I am about to embark on a project that scares the life out of me. That being said I feel that it is too important a task not to complete and I can't wait and hope that someone else will complete it.
I have started the work that I may have been born to do. It is an apologetic work entitled "The transsexual at the cross: Disproving the myth that transsexualism is wrong"
As a person who fears rejection, I am certainly lining myself up for a lot of hatred for the Christian right (a group I actually belong to). I am going to argue that the bible does not condemn transsexualism and that the religious bigots who say so are wrong. I just started and am 3000 words into it. I just argued the point that God created only two genders (I don't know why the religious right brings this up. I agree there are two genders, I'm just not the one that biology would suggest).
I ask for prayer. I ask for support. I ask for accountability. If you would like to be on my prayer team, please PM me and I will get in touch with you by email.
Also. Have you been oppressed religiously. Let me know what people are saying when they tell you that you are wrong. What verses are they quoting to you? I might just have the right amount of knowledge and new york cynicism to pull this off.
I am fearful, but I feel called to do this. May God have mercy on me.
Comments
Clarification of a word
By apologetic here, Katie means relating to an apologia, a reasoned explanation of an opinion, position, thesis or course of action -- not a simple apology which is from the same root but has a narrower meaning.
Hugs,
Erin
= Give everyone the benefit of the doubt because certainty is a fragile thing that can be shattered by one overlooked fact.
For those that take Bible literally
Rather than a work of literature I have found an argument that sometimes works.
God is reported to have taken a rib from Adam in order to make Eve. But as we know, we all have the same number of ribs. So, which bone did God use? Well, there is one bone missing from man (males) that exists in all other male mammals almost without exception.
That bone is the baculum (or Os Penis), the bone that other species have in their penis. So if God made woman from the bone of man then it was most certainly that bone. So why does the bible say a rib? Clearly the embassment of or censorship by the authors. Personally I see God's irony in this. And a message. No one speaks for God, ex cathedral or otherwise.
This usually clues people into seeing that bible is holy book but not nrcessairly an absolutely truthful one. That you are supposed to read between the lines. That you are supposed to think intelligently about it. That fath must be backed by reason rather than reflex.
This line of discussion usually works enough to have people think about their beliefs or at least suspend disbelief. Of course there are a (very) few who say I have the voice of the devil but those are unreadable by any means.
Adam 'n' Eve
A few interesting tidbits from Wikipedia's coverage of the tale:
As the right side of the brain controls the left side of the body, then only left-handers are in their right mind!
Some will, some won't
Your best apologetic is to simply live your life before others. Try to be loving, kind, honest, generous and a dozen other things that the Bible, and the Qur'an say to do.
View through a jaundiced eye, those who preach violence in the name of religion. To be sure, there are those who talk of the mercy of Jesus Christ on one hand, and preach hate on the other. I find no truth in them.
For me, my religion must be about how the standards I learn apply to me and how I react with God and others. My religion can not be about the failings of others no matter how much they have hurt me. To be sure, many churches are apostate, fallen and are of no use to God or man.
In the day, we will stand before God and answer for our own sins and not the sins of Adam. I believe in the Atonement.
There are just lots of places in which the Bible is not accurate. One of interest to us is Deut 22:5. According to a transwoman I know, it actually says that the men and women should stay out of each other's tents. Her father was a Jewish Rabbi, and she has about 6 Phd's in the old languages.
Interestingly, when God simply tells us to love him and each other, we choose to instead make burdensome rules and find excuses to hate. In my opinion, humans are the scourge of the universe.
Setting Yourself Up for Disapointment
Unfortunately the Bible does not have a good history of changing people's minds about any subject. The people who are most vocal tend to scour the Bible for passages that reinforce their position and ignore the passages that refute their position even if they have to take passages completely out of context. For example: the passage most often used against cross-dressing is actually a statement against draft dodging.
From reading some of your working I firmly believe that you will make a compelling argument but please don't be disappointed when you can't changed closed minds. Religion is a touchy subject and everybody's version is the "right" one (for them anyway).
As to the comments you've received with references to the book of Genesis, remember that much of it was written during the Babylonian Exile (around the time of Isaiah). Most of that book is a compilation of Babylonian legends reworked to fit into the mindset of the Jewish people of the time. The inherent contradictions in the book rise from the different sources of the stories.
I agree
People who take this attitude are basically already saying: I think you a POS so it is up to you to prove that you are not a blight on society.
You can't prove a negative, it is a losing battle.
Kim
Dear Katie,
I really like the comments so far; they contain a lot of knowledge.
I was just thinking that it might be easier to demonstrate that Christian doctrine has no basis for condemning transsexuals. The Mosaic laws from the first five books of the old testament are filled with minutia, like how one should care for er ox, for er donkey, etc. Jesus said Christians are not bound by the laws of Moses and very few, if any Jews obey all the laws. There many be some that don't mix fiber types in their clothing, but there are many times more that eat bacon, etc.
I find it interesting that Paul, or one of the Pauls, may have hated wimyn. One of them also seems quite homophobic, where, I'm sure Jesus wasn't.
Hugs and Bright Blessings,
Renee
Katie, you are one very brave
young lady. I hope and pray for your success in your Calling. Please, call upon those who you trust for their input.
May Your Light Forever Shine