To expound upon my recent post about
intersex individuals, I find it necessary to address those who choose
to use faith tenants to validate a simple sex/gender binary. In fact,
many Christians, while defending their strong beliefs about sexual
ethics, are simply ignorant of the existence of intersex persons, or
they remain content to accept the assumption that everybody is born
after the patterns of either Adam or Eve. Any evidence to the
contrary is quickly dismissed as anathema.
In truth, gender defenders often ignore
the intersex reality because they are frightened of intersex bodies
and the threat these bodies pose to long-accepted beliefs of moral
sexual behavior. But, the very existence of intersex people is an
attack by nature herself on the sex/gender binary. And, it is
impossible to deify nature.
Presented with intersex evidence, many
Christians choose to reject the findings of science altogether. They
do so as they combine their personal prejudice against sexual
deviation with their church beliefs that sex must be used solely for
procreation within marriage. In a mishmash of understandings about
sex and gender, believers become accustomed to judging a variety of
genital-related matters as infidelities, abominations, or gifts from
God – all with an eye toward distinguishing between proper biblical
ethics and immorality,
We must understand that learning about
the intersex condition promotes intellectual and emotional empathy.
Doesn't a Christian response involve a dedication to understanding
and acceptance?
“I am not sure exactly what heaven
will be like, but I know that when we die and it comes time for God
to judge us, he will not ask, ‘How many good things have you done
in your life?’ rather he will ask, ‘How much love did you put
into what you did?'”
--Mother Teresa
Should not we use the same ethics
whether a person is intersex, trans, both, or neither? Intersex cases
invalidate nearly every argument against transgenderism. In fact,
intersex and trans people are common allies in a struggle against the
worldview of the gender binary where sex is equivalent to gender and
any violation of the sex/gender binary is sin.
I believe the faith-based community
must face that the issues concerning sex and gender are so complex
with so many variations that it is virtually impossible to make one
theologically sound argument about gender and sexual orientation.
Megan K. DeFranza -- Christian
theologian, liberal arts educator, and visiting researcher at the
Boston University School of Theology -- says, “I try to explain that
intersex persons are like everyone else. They don’t fit neatly into
a box or a particular party line. Some live happily within the binary
sex/gender framework, others do not. Some want to challenge
traditional sexual ethics, others do not. Some identify with LGBTQ
perspectives, others do not.”
DeFranze describes her work as a
theologian...
“Embroiled in the battle over gay ordination in his denomination, he didn’t want me muddying the waters, confusing the troops.
“I like to think of myself as a bridge builder rather than a culture warrior. I do a lot of work to help the “sides” talk to and hear one another — dialing down fear, facilitating dialogue, working for peace.
“It was at another conference, when I was doing just that, where I was warned about the dangers of bridge building.
“I was familiar with the adage: 'The problem with being a bridge is that you get walked on from both sides.' But this warning was different. This man was a Vietnam Vet. He had worked in the prison system. He had not been 'on board' with my workshop when I began the day before. But his heart had softened. He was beginning to move past his black and white categories into the complexity of a world created in color.
“He said, 'I want to pray for you because I know that in war, bridges are the first targets to be taken out.'
“He prayed for protection, wisdom, courage — all of which I needed. My tears fell freely as he laid hands on my shoulders.”
(Megan K. DeFranza.
“Bridge Building in a War Zone: Sex Difference in Christian
Theology.” eerdword.com.
June 17, 2015.)
God bless Christian leaders like Megan DeFranza as they employ love and intellect to bridge understandings so crucial to promoting the good of all human beings. It is a very difficult job. I pray those who target her work take the time and effort to reconsider nature and all the realities they should not ignore.
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