I’ve had this conversation many times over the years with women, including my wife, that women often don’t get the respect they deserve from people they work with.
I’ve witnessed it with my wife. One time my wife and I agreed that we wanted to purchase a piece of equipment, and she went to find the equipment and buy it. The first salesman she works with says, “I have to talk to your husband about this.” He totally blew her off thinking she couldn’t make the decision. We have never gone back to that business.
My wife is not unclear about what to do, let me assure you! She is strong in her convictions and clear about what is right and what is not. And she makes intelligent decisions. The above salesman’s prejudice against women blinded him to working with her just as he would with any man. I’ve seen the same type of treatment in other situations too.
In my own prayers for rectification of this error in society, it’s helpful for me to remember that God’s woman is just as commanding as God’s man. Any woman has the same God-given authority and dominion to make decisions and produce good results that any man has.
It’s not that we rely upon strong human will to get our way. That can become a fight between two human wills. The truth is that God made man “male and female” (Genesis 1:27). The female aspect of God’s “man”—which is the spiritual man—is just as worthy and substantial as the male aspect. They stand on equal footing and are both deserving of respect and honor. One is never better than the other. They complement each other.
Humanity has a long way to go until the full rights of the “male and female” of God’s creating is recognized and honored in all its glory, but progress is happening. We will get there! It’s inevitable.
God’s woman is just as commanding of respect and worthy of honor as God’s man. It’s a truth that will continue to gain traction and prevail. Truth is always inevitable!
Bravo, Evan!
I recall once I was on a business trip and staying in a very nice hotel in the Midwest. It was in the middle of winter and my heater went out of commission. I called the front desk and they made arrangements for a repair man to come first thing in the morning.
He showed up with a massive toolbelt around his waist and I spontaneously stated I thought it might be the heating coil. He rolled his eyes and said he would check it out. This was at 8:00 a.m. I had meetings to attend offsite and when I returned to my room after 5:00 p.m. I was surprised he was still there, just finishing up. I asked him what he determined the problem was and he mumbled, barely audible enough to hear “it was the heating coil.” I was shocked and thought to myself “it took all day to discover that or did he stretch it out on purpose?” I wasn’t thinking defensively but I thought it was funny that he probably could have checked that out first and finished the job sooner. I’m not mechanically inclined and I felt it was Mind revealing the problem because it was so intuitively spontaneous. But I distinctly noticed the resistance when I said something, — most likely because I am a female and it was possibly laughable to him that I would be so forward in stating what I felt the problem could be. I was just trying to be helpful to make his job easier.
And this applies to age as well. I don’t tell my age as people think one is too young or too old to do things.
Evan thanks for addressing the God-given equality of men and women, and how this equality is often not manifested in society. The practice of patriarchy (domination or power and control in a society by males) is more common in Western society but is not natural or inevitable and not universal. There are matriarchal and matrilineal societies in other parts of the world, going back in time and continuing now. I did a quick internet search and found many references, here is a recent article from National Geographic magazine if anyone is interested.
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/angela-saini-patriarchy-matriarchy-gender-equality
Yet it’s no better to have women dominating men than it is to have men dominating women. Equality and shared power, respect and rights is the spiritual ideal.
Good point, Rose. We don’t need for women to dominate men either.
Mrs. Eddy wrote about the laws of our Church like this, and includes “equality of the sexes”.
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The church is the mouthpiece of Christian Science, — its law and gospel are according to Christ Jesus; its rules are health, holiness, and immortality, — equal rights and privileges, equality of the sexes, rotation in office. (The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 247:5)
Mrs. Eddy demonstrated her own ability to do what might have been considered men’s jobs,
including starting up a newspaper, and overseeing it.. And even the belief of ageing couldn’t prevent her from demonstrating her God-given ability to do whatever it was right for her to do. She treated everyone as an equal, seeing them as Christ saw them, and didn’t recognise any personal sense or personal power for herself or anyone. She saw no limitations, because she understood that we were all reflections of God, and that we all included male and female qualities and abilities. She gave God all the power and all the glory.
What a wonderful example she gave for us, as she followed the teachings of Christ Jesus so faithfully She would let Christ go before her in everything, and wait for as long as was necessary to hear from God what she should do. in any situation.
Appreciate this blog entry more than you know. I also aim to address the correct viewing of God’s woman too. Very grateful and blessed to have a younger sister’s example who has demonstrated breaking stereotypes in her career. (She has served the Army and has a mechanical engineering degree).
Thank you Evan and Kathy for this clearer recognition.
Bless you for sharing how your sister weighed in on “addressing the correct view of God’s woman too.” I appreciate your contribution, as I too have sisters who break barriers and a brother (twin to one of my sisters) who has contributed to my freedom as a female to pursue things like solo travel abroad, career changes in different parts of our country, setting an example of marrying later in life, etc.
God who is predominantly the head of all of us. Governs each of His children. Therfore, there is no special previledge, which is given
to men, as appose to women….the same decision a man can make. A woman cando it same. All power comes from our Father-Mother.
In my family experience questioning the ability of women vs men was never a question to even consider. This falsity simply didn’t arise.
Thankfully that was true in my family also.
I thought we experience error because we have a belief in a power outside of God ?
Inequality and prejudice aren’t real, so why would we want to make them real ?
As someone somewhat new to Christian Science, I find this giving power to mortal mind confusing.
Didn’t that never happen to who your wife truly is, and who the salesman truly is can’t have behaved that way, so none of it is real not even the power of the grudge held against the business ?
Please, no offense intended. Just genuine searching. I see articles in publications doing the same thing, and just feel confused by it.
Thank you.
You bring up an excellent point, Cat.
Was an effort made to bring healing to the situation by seeing the salesman as the perfect man of God’s creating?
Or was the salesman dismissed as unworthy, just as the Magdalene was dismissed by the Pharisee in this week’s lesson?
Indeed Cat, thank you for sharing as this was/is confusing as well.
I recall reading a story about Mrs. Eddy questioning a student if they were doing their work, and the student replied, ‘Oh, yes!’ And Mrs. Eddy said something to the effect of: ‘that’s wonderful….so you know that when you see a ‘drunk’ man on the street, you know that the ‘drunk’ thought is yours?!?’
Nothing to be corrected ‘out there’ whether in ‘society’ or another, rather within…error, no matter the name or nature, is still an error within.
God is the only power or presence we ever truly encounter…and even as I write this, I realize the seeming ‘need’ I have to write this is my own—this is the constant work of renewing our mind…
maybe it’s kind of like testimonies. On the one hand, the teaching is that there is no disease. On the other hand, it helps people facing a particular disease to hear how others have successfully dealt with a similar experience.
That’s how I see it, Robin. The teachings of Christian Science are about divine Love, as well as that there is no Life Truth, or Love in matter. In Science, matter is a temporal illusion, though stubbornly, persistently, and seemingly real. (Both Mary Baker Eddy and Einstein said something to that effect. ) The Christ part is about Love. God is Love. As far as Evan’s story goes, remember the Wisemen went home by a different way… sometimes wisdom guides us not to go back to the same store.
Our focus is on divine Love, not the illusion. Millions of women struggle with being thought of as second-class. I read the post as being encouraging and supportive.
This is marvelous and I sent this Blog to many of my friends who are not from church. Last summer I gave someone a series of articles. She came across the concept of God as mother and asked me where in the Bible it said it because she had always believed it but couldn’t find support for it in Biblical writings. I pointed out a few such as Isaiah’s words “ as a mother comforted her children so will I comfort you” and the parables from Jesus that start with “ The Kingdom of heaven is like a woman”
Here is a quote from an article titled God’s law of ascending order by Barbara Cook Spencer , “Referring to the order in which the divine creation is unfolded in the first chapter of Genesis, Mary Baker Eddy writes in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures: “The Mind or intelligence of production names the female gender last in the ascending order of creation. The intelligent individual idea, be it male or female, rising from the lesser to the greater, unfolds the infinitude of Love” (p. 508). She also explains in Miscellaneous Writings 1883–1896, “In its genesis, the Science of creation is stated in mathematical order, beginning with the lowest form and ascending the scale of being up to man” (p. 57).
To me this means that the divine idea, female, is the highest visible manifestation of divine Love in the world today because it was the last idea created in the ascending order of being.
Thanks, Evan-
There have been many times in my life when I have been discriminated against and/or not taken seriously because I am a woman.
Jesus never saw woman as less but equal. There are many instances in the Bible where that is demonstrated. I have heard that much of women’s contributions in Biblical times were erased due to the prevalence of the Patriarchy. But we do have Esther, Abigail, the Mary’s and others to draw from.
Doing a deep dive on male and female, manhood/womanhood, masculine and feminine, etc., in The Bible and Mrs. Eddys writings is something I have begun to undertake in my spiritual study as of late. It is eye opening. We are equal in Gods eyes right now and that is all that matters. The human will catch up with the divine. Maybe not today but it will inevitably.
just a slight change in perspective: I’ve often had men — particularly with car repair and plumbing — be very kind and protective of me, explaining what I need to know to NOT be taken advantage of. I don’t think being “commanding” is in my repertoire. I don’t know much about what’s traditionally been make territory, but I’ve learned a lot from men. So it’s also true that men can be as kind and caring as women, and of course honesty has no gender.
Thanks for sharing Robin, as this has been my experience too.
Also, with both parents working, couples work together as a team when it comes to parenting and household chores.
Love all these comments. Thanks everyone!
Like Cat, I was confused by the fact there didn’t seem to be any forgiveness and instead an expression of resentment in these lines:
> He totally blew her off thinking she couldn’t make the decision.
> We have never gone back to that business.
And like Cat, I’m not trying to be snarky here. I’m just trying to understand what CS, Jesus, etc., means by “forgiveness.” According to Webster’s 1828 dictionary, forgive means:
To pardon; to remit, as an offense or debt; to overlook an offense, and treat the offender as not guilty.
Based on that decision, if Evan and his wife were practicing forgiveness, they would have treated the salesman as “not guilty” and gone back to the business to make their purchase. Perhaps before doing that they would have prayed to see the salesman as God’s perfect child and incapable of acting in a way that is contrary to God, Love. Or perhaps they did pray and their prayers led them to conclude the salesman needed to change his ways before they should go back. Hmmm…I’m really confused by when I should forgive and FORGET and when I should forgive and not forget.
Below is a link to another SpiritView blog on the topic of forgiveness that seems to contradict the blog today.
https://spiritview.net/always-forgive/
We are All equal in God’s Truth. However, if we notice that males ‘seem to be’ favored
over females or age is favored as well….it still should not mean that “We had men for
president, so now we need a female”….it’s not a matter of switching the roles of power. And
deciding that Male or Female should be used to try to balance “Power in the World”….
God is the Only Power….stay in God’s Power, and the heck with human bodies. God sees
us as God’s Perfect Eternal Child, and we should see the same as God. We are Each God’s
Eternal Perfect Child….not matter what our bodies have to indicate.
Thanks, Evan, Jacqueline, and all, for opening your hearts to this delicate topic that is not so easy.
Like Jacqueline’s comment, we are each God’s child, and the sex’s identity comes in second place. After all
God’s has no sex orientation because itself is totally
Spirit, so that could be the end of the discussion. However, if a man or woman disrespects another, let’s face the situation in the best way possible at the human level. Still, at the same time, it will keep an eye, knowing and keeping us connected to the Source, God the infinite intelligence; by doing that, we let the spiritual power take place and see the disturbing human picture fade away, where we start to see no difference between sexes because God’s harmony will bless and control the situation.
Another area where a single woman is sometimes treated differently is on entering a CS church alone and seemingly ignored. Yet, when she returned to the same church with her husband, they were warmly welcomed.
A few months ago, a SV participant referred to a book (probably children‘s book) about a dream in which the dreaming girl could see the negative effects of not watching her thoughts. Bad and evil thoughts would sometimes sneak in and destroy the harmony/perfection and the garden/house resulted in a mess.
I wanted to share it with a friend, but unfortunately I couldn‘t remember the name of it anymore.
I do not see Evan and Kathy’s choice to take their business elsewhere as not being forgiving. If you knew someone was handling their business dishonestly, you would choose to not do business with them. This salesman was handling his business dishonestly by dismissing women. I trust that Evan and Kathy claimed the perfection of this salesman as a perfect expression of God, but that does not mean they should forgive or knowingly participate in dishonest business practices. Jesus did not choose to do business with the money changers, but rather physically removed the dishonest behavior.
very interesting comments thank you
I believe that `image` is a masculine word in Hebrew and ` likeness` is a feminine word. I had often wondered why we are both,` God s image and likeness` when they seem to mean the same. but they don t. so we all have these masculine and feminine qualities . both,, maybe in equal measure we will find out. It s only in this mortal dream that we re separated out with different characteristics relating to male and female, and we have different material forms . and as we know now there are many in this generation rebelling against this kind of limited labelling. To me
.this separate male and female is a kind of hoax, nothing to do with the child of God s creating.
Many interesting comments about the status of women and how they are treated and or perceived by others. I have had an interesting life in the work- a -day world – from military experience in the US Navy to running a computer generated milling machine at an air plane manufacturer to a Personal Assistant for a Human Resources Representative to a college faculty member teaching at the baccalaureate degree level and other non-descript every day jobs. At all my different positions I found some that some men did snub women, some did not. and some were very jealous too-of the knowledge a woman had or their work ethic – it all depended on my approach to the job at hand. I sometimes found that women also looked down on other women more than men did and especially if the woman had more talents or treated people better than they did – and most of the time I feel that those jobs I had were good, fun, and were wonderful learning experiences. Even today, my very wonderful husband gets annoyed when I walk behind him – he thinks I do this because of some past experiences, however, I like to look with my eyes and see things around me perhaps wanting not to miss out on somethings. I think what my mom wrote about me in the baby book she gave to me years ago perhaps states how I am – the statement was the first complete sentence I spoke as a toddler – “I go out and I do it!” Being self assured is not always appreciated around those that lack self assurance and determination, always looking for the better in everyone and thing. The approach to a fulfilling life is not to be afraid, but trusting in our abilities and love for everything good and grand and sharing your enthusiasm with others nullifies any distractions or causes for unhappiness. Blessings to all.
“Individuality and Identity” by L. Ivimy Walter, from the May 13, 1972 issue of The Christian Science Sentinel:
https://sentinel.christianscience.com/shared/view/161l7dnijtc?s=copylink
This experience would appear to be someone’s poor “thought model”, aka out-dated thinking and incorrect assumptions. As a learning experience, and to foster a change in thinking, it may have been beneficial to have spoken to the sales manager to enlighten the business establishment on why they lost a sale.
I can see how things can be confusing. mortal mind has a way of doing that.
CS is not always easy to comprehend, especially in a world that is so materially
oriented. After many years of being dominated by another, and being more of
a mouse than a lion, I had no choice but to stand up for my principles. As Mrs. Eddy
was adamant in letting the mortal senses of fame, fortune or anything that would
try to make her any more or less of a person, because she was a woman … I think …
so should we – not be swayed by superficialities of mortal sense. We need to see
beyond the physicality, into the fact that we are All children of God, not determined
by our skin color, eye color, our gender, mortal characteristics, aspects, features, etc.
Thankfully the world is starting to wake up from these limiting factors that would see
us as anything less than how God, our Creator, has created us, as reflections of this
Power of Truth and Love.
(Also, feel it appropriate to mention here, with this topic,) that I think replacing
“Mrs. Eddy”, which has been so endearing to her followers for so many years,
with just “Eddy”is/was one way of de-gendering her many accomplishments
as a “woman” and like with other ways of lessening such achievements in seeing
we all, as equal in our successes, we need to see each other in a spiritual light of
unbiased identity. In one way, acknowledging our equality is beneficial, but
in another way, accentuating the male/female qualities that we all express
is also helpful in seeing ourselves in God’s perfection. I think we all are a work
in progress, when it comes to this seeming “material world”.
Mrs. Eddy says on page 482:14 of Science and Health, “ Never breathe an immoral atmosphere, unless with the intent to purify it.” I trust that Evan treated his thought by declaring the truth of Gods creation including women, but unless called upon spiritually, one would not try to treat or fix the salesman. We can trust that God is speaking to all His creation, including the salesman, and leading him to the Truth. It’s okay to be led to or not be led to return to his store.