I didn't make a formal, posed announcement when I got my Ph.D. And if I did, I think people would give me side-eye about it. But it's okay -- and encouraged -- to do a formal announcement about having a baby. I think the difference in expectations is interesting to think about, in terms of wider cultural values and how we value women and their accomplishments.
@Charla1224... Amen with the inspirational quotes.
ETA: I have a few decorations at home with phrases on them though, so I might be an offender as well. I have a "Home" wall hanging, a small block thing that says "I Love Us", and another small block thing that says "Adventure More". Nothing overly cliche.
Me: 27 DH: 30 Married in 2011 Baby 1: Stillborn at 27 weeks (April 2014) Baby 2: Due May 2016
I can't agree more with the "no one cares as much as you and dh" in regards to announcements and gender reveals. It reminds me of this super hipster couple I knew awhile back. In making small talk about their pregnancy, I asked "Are you going to find out if its a boy or girl?" They said "Yes, we know." *awkward pause* Me: "So what are you having?" Them: "Oh, we're not telling. We think it will be a fun surprise that way." Me: "Oooo-kay" *back away slowly* A fun surprise? Like for everyone but the parents...
UO - I hate those minion images on Facebook with those stupid middle aged mom quotes.
OMG! I hate hate hate this. A friend from HS is OBSESSED. Even posted today she is going to McDonalds to get Happy Meals because the toy is some minion thing? YOU ARE 34 YEARS OLD!!! I want to delete her, only because I cant take it anymore!
OMG my aunt posted this long tirade on Facebook about how McDonalds recalled all those minion toys because it said the F-word. She actually sent an email to corporate saying that they lost of customer for LIFE because she couldn't get a minion toy.... A MINION HAPPY MEAL TOY! I responded saying that she probably shouldn't be eating at McDonald's anyways and she said that it was the principle of the thing. That someone took away her rights.
I can't agree more with the "no one cares as much as you and dh" in regards to announcements and gender reveals. It reminds me of this super hipster couple I knew awhile back. In making small talk about their pregnancy, I asked "Are you going to find out if its a boy or girl?" They said "Yes, we know." *awkward pause* Me: "So what are you having?" Them: "Oh, we're not telling. We think it will be a fun surprise that way." Me: "Oooo-kay" *back away slowly* A fun surprise? Like for everyone but the parents...
This is the worst! I learned my lesson not to express interest in baby names, or the sex of the baby with friends. People get all weird about wanting it to be a "surprise" when baby is born. Umm, a surprise for who, exactly? As @Charla1224 put it, I care but then again I don't.
I definitely don't want it to be a surprise but my Mother in Law vehemently told me that she DOES NOT want to know the sex of the baby. It's going to be awkward at the baby shower when everyone knows and she doesn't. Maybe she wont go....
UO - I hate those minion images on Facebook with those stupid middle aged mom quotes.
Thisthisthisthisthisthisthis!!!!!!!!
I've hidden so many annoying sources that people like to share on FB that it's not even funny. I want to know what's going on with people's lives, not pass through a bunch of captioned pictures or shared videos.
I also don't like reveal parties (never been to one anyway). I really don't react very strongly to many things so anyone wanting to see a surprised or excited person will only be disappointed.
A billion times to the Minions memes. It makes me even more irritated when my mom decides to do it too... Even when I have told her she probably should not.
1. I don't care for Chinese food or Sushi. I'll eat it but I'm never going to ask for it. It's my DH's fav lol.
2. I am so over the sex/gender thing. I'm so tired of everyone getting so offended. I'm tired of people saying I'm not sure if I am a boy or a girl. The way it offends someone when I say gender instead of sex. I feel the same way or more when someone gets offended. This is due to my beliefs.
My God is perfect and does not make mistakes. If you are a boy with male genitals then you are a boy! If you a girl with a vagina then he made you a girl!! He does not make mistakes. I realize not everyone agrees with this. I realize not everyone is a believer in Jesus Christ. I'm not trying to make anyone believe in or not believe in him.
I'm just saying just as Christians are offending the transgender I am equally offended. I believe God loves all people if they believe they are transgender, bisexual, or homosexual. I have many friends that are. Do I agree with them no! Will I stop caring for them no. I feel the transgender community has the opposite reaction to Christians. I feel they think we should tip toe around their feelings but they should not consider ours.
Here are a few of my UO's
1. I don't care for Chinese food or Sushi. I'll eat it but I'm never going to ask for it. It's my DH's fav lol.
2. I am so over the sex/gender thing. I'm so tired of everyone getting so offended. I'm tired of people saying I'm not sure if I am a boy or a girl. The way it offends someone when I say gender instead of sex. I feel the same way or more when someone gets offended. This is due to my beliefs.
My God is perfect and does not make mistakes. If you are a boy with male genitals then you are a boy! If you a girl with a vagina then he made you a girl!! He does not make mistakes. I realize not everyone agrees with this. I realize not everyone is a believer in Jesus Christ. I'm not trying to make anyone believe in or not believe in him.
I'm just saying just as Christians are offending the transgender I am equally offended. I believe God loves all people if they believe they are transgender, bisexual, or homosexual. I have many friends that are. Do I agree with them no! Will I stop caring for them no. I feel the transgender community has the opposite reaction to Christians. I feel they think we should tip toe around their feelings but they should not consider ours.
That's a pretty loaded statement. Just because someone may be gay, or transgender, or support those communities, does that mean they don't believe in Jesus?
I believe in Jesus. But I also believe that people should live as they see fit. If someone was born with a penis, but feels they are a woman, who am I to judge? I see it on a flip side- maybe God 'made them that way' to teach people about tolerance.
I despise my in laws. In fact, I despise most in laws. Now that I'm married and my friends and family are all in serious relationships/engaged/married, I feel like all we talk about are our stupid in laws and how they inflict so much drama into our lives. My in laws LITERALLY wrote an email to my husband telling him that I'm the devil (his mother is VERY religious) and his sister took us out of the will to have our nieces if anything happened to she or her husband. My father in laws response to us expecting was "well, I guess she's not going anywhere for awhile now, is she?". Mind you, the only thing I asked for was some privacy (they used to call and text me every single morning/ night, asked for my medical records to "help" me with a life altering diagnosis I received in January, and tried to control how we lived our lives) and this is how they treat me now. My husband and I have no contact with them (other than trying to be bigger people and let them know about big life events such as our move and us expecting). And, surprise, I thought I was the only one with crazy in laws like this! But no, my best friend called me a few weeks back to tell me something similar about her situation. WTF?! I cringe every time I see or hear the term mother or sister in law now! Ugh.
I see it on a flip side- maybe God 'made them that way' to teach people about tolerance.
I majorly love this!!!!! That is what I say to my son and my students at Sunday school whenever they ask about anyone who is different. I say God made us all perfect, but we all go through different journeys to discover who we were made to be and what God's flawless plan is for each of us. Sometimes those journeys help to inspire and teach others the truth of God's love. If you love and accept one another and fully learn tolerance in your heart, you get closer to knowing that relentless love and living as Christ and other people of all faiths did and do to this day.
I am part of the UCC and our church is one of the first to be Open and Affirming. We are extremely honored to be able to preach to all of God's people, especially those who have been pushed aside. Our congregation is richer and made more beautiful by all of our friends in faith.
That's a pretty loaded statement. Just because someone may be gay, or transgender, or support those communities, does that mean they don't believe in Jesus?
I believe in Jesus. But I also believe that people should live as they see fit. If someone was born with a penis, but feels they are a woman, who am I to judge? I see it on a flip side- maybe God 'made them that way' to teach people about tolerance.
I didn't say that gay, transgender, or homosexuals do not believe in Jesus. I was trying to say I understand not everyone believes in Jesus or will agree. We have many homosexuals that attend our church. We are inviting and treat them no different. I however do not believe God is cruel and would put a women in a mans body or Vice Versa. Just my opinion not everyone will agree with it. I believe he is for us and not against us. Also I am not judging if you want to be a woman and were born a man or you were born a woman and want to be a man but to say God made you that way is a different story. I am not going to be rude to you or cruel. I believe gender goes hand in hand with sex.
1. I don't care for Chinese food or Sushi. I'll eat it but I'm never going to ask for it. It's my DH's fav lol.
2. I am so over the sex/gender thing. I'm so tired of everyone getting so offended. I'm tired of people saying I'm not sure if I am a boy or a girl. The way it offends someone when I say gender instead of sex. I feel the same way or more when someone gets offended. This is due to my beliefs.
My God is perfect and does not make mistakes. If you are a boy with male genitals then you are a boy! If you a girl with a vagina then he made you a girl!! He does not make mistakes. I realize not everyone agrees with this. I realize not everyone is a believer in Jesus Christ. I'm not trying to make anyone believe in or not believe in him.
I'm just saying just as Christians are offending the transgender I am equally offended. I believe God loves all people if they believe they are transgender, bisexual, or homosexual. I have many friends that are. Do I agree with them no! Will I stop caring for them no. I feel the transgender community has the opposite reaction to Christians. I feel they think we should tip toe around their feelings but they should not consider ours.
I am a Christian, and I believe you have some bad theology, as well as some misconceptions about what gender actually is, by definition.
When you say "God doesn't make mistakes", are you considering what that means for people born missing limbs, with heart defects, actual multiple sex organs, cognitive disabilities, and so on? If these things are true, it is also perfectly reasonable that people be born feeling more aligned with one gender or another. What they feel the need to do about those feelings is up to them, but if God is to blame for that, he must be blamed for everything else, otherwise your statement is invalid. My theology is that we live in a fallen world, and things are not yet made perfect.
Now for gender. By definition, gender and gender norms are a social construct. Sex is biological, but what it means to be more or female is different depending on the culture. If you don't fit into your cultural norms, it would make sense for you to identify with another gender. Personally, I think we should just ignore cultural gender norms and let people be whoever they want to be, and I think it would solve a lot of problems, but that's a debate for another day.
@lalala2004 Thank you for your opinion. I don't agree. I had not considered baby's born with missing limbs or multiple sex organs. I however do not believe God is to blame for those things either. Again, it is my belief that God is a perfect God. I don't believe he would make a man in a women's body or vice versa.
If a person identifies with a one or the other gender more than that's great for them and their beliefs. I do not believe God is cruel and would do this to a baby on purpose. He is a kind and gentle god if I didn't believe that then I would not serve him.
@lalala2004 Thank you for your opinion. I don't agree. I had not considered baby's born with missing limbs or multiple sex organs. I however do not believe God is to blame for those things either. Again, it is my belief that God is a perfect God. I don't believe he would make a man in a women's body or vice versa.
If a person identifies with a one or the other gender more than that's great for them and their beliefs. I do not believe God is cruel and would do this to a baby on purpose. He is a kind and gentle god if I didn't believe that then I would not serve him.
I don't think you understand how you are coming across. If babies are born prone to feel a different gender than their sex, it's not possible because "God isn't cruel" but when a baby is born with a heart defect, God wasn't responsible? You can't have it both ways, logically or theologically. Either this is an imperfect world where people are born imperfect, or God sees to it that everyone is born perfectly. You have to choose, or you make no sense.
Can't believe I'm jumping down the rabbit hole but here goes....
I really wish people would stop just loving Jesus the holy man and took the time to understand who he was, why he came, and what he did. I can just imagine all the naysayers after he interrupted the prosecution of Mary Magdalene. "I mean fine I'll agree that she shouldn't die, I mean I love her because I'm a believer (and I'm suppose to love her), but the way she dresses is offensive to me. Why do I need to be tolerant of her but she doesn't have to look, live and be like me? And I said she shouldn't die but now she wants to have the right to walk the streets at night like everyone else. What is our world coming to?"
I don't believe God makes mistakes either. I think his every move is beyond our understanding. I also believe that some people are born with genitals that don't match who they are meant to be. Maybe he did it for us to learn to expand our ability to love and tolerate, maybe he did it because we need to better understand the science of sex and gender, maybe he did it because he's a fan of diversity, I don't dare assume I know..... But based on what I know about Jesus. Using the context of his behaviors and preachings in the Bible I know that love is not tolerance. Love is acceptance in its fullest form. And the commission that's been given to me is to do that above anything else.... Love.
@lalala2004 I'm sorry maybe I'm not understanding you. I believe God does not put a spirit of transgender in us. I'm not really going to go into the other birth defects. That wasn't my UO. I do want to say I don't believe he makes mistakes. If a child is born with no limbs or extra sex organs I don't think God is to blame. I am not meaning to offend you or anyone for that matter these are my beliefs and no one has to believe them. It will not change them. If 1 million people tell me otherwise. I will ask my creator when I go to Heaven. I will continue to think God is perfect and makes no mistakes. Specifically for this thread he does not put transgender spirits into unborn baby's.
1. I love gender/sex (another opinion of mine is I don't get offended with the misuse of sex/gender and frankly don't care. I'm sure it will change much like all descriptors of races and sexual orientations) reveals and plan to do one with this LO but with only family during a family dinner. 2. I am doing a coed baby shower and am so excited about it (much to DH's disliking). I had a 50+ female only shower for DD and didn't like that awkward staring during games and opening presents. I'm treating this one more like a cookout and may even do a shrimp/sausage boil with all our friends and family with a lot of beer I can't drink. 3. I hate the side eye look or mental judgement you know someone is giving you if you even hesitate in answering if you are BF or not. I'm going to feed my child and the details are none of your concern.
Been married since 2009. Unicornuate Uterus (yes I menstruate glitter) Several MCs DD born 2013 (our miracle "you can't have babies" baby!)
Omg couples share Facebook accounts? @lisaren ? That's just wrong. My friends. Your friends. I don't even like have him in my profile picture lol
OK my uo I'm over the Uber political correctness and constantly walking on egg shells. Have you seen that sign saying we won't give Halloween candy to children dressed as pirates because it supports rape culture or superman because it promotes "ableism". Seriously? They're kids that want to be characters, not making a statement.
@evalynn24 Yes. The yellows and oranges get a bad rep. I'm always telling people to give me their yellows. They would honestly throw them out otherwise. Oranges are my least favorite, though I don't refuse to eat them. Crap. Now I want Starburst.
All I have to say is favereds. Show me faveyellows or faveoranges any day. Starburst knows to give the people what they want.
Disclaimer: not trying to make this thread too controversial, the opinions today have been so tame
Look...Even if you believe vagina = girl, penis = boy, that doesn't account for the population born with ambiguous genitalia and even chromosomal abnormalities that literally leave them unclassified as XX or XY. If you don't believe God makes mistakes, then you, in turn, automatically claim to believe God makes more than males and females. Literally. At least know what you're saying you believe.
UO.... I hate inspirational quotes 90% of the time. Especially the overly used wall art they from Home Goods.
"Live. Laugh. Love" "Home is where the heart is" "It all started because two people fell in love" "Eat. Drink. Be Merry."
A friend of mine likes to make sarcastic versions. For example.... "Pee like you've never had a UTI." I like hers much better.
I am sooo with you on this! I also hate LE wives (I am one) who like the saying like,"Your man isn't sexy until he walks around all day with cuffs" or some other silly shit they say. Also, the women who wear LE Wife shirts... Umm have you looked at the news lately?! Do you realize you're a walking target?!
Been married since 2009. Unicornuate Uterus (yes I menstruate glitter) Several MCs DD born 2013 (our miracle "you can't have babies" baby!)
@mrsjlopez12 are you trying to say that what people may deem mistakes (such as heart defects or sex confusion) are things that God doesn't view as a mistake bc he has a purpose for that person involving their uniqueness (therefore in God's eyes it isn't a mistake)? Or that you don't believe transgender is something biological? (not trying to sound snarky at all)
Been married since 2009. Unicornuate Uterus (yes I menstruate glitter) Several MCs DD born 2013 (our miracle "you can't have babies" baby!)
If a person identifies with a one or the other gender more than that's great for them and their beliefs. I do not believe God is cruel and would do this to a baby on purpose. He is a kind and gentle god if I didn't believe that then I would not serve him.
Life as a transgender individual is only difficult and "cruel" because we (humans, society) make it so.
If gender norms were not so restrictive, if we weren't so phobic about difference, transgender folks would not suffer as they do.
If you believe in a gentle God, surely you believe in one that wants us to be gentle, too? So let's be gentle and allow God to be gentle by treating his transgender children with respect.
@dshannah@doozer1345@saladflambe I have just now got a chance to get back to these. My UO yesterday was I don't believe God puts a transgender spirit into an unborn baby. I don't believe he intentionally intends to have a child that is innocent and commited no sin have to grow up believing he is a woman in a mans body or a man in a woman's body. So when transgender individuals say God made me this way. I don't agree. I think you are choosing to act and identify with the gender you want.
That was my UO for the people who are clearly identified as male or female with one penis and one vagina. I never said anything about multiple sex organs ect. When I wrote the UO I was talking about the transgender individuals who say " God made me this way" and are clearly a woman or man with one sex organ be that a penis or a vagina. They find it offensive when we say sex instead of gender or gender instead of sex. I find it offensive that they would say God made a mistake making them. Example Bruce Jenner aka Caitlyn Jenner. He believes he is a woman born in a mans body because he has always "felt this way" I believe he wanted to be a woman. So let him be. I'm not saying he should live one way or the other or judging him. I don't think God put a woman spirit in him.
I think some PP got way to offended over a strangers beliefs. It's my belief may or may not be a fact. You can't change a persons beliefs because you don't agree. I also want to point out I am not against transgender or individuals with multiple sex organs or bisexuals or homosexuals.
I want to respect your beliefs, @mrsjlopez12 , but as a Catholic I couldn't disagree more. I believe we are all born flawed, and that it is god's doing. I believe it's original sin, and that we all inherit it from Adam.
But that's not even what I'm really talking about. God makes us all different. Some have different crosses to bear and it is our job as Christians to love and understand the flaws that God gave our brothers and sisters. Sometimes we are more successful than not. It's all part of being human.
I'm not usually the preachy type but I agree with PP, your views give a skewed perception of Christianity, IMO.
@lest12 Thank you for your opinion. I am not Catholic and do not believe in a lot of what that religion teaches. I was raised in Catholic Church so I do know a lot of what the Catholic Church preaches.
I however believe that God sent his only son to earth to pay for our sins. I do not believe we have to earn his love or our way to heaven that debt was paid. We may all be flawed in that we all sin. We are not perfect. I do agree God made us all different. However I do not believe God condemns us before we are born. It is my belief he would not put a woman in a mans body to feel trapped. I do agree that we are to love our brothers and sisters and their flaws and understand those. Which I do not have hate or try not to understand transgendered . That was not my UO that I don't like transgender or have hate or don't love them.
With this being said I'm over this UO so unless someone new wants to come and say why they don't agree with my personal beliefs then I wish not to argue my beliefs.
@mrsjlopez12 as I've said before, it's more about the theology behind your opinion than the opinion itself.
People are born predisposed to depression, same sex attraction, bipolar disorder, addictive tendencies, and other things that may lead people to sin in their lives. This is not God's judgement upon an innocent child, but the consequence of living in a fallen world. It's what people do with these predispositions that matters, and God can bring help and healing to those who desire it. That's my point, and I hope you understand.
@lalala2004 I do understand where you get your opinion from. The children who are born predisposed to those factors really depends on their genetics. Is that wrong also? So when a man and woman decide to conceive and they have a history of these addictions it is likely they may know the child might also have these addictions or factors such as depression. So that is not Gods mistake or fault. He gave us free will and because of this yea we live in a fallen world.
I don't believe God said " I'm going to put a female spirit in this males body and let him try and overcome it" I believe that would be cruel and I don't believe God is cruel. I do believe we live in a fallen world by man doing not Gods. Why would he do that to a child? I don't think he would. I could be wrong but that's what makes it my opinion.
@lest12 Thank you for your opinion. I am not Catholic and do not believe in a lot of what that religion teaches. I was raised in Catholic Church so I do know a lot of what the Catholic Church preaches.
I however believe that God sent his only son to earth to pay for our sins. I do not believe we have to earn his love or our way to heaven that debt was paid. We may all be flawed in that we all sin. We are not perfect. I do agree God made us all different. However I do not believe God condemns us before we are born. It is my belief he would not put a woman in a mans body to feel trapped. I do agree that we are to love our brothers and sisters and their flaws and understand those. Which I do not have hate or try not to understand transgendered . That was not my UO that I don't like transgender or have hate or don't love them.
With this being said I'm over this UO so unless someone new wants to come and say why they don't agree with my personal beliefs then I wish not to argue my beliefs.
See, I know you posted this in the UO page because that's where these go and you expect people to disagree with you. But you posted it in front of people who, likewise, have opinions, and more than that, have informed, well-articulated arguments to support their opinions. Not only that: when you presented your UO, you presented it *with* an argument as to why your opinion was right, and other posters have been taking issue with that argument.
So I know you don't want to hear it, but you absolutely invited it. If you didn't want to argue/defend your personal beliefs, why did you post, and why do you keep putting more unsupported assertions out there (e.g. that you believe Caitlyn Jenner just wanted to be a woman)?
I and the other posters are frustrated for two main reasons:
1. Your theology is not internally coherent.
2. Your theology/theological anthropology is actively doing harm to others, even though you think it's not.
To expand:
1. Your understanding of theodicy is lacking. You say that God is just and gentle, and you claim that God wants life to be easy for his children so he gives them the "appropriate" equipment. But you leave no room for human suffering, and refuse to acknowledge birth defects or congenital conditions (my Christian friend with Cystic Fibrosis, for example, firmly believes that her disease is the cross God gave her to bear so she can more closely identify with his Son--that is a theodicy that is at least internally coherent, even if her friends and family just wish she was healthy). You cannot assert that God is both just and omnipotent without accounting for human suffering. Sorry. Go read Job. You can believe in the saving grace of Christ, but Christ saves us from the world we live in, not some fantasy world where life is easy and suffering doesn't exist.
Not to mention your understanding that female souls and male souls are fundamentally different. That is explicitly rejected by the apostle Paul (Galatians 3:28: "... in Christ there is neither male nor female"). Where are you getting that idea from? Certainly not the Bible.
2. Even if you say you are nice to transgender folks face to face and you are not telling anyone else how to live, by thinking of them as willfully defective and by supporting stereotypical gender limitations, you are manufacturing the world in which these people suffer (along with everyone else: men are just as restricted by the patriarchy as women are, we just suffer more from our restrictions). Silence in the face of oppression is complicity. And that you are not actively supporting your transgender friends and trusting their accounts of their own life experiences shows that you are enthusiastically supporting the dehumanizing status quo.
I'm saying this harshly because you are so harshly refusing to listen (not even to agree--just to engage! We're not asking you to give up your position, just to think about it more and tell us what you come up with!): **The arguments you yourself are making show your faith to be ignorant, wholly lacking in empathy, and severely lacking in depth.** Is that the witness you want to offer before the world? Is that the faith you think you can convince other people to share? Are you comfortable with others thinking that the only way to be Christian is to stop caring about your fellow human beings and stick your head in the sand and wait to be saved?
Re: UO Thursday 10/22
ETA: I have a few decorations at home with phrases on them though, so I might be an offender as well. I have a "Home" wall hanging, a small block thing that says "I Love Us", and another small block thing that says "Adventure More". Nothing overly cliche.
Married in 2011
Baby 1: Stillborn at 27 weeks (April 2014)
Baby 2: Due May 2016
It reminds me of this super hipster couple I knew awhile back. In making small talk about their pregnancy,
I asked "Are you going to find out if its a boy or girl?"
They said "Yes, we know."
*awkward pause*
Me: "So what are you having?"
Them: "Oh, we're not telling. We think it will be a fun surprise that way."
Me: "Oooo-kay" *back away slowly*
A fun surprise? Like for everyone but the parents...
I've hidden so many annoying sources that people like to share on FB that it's not even funny. I want to know what's going on with people's lives, not pass through a bunch of captioned pictures or shared videos.
I also don't like reveal parties (never been to one anyway). I really don't react very strongly to many things so anyone wanting to see a surprised or excited person will only be disappointed.
1. I don't care for Chinese food or Sushi. I'll eat it but I'm never going to ask for it. It's my DH's fav lol.
2. I am so over the sex/gender thing. I'm so tired of everyone getting so offended. I'm tired of people saying I'm not sure if I am a boy or a girl. The way it offends someone when I say gender instead of sex. I feel the same way or more when someone gets offended. This is due to my beliefs.
My God is perfect and does not make mistakes. If you are a boy with male genitals then you are a boy! If you a girl with a vagina then he made you a girl!! He does not make mistakes. I realize not everyone agrees with this. I realize not everyone is a believer in Jesus Christ. I'm not trying to make anyone believe in or not believe in him.
I'm just saying just as Christians are offending the transgender I am equally offended. I believe God loves all people if they believe they are transgender, bisexual, or homosexual. I have many friends that are. Do I agree with them no! Will I stop caring for them no. I feel the transgender community has the opposite reaction to Christians. I feel they think we should tip toe around their feelings but they should not consider ours.
That's a pretty loaded statement. Just because someone may be gay, or transgender, or support those communities, does that mean they don't believe in Jesus?
I believe in Jesus. But I also believe that people should live as they see fit. If someone was born with a penis, but feels they are a woman, who am I to judge? I see it on a flip side- maybe God 'made them that way' to teach people about tolerance.
I am part of the UCC and our church is one of the first to be Open and Affirming. We are extremely honored to be able to preach to all of God's people, especially those who have been pushed aside. Our congregation is richer and made more beautiful by all of our friends in faith.
I believe in Jesus. But I also believe that people should live as they see fit. If someone was born with a penis, but feels they are a woman, who am I to judge? I see it on a flip side- maybe God 'made them that way' to teach people about tolerance.
I didn't say that gay, transgender, or homosexuals do not believe in Jesus. I was trying to say I understand not everyone believes in Jesus or will agree. We have many homosexuals that attend our church. We are inviting and treat them no different. I however do not believe God is cruel and would put a women in a mans body or Vice Versa. Just my opinion not everyone will agree with it. I believe he is for us and not against us. Also I am not judging if you want to be a woman and were born a man or you were born a woman and want to be a man but to say God made you that way is a different story. I am not going to be rude to you or cruel. I believe gender goes hand in hand with sex.
When you say "God doesn't make mistakes", are you considering what that means for people born missing limbs, with heart defects, actual multiple sex organs, cognitive disabilities, and so on? If these things are true, it is also perfectly reasonable that people be born feeling more aligned with one gender or another. What they feel the need to do about those feelings is up to them, but if God is to blame for that, he must be blamed for everything else, otherwise your statement is invalid. My theology is that we live in a fallen world, and things are not yet made perfect.
Now for gender. By definition, gender and gender norms are a social construct. Sex is biological, but what it means to be more or female is different depending on the culture. If you don't fit into your cultural norms, it would make sense for you to identify with another gender. Personally, I think we should just ignore cultural gender norms and let people be whoever they want to be, and I think it would solve a lot of problems, but that's a debate for another day.
If a person identifies with a one or the other gender more than that's great for them and their beliefs. I do not believe God is cruel and would do this to a baby on purpose. He is a kind and gentle god if I didn't believe that then I would not serve him.
I really wish people would stop just loving Jesus the holy man and took the time to understand who he was, why he came, and what he did.
I can just imagine all the naysayers after he interrupted the prosecution of Mary Magdalene. "I mean fine I'll agree that she shouldn't die, I mean I love her because I'm a believer (and I'm suppose to love her), but the way she dresses is offensive to me. Why do I need to be tolerant of her but she doesn't have to look, live and be like me? And I said she shouldn't die but now she wants to have the right to walk the streets at night like everyone else. What is our world coming to?"
I don't believe God makes mistakes either. I think his every move is beyond our understanding. I also believe that some people are born with genitals that don't match who they are meant to be. Maybe he did it for us to learn to expand our ability to love and tolerate, maybe he did it because we need to better understand the science of sex and gender, maybe he did it because he's a fan of diversity, I don't dare assume I know..... But based on what I know about Jesus. Using the context of his behaviors and preachings in the Bible I know that love is not tolerance. Love is acceptance in its fullest form. And the commission that's been given to me is to do that above anything else.... Love.
DD: 05/14/16
2. I am doing a coed baby shower and am so excited about it (much to DH's disliking). I had a 50+ female only shower for DD and didn't like that awkward staring during games and opening presents. I'm treating this one more like a cookout and may even do a shrimp/sausage boil with all our friends and family with a lot of beer I can't drink.
3. I hate the side eye look or mental judgement you know someone is giving you if you even hesitate in answering if you are BF or not. I'm going to feed my child and the details are none of your concern.
Been married since 2009.
Unicornuate Uterus (yes I menstruate glitter)
Several MCs
DD born 2013 (our miracle "you can't have babies" baby!)
OK my uo I'm over the Uber political correctness and constantly walking on egg shells. Have you seen that sign saying we won't give Halloween candy to children dressed as pirates because it supports rape culture or superman because it promotes "ableism". Seriously? They're kids that want to be characters, not making a statement.
I'm not offended by what you've said, I just think your theology is bad, and I think it gives people the wrong idea about God and Christianity.
All I have to say is favereds. Show me faveyellows or faveoranges any day. Starburst knows to give the people what they want. Disclaimer: not trying to make this thread too controversial, the opinions today have been so tameMarried: Oct 20, 2013
BFP 1: Aug 31, 2015
EDD 1: May 12, 2016
DD1 Emma born May 12, 2016
An Honest Account of New Motherhood (with Postpartum Anxiety, Depression, and OCD)
BFP 2: October 07, 2019
EDD 2: June 20, 2020
Been married since 2009.
Unicornuate Uterus (yes I menstruate glitter)
Several MCs
DD born 2013 (our miracle "you can't have babies" baby!)
Been married since 2009.
Unicornuate Uterus (yes I menstruate glitter)
Several MCs
DD born 2013 (our miracle "you can't have babies" baby!)
Been married since 2009.
Unicornuate Uterus (yes I menstruate glitter)
Several MCs
DD born 2013 (our miracle "you can't have babies" baby!)
If gender norms were not so restrictive, if we weren't so phobic about difference, transgender folks would not suffer as they do.
If you believe in a gentle God, surely you believe in one that wants us to be gentle, too? So let's be gentle and allow God to be gentle by treating his transgender children with respect.
This is for you @nsouplynn
BFP 1: 9/15/2013 | DD 5/23/2014
BFP 2: 9/15/2015 | EDD 5/26/2016
That was my UO for the people who are clearly identified as male or female with one penis and one vagina. I never said anything about multiple sex organs ect. When I wrote the UO I was talking about the transgender individuals who say " God made me this way" and are clearly a woman or man with one sex organ be that a penis or a vagina. They find it offensive when we say sex instead of gender or gender instead of sex. I find it offensive that they would say God made a mistake making them.
Example Bruce Jenner aka Caitlyn Jenner. He believes he is a woman born in a mans body because he has always "felt this way" I believe he wanted to be a woman. So let him be. I'm not saying he should live one way or the other or judging him. I don't think God put a woman spirit in him.
I think some PP got way to offended over a strangers beliefs. It's my belief may or may not be a fact. You can't change a persons beliefs because you don't agree. I also want to point out I am not against transgender or individuals with multiple sex organs or bisexuals or homosexuals.
But that's not even what I'm really talking about. God makes us all different. Some have different crosses to bear and it is our job as Christians to love and understand the flaws that God gave our brothers and sisters. Sometimes we are more successful than not. It's all part of being human.
I'm not usually the preachy type but I agree with PP, your views give a skewed perception of Christianity, IMO.
I however believe that God sent his only son to earth to pay for our sins. I do not believe we have to earn his love or our way to heaven that debt was paid. We may all be flawed in that we all sin. We are not perfect. I do agree God made us all different. However I do not believe God condemns us before we are born. It is my belief he would not put a woman in a mans body to feel trapped. I do agree that we are to love our brothers and sisters and their flaws and understand those. Which I do not have hate or try not to understand transgendered . That was not my UO that I don't like transgender or have hate or don't love them.
With this being said I'm over this UO so unless someone new wants to come and say why they don't agree with my personal beliefs then I wish not to argue my beliefs.
People are born predisposed to depression, same sex attraction, bipolar disorder, addictive tendencies, and other things that may lead people to sin in their lives. This is not God's judgement upon an innocent child, but the consequence of living in a fallen world. It's what people do with these predispositions that matters, and God can bring help and healing to those who desire it. That's my point, and I hope you understand.
I don't believe God said " I'm going to put a female spirit in this males body and let him try and overcome it" I believe that would be cruel and I don't believe God is cruel. I do believe we live in a fallen world by man doing not Gods. Why would he do that to a child? I don't think he would. I could be wrong but that's what makes it my opinion.