Do Women Have an Extra Rib?
I believed this for my whole life. I was in my 40’s before I learned it was a myth.
Where the “Extra Rib” Myth Comes From
The idea that women have more ribs than men usually comes from a literal reading of the Genesis creation story, where Eve is formed from Adam’s rib.
Over time, that symbolic story turned into a biological assumption as if removing one rib from Adam permanently changed male anatomy, and that change was passed down genetically.
Why Does The Myth Persists Anyway?
There are a few reasons why I believed this myth.
- I was trained to trust authority without question.
- I assumed my leaders wouldn’t lie to me, but they naïvely believed it too.
- I needed to believe it because it confirmed my belief in the creation story.
- I enjoyed that it was proof against atheism.
But I would like to take it a step further. I think it's also an attractive idea for sexism. It substantiates that men are the gold standard, while women are derivative, that men are primary and women are secondary, and that women created out of the side of man suggests that women are to be by the mens' sides to serve and honour them. It's the manipulation and control of the patriarchy wrapped in biblical creation theology.
We must realize this is the case with everything we believe. Everything.
We naïvely accept our conditioning and enter an infinite loop of confirmation bias that’s impossible to break free from.
Once you see this dynamic, even in the smallest things like an extra rib, then the charade ends.
2 comments
“For the grace of faith illuminates greatly, as also do divine inspirations, not only in things spiritual, but in things corporeal and in the sciences of philosophy.”
- Roger Bacon (father of the scientific method)
My science teacher growing up, a faithful Christian, taught me to hold my beliefs differently than your church leaders did:
1. I was encouraged to question authority. After all, many great scientists of history were willing to ask questions of which authority figures at powerful institutions disapproved.
2. I was instructed to be intentional about seeking out the perspectives of those with whom I disagreed, both philosophically and spiritually. Seeing as we all have blind spots no matter how “enlightened” we believe our worldview to be, echo chambers rarely facilitate intellectual or emotional growth.
3. The scientific evidence in support of creationism is as compelling as that which is in support of evolution. (Your church leaders had no need to repeat an ignorant falsehood.) If we put belief and bias aside (religious as well as secular), the scientific method doesn’t allow us to completely dismiss either hypothesis.
4. What is the emotional reason you felt that way towards Atheists? Could it be the same reason some Atheists feel a similar impulse towards Christians? And does it really matter which “side you’re on” if how you see yourself is negatively affecting your emotional maturity?
Many brilliant scientists working today are Christians:
https://blog.drwile.com/scientist-who-prays-for-insight-revolutionizes-recycling/
Prejudice in either direction (from Christians towards Atheists, and also the reverse) is regrettable. Asking questions together, while respecting our different points of view, is more fun! :)
“For the grace of faith illuminates greatly, as also do divine inspirations, not only in things spiritual, but in things corporeal and in the sciences of philosophy.”
- Roger Bacon (father of the scientific method)
My science teacher growing up, a faithful Christian, taught me to hold my beliefs differently than your church leaders did:
1. I was encouraged to question authority. After all, many great scientists of history were willing to ask questions of which authority figures at powerful institutions disapproved.
2. I was instructed to be intentional about seeking out the perspectives of those with whom I disagreed, both philosophically and spiritually. Seeing as we all have blind spots no matter how “enlightened” we believe our worldview to be, echo chambers rarely facilitate intellectual or emotional growth.
3. The scientific evidence in support of creationism is as compelling as that which is in support of evolution. (Your church leaders had no need to repeat an ignorant falsehood.) If we put belief and bias aside (religious as well as secular), the scientific method doesn’t allow us to completely dismiss either hypothesis.
4. What is the emotional reason you felt that way towards Atheists? Could it be the same reason some Atheists feel a similar impulse towards Christians? And does it really matter which “side you’re on” if how you see yourself is negatively affecting your emotional maturity?
Many brilliant scientists working today are Christians:
https://blog.drwile.com/scientist-who-prays-for-insight-revolutionizes-recycling/
Prejudice in either direction (from Christians towards Atheists, and also the reverse) is regrettable. Asking questions together, while respecting our different points of view, is more fun! :)