Gender in Heaven?

[TK421]

But it seems like gender just doesn’t go with the whole beatific vision/theosis thing. Does the existence of bodies naturally imply gender, even with spiritual bodies? I can understand our identity of our gender on earth, but our reproductive organs staying there would be useless.

A person can devote themselves to lifelong celibacy, and their sexual organs will not directly have a present or future purpose, and yet mutilating themselves would all the same be a grave matter.

One of the greatest graces of God to mankind is for her to be able to participate with God in creation; this is accomplished through the sexual union in matrimony. A particular individual might not participate in this, for various vocational or circumstantial reasons, but as a member of a race that is created in the image of God, they still possess the sexual faculties that were given to them as a gift by God. On Earth, even in celibacy, this continues to serve a valuable purpose, both for mortification and for motivation. Also, a daughter looks radiantly beautiful to her father, and a son looks incredibly handsome to his mother, and a brother or sister can look beautiful to a sibling, and yet in none of this attraction - which is indeed at least partially motivated through the physical - is it at all ordered towards sexual union. It would be a grave sin if it were. It is perfectly normal for Jesus Christ to be attractive to a woman, and the Blessed Virgin to be beautiful in the sight of one of her sons, and yet there is nothing about this attraction that is ordered towards sexuality.

In Heaven, just like it is for some people even on Earth, we will not be giving or being given in marriage, but that is no reason to say that our sexual organs, as part of our gender, would cease to exist. Even our sexual natures themselves might not cease to exist, but because sexual union on Earth serves as a meager symbol to the union of Christ and the Bride, any expression of affection through sexual intimacy in matrimony - which does not exist in Heaven - would forever seem laughably pale compared to the communion of saints in Heaven and in seeing God face to face. The intimacy in Heaven will surpass the intimacy of an earthly husband and wife, beyond our understanding.

 

[GEddie]

A person can devote themselves to lifelong celibacy, and their sexual organs will not directly have a present or future purpose, and yet mutilating themselves would all the same be a grave matter.

One of the greatest graces of God to mankind is for her to be able to participate with God in creation; this is accomplished through the sexual union in matrimony. A particular individual might not participate in this, for various vocational or circumstantial reasons, but as a member of a race that is created in the image of God, they still possess the sexual faculties that were given to them as a gift by God. On Earth, even in celibacy, this continues to serve a valuable purpose, both for mortification and for motivation. A daughter looks radiantly beautiful to her father, and a son looks incredibly handsome to his mother, and a brother or sister can look beautiful to a sibling, and yet in none of this attraction - which is indeed at least partially physical - is it at all ordered towards sexual union. It would be a grave sin if it were.

In Heaven, just like it is for some people even on Earth, we will not be giving or being given in marriage, but that is no reason to say that our sexual organs, as part of our gender, would cease to exist. Even our sexual natures themselves might not cease to exist, but because sexual union on Earth serves as a meager symbol to the union of Christ and the bride, any expression of affection through sexual intimacy in Matrimony - which does not exist in Heaven - would forever seem laughably pale compared to the communion of saints in Heaven and in seeing God face to face.

Sexual nature will remain, because it is inseparable from human nature, AIUI.

ICXC NIKA

 

[joseie]

It is absolutely foolish to say that on resurrection our body will be similar or same(as in our prime age,as one post says) including sex organs but sexual desire will be ‘laughably pale’ compared to the other joys in heaven etc. If that be the case, what about other organs such as lungs ,stomach etc.?They will be functional Or inert? They do not require air and food or they will modified to accept the material available in heaven? However since those in heaven will see and praise God, the eyes and tonge will be definitely functional ! Even a mentally retarded man knows that the form and shape of the male female organs are made for sexual act and reproduction.Since both are not in heaven their appearance will be different? Women will not have breasts ?
I am sorry, but pl.don’t make such foolish and ‘laughable’ posts concerning the nature of our body in heaven,even if it is a quote. You will only land yourself in more awkward and laughable position.As I have humbly mentioned in an earlier post in this thread ,the nature of the resurrected body in heaven (or in hell )is unimaginable to humans.It is wise not to venture to know more about it as one may even start doubting whether there is really heaven or hell.

 

[Sarcelle]

One only has to look at the resurrected Christ. He was still a man, still ate and drank and generally lived among His apostles after the resurrection.

 

[PJM]

=GEddie;12912091]Sexual nature will remain, because it is inseparable from human nature, AIUI.

ICXC NIKA

No, not in the sense of having a “sex drive”. desire for sex.

Everything and Everyone will want to and WILL do noting but Worship and Glorify God! Amen:thumbsup:

Isaiah 43: verses 7 & 21

“And every one that calleth upon my name, I have created him for my glory, I have formed him, and made him” & “This people have I formed for myself, they shall shew forth my praise”

God Bless you,

Patrick

 

[GEddie]

No, not in the sense of having a “sex drive”. desire for sex.

Everything and Everyone will want to and WILL do noting but Worship and Glorify God! Amen:thumbsup:

Isaiah 43: verses 7 & 21

“And every one that calleth upon my name, I have created him for my glory, I have formed him, and made him” & “This people have I formed for myself, they shall shew forth my praise”

God Bless you,

Patrick

There is far more to sex/gender in our bodies, and by extension, minds, than the capacity or desire to engage in sex.

If that were not the case, boys and girls, who have not yet learnt sexual desire, would be the same. But even those without children know they are not!

ICXC NIKA

 

[Vico]

There is far more to sex/gender in our bodies, and by extension, minds, than the capacity or desire to engage in sex.

If that were not the case, boys and girls, who have not yet learnt sexual desire, would be the same. But even those without children know they are not!

ICXC NIKA

The main differences are in the processing, chemistry, structure, and activity of the brain.

Male (gray matter foremost): information and action-processing, more physically impulsive, fewer verbal centers than females, *brief *emotive memory analysis, moving on to action.

Female (white matter foremost): networking, quick transition between tasks
bonding chemical oxytocin, larger hippocampus (memory center), more natural blood flow in the brain.

 

[GEddie]

The main differences are in the processing, chemistry, structure, and activity of the brain.

Male (gray matter foremost): information and action-processing, more physically impulsive, fewer verbal centers than females, *brief *emotive memory analysis, moving on to action.

Female (white matter foremost): networking, quick transition between tasks
bonding chemical oxytocin, larger hippocampus (memory center), more natural blood flow in the brain.

Yep, and the brain is as far from the sexual system as you can get.

In the full-length body, you have further differences involving the muscles, voice, senses, etc.

ICXC NIKA

 

[Joie_de_Vivre]

Deductive reasoning is refreshing indeed. :yup:

---

The virgin Mary, the mother of God, is declared by the Church to be The Queen of Heaven. This proves that there are gender differences in the afterlife.

However, even though we retain our genders, and consequently, our masculine and feminine qualities, in the afterlife, we will not express any sexuality that we had while on Earth, or at least not much of it.

There will also be no marriage. Christ confirms that there is an absence of marriage in Heaven. See Luke 20:27-40.

If there is no marriage in Heaven, then we may deduce, with reasonable certainty, that there will also be no expressing of sexuality in Heaven, (flirting or dating) for marriage is the end result of sexuality. Men will not thrust their chests at women in an attempt to show their protective competence, and women will not playfully flirt with men in an attempt to capture their hearts.

A transgender person, who is naturally a male, yet transforms himself into a female while on Earth, will transform back into a male when he enters the afterlife.

Their resurrected bodies will reflect their soul which is not necessarily what we deemed them on birth.

What about intersex people? I’m guessing they would be transformed into their original bodily state prior to any surgeries, but what are the implications of that?

They’d be one or the other.

But it seems like gender just doesn’t go with the whole beatific vision/theosis thing. Does the existence of bodies naturally imply gender, even with spiritual bodies? I can understand our identity of our gender on earth, but our reproductive organs staying there would be useless.

We retain gender in Heaven as our souls are gendered.

A person can devote themselves to lifelong celibacy, and their sexual organs will not directly have a present or future purpose, and yet mutilating themselves would all the same be a grave matter.

One of the greatest graces of God to mankind is for her to be able to participate with God in creation; this is accomplished through the sexual union in matrimony. A particular individual might not participate in this, for various vocational or circumstantial reasons, but as a member of a race that is created in the image of God, they still possess the sexual faculties that were given to them as a gift by God. On Earth, even in celibacy, this continues to serve a valuable purpose, both for mortification and for motivation. Also, a daughter looks radiantly beautiful to her father, and a son looks incredibly handsome to his mother, and a brother or sister can look beautiful to a sibling, and yet in none of this attraction - which is indeed at least partially motivated through the physical - is it at all ordered towards sexual union. It would be a grave sin if it were. It is perfectly normal for Jesus Christ to be attractive to a woman, and the Blessed Virgin to be beautiful in the sight of one of her sons, and yet there is nothing about this attraction that is ordered towards sexuality.

In Heaven, just like it is for some people even on Earth, we will not be giving or being given in marriage, but that is no reason to say that our sexual organs, as part of our gender, would cease to exist. Even our sexual natures themselves might not cease to exist, but because sexual union on Earth serves as a meager symbol to the union of Christ and the Bride, any expression of affection through sexual intimacy in matrimony - which does not exist in Heaven - would forever seem laughably pale compared to the communion of saints in Heaven and in seeing God face to face. The intimacy in Heaven will surpass the intimacy of an earthly husband and wife, beyond our understanding.

Celibacy is a greater calling than marriage

Yep, and the brain is as far from the sexual system as you can get.

In the full-length body, you have further differences involving the muscles, voice, senses, etc.

ICXC NIKA

The brain is involved with the sexual system.

 

[godisgood77]

I apologize severely beforehand. I get the feelings my posts seem to come out as if I’m a madman.

Is it wrong to believe that gender would be useless in Heaven? It seems like to have perfect bodies, gender would be removed. Isn’t gender like two sides of a coin, incomplete without the other? I want to be fully complete in heaven, and I feel like the removal of gender period would be an effect of this. Gender wouldn’t have use, anyway, since we’d be ‘married’ to God. I don’t know why, but this really bothers me. I don’t want there to be an ontological ‘opposite’ of me, I want to be ‘neutral’. Is all of this heresy?

It’s pure speculation… but you are allowed to speculate … that is what Theology is. Truth is no one knows what it will be like in Heaven… i think of it like determining the sex of child before birth… I’d rather be surprised anyway. But it is a fun thing to think about.

 

[Vico]

Yep, and the brain is as far from the sexual system as you can get.

In the full-length body, you have further differences involving the muscles, voice, senses, etc.

ICXC NIKA

The nervous system includes the brain, spinal cord, sensory organs, and the nerves connecting all the organs and tissues. These certainly involved in reproduction and sexual behaviors.

 

[HelenRose]

I apologize severely beforehand. I get the feelings my posts seem to come out as if I’m a madman.

Is it wrong to believe that gender would be useless in Heaven? It seems like to have perfect bodies, gender would be removed. Isn’t gender like two sides of a coin, incomplete without the other? I want to be fully complete in heaven, and I feel like the removal of gender period would be an effect of this. Gender wouldn’t have use, anyway, since we’d be ‘married’ to God. I don’t know why, but this really bothers me. I don’t want there to be an ontological ‘opposite’ of me, I want to be ‘neutral’. Is all of this heresy?

One of the good things about these forum, you soon learn how to express yourself. It is my thought that when we try to carry on a discussion about heaven we are like blind people discussing the color blue. We can not comprehend what God has in store for us. I do believe that the female body and the male body are each perfect and beautiful in their own way. But just how that is understood in Heaven … hopefully we will “understand it by and by”.

Don’t worry about what you “want” because God knows far better than you what you really want and need. He knows you far better than you know yourself. Trust in God’s love. Trust in His Mercy.