By Filings on
Bible, Theology & Philosophy
Theology of Gender
Gender
Anthropology

“Whether we’re having conversations about gender with our colleagues or our kids, we need a better answer than anatomical differences and temporary job descriptions.” - TGC

Discussion

Wed, 05/31/23

I’m not sure I understand what the author is saying in places… and less sure how it all fits together in her view, but this is interesting:

I fully recognize biological sex and gender aren’t synonymous. In today’s culture, the two terms refer to different concepts. Biological sex references the binary physical difference between males and females observed in our bodies and DNA. Gender is typically used to reference cultural expressions of masculinity and femininity or a perceived “gender identity” along a spectrum of expression.

But in God’s good design for humanity, there’s a deep interconnection between the physical (body) and nonphysical (soul) aspects of us as embodied people. Both our physical and nonphysical aspects are gendered together. This means our genders are neither skin deep nor relegated to our minds. We’re gendered people, all the way down.

I recall reading in CS Lewis somewhere that he thought male and female transcended the physical.

But the biblical case for that seems tenuous. On the other hand, Matt 22:30 comes to mind, though “like the angels” is mysterious. Does it refer to genderlessness in our future state or only to the end of marriage as we know it?

Anyway, building a theology of gender on the idea that gender transcends our physical bodies seems like a weak foundation.

Views expressed are always my own and not my employer's, my church's, my family's, my neighbors', or my pets'. The house plants have authorized me to speak for them, however, and they always agree with me.

Wed, 05/31/23

If our soul is the non-physical aspect of our being, then I can see where Scripture speaks to how we ought to think and relate to others as either male or female and how that should correspond to our biological sex.