In my opinion, Judeo-Christianity has really screwed things up as far as healthy conceptualization and celebration of gender is concerned. I grew up in Christian environments, schools, churches and family. 1) In so far as gender roles and sexual expression being a foundational point of doctrine within Judeo-Christianity (JC), Judeo-Christianity can be thought of as yet another fertility religion. That is to say that JC's emphasizes "proper" physical gender couplings (1 male/1 female) not only for the sole purpose of species procreation, but that sexual reproduction is the essence of the image of God. Anything outside of 1 male/1 female is not within the image of God, is called 'sin' and is disrespected.

2) Spiritual salvation requires that one either be celibate or be romantically and sexually attracted to and active with a member of the "opposite" gender. In addition, such sex must be within a church sanctioned (and in some places, state-recognized) marriage relationship.

If this is true, then there might be a number of problems with the fertility element in Judeo-Christian teachings on gender. I'll mention a few here.

PROBLEM number one, if "proper" physical gender coupling is the essence of God's image, JC is a fertility religion no 'better' than the "gentiles"/"pagans" they imagine to be more righteous than.

PROBLEM number two, if male and female physical gender *together* are the essences of God (meaning one without the other is imperfect, disrespects or is anti-God... ie. same-gender relations), then God is not a "He" but an "It" or more graciously stated... God is Transgender.

PROBLEM number three, if God, and the image of God is neither JUST male or JUST female but BOTH together, then there is more room for reflecting that image than just heterosexuality. Some view "Transgender", "Bisexuality" and "Homosexuality" to be other expressions inside of the image of God. Further, some people are re-thinking gender, considering it to be as much emotional and spiritual, as it might be physical. The latter would seem especially on-track given that "God" is spirit. In such an understanding, "women" can have male-spirit in them and "Men" can have female-spirit within them as well. Not only that, but men and women might be attracted to the "counterpart" spirit within their own "gender". Which makes it all so deliciously confusing for some... but it doesn't have to be if a new view about "God" and "the image of God" and "gender" are accepted as I've said already.

PROBLEM number four, if what I propose is too scary of a thought, never fear! According to Judeo-Christian teaching, humans will ultimately "be like the angels"... whatever that presumably un-marrying, non-romantic and non-sexual life form is... and if so, why such a fuss about gender and sex in the human state?

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What if alternatives to heterosexuality are in fact something of a natural population control "built-in" to the human species (and other species as has been observed). I'm not saying that abstinence isn't a legitimate option outside of "recognized" heterosexual unions. Yet even if heterosexual marriage or personal abstinence are the only options within certain religious denominations, are they to be the only options within non-theocratic, pluralistic republics?