Homosexuality vs. transgenderism

This video below is fantastic, but there’s a lot packed in here, so the argument is worth writing out as well. What the narrator, Joseph Backholm, is explaining is that there is a fundamental conflict between homosexuals and transgenders. Whereas homosexual men say they are attracted to men, transgenders say you can’t even know someone is a man by looking at him because gender is not tied to biology. Or, in other words, maleness and femaleness can only be known by asking not by seeing. It then makes no sense for a homosexual to say they are physically attracted to one gender or the other, because there are no physical attributes unique to one gender or the other – ie. men can have breasts, and women, penises. So transgenderism and homosexuality can only remain allies so long as they don’t discuss their foundational assumptions.

While homosexuality and transgenderism can’t both be right, they can both be wrong. Backholm notes that “Our fundamental identity is not found in our sexual attractions, or in our feelings about how masculine or feminine we are.” But he leaves it at that. Christians need to carry on and note that attractions may fade, and feelings may change, so grounding our identity in either of those is going to be disappointing. But we can find our true identity by turning to the One who made us.

Does systemic racism exist? 

“Systemic racism isn’t whatever I – as a black man – says it is. My perceptions are not proof. My experiences are not authoritative. I am not God.

“….Therefore, if we’re going to accuse our governments of participating in systemic racism today, we should be able to list examples of systemic partiality against black people today. …Social justice proponents are unable to list racist laws or policies to support their accusations, so they usually resort to perceptions and racial disparities as evidence for their accusations…. Systemic racism theory essentially demands groups to prove they’re not systemically racist – instead of demanding social justice proponents to prove the legitimacy of their accusations.”

Deepfakes show the need for knowing your sources are trustworthy

Deepfakes are faked videos of celebrities or political leaders that can’t be distinguished from the real thing. We live in a world in which Justin Trudeau can be made to say anything, the video posted on YouTube, and the viewing audience would not, just from seeing and hearing it, be able to tell it from the real thing. The only way to discern whether it is true or not would be whether it was received from a trustworthy source, or not. But with trustworthy sources at a minimum these days, it underscores the need for higher standards in our media consumption. We can’t believe everything we find in our social media feed…and we shouldn’t be passing on what we ourselves don’t know is reliable.

Vaccines that use aborted fetuses’ cells draw fire

COVID-19 vaccines are being developed using cells from aborted fetuses. These fetuses were aborted long ago – more than 30 years ago – so the question is raised, does it really need to concern us now? Pastor Douglas Wilson proposes that before answering that question we should reframe it properly and ask: “Is it lawful for Christians knowingly to use vaccines that were grown in the cultivated remains of a murder victim?”

Men: don’t let chivalry die on your watch

J. Aaron White (and the apostle Peter) on how gentlemen should be studying our wives, serving our wives, and enjoying our wives.

Romeo and Juliet 2020 remix

For all the English teachers out there…