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Gender variance in spirituality: Difference between revisions
→Gender variant figures in Buddhism
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===== The six genders in classical Judaism ===== | ===== The six genders in classical Judaism ===== | ||
[[File:Tumtum Pride-Flag. | [[File:Tumtum Pride-Flag.svg|thumb|A Tumtum pride flag designed by Tumblr user tumtum_and_androgynos in 2018 CE. White and blue symbolize Judaism, and gray for genderlessness.]] | ||
Classical Judaism recognizes six categories of sex/gender, instead of the [[gender binary|male/female gender binary]] from modern Western culture. Jewish law (called ''halacha'') recognises gender ambiguity, and has done so throughout Jewish history.<ref>"More than Just Male and Female: The Six Genders in Ancient Jewish Thought." Freidson, Sarah. Sefaria, 10 June 2016. [https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/37225] [https://web.archive.org/web/20230620051516/https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/37225 Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref> This ambiguity is defined according to physical presentation (or lack thereof) and primary and secondary sexual characteristics. Then Jewish law assigns six gender roles to these six sexes, each with distinct prohibitions and required duties. According to Rabbi Elliot Kukla, these six are:<ref>Robbie Medwed. "More Than Just Male and Female: The Six Genders in Classical Judaism." ''Sojourn'' (blog). June 01, 2015. Retrieved July 14, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150714011440/http://www.sojourngsd.org/blog/sixgenders</ref> | Classical Judaism recognizes six categories of sex/gender, instead of the [[gender binary|male/female gender binary]] from modern Western culture. Jewish law (called ''halacha'') recognises gender ambiguity, and has done so throughout Jewish history.<ref>"More than Just Male and Female: The Six Genders in Ancient Jewish Thought." Freidson, Sarah. Sefaria, 10 June 2016. [https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/37225] [https://web.archive.org/web/20230620051516/https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/37225 Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref> This ambiguity is defined according to physical presentation (or lack thereof) and primary and secondary sexual characteristics. Then Jewish law assigns six gender roles to these six sexes, each with distinct prohibitions and required duties. According to Rabbi Elliot Kukla, these six are:<ref>Robbie Medwed. "More Than Just Male and Female: The Six Genders in Classical Judaism." ''Sojourn'' (blog). June 01, 2015. Retrieved July 14, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150714011440/http://www.sojourngsd.org/blog/sixgenders</ref> | ||
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===== Gender variance in the Christian Bible ===== | ===== Gender variance in the Christian Bible ===== | ||
The Christian Bible doesn't specifically mention transgender people, as such.<ref>{{cite web|title=Transgender|work=Hope Remains| url=http://hoperemainsonline.com/Transgender|date=2017}}</ref> It also doesn't specifically mention nonbinary people, who are one kind of transgender people. Because of this, the Bible doesn't officially condemn transgender or nonbinary people. The absence of such people in the Bible doesn't mean that they were unknown during Biblical times. [[#the six genders in classical Judaism|Classical Judaism itself acknowledged six genders/sexes]] in texts other than the Bible, and [[History of nonbinary gender#Antiquity|several neighboring cultures also acknowledged genders outside the binary]]. Some of the following Bible passages can be seen as relevant to transgender and nonbinary people. | The Christian Bible doesn't specifically mention transgender people, as such.<ref>{{cite web|title=Transgender|work=Hope Remains|url=http://hoperemainsonline.com/Transgender|date=2017|access-date=2019-05-11|archive-date=2023-05-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230508021847/https://hoperemainsonline.com/Transgender|url-status=dead}}</ref> It also doesn't specifically mention nonbinary people, who are one kind of transgender people. Because of this, the Bible doesn't officially condemn transgender or nonbinary people. The absence of such people in the Bible doesn't mean that they were unknown during Biblical times. [[#the six genders in classical Judaism|Classical Judaism itself acknowledged six genders/sexes]] in texts other than the Bible, and [[History of nonbinary gender#Antiquity|several neighboring cultures also acknowledged genders outside the binary]]. Some of the following Bible passages can be seen as relevant to transgender and nonbinary people. | ||
Although seven Bible passages have sometimes been thought of as condemning lesbian, gay, or bisexual people, only ''one'' passage seems to specifically condemn cross-dressing, and, by extension, transgender people.<ref name="TransQueerTheology">Shannon Kearns, "Transgender and Christian?" ''Queer Theology.'' Retrieved April 30, 2019. https://www.queertheology.com/transgender-christian [https://web.archive.org/web/20230508022114/https://www.queertheology.com/transgender-christian/ Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref> This is [https://biblehub.com/deuteronomy/22-5.htm Deuteronomy 22:5], in one of the Hebrew books of law. Christians do not typically observe Judaic law, because Christians believe one of the important things Christ did when he came was fulfill all those laws, so Christians are no longer bound by them ([https://biblehub.com/matthew/5-17.htm Matthew 5:17]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+7%3A1-7&version=KJV Romans 7:1-7]; [https://biblehub.com/galatians/3-25.htm Galatians 3:25]). | Although seven Bible passages have sometimes been thought of as condemning lesbian, gay, or bisexual people, only ''one'' passage seems to specifically condemn cross-dressing, and, by extension, transgender people.<ref name="TransQueerTheology">Shannon Kearns, "Transgender and Christian?" ''Queer Theology.'' Retrieved April 30, 2019. https://www.queertheology.com/transgender-christian [https://web.archive.org/web/20230508022114/https://www.queertheology.com/transgender-christian/ Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref> This is [https://biblehub.com/deuteronomy/22-5.htm Deuteronomy 22:5], in one of the Hebrew books of law. Christians do not typically observe Judaic law, because Christians believe one of the important things Christ did when he came was fulfill all those laws, so Christians are no longer bound by them ([https://biblehub.com/matthew/5-17.htm Matthew 5:17]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+7%3A1-7&version=KJV Romans 7:1-7]; [https://biblehub.com/galatians/3-25.htm Galatians 3:25]). | ||
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Figures that are gender variant or patrons of gender variant people: | Figures that are gender variant or patrons of gender variant people: | ||
* '''Avalokiteśvara''', a | * '''Bodhisattva''' are genderless beings who are on the path to Buddhahood and have chosen to stay behind to compassionately guide others to Nirvana. | ||
** ''' | * '''Avalokiteśvara''', a bodhisattva, sometimes shown as an androgynous man, who can appear in a form of any gender. | ||
** '''Guanyin''' (Kwanyin, Kannon), a syncretic merging of Quan Yin, an indigenous Goddess of Mercy, with the bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara, appearing when Bhuddism reached China via the Silk Road, beginning in the 1st or 2nd century CE.<ref>Zürcher (1972), pp. 22–27.</ref> | |||
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Other gender variant figures and myths: | Other gender variant figures and myths: | ||
* '''Caeneus''' (also called Caenus, Caenis, or Kaineus) was a mighty warrior who had been divinely changed from a woman to a man. When Caeneus was female, the god Poseidon had raped him, and then offered a wish. Caeneus wished to become a man with the power of being impenetrable by anything, so that he could never be raped again in any way. As a result, Caenus also became supernaturally invulnerable to being penetrated by any weapon, such as swords and arrows. A centaur found out Caeneus's secrets, and so mocked him, and then defeated Caeneus by burying him under logs and boulders.<ref>Michael Hernandez, “Exploring FTM mythology, part 1: Raising Caeneus.” http://www.otherbear.com/Raising%20Caeneus.pdf</ref> | * '''Caeneus''' (also called Caenus, Caenis, or Kaineus) was a mighty warrior who had been divinely changed from a woman to a man. When Caeneus was female, the god Poseidon had raped him, and then offered a wish. Caeneus wished to become a man with the power of being impenetrable by anything, so that he could never be raped again in any way. As a result, Caenus also became supernaturally invulnerable to being penetrated by any weapon, such as swords and arrows. A centaur found out Caeneus's secrets, and so mocked him, and then defeated Caeneus by burying him under logs and boulders.<ref>Michael Hernandez, “Exploring FTM mythology, part 1: Raising Caeneus.” http://www.otherbear.com/Raising%20Caeneus.pdf{{Dead link|date=July 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> | ||
* '''Tiresias''' (Teiresias), a man who was changed to a woman for several years and back again. He settled a dispute between Zeus and Hera about whether men or women experience more pleasure during sex. He said women did, which angered Hera, so she blinded him. To make up for it, Zeus gave Tiresias the power of prophesy. Some consider Tiresias to have those powers because of having experienced life as a man and as a woman.<ref>Raven Kaldera, ''Hermaphrodeities'', p. 238-239.</ref> | * '''Tiresias''' (Teiresias), a man who was changed to a woman for several years and back again. He settled a dispute between Zeus and Hera about whether men or women experience more pleasure during sex. He said women did, which angered Hera, so she blinded him. To make up for it, Zeus gave Tiresias the power of prophesy. Some consider Tiresias to have those powers because of having experienced life as a man and as a woman.<ref>Raven Kaldera, ''Hermaphrodeities'', p. 238-239.</ref> | ||
*'''Iphis''' is the son of Ligdus and Telethusa, a couple who was poor, and could not afford a dowry if they were to have a girl. If a girl was born, she was to be killed. The goddess Isis advised Telethusa to keep her child, regardless of the gender. Though born "female", Telethusa raised Iphis as a man. When Iphis became older and fell in love, he prayed to Isis for help, and was able to have a body that matched his gender perception. <ref>Ovid, Metamorphoses </ref> | *'''Iphis''' is the son of Ligdus and Telethusa, a couple who was poor, and could not afford a dowry if they were to have a girl. If a girl was born, she was to be killed. The goddess Isis advised Telethusa to keep her child, regardless of the gender. Though born "female", Telethusa raised Iphis as a man. When Iphis became older and fell in love, he prayed to Isis for help, and was able to have a body that matched his gender perception. <ref>Ovid, Metamorphoses </ref> | ||
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==== Views about gender variance in Wicca ==== | ==== Views about gender variance in Wicca ==== | ||
''See also: [[ | ''See also: [[Pagan]]'' | ||
Transgender people are generally magickal people, according to Karla McLaren in her ''Energetic Boundaries'' study guide. Transgender people are almost always welcomed in individual communities, covens, study groups, and circles.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wicca-spirituality.com/gay-wicca.html |title=The Scoop on Gay Wicca |work=Wicca Spirituality: A New Wicca for a New World|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230324192742/https://www.wicca-spirituality.com/gay-wicca.html |archive-date=17 July 2023 }}</ref> However, some Neopagan groups do not welcome transgender people, and specifically exclude people from participation who do not fit into [[cisgender]] [[male]] and [[female]] categories.<ref name="EncWitch"/> Some gender separatist groups exclude transgender people, often on the basis of their [[gender assigned at birth]].<ref name="EncWitch">{{cite book|title=The Encyclopedia of Modern Witchcraft and Neo-Paganism|first=Shelley|last=Rabinovitch|author2=James Lewis|publisher=Citadel Press|year=2002|isbn=978-0806524061 | Transgender people are generally magickal people, according to Karla McLaren in her ''Energetic Boundaries'' study guide. Transgender people are almost always welcomed in individual communities, covens, study groups, and circles.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wicca-spirituality.com/gay-wicca.html |title=The Scoop on Gay Wicca |work=Wicca Spirituality: A New Wicca for a New World|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230324192742/https://www.wicca-spirituality.com/gay-wicca.html |archive-date=17 July 2023 }}</ref> However, some Neopagan groups do not welcome transgender people, and specifically exclude people from participation who do not fit into [[cisgender]] [[male]] and [[female]] categories.<ref name="EncWitch"/> Some gender separatist groups exclude transgender people, often on the basis of their [[gender assigned at birth]].<ref name="EncWitch">{{cite book|title=The Encyclopedia of Modern Witchcraft and Neo-Paganism|first=Shelley|last=Rabinovitch|author2=James Lewis|publisher=Citadel Press|year=2002|isbn=978-0806524061 | ||