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  • Feb 15, 2009, 11:38 PM
    asking

    So, Tom, what about my statement about gender identity becoming established at age five do you disagree with? When do you think it becomes established? Earlier? Later?

    And what makes you think that?

    And why are you being so coy about it?

    Am I missing something you think is terribly obvious?
  • Feb 15, 2009, 11:49 PM
    Tj3
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by asking View Post
    I am saying that if you have a point to make about gender identity, make it.

    I have no idea what you were attempting to imply by stating that I must not have children.

    Well, let's just say my wife burst out laughing when I told her what you said about gender identity and questioned if you knew anything about children. I cannot imagine how anyone who was even around children could make such a statement.
  • Feb 15, 2009, 11:52 PM
    Tj3
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by asking View Post
    So, Tom, what about my statement about gender identity becoming established at age five do you disagree with? When do you think it becomes established? Earlier? Later?

    It would be hard to identify just how young children are by the time that they know they are boys and girls because it is probably well before they begin to talk.

    Quote:

    And what makes you think that?
    The fact that I have never seen or heard of an exception to it. And I have been around a lot of children.

    Quote:

    And why are you being so coy about it?
    Why are you accusing me of being coy. I have been quite open about my views on this.

    Quote:

    Am I missing something you think is terribly obvious?
    Apparently.
  • Feb 15, 2009, 11:57 PM
    Tj3
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by asking View Post
    The earlier information comes from a textbook of human development and from research by a pediatric surgeon who does sex assignment surgery to intersex infants. It was not my opinion.

    Why don't you tell who the author is and what the book is? Why are you being so coy?
  • Feb 16, 2009, 12:05 AM
    asking

    Tom, It wasn't at all obvious why you thought it was a laughable idea. Apparently, science disagrees with you once again. But we are all used to that by now.

    My source was Eric Vilain, MD, PhD
    It was not a book, but a scientific lecture I attended.

    Here's his webpage at UCLA.
    UCLA Department of Urology Faculty Information - Eric Vilain, MD, PhD
  • Feb 16, 2009, 12:14 AM
    Wondergirl
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by asking View Post
    Tom, It wasn't at all obvious why you thought it was a laughable idea. Apparently, science disagrees with you once again. But we are all used to that by now.

    My source was Eric Villains, MD, PhD
    It was not a book, but a scientific lecture I attended.

    Here's his webpage at UCLA.
    UCLA Department of Urology Faculty Information - Eric Vilain, MD, PhD

    Thanks again, asking, for all your input. We needed it for clarity.
  • Feb 16, 2009, 12:25 AM
    asking

    Vilain said "about five" and I never had the impression that he intended that to be exact. But I found a paper listed on his website that states:

    "Gender identity development begins before the age of 3 years, but the earliest
    age at which it can be reliably assessed remains unclear."

    Consensus Statement on Management of Intersex Disorders
    Consensus Statement on Management of Intersex Disorders -- Lee et al. 118 (2): e488 -- Pediatrics

    That it begins before age three does not mean it is completed by age three, plus there is probably a lot of variation depending on the individual. Plus, there is the matter of being able to assess what is in the child's mind. Vilain stated that it was difficult to assess a child's own self identification (as opposed to, say, the parents') before about age five.

    It's very easy for adults to impose their gender assumptions on a child without that having anything to do with how the child feels. For example, I have seen people walk up to a male baby and coo about what a darling she is with her beautiful long lashes, etc. This is one reason so many people punctiliously label their babies with denim dungarees or pink bows, accordingly.

    So, Tom, I still don't know what you and your wife are laughing about. Unless you raised a transgender child, you would never have had your assumptions challenged, since the majority of girl babies grow up to self identify as girls and the majority of boy babies grow up to self identify as boys. You may think your 1-year old is "all boy." But he probably has no idea what that means.
  • Feb 16, 2009, 12:26 AM
    asking
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Wondergirl View Post
    Thanks again, asking, for all your input. We needed it for clarity.

    You are welcome! And thank you!
    It fun to find you all here arguing.
  • Feb 16, 2009, 12:32 AM
    Wondergirl
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by asking View Post
    You are welcome! And thank you!
    It fun to find you all here arguing.

    Did you notice how well-behaved we all were? The thread hasn't gotten shut down yet...

    More tomorrow night??
  • Feb 16, 2009, 12:39 AM
    asking

    I'd like to know at what age a person feels attraction, however non sexual, for others. My first crush was in kindergarten.

    Others want to contribute?

    Gays in this thread give ages mostly from 4-11, with quite a lot of "7 or 8"s.
    When did you realize you were gay? - Topix
  • Feb 16, 2009, 06:54 AM
    Tj3
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by asking View Post
    My source was Eric Vilain, MD, PhD
    It was not a book, but a scientific lecture I attended.

    I mistook it to be a book because you indicated earlier that it was.

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by asking View Post
    The earlier information comes from a textbook of human development and from research by a pediatric surgeon who does sex assignment surgery to intersex infants.

    It is also interesting to note that you reference a man named "Vilian" who is not even mentioned or acknowledged in the paper that you linked.

    Let's go on to the details about the theory.

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by asking View Post
    Vilain said "about five" and I never had the impression that he intended that to be exact. But I found a paper listed on his website that states:

    "Gender identity development begins before the age of 3 years, but the earliest
    age at which it can be reliably assessed remains unclear."

    Read further:

    "Gender identity development begins before the age of 3 years,68 but the earliest age at which it can be reliably assessed remains unclear. The generalization that the age of 18 months is the upper limit of imposed gender reassignment should be treated with caution and viewed conservatively."

    Now there was another "expert" in this field who believed that infants did not have gender identity, and thus sex could be changed and ruined the life of a man in one very famous incident widely reported in the news at the time. You may wish to read an article about John / Joan. The boy had damaged caused to his penis during electro-surgery when he was 7 months old, so they did further surgery to change him into a girl and his parents raised him as a girl. Here is an excerpt from the article:

    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    In a nutshell, the child never was and never became a normal girl. Now in his thirties, having married a woman with three children, John lives as a man. He, his mother and brother now recall that Joan regularly rejected girls' toys, clothes and activities. His mother says that, despite an attractive female appearance, Joan's movements and speech "gave him away and the awkwardness and incongruities became apparent." [18] Johns twin brother has said: "When I say there was nothing feminine about Joan, I mean there was nothing feminine. She talked about guy things, didn't give a crap about cleaning house, getting married, wearing makeup" (emphasis in original). At the age of six or seven, Joan told her brother she wanted to be a garbage man: "Easy job, good pay." [2] Despite the absence of a penis, Joan often stood to urinate. Other girls at school eventually barred her from their bathroom, threatening to kill her if she came in. Eventually she would use a back alley for urination. [25] Contrary to Money's earlier reports, Joan's behavior during childhood failed to be "so normally that of an active little girl."

    Despite rearing as a girl, Joan dreamed of a future as a he-man type with a mustache and sports car. Although placed on estrogens at the age of 12, she often discarded the drugs, disliking how they made her feel. She was disturbed by her developing breasts. At one point she told her endocrinologist that she had suspected she was a boy since the second grade. She adamantly refused the surgery that would give her a vaginal opening and complained to her psychiatrist how she dreaded the trips to Johns Hopkins where people looked at her and showed her pictures of nude bodies. At the conclusion of her final visit in 1978, Joan told her mother she would kill herself if she had to go again. By 1980 Joan's relationship with her clinicians at Hopkins had reached impasse. "Do you want to be a girl or not?" her endocrinologist had demanded. "No!" replied Joan emphatically. At the age of 14, without knowing the history, she decided to cease living as a girl: Joan became John. [2, 25]

    Following the transition, John's father, on the advice of a psychiatrist, revealed what had happened during infancy. Until that moment her parents and clinicians had tried to conceal all that was problematic about her gender, to give her the unambiguous rearing as a girl they were told to provide. Listening intently to his father tell the story of the botched circumcision and surgery, John experienced relief. A puzzling past began to make sense. At John's request, male hormones were subsequently administered, a mastectomy was performed, and surgeons eventually created a penis. John now takes satisfaction as a husband, father and breadwinner.
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    There is more - John was not alone:

    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    The outcome of the John/Joan case has been observed with comparable patients. In a recent and ongoing study Reiner tracked six boys who had lost their penises in infancy and were being reared as girls. These children behaved more like boys than girls and, in two cases, not knowing they were XY, the children autonomously changed gender and assumed male roles. [27] Reiner has stated: "it would be wrong to say that these two children wished to be boys or felt they were boys in girls bodies: they believed they were boys."(Quoted in Colapinto.) [2]

    Another significant development has been the emergence of the Intersex Society of North America (ISNA) and related advocacy and support groups. The ISNA membership includes adults who were surgically "normalized" as children, generally without being told, and other intersexuals who have not had surgery. Having attempted unsuccessfully to dialogue with medical organizations in the U.S. some intersexuals have taken to picketing hospitals and conferences. [28] Unlike those with surgically corrected cleft palates, intersex patients are condemning physicians for their surgeries and for withholding the truth about their medical condition and treatment. The John/Joan case, the Reiner study, the activist protests and other cases reported in the literature, [29-31] strongly suggest that pediatric reassignment may often be failing the thank you test for clinical beneficence, [32] and that these poor outcomes may not be isolated droplets of misfortune in a downpour of excellent results.
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    You may wish to read the atrticle. This is the real world - not just someone's opinion.

    Pediatric Ethics and the Surgical Assignment of Sex

    Quote:

    So, Tom, I still don't know what you and your wife are laughing about.
    I did not think that you would.
  • Feb 16, 2009, 07:37 AM
    cozyk
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by asking View Post
    I'd like to know at what age a person feels attraction, however non sexual, for others. My first crush was in kindergarten.

    Others want to contribute?

    Gays in this thread give ages mostly from 4-11, with quite a lot of "7 or 8"s.
    When did you realize you were gay? - Topix

    First grade, his name was Steve, I loved his cow lick at the front of his crew cut. I actually thought that meant a cow had come up to him, took a good lick, and it made his hair stay that way, permanently. I bet he does not have it today. If he is like his father, he should have "male pattern baldness." I went to school and church with him and had a crush on him up to grade 5, then I had to change schools.
  • Feb 16, 2009, 07:42 AM
    cozyk

    I think being born into the wrong body would be one of the saddest things that could happen to anyone. But, I truly do believe that it happens and I just pray for peace for these people. Peace and acceptance from society. It is bad enough that they have this battle going on within themselves, but then for society to shun them too, or not believe them is just unforgivable.
  • Feb 16, 2009, 07:46 AM
    excon
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by cozyk View Post
    It is bad enough that they have this battle going on within themselves, but then for society to shun them too, or not believe them is just unforgivable.

    Hello again, cozyk:

    It IS unforgivable, especially from people who think they're so forgiving...

    Bwa, ha ha ha.

    excon
  • Feb 16, 2009, 07:47 AM
    cozyk
    Quote:

    I did not think that you would.
    [/QUOTE]


    I have to admit. I don't know what you and your wife are laughing about either. I'd be willing to bet though that you have not had either homosexuality or gender ID problems in your family.
  • Feb 16, 2009, 07:49 AM
    Tj3
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by cozyk View Post
    I have to admit. I don't know what you and your wife are laughing about either.

    It is good to admit that.

    Quote:

    I'd be willing to bet though that you have not had either homosexuality or gender ID problems in your family.
    No, they all accepted the way that God created them.
  • Feb 16, 2009, 08:01 AM
    excon
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Tj3 View Post
    No, they all accepted the way that God created them.

    Hello again Tj:

    That sounds exactly like Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in Iran when he said there were no homosexuals there...

    And, he's nowhere near the Nile river.

    excon
  • Feb 16, 2009, 08:04 AM
    Tj3
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by excon View Post
    Hello again Tj:
    That sounds exactly like Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in Iran when he said there were no homosexuals there....

    Now slow down and read carefully. I do acknowledge that there are homosexuals. If there were not, we would not be having this discussion.

    Lev 18:21-23
    22 You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination. 23 Nor shall you mate with any animal, to defile yourself with it. Nor shall any woman stand before an animal to mate with it. It is perversion.
    NKJV
  • Feb 16, 2009, 08:10 AM
    bobbalina

    Now that's how we got AIDS...
  • Feb 16, 2009, 08:13 AM
    NeedKarma
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by bobbalina View Post
    now thats how we got AIDS...

    Origin of AIDS - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

    snopes.com: The Origin of AIDS


    Education is important.
  • Feb 16, 2009, 08:13 AM
    excon

    Hello again, Tj:

    I'm trying. I really am.. But, if God only designs people to be straight, then if they're OTHER than straight, it's by choice.

    Therefore, if people CHOOSE to sin, then what? They're no different than ANY Christian who sins, no?

    Is a homosexual sin different than any other?

    excon
  • Feb 16, 2009, 08:14 AM
    excon
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by bobbalina View Post
    now thats how we got AIDS...

    Hello again, b:

    No, that how your FATHER told you we got aids. But, he's WRONG on that too.

    excon
  • Feb 16, 2009, 08:18 AM
    Tj3
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by excon View Post
    I'm trying. I really am.. But, if God only designs people to be straight, then if they're OTHER than straight, it's by choice.

    Therefore, if people CHOOSE to sin, then what? They're no different than ANY Christian who sins, no?

    Is a homosexual sin different than any other?

    GOOD QUESTION!!

    The answer is NO - they are no different from anyone else, nor is that choice a different sin from any other. That is a point often find myself at odds with some Christians who either see homosexuality as an especially bad sin and thus differentiate it, or they see it as a "special" sin where the orientation is okay (unlike other sins). But scripture gives no special status to this or any sin other than blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.

    The only difference comes when we receive Christ as Saviour - that is when our sins are forgiven. But none of us comes to Christ with any merit of our own - we are all equally sinners who need to be saved by God's grace.
  • Feb 16, 2009, 08:37 AM
    cozyk
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Tj3 View Post
    It is good to admit that.



    No, they all accepted the way that God created them.

    Lucky for them, that they were created without any glitches that can sometimes happen when the human embryo is forming. Because if something did actually go awry , you would not stand for it.
  • Feb 16, 2009, 08:39 AM
    cozyk
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by excon View Post
    Hello again, cozyk:

    It IS unforgivable, especially from people who think they're so forgiving...

    Bwa, ha ha ha.

    excon

    I know, isn't that ironic?
  • Feb 16, 2009, 08:42 AM
    Tj3
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by cozyk View Post
    Lucky for them, that they were created without any glitches that can sometimes happen when the human embryo is forming. Because if something did actually go awry , you would not stand for it.

    Fortunately, I am more able to stand for "glitches" than some folk who appear unwilling to accept disagreement without posting mis-representations.
  • Feb 16, 2009, 08:47 AM
    NeedKarma
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Tj3 View Post
    Fortunately, I am more able to stand for "glitches" than some folk who appear unwilling to accept disagreement without posting mis-representations.

    My wife and I are laughing over this.
  • Feb 16, 2009, 08:48 AM
    bobbalina

    Well I don't think anybody really knows where aids came from but I think that some guy thought 'hey I think ill try this' so he got it from a monkey and spread it not knowing well that's just what I think
  • Feb 16, 2009, 08:48 AM
    classyT
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by cozyk View Post
    I know, isn't that ironic?

    EX and cozyk,
    Come on.. that isn't fair. I am a Christian and I stand in judgement of no one. I forgive, I'm polite, and I give a biblical view point. Homosexuality according to the bible is wrong. It is a sin... a forgivable sin but nonetheless a sin. Why do you want to lump all Christians into a box? I thought you all were the ones with such open minds? Tsk tsk
  • Feb 16, 2009, 08:49 AM
    cozyk
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Tj3 View Post
    Fortunately, I am more able to stand for "glitches" than some folk who appear unwilling to accept disagreement without posting mis-representations.

    Not getting it:confused:
  • Feb 16, 2009, 08:50 AM
    Tj3
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by cozyk View Post
    Not getting it:confused:

    I am not surprised.
  • Feb 16, 2009, 08:53 AM
    excon
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Tj3 View Post
    I am not surprised.

    Hello again, Tj:

    Where in the proselytizing literature, does it say that you can win non believers over with arrogance?

    excon
  • Feb 16, 2009, 08:54 AM
    cozyk
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by classyT View Post
    EX and cozyk,
    Come on..that isn't fair. I am a Christian and I stand in judgement of no one. I forgive, I'm polite, and I give a biblical view point. Homosexuality according to the bible is wrong. it is a sin ...a forgivable sin but nonetheless a sin. Why do you want to lump all Christians into a box? I thought you all were the ones with such open minds? tsk tsk

    Why can't some christians accept that people may be gay because of a glitch in utero and stop saying it is by choice and it is a sin. OTHER, than what it says in the bible because that proves nothing.
  • Feb 16, 2009, 08:56 AM
    Tj3
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by excon View Post
    Hello again, Tj:
    Where in the proselytizing literature, does it say that you can win non believers over with arrogance?

    Maybe you missed the topic of this thread, excon, but it is not "Let's Attack Christianity". Check to see elsewhere. I am sure that there are flaming boards where that would be more appropriate and welcome.
  • Feb 16, 2009, 08:57 AM
    Tj3
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by cozyk View Post
    Why can't some christians accept that people may be gay because of a glitch in utero and stop saying it is by choice and it is a sin.

    Because we deal with reality rather than with what some folk would prefer to think happened.
  • Feb 16, 2009, 08:57 AM
    cozyk
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Tj3 View Post
    I am not surprised.

    What was I mis-representing? I got to go to the dentist now, but I'll check back with you later. Bye:)
  • Feb 16, 2009, 08:57 AM
    Tj3
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by cozyk View Post
    What was I mis-representing? I gotta go to the dentist now, but I'll check back with you later. Bye:)

    What I believe and said.
  • Feb 16, 2009, 09:11 AM
    classyT
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by cozyk View Post
    Why can't some christians accept that people may be gay because of a glitch in utero and stop saying it is by choice and it is a sin. OTHER, than what it says in the bible because that proves nothing.

    cozyk,

    Want a honest answer? Because I believe the word of God over what man says and thinks. Doesn't make me better.. or unforgiving
  • Feb 16, 2009, 09:15 AM
    excon
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Tj3 View Post
    Maybe you missed the topic of this thread, excon, but it is not "Let's Attack Christianity". Check to see elsewhere. I am sure that there are flaming boards where that would be more appropriate and welcome.

    Hello again, Tj:

    Here's the thing. You don't seem to read very well. I was quite clear. I attacked YOU. NOT Christianity... But, it's cool. I'm still on to you.

    excon
  • Feb 16, 2009, 09:51 AM
    Wondergirl
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Tj3 View Post
    GOOD QUESTION!!!!

    The answer is NO - they are no different from anyone else, nor is that choice a different sin from any other. That is a point often find myself at odds with some Christians who either see homosexuality as an especially bad sin

    He didn't ask about homosexuality. He asked about the behavior.

    Heterosexuality is not a sin, but adultery is.

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