True manhood and womanhood seem to be under attack in our world in both blatant and subtle ways. Men are sometimes depicted as buffoons or as emotionless and ruthless, while women are portrayed as objects of sensuality—emotional and vulnerable. The world tells us that mortal personalities define our identities and that, as a result, we are subject to limits and various kinds of oppression. But this perception of men and women is wrong. Christ Jesus taught us about our true identity as God’s children. He taught that we are spiritual and defined by our only source—God. He exemplified true manhood and set the stage for the world, centuries later, to understand spiritually and scientifically both true manhood and true womanhood through the teachings of Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science.
Womanhood and manhood, while different, are equally essential and stem from the same spiritual source. In the first chapter of Genesis we read, “God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them” (verse 27). If God created both men and women in His image, then God must be the source of both masculine and feminine qualities. All of God’s children are made to express a balance of dominion, strength, kindness, and love.
The understanding of God as Father is clearly seen throughout Scripture. But God’s motherhood is also revealed. One of the most powerful descriptions of God is found in the book of First John: “God is love” (4:16). Mrs. Eddy expands on this concept in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, “In divine Science, we have not as much authority for considering God masculine, as we have for considering Him feminine, for Love imparts the clearest idea of Deity” (p. 517).
