Gender: A summary

1. Presuppositions

• Things really exist (Epistemological realism)¹
• We are able to say coherent things about reality (Metaphysical realism)²

2. Empirical³

• Binary male-female gender can be observed in the world (Eg chromosomes, bone structure, hormones, secondary sex characteristics, physical performance, personality traits, and social organisation) and in Scripture (Eg Genesis 1:27 & 2:24), not withstanding abnormalities (Eg Matthew 19:12).

3. Existential⁴

• Gender is subjectively experienced.

4. Social

• Gender roles, tropes and behaviours are socially constructed.

5. Binary-gender-pairs are a theological symbol

• Symbol of our relationship to God (Eph 5:32).

6. Masculinity is a theological symbol

• Masculinity represents God’s rule over creation (1 Cor 15:22)

7. Femininity is a theological symbol

• Femininity represents God’s response to creation (Luke 13:34)

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1 “Is the belief that the object of human reason, when reason is working naturally and rightly, is objective reality as it really is.” Peter Kreeft, Socratic Logic (St Augustine’s Press, South Bend Indiana, 2008): 17.^↩

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2 “Is the belief that universal concepts correspond to reality.”Kreeft, Socratic Logic, 20.^↩

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3 “Empiricism is the belief that people should rely on practical experience and experiments, rather than on theories, as a basis for knowledge.” Collins Dictionary, Accessed 31 Oct 2018^↩

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4 “Existential means relating to human existence and experience.” Collins Dictionary, Accessed 31 Oct 2018^↩

[Photograph by Johann Walter Bantz, Unsplash]