In the first post in this series, I noted that philosophers have long noted the three categories of truth, goodness, and beauty. Every person longs for what is true, good, and beautiful because God has implanted it in us. Furthermore, those three are wed in an indissoluble union. If something is not true, then it is not good. If it is not good, then it is not objectively beautiful.
The question we have examined is whether the gender binary or transgender view of humanity accords with the truth and goodness. We have found that understanding humans as immutably male or female (and the corresponding gender) is true and therefore good. Today, I will briefly discuss the beauty of God's design..
Objective Beauty
“Beauty . . . awakens a longing within us for a world where
everything is as it should be, where everything fits together in the right
way.” Ultimately, beauty is objective because God
designed the world and gives it the template for beauty. Thus, “beauty emerges
when the material and spiritual creation is shaped according to the divine
design.”
This
argument is obviously based on the previous two issues of truth and goodness.
If one disagrees with the above assessment (i.e., that the gender binary accords with what is true and good), it is unlikely that the binary will
appear beautiful. For those that have eyes to see, however, it is lovely.
The Gender Binary is Beautiful
The binary is beautiful because it cultivates a budding and
flowering process in humanity. As Anthony Esolen observes, “The
boyishness of the boy is to come to flowering in manhood and fatherhood. The
girlishness of the girl is to come to flowering in womanhood and motherhood.
That is what the sexes are for. We want no longer to deny reality. We want to
work in harmony with it.” The binary is the rich soil that
produces wonderful flowers in life.
On the other hand, transgenderism is like an orchestra in
which there is no composer or music to ensure everyone is on the same page. The
musicians show up with instruments they have never played before, and some even
show up with instruments that they made with no expertise. These musicians then
play what they want when they want. Such self-determination and lack of design
can only result in a cacophony. It leaves nothing to enjoy or dance to.
The gender binary, however, is beautiful in the same way
that an orchestra makes a wonderful tune. There are certain musical realities
and defined roles that provide structure to what is going on. The composer
expresses creativity in a way that highlights harmony. The musicians each fill
their roles and play in ways that fit the musical design of the composer. The music produced prompts joy within those
who experience it. The gender binary is written into reality by God and
performed in the lives of people. It gives people a beautiful song to dance to.
