"Therefore, if the gods are immortal and eternal, what need is there of the other sex, when they themselves do not require succession, since they are always about to exist?"

This quote by Lactantius is questioning the requirement for the other sex if the gods are never-ceasing and eternal. He is recommending that considering that the gods do not require succession, as they are constantly about to exist, then why exists a requirement for the other sex. This might be analyzed as an obstacle to the traditional view of the gods, as it implies that the gods do not need to recreate in order to exist. It could also be seen as an obstacle to the standard view of gender roles, as it suggests that the other sex is not needed for the gods to exist. This quote could be viewed as a require a re-evaluation of the conventional view of the gods and gender functions, and a tip that the gods do not require to reproduce in order to exist.