What the bible says about transgenders

Now, I have no problem with them (or Shep being one) myself, but I'm just sayin'...

Deuteronomy 22:5
"The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God."

1 Corinthians 11:14
"Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?"

WTF? What about that long-haired dude who died on the cross?
I've never seen him depicted with a buzz-cut yet!

I think the historical Jesus likely didn't have hair that long.

He was black.

Sorry Charlie....if anything long hair would be an advantage in nature.
The more hair covering your exposed flesh, the better camoflage for getting near wild game, and protection from sunburn (to a lesser extent).

Who wrote this book anyway?

Some old guys. Why we pay attention to it is unknown to me.

By "nature" he means popular fashion of those around him.

I'm guessing it could also mean what Paul felt was "natural" for men. That long hair would be against what God intended.

So that's what? Three interpretations already? No wonder Christianity is so fractured.

That's sounding dangerously like Darwinian theory, y'know...

Is there a scale of abomination?

Like, how do long hair or homosexuality rate as compared to, say, eating shellfish?

Shouldn't Westboro be picketing Red Lobster?

Yeah, but what does "Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows", have to say?

Here's my favourite one.

In essence no one can touch anything a menstruating woman has touched. Share the same bed? Put that bitch on the floor. She sat in your favourite chair? It belongs to her now. She likes to give hugs and kisses? Forget it. You can't touch that disgusting vile creature.

My only conclusion can be that God's a fag and hates vagina's.

The Roman custom of the day was for short-cropped hair.

Reminds me once when I was applying for a job at a Dollar Store. I went into the store and asked to see the manager. The clerk said "the manager is in that row stocking shelves." I went to that row and saw a person, back to me, with long hair. I said "Excuse me, ma'am."

It was a man.

I didn't get the job.

Not unless you are an observant Jew, since the dietary laws are not binding on Gentiles, and never have been.

Putting aside Shep's current thing....

I find it rather hilarious a God/Religion hating atheist is quoting Bible scripture against men dressing like women and having long hair....

Even though he "claims" he has no problem with what Shep is doing...

Whoever came up with all that had some serious issues.

Considering the evidence presented, I agree with your analysis.

I don't think taking what the Bible says 'literally' is a good idea.

So, if that passage by Grandtheftcow is indeed the Word of the Lord, does he really have such a problem with His own creation?

Or, is it as I suspect that passages like this indicate that the Bible was written by people reflecting their own ideas, and then later saying that it is the Word of the Lord? Isn't that what taking the Lord's name in vain means? Is this why we're taught that that commandment is actually all about not saying "God dammit!" when we stub a toe?

I don't know the specifics of the passage, but I'm assuming its from the Old Testament.

So it applied only to the Jews at the time, and in theory.....shouldn't even be practiced today.

Oops. Don't know why I left out the passage. It's Leviticus 15 and what I quoted started at 15:19. It's one of the God, Moses fireside chats.

I do so to highlight the incompatability of transsexualism with biblical teaching. That doesn't mean that I believe the biblical teaching.

It says "Buy me. Fucking buy me, you bitch. Yeah, you want it don't you? You want to see if Ron and Hermione ever get jiggy with it, you sick fucking pervert. Well, flash the cash, punk."

1 Corinthians 11:14 is a cultural attitude. In this day and age there are many who would say a 25 year old sleeping with a 14 year old is a "crime against nature", but honestly, that is more of a cultural more than anything to do with "nature". It is even fairly obvious if you keep reading:

The author is clearly lambasting these folks for getting all uptight about the cultural differences of hair length instead of focusing on what is important when it comes to God.

Verse 16 also makes it fairly apparent that it isn't really an issue anymore.

And Deuteronomy? Come on..those are all Orthodox Jewish directives and old Testament. Specific instructions for specific people.

Remember Sampson? He was one of the Nazarites who take religious vows and sport long hair from which they gain great strength? Kind of gives the idea long hair isn't a problem in and of itself, doesn't it?

As a bit of an aside...Sampson also spent time with Harlots and slept around and yet still was blessed until his hair was chopped. And even after, his prayer was answered so he had the strength to avenge himself.

Part of the Levitical law.

Right alongside "don't eat shellfish" and "don't wear garments of mixed fabric"

No more applicable to any but orthodox Jews than Kosher diets.

The trans-friendly understanding here (and since all Scripture is a matter of interpretation there are obviously others) is that Men went out to war, women didn't. And either one trying to switch roles by disguise was forbidden.

I don't know about all that but i do know that no Christian who thinks ills of transsexualism follows the rest of the Levitical law - there will come a day at some point when the preacher who preformed my wedding (who's quite fundie) is going to use that against me and I'm going to ask him what his shirt is made of.

Had to do with the cultural traditions of the day. Even without getting into gender issues, a lot of what Paul said had to do with things that were customary to pagan worship which was a big temptation to new christians in his day.

Well, I got it.

Yeah, it's fun to poke at "The Big Book Of Bronze Age Superstition", every now and again, but it's such an easy target, it's ultimately unsatisfying.

And in the end, I find that doesn't persuade anyone.

I mean, yeah, I agree, religion was a weight on poor Shep, and his journey towards self discovery would've been a whole helluva lot easier without it, but...he's the one that's gotta figure that out, and my input ain't gonna change it for him.

All I can do, is preach critical thinking, and science, and hope the fence sitters come to religious skepticism, to prevent future Shep's ending up in pain.

A function of the artistic sensibilities of the European artists who painted them. No more accurate than his being a blue eyed aryan type.

Look at your average Middle Eastern Semite today and you have a decent idea of the general appearance of Biblical figures.

For me, the Bible is an interesting historical/mythological document with some literary value... but nothing more.

I don't believe the words in the Bible are the words of God and have never felt any compulsion to follow them or be bound by them.

I follow my own code.

Wouldn't Deuteronomy 22:5 apply only to transvestites, not transsexuals?

Actually, most of that "unclean" business has to do with disease control. for instance, the whole business about avoiding pork had to do with the diseases we could get from undercooked pork.

I believe there is even a school of interpretation that suggests that the passage you quoted doesn't even refer to regular menstruation but other unaccounted for discharges.

I can testify either way though because i really never paid much attention to the Levitical law.