In the last post, we considered one of the inconsistencies
of the worldview of personal autonomy, particularly as it applies to
transgenderism. This worldview is
internally inconsistent, that is, it is self-contradictory.
A second way in which this worldview is inconsistent is in
its application to the world. It
cannot be consistently applied to life.
Let’s be reminded that the worldview of personal autonomy holds that man
has the capacity to decide for himself and pursue a course of action in his
life, often regardless of any particular moral content. There is no higher authority than
self. Again, we can use
transgenderism as an example. Personal
autonomy, as applied to this issue, would say that the individual has the right
to determine his or her gender identity, and society must relate to that
individual according to the individual’s choice. The politically correct consensus is that this should not be
questioned.
Yet, an interesting story developed in the news last week
regarding the head of the Spokane, Washington chapter of the NAACP. This woman, Rachel Dolezal, assumed by
those around her to be African American, admitted that she is biologically white,
yet claims to “identify as black.”
She views herself as a black woman. Were society to apply personal autonomy in this situation in
the same way it does with gender, Dolezal would be affirmed in this
identification and those questioning her identity would be shamed. However, Dolezal has been widely
vilified for her attempt to present herself as and live as a black woman.
Why the contradiction?
Why is personal autonomy championed in one sphere but not in
another? Because the worldview of
personal autonomy does not cohere with reality. The real world is one created by God and under His authority
and subject to His laws, both moral and natural. The worldview of personal autonomy denies this and as such
is in conflict with reality. For
this reason, we should expect those who espouse personal autonomy, or any other
errant worldview, to have trouble consistently applying it in God’s world.
The gender component of our identities is decided by God and
is written into our genetic code. At the cellular level, our gender is no more in question
than our race or species. This is
reality. The concept of
transitioning from one gender to another should be as absurd to us as
transitioning from one race to another or one species to another. And while some, in the name of personal
autonomy, have acclimated their minds to the validity of gender transition,
they cannot overcome the absurdity of the concept of racial transition. Because their worldview does not cohere
with reality, they cannot consistently apply it to the world. Thus, they champion gender transition
while rejecting racial transition.
This discussion may seem extremely insensitive to those
experiencing gender confusion. To
them, this is not merely a matter of logic and biology. We need to recognize that their
confusion is genuine. We also need
to realize that while the Christian worldview is portrayed as hateful and
intolerant of those who identify themselves as transgender, the Christian
worldview is actually the only worldview that can offer them true compassion
and hope. More on that next time.
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