Quote from: Little Dragon on May 17, 2010, 10:44:40 AM
*sigh* why do christians have to be SO judgemental about people who are different? :\
You are really in a bad situation, the christian view on transsexuals is very disrespectful and offensive (at least, to me) :\
It's not Christians, though.. It's all forms of religious extremism, and Christian extremism is included in that. Because, especially in the US, Christianity is so loud, it seems to be only Christians who do that.
Religious extremism, of any kind, is founded in existential dread and personal insecurity. The desire for something greater, something more, something that grants a reason for the self to exist, and a value for the self to cling to, also comes with the desire to overrule and destroy the opinions and beliefs of people other than you. Because... What if they are right, and I am wrong? Can't have that. The constant possibility of being wrong seems like a threat to their very existence.
God made everything perfect. That means that everything that is not perfect either ís, or has to be shunned (or destroyed). Sorry, guys and gals, but that's what religious extremism does.
Homosexuality is seen as a perversion on no other grounds than that it cannot bear fruit. Therefore, if homosexuality was God's plan, then God made a mistake. Which means God is imperfect. (Since it states in that same bible that loving relationships must bear fruit. A couple who does not reproduce is generally seen as out of God's favour, in the old testament.)
In the same way, Trans people, to most more extreme Christians, are midguided, because, they believe, it doesn't exist. Because God makes everything perfect, right? To admit to be Transgender, you also state (in their view) that God is imperfect. It shakes their belief, and with that, their personal value, and reason to exist.
And to be honest: The Bible, in many ways, in not a very good thing to base a religion on. A lot of it has been made up hundreds of years after the actual things happened, and a lot of it was written by spiteful, hating, murderous people.
But there's also a lot of good in it. The Gospels, which are, indeed, devoted to love, compassion and understanding. (These three things are the essence of the Words of Jesus; there was nothing else that he preached.)
If you read the bible, as a whole, clearly, you'll see that it's not just two books. (Old Testament and New Testament.)
It's actually two other books, as well. Good Bible, and Evil Bible.
It's just that the Evil Bible grants people a sense of security, because it has more rules. Sin, punishment, damnation and absolution are all in there, while the Good Bible only tells you to love.
And that's scary; just love. Because.. There aren't any rules to it. Love? Love is nice, but who's going to tell me how to lead my life? If love is all you have as a moral code, then you have to make up your rules as you go along, always keeping Love in mind.. For a lot of people, that is simply too difficult. They would rather hate with strict rules and security, than love with freedom.
O..kay..
I should seriously stop ranting, now..
Just a note: I'm not a Christian, but my father's a reverent, and while he stuck to the good bits, the bad bits on the background simply didn't sit with me. Since I'm still very much interested by religion, especially abrahamic religions, for their.. Absurdities, as well as symbolism, I took a minor in them.
What I was trying to say: A church that preaches from the depths of sin will quite probably not accept you. If they don't, and throw you out, then don't hesitate to find another church. I know it can be hard, but keep this in mind: God's opinion doesn't count. It doesn't matter. Because if God exists, you'll only find out after you're dead.
Try to live your life by what was written in the Gospels: Love, compassion, and understanding. And find others who do the same, and will accept you. And it's with, and for, other people that we live. Not for heaven or hell. The Bible says that the Kingdom of God is a Kingdom on Earth. A Kingdom of love. And if enough people can love without the burden of sin breathing down their necks, then the Kingdom is already here.
So throw away sin, and replace sin with harm. As long as you harm as little people as you can, you're living your life well.
You won't harm anyone by transitioning. The people who will feel hurt are harming themselves for not accepting you. If the hurt they feel is 'spiritual' in nature, then remember: It is their choice to feel hurt. They're wishing it upon themselves, and there is nothing you can do about it.
And here I thought I said I'd stop ranting?
