“Said the man, This one at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh. She shall be called Woman for she was taken from Man.”
The Anchor Bible notes that Woman and Man are translated from ‘īš and ‘iššā. E. A. Speiser says this assonance has no etymological basis in Hebrew. 1Speiser, E.A. “The Anchor Bible: Genesis”. Doubleday & Company, Inc. 1986