Women, men and the messy split

At thirteen years old, Sophie Gainsford is our youngest writer! Sophie is passionate about Jesus, Greek mythology and equality for women. She says 'I'm a feminist, because I think girls are just as awesome as boys!'

Read Sophie's reflection on how Greek stories and Christian truth come together to affirm unity between the sexes.

Women and men separated

The Greek philosopher Plato tells us that in Greek mythology, humans were originally created with four arms, four legs and a head with two faces on it. The Greek god Zeus feared their power together, so he split them into two separate parts.

Men and women were cursed to spend their entire lives in search of the other half to make them whole.

The Christian Bible says this: 'So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.' (Genesis 1:27) 

Women and men united

'Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.' (Genesis 2:24)

'There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no man and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.' (Galatians 3:28)

Greek mythology and the Christian faith have two vastly different outlooks on life. Even so, a similar message shines through - women and men were made for unity! This isn't limited to the marriage union either. Woman and man make up humanity, and all are to be one under God.

We are better together

'Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.' (1 Corinthians 12:12-24)

As long ago as the ancient Greek culture, people have known that together men and women can accomplish much more. Jesus says that this was the intent since the beginning of time - community with God and with all of humankind. How come we so often subject ourselves and others to a godless society's boundaries and roles?

Men and women both get pushed into small boxes that seem to have no escape. Male and female together image God, so why do we ignore the fact sitting right in front of us?

We are better together.

Reflection questions:

• Does your speech or action contribute to pigeon-holing people into 'gender roles'?
• What do you think it profits society to keep men and women separate?
• What can we do to change this?
• (If you belong to a church:) How does your church reflect unity between men and women?