Personalistic concepts of X. Yannaras and Mitr. John (Zizioulas) in the perspective of theological interpretations of the phenomenon of transgenderism

Abstract

Gender theory is one of the most acute and controversial topics in modern social, political, and scientific life. This article examines certain theological and philosophical aspects of the “transgender worldview,” such as radical expressive individualism and extreme personalism, which view the individual’s identity as separate from the physical body and free to determine one’s nature based on personal desires. In Western society, this personalistic extreme has permeated conceptual and practical aspects of life to such an extent that the only normative response to gender dysphoria has become a gender-affirming approach, which seeks to align reality with subjective preferences rather than aligning subjective preferences with biological reality. Gender-affirming therapy raises serious concerns among a portion of the scientific community that attempts to impartially evaluate the appropriateness and effectiveness of this approach, the consequences of which are irreversible. The trend towards inclusivity of sexual minorities in all spheres of human society is also observed within religious communities, at least at the level of theological discourse. One point of intersection between theology and the transgender worldview is the radical concept of “Orthodox personalism” presented in the views of Metropolitan John (Zizioulas) and Christos Yannaras. The author of this article attempts to systematize the personalistic views of these authors from the perspective of the transgender worldview and identify possible risks in case of normalizing distortions of human nature through the development and affirmation of a radical personalistic concept in contemporary theology.