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Man in the Image of God: Where Is Woman? An analysis of how philosophy and politics have contributed to the misogyny of religion Dale Kotchka-Smith Honors 215 – Imago Dei Final Research Paper Due December 13, 2005 Chapter 1: Introduction Religion has been a central facet of human life since the beginning of civilization, providing mankind with explanations for the surrounding universe, a sense of purpose and direction, and a source of comfort and stability in an ever-changing, uncertain world. Religion has encouraged many to live virtuously and has provided a form of identity for both individuals and societies. However, despite the positive impacts religion has had, it has also left behind many destructive legacies, serving as a justification for the exclusion and domination of others and reinforcing rigid and hierarchical power structures. Religion, while attempting to share in the divine and eternal, nevertheless involves human interpretation and creation and is a product of society and politics and hence subject to error. Danger arises when religious teachings are interpreted literally and declared infallible, for analysis and history demonstrate the subjectivity of religious doctrine, how it has built on previously existing myths and philosophy, and how it is often a reflection of human politics. Chapter 2: Ancient Greek Influences Since the beginning of mankind, human beings have strived to make sense of the world around them, to explain the seemingly inexplicable, and to justify why things are the way they are. Returning to one of the oldest sites of civilization–that of ancient Greece–one can clearly see such attempts in the realms of literature, myth, politics, and philosophy, the latter of which often included the three former. In attempting to explain the origins of mankind, the Athenians developed a myth that traced their origins to Erichthonius, who was born from his father and the earth. In her book Philosophy without Women: Th