Abstract
By reflecting on sexuality, gender and gender roles, this article compared the contributions of two sources: one from the medical sciences and one from theology. These publications paved the way for an informed theological reflection on the ministry of people from an LGBT orientation. The motivation for this article was McHugh and Mayer’s statement that science offers limited answers to gender matters and that help should be sought from the humanities. The interdisciplinary nature of the research challenged us to consider non-theological data and to formulate our theological convictions better. An integrative literature review was used as research method and key research concepts included sex, gender and what influences these predispositions. The findings were analysed and synthesised and presented in a way that posed new questions for future research. It encouraged us to make informed decisions when offering theological responses to sex and gender. The inability of the natural sciences to identify causative factors of gender confusion opened the door to the humanities. It afforded theology an opportunity to engage with other sciences while addressing sex and gender from a faith perspective. This article presented a broad multi-disciplinary understanding of gender and sexual orientation and paved the way for theological reflection that is scientifically sound. Shifting our focus from causative to environmental factors in gender research was a profitable endeavour. Our first responsibility as religious practitioners is not to protect truth and condemn behaviour at the cost of people, but to liberate people to share in the fulness of life. Contribution: This article promoted collaboration between theology and the natural sciences on matters of gender and sexual orientation. It was found that there is room for theology to investigate the role that environmental factors play in this regard. This approach corresponds with the aim of In die Skriflig / In Luce Verbi to promote multi-disciplinary research where religious studies engage with social sciences, human sciences, or even natural sciences.
Highlights
Sexuality, gender and gender roles are redefined
This article does not offer a theology on gender and sexuality, nor gives a broad overview on gender orientation, but investigates findings from the natural sciences that can lead to more informed theological reflection. It does not engage with the biblical arguments of Piper and Grudem, but compares their scientific section with findings from the New Atlantis special report, based on research in the natural sciences. This limited focus is due to the following reasons: (1) the extent of the research presented by these sources had to be dealt with in detail; (2) the restrictive length of a journal article limits the scope that can be dealt with, and to include perspectives from the vast volume of works on gender and sexual identity would be impossible; and 3) by comparing these two sources, an idea can be formed of how the findings from natural sciences have developed over the last 30 years since the publication of Piper and Grudem’s book
The author shares the sentiments of the New Atlantis report that we need to engage with people from an LGBT orientation and ask what role theology can play in understanding gender orientation
Summary
Sexuality, gender and gender roles are redefined. For the purpose of this article, we distinguish between three categories in dealing with gender and sexuality: (1) physical distinctions between persons, based on biological differences; (2) value distinctions, focusing on the worth of persons; and (3) masculine and feminine role distinctions, based on biblical and social norms. It does not engage with the biblical arguments of Piper and Grudem, but compares their scientific section with findings from the New Atlantis special report, based on research in the natural sciences This limited focus is due to the following reasons: (1) the extent of the research presented by these sources had to be dealt with in detail; (2) the restrictive length of a journal article limits the scope that can be dealt with, and to include perspectives from the vast volume of works on gender and sexual identity would be impossible; and 3) by comparing these two sources, an idea can be formed of how the findings from natural sciences have developed over the last 30 years since the publication of Piper and Grudem’s book
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