Similarities between Religious and LGBTQIA+ Self-Identification

Exploring the inner desire for humans to categories everything.

Humans are categorization machines. Ever since the dawn of time, we have sought to make sense of the world by assigning labels to items and concepts.

Take for example the development of the language of color. In English, we have 11 basic color categories (red, blue, yellow, etc). But if we look at lesser-developed languages, their categorization is much simpler. For example, in the Wobé language, they only have 3 basic color categories kpe(dark), pluu(light), sain(red).

What anthropologists pointed out is this. As a language evolves, there is an order in which new color terms are introduced. The basic would be the black/white distinction. This is followed by the color red, then either green or yellow. Lastly blue and brown.

There’s a fascinating theory on why the color terms are introduced in this specific order. You can dive into the research here.

But the point is this. The human desire to differentiate concepts results in the creation of new vocabulary. Each nuanced difference is categorized and assigned a new word to denote the same concept.

For example, in English instead of saying reddish white, we say pink. It’s succinct, easier, and precise.

This introduction of new color terms is merely the result of the human ability to categorize things. As we grow more familiar with the subject at hand (Obviously, color is a very familiar topic), humans start to develop a more precise vocabulary to articulate more complicated and nuanced ideas.

This brings my topic of the day: The complex vocabulary of Christian Denomination Terminology and Sexual, Gender, and Romantic Identity (I’ll use the label Sexual Identity to refer to all three concepts, though they are distinct).

The Similarities

These two topics could not be further from one another. The parties that both represent the topic, if I put it bluntly, despise one another. This is part of the culture wars that are going on in America.

Today, however, I’ll not be placing any value/moral judgment on which view is right. But rather, I would like to make the following hypothesis:

The library of Identity Terminology grows exponentially as a result of large population growth in the given culture (Both in religious or LGBTQIA+ communities). The new terminology functions to differentiate more nuanced identities within the main culture. Secondly, to easily locate similar characteristics of people in the main culture.

It’s almost like the way we introduce new terms for color. Once we have familiarized ourselves with the subject matter, we need to introduce new terms to further distinguish nuance.

Christian Denomination Terminology

As a Christian myself. It gets quite complex. You got the biggest umbrella term: Christianity. This is followed by the big 3 categories: Roman Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox.

Within Protestantism, you got Baptist, Lutheranism, Reformed, Methodism, and so on.

Most people stop there. But you can actually become very specific with your doctrinal beliefs.

Eg: I’m a Methodist that holds to Progressive Creationism and Egalitarianism.

Alternatively.

I’m a Charismatic that holds to theistic evolution and complementarianism.

The first word describes the overall tradition. The second describes the view they have on creation. The third, the role of man and woman.

Now. I could have additional doctrinal words to further complicate it. To a stranger outside the Christian faith they might ask something like: “Is this even necessary, wouldn’t the label ‘Christian’ be enough?”

Which I would answer:
”Yes! You’re absolutely right in one sense. Since you are not within the main culture, all the other terminology is pointless. The label ‘Christian’ suffices as a label to differentiate between other religions”.

However, to a Christian. This further labels function as ways to further distinguish the more minor difference.

Sexual, Gender, and Romantic Identity Terminology

In the total opposite spectrum (no pun intended) . We have identity labels of the LBTQIA+ community. Mind you, it’s really precise and nuanced as well.

But first a bit of backstory. When I was in high school, the only terminology I knew was “male”, “female”, “gay” and “straight”. Hence, I would describe people in that way since that was the only way I knew how.

Now on the other hand, the terminology has grown exponentially. To understand LGBTQIA+ terminology, you need to know the 3 main spectrums/orientation.

1. Gender Identity - What Gender you identify as. Eg: Male, Female, Genderfluid, Queer.

2. Sexual Orientation - Who you are sexually attracted to. Eg: Heterosexual, Sapiosexual, Pansexual.

3. Romantic Orientation - Who you romantically desire to be with. Eg: Heteroromantic, Homoromantic, Polyromantic.

In high school. I would introduce myself as Male and Straight.

Now if I were to accurately introduce myself with this framework. It would be the following: cis-gendered male, a gynesexual and gyneromantic.

Here are some other examples:

I’m genderqueer, pansexual and Queer romantic.

I’m bigender, asexual, heteromantic.

There’s two more layers of complexity here actually. You can have two sexualities at once, sapiosexual (Attracted to intelligence) and heterosexual. last, which is the polygamy and monogamy dimension. Point is. It can be really precise.

Now a religious person might ask: “Is this additional terminology really even necessary?”.

Well for the LGBTQIA+ community, it would be. Because it once again allows further differentiation between the nuance of possible identities. So for the outsider, it is deemed as useless.

Conclusion

Regardless of whether you are from the Chrisian or LGBTQIA+ community. Identity labels exist and will persist existing. I think it’s almost meaningless to criticize the creation of the identity label. All humans have the desire to distinguish nuance and differences. The closer we are to the culture, the more nuanced our terminology gets.

Hopefully. What I shared today is something that both parties can agree upon.

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Notes:

1. All LGBTQIA+ terminology was taken from the LGBTQIA+ wiki.