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Embodied: Transgender Identities, the Church, and What the Bible Has to Say
Compassionate, biblical, and thought-provoking, Embodied is an accessible guide for Christians who want help navigating issues related to the transgender conversation.
Preston Sprinkle draws on Scripture, as well as real-life stories of individuals struggling with gender dysphoria, to help you understand the complexities and emotions of this highly relevant topic. This book fills the great need for Christians to speak into the confusing and emotionally charged questions surrounding the transgender conversation.
With careful research and an engaging style, Embodied explores:
What it means to be transgender, nonbinary, and gender-queer, and how these identities relate to being male or female
Why most stereotypes about what it means to be a man and woman come from the culture and not the Bible
What the Bible says about humans created in God’s image as male and female, and how this relates to transgender experiences
Moral questions surrounding medical interventions such as sex reassignment surgery
Which pronouns to use and how to navigate the bathroom debate
Why more and more teens are questioning their gender
Preston Sprinkle draws on Scripture, as well as real-life stories of individuals struggling with gender dysphoria, to help you understand the complexities and emotions of this highly relevant topic. This book fills the great need for Christians to speak into the confusing and emotionally charged questions surrounding the transgender conversation.
With careful research and an engaging style, Embodied explores:
What it means to be transgender, nonbinary, and gender-queer, and how these identities relate to being male or female
Why most stereotypes about what it means to be a man and woman come from the culture and not the Bible
What the Bible says about humans created in God’s image as male and female, and how this relates to transgender experiences
Moral questions surrounding medical interventions such as sex reassignment surgery
Which pronouns to use and how to navigate the bathroom debate
Why more and more teens are questioning their gender
288 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 434 reviews
August 30, 2023
Very Disappointing.
Dr. Sprinkle's attempts to appear progressive, his engaging writing style, humorous turns of phrase, frequent calls for compassion, and seeming familiarity with transgender people camouflage a thinly veiled attack on everything in a transgender person's life, from their very identity to what they must do to preserve their lives. He consistently teaches that transpeople are in error in pretty much every area.
He claims to be good friends with Dr. Mark Yarhouse, who wrote the truly excellent book, "Understanding Gender Dysphoria: Navigating Transgender Issues in a Changing Culture", but while Yarhouse clearly understood the implications of gender dysphoria and transgender mortality rates, Sprinkle downplays the statistics, attributing so much to coexisting mental illness. He treats the transgender phenomenon as something of a more or less optional lifestyle, and underestimates the agony that transpeople live with on a daily basis. In one of his essays, thankfully not included in this book, he dismissed transgender suffering with the platitude, "suffering is part of the Christian life".
Is living on the edge of suicide part of the Christian life, Dr. Sprinkle?
Really, the only acceptable choice he offers transgender people is to affirm their biological sex, which really boils down to somehow finding a way to be cisgender. He does not explain how to do so either.
He does indeed encourage churches to welcome transpeople, and calls some transgender people "biblically astute Christians" and "sold out followers of Jesus Christ", yet everything in this book indicates that even the most faithful transgender believers are living in disobedience to God and the created order. Clearly, his observations of his transgender friends, and his ethical conclusions about them are contradictory.
It would seem that his proposed inclusion of transgender people in conservative churches will be as projects to fix, rather than as fellow believers to respect. He is vague about a great number of details about what acceptance for a transgender person within the church would look like. For example, what status would transgender person have in a welcoming church? Are we to be accepted into membership upon a clear profession of faith? Are positions of leadership available to us, or would such be kept off the table until we can live up to cis gender expectations? So much postive rhetoric, so little clarity.
In the end, Dr. Sprinkle seems to be making continued marginalization palatable.
If you want to read a truly empathetic, biblically sound treatment of the transgender phenomenon, please read Greg Eilers' books, "Ministering to Transgender Christians" and "Rollercoaster Through a Hurricane".
Dr. Sprinkle's attempts to appear progressive, his engaging writing style, humorous turns of phrase, frequent calls for compassion, and seeming familiarity with transgender people camouflage a thinly veiled attack on everything in a transgender person's life, from their very identity to what they must do to preserve their lives. He consistently teaches that transpeople are in error in pretty much every area.
He claims to be good friends with Dr. Mark Yarhouse, who wrote the truly excellent book, "Understanding Gender Dysphoria: Navigating Transgender Issues in a Changing Culture", but while Yarhouse clearly understood the implications of gender dysphoria and transgender mortality rates, Sprinkle downplays the statistics, attributing so much to coexisting mental illness. He treats the transgender phenomenon as something of a more or less optional lifestyle, and underestimates the agony that transpeople live with on a daily basis. In one of his essays, thankfully not included in this book, he dismissed transgender suffering with the platitude, "suffering is part of the Christian life".
Is living on the edge of suicide part of the Christian life, Dr. Sprinkle?
Really, the only acceptable choice he offers transgender people is to affirm their biological sex, which really boils down to somehow finding a way to be cisgender. He does not explain how to do so either.
He does indeed encourage churches to welcome transpeople, and calls some transgender people "biblically astute Christians" and "sold out followers of Jesus Christ", yet everything in this book indicates that even the most faithful transgender believers are living in disobedience to God and the created order. Clearly, his observations of his transgender friends, and his ethical conclusions about them are contradictory.
It would seem that his proposed inclusion of transgender people in conservative churches will be as projects to fix, rather than as fellow believers to respect. He is vague about a great number of details about what acceptance for a transgender person within the church would look like. For example, what status would transgender person have in a welcoming church? Are we to be accepted into membership upon a clear profession of faith? Are positions of leadership available to us, or would such be kept off the table until we can live up to cis gender expectations? So much postive rhetoric, so little clarity.
In the end, Dr. Sprinkle seems to be making continued marginalization palatable.
If you want to read a truly empathetic, biblically sound treatment of the transgender phenomenon, please read Greg Eilers' books, "Ministering to Transgender Christians" and "Rollercoaster Through a Hurricane".
February 23, 2021
Super helpful. I recommend it especially to others like me, who frankly have not had a lot of interactions or friendships with trans people and who are, again like me, quite ignorant about the relevant issues. Sprinkle ends up siding more or less with traditional Christian sexuality ethics, but he provides a framework, approach, and posture that is credible in the process. I really think that every trans person who reads this book, although they may vehemently disagree with some of Sprinkle’s ethics, feels the love and compassion of the author, and of the King he seeks to represent. I pray with the author:
“As the number of trans* people in the world increases, our churches should have more trans* people, not fewer. Not because our ethic is weak or unclear, but because it is strong and wholistic—true, courageous, compassionate, and humble. If people—especially marginalized and broken people—come into our communities, they should never want to leave.”
“As the number of trans* people in the world increases, our churches should have more trans* people, not fewer. Not because our ethic is weak or unclear, but because it is strong and wholistic—true, courageous, compassionate, and humble. If people—especially marginalized and broken people—come into our communities, they should never want to leave.”
February 5, 2021
Once again, Preston Sprinkle has brought a refreshing balance of grace and truth into a conversation too-often full of vitriol and misrepresentation—and while I think it’s fair to say these ills come from both sides, I’m most concerned with those attacks lobbed by Christians. I believe many would say Preston has a decidedly more conservative conclusion; I find it notable that he receives backlash from both sides. While he stands firm in his belief of the sanctity of our sexed bodies and the identity that comes with them, Preston seeks a gentle way—a via media—full of the welcoming love of Christ.
This work is not just of the theological or scientific flavor; it’s relational and incarnate. Preston stands on the shoulders of giants—trans* people who long for dignity and belonging, as all of us, and are committed to Jesus no matter the cost. As a cisgender/non-trans* man, I am humbled and honored to learn from dear saints like Lesli, Kat, and more. Their love for the Lord and commitment to the teachings of Scripture are an inspiration. And as the author of Hebrews writes, God is not ashamed to be called their God.
This work is not just of the theological or scientific flavor; it’s relational and incarnate. Preston stands on the shoulders of giants—trans* people who long for dignity and belonging, as all of us, and are committed to Jesus no matter the cost. As a cisgender/non-trans* man, I am humbled and honored to learn from dear saints like Lesli, Kat, and more. Their love for the Lord and commitment to the teachings of Scripture are an inspiration. And as the author of Hebrews writes, God is not ashamed to be called their God.
March 6, 2021
This book is fine at first glance but ends up being problematic. The author incorrectly defining the word transgender which sets the whole book up for failure.
Also the failure to define the difference between biological sex and gender is an issue and shows a lack of research.
The book comes off as loving and accepting at first but is actually very performative and in the end is not accepting to the trans community.
Love doesnt have a but.
Also the failure to define the difference between biological sex and gender is an issue and shows a lack of research.
The book comes off as loving and accepting at first but is actually very performative and in the end is not accepting to the trans community.
Love doesnt have a but.
May 5, 2023
Throughout the book, Preston Sprinkle routinely appeals to the scientific literature to build his argument. Unfortunately, his representation of many of the studies and papers in question is often misleading, deceptive, or downright incorrect.
Some notable examples (certainly not an exhaustive list):
(1) In the appendix, Sprinkle makes the claim that “if the suggestion of suicide makes people more prone to attempting suicide, then promoting the idea that trans* people tend to be suicidal may itself increase suicidality among trans* people, especially teenagers”. The research he cites describes the effect of portrayal of means of suicide in media on suicide rates among teens NOT discussing risk of suicide for a particular population. He does not cite any studies to support his claim that openly talking about suicide rates among vulnerable populations puts that population at greater risk of suicide.
(2) When discussing suicide rates among trans* people, he references a study by Wilson et al (2017). As per Sprinkle “A study of ‘highly gender nonconformist’ students (aged eleven to seventeen) reported a 3 percent rate of attempted suicide. This same study reported that gender nonconforming youth and cisgender youth ‘did not statistically differ in their rates of lifetime suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts.’”. However, the study itself is actually measuring suicide rates between people who do and do not conform to the typical gender expression of their sex, and there is no exploration of the effect of gender identity or consideration of suicide rates between transgender vs cisgender people. This is an odd inclusion in a section specifically talking about trans people, and is also the only study cited which does not show a significant differences in suicide rates between gender typical and non-typical groups.
(3) In Chapter 10, Sprinkle outlines the “significant health risks” involved with cross-sex hormone therapy (CHT), including increased risk of heart attack, stroke, blood clots, cancer, diabetes, and infertility. He cites many studies in this section, most of which do not support the claims of ‘significant health risks’ as per the main argument of the paragraph. For example, he refers to two studies to support his claim of increased risk of diabetes after hormone treatment. Feldman (2002) is a case series of only 3 trans people who developed Type 2 diabetes after feminising hormones, which certainly doesn’t support a conclusive link between CHT and diabetes. Similarly, Defreyne et al (2017) considers the incidence of Type 1 diabetes among people presenting to a gender clinic BEFORE commencing on CHT. This study does not consider the impact of CHT on diabetes risk and so should not have been included as a citation to support this claim. Similarly, the papers that Sprinkle references when discussing infertility risk due to CHT provide no empirical data to support this claim. One paper considers the utilisation of family planning services among trans people (Nahata et al, 2017) and the other is an opinion in response to another paper and only mentions the word ‘infertility’ once (Bewley et al, 2019). He does not reference any empirical research that actually directly examines the risk of infertility due to CHT.
In my opinion, Preston Sprinkle misuses the literature, either wilfully or through sheer ignorance, to construct arguments that are deeply harmful to trans people. Unfortunately, it is unlikely that a casual readership will have the time, effort, or expertise to fact check the claims made in this book. This makes Embodied an extremely dangerous read, particularly within Christian communities where well-meaning people can be easily influenced by non-scientific anti-trans arguments. I would not recommend this book to anyone.
Some notable examples (certainly not an exhaustive list):
(1) In the appendix, Sprinkle makes the claim that “if the suggestion of suicide makes people more prone to attempting suicide, then promoting the idea that trans* people tend to be suicidal may itself increase suicidality among trans* people, especially teenagers”. The research he cites describes the effect of portrayal of means of suicide in media on suicide rates among teens NOT discussing risk of suicide for a particular population. He does not cite any studies to support his claim that openly talking about suicide rates among vulnerable populations puts that population at greater risk of suicide.
(2) When discussing suicide rates among trans* people, he references a study by Wilson et al (2017). As per Sprinkle “A study of ‘highly gender nonconformist’ students (aged eleven to seventeen) reported a 3 percent rate of attempted suicide. This same study reported that gender nonconforming youth and cisgender youth ‘did not statistically differ in their rates of lifetime suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts.’”. However, the study itself is actually measuring suicide rates between people who do and do not conform to the typical gender expression of their sex, and there is no exploration of the effect of gender identity or consideration of suicide rates between transgender vs cisgender people. This is an odd inclusion in a section specifically talking about trans people, and is also the only study cited which does not show a significant differences in suicide rates between gender typical and non-typical groups.
(3) In Chapter 10, Sprinkle outlines the “significant health risks” involved with cross-sex hormone therapy (CHT), including increased risk of heart attack, stroke, blood clots, cancer, diabetes, and infertility. He cites many studies in this section, most of which do not support the claims of ‘significant health risks’ as per the main argument of the paragraph. For example, he refers to two studies to support his claim of increased risk of diabetes after hormone treatment. Feldman (2002) is a case series of only 3 trans people who developed Type 2 diabetes after feminising hormones, which certainly doesn’t support a conclusive link between CHT and diabetes. Similarly, Defreyne et al (2017) considers the incidence of Type 1 diabetes among people presenting to a gender clinic BEFORE commencing on CHT. This study does not consider the impact of CHT on diabetes risk and so should not have been included as a citation to support this claim. Similarly, the papers that Sprinkle references when discussing infertility risk due to CHT provide no empirical data to support this claim. One paper considers the utilisation of family planning services among trans people (Nahata et al, 2017) and the other is an opinion in response to another paper and only mentions the word ‘infertility’ once (Bewley et al, 2019). He does not reference any empirical research that actually directly examines the risk of infertility due to CHT.
In my opinion, Preston Sprinkle misuses the literature, either wilfully or through sheer ignorance, to construct arguments that are deeply harmful to trans people. Unfortunately, it is unlikely that a casual readership will have the time, effort, or expertise to fact check the claims made in this book. This makes Embodied an extremely dangerous read, particularly within Christian communities where well-meaning people can be easily influenced by non-scientific anti-trans arguments. I would not recommend this book to anyone.
February 22, 2024
Before I get into the nitty gritty of my review, I must say that this is (mostly) a fantastic book. I agreed with about 90% (which is more than I predicted). So when I get to the points where I disagreed, please keep in mind that I do think the pros outweigh the cons.
Pros:
- The motive behind writing this book was obviously to encourage Christians to understand and have considerably more compassion toward the trans community while trying to reach them with the gospel. And he nailed that. It’s also the main reason I wanted to read this book.
- Someone once told me that Preston Sprinkle is theologically soft. But I definitely disagree with that. Everything he said regarding the Bible was theologically conservative, solid, and unbending. He gave voice to progressive views of scripture but ultimately concluded there was no evidence to support their position.
- Tons of information and terms! The learning curve was high in some chapters, but having all those distinctions of a community I’m not overly familiar with was really helpful.
- The section about gender roles and stereotypes. I wouldn’t have worded things the way he did, but I also wouldn’t say I disagreed exactly. But I especially liked this part (and wished he had kept the distinction between stereotypes and generalities throughout the book). “(masculinity and femininity) are based on generalities, not absolutes. When we say, ‘Males are more physically aggressive than females,’ what we mean is that most males are more physically aggressive than most females. The differences are based on statistical averages, not absolutes. A wide variation exists among males and females within virtually every behavioral trait.” (I would like to add that I think generalities can be important in ethical discussions, but should always come with a caveat of “this is not an absolute” so that people don’t fall into law making.)
- The conclusion where he addressed the overarching trans dilemma from an ontological, ethical, and practical standpoint was so good. Compassionate, but unbending on the truth.
Cons:
- It was Sprinkle’s compassion that drew me to this book, but it was also his compassion that occasionally led me to disagree with him. The biggest example of this was in the chapter on intersex (people who have confused sex due to a birth defect). Most of this chapter was really good and helpful on navigating this difficult issue. But at the end when addressing the question of whether intersex is part of the fall, Sprinkle states, “Others, however, feel dehumanized when non-intersex Christians flippantly declare that intersex conditions are a product of the fall…. It breaks my heart to think that flippant statements like ‘intersex is part of the fall’ could rub salt into such deep wounds of societal dehumanization.” My main problem with this is not just that I disagree with him, but that he came to this conclusion through an appeal to emotion (a logical fallacy). If he had come to the same conclusion through a bit more reason and logic, then I would have much more respect for this. But as someone with a neurological disorder that has also affected my “entire existence” in both negative and positive ways, it can be difficult to imagine being any different than I am in heaven. But I will be different. My brain will not have this disorder in the new creation. And regardless of how someone may feel about that, it’s the truth. Growing in our love of truth should eventually be a comfort and not an insult.
- The chapter on pronouns. I honestly didn’t know if I should put this in the pros or cons section. I decided on the con section because I didn’t land exactly where he did (pronoun hospitality–always using their preferred pronouns) and felt that this was another instance of choosing compassion over all else. However, that’s really hard for me to type, because this situation is not nearly as cut and dry and the intersex-fall thing. I would say that I’m definitely in a place where I may change my position on this depending on the individual person and in what space I was addressing them. He included a story of a Christian woman with painfully strong gender dysphoria who would be triggered by someone using female pronouns and end up having a panic attack and depressive episode. So instead, she asked people to call her they/them (forgoing male pronouns). As she grew and healed, she was eventually able to hear the female pronouns again without being triggered. In this case, I think she was doing her best to submit to God while also recognizing the reality of her mental health state, so I would not say it was wrong to call her they/them.
- The section on bathroom safety was very one-sided and treated any concerns people may have about the opposite gender in their bathroom as a non-issue.
This is such an incredibly difficult topic to cover and I am so impressed with Sprinkle for being willing to be thrown under the bus by both sides in order to write this book. It’s true that we must put aside our “culture warrior” voices in order to reach these people with the gospel. We need compassion and love, but also a biblically grounded view of the body to really set them free from the pain they’ve endured. Surgery and hormone therapy will only further damage them and offer them a false hope of freedom. When Jesus met the woman at the well, he didn’t tear her up for the sin she’d committed, but he offered her living water (himself) so that she would know real love, freedom, and satisfaction in Christ. And this situation is no different. I highly recommend this book to anyone struggling with how to think about the trans community.
Pros:
- The motive behind writing this book was obviously to encourage Christians to understand and have considerably more compassion toward the trans community while trying to reach them with the gospel. And he nailed that. It’s also the main reason I wanted to read this book.
- Someone once told me that Preston Sprinkle is theologically soft. But I definitely disagree with that. Everything he said regarding the Bible was theologically conservative, solid, and unbending. He gave voice to progressive views of scripture but ultimately concluded there was no evidence to support their position.
- Tons of information and terms! The learning curve was high in some chapters, but having all those distinctions of a community I’m not overly familiar with was really helpful.
- The section about gender roles and stereotypes. I wouldn’t have worded things the way he did, but I also wouldn’t say I disagreed exactly. But I especially liked this part (and wished he had kept the distinction between stereotypes and generalities throughout the book). “(masculinity and femininity) are based on generalities, not absolutes. When we say, ‘Males are more physically aggressive than females,’ what we mean is that most males are more physically aggressive than most females. The differences are based on statistical averages, not absolutes. A wide variation exists among males and females within virtually every behavioral trait.” (I would like to add that I think generalities can be important in ethical discussions, but should always come with a caveat of “this is not an absolute” so that people don’t fall into law making.)
- The conclusion where he addressed the overarching trans dilemma from an ontological, ethical, and practical standpoint was so good. Compassionate, but unbending on the truth.
Cons:
- It was Sprinkle’s compassion that drew me to this book, but it was also his compassion that occasionally led me to disagree with him. The biggest example of this was in the chapter on intersex (people who have confused sex due to a birth defect). Most of this chapter was really good and helpful on navigating this difficult issue. But at the end when addressing the question of whether intersex is part of the fall, Sprinkle states, “Others, however, feel dehumanized when non-intersex Christians flippantly declare that intersex conditions are a product of the fall…. It breaks my heart to think that flippant statements like ‘intersex is part of the fall’ could rub salt into such deep wounds of societal dehumanization.” My main problem with this is not just that I disagree with him, but that he came to this conclusion through an appeal to emotion (a logical fallacy). If he had come to the same conclusion through a bit more reason and logic, then I would have much more respect for this. But as someone with a neurological disorder that has also affected my “entire existence” in both negative and positive ways, it can be difficult to imagine being any different than I am in heaven. But I will be different. My brain will not have this disorder in the new creation. And regardless of how someone may feel about that, it’s the truth. Growing in our love of truth should eventually be a comfort and not an insult.
- The chapter on pronouns. I honestly didn’t know if I should put this in the pros or cons section. I decided on the con section because I didn’t land exactly where he did (pronoun hospitality–always using their preferred pronouns) and felt that this was another instance of choosing compassion over all else. However, that’s really hard for me to type, because this situation is not nearly as cut and dry and the intersex-fall thing. I would say that I’m definitely in a place where I may change my position on this depending on the individual person and in what space I was addressing them. He included a story of a Christian woman with painfully strong gender dysphoria who would be triggered by someone using female pronouns and end up having a panic attack and depressive episode. So instead, she asked people to call her they/them (forgoing male pronouns). As she grew and healed, she was eventually able to hear the female pronouns again without being triggered. In this case, I think she was doing her best to submit to God while also recognizing the reality of her mental health state, so I would not say it was wrong to call her they/them.
- The section on bathroom safety was very one-sided and treated any concerns people may have about the opposite gender in their bathroom as a non-issue.
This is such an incredibly difficult topic to cover and I am so impressed with Sprinkle for being willing to be thrown under the bus by both sides in order to write this book. It’s true that we must put aside our “culture warrior” voices in order to reach these people with the gospel. We need compassion and love, but also a biblically grounded view of the body to really set them free from the pain they’ve endured. Surgery and hormone therapy will only further damage them and offer them a false hope of freedom. When Jesus met the woman at the well, he didn’t tear her up for the sin she’d committed, but he offered her living water (himself) so that she would know real love, freedom, and satisfaction in Christ. And this situation is no different. I highly recommend this book to anyone struggling with how to think about the trans community.
August 19, 2021
I didn’t know Preston Sprinkle was non-affirming when I started this book, but picked up on that pretty quickly. Still, I thought it would be good to give the book a chance because I’m always hesitant of getting stuck in an echo chamber and never allowing myself to read/hear arguments that I don’t agree with.
First, the positives:
1) I can tell that Sprinkle really cares about people, and he is always quick to point out that there are real people behind this issue whose lives are deeply effected by these debates. He advocates for kindness and respect and love, and I was very appreciative of that perspective.
2) I liked that he pointed out that what our culture considers biblical masculinity or femininity is more based on pop culture than what is actually in the Bible. There are very few sex-specific spiritual fruits, despite what we see in our culture.
I did disagree with most of his conclusions, and was confused by a lot of his arguments - especially when he talks about our sexed bodies being integral to our status as image bearers of God. Animals have sexed bodies, but aren’t considered image bearers, so surely it’s something a little more nuanced than our genitalia? And then he later goes on to assert that Jesus’s sexed body was what made him the truest image of God, so does that then not undermine his own assertion that people with vaginas are also made in the image of God? He also seemed to arbitrarily determine what was a cultural idea during the biblical writer’s time and what was set in stone for all eternity.
All in all, a book I would recommend for people who are non-affirming but need to learn how to treat trans people with kindness and hospitality, but not something I would recommend if you were looking for a more nuanced, affirming position.
First, the positives:
1) I can tell that Sprinkle really cares about people, and he is always quick to point out that there are real people behind this issue whose lives are deeply effected by these debates. He advocates for kindness and respect and love, and I was very appreciative of that perspective.
2) I liked that he pointed out that what our culture considers biblical masculinity or femininity is more based on pop culture than what is actually in the Bible. There are very few sex-specific spiritual fruits, despite what we see in our culture.
I did disagree with most of his conclusions, and was confused by a lot of his arguments - especially when he talks about our sexed bodies being integral to our status as image bearers of God. Animals have sexed bodies, but aren’t considered image bearers, so surely it’s something a little more nuanced than our genitalia? And then he later goes on to assert that Jesus’s sexed body was what made him the truest image of God, so does that then not undermine his own assertion that people with vaginas are also made in the image of God? He also seemed to arbitrarily determine what was a cultural idea during the biblical writer’s time and what was set in stone for all eternity.
All in all, a book I would recommend for people who are non-affirming but need to learn how to treat trans people with kindness and hospitality, but not something I would recommend if you were looking for a more nuanced, affirming position.
July 8, 2021
Just can't. I can see where this is going and no.
July 25, 2021
Kimberley’s review said it best. Basically this is just transphobia wrapped in a shiny veneer of “progressivism”. Such a shame as I had high hopes the first few chapters.
February 6, 2021
In an ongoing quest to understand marginalized LGBTQ Christians, I ordered and read Preston Sprinkles newest book, Embodied: Transgender Identities, The Church and What the Bible Has to Say. I will say that Sprinkle is humble and careful throughout the book to say that he loves transgender people and is friends with a number of people in the trans community. And I will say that he is knowledgeable about Scripture, history, ethics, etc. In his conclusion, he states, "We need less outrage and more outrageous love." In Chapter 6, he writes:
"Look, if a man who's single, castrated, or has atypical features in his sexual anatomy (in other words, a eunich) shows up at your church and is not accepted, then your church has some serious issues it needs to sort out with Jesus. Or if a woman who doesn't fit feminine stereotypes (a gender variant) is not accepted at your church - or feels unwelcomed and out of place at your women's retreat - then your church might be legalistically promoting humanmade stereotypes in place of Scripture. And if a trans person comes to your church, they should be welcomed with open arms and accepted. Not just accepted, but embraced, delighted in, listened to, learned from, honored, loved, cared for, and shown the heavenly kindness saturated with compassion."
Where I struggle, is that Sprinkle looks at the transgender community and evaluates them in light of the Bible, morality (ethics) and culture. Unfortunately, in this "compassionate" foray into questions about the Bible and transgender people, Sprinkle comes down on the side of "love the sinner, hate the sin." For as much as he gently elevates the need to love everybody, Sprinkle seems firmly planted in the idea that those in the transgender community must stay marginalized. My other readings have led me to personally disagree with this stance. I believe there are scientific evidences that allow for a wide range of expression in God's creation (Preston does give a not to the brain-sex theory).
Since Sprinkle has each foot planted on either side of this divide, I don't see where this book is very helpful, especially for those who are in the transgender community. It feels like another weapon, as if the paragraphs that speak of love are more like disclaimers rather than calls to action. I could be wrong. I hope so.
"Look, if a man who's single, castrated, or has atypical features in his sexual anatomy (in other words, a eunich) shows up at your church and is not accepted, then your church has some serious issues it needs to sort out with Jesus. Or if a woman who doesn't fit feminine stereotypes (a gender variant) is not accepted at your church - or feels unwelcomed and out of place at your women's retreat - then your church might be legalistically promoting humanmade stereotypes in place of Scripture. And if a trans person comes to your church, they should be welcomed with open arms and accepted. Not just accepted, but embraced, delighted in, listened to, learned from, honored, loved, cared for, and shown the heavenly kindness saturated with compassion."
Where I struggle, is that Sprinkle looks at the transgender community and evaluates them in light of the Bible, morality (ethics) and culture. Unfortunately, in this "compassionate" foray into questions about the Bible and transgender people, Sprinkle comes down on the side of "love the sinner, hate the sin." For as much as he gently elevates the need to love everybody, Sprinkle seems firmly planted in the idea that those in the transgender community must stay marginalized. My other readings have led me to personally disagree with this stance. I believe there are scientific evidences that allow for a wide range of expression in God's creation (Preston does give a not to the brain-sex theory).
Since Sprinkle has each foot planted on either side of this divide, I don't see where this book is very helpful, especially for those who are in the transgender community. It feels like another weapon, as if the paragraphs that speak of love are more like disclaimers rather than calls to action. I could be wrong. I hope so.
June 21, 2022
Wow, this book was good. Sprinkle does an excellent job of considering highly charged cultural topics with dignity, humility, and grace, while never losing the the Bible as the bedrock of the conversation. He consistently comes back to the question, "How do we, as the church, welcome people to the gospel even when we disagree with them?" He gives beautiful anecdotal examples to remind us that this conversation is about people, most of whom are hurting deeply, but also explores hard scientific data to explain (as best anyone can) what all is going on here. I entered this book a bit skeptical, but left mostly convicted--and biblically so. This book is a must-read. You wont regret it.
January 26, 2023
Thorough and (painstakingly) compassionate. I found it helpful.
July 25, 2023
Challenged; as a friend, disciple, ministry leader, church planter… There is so much that I lack: understanding, empathy, patience, love—in a lot of ways. But I want to be better—I want to become more like Jesus; who always moved towards, and drew near, the marginalized, the outcast, the confused, the scared, the lonely, the hurting, me. I want to get love right. Jesus, help me.
“Our truth will not be heard until our grace is felt.”
“Our truth will not be heard until our grace is felt.”
July 18, 2023
Crucial read for Xian’s living today (or anyone who is confused about pronoun usage, or anyone who doesn’t understand Gender Dysphoria). Highly-researched and highly compassionate.
February 1, 2021
I loved this book. Dr. Sprinkle has done a masterful job at writing on such a divisive topic. As he did in People to Be Loved, Sprinkle emphasizes knowing people instead of memorizing an argument or position. Conversations about trans* identities so often stay in the realm of impersonal theory, making it easy to make sweeping or insensitive statements. By drawing upon the testimonies of many people (not just one or two), Preston instills compassion in the reader as he seeks to advise how these people he loves should live in light of the Gospel. The adage, “distance creates distortion, proximity creates passion” rang through my head after each example. This book sensitized me to the need to reach and love trans* people with the Gospel that changed my life.
While the majority of the book is devoted to the technical aspects of its central case, even Sprinkle’s logic and methodology pastored me, constantly reminding me of the humanness of this discussion. Each time Sprinkle stated his position on a specific aspect of this discussion, he did so gently and in humility, noting many times that if the scientific community unveiled new data, his opinion may change. It is Sprinkle’s pastoral tone that sets his work apart. Christians and non-christians alike would benefit by reading this book if for no other reason than to be tutored on gentleness and humility while discussing a divisive issue.
This is a timely book on a topic that can’t be ignored, because trans* people are people and aren’t to be ignored. If we are to love our trans* brothers and sisters well, we cannot afford to give lazy answers or to hold unthoughtful positions. I echo Sprinkle at the hinge of his book as he finishes up the technical section and turns to addressing practical implications:
“We can get the Bible right—but if we get love wrong, we’re wrong.”
Couldn’t have said it better.
While the majority of the book is devoted to the technical aspects of its central case, even Sprinkle’s logic and methodology pastored me, constantly reminding me of the humanness of this discussion. Each time Sprinkle stated his position on a specific aspect of this discussion, he did so gently and in humility, noting many times that if the scientific community unveiled new data, his opinion may change. It is Sprinkle’s pastoral tone that sets his work apart. Christians and non-christians alike would benefit by reading this book if for no other reason than to be tutored on gentleness and humility while discussing a divisive issue.
This is a timely book on a topic that can’t be ignored, because trans* people are people and aren’t to be ignored. If we are to love our trans* brothers and sisters well, we cannot afford to give lazy answers or to hold unthoughtful positions. I echo Sprinkle at the hinge of his book as he finishes up the technical section and turns to addressing practical implications:
“We can get the Bible right—but if we get love wrong, we’re wrong.”
Couldn’t have said it better.
September 4, 2023
This is a wonderful book, the epitome of grace meeting truth, and one that you don't have to entirely agree with to be inspired by. This book has gently changed my mindset on multiple issues, strengthened my mindset on others, and most importantly, reminded me of the power of love.
One chapter I did not fully enjoy was his chapter on our sexed bodies being the image of God. It was very confusing and almost contradictory in some aspects, especially when he spoke specifically about Jesus' male sex being what made him an image bearer of God. This argument has some validity removed from it when remembering that women without male genitalia are equally made in the image of God and our genitalia are not the sole image carriers for our God. Regardless, one confusing chapter in a book on an issue this polarizing is not enough to remove a star from my rating. (:
Preston Sprinkle reminds churches that welcoming and providing safe places for trans is a beautifully complex privilege, not a burden that we should hope to never carry. He reminds us of Jesus' heart for the marginalized, that he was not "pro-tax collecting" or "pro-prostitution" and yet the marginalized, hurting, shamed, and shunned all wanted to be around Him. The trans community is growing exponentially, yet our church pews remain horrifyingly barren of them. The same would not be true under a church who truly extended the grace of Jesus. "Our truth will not be heard until our grace is felt, because the greatest apologetic for truth is love." "There is plenty of fodder for outrage, but outrage doesn't change the world. Love changes the world."
One chapter I did not fully enjoy was his chapter on our sexed bodies being the image of God. It was very confusing and almost contradictory in some aspects, especially when he spoke specifically about Jesus' male sex being what made him an image bearer of God. This argument has some validity removed from it when remembering that women without male genitalia are equally made in the image of God and our genitalia are not the sole image carriers for our God. Regardless, one confusing chapter in a book on an issue this polarizing is not enough to remove a star from my rating. (:
Preston Sprinkle reminds churches that welcoming and providing safe places for trans is a beautifully complex privilege, not a burden that we should hope to never carry. He reminds us of Jesus' heart for the marginalized, that he was not "pro-tax collecting" or "pro-prostitution" and yet the marginalized, hurting, shamed, and shunned all wanted to be around Him. The trans community is growing exponentially, yet our church pews remain horrifyingly barren of them. The same would not be true under a church who truly extended the grace of Jesus. "Our truth will not be heard until our grace is felt, because the greatest apologetic for truth is love." "There is plenty of fodder for outrage, but outrage doesn't change the world. Love changes the world."
March 11, 2023
This is a good survey of issues and arguments from an empathetic conservative perspective which makes a valiant effort to appeal to both complementarians and egalitarians. Unfortunately, this requires it to ignore potentially decisive hermeneutical and ethical matters related to the Bible's embeddedness in patriarchal contexts, and because of this hermeneutical over-simplification it doesn't really give the eunuch and male/female passages their proper due. The book also seems to conflate ontology with nature (on the theological side), to gloss the relevance of intersex conditions and the variability of hormones (on the sciencey side), and to start off with a schewed definition of transgender (on the sociological side). Thus while it will be helpful in resisting outright transphobia, the book might also serve to veil it. At the end of the day, I just wasn't as convinced by the arguments as the author was.
December 18, 2023
I’ve been blessed by this book, and Preston’s grace-based approach to some of the most ostracised and demonised individuals in our society and in our churches today.
It’s very easy to take a hard-line approach to such a nuanced topic but his most valuable point and the thing I’ll take away the most from this book is that it is of the utmost importance to treat our gender-dysphoric friends as human beings and fellow image bearers of a loving and gracious Father.
They are people who struggle with sin, just like every other human being on the planet.
Be kind and speak the truth about Christ with love, always.
It’s very easy to take a hard-line approach to such a nuanced topic but his most valuable point and the thing I’ll take away the most from this book is that it is of the utmost importance to treat our gender-dysphoric friends as human beings and fellow image bearers of a loving and gracious Father.
They are people who struggle with sin, just like every other human being on the planet.
Be kind and speak the truth about Christ with love, always.
May 14, 2021
Sprinkle could have covered the same amount of theological ground in half the length, yet he chooses to fill the pages with personal humility and important emotional considerations, reflecting his approach of long-term, relationship-based discipleship. While he slowly and deliberately makes the biblical case for our sexed bodies being important parts of our image-bearing ontological reality, his statements are grace-filled and accompanied by empathetic qualifications. I haven’t studied the field well enough to be sure, but his appraisal of different viewpoints seems balanced. He is respectful of opinions he doesn’t hold and considers many of them valid nonetheless. The book effectively frames this discussion as “people, not concepts” and made me desire to build relationships with the trans community both inside and out of the church. For that, 5 stars.
February 1, 2021
As the parent of a trans* child and a long time Jesus follower I really appreciated the detailed precise nuanced treatment that Preston provided these very sensitive topics and the degree to which it was so firmly rooted in scripture. Often reminding the reader of the uniqueness of each person’s experience and to have a posture of humility and love. This book is a remarkable resource not just for the church broadly speaking, but in particular for parents that are walking the path that I have been on for several years, thank you Preston.
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August 17, 2023Unbelievably good
The tone of this book is incredible. It is awash with grace.
It is a book I could give to a trans friend.
The research and even handedness with which he unpacks interpretations and research is great.
He covers many difficult questions.
I came away wanting church to be more messy, seeing people move towards Jesus, being loved by Him and gradually coming into line with His word.
Best book on the topic I've read so far
The tone of this book is incredible. It is awash with grace.
It is a book I could give to a trans friend.
The research and even handedness with which he unpacks interpretations and research is great.
He covers many difficult questions.
I came away wanting church to be more messy, seeing people move towards Jesus, being loved by Him and gradually coming into line with His word.
Best book on the topic I've read so far
January 6, 2023
Sprinkle gets high fives from me for being thoughtful, compassionate, humble, and convicted in his wrestling with science and Scripture regarding gender identity. I learned a lot and was challenged in my previous thinking.
He does however get at least a minor “down low…too slow” from me for some of his interactions with the science that goes against his view. He uses somewhat unhelpful arguments such as “the science is always changing” without mentioning the general trajectory of science is that it is changed for the better. And “this study tracked people for two years, but what if the results would have been different after 5 years?” without providing a study that showed a different result after 5 years. Also “one study said x, but another study said y” without providing a helpful meta analysis of how many studies land on one side or the other. In my experience, these kinds of arguments have been used by Christians to discount or deny solid scientific data and it makes me skeptical when I hear Sprinkle rely on them.
Overall, I really appreciated Sprinkles work and attitude, and look forward to learning more from him.
He does however get at least a minor “down low…too slow” from me for some of his interactions with the science that goes against his view. He uses somewhat unhelpful arguments such as “the science is always changing” without mentioning the general trajectory of science is that it is changed for the better. And “this study tracked people for two years, but what if the results would have been different after 5 years?” without providing a study that showed a different result after 5 years. Also “one study said x, but another study said y” without providing a helpful meta analysis of how many studies land on one side or the other. In my experience, these kinds of arguments have been used by Christians to discount or deny solid scientific data and it makes me skeptical when I hear Sprinkle rely on them.
Overall, I really appreciated Sprinkles work and attitude, and look forward to learning more from him.
August 19, 2023
I can’t even imagine trying to write a book like this.
I think Preston did a good job overall. He really emphasized that trans identities are not about theological debates or about political ideologies, bur rather are about living, feeling humans. He also really humanized intersex people, which I appreciated.
Most of his arguments were thorough and sound. I think there were only two that I found lacking, which isn’t as much to say I disagreed but just that I wished it had been explored a little more.
ALSO there was so much research in this book. I can’t imagine how long it took him to read all those academic articles and then summarize them and translate them into laymen language. What a boss.
I really wanna have more trans friends so I can keep learning 🤓 😊 ❤️. Definitely recommend this book overall
I think Preston did a good job overall. He really emphasized that trans identities are not about theological debates or about political ideologies, bur rather are about living, feeling humans. He also really humanized intersex people, which I appreciated.
Most of his arguments were thorough and sound. I think there were only two that I found lacking, which isn’t as much to say I disagreed but just that I wished it had been explored a little more.
ALSO there was so much research in this book. I can’t imagine how long it took him to read all those academic articles and then summarize them and translate them into laymen language. What a boss.
I really wanna have more trans friends so I can keep learning 🤓 😊 ❤️. Definitely recommend this book overall
August 17, 2021
Om kristne som lurer på hva trans er og hvordan en bør forholde seg til det skal lese en bok bør det være denne. Den er lettlest og informativ, men mest av alt varm. Sprinkle utfordrer kirker og kristne til å være Jesus-lik, både i å holde frem det vi mener er sant, men mest av alt i en tålmodig og varm kjærlighet.
November 27, 2023
Preston does a good job of presenting the various sides of each issue. While he doesn’t tend to land on the progressive side of each issue (the only one he does is pronouns), this book is a really good primer for a Christian wanting to understand the landscape.
May 3, 2021
Before this I had not seen an author seek to marry truth and grace in the discussion of Christian trans issues. Sprinkle clearly demonstrates his love and deep respect for his close friends who are trans—people he honors.
December 9, 2021
It's impossible to write a book on gender issues without being critiqued. So let me begin with what I appreciate. Sprinkle's book is well-researched (the chapters on intersex/DSD's and brain-sex theory especially stand out). I believe his conclusions are, with one significant exception, the appropriate biblical conclusions: our sexuate (not a term he uses, but not inconsistent with his argument) bodies are morally significant as image-bearers of God. And Sprinkle writes well, with a marked desire to demonstrate love and respect even to those who disagree with him.
I am not persuaded by his pronoun hospitality argument, however, but I appreciated the respectful way he carried out the discussion and considered both sides of a Christian response to pronoun issues.
But I have two substantial concerns that merit the three star review. The first has to do with the discussion of gender stereotypes, and the second with what might be called the implicit "posture" of Sprinkle's writings (this is now the third of his books I've reviewed).
Gender stereotypes: debunking cultural stereotypes about masculinity and femininity is almost a cottage industry, and not far away from being an Olympic sport (one presumes it will be gender-neutral). Chapter 5 joins this chorus, and as far is it goes is not inappropriate. But the problem is that when Sprinkle says the vast majority of biblical commands are non-gender specific (true as far as it goes), it ignores the fact that biblical imperatives are gender-neutral, except when they aren't. And those are the cluster of patterns and commands that center around those vital parts of human experience where sex and gender DO matter: marriage, the family, and church leadership. A book on transgenderism can't address the complementarian-egalitarian debate, nor say everything about marriage in its protological and eschatological state; but neither should it leave the unstated impression that, yes, our sexed bodies matter...but not for much. I think that's a thin view of the ontological significance of "male and female he created them" that Sprinkle elsewhere affirms.
Posture: overall, the book regularly and directly addresses trans* Christians (Sprinkle's term) and speaks of ways they have not been heard. Sprinkle insists that the discussion be humanized and personalized (while acknowledging the need for careful thinking). But my concern is that the posture leans towards a one-way critique: trans* Christians need to be listened to and affirmed (while not abandoning biblical truth), but the moral rebellion exemplified by the sexual revolution is only glanced at in passing. I am NOT accusing Sprinkle of capitulating; I am suggesting that, after reading three of his books, the willingness to endure persecution for (for instance) preaching the judgment of Romans 1:18ff publicly would seem to be swimming against the tide of Sprinkle's own writings. Christians should be held to account for where they fail in love towards any human struggler; but if our posture is a continual critique of Christianity, and a prevalent silence towards a culture that is in sexual rebellion against its maker, I fear we will not prepare a generation of Christian martyrs. Martyrs who love well, but also die well. Yes, that is quite an extrapolation from our current cultural moment; but, biblically speaking (e.g. Rev 12:11), it's not a far jump from the definition of "faithful witness."
I am not persuaded by his pronoun hospitality argument, however, but I appreciated the respectful way he carried out the discussion and considered both sides of a Christian response to pronoun issues.
But I have two substantial concerns that merit the three star review. The first has to do with the discussion of gender stereotypes, and the second with what might be called the implicit "posture" of Sprinkle's writings (this is now the third of his books I've reviewed).
Gender stereotypes: debunking cultural stereotypes about masculinity and femininity is almost a cottage industry, and not far away from being an Olympic sport (one presumes it will be gender-neutral). Chapter 5 joins this chorus, and as far is it goes is not inappropriate. But the problem is that when Sprinkle says the vast majority of biblical commands are non-gender specific (true as far as it goes), it ignores the fact that biblical imperatives are gender-neutral, except when they aren't. And those are the cluster of patterns and commands that center around those vital parts of human experience where sex and gender DO matter: marriage, the family, and church leadership. A book on transgenderism can't address the complementarian-egalitarian debate, nor say everything about marriage in its protological and eschatological state; but neither should it leave the unstated impression that, yes, our sexed bodies matter...but not for much. I think that's a thin view of the ontological significance of "male and female he created them" that Sprinkle elsewhere affirms.
Posture: overall, the book regularly and directly addresses trans* Christians (Sprinkle's term) and speaks of ways they have not been heard. Sprinkle insists that the discussion be humanized and personalized (while acknowledging the need for careful thinking). But my concern is that the posture leans towards a one-way critique: trans* Christians need to be listened to and affirmed (while not abandoning biblical truth), but the moral rebellion exemplified by the sexual revolution is only glanced at in passing. I am NOT accusing Sprinkle of capitulating; I am suggesting that, after reading three of his books, the willingness to endure persecution for (for instance) preaching the judgment of Romans 1:18ff publicly would seem to be swimming against the tide of Sprinkle's own writings. Christians should be held to account for where they fail in love towards any human struggler; but if our posture is a continual critique of Christianity, and a prevalent silence towards a culture that is in sexual rebellion against its maker, I fear we will not prepare a generation of Christian martyrs. Martyrs who love well, but also die well. Yes, that is quite an extrapolation from our current cultural moment; but, biblically speaking (e.g. Rev 12:11), it's not a far jump from the definition of "faithful witness."
February 2, 2021
In his book, "Irresistible", Andy Stanley talks about the church's preoccupation with sin. If I do this, is it sin? But this is the wrong question to ask. The better question is "What does love require of me?"
"Embodied" seeks to answer this question with respect to people struggling with transgender identities. The book is not one dimensional in its approach and does a good job of addressing the multiple issues that Christians are confronted with when trying to properly respond to this issue, including:
- What does it mean to be "Trans*"?
- What does the Bible say?
- Gender stereotypes
- Intersex
- Can a brain or soul have a different gender than the body?
- Rapid-onset gender dysphoria
- Transitioning and Christian discipleship
- Suicidality
- Pronouns, bathrooms and sleeping spaces
Preston's book will make you think. And while I didn't agree with everything he had to say (one rarely does), I do agree with Preston's conclusion that, in a culture marked by outrage and uncertainty, our response should be one of outrageous love.
If you are interested in learning more about how to care for those facing transgender identity issues, I would highly recommend "Embodied".
"Embodied" seeks to answer this question with respect to people struggling with transgender identities. The book is not one dimensional in its approach and does a good job of addressing the multiple issues that Christians are confronted with when trying to properly respond to this issue, including:
- What does it mean to be "Trans*"?
- What does the Bible say?
- Gender stereotypes
- Intersex
- Can a brain or soul have a different gender than the body?
- Rapid-onset gender dysphoria
- Transitioning and Christian discipleship
- Suicidality
- Pronouns, bathrooms and sleeping spaces
Preston's book will make you think. And while I didn't agree with everything he had to say (one rarely does), I do agree with Preston's conclusion that, in a culture marked by outrage and uncertainty, our response should be one of outrageous love.
If you are interested in learning more about how to care for those facing transgender identity issues, I would highly recommend "Embodied".
February 17, 2023
Would I recommend this book? I absolutely would. I believe it is a nuanced, albeit cluttered, conversation that far too many Christ followers are unwilling to have.
I have no doubt this book will offend people. For many conservative Christians, the ideas presented in the book are too soft, uncomfortable, and confusing. For nonreligious or progressive Christians, the ideas presented in this book are far too conservative and outdated. For the humanist zealots, this content is garbage wrapped in kindness. For the religious zealots, it will prove that Preston Sprinkle is trying to bring the “gay agenda” into the church. My guess is, for parents who's child is struggling with their identity, and for parents who themselves are struggling as their children struggle, this book will not give them the “how to” they are looking for.
However, for the broader population, this book is a helpful starting point. I think this book would absolutely be better in a small group discussion format with people of varying backgrounds and beliefs, but I believe there is plenty here to make anyone think. Even if it is uncomfortable and pushes up against their own biases or wants.
I have no doubt this book will offend people. For many conservative Christians, the ideas presented in the book are too soft, uncomfortable, and confusing. For nonreligious or progressive Christians, the ideas presented in this book are far too conservative and outdated. For the humanist zealots, this content is garbage wrapped in kindness. For the religious zealots, it will prove that Preston Sprinkle is trying to bring the “gay agenda” into the church. My guess is, for parents who's child is struggling with their identity, and for parents who themselves are struggling as their children struggle, this book will not give them the “how to” they are looking for.
However, for the broader population, this book is a helpful starting point. I think this book would absolutely be better in a small group discussion format with people of varying backgrounds and beliefs, but I believe there is plenty here to make anyone think. Even if it is uncomfortable and pushes up against their own biases or wants.
August 11, 2021
TLDR: A pointless book. Even if you’re looking for a book from a Christian author that holds to traditional values, there are better ones out there.
To be honest I had a lot higher expectations for this book. Especially after reading chapter two where he outlines terms and definitions I thought he might actually be going somewhere productive. But despite that, throughout the entire book he conflates sex and gender. Which are obviously two very different things with an especially impactful distinction when discussing trans identities in particular. It seems that as with most Christian authors writing about LGBTQ+ identities, Sprinkle doesn’t actually understand what gender identity even is. But even beyond that, his analysis of scripture in this book is just as flimsy. He continuously inserts the term “sexed bodies” into discussions of passages that have absolutely nothing to do with either sex or gender.
A very disappointing read. Even worse than his first book
To be honest I had a lot higher expectations for this book. Especially after reading chapter two where he outlines terms and definitions I thought he might actually be going somewhere productive. But despite that, throughout the entire book he conflates sex and gender. Which are obviously two very different things with an especially impactful distinction when discussing trans identities in particular. It seems that as with most Christian authors writing about LGBTQ+ identities, Sprinkle doesn’t actually understand what gender identity even is. But even beyond that, his analysis of scripture in this book is just as flimsy. He continuously inserts the term “sexed bodies” into discussions of passages that have absolutely nothing to do with either sex or gender.
A very disappointing read. Even worse than his first book
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