It’s time to replace Eve. Many say it’s long overdue. Eve’s distinctive role in the story of Adam and Eve beginning in the second chapter of Genesis has had a pervasive and crippling influence for hundreds of years on women’s freedoms. It’s a story that put the blame of disobeying God, shaming both Adam and Eve, squarely on the woman. A number of ancient Jewish and early Christian writers put forth the idea that Eve was solely to blame for the downfall of mankind, and this model of womanhood has largely been used to justify the prolonged inequality, mistreatment, and abuse of women.
But in the 19th century, Mary Baker Eddy not only challenged this denigrating model with its misinterpretation of Eve, she proved in her own life that the spiritual, God-endowed qualities of womanhood open the door to a higher and more effective form of leadership that brings healing to individuals, families, and communities. In fact, as the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, her leadership accomplished groundbreaking developments in the areas of science, human rights, theology, and medicine. It started in 1866 when Mrs. Eddy discovered the Principle behind Christ Jesus’ healing works and named her discovery Christian Science. She realized the Principle behind what Jesus taught was drawn from the lessons of the first creation story mentioned in the opening chapter of Genesis. In this first account of creation, male and female were created in one act and were made equal in the likeness of God, and God pronounced his entire creation good.
Understanding Principle, God, good, as the sole creator, Jesus saw beyond the material, limited experience of a human individual and discerned the spiritual man and woman of God’s design. This right understanding of true womanhood and manhood healed the sick and sinning and so stirred human consciousness that Jesus’ teachings and works led to a greater recognition that the kingdom of heaven, harmony, is immediately accessible.
