This session will offer an overview of the ‘strange new world of gender’, its key ideas and its impact on society. We will look at the roots of ‘gender identity’ theory, the idea that sex is ‘assigned at birth’, the rise in the number of people identifying as trans or non-binary, the contested nature of medical care for gender-questioning patients, and the political struggles over ‘trans rights’. We will then consider several key biblical themes (perspectives on our physical bodies, sex, gender, identity, and suffering) and biblical attitudes (such as compassion, conviction, courage, and wisdom) which play a part in framing a Christian response.
