Are Men really above Women?

Ah....the age old debate. I read a wonderful book, not too long ago, that hi-lighted this debate in one of its chapters. It takes place in the 13th century and a girl is trying to become a student. The first few chapters of this book will make a lot of women so angry because it hi-lights how women were more or less just used for breeding purposes in that time. But this girl--she wasn't going to let that happen. I told a friend about this passage and she said, "You have got to post that on your blog!" So, here it is....Enjoy, Ladies.

From Pope Joan, by Donna Woolfolk Cross
"Your ignorance, child, is revealed in that question. For St. Paul has asserted this truth, that women are beneath men in conception, in place, and in will."
"In conception, in place, and in will?" Joan repeated.
"Yes," Odo spoke slowly and distinctly, as if addressing a half-wit. "In conception, because Adam was created first and Eve afterward; in place, because Eve was created to serve Adam as companion and mate; in will, because Eve could not resist the Devil's temptation and ate of the apple."
Odo smirked. Joan felt an intense dislike for this man. For a moment she stood silently, tugging on her nose.
"Why," she said at last, "is woman inferior in conception? For though she was created second, she was made from Adam's side, while Adam was made from common clay."
"In place,"--the words tumbled out as Joan's thoughts raced ahead and she reasoned her way through--"woman should be preferred to man, because Eve was created inside Paradise, but Adam was created outside."
There was another hum from the audience. The smile on Odo's face wavered.
Joan continued, too interested in the line of her argument to consider what she was doing. "As for will, woman should be considered superior to man"--this was bold, but there was no going back now--"for Eve ate of the apple for love of knowledge and learning, but Adam ate of it merely because she asked him."

Well, needless to say, I highly recommend this book. Truly, I do believe that Men and Women are equal, but we stand on different ground, our paths criss-crossing. We compliment each other and, as there is equal balance in all things, one would be no good without the other. I've often viewed women and men as the two parts of God; Women being the creators of life and Men the destroyers. But really, without Men we could not create life and without Women, they would have nothing to defend if for.

So although we rant and rave against each other on a daily basis, it's good to step back and look at it as a whole and accept the differences between us and the things that just will not change. We are different, but One...and no better than the other.