What should Christians think of the practice of "volunteering pronouns" and using someone's preferred pronouns if they differ from their biological sex? Here are a number of articles that address the issue by arguing that Christians should not engage in this practice
NEW: Ask Chris T ollefsen: An Ethics Advice Column (May 30, 2024)
- This is the question Tollefsen is addressing in this column:
I’m wondering if it is ever permissible to use the “new” or chosen name and pronouns of a person suffering from gender dysphoria (that are not in accord with their biological sex) despite this action’s implicitly affirming this incongruence of their thoughts with human anthropology and biological truth?
The specific situation that comes to mind is if a patient presents to the hospital in a mental health crisis (a suicide attempt) and [hospital staff’s] refusal to use [his preferred] names or pronouns would be counter-therapeutic, diminish patient–physician trust/rapport, and exacerbate the mental suffering of a person in need of acute psychiatric care.
Christians Volunteering Pronouns? by Andrew T. Walker at American Reformer (August 19, 2022)
A Response to an Employer's Request for Pronouns by Amy K. Hall at The Stream (May 11, 2023). Provides a nice example from a real-life situation as well as a template of what to communicate and how to do with courage and wisdom.
Why I No Longer Use Transgender Pronouns--and Why You Shouldn't Either by Rosario Butterfield at Reformation 21 (April 3, 2023)
Words as Weapons: Why We Must Stand Our Grounds Over Pronouns by Jonathon Van Maren at The European Conservative (February 7, 2022)
"Language is the first domino in the war over reality—and pronouns have nothing to do with politeness and everything to do with ideological submission...
"What do we actually cede if we play along with ‘preferred pronouns’? We are conceding that the person demanding that he be called a ‘she’ actually is a woman. Once that is established, what grounds do we have for keeping him out of the female bathroom, or off the girl’s swim team, or out of a rape crisis center for women traumatized by men? The simple answer is that there are none. He has demanded that we call him a woman, and we have agreed to do so to be courteous. That courtesy will then be used as a bludgeon."
Is It a Sin for a Christian to Use Transgender Pronouns? by Michael Brown at Ask Dr. Brown (April 4, 2023)
Examining the Case for "Pronoun Hospitality" by Richard Klaus at White Rose Review (January 6, 2021)
Cognitive Liberty: Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Conscience and "What Are Your Pronouns?" Video interview with Dr. Nicholas Meriwether at Ratio Christi: Thoughtful Christianity (September 30, 2022)
- The U.S. Sixth Circuit of Appeals decision in favor of Dr. Nicholas Meriwether.
