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Gender variance in spirituality: Difference between revisions
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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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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> | ||