When God Was a Woman

“The expulsion of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden is not exactly the latest news, but few contemporary happenings have affected women of today any more directly. In the struggle to achieve equal status for women, in a society still permeated by the values and moralities of Judeo-Christian beliefs (which have penetrated deeply into even the most secular aspects of our contemporary civilization) we soon realize that a thorough examination of this creation legend, alongside its historical origins, provides us with vital information. It allows us to comprehend the role that contemporary religions have played in the initial and continual oppression and subjugation of women—and the reasons for this.”

Stone uses understatement in the phrase “not exactly the latest news” to create ironic contrast with her argument that this ancient story continues to shape modern women’s experiences. The metaphor of religious values having “penetrated deeply” suggests an invasive force that has permeated secular society beyond its obvious religious boundaries. Stone establishes a direct causal relationship between ancient religious narratives and contemporary gender inequality through her assertion that examining these origins provides “vital information.” Her parenthetical observation about secular civilization emphasizes how thoroughly religious influence has spread throughout society. This quote establishes the foundation for Stone’s central argument about how ancient religious transitions directly connect to the theme of How Religious Systems Shape Women’s Status in Society.

“Archaeological, mythological and historical evidence all reveal that the female religion, far from naturally fading away, was the victim of centuries of continual persecution and suppression by the advocates of the newer religions which held male deities as supreme. And from these new religions came the creation myth of Adam and Eve and the tale of the loss of Paradise.”

Stone uses personification by describing the “female religion” as a “victim,” which frames the historical transition from goddess worship to male-centered religions as a deliberate act of violence rather than natural evolution. The phrase “far from naturally fading away” directly challenges common assumptions about religious development, suggesting instead an active campaign of destruction. Stone presents a chronological argument by positioning the Adam and Eve myth as emerging “from these new religions,” establishing causality between the suppression of goddess worship and the creation of narratives that blame women for humanity’s downfall.