Frying Pans From Heaven: When A Transgender Person Sends You An Email…

Last updated on: July 25, 2016 at 10:54 am by Kerry Connelly

Frying Pans From Heaven: When A Transgender Person Sends You An Email… 2016-07-25T10:54:13-04:00 Kerry Connelly

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Again, K’s dysphoria with Christianity has less to do with gender theology and more to do with this “theology of excellence” that the American church seems to propagate. K has a heart for justice and an awareness of the privilege she enjoyed as a well-educated, Asian-American male. Here’s what she says:

I used to identify as male, I’ve always been attracted to women, and four years ago I became a Christian. With my degree from a small liberal arts college on top, I enjoyed a healthy access to privilege, enough to make myself fat and rich if I wanted to and forget about the poor and the black and the queer. It was by far the most miserable experience. The privilege bubble didn’t make me distracted or satisfied, it cut me off from myself and from the endpoints of the feelers my spirit has to the ends of the earth. None of it was ever compatible with any part of me — elitism is fundamentally counter to everything that I am — so not only did it starve me of my soul food out there in the messy world, it tried to feed me stuff that was indigestible at best.

Elitism is not just counter to K’s ethos. It’s counter to Jesus’ message as well. Here is K, one of the most marginalized of all people in American Christian culture today, who knows what it’s like to be inside and out of that privilege bubble.

This is a voice that needs to be heard.

Because American Christianity is failing people like K. She could not find her space here, because we did not create one for her. And who the hell are we to say that God doesn’t want her? That’s bullshit. God adores her.

The day I realized and said out loud that I am *not a Christian was just about the most joyous day I’ve had in four years. Then I started the slow process of picking out all the pieces of Christianity that were toxic to my body, and it was an endless litany of anger and outrage at my best friend from college, who considers me her dearest friend and brightest of lights in her life.*

I don’t know if it’s her or the Christianity, but there’s just this impenetrable wall of stock answers that prevents me from having a real conversation with her about my personal needs. When I’m overworking myself to play along and make Christianity feel comfortable, and neglecting my needs in the process, I’m being “Anointed and Christlike”. When I even try to mention those neglected needs out loud, I’m being unfair, bipolar, “easily offended” “politically correct” “expecting her to be an expert on all my esoteric interests”, etc. Our community’s philosophy of emotions is built on the premise that if someone is making you feel guilty, it’s because they’re trying to manipulate you with old grudges that have nothing to do with the present. This makes it difficult to talk about my needs and hurts, when it’s present ongoing conflicts with the foundation of our Christianity itself.

K – Email dated 7/23/16

It’s important to know something else about K: She is a survivor of Sozo Prayer, a “healing prayer” type of …. therapy?… that comes out of Bethel church. I am only just learning about this method, but let’s just say, reviews are mixed.

Read on to learn about K’s experiences with Sozo and some final thoughts from her.

Go back Continue Reading

Uncategorized

Previous Post

July 22, 2016

You Need To See This: Rachel Held Evans Speaks At the Gay Network Convention

Next Post

July 28, 2016 Stone Throwing: On Rightness, Not Righteousness

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Guest Bloggers Justice The Feminist Stuff The God Stuff The other stuff. Uncategorized You Need To See This

Select a Month August 2019 July 2019 February 2019 January 2019 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 June 2018 May 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 September 2015 June 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 August 2014 July 2014 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 October 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What spice was brought by the wise men to Jesus?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Pepper Cinnamon Myrrh Mint