God created the entire universe out of nothing, including Adam, but needed a rib to make Eve? Does this imply women are much more advanced than men?

This latter part of Genesis revisits the creation of mankind, specifying exactly how and why women were formed.

Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper as his partner …” So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then he took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man …

These verses are used to specify that there are really only two genders: male, and the lesser female which derives from the male – as well as being used to specify that God expects all procreation to come from heterosexual, monogamous unions. (Savage) However, as in the case of Genesis 1:27 (q.v.), the text falls prey to the “intersex conundrum.” Others argue that because women are derived from men, they cannot therefore be as separate from men as strict duality believers would assert. In short, you could have men, and then a wide range of other beings which contain varying levels of “maleness,” in effect allowing for women, transgender, and intersex persons. This position does not have wide acceptance, however.

Still others argue that the first woman – Eve – was a perfect woman because she was made directly by God from Adam – the perfect man. Whereas since that time humanity has been responsible for its own procreation, and not being perfect like God, we will foster imperfect children. In fact, a perfect male or female specimen with no trace of the other gender within them would be an abomination, as they would be challenging the supremacy of the creative genius of God (or, one could argue, it might in fact be a sign of a person whose creation was directly touched by the hand of God).

Return to Religion, Faith, and the Transgender Person

References

Savage, Helen “Changing Sex? : Transsexuality and Christian Theology” Durham Theses, Durham University, 2006. Diss, Department of Theology and Religion, University of Durham.