>>>>>Eve was created as a "helper - suitable for Adam" - see Genesis 2:18. Adam was created first - eve was second. God's design was for Adam to lead and for Eve to follow. They are "equals" in that (quoting from the link) "they were both equally created in the image of God. Neither received more of the image of God than the other. So the Bible begins with the equality of the sexes. As persons, as human beings, as spiritual beings, standing before God, men and women are absolutely equal." As to their roles, they are not equal - the man is to lead in love - the woman is to submit to that leadership.
>>>>
>>>>Of course, we could instead use the first creation story in Genesis and quote 1:27:
>>>>
>>>>And God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them.
>>>>
>>>>(http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0101.htm)
>>>>
>>>>No indication there of superiority or inferiority.
>>>>
>>>>Tamar
>>>
>>>I think you're missing the point (as are most participating in this thread.) It's not an issue of superiority/inferiority, it's an issue of there being an order to things. God's design (as I see it in the Bible) is for the man to lead and the woman to follow. As I questioned earlier, are you inferior to your boss - as a person? No! Neither is a woman inferior to a man. Obviously, you and others do not want to see that point and choose to derail this into something it's not.
>>>
>>>I should have followed my initial instincts to not get into this - I was just trying to clarify some other falsehoods that were going around about Christians...Oh well...
>>
>>Howard, Howard, Howard
>>
>>"...clarify some other falsehoods "!? All you do is perpetuate the image of "bible belt christians" as narrow-minded, bigoted, blinkered, gullible and stupid.
>
>No, really Terry, don't hold back. Tell him how you really feel <g>

Jos

Having since read some other threadlets to H, that line more or less sums up the general response.