Um yes in fact we are... to the easily frightened man.
Let me explain as best I have been taught by spirit:
In terms of spirituality:
Man (i don't mean to be sexist here, but it is my finding) can live within either the physical or mystical worlds, but not both. It takes great men (of which there have been many) to bring the spiritual into the world, and because it is such a challenge for them, it is often men who take up this task.
Women however bring the spititual into the physical in their actual body. childbirth is this act, and is not done sometimes without thought from the woman. This is why Mary was revered, and other female dieties. women make spirit flesh as part of their function as woman.
This makes it hard for men meditate around women (its very much like learning to sneeze around someone who has a cold ,- its off putting and they wouldn't take you seriously)- this bringing spirit to flesh is a very important act for men though, and needs to be taken seriously.
Physically:
Women in the histories of time, were able to bleed without dying. This is still a matter of control within our patriachal society, were women are trained to feel disgusted by their own blood.
Women are also physically attractive to some men, and many of those who feel the opposite have jealosy/ intimacy problems with the female physical form. Both male sexualities find the female form difficult becuase it poses a power threat (many men have a problem with the lack of control they feel over sexual arousal).
Socially and emotionally:
women usually take the role of domstic centre in most societies, therefor weilding great power over day to day matters.
The Catholic Church is one of the old boys clubs of the middle ages. Its history is profoundly unchristian and bloody, and it supresses vast amounts of information on the teachings of Christ and his history that do not fit in with its belief sytem. It also breaks its own commandments by worshiping graven images.
It does hovever have some beautiful teachings and ceremonies.
I, by the way, have a Catholic background on one side of my family, and have experienced beautiful moments in Church, though I'm not sure it had anything to do with the service being held.
much love and light
Shanta
