A boy nesting doll is revealed within a girl nesting doll

Can Someone Be Born in the Wrong Body?

  • By: Scott Stein
  • Sep 27, 2022
    • Listen on:

Twice after giving a talk on gender and the Bible I was approached by people who described the scenario of a man being born with a woman’s brain, or vice-versa. “In cases like that,” they asked, “wouldn’t the right thing be to correct the body to be in alignment with the brain?”

Questions like these are difficult to address. In part because while hypothetical, they touch on a subject that is deeply personal and often painful for some people. What also makes them difficult to address is because what lies behind them aren’t just a few unknown facts, but the many beliefs that shape the way that we view the world itself.

In this episode, Scott and Shawn discuss this difficult but important question, covering important topics such as:

  • What insight or clarity can science give us?
  • How should we respond to the real experiences that people have of feeling at odds with their gendered bodies?
  • How does the Bible help us interpret the feeling of a person who may feel like they’re trapped in the wrong body?
  • What about those who are born with intersex conditions?
  • How does Jesus help us to secure our sense of identity?
  • And what can the church do to help those who may be struggling with feeling like they’re trapped in the wrong body?

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Comments

  • Lynda
    Oct 11th, 2022
    Hi Scott and Shawn, excellent points but in the current political atmosphere, C8 on the Conversion therapy ban, you could be in trouble! What are your thoughts on this threat? Lynda
    • Scott
      Oct 11th, 2022
      Of course there are concerns wrt bill c8 in its current form. It's an imperfect bill, but there seems to be some understanding, at least in principle, that conversations could still take place in the context of a faith community. This directly from the Federal Governments webpage: <em>"These new offences would not apply to those who provide support to persons questioning their sexual orientation, sexual feelings or gender identity (such as teachers, school counsellors, pastoral counsellors, faith leaders, doctors, mental health professionals, friends or family members)."</em> [https://www.canada.ca/en/department-justice/news/2020/09/federal-government-reintroduces-legislation-to-criminalize-conversion-therapy-related-conduct-in-canada.html] I'm going to take those assurances in good faith. Obviously as Christians we stand in direct opposition to cultural perspectives on these points. However, I would say that our culture is far from sharing concensus on these issues either. We will need to be wise to be sure, but must not shrink back in fear.
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