Many Paths, Many Genders

Last updated on: September 13, 2010 at 6:51 am by laurapatsouris

Many Paths, Many Genders 2010-09-13T06:51:21-04:00 laurapatsouris

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.

When it comes to gender, Paganism has the advantage of not being saddled with an allegedly infallible, unalterable book. This means that we are not doomed to be stuck trying to define ourselves by or adhere to laws written down millenia ago, before the advent of germ theory, toothpaste and cable. Not only are we liberated from first-century middle-eastern views on gender roles, we have the advantage of more than one deity, so none of that “God only has one gender” bias to make one sex superior to the others.

Yup, others, plural. Surely the time has come to get over the polarity of strictly dividing every being into male and female camps? After all, there are plenty of third-gendered folk about who fall somewhere in the middle of the continuum. Forcing them to “pick one” is like asking if they wouldn’t mind amputating a limb so as not to make anyone else uncomfortable.
While there are many Pagan paths with various views on gender, our community with its diversity should set an example for all faiths by valuing the lives and contributions of people of every gender identity. We of all people should be able and willing to question the dominant paradigm. And make no mistake; no matter what culture we grew up in, we absorbed an awful lot of ideas about gender roles and dynamics. This is fine, as long as we are able to recognize that we all come with baggage that it behooves us to examine and question. This includes what we grew up seeing as well as what we grew up not seeing. For example, if you are over a certain age, you probably grew up with zero third-gendered or transgendered role models. Third-gendered people face the additional invisibilty of having no option other than “male” or “female” with which to identify themselves on all their legal documents. How can you be visible when the government says you don’t exist?

In a community that inherently understands what it is to be different, we must offer safe space to individuals who are stigmatized and marginalized. To do less would be to dishonor the Holy Powers who create and sustain life in all its complexity and diversity, including the full spectrum of gender.

Previous Post

September 12, 2010

A Brush with Boundary

Next Post

September 13, 2010 Book Review: Diary of a Drug Fiend by Aleister Crowley

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category alexandrian asatru astrology ATW Audio books btw ceremonial magick chaos classics community conversion cosmology dianic discordian druid dvd eclectic equinox ethics family feri festivals film Fully Inclusive Events gardnerian gender issues glbt heathen hellenismos history humor initiation interfaith magick meditation Military movies music mysticism myth networking news Open Thread Pagan Pagan 101 Paganism passings polytheism Polytheistic Religion polytheology praxis Reading List religio romana review ritual sabbats santeria service solstice symbols tools values wicca witchcraft

Select a Month July 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What is the main symbol of Christianity?

Select your answer to see how you score.

The cross Lion Rainbow Olive branch