In historical religious philosophy, there are several notable thinkers who have explored the notion of non-binary and gender-fluid identities. These include the ancient Greek philosopher Plato, whose Symposium describes an idealized state of androgyny; the medieval Christian philosopher Boethius, who argued that human beings can transcend their physical bodies to become "divine"; and the Jewish Kabbalist Isaac Luria, who believed in the existence of a divine androgyne called Adam Kadmon.
Plato's dialogue The Symposium suggests that humans originally had four arms, four legs, and two faces before Zeus split them into halves to create male and female. This idea has been interpreted by some scholars as a metaphor for the potential for androgynous union between male and female, and it is often used to support theories about gender fluidity. Boethius's De Trinitate argues that God created human beings as both male and female so they could strive towards perfection through love and contemplation. For him, gender was a matter of soul rather than body, and he saw no distinction between masculinity and femininity. Luria's Kabbalah envisions a world where all things are made up of ten sefirot or emanations, one of which is called Chokhmah-Binah, which represents the divine masculine and feminine combined.
Today, these ideas continue to inform contemporary debates around gender identity. Some theorists argue that the concept of a divine androgyne points to the possibility of non-binary genders, while others see gender as inherently fluid and changeable.
Some religious groups have begun to recognize and affirm the experiences of transgender people, seeing them as an expression of God's creative power.
Not all religious communities are accepting of non-binary identities, and there is still much work to be done in terms of inclusivity and acceptance.
Historical philosophers have shown great interest in exploring non-binary and gender-fluid identities and their relationship to spirituality. While their views may not always align with modern understandings of gender, they provide valuable insights into the ways in which humans have grappled with the complexities of sexuality and identity throughout history.
How have historical religious philosophers engaged with non-binary and gender-fluid identities, and what relevance do these discussions have today?
Historical religious philosophers such as St. Augustine of Hippo (354-430) and Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) believed that God created human beings male and female at the beginning and they were complementary to each other. They argued that this meant that every man should marry a woman and vice versa because it was their nature. Both philosophers did not take into account any gender identity outside of the binary gender system.