News and Events => Religious news => Topic started by: Jessica_Rose on October 13, 2025, 08:33:21 AM Return to Full Version
Title: This reverend says God is nonbinary, and MAGA is losing it
Post by: Jessica_Rose on October 13, 2025, 08:33:21 AM
Post by: Jessica_Rose on October 13, 2025, 08:33:21 AM
This reverend says God is nonbinary, and MAGA is losing it
https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/lifestyle-buzz/this-reverend-says-god-is-nonbinary-and-maga-is-losing-it/ar-AA1Of00c?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=cc6bb2518e1b4350c679f880967136f4&ei=141
Henry Giardina (11 Oct 2025)
We know that it's quite fashionable right now for conservative religious folks to claim that trans people are the spawn of Satan. But we also know that, Biblically speaking, that's not quite true.
As with most religious texts, it's all in the interpretation. We can make religion as inclusive, or exclusionary, as we wish, and one retired reverend is taking time and care in pointing this out for the masses.
Father David J. Gierlach preached at Saint Elizabeth's Episcopal Church in Honolulu for 14 years before retiring in 2023. The beloved reverend came to social media about year later to bring some of his teachings to a broader audience, and it worked.
Last year, Father David spoke to his 130,000 followers about what the Bible really says about transness—and his findings were eye-opening.
"Saint Augustine famously said that any interpretation of scripture," he quotes, "if it doesn't increase love in the one doing the interpretation, well then that interpretation is wrong."
"Let's go back to Genesis," Gierlach says, breaking apart the famous quote "God created them, man and woman."
This leads Father David to explain that people who are trans and nonbinary might, instead of being abominations under God, be much closer to God's image than cis folks. If God is supposed to represent all humanity, why wouldn't that include an expansive notion of gender?
https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/lifestyle-buzz/this-reverend-says-god-is-nonbinary-and-maga-is-losing-it/ar-AA1Of00c?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=cc6bb2518e1b4350c679f880967136f4&ei=141
Henry Giardina (11 Oct 2025)
We know that it's quite fashionable right now for conservative religious folks to claim that trans people are the spawn of Satan. But we also know that, Biblically speaking, that's not quite true.
As with most religious texts, it's all in the interpretation. We can make religion as inclusive, or exclusionary, as we wish, and one retired reverend is taking time and care in pointing this out for the masses.
Father David J. Gierlach preached at Saint Elizabeth's Episcopal Church in Honolulu for 14 years before retiring in 2023. The beloved reverend came to social media about year later to bring some of his teachings to a broader audience, and it worked.
Last year, Father David spoke to his 130,000 followers about what the Bible really says about transness—and his findings were eye-opening.
"Saint Augustine famously said that any interpretation of scripture," he quotes, "if it doesn't increase love in the one doing the interpretation, well then that interpretation is wrong."
"Let's go back to Genesis," Gierlach says, breaking apart the famous quote "God created them, man and woman."
This leads Father David to explain that people who are trans and nonbinary might, instead of being abominations under God, be much closer to God's image than cis folks. If God is supposed to represent all humanity, why wouldn't that include an expansive notion of gender?
Title: Re: This reverend says God is nonbinary, and MAGA is losing it
Post by: Lori Dee on October 13, 2025, 10:51:56 AM
Post by: Lori Dee on October 13, 2025, 10:51:56 AM
The phrase "male and female created he them" is from the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible, found in Genesis 1:27 and Genesis 5:2. It states that God created humanity, both male and female, in his own image and then blessed them.
Genesis 1:27: "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them".
Genesis 5:2: "Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created".
Significance: The verse is a foundational statement about humanity's creation and equality, as both genders were made in the image of God.
The key is the word "and" meaning both, not the word "or". The Creator is both male and female, masculine and feminine. Since we are all created in the Divine Image, we are all both. How we choose to express that is up to us, free will.
I think it is more sinful to hide or suppress a sacred part of us that we were given. The divine within us knows our thoughts and feelings. Isn't it interesting that when we suppress our innate nature, we become miserable? And when we freely express ourselves, we become happy? If it were "against God's will", the opposite would be true.
Something to think about.
Genesis 1:27: "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them".
Genesis 5:2: "Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created".
Significance: The verse is a foundational statement about humanity's creation and equality, as both genders were made in the image of God.
The key is the word "and" meaning both, not the word "or". The Creator is both male and female, masculine and feminine. Since we are all created in the Divine Image, we are all both. How we choose to express that is up to us, free will.
I think it is more sinful to hide or suppress a sacred part of us that we were given. The divine within us knows our thoughts and feelings. Isn't it interesting that when we suppress our innate nature, we become miserable? And when we freely express ourselves, we become happy? If it were "against God's will", the opposite would be true.
Something to think about.
Title: Re: This reverend says God is nonbinary, and MAGA is losing it
Post by: Jillian-TG on November 24, 2025, 06:15:45 AM
Post by: Jillian-TG on November 24, 2025, 06:15:45 AM
I've always maintained that people overlook the word "and" in that male and female verse rather than "or" because the anti trans folks love to say God made you a man or a woman yet the very Bible they quote says God made man in his own image and made them male and female.
I attend a somewhat conservative Pentecostal church and I enjoy the place for its praise and worship but I have a very liberal view of religion and focus on the fact that God is love and we are not to judge people. So in all my dealings I try my best to show love, kindness and non judgment especially when interacting with people of other faith or non believers. I'm not superior. I never try to bulldoze my opinions and I genuinely respect all perspectives.
I attend a somewhat conservative Pentecostal church and I enjoy the place for its praise and worship but I have a very liberal view of religion and focus on the fact that God is love and we are not to judge people. So in all my dealings I try my best to show love, kindness and non judgment especially when interacting with people of other faith or non believers. I'm not superior. I never try to bulldoze my opinions and I genuinely respect all perspectives.
Title: Re: This reverend says God is nonbinary, and MAGA is losing it
Post by: Lori Dee on November 24, 2025, 11:06:16 AM
Post by: Lori Dee on November 24, 2025, 11:06:16 AM
Quote from: Jillian-TG on November 24, 2025, 06:15:45 AMfocus on the fact that God is love and we are not to judge people. So in all my dealings I try my best to show love, kindness and non judgment especially when interacting with people of other faith or non believers. I'm not superior. I never try to bulldoze my opinions and I genuinely respect all perspectives.
I am the same way, but I do not attend any church. As you recognize, there is a difference between spirituality and religiosity. What some call the difference between Christianity and Churchianity. As you said, "God is love." Everything else flows from that.
Galatians Chapter 3: 26-29
For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.