Christianity is no excuse for transphobia
Jul. 11th, 2012 04:16 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
marjaerwinI usually avoid religious arguments here, because secular arguments can address everyone, while religious arguments can usually only address people drawing from the same religious tradition.
However, so many people are using Christianity as an excuse for misogyny, for transphobia, and for homophobia, that it's important to speak out. I'm more familiar with the arguments concerning transphobia, so I'll stick to these. But all these are places where they are using 'Christianity' to mean patriarchal traditionalism. They'd have been worshipping the emperor and cheering on the lions when that mean patriarchal traditionalism too. They'd have been making wooden frames to drown the impudent slaves in the name of the god of madness when that meant patriarchal traditionalism.
****
First of all, we are all children of God. Being born trans is not an abomination, and does not make us abominations. Bashing us is an abomination. I've been beaten unconscious for who I am. A friend of mine was brutally raped. Using religion as an excuse for bashing us is an added abomination.
Jesus singles out two passages of the religious law, and I think we should interpret all His teachings in light of these: "The first is, 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these." [Mark 12:29-31] I think that focusing on the second is the best way to do the first. I think transphobia and homophobia tend to get in the way of loving one's neighbor.
Paul writes that "There is neither Jew nor Greek, neither slave nor free, neither male nor female, for all are one in Christ Jesus."
Jesus says that "For there are eunuchs who were born eunuchs, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others, and there are eunuchs who have become eunuchs for the sake of heaven." [Matthew 19:12, depending on the version]
Now some things to note. Matthew doesn't seem to know what to do with the saying, which suggests it's original with Jesus and not something invented by Matthew. Matthew puts it into a discussion of marriage, which seems out-of-place, although some versions completely change the meaning to make it fit.
Born eunuchs are, of course, intersex people. Children who are visibly intersex have often been abandoned. In some societies, trans communities have adopted these children. In other societies, including modern America, doctors have mutilated intersex children's bodies to conform to one or the other binary sex.
Made eunuchs are, of course, who we think of when people refer to eunuchs.
And those who have become eunuchs for the sake of heaven? Historically trans people have often set up religious communities. The best known would be the Hijras in India today, and the Gallae in the ancient mediterranean. Presumably Jesus would rather have trans people set up religious communities within Judaism, and by extension Christianity, instead of being forcibly excluded from Judaism.
The earliest Christians definitely included eunuchs into the community, and there's nothing to suggest they excluded intersex people or trans people. The first Gentile convert to Christianity was an Ethiopian eunuch. [in Acts 8:26-40, and the story refers to Isaiah 56:1-8]
However, so many people are using Christianity as an excuse for misogyny, for transphobia, and for homophobia, that it's important to speak out. I'm more familiar with the arguments concerning transphobia, so I'll stick to these. But all these are places where they are using 'Christianity' to mean patriarchal traditionalism. They'd have been worshipping the emperor and cheering on the lions when that mean patriarchal traditionalism too. They'd have been making wooden frames to drown the impudent slaves in the name of the god of madness when that meant patriarchal traditionalism.
****
First of all, we are all children of God. Being born trans is not an abomination, and does not make us abominations. Bashing us is an abomination. I've been beaten unconscious for who I am. A friend of mine was brutally raped. Using religion as an excuse for bashing us is an added abomination.
Jesus singles out two passages of the religious law, and I think we should interpret all His teachings in light of these: "The first is, 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these." [Mark 12:29-31] I think that focusing on the second is the best way to do the first. I think transphobia and homophobia tend to get in the way of loving one's neighbor.
Paul writes that "There is neither Jew nor Greek, neither slave nor free, neither male nor female, for all are one in Christ Jesus."
Jesus says that "For there are eunuchs who were born eunuchs, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others, and there are eunuchs who have become eunuchs for the sake of heaven." [Matthew 19:12, depending on the version]
Now some things to note. Matthew doesn't seem to know what to do with the saying, which suggests it's original with Jesus and not something invented by Matthew. Matthew puts it into a discussion of marriage, which seems out-of-place, although some versions completely change the meaning to make it fit.
Born eunuchs are, of course, intersex people. Children who are visibly intersex have often been abandoned. In some societies, trans communities have adopted these children. In other societies, including modern America, doctors have mutilated intersex children's bodies to conform to one or the other binary sex.
Made eunuchs are, of course, who we think of when people refer to eunuchs.
And those who have become eunuchs for the sake of heaven? Historically trans people have often set up religious communities. The best known would be the Hijras in India today, and the Gallae in the ancient mediterranean. Presumably Jesus would rather have trans people set up religious communities within Judaism, and by extension Christianity, instead of being forcibly excluded from Judaism.
The earliest Christians definitely included eunuchs into the community, and there's nothing to suggest they excluded intersex people or trans people. The first Gentile convert to Christianity was an Ethiopian eunuch. [in Acts 8:26-40, and the story refers to Isaiah 56:1-8]
