If all one read were these stories, it would appear that the Bible is unequivocal in its condemnation of gender expansiveness and that all of Christendom is unflinching in its interpretation of that scripture.
Nothing could be further from the truth. As scholars who have studied the Bible for decades, we believe transgender people—just like all people—are our sacred, precious, divinely cherished neighbors. There’s no reason that one narrow religious interpretation should be able to dictate policy and structure our community.
The author of Genesis writes that “male and female [God] created them” (1.27). While some point to this scripture as confirmation of a gender binary, others identify it as a rhetorical device known as a merism, used frequently throughout the Bible to describe an expansive concept.
They do. And I disagree with them. Those points are clear. Theirs and mine. I’m not exactly sure what yours is, though. Going off your second paragraph, I’m guessing you agree with me, but you also want to please the deists… maybe? Eh, either way, I’m not willing to budge on my position. This isn’t a ChangeMyMind comm.
No, they say that while mainstream US Christianity lost the plot, there are denominations and steams of that religion that still love their neighbors unconditionally.
I’m an atheist and want religion abolished, but I don’t lack reading comprehension.
But you lack empathy. Which is worse? What you have demonstrated to be true, or what you assume about others, framed within that lack of empathy?
Why the fuck would you make that up about me?