Robert Hegwood
22-07-2006, 09:04 PM
I've come across an interesting, if delicate question regarding marriage and gender identity that I cannot figure out how to resolve. Its a finge thing, a rare possiblity...but one should it occur would require it seems some concentrated inquiry into the anthropology that is taught by the Church. Maybe it has been addressed before, and I am just not aware of it. Moreover it is a problem that in a way only exists because of advances in modern medical science...but since those advances do exist, I have to wonder what implication they carry now with the Church. I know I'm being cryptic, but not for much longer.
Imagine this: A hundred or so years ago an Orthodox couple gets married, live a traditional Orthodox life etc. but unfortunately their marriage is not blessed with any children and so they pass the way of all men and repose and are buried. In all this they are blessed/comforted by the Church.
Now take this same couple move them into to our time. They marry and when they can't have children they see a doctor and lo and behold it turns out the reason is because the "wife" is genetically male (XY)...intersexed thus giving all outward appearance of being female. What are they to do? Are they still married in the eyes of the Church...were they ever? What should their life be now? Do they continue as husband and wife...or live as brother and "brother"...seperate? What?
To take this a step further...given modern advances it is likely that at least by puberty the "female" would have been figured out to be intersexed...genetically male, but structurally female. Which are they in the eyes of the Church male or female? Could a normal male marry such an intersexed person in the light of this genetic knowledge...that 100 years before was not even known...that absent this modern knowledge there would have been no impediment to marriage.
And if (a big if) were still to be permitted...then where is the line with an intersexed person...what of one who is "structurally" more or less half and half... what is determinative...genetics, outward appearance, personal gender identity (more feminine in personality than masculine or vis versa), something else.
And what of that couple from a 100 years ago...what does this modern knowledge mean for them and their "state". Doesn't the Church teach the bonds of marriage do not end at death?
I suppose one could say that such a person if Orthodox who has this abnormality should go to a monastery...but still which one, for men or for women?
As you can see this is probably a very rare thing, but I have to wonder what resources the Church would draw upon to give an answer...and what that answer would teach us concerning the anthropology of the Church...its understanding of mankind in its nature.
Btw, this is a serious, not a troll question, and it is without agenda...just a puzzlement that better wiser souls than myself might have some insights on.
Imagine this: A hundred or so years ago an Orthodox couple gets married, live a traditional Orthodox life etc. but unfortunately their marriage is not blessed with any children and so they pass the way of all men and repose and are buried. In all this they are blessed/comforted by the Church.
Now take this same couple move them into to our time. They marry and when they can't have children they see a doctor and lo and behold it turns out the reason is because the "wife" is genetically male (XY)...intersexed thus giving all outward appearance of being female. What are they to do? Are they still married in the eyes of the Church...were they ever? What should their life be now? Do they continue as husband and wife...or live as brother and "brother"...seperate? What?
To take this a step further...given modern advances it is likely that at least by puberty the "female" would have been figured out to be intersexed...genetically male, but structurally female. Which are they in the eyes of the Church male or female? Could a normal male marry such an intersexed person in the light of this genetic knowledge...that 100 years before was not even known...that absent this modern knowledge there would have been no impediment to marriage.
And if (a big if) were still to be permitted...then where is the line with an intersexed person...what of one who is "structurally" more or less half and half... what is determinative...genetics, outward appearance, personal gender identity (more feminine in personality than masculine or vis versa), something else.
And what of that couple from a 100 years ago...what does this modern knowledge mean for them and their "state". Doesn't the Church teach the bonds of marriage do not end at death?
I suppose one could say that such a person if Orthodox who has this abnormality should go to a monastery...but still which one, for men or for women?
As you can see this is probably a very rare thing, but I have to wonder what resources the Church would draw upon to give an answer...and what that answer would teach us concerning the anthropology of the Church...its understanding of mankind in its nature.
Btw, this is a serious, not a troll question, and it is without agenda...just a puzzlement that better wiser souls than myself might have some insights on.