What are Trans-The( )logies?
This page contains reflections on what some of my peers and I think trans-the( )logies are and how this new type of binary busting theology is helpful in thinking about religion.
Jasmine Herrick
"For me, Trans-The( )logies are theologies that challenge binaries and smear lines between dichotomies. Sacred and profane, gay and straight, female and male, all of these things can be woven together. There need not be a dividing line between these things any longer with a Trans-Theology because the divine is in all things. This approach to theology really jives with my interfaith tendencies."
- Jasmine is a first year MDiv candidate at Pacific School of Religion. She self-identifies as a cis-gendered female and is endeavoring daily to be as interfaith as possible. Dancing is her favorite spiritual practice. (She is also the creator of this website).
- Jasmine is a first year MDiv candidate at Pacific School of Religion. She self-identifies as a cis-gendered female and is endeavoring daily to be as interfaith as possible. Dancing is her favorite spiritual practice. (She is also the creator of this website).
Eli'jah Carroll
"To me, God is genderful. To call God he and/or she would be incomplete and not satisfy all that God is. God creates, gives birth, nurtures, protects, guides, tears down, and builds up. God is both mother, father, and more. The "and more" is the most important part. That's the part that transcends God from any binary structure. God's "and more" helps me to see, understand, and strive for that "and more" part of me. In this way, God becomes more than just a parent. To call God just a parent is also confining. God is so much more. To think of God as parent is also a kind of binary thinking. God is parent, friend, lover, teacher, provider, artist, and so much more. God is my queer, non-binary, genderful sensei. And, I strive to be God's queer, non-binary, genderful, sidekick each day."
- Eli'jah is a first year MDiv candidate at Pacific School of Religion. He self-identifies as transgendered and is from the Metropolitan Community Church background.
- Eli'jah is a first year MDiv candidate at Pacific School of Religion. He self-identifies as transgendered and is from the Metropolitan Community Church background.
Deborah Addington
"Transtheology, an emerging area of religious study, relates the human as imago Dei to God outside a gender or sexuality binary, in the inclusive frame of Spirit’s ever-shifting presence and manifestations. It is also an ancient, historied approach to Deity that places both seeker and sought in the liminal places beyond polarized dualities."
- Deborah Addington is a 3rd year MDiv candidate at the GTU pursuing doctoral studies in the field of transtheology. Deborah thinks bigendered pronouns have outlived their usefulness and craves a new language for the spectrum of gender identities.
- Deborah Addington is a 3rd year MDiv candidate at the GTU pursuing doctoral studies in the field of transtheology. Deborah thinks bigendered pronouns have outlived their usefulness and craves a new language for the spectrum of gender identities.
Ashley Wai'olu Moore
"Trans-theologies are the theologies of trans identified persons and even some of their allies.
For me, God is utterly transcendent. As a Panentheist, I believe God is part of all things and all things part of God. Thus God is present at every point of the continuums of gender and sexuality, as well as the entire continuum of the diversities of humanity. God is in and part of all things, but God, as a consciousness, being, deity, parent, teacher, companion, lover, also exits between and beyond all that is. God is that which all of our words, symbols, myths and religious point to, but none of those are God. God is utterly transcendent. beyond naming, beyond description, beyond understanding. Yet God's presence, grace and companionship is available to any who seek that relationship."
- Ashley is a first year MDiv candidate at Pacific School of Religion. She self-identifies as a transgendered spiritual seeker with Southern Baptist, Unitarian Universalist, Metropolitan Community Church, and Lutheran backgrounds and is currently serving in the United Church of Christ.
For me, God is utterly transcendent. As a Panentheist, I believe God is part of all things and all things part of God. Thus God is present at every point of the continuums of gender and sexuality, as well as the entire continuum of the diversities of humanity. God is in and part of all things, but God, as a consciousness, being, deity, parent, teacher, companion, lover, also exits between and beyond all that is. God is that which all of our words, symbols, myths and religious point to, but none of those are God. God is utterly transcendent. beyond naming, beyond description, beyond understanding. Yet God's presence, grace and companionship is available to any who seek that relationship."
- Ashley is a first year MDiv candidate at Pacific School of Religion. She self-identifies as a transgendered spiritual seeker with Southern Baptist, Unitarian Universalist, Metropolitan Community Church, and Lutheran backgrounds and is currently serving in the United Church of Christ.