Bettany Hughes, an expert in ancient history, was quoted recently in London\u2019s Daily Telegraph as saying that Christianity \u201cwas originally a faith where the female of the species held sway. To oppose the ordination of women bishops in the Church of England is to deny the central role women played in the faith\u2019s founding.\u201d\u009d She added: \u201cWho knows whether God is a girl, but mankind has turned to the female of the species for good ideas.\u201d\u009d<\/p>\n
It is not clear from the report whether Ms. Hughes was speaking as a Christian or as an expert in ancient history, but it doesn\u2019t really matter, for she is wrong on both counts. In fact, though, her remarks can be connected loosely with two very old Christian heresies, Marcionism and Montanism, which seem to have undergone something of a revival among trendy religion pundits.<\/p>\n