Chastity (Chaz) Bono, Transsexuality and the Church

(Opinon) Chastity (Chaz) Bono, Transsexuality and the Church

By Illinois Family Institute

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Regarding Comment
Pray for yourself
  • djshawman
    You missed the point

    The point of the argument was that the church needs to be ready for people who have been misled into thinking that they were born of the wrong sex. There was no judging on the part of the author, only yours. By the way, your argument about murderous rampages has nothing to do with the message of the article. In essence, your saying that because some religious people are bad, the message of religion is bad. The message is the message. Salvation through Christ. If more people were saved, the world would be a happier place. You sound pretty hate filled yourself. Should we believe that all pro transexuals spread hatred and animosity to religion (Christianity in particular)? I would encourage you to read this make-believe book. You may find that you are truly enlightened.

    God bless you.

    - djshawmanUS June 12, 2009 1:21PM

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    • ponyboy74
      pay attention to history

      And I suggest that in addition to your Bible you (and the author of this article) read the medical journals that have been written on transgendered people.

      It is widely held now that transgender people are just that. That while in the womb there is an influx of hormones into the brain that literally causes the brain to be one gender while the body may be another. Basically, it's one of the many things that can happen during the development of a fetus that some may consider to be "abnormal" and since you can't change the brain, it's much easier (and safer) to change the body.

      Please also look at history (and particularly the history of the Christian church ) in regard to most mental/neurological illnesses including depression, schizophrenia, and even epilepsy. All of those conditions at one point or another were thought to be the devil or demons taking over a person's body which was "allowed" because the person suffering from these disorders didn't pray hard enough and if they just went to church more or if their church viewed them with compassion and prayed for them, they would be fine.

      Most modern people now find this absurd and realize that there are treatments and medications out there that can "correct" these conditions. Hormone therapy and gender reassignment surgery is that treatment for transgendered individuals today.

      On another note, gender identity and sexual preference have nothing to do with one another.

      And if your argument is in regard to hormone therapy and "mutilating" surgery and how it is "unnatural", maybe the church should take a look at and target the thousands upon thousands of "normal" Christian (or otherwise) men and women who get mutilating plastic surgery for parts of their bodies they don't like and for those going through hormone replacement therapy after menopause, cancer treatment, etc. Considering that if the argument is that that's the way God planned out your life, who are you to take medical steps to correct it?

      I've read the Bible. Isn't there something in there about casting stones?

      - ponyboy74US June 12, 2009 1:44PM

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      • Nomadt
        healing

        Ponyboy74-- I appreciate the careful thought that goes into your argument, but I have to disagree with your reasoning.

        I have had personal experience with mental illness that you claim was demonized by the church . After a few years of treatment as understood by mental health experts I was completely healed by God.

        I agree with the author that people can be healed in ways that science cannot help. Church goers need to reach outside their comfort zones to embrace people like Chastity. You are right- in the name of God people do terrible things. God's people are often rotten, mean, and myopic, just as you claim, but there isn't a prejudiced, sexist, or hateful part of God. People might do things in his name contrary to his nature, but it is not his intention.

        So often people like Chaz seek a worldly solution for a terrible internal conflict, but I believe that it is this temporal suffering which brings us to a place where we can go to God to be healed.

        - NomadtUS June 12, 2009 2:24PM

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        • Enlightened1
          Did any of you actually READ the referenced article by Moore?

          Of course you didn't. Vis a vis his "non-judgemental" advice to a hypothetical transgendered person:
          "My counsel would be... to make sure she understands that part of the sin she’s walking away from is a root-level rebellion against the Creator. God’s creation is good, and he does not create generic persons but “male and female,” in his own image (Gen 1:27). In seeking to “become” a woman, John has established himself as a god , determining the very structure of his createdness."
          "He should see himself as the equivalent
          of a biblical eunuch, someone wounded physically by his past sin, but awaiting wholeness in the resurrection from the dead."
          Dr. Russell Moore

          Thank goodness for 'wisdom and compassion!' It does clearly imply that if you are born with any kind of birth defect, you should just live with it, otherwise you are playing god.

          You people who think you have been healed by a god need to take a hard look at yourselves and your mental health . That is called a DELUSION. You aren't any different than people in the past that believed in Zeus, Baal, or Horus.
          I know, I know, but YOUR god is the real thing! You have a book that proves it! Some of the truths of the bible (which, btw, I have read extensively, as a now-recovering xtian):

          "Take your son, your only son – yes, Isaac, whom you love so much – and go to the land of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will point out to you." (Genesis 22:1-18)
          If you killed your son because god told you to, would everyone just think "Wow, that guy is really faithful?"

          "If a man is caught in the act of raping a young woman who is not engaged, he must pay fifty pieces of silver to her father. Then he must marry the young woman because he violated her, and he will never be allowed to divorce her." (Deuteronomy 22:28-29 NLT)
          So, rape and selling of women is ok, because the word of god says it in YOUR bible?

          And, how do you feel about slavery? "Slaves, obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear. Serve them sincerely as you would serve Christ." (Ephesians 6:5 NLT)

          My point: with all the abuses that religulous people have inflicted on humanity over the years, it's time for rational people to speak up and be heard. We are not going to allow you to get away with judging, interfering with, and eventually, when you aren't stopped, murdering those who don't agree with you.

          - Enlightened1US June 12, 2009 3:23PM

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        • Nikki H
          reply

          I am very glad that God healed your mental illness problems. God has done many miracles in my life as well. He did not, however, "cure" me of Transsexualism or change my sexual orientation. The more I prayed to be healed, the more tormented I became and almost ended up committing suicide because I could not be the person that the church told me God wanted me to be.
          Why was I not healed? I believe it is because I am exactly the person that God created me to be.

          I do not believe in a fundamentalist/ literal interpretation of the Bible. It can not hold up to logic. For example, there are at least two different creation accounts. In one, God created Adam, then all the animals for his companion and when He was not satisfied took the rib of Adam and made Eve. In the other, God creates the heavens and earth etc. On the sixth day made man and woman and rested on the 7th day.
          I could go on, but you get the point.
          The Bible is an inspired book written by men and subject to the culture and knowledge of the day. Re-translations are also subject to the bias of the authors emmanting from the culture that they was raised in.
          For example, the Sodom and Gommorah story has long been used to vilify homosexuality when in reality the story is about rape and inhospitality to foreigners and strangers and people who are different. The fact that it is homosexual rape is really irrelevant and yet cultural bias has used that story to condemn Gays and Lesbians..
          The Christian Church should repent for their treatment of GLBT people. It is nothing short of hate. I think Jesus would refer to these modern day Pharisees as a "brood of vipers".

          - Nikki HUS June 13, 2009 12:48PM

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          • zman676
            God?

            He probably didnt cure you of any mental illness because you dont have any... Transgenderism isnt a mental illness but a physical deffect since the brain is just fine, it is infact the body that isnt matching the mind. Thus it is a physical defect not a mental one ;) -sorry for my horrible spelling and grammer btw-

            - zman676US June 17, 2009 1:07AM

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            • bhall
              The truth

              is: all of this back and forth accomplishes nothing. If you are a Christian pray for the people, God is the One that has the power, you are just arguing, Obviously this is not a hobby or just a passing issue to Ponyboy. It is a very real issue and the pain that has been felt was severe. Severe enough to consider suicide, thats a big step to take to escape that pain and unhappiness. I don't know all the answers, but I know this is not helping.

              - bhallUS June 17, 2009 9:48PM

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        • quantummechanik
          Old story

          about a man and a river that I'd like to tell everyone. I usually hate doing these little parables, but I think this one's actually somewhat relevant.

          There's a religious man who lives next to the river. He hears on the radio one day, that there's going to be a massive flood. He closes his eyes, prays, and thinks "I'm a religious man. I prayed. G-d will protect me."

          Sure enough, the waters start rising. A man in a boat paddles by and sees the religious man sitting on his roof. "Hey, you!" the man in the boat cries. "Get into this boat! I'll get you to safety!"

          "I'm a religious man!" the first man responds. "I prayed. G-d loves me. G-d will save me!"

          The waters keep rising. A helicopter hovers overhead. The pilot drops a ladder down. "Climb up!" the pilot shouts. "Get in, and I'll fly you to higher ground!"

          "I'm a religious man!" the man on the roof replies. "I prayed. G-d loves me! G-d will save me!"

          Of course, the man drowns. When he goes to meet G-d, he points at him angrily and says "Why did this happen? I prayed! I lived my life just as you told me to! Why didn't you help me?"

          G-d looks back and says "I sent you a radio report, a man in a boat, and a helicopter. What are you doing here?"

          - quantummechanikUS June 13, 2009 6:21PM

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          • bhall
            Parable

            That was good!

            - bhallUS June 17, 2009 9:41PM

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            • quantummechanik
              Just to make it clear

              the point of the story was that G-d did indeed give us something to heal us. They are called doctors . We should go to them if we're ill.

              - quantummechanikUS June 18, 2009 11:19AM

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              • tek
                only curious

                Quantum,

                I have noticed in your posts that you always reference god with G-d. Purely out of curiousity and with no offense intended what is the purpose of this? Is it out of reverence, or is it in the Jewish faith that you shouldn't type the word god, or both? Again, I am simply curious. Thanks.

                - tek June 21, 2009 1:08PM

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                More comments in this thread
      • Judi Wheeldon
        Glass Houses

        Cancer, epilepsy, depression, schizophrenia, have all been scientifically defined and continue to be without such controversy. Numerous times, different stories are told that there's a "gay gene" later be told, otherwise.

        The controversy lies in the scientific tests that continue to contradict eachother.

        No wonder there is so much controversy with the idea of "transgender" individuals.

        As for "normal" christians getting mutilating plastic surgery for parts of their bodies they don't like or hormone replacement therapy after menopause, I'm just wondering ponyboy if you have yet to be prescribed a blue pill? Be careful of unsafe drops in blood pressure or I guess you could "pray" at that very moment.

        - Judi WheeldonUS June 17, 2009 2:31PM

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        • ponyboy74
          re:glass houses

          Judi,

          First, if there was no scientific testing or inquiry we would NOT have the Harry Benjamin Standards of Care for transgendered individuals. Which is a scientific, psychological protocol.

          Second, I have no problem with anybody doing anything to their bodies if it makes them happy and doesn't harm anybody else, which is why I don't understand why the church has their panties in a bunch about Chaz Bono getting his breasts taken off. Funny our society would have no issues if he was going in for implants instead or if he was getting a nose job!

          Third, as a transgendered man, I have no need, nor use for a "blue pill." And again, if the church is so convinced that people should just live with the bodies God gave them, then men with erectile dysfunction should have the same status as people who are transgendered. Either everybody shouldn't receive treatment because that's the way God made you and what you should really be spending your time on is praying for God to heal you or to allow you to accept yourself as is or the church should accept that there is a treatment, it's none of their damn business what people chose to do with their bodies, and stop the campaign of fear/hatred.

          - ponyboy74US June 17, 2009 8:41PM

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      • BloodG
        Incorrect information

        At the beginning of your remark, you seem to elude to the fact that an influx of hormones on the brain contributes to transgenderism. I think you should go back to your medical journals because there is nothing to date that factually claims that hormones are the root cause of transgendered thinking. I know of several individuals who changed from being a man to a woman and then faced the reality that this is not what should have happened. They are now living back as their original gender and experience resolution in their emotions because of this going back. The medical community cannot say for any kind of sexual orientation that biology is the reason. At best, the only claim that can be made is that biology may have an influence but that environmental factors also play a part.

        - BloodGUS June 21, 2009 8:12AM

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    • Nikki H
      reply

      I am a Christian and a post-operative Transexual. Thankfully, I did not follow the advice that you are espousing or I would most likely be dead now from suicide.
      I think you need to be very careful about practicing medicine without a license by giving psychological advice. Your views are extremely destructive and hence dangerous to well intentioned GLBT people who are trying to live God centered lives while also coming to terms with their gender variance or sexuality.
      Unless you are a person who has struggled with being Trans or Gay, I think you need to be very careful before doling out judgement. You have no idea of what you are talking about and your advice is extremely harmful to many struggling with these issues.

      - Nikki HUS June 13, 2009 12:31PM

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    • RevJimSutter
      Some Mistakes Here

      The original article here claims that Chastity Bono is confused. How can anyone know this unless they can read minds?

      The original article accuses doctors who perform sex change procedures are committing malpractice. Can you cite one case where a doctor has been found liable for malpractice for performing a sex change procedure? I think not.

      The entire article has a tone of condemnation for transgendered, and yet presents to be Christian. However, Christ said absolutely nothing in condemnation of the transgendered (or homosexuality for that matter, although the two are not the same.) And yet the Illinois Family Institute gets upset when the Southern Poverty Law Center places them on their list of hate mongering institutions. What did Christ teach was the most important Commandment? "Love thy neighbor", not "condemn thy neighbor because they may be different from us."

      - RevJimSutterUS June 17, 2009 11:36AM

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