Studying the humanities in college (the study of man’s achievements in art, literature, architecture, science, etc.) was a pretty awesome experience for me. There are some folks, especially in religious circles, who look at the advancements we’ve made as a race and see nothing but our pride and rebellion. And I admit that factor exists. But when I look at all we’ve been able to create over the centuries, all we’ve been able to discover, to figure out…all the beauty, inspiration, engineering feats, and the like…I can’t help but see the truth that man was created in the image of God. We create, because we are made in the image of a Creator. And when we create, I think it is a reflection of God’s glory, even though sometimes we turn it to glorify ourselves. It is still the image-of-God factor inside us that enables us to achieve. And that goes for women as well as men.
So in the light of some of the recent discussions we’ve had on this blog…I invite you to ponder something with me:
Not taking into account the moral decline in our culture, but just looking at our accomplishments, achievements, creations, and discoveries over the centuries…
As far as civilization has advanced, I can’t help but wonder…
…how much further would we be if more women had been architects?
…how much further would we be if more women had been recognized as artists?
…how much further would we be if more women had been taught to read and write, and gone on to become poets and authors?
…how much further would we be if there had been more recognized female composers?
…how much further would we be if women had been given more access to the fields of science and medicine?
…how much further would we be if women had been given the right to vote sooner, or been allowed to participate in politics?
Granted, some of these fields over the centuries have been more favorable to women than others, and certainly much progress has been made in recent years…but you must remember that it was scarcely a generation ago when these disciplines were largely considered the territory of men, and women’s place was well out of reach of these areas.
As far as humanity has progressed, and as much as we have created, invented, and discovered–how much further could we have gone if 50% of God’s image had not been suppressed for all these centuries?
How far could we have gone if we hadn’t been walking through history with one hand tied behind our back?
Just wondering…
Wayward Son
Musician. Composer. Recovering perfectionist. Minister-in-transition. Lover of puns. Hijacker of rock song references. Questioner of the status quo.
I'm not really a rebel. Just a sincere Christ-follower with a thirst for significance that gets me into trouble. My quest has taken me over the fence of institutional Christianity. Here are some of my random thoughts along the way. Read along, join in the conversation. Just be nice.
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Who knows how much more? Only, I’m sure that there will be more than less progress.
Much complication will arise from the order of the core of all societies, however: the family. Women must distinguish between earthly pride and her lust for ambition with her role and duty that has been ordained by the Lord.
However, much progress is due to simply the access and the availability of information. Money, location and time factors of information will play a great to progress.
The printing press was a great revolution, wasn’t it? And then, computer has revolutionized the printing press itself. Whatever revolutionizes computer will be that next step of a great exponential progress in the history of mankind.
Anonymous,
First…what of the man’s ordained role and duty to his family, which he so frequently abandons because of *his* pride and lust? What makes this balance any different for a woman than for a man when it comes to achievement? I don’t think it’s right to single out the women for scrutiny in this area without examining the men’s shortcomings as well.
Second…with all respect, I think it’s too simplistic to say that progress can happen simply because of the access and availablity of information. It still takes human minds to process and act on that information–and more than half of the minds on this planet belong to females. Again I ask…what more could we have done with that information had we involved women in the processing of that information, rather than forbidding them?
To get more of the heart of what I am saying here, it might be beneficial to you to read the other posts I’ve written on the subject of women’s issues. You’ll find them all in the “healing wounds” category of the blog. It would be good to start with this one.
Jeff,
Isn’t it interesting how that person left his remarks under anonymous?
I think the distance that the advancements in technology and other areas, not to mention the level of creativity would have been far beyond what is current is, had women been allowed to participate from the very beginning.
It’s a shame that the insecurity of some males was allowed to enter the picture to create an imbalance in the first place.
But as you have said Jeff, for God’s creativity to be fully seen (as much as possible since we’re talking about fallible humans)and appreciated, it requires men and women to be working side by side in complete harmony. That would also include people from every origin.
When God-given gifts and skills are flowing from a point of all being allowed and encouraged to participate, that’s when society will be revved up to receive all that God has for the human race.
But that will never happen until the Body of Christ is ready and able to allow and encourage believers, both female and male, as well as those from all national origins to participate in the fullness of all that God has given. For the purpose of building up and encouraging one another into maturity in Christ.
Blessings,
Gary