Our Spirituality
satisfy everyone, rather it is an individual journey.  On this page you will find other peoples
reasons for faith and personal stories, articles on scriptures and more.

I have been working with trans people for a number of years now.  It seems nearly all of us
have spirituality at our core.  Our belief in "God", the Creator, or a higher power, seems to
be what we hang on to through our lives, hoping and praying somehow He will fix this
"curse".  But what do we do when He doesn't fix us and we finally are forced to transition to
survive?

.............Are We Doing the "Right" Thing by Transitioning?  
Does God expect us to stay this way in misery, on the verge of suicide?  Many conservative
church communities would have us believe that this is our cross to bear and we are
supposed to bear it.  I wonder how many of them would do what they expect us to do?

answer this for us, but rather we each seek to answer the question for ourselves.  If God
answer this for us, but rather we each seek to answer the question for ourselves.  If God
doesn't think our question is such a big deal that He needs to answer us, then what should
we think of it?
we think of it?


..........So Why DO We Have This Incongruence Between Body
..............And Mind, And What Does God Expect From Us?
My personal opinion is that everyone is born with their own set of difficulties.   It is how we
face those difficulties and what we become by facing them that is ultimately important to
God.  Our body isn't so important.  It is only the container we live in while we struggle to
become the person God has created us to be.  Transitioning has made me a better person.  It
has given me more understanding and wisdom, and taught me of a God who loves me
without reservation.  I hope you find what's best for you and reasons for faith as you go
through your journey.




Transsexuality and Scripture
Are We Sinning? - pdf
(Also printed below, please scroll down.)

Gender Variance and Theology - Online
http://home.comcast.net/~francie_p/theology.html

God's Gift to the Transgendered by: Rachel Miller - Online
http://www.whosoever.org/v6i4/miller.html

Homosexuality and Scripture
Paul's Greek: First Aid for Mistranslation by: Lawrence A. Reh - online
http://www.whosoever.org/v4i1/paul.html

Homosexuality in the Hebrew Scriptures - Leviticus 18:22 - online
http://www.religioustolerance.org/hom_bibh.htm

The Bible And Homosexuality - online
http://www.religioustolerance.org/hom_bibi.htm

A Heterosexual Jewish Rebbe's View on the (Supposedly) Homosexual Texts in the Hebrew
Bible  By Reb Gershon Caudill, the Ecokosher Rebbe - online
http://www.affirmation.org/learning/heterosexual_jewish_rebbes_view.shtml

Cross Dressing and Scripture
Cross Dressing and Deuteronomy 22:5  by Rabbi Tilsen - online
http://www.beki.org/crossdress.html

Hate and Rejection
Jesus Land - Online
America, hate and non acceptance of GLBT
http://www.democraticunderground.com/articles/04/12/07_jesusland.html




Emergence Ministries - Website to help Christian Transsexuals
http://www.emergenceministries.org/indexframe.html

Trans Faith On Line.org
http://www.transfaithonline.org/more_resources/

Whosoever - An Online Magazine For Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered Christians
http://whosoever.org/index.shtml

Yahoo Group for ftm's of faith.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/transpirituality/

Trans Spiritual Matters is a Yahoo group for trans people and allies.  
It is for discussion of spiritual matters.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TranSpiritualMatters/join

Christian Testimony from a guy with no arms and legs.  About acceptance and more. He
says many things that apply to transgendered as well.  It is an encouragement and definitely
worth a watch!
http://www.wretch.cc/video/ritahsia&func=single&vid=2282608

God Loves You - Inspirational presentation for those needing encouragement that God does
love them.
http://www.freedisc.org/flash/englishFLL.swf

Jewish Resources
http://www.transfaithonline.org/more_resources/jewish_index/

Muslim Resources
http://www.transfaithonline.org/more_resources/muslim_index/
Welcome to the Spiritual and Religious Side of Our Lives




..........A Priest, A Minister,
...........And A Transsexual
A priest, a minister, and a
transsexual woman were standing at
the pearly Gate in front of St. Peter.

the land".  St. Peter said unto him
the land".  St. Peter said unto him
"you have done well on earth, but
you have sinned against your
brother. You shall spend the next 7
years in purgatory to atone for shall
enter heaven".
shall enter heaven".


The priest spoke next. "I have done
as my brother the minister has, and
I have lived a life of sacrifice,
humility, and chastity. I have served
only God, kept only God's laws,
and I offer my unworthiness to God
now".  St. Peter reviewed his notes
and spoke to the priest. "You have
indeed lived a pious life and yet you
too, have sinned, "You shall only
have to spend one year in purgatory
to atone for your sins".

St. Peter then turned to the
transsexual and spoke softly, "Go in
my dear they are waiting for you".

The minister and the priest both
protested to St. Peter. "Why in all
our piety have we been condemned
to purgatory when you let that
creature against whom we openly
preached against and whom we
actively chastised using the
scriptures, merely pass into heaven?'

St. Peter glared at the two and said,
"Boys, thanks to you and people like
you she has already been through
hell".


................Only Then...
A rabbi asked his students, "When
is it at dawn that one can tell
the light from the darkness?"

One student replied, "When I can
tell a goat from a donkey."

"No," answered the rabbi.

Another said, "When I can tell a
palm tree from a fig."

"No," answered the rabbi again.

"Well, then what is the answer?" his
students pressed him.

"Only when you look into the face
of every man and every woman
and see your brother and your
sister," said the rabbi. "Only then
have you seen the light. All else is
still darkness."

Author - Unknown

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uses your new name, that means she accepts what you are doing, and then she is a party to your sin. God will punish her."  I replied,
"Who said this was a sin?"
replied, "Who said this was a sin?"

To understand whether we are sinning, one must first "know" what we are, and what we are doing.  What is a
transsexual/transgendered person?  We are individuals who feel that our brain gender is opposite to our body gender.  We think, feel
and process life from the opposite genders perspective.  This disharmony causes us great distress, depression and pain.  We feel we
must change our body to be in harmony with our mind, to feel "whole" and be at peace.  

............................................................Are We Sinning When We Change Our Bodies?  
What is sinning?  Sinning is disobedience to God's will.  How could an on looker know if changing our body is against God's will for
us?  Could we be designed by God to do this very thing?  How could one know that we are not here at this time, for the very purpose
of challenging the world's understanding of God and His love that extends to us as we are, and become?  Of all the trans people I have
talked to, I have found none of them felt rejected by God for transitioning.  They did on the other hand, feel rejected by their families,
and society at large.

........................................................................But God Doesn't Make Mistakes!
Well meaning individuals, tell us that God doesn't make mistakes!  By this statement, I gather they think that we should not be changing
what God gave us.  By that logic, no one should be getting nose jobs, boob jobs or any other corrective surgery, because God doesn't
make mistakes.  One gets what they get, because God designed it that way!  We probably shouldn't even try to prevent dying!  After
all if that's what God wants, why fight it?  Now, does that logic really make any sense to anyone?  We live in an imperfect world.  
Birth defects happen.  God gave us intelligence and the gift of understanding his creation, and we know He doesn't make mistakes!  So
why shouldn't we use His "gifts" to correct birth defects, fight disease and more?

Transsexual/transgendered people agree that God didn't make a mistake when He made us.  Many of us who live through this insanity,
of having our mind and body gender not match, have come to view this as a gift from God.  Even though it is a difficult burden to bear
throughout our lives.  We understand things about what it is to be female and male that others will never understand.  We come to
appreciate our differences and attributes.  God did not make a mistake no matter how difficult this life is.

It is family, friends, church, and society make this life unbearable for us.

................................................................Does It Really Matter If This Change Is sin?
Does it really matter if changing our bodies is a sin?  I say no.  Why?  Because before God, all sins are equal.  One sin is not worse
than another sin.  That means that if a person told a lie today or mistreated their spouse or child, they sinned and stepped outside Gods
perfect will for them!  So why is our (alleged) sin greater than others?  Both actions would offend God if they were not His will for
our lives.  So sin is sin!  As a transgendered person, if I sin, I sin in ignorance.  God will forgive me.

.............................................................Does Scripture Speak Out Against Transitioning?
Some have tried to use scripture to prove that what we are doing is wrong.  Like 1 Corinthians 6:9:
"Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor
idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers
will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the
name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." (NIV)

First, there is no mention of anyone changing their body gender.  Second, if a person has ever committed any of the these sins in their
life: being sexually immoral, stealing from someone, being greedy, drunken or cheating another, then THEY should be worried about
themselves!  Not us.  The scripture further says, "But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the
Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God."  From this we understand that it is possible to be washed clean of such sins and
forgiven.  So even if transgendered people were listed up there, we could be forgiven!  So why use this scripture?  To judge us or
convict us?

Lets see what Jesus says about sin and judgement in John 8:7
"....If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." (NIV)  What sense is it for someone who sins to judge
another who sins?

Despite Jesus words about sin, "religion and society" often hate us, reject us, judge and ridicule us or even kill us...God's creation.  
Why?  Because we don't measure up to their expectations?  Are they "a respecter of persons", showing favoritism to some and not to
others? James 2:1 - 13

"1) My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism. 2) Suppose a man comes into your meeting
wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. 3) If you show special attention to the man
wearing fine clothes and say, "Here's a good seat for you," but say to the poor man, "You stand there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet,"
4) have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

5) Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the
kingdom he promised those who love him? 6) But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not
the ones who are dragging you into court? 7) Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong?

8) If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing right. 9) But if you show
favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 10) For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one
point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11) For he who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder." If you do not commit
adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.

12) Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13) because judgment without mercy will be
shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!" (NIV)

After reading that, how would God view non acceptance of us?  He says in James 2:13
"because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful.  Mercy triumphs over judgment!"   (NIV)

Sounds like He doesn't cut any slack for judgmental people.

All He wants is for us to love our neighbor as ourself. (James 2:8)  How can we love our neighbor while we are hating or judging them?

1 Corinthians 13: 4-7
"4) Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5) It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily
angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6) Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7) It always protects, always trusts,
always hopes, always perseveres". (NIV)  This is what and how we should be towards others, first and foremost loving.

James 3:17, 18
"17) But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good
fruit, impartial and sincere. 18) Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness." (NIV)