The Writings of Caryn LeMur - Why Do They Hate Us?

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Christian -- are protected by copyright laws.

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Reason! Analyze the assertions! Compare the
assertions to the scripture! The Lord will give
you wisdom!

Much love in Christ;

Caryn LeMur

************************************

Essays For The Thinking
Christian:

Why Do They Hate Us?

Copyright © Caryn LeMur 2006

The authoress expressly gives the right for anyone to freely
reproduce and distribute this essay verbatim.

I do want to offer a framework view on the
question "Why do some people -- Christian or
non-Christian -- hate the transgendered?"

Let’s first develop a framework for an
argument consisting of four levels: (1) belief
systems, (2) definitions, (3) logic, and (4)
evidence. Most often, I work with those levels
in the order just shown.

Let's play with an example, just to better
understand the four levels of argumentation:

- Let's say I wanted to create a written

argument against the death penalty.

I would probably begin with discussing the

ability of mankind to change for the better,

and how the death of the perpetrator does

not allow society to welcome back the

repentant (my belief system). I may

define

"murder" as only serial killing

(murder 1,

multiple killings, only), and all

other forms of

murder as "manslaughter".

I may offer a

logic that is inductive

(working from a small

sample population

out into the general

population) that

shows those men that

were executed by

mistake. I may also point

out that being

found "guilty of murder" by

jury is

questionable, given the number of

cases

overturned by DNA evidence.

Oh, I could reverse all the above.

My belief system could be that mankind

never changes and only grows worse with

time, and that society needs the death of

the criminal to confirm that the constraints

of society are valid (and will be upheld). I

may define murder as including even

manslaughter while under the influence of

alcohol. I may offer a deductive logic

(working from a broad classification

downward). I may cite evidence of chaotic

societies where "avengers of blood" are

used, instead of a valid court system, as

proof that the death penalty, as used by a

court system, is stabilizing to a society.

What does all this have to do with the question
– "Why do some people -- Christian or non-
Christian -- hate the transgendered?"

In my opinion, when someone hates us it is
because we, that are observably within the TG
spectrum, violate someone's (1) belief system.
We seldom get to debate the other levels of
argumentation: (2) definitions, (3) logic and
(4) evidence.

In short, the world hates the visibly
transgendered because of the first level of
argumentation -- that is, we violate their belief
system.

Here are three case studies to consider:

1. My Philippine neighbor recently spoke to

me.

She's observed me for months. She

called me

over just this weekend, as we

were working in

our yards at the same

time,

and chatted with

me. "My husband

told me

'Yes! That is or was

Jim. And he

looks good

in a skirt!' " She

laughed, and

then said, "So

long as you are

happy, that

is all that

matters. By the way, what

your new

name?"

Why such a positive reaction? Most likely,

her reaction came about because I d

id not

violate her belief system at all. The

"so

long

as you are happy" belief system

allows

enormous variation in definitions,

logic, and

normally doesn't care about any

evidence,

let

alone arguments of validity

for evidence.

chat with my neighbor

was an easy and

very

friendly meeting.

2. One of my sisters met with a pastor, and

they both decided to

"Turn me over to

Satan". If I debate level 3

(logic), then I

would argue that "turning

someone over

Satan" is the third step of the

four-step

process of excommunication in

Matthew 18

(that is, meet alone, meet with

witnesses,

meet with witnesses and church

authorities,

and

xtend forgiveness

). I

have not

been

allowed a defense (as

required in step 1,

and 3 of Matthew 18)

and therefore

ning

me over to Satan"

is inappropriate

and invalid.

But again, if I

am debating level

3 (logical order

excommunication), it is

good to ask myself,

'what level of argument

is my sister

experiencing'?

When I look at level 1 (belief systems),

then, I

understand my sister's motive --

she

is still in

mourning for the loss of her

brother, and

desperately needed closure.

Her belief system

(towards me) is one of

mourning. The pastor

understood her

need, and within his belief

system, tried to

meet her need.

Yes,

I received a

piece of

hate mail from her,

and

read it

. But I read

in context of

her pain within her belief

system (level 1 of

argumentation), and

decided to continue to live

by her edict:

"Never contact me again. Not

even at my

funeral." In this manner, hopefully,

sister will have the distance she needs to

heal.

3. Those that have read "Letter To My

Rapist"

(which is on this website) have

encountered a

not-so-nice view of a pastor

that verbally

attempted to rape my mind

into conformity to his

(that is, the pastor's)

belief system. His belief

system is simple,

must protect the flock at all

costs

, even

if it

means destroying Caryn.

". Since I

visited

his church, quietly, and

without

even

conversing with him, you might

think

his

response and attack to my visit is

extremely

over-the-top.

But... that pastor sleeps well at night,

because

his written attack and un-Christ-

like actions

towards me were all within his

belief system.

After all, his belief system

allows the shepherd to

defend the helpless

'sheep' of his flock. Does

the shepherd

weep over the bear or lion he

killed? No,

not

at all. Instead, the shepherd

rejoices

over

the dead body, brags about the

exploit in

church meetings, and points to

the

'head'

mounted

on the wall as proof of

his

manhood.

So, now you've been exposed to level 1 of
argumentation -- belief systems. And, I hope
I've shown you how that belief systems can be
so foundational, that the other levels of
argumentation -- definitions, logic, and
evidence -- are often filtered or even thrown
aside.

Can we sum up the belief system of Christ?
What is His foundational level of argument that
filters all His actions while on this Earth? From
what belief system did the greatest Rabbi
further build His arguments of definitions, logic,
and evidence?

I think we can sum up the belief system of the
Christ, and it is this: "Bear one another's
burdens, and thus fulfill the Law of Christ"
[Galatians 6:2]

How have my neighbor, sister, and the pastor
helped to “fulfill the Law of Christ”? My
Philippine neighbor accepts me, but she did not
offer to help bear my burdens, yes? My sister is
in mourning, and will not be able to help bear
my burdens perhaps for a few years. The
pastor that attacked me has forsaken imitating
all of Christ, and only wishes to imitate the
parts of Christ that appeal to his personality
and need to verify his ability to protect his small
flock.

What should I do? After all, they have forsaken
the Law of Christ, shouldn't I do the same?

As time has passed on, I've decided that I
should fulfill the Law of Christ:

To the neighbor that accepts me, we

discussed a large bush that overlaps the

property lines. Soon thereafter, I trimmed

much

of it, and a few days later, she

finished the

trimming herself.

To my sister in mourning, I

shall pray for

her healing, and watch for a door

to open

the future, but I will not contact her

without

her permission, as she requested.

I will give

her the distance she needs to

heal.

the pastor, I sent a letter of

encouragement

when I learned that he

was

emotionally

suffering because

his

church is

approaching financial and spiritual

bankruptcy.

Do I like the furnace of belief systems that are
not according to the Law of Christ? No, not at
all, really.

But the fires of their belief systems have given
me incredible privileges of living Matthew
chapter 5:

- I know what it is like to turn the other

cheek,

only to be slapped again;

- I know what it is like to carry someone's

burden further than is appropriate by

reason of

justice or custom;

- I know what it is like to be 'sued' for

excommunication in a mockery court of a

pastor

and his assistant, given no chance

for presenting

a defense, and reviled...

and

I know what it is

like to have given

them the

tunic of avoiding

their church,

and the cloak

of encouragement as

well.

Can you hear the Master's voice in Matthew
chapter 5? How about hearing His voice with
these benefits of being hated:

- I've learned so slowly to bless those that

curse me;

- I've begun to love my enemies, and to

give

them the soothing oil of comfort and

good

wine

of God's encouragement;

- I'm learning to make my sun rise on the

evil

and the good, and to make my rain to

fall upon

the just and the unjust; and

I'm becoming a daughter of God,

because

the

furnace is teaching me to live

by the

Law of

Christ.

I am learning to "count it all joy" in the midst of
"diverse trials" that act like a furnace on my
faith because my faith is being purified.

And as the furnace heats up, I know that the
'fourth man' will appear in the furnace with me
(as He did for Daniel's companions), and
instruct me how to better ascertain and bear
the burdens of those that hate us, even as the
'fourth man' centuries later, ascertained that
all mankind was overcome by sin, and bore the
burdens of all mankind on Calvary's cross.

"The God we worship can save us from the
fiery furnace. But even if our God does not, we
still will not worship the idols you have
established." Said Daniel's companions to the
King. [Daniel 3] I like their attitude. After all,
the furnace of belief systems have hated and
even killed for thousands of years. And one
day, the hatred generated by belief systems
may one day kill my body.

Yes, in their hatred, I may die. My physical
body would then cease to live. But why should
I bow down to the idol of living by anything less
than the Law of Christ – which is to carry their
burdens?

Their burdens -- not mine.

In my opinion, we are terribly privileged to be
hated, for their belief systems have become the
furnace that purifies our faith.

*********

Much love in Christ, always and forever;

Caryn LeMur.

Copyright © Caryn LeMur 2006

The authoress expressly gives the right for anyone to freely
reproduce and distribute this essay verbatim.

Essays For The Thinking Christian

Why Do They Hate Us?