QUESTION
Understanding the Christian Worldview: As a Christian university, we integrate faith and learning, which includes information and research that challenges moral stances. It is the foundation for establishing an understanding of the world around us and how as Christians we are a beacon of hope, love, acceptance, and knowledge. (Christian Worldview) While the university is clear about its identity as a Christian university and its foundational convictions, we are intentionally committed to living out the faith within the context of a missional community.
This assignment is not meant to be seen as a challenge, but as a platform for discussions and engagement on topics that are relevant to our world today. The assignment is not meant to change personal moral stances or convince students to think or believe a specific way. It is meant to educate and expose students to different resources about gender and sexuality variations. This will ensure students are prepared to handle and address the content in real-world settings.
Gender and sexuality variations exist within our society, and within the psychology field, we are tasked with handling situations that we may not agree with, with knowledge and wisdom, characterized by a welcoming spirit and loving service to all. As a society member, there is a responsibility to be informed, educated, think critically, and be globally aware. Sometimes, exploring uncomfortable topics can strengthen one’s beliefs and worldview, while also allowing for new perspective. (Christian Worldview) The hope is that students will learn to navigate that which they are not accustomed to and have the ability to seek knowledge when confronted with challenges to their moral stance or ideology.
This information has the potential to help you in your own ministry as you meet people who may identify as different genders, sexual orientations, etc. The important part of this topic is not to convince students about the moral stance on such topics but, instead, make them aware of what people mean when they talk about things like gender identity, sexual orientation, etc. In order to love and minister to all of God’s children we must make efforts to understand and become knowledgeable about various topics or situations we will face in the real world. Directions: Locate and select a book, movie, television series, or streaming series that portrays an adolescent character who struggles with gender identity or issues related to their sexuality.
The following have been provided as options, but you do not have to select one from the list. The following shows, movies, and works of literature are for mature audiences and have an R or M rating. Movies: Tomboy - no rating, Wild Tigers I Have Known (2006) - not rated, Geography Club (2013) - PG-13 Documentaries: Little Girl (2020) - not rated Books: Middlesex, Freakboy, Cemetery Boys TV Shows: I am Jazz -not rated, Euphoria - M rating, We Are Who We Are - M rating Write a paper in 1,200-1,500 words and address the following: What gender or sexuality issue is the character struggling with? (Christian Worldview) Describe the character′s adolescent stage of development.
If you are unsure, based on what you know about their background, did they struggle in adolescence? What are some physical, cognitive, and social challenges and changes this character might have experienced during adolescence? Include a desсrіption of a pivotal moment when the character transitioned. What support if any does the character have? What impact might the lack of support have? How is the character impacted by factors using the processes of development (e.g., social norms)?
What social stigmas exist for this character, and how do they handle these stigmas? Include a discussion on the relationship and influence of religion on the characters development. How can the Christian Worldview influence gender and/or sexual identity? Based on various Worldviews, how can different perceptions cultivate stigmas? include two to four scholarly sources to support your claims. In addition to the scholarly resources from the library, students may include past classroom materials, textbook, and credible internet-based sources as supplemental support (.org, .edu, .mil, .gov).
Christian Worldview
Understanding the Christian Worldview; Alex's Story
The character struggling with gender and sexuality issues in this paper is a young, fictional transgender man named Alex. Throughout his adolescence, Alex worked on understanding and accepting his identity as a transgender man. He felt confused and isolated, as he did not know anyone else who was like him and had no one to turn to for support. During his adolescent stage of development, Alex experienced many physical, cognitive, and social challenges and changes.
Physically, he shared the typical changes that all adolescents go through, such as puberty and the development of secondary sexual characteristics. (Christian Worldview) However, he also struggled because his body did not align with his gender identity, causing him significant distress. This can be a difficult and confusing time for any teenager. Still, for someone who is transgender, it can be particularly challenging as they may not feel comfortable in their own body and may be struggling with feelings of dysphoria.
Cognitively, Alex grappled with understanding and coming to terms with his gender identity. He spent a lot of time researching and reading about transgender people and their experiences, trying to make sense of his feelings and find a way to express them. This process of self-discovery and self-acceptance can be complicated and confusing for anyone. Still, it can be incredibly challenging for transgender individuals who may not have access to accurate information or supportive resources.
Socially, Alex faced significant challenges as he navigated his gender identity in a world that did not always understand or accept him. He was often bullied and mistreated by his peers, who did not understand or accept his identity. This made it difficult for him to form close relationships and caused him to feel isolated and alone. (Christian Worldview)
This can be a common experience for transgender individuals, as they may face discrimination and mistreatment from those who do not understand or accept their identity. This can lead to feelings of loneliness and isolation, which can have a negative impact on an individual's mental health and well-being.
A pivotal moment in Alex's development occurred when he came out as transgender to his family and friends. ( Christian Worldview)This was a difficult and risky decision, as he knew it would likely be met with resistance and misunderstanding. However, he felt he needed to be true to himself and live an authentic life.
Coming out as transgender can be a difficult and risky decision for anyone, as it involves revealing a part of oneself that others may not accept or understand. It can be a vulnerable and scary process, but it can also be empowering and liberating as it allows individuals to live their truth and be authentic.(Christian Worldview)
Unfortunately, Alex did not have much support in his journey. His family struggled to understand and accept his identity, and he was often met with rejection and a lack of understanding. This significantly impacted his development, as he did not have a supportive network of people to turn to for help and guidance.
Transgender individuals need supportive and accepting family and friends who can provide them with the love and support they need as they navigate their identity. (Christian Worldview) Without this support, it can be difficult for an individual to feel secure and confident in themselves, leading to feelings of isolation and low self-esteem.
The lack of support significantly impacted Alex's development, as he struggled with feelings of isolation and low self-esteem. Finding people who understood and accepted him was difficult, and he often felt misunderstood and marginalized. This can be a common experience for transgender individuals who may not have access to supportive resources or communities.(Christian Worldview) Society must recognize the unique challenges and struggles that transgender individuals face and work towards creating a more inclusive and supportive environment for all.
Social norms also played a role in Alex's development, as he struggled with the expectations placed on him as a young man. He felt pressure to conform to traditional gender roles and expectations, and this caused him a great deal of internal conflict. (Christian Worldview) This is a common experience for many transgender individuals, as they may feel pressure to conform to traditional gender roles and expectations that do not align with their identity. This can lead to feelings of internal conflict and may prevent an individual from fully expressing and embracing their uniqueness.
Stigmas and discrimination can significantly impact the mental health and well-being of transgender individuals, as they may feel misunderstood and marginalized by society. Alex faced significant social stigmas in his journey, as many people did not understand or accept his identity (White Hughto, Reisner & Pachankis, 2015).
He was often the target of discrimination and mistreatment, which negatively impacted his mental health and well-being. (Christian Worldview) It is crucial for society to recognize the harmful effects of stigmas and discrimination and to work towards creating a more inclusive and accepting environment for all.
Religion played a significant role in Alex's development, as he was raised in a conservative Christian household. He struggled with the idea that his identity might be seen as sinful or unnatural according to his faith, and this caused him a great deal of internal conflict. This is a common experience for many transgender individuals who may be raised in religious households that do not accept or understand their identity (Roy, 2020).
Individuals need to reconcile their faith with their identity and find supportive communities to help them do so. The Christian worldview can influence gender and sexual identity in many ways. Some may see being transgender as a sin or deviation from the norm, and this can lead to discrimination and mistreatment. (Christian Worldview) However, others may see being transgender as a natural expression of identity and embrace it as a part of God's plan (Roy, 2020). Individuals must be able to explore and understand their own beliefs and values and find communities that support and accept them.
Additionally, through the interpretation of biblical teachings and their application to issues related to gender and sexual identity, some Christians may view being transgender as a sin or deviation from God's plan, and this can lead to discrimination and mistreatment (Campbell, Hinton & Anderson, 2019). On the other hand, some Christians may see being transgender as a natural expression of identity and embrace it as a part of God's plan.
It can further create an impact through religious leaders and communities. Many transgender individuals may be raised in Christian households or may be a part of a Christian community (Campbell, Hinton & Anderson, 2019). (Christian Worldview) These leaders' and communities' messages and teachings can significantly impact their beliefs and values.
If transgender individuals are exposed to news of acceptance and understanding, it can help them feel more confident and secure in their identity. However, if they are exposed to messages of discrimination and rejection, it can harm their mental health and well-being.
The Christian worldview can also influence transgender individuals through the influence of societal expectations and norms. In many Christian communities, there may be strong expectations about gender roles and behaviors, and transgender individuals may feel pressure to conform to these expectations (Campbell, Hinton & Anderson, 2019). This can lead to feelings of internal conflict and may prevent an individual from fully expressing and embracing their identity. (Christian Worldview)
Most imperatively, it is worth noting that different worldviews can cultivate stigmas differently. Some may see being transgender as threatening traditional gender roles and social norms, leading to discrimination and marginalization (Campbell, Hinton & Anderson, 2019). Others may see it as a natural expression of identity and embrace it with acceptance and understanding. It is crucial for society to recognize and respect the diversity of perspectives and experiences and to work towards creating a more inclusive and supportive environment for all.
In conclusion, Alex's journey as a transgender man during adolescence was filled with challenges and struggles. He faced physical, cognitive, and social difficulties as he navigated his identity in a world that did not always understand or accept him. The lack of support and the presence of social stigmas made his journey even more complicated, and the influence of religion added a layer of complexity. (Christian Worldview)
Despite these challenges, Alex was able to find strength and resilience within himself and ultimately transition to living as his authentic self. Society needs to recognize the challenges and struggles those transgender individuals like Alex face, and to work towards creating a more inclusive and understanding environment for all people, regardless of their gender or sexual identity. This can be achieved through education and awareness, as well as through creating policies and practices that support and protect the rights of transgender individuals.
In summary, Alex's story highlights the importance of acceptance and understanding in developing a healthy and fulfilled individual.(Christian Worldview) It is crucial for society to recognize and support the diversity of identities and experiences and to work towards creating a more inclusive and supportive environment for all.