Tag Archives: identity

Letter from Exile #3: Being Human, Part 2

August 22nd, 2025 | Dr. Charlie Self

Thank you for your desire for thoughtful reflection. My aim is the renewal of civil and insightful conversation in the public square. My life has been shaped by positive examples of women and men fiercely debating important issues without personal insults. I have been influenced as well by historical analysis of three centuries of political, religious, and social diversity within a framework of mutual respect. As mentioned in my first letter, America’s founding affirmations of freedom of religion and redress, assembly and speech are a positive historical influence.

The polarization of the public square has intensified in the past quarter century, not only among political activists, but in matters of moral, religious, and social concern. While a silent percentage of any society simply wakes up each day aiming for a better life for their families, the chattering classes take the air out the room with competing ideologies and narratives that celebrate activism and subjectivity, not the relentless pursuit of truth. Among much of the Western elites, we see a “post-Truth” ethos that eschews objectivity and promotes particular visions of what is best for humankind.

These currents are especially present when we look at being human and male and female identity. In Letter #2, some foundations for identity and purpose were presented. These are offered as starting foci for dignity and mutual respect, not theocratic coercion. Seeing each person as a divine image-bearer and of equal worth is essential for a free society. Honoring biological distinctions while not imposing oppressive limitations and stereotypes is also important for peacefulness in a pluralistic society.

There are three points of contention concerning identity that matter for human flourishing. Drawing on both ancient wisdom and modern empirical data, we can offer clarity in the confusion and reflection over reaction.

Principle 1: Our humanness can unite men and women, who share more in common that we realize. Men and women have diverse personalities and temperaments, skill sets and passions, gifts and competencies that make our world better when used well. While biological differences are real and influence fields of work, shared affections and interests can help friendship and mutual respect flourish. Young women that love mathematics and science do not need to be redirected to other humanities. Young men of sensitive temperaments do not need to be coerced into machismo molds.

Principle #2: Men and women are different, and sexual identity is fixed at birth. The small percentage of biological intersex anomalies do not change this overall rule. Persons who struggle with real body dysphoria deserve love, respect, and excellent psychological care so they become comfortable in their designed identity. If someone has believed the deceptive social contagion of gender fluidity and has engaged in chemical or surgical alteration of their bodies, they need counsel and compassion.

Principle #3: Gender “constructs” have become a mask for harmful self-invention and anarchistic confusion of empirical reality. Biological sex is a given. Social roles for male and female vary with cultures and deserve evaluation. Gender radicals argue for a distinction between the “sex assigned at birth” and chosen gender identity. While civic freedom allows for people to believe all kinds of things, it does not demand that thoughtful people agree with defiance of biological reality. If a biological male chooses to say he is female (a “trans woman”), he can do so but should not expect that all will agree. No amount of chemistry, surgery, or role adjustment change biological reality. The few studies exploring brain activity in trans people do not account for the commonalities of male and female or the fact that brains are altered by behaviors.

Until 10-15 years ago, biological sex was assumed, while sexual attractions varied, with a small percentage of women and men being same or both-sex attracted. Gender studies were focused on liberating all people toward a just and tolerant future. After gay marriage was enshrined in US law in 2015, gender activism metastasized and suddenly we have scores of identities and defining male and female is considered oppressive. In our next essay, we will look at the ideological roots of this anarchy.

What does this mean for positive public discourse and a civil society? Two thoughts are helpful here. First, there is no place for bullying or personal denigration of any person. This does not mean that we simply accept any affirmation of identity or allow children to receive treatments in defiance of parents. Toleration is living with our differences, not being coerced into celebrating a view contrary to one’s deepest beliefs. Second, “follow the science” must be liberated from its ideological straitjackets. Real empirical research in relentless pursuit of the truth deserves celebration.

Letters from Exile #2: Being Human in an Age of Artifice, Part 1

August 5th, 2025 | Dr. Charlie Self

As a public intellectual I am often asked what I think are the most important moral and social issues of our day. And there are many. My starting point is always reverence for God and response to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Humankind, unique among all animate creation, is deeply spiritual and we will only find our true identity and purpose when we surrender our sovereignty to King Jesus. St. Augustine, in his opening lines of Confessions, was correct when we declared, “You have made us for Yourself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You.”

With this foundation of faith always in view, there are many issues that divine image bearers (all people) must wrestle with in our pursuit of a free and virtuous society (the motto of The Acton Institute).

Back to the question. Many expect me to respond with abortion, gender identity, economic policies, threats to democracy, international tensions, ethnic and racial tensions, federal and state budget crises, immigration, and/or many other issues. All of these deserve attention, and I will be commenting on them in the coming months. Underneath all these issues is one prevailing topic: The dignity and identity of the human person.

What does it mean to be human? What does it mean to be male and female? For most of recorded history, the answers have been self-evident, though with many constructions and religious differences. All cultures and faiths distinguish humankind from the rest of creation, with the differences of male and female clearly demonstrated (Alas, often to the detriment of our sisters).

With the explosion of artificial intelligence, machine technology, and gender anarchy, consensus on being human is fiercely debated. Here are some questions underneath the question of what a human being is:

Are we merely the products of time and chance?
In the singularity of human-machine synthesis inevitable?
In biological sex changeable and are there an infinite number of genders?
Are human beings distinct and superior to the rest of creation, or this notion the sin of “speciesism”?
Is the biological family the most important group in society or do all people, including children, belong to current notions of the collective or state?

In this essay we cannot answer all these queries with justice. Since this is part one of many, I want to offer some foundational thoughts that can inform our discernment and thoughtfulness about human identity. Here are two insights as we begin this conversation.

Insight #1: Regardless of one’s philosophy or religion, humankind is distinct from other species because of self-consciousness and conscience, neither of which is reducible to biological functions. On the frontiers of neuroscience and religion, there is much important work unveiling the impact of positive and negative events on our bodies/brains, while still leaving room for experiences not reducible to physical sources. These qualia are baffling to naturalists, while religious devotees see them as part of being spiritual beings. The debates will go forward, but there is consensus that there is (or may be) more to being human than mere biology. Our sense of morality and ethics (even when we disagree, we are still showing evidence of notions of right and wrong), and inner dialogues are not replicated anywhere else.

Insight #2: The Book of Genesis, Chapter 1, verses 26-28 offers a vision of humankind that can be a starting place for robust conversation on identity. Here are three facets from these poetic verses sung by ancient Israel and still informing billions of people today:

All human beings, from conception to coronation, are created in the image of God. Being human means we are connected with the dust of the earth (hence all the DNA we share with other animals, especially primates), and we are filled with divine breath (ruah = spirit), with a transcendent element as part of our being. Humans are body and spirit and this is what enlivens the soul. We are not spirits trapped in bodies (Greek notions). We are not in an illusory world (Buddhism and Hinduism), for the concreteness of creation is good.
All humans have purpose: dwelling with God and doing the work of stewarding creation. We are made for worship and work, for being and doing in a seamless life of delight in God, each other, and the world.
We enjoy God and the world as male and female. Our common humanness ensures dignity and equality, while the distinction of sex expresses the divine image more fully. Biological sex is a part of the divine archetype of humanity and is not changeable. In a world impacted by the fall of humankind, we do see a small percentage of babies born with secondary sex characteristics of both male and female and genetic markers (XXY; XYY) that are different, but these rare exceptions only prove the general rule.

Being human means we are divine image bearers with purpose, and we fulfill this as men and women. There is no place for sexism or oppression, or for overgeneralizing what men and women might do as they discover their vocations.

Modern notions of human rights, from the 16^th century to this moment, rest on these foundations, even among those rejecting religion. Let’s restore clarity and dignity, affirm full equality and celebrate distinctions without reifying oppressive histories. We are just getting started and in the coming weeks we will address each of the sub-issues above as we construct a liberating vision of being human.

Christmas 2024 Message: Hope Rooted in Love and Truth

December 18th, 2024 | Dr. Charlie Self

The recent election in the USA represents renewed political and social hope for some and deeply disconcerting signs for others. In this essay, I am foregoing political commentary and focusing on the deeper needs and hopes of humankind. We do not elect messiahs or monarchs, and the last half-century serves as a warning that no person or party contains all we need for a flourishing future.

Christmas is about divine humility and hope, as God becomes one of us forever in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. Our identity, purpose, and flourishing begin with love and reverence for the Lord, followed by alignment with God’s principles. The message of Christianity is not self-improvement, but a new creation. Jesus is not a guru, he is God. Cries for justice are heard by the Almighty, and we can be partners with the Lord is bringing much good to our world.

From federal budgets to global hotspots, from sexual anarchy in the post-modern West to totalitarian rule in many places, our world is filled with crises. Serious peacemaking efforts are welcome, but sustainable shalom must include changes in the human heart as well as military and political action. The moral chaos we see around us will only change when there is a recommitment to enduring truth that is beyond our momentary feelings and thoughts.

Here are some applications of Christmas love and truth for our world:

“Be a good person” is only possible when goodness is rooted in the unchanging character of God.
“My truth” must be exchanged for the pursuit of the truth.
“Toleration” must again be understood as living peaceably with our differences, not celebrating every opinion.
“Democracy” means little without ethical first principles that are shared by citizens. The American experiment is representative governance with protections for all citizens, not the rule of a current 51%.
“Disinformation” is a term used historically by totalitarian states to limit access to all ideas and information. Freedom includes hearing and reading things we do not like. “Consensus” can be a slippery term and must not be used to stifle inquiry. “Everyone knows” or “97% of scientists say” deserve examination.
“Make America Great Again” is a popular political phrase, but it must be tempered with the reality that there are no good old days – just good people in old days.

The King who comes to us in a creche calls us to seek the glory of God and the good of others before our own temporal pleasures or personal ambitions. My prayer for each reader, for the USA, and for the nations is that the “good news of great joy” shared with shepherds will reach every barrio and hamlet, every migrant procession and refugee camp, every penthouse suite and mansion, every home and the homeless, and when received, change the trajectory of each person and community that embraces the Messiah.

Merry Christmas and thank you for reading and reflecting with me as we aim for a free and virtuous world.

Prayers and Reflections in a Tumultuous Season, Part I

August 28th, 2024 | Dr. Charlie Self

This moment is about more than electing particular leaders. Underneath the political polarization and the cultural clashes is a spiritual battle raging for the destiny of millions. In these two essays, I want to offer prayers and insights that will help us be good dual citizens of the kingdom of God and the USA (or anywhere we are living). We must begin any reflections with our identity as God’s people who are holy exiles (Jeremiah 29; I Peter 2:9-17). Exile is NOT disengagement, a bunker mentality, or retreat from reality. Exile is engaging incarnationally and understanding all the forces arrayed for and against the purposes of God. Here are some paragraphs and prayers.

We need more thoughtfulness. In our autonomous, subjective world, we too often ditch critical thinking and careful speech, and parrot agitation propaganda rooted in ideological narratives instead of empirical and rational research and reflection. The truth of a matter can be nuanced, but we prefer clicks over conversation, emotion over ethics. We can have convictions with compassion, learn more about many issues, and debate kindly.

“Gracious and loving Lord, hear our cries for help and pleas for mercy. You are near the brokenhearted and attentive to the crushed in spirit. Come with your embrace to all suffering loss today. Bring your healing to the afflicted. Fill hearts with hope in the midst of unexplainable challenges. Use your people to bring help to the hungry, justice to the oppressed, and an invitation to new life when we surrender to you. Thank you, Jesus. Amen.”

If we lament the anger and divisiveness of public conversations, then we must not add fuel to the fire by speaking and writing reactively. Intense, lively debate over issues is vital, but playground name-calling and labeling masses of people diverts focus from serious moral and political reflection. May we find love and unity at The Table. Kyrie Eleison.

Holy Lord, search my heart and scrutinize my thoughts. I welcome your conviction leading to repentance and your compassion empowering empathy. Purify my motivations and transform my affections. May your glory and the good of others animate all I do. Displace envy with encouragement, for your kingdom has room for all to flourish. May unconditional love and uncompromising ethics win the day. Amen.

Holy and loving character will sustain us after the hype and loud noises fade away.

Hopeful Realism for 2024, Part 1

January 11th, 2024 | Dr. Charlie Self

Every new year begins with forecasts and predictions for the coming months. Some of these are thoughtful prognostications rooted in good research and reflection. Other are subjective guesses, offered as clickbait in a fantastical or fatalistic spirit. In this essay, I want to offer some pithy statements to stimulate thoughtfulness and ethical action. In a world awash with extremes, I hope these will encourage hearts and empower creativity.

Realism: We will continue seeing President Trump hounded by his enemies and his supporters labeled as extremists.

Hope: Both parties will offer alternatives to the current and previous administrations.

Hopeful realism: Perhaps we can debate important issues like the budget, immigration, foreign policy, and a balanced view of the environment.

Realism: Gender anarchists will continue advocating for unsafe procedures on minors and insist that identity is purely subjective.

Hope: Thoughtful people are waking up to the destructive narcissism and big pharma influences on impressionable young people.

Hopeful realism: Permitting adults (on their dime) to modify and express their identity is part of a free society. At the same time, parents must retain final authority in caring for their children.

Realism: Israel will be criticized regardless of her military or political actions by intersectional radicals that think she is an oppressor of Palestinians.

Hope: Thoughtful folks will see that Israel wants peace with her neighbors. This is only possible with a new generation of Arab leaders willing to acknowledge Israel’s right to exist as the national home of the Jewish people.

Hopeful realism: Israel will win the current conflict and will establish security measures, allow aid to flow, and attempt to welcome a peaceful solution for both Gaza and the West Bank.

Realism: Colleges and universities will face further reckonings concerning true freedom of ideas and speech.

Hope: Educational leaders will restore the true exchange of ideas and not allow agitators to veto presentations.

Hopeful realism: We will continue seeing older institutions refuse to change their ways while new, entrepreneurial ones find success.

We will continue exploring the future in the next essay. Here is some food for thought as we step forward this year. Let’s reject fatalism (“Nothing will change…”) and fantasy (Everything will be wonderful…”) and choose faith, hope, and love as our dispositions and discover a future filled with unexpected delights, inexplicable challenges, and increasing wisdom.