The Christian/Transgender Intersection 

As a transgender woman thank you for your words of wisdom. Now we just need the rest of the world to hear your message.

Being "born again" AND " coming out" , I never considered how well the metaphors compliment each other ! Bet you'll get tons of flak from certain quarters .

Another trans woman saying thank you for this perspective! I really wish more Christians could be just like you! 🫂😘💖

In my younger days I wondered about transgenderism, and wasn't that going against the way God created you. Older now I think, God is about the perfection of Spirit. The shape of the container shouldn't matter.

Being transgender and finally recognising it in later life (my 50s) was a bit like being reborn. It was as if I had to run through an accelerated new life; child for a short while, adolescent for a bit longer, then gradually getting older. I'm now 75, but still young at heart, especially in my new 'skin'. Thanks, we need a lot more Ed Trevors in the world.

As a trans person, all I can say is thank you and amen.

Your friendly, neighborhood Atheist here… Rev. The more I hear what you have to say, the more I’m convinced that the only difference between you and I is that I believe in one fewer God than you do. And I’m okay with that. Thanks for caring about people for who they are. And thank you for not asking me to choose hate like so many “pastors” here in the U.S. demand…

I call it a spiritual awakening. I was going through a very difficult time in my life, and I was scared, and undecided on what to do, so I sat cross legged on my bed with my arms on my knees, and told God that I can't do this on my own, and I'm handing it over to Him. I had 3 dreams that night.The first was what my life would be like if I didn't change. The second was about me making the decision to change, and the Third was what my life will be like after, and in that dream I was happy, and enjoying life. I woke up a changed person, and God had filled my soul with such strength, and His love, that I could make it through anything that life throws at me. Once you have experienced God's love, you can't go back to the way you were. I personally know that God just wants us to be happy, experience joy, peace within ourselves, and to care, listen, have empathy, spread joy and kindness towards others.

Learn, unlearn, relearn. A life journey in 3 words.

Years ago, having several LGBTQ friends, I asked my Catholic priest how to reconcile this. He said simply, “Leave it to God to do the judging. He only asked you to LOVE them.”

The Pure beauty of this....astounding, Dear Reverend.

You are trying to pry the scales from the eyes of those who are determined to stay BLIND ! May GOD bless your efforts !

Speaking as a retired Minister I am 72 years old and I have served in many churches in parishes for over 30 years the one thing that I have been asked the most is why did I choose to be transgender. I want everyone to know that we do not choose to be transgender. I want to say to everyone that I chose rather not to commit suicide by going ahead with my life and transitioning from male to female. It is something that we all have to make that choice we being the transgender group we do with our lives. It is completely ludicrous in my opinion that someone would choose to be transgender. We do not choose to do that we choose rather to live not die and anyone who would choose to be transgender is going to be crazier than they say we are.😊

What rare and organic insights into the spirit, with a clear scriptural reference taken into another realm of understanding. Thank you Rev. Ed.

Amen. Reverend Ed. Thank you for demonstrating Christ's love and providing an explanation of how Jesus would react..

Hopefully, people can understand the way you explained this so that they can accept it as the paradigm shift they need to understand transgender people better!

Here in the US, I'm confused by the way some people in the government and citizens, react to LGBTQ. If they consider the LGBTQ as sinners and broken, then what about disabled? What about children born with no arms or legs,etc? Did God make a mistake? No God did not make a mistake. Because of the sins of the world, these things happened. We are all beautiful children of God. When Jesus looked at the people, he wasn't looking at their outward appearance. He was looking at their hearts. I'm so joyous that Jesus loves me for who I am. I strive everyday to be that light to shine for his glory

Jesus died for everyone. Trans persons not excluded. ❤

Digging deep is necessary in the spiritual life, if we want to grow. This was a good 'growth' video! ❤

As a Christian, it gives my heart joy to hear you speak of the loving acceptance of Gods creations. A long time ago I realized how important it is to God that we not sit in judgement. Over and over He tells us that judgement belongs to Him. Each of us will have our own conversation with Him. Over and over God has made it clear that we are to love. He even teaches us what that looks like through Paul. My concern is not with someone else but with myself. Have I shown everyone I come across the love of God that made my own heart heal? Am I the light and salt to a hurting world that my precious Jesus has called me to be? It is my belief that these are the questions that a Christian should be asking themselves. I know that there will be a price to pay if I am wrong but if my error is on the side of compassion, mercy and love I can live with whatever price that might be.

I'm so grateful to these both videos you did Rev Ed About Easter and Trans day..I have to say you did a wonderful job in the videos, You showed God love , compassion and understanding..Also your video makes peace calms Christians down .. I've seen videos from Catholics about this it's totally negative they are making anger ..Thanks God Bless 🕊️

Trans woman and new subscriber here. Not necessarily a believer but I love your videos and your perspective on things. Thank you for your support, love and compassion, things our world needs so much more of. ❤

Damn, Ed. Just make me bawl going down the road. Thank you.

You are Bountiful Dear Pastor Ed. All Glory Be to The One Who Brought you into Being, & there we Learn.

So, using the Spring Equinox holiday to affirm the rebirth of Nature's truth within each person. That, I respect. That's the way it should be.

Thank you for a Beautiful message Rev. Ed!❤ I think we just need to LOVE them & all people!🥰

Easter is a celebration to Jesus attaining Their true form, Their authentic self, Their higher self, which is what the followers of Jesus are taught to strive for (or at least I was - isn't that the whole basis for WWJD)....and is exactly what transgendered folks are striving for. Thank you for doing this video & your other video on Trans Visibility Day. I have shared the first video & will be sharing this one as well.

Thank you for the message today, Reverend.

Athiest here. I really appreciate your takes on life and religion. You're one of a few religious people I actually like. My kiddo is trans (they/them). Their paternal aunt cornered them once (at a funeral) and tried to give them a lecture. "God doesn't make mistakes!" In true mother dragon fashion I quickly interjected. "You're right! God made them this way! Isn't it wonderful." She quickly shut up.

Every moment one walks within the compassion, understanding and love of tolerance, they are traveling with the embrace of peace... Pro💜Love 👣🕊👽

My family is made up of all kinds of people, I can’t imagine feeling like I don’t belong nor making someone feel like they don’t belong.

Jesus our Lord said Love your neighbor. He didn’t say love only people just like yourself. Thank you Rev Ed. I hope that this dark age passes and Trump, Putin, Kim Jung Un lose their power.

Reading Some of the Great comments and Rev Eds words, The joy of the spring time , Easter and the Resurrection, Jesus brought new life For All People and All we have to do is Love and be Caring Neighbors..And with Spring Blooms 🌼🌺🌷💐 We All Bloom as well

Thank you very much. One of my grandchildren is going through the social chaos surrounding this sensitive issue. I forwarded this to my daughter.

The Christ never denigrated the downtrodden, too bad we have a segment of "Christians" who disagree

I'm an atheist but, I so respect your wisdom and compassion.

I wish the RU-vid algorithm could be smart enough to make this video pop up on every Republican Evangelical platform out there, and if only they could listen. Because this is what being a Christian is all about. And as a non Christian myself, I would add: This is what being a decent human being is all about.

I can't express how thankful I am for this video. For your kind words.

When I heard the outrage I thought the same way you think ed. Jesus would have welcomed them in as he welcomed in everyone else! Cuz that's just the kind of God Jesus is! And he ain't Orange!!

I read a beautiful quote once. I'm paraphrasing it, I'm sure, but here goes. God made grain, and grapes, so that we could participate in the act of creation, in the making of bread and wine. How much more, creating something of the "building blocks" of our bodies. And what glorious participation is granted to trans people, and what a gift for the cis people to bear witness to these participatory acts of creation. Seemed fitting in the context of this video. And how beautiful that these two days landed on the same day this year

What a lovely way to look at it. Thank you.

Wow, we are all teachers, and each of us can learn something from another that will change our view of the world. I believe through you that is just what your message about your transgender friends did for me. I have transgender acquaintances, but knew I was missing something...but I did not know what...now I do. What a wonderful and loving message. Love always brings it all together. Thanks!

As a Christian you need empathy. It’s so sad we need to say that. You listened to them their lives and struggles and you love them. Imagine that Christianity works.

There are many who would argue that God created us with the bodies we have, the sex we have, because those were his intentions, and to go against that is to go against Gods will. I disagree. In my humble opinion, if there is a God, he (she/it?) would be MUCH more concerned with who we are on the inside, as people, as humans, in our hearts/minds/souls, than anything you could find in the flesh. On a side note, I've been listening to you for some time now. You are the only religious leader I follow and listen to regularly. You truly have a beautiful heart/mind/soul, and I hope you will continue sharing them and reaching out to the masses for a very long time to come. The world truly needs more like you.

I'm glad you see it this way, and you made this very accepting and loving video. I think many people need to hear a voice of religious authority, NOT condemning them for who they are. But I don't see it quite the same myself. I see transgender as a response to a broken world. Our world tells us who is valuable, and why. Our world levels, and elevates, and marginalizes, and promotes people based on all sorts of criteria, like money, prestige, fame, youth, age, beauty, strength, stature--and gender. We constantly put people into boxes, label them, and set them aside. Trans folks don't fit into our boxes. We keep trying to force them, insisting they behave as WE see fit. What happens when you just can't fit into the assigned box? You change, so you can fit into another box. It breaks my heart that trans people are working so hard to insure WE see what they feel. They're changing their outward packaging, so we will treat them in a way that values who they are inside. The more they try to match the label on the other box, the more WE insist they can never fit that box. What if, instead of trying to categorize everyone, so we can file them away, and dismiss them....what if we just accepted them, as is? What if we stopped trying to make girls and boys behave as a stereotype, and just loved them? What if we threw out the dress codes, the conduct codes, the labels, the restrictions, and the expectations, and learned to embrace everyone? D. wants to play with trucks, A. wants to wear a dress, L. wants to wear make-up, C. wants to have braids, T. wants to climb trees, and K loves babies. What if we started when they were kids, and LET THEM explore all these things, regardless of their physical attributes--without judgment? And what if we continued this acceptance through their teen years, and into adulthood? Would that be too hard--for trans, and the rest of us?

Very well said, Ed.

Jesus didn't have a bigoted bone in his body. He loved all whom he came in contact with. His sole focus was the soul. He made no edicts involving sex. One notable episode was with the woman accused of adultery, a heinous crime back then. He refused to condemn her and indicated that one must be without sin in order to be eligible to throw the first stone.

Wow ! That idea, concept just...feels so correct...amazing !

Good man that you are - right on point again. Thank You ! ! !

Please help me Rev Ed. I don't know what to do. On Tuesday night in my Bible study group my “friend” said that she was sick and tired of allowing men to want to be women. She's tired of all the ungodliness. She's tired of gay and LGBTQIA people. I said Jesus loves us all and not to judge. But they all said NO! We are to judge. I don't know what to do.

Very Very Good !!

Rev, Thank you for your insights and explanations. I'm glad to learn that the anger, invedtive and hatred promulgated by so many who call themselves "Christians" is rejected by some Christians. Thank uou so very much.

Kudos, well done, and thank you very much. I feel a bit better now. I’m a proponent of the idea that if God is good and religion is good then they should lead you to lead a life aligned with integrity. Bigotry and bullying marginalized groups isn’t aligned with integrity. If someone’s interpretation of religion leads them to be bigoted, then either their religion is bad or they’re misinterpreting it. Hopefully it’s not the entire religion 😊

Fr. Ed, you have inspired my vocation to ministry. Everyone needs to hear the message of love.

Reverend, thank you for an important and heartfelt message! You gave one of the best explanations I've heard of what it means to be "Born Again".

Off Topic. Reverend Ed, please pray I am delivered to a job where I am loved and appreciated. In Christ’s love, thank you. Amen. ❤

Wow...incredible insight, Mr. Trevor

Chromosomes are structures in the nucleus of every cell. Women have 2 X Chromosomes and men have and X and a Y Chromosome. I listened to a Geneticist say that it would be possible for some men to have 2 X chromosomes in some of their cells as well as women having some Y chromosomes. If this is accurate then it would make scientific sense why certain people do not feel comfortable as the gender they are born. Inevitable, how someone chooses to identify themselves as does not affect someone else unless you choose for it to. If you chose to have it affect you then why not try and look at that Transgender person with compassion? Compassion makes the world a better place.

To be born again means learning to rise above body consciousness, every day.

TDOV happens on March 31 every year. Easter does not have a set date; it follows the First Council of Nicaea guidelines. It should not happen again in my lifetime. First, I am the odd trans. I am trans fluid. Most came out in 2017, but I have two children who were adults; at the time, I was a grandfather, and I was married, being a husband. Even today, there are times when my children will call me dad, and my brothers still call me their brother. I love being a trans female, but still, I have to respect my children and my old family. I have not lost one family member; there is one person who will let my female name be used. I will be 82 this year. Live in a state that hates all LGBT. And I love God just as I am, and my church loves all, all LGBTQ and straight. Thanks Ed for your kind words, there are a few that falls outside.

I'm Episcopalian from Texas. Thank you for your ministry. Love your videos.

Your videos help to bring hope back to the world for me. You always speak so calmly and thoughtfully. Thank you for all you are doing.

I totally agree! Thanks!

I always like to remind people that when Jesus lived among us, he explicitly sought out people who were on the outside of society: the tax collectors, sex workers, lepers. Even the fishermen who made his apostles were thought of as lesser. So the more people push trans folk out of society, the more they demonise them, the more Jesus reaches out to them. And the more they are the people Jesus would hang out with. And going beyond the trans experience, there's more experiences from relative outsiders that encapsule a part of Christianity. I'm disabled, and my faith tells me I have to learn that I can't do 'it' by myself. That I need God, and that I need to acknowledge that by first knowing that I cannot do it. Well, there happen to be a LOT of things I had to learn to acknowledge to not be able to do. And when the Bible teaches us that we are all part of one body but all different body parts and therefore we need each other: I need a lot of help from other people in my day to day. I think it's interesting how our own experiences can teach us to much more insight into our own belief system sometimes. And I think that is another example of how we need each other: all of our diverse experiences make it possible to know God better, and to understand our purpose better than we could have if we wouldn't share does experiences with others.

Amen ❣️

This is beautiful and loving. Thank You!

As a transwoman, my life has changed 360 . I'm a much kinder , loveing pearson today . I no longer call myself a christain, becouse of the hatred and rejection I received from christains . Jesus ,I adore . Christains not so much . But you Rev.Ed, I appreciate. Thank you for your christ like character. Peace n love .

I was a tad concerned when I commented under that video linking easter, eggs and 'egg' being slang for some in the transcommunity as this very much occurred to me, but didn't want to cause offence. Thanks Ed, for more than proving my concern unfounded 🤠 Happy Halal Trans-Easter Day!!! 🏳️‍⚧️🧕✝️🥚🐣 (There's outrage here about halal easter eggs 🤷‍♀️)

Thank you for helping me to understand better

If you look at nature, it is easy to see that God loves diversity! (There are also many examples in nature that “break” the 2 gender rule, but that is another discussion!) In my life, God has placed people who are different from me, some who have challenged me, but all made my heart grow. This can only happen because of diversity! Why do trans people exist? Gay people? Intersex? Why different races, abilities/disabilities? Especially in today’s day and age-people who hold vastly different opinions than me? I don’t know why, only God can explain why God created humans with such diversity, but I do know it is my calling to love them all. ❤

Thank you Reverend Father. I'm someone who has come to Christ and to the Anglican church years after my transition, and I have felt personally that there is something in common between the two experiences. Through Christ we are given a new name, a new birth, a new life, a new body, a new spirit, and a new hope. That is what transition does as well. In the end, the effect Christ has on us is far more profound than transition, though I have found both necessary. I have been happy that the Anglican church has had room for people who are trans by the experience of their lives, but each one of us is trans for the Kingdom of God.

Amen 🙏 thank you ❤

Thank you for your videos! I may not agree with how you correlate this, and I do not understand certain struggles, but I do know that God loves ALL and wishes ALL to be saved... I think everything will be clear to us when we're in heaven with the Lord some day!➕️🕊🙏 Until then, I think showing compassion and love is the best way to go with most things!❤❤

Ed, I always enjoy your example of the struggle we have to be a Christian. I want to thank Jesus, for explaining clearly just how difficult it’s going to be to be one of his disciples. I think must reading, for every Christian is Bonhoefers “the cost of discipleship”, anyway it’s just a thought

Enjoyed it. Thanks.

Beautiful. I will never understand the idea that saying a prayer to be forgiven is all that is necessary. For me it is a transformation, not just one but ongoing as I learn to hear the voice of love deep within and do my best to follow in humility. Sometimes the religious abuse or miscommunication or whatever that was that I had to escape from, creates a fear that is a major stumbling block. Fortunately for me I had some profound experiences of connection with Jesus at a young age and have always known the truth of that relationship, even as I struggled to make sense of the dogma and strictures of my far right Baptist upbringing. It is still a stone in my shoe, just to say the word God outloud (and I'm a minister) or to refer to the traditional language of the Bible, I always have to clarify what I really mean because I can't bear to pass along the misdirection and miseducation I received.

Galatians 5:14 14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: t“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

My goodness….The link you make between how a Christian is reborn and someone who is trans is reborn! This strikes me as simply a perfect analogy, a beautiful analogy. Thank you. I have a nephew who has transitioned. He, his spouse and child are three of the most wonderful human being anyone could know. I so appreciate this video Rev Ed.

❤❤❤❤❤

Wow, what an interesting way to look at this, eye opening.

While I completely understand what the Rev. is saying here, that there is a parallel that can help Christians empathise with our trans friends, the pursuit of understanding of our own identity in ourselves is different to the pursuit of understanding of our identity in Christ. Indeed, Jesus called us to deny ourselves and follow him. While we should be completely able to comprehend the impulse and have compassion we can still hold the belief that the search within oneself, while gratifying, is to gain answers from a being distorted by the sin in the world. We all try that route at times. What is truly liberating though is to find the answers from the God who made the world. We cannot claim to be exactly who God made us to be when we know the imperfection of the world has left it's various marks on us. There may be aspects of who we are before we submit to God that he can use for his glory but we don't get to decide which ones those aspects are. Often the path of a Christian is outside our comfort zone and we many of us will repeatedly fail and chase things that gratify our own sense of self or ego. When we repent we say "not my will be done but yours." This is difficult. The vast majority of people cannot bring themselves to do this. And everyone who tries will make mistakes. Many who believe they have repented hold on to vestiges of their own intentions and ideals of self. We require the full measure of grace. And this is why we should maintain our compassion and understanding. Because we all scrabble for self affirming answers, even if we've had a revelation of our own unworthiness. There is little difference us, trans people and everyone else. We are all the same in this regard. But Christians should try, and with God's help manage, to live differently, in denial of self.

You made this trans person smile today ☺️ To set the journey of transitioning side by side with the death & resurrection of Jesus, or the experience of baptism. What a lovely message. Thankyou :)

If God gives us tribulations to help make us stronger and better people, then I think putting someone in a body that doesn't feel right, in a society that wants to put people in boxes, and only accept a few of those boxes as correct... Then God must have so much love for trans people, so much respect, that He would pick them to put through these unfair, unjust, difficult trials, to make them stronger, and make us less judgemental and more empathetic. He must have an extremely special place in His kingdom for those that succumb to the depression and isolation because those are the people that help the rest of us see trans people as equals at some point. It reminds me of Saints. I know you're not Catholic, but the thing about Saints was always that they went through trials and tribulations that echo in history the levels of those people suffering today for being different. Whether that's being trans or something else that harms no one. I'm the only believer in my foster family (this channel was mum's but it's all of her kids' and sister in law's now), and while they disagree with my belief, they're always open to hearing my perspective. And I like to think taking me in was one of the things that opened our mum to subscribe to you. And when I heard your voice again yesterday, I shed a few tears. I miss hanging out with my family to listen to you and Beau. We might no longer have mum, and we've branched out on our own a bit, we're still a family and I have faith that we'll be discussing not just Beau (because politics was easier on us emotionally, so we got back to it sooner) but your homilies again. Thank you for being you and making us all feel like differences don't matter as much as what we have in common.

Amen ⚘

My comments of a particular nature are getting blocked in both the top and the newest category ☹️ Edit I try again in innoccuous summary form : those that say it is sinful, should know it is sinful to harm other people which is what THEY are doing.

What an incredibly enlightening thought 👏 This really puts transgenderism into a whole new light. Thank you for your wisdom!

It's easy to let go when you ain't gotta deal with anything, but when illnesses, conditions, and circumstances constantly cause you havoc and it seems like no matter where you go and what you do nothing helps, all you can really do is pray, not wish it on anyone else, and just laugh and enjoy life the best you can. It's easy to be and stay mad, but you should try not to be. People who don't deal with all the factors of the same things and circumstances really shouldn't judge you for it either.

Beautifully put! I think you are exactly right.

This point of view is right on .ThNk you

I see being reborn as us seeing ourselves through Gods eyes and deciding to shed with his help our negative aspects. To work harder to be as he wants us to be. Loving, caring, and supportive of others. For us to start off again as children. Humble and full of love. Full of love and curious but non judgmental of others. It gives us the ability to bond with and understand others. Unfortunately it is hard to stay humble and pure of heart in this world. I believe we can be reborn many times in our life. It is very easy for Gods children to go astray in this negative self centered world. A world were people are taught hate as they grow. Taught separation and fear of the un known. Instead of embracing , people are taught segregation. I believe thats the true meaning of born again. I believe we all can be born again more then once in our lives . God is always ready to forgive and except us back into his loving arms.

This is beautiful and so true. I am the catholic parent of a trans child and myself had to go through a journey to understand.

Exactly what I was talking about the last comment of your other video you're a very good representative of your faith please keep up your amazing work and I hope yall had fun at the tournament ✌❤

I was a teenager during the WWJD craze of the 90's and while I didn't buy Into it then (I'm hugely turned off by the commercialization and monetization of Christianity) I find that more and more when faced with decisions I'm asking myself "What Would Jesus Do". That brings me to my point. I can't think of any mainstream "evangelical christian" that is even remotely living their life in a way that would mimic what Jesus would do. Did I miss something in my reading of the Bible?

As an exvangelical trans woman, you are one of the few christian preachers I can listen to. This is an interesting look at easter and being trans gender. You are probably aware that a common expression for realizing you are transgender is my "egg cracked". Sounds a lot like being born again I think.

As a straight man and a lifelong Christian myself, who doesn’t believe homosexuality is a sin because Jesus never once spoke a single word about them, but putting that aside, I think the bigger issue than whether whichever Christians believe homosexuality is a sin or not, the bigger issue is the problem of ‘Christian’ nationalist thinking invading the Christian consciousness. If you believe homosexuality is a sin, that’s fine. That’s your Right, but you don’t have to agree with everyone’s choices, to agree with their Rights. So my question is not ‘Do I think Jesus would have a problem with Trans Visibility Day being on the same day as Easter?’, my question is ‘How does Trans Visibility Day being on the same day as Easter this year, take ANYTHING away from Easter, or ANYBODY’S Right to celebrate it. I’m perfectly capable of celebrating Easter without needing everyone else in the whole friggin world banned from celebrating anything I disagree with on the same day. You can declare Easter Day to be high holy friggin satanic day for all give a F! I’ll be celebrating Easter, and nothing takes away from that. In fact, I would say happy high holy friggin satanic day to my fellow Americans who choose to celebrate it, and I’d probably also throw in a wise a$$ “My God can beat up your god”😏, and I’d carry on with my Easter, because even though I disagree with their religion (Well, more like vehemently and diametrically opposed to it) as a Christian, as an American I absolutely agree with, and will defend, their Right to practice it freely and openly, just as I do mine.

I've always approached the concept of being Born Again as the death of the child and the birth of the adult, in the sense of Wordsworth's, "The child is the father of the man." Accepting your place in Christ and the world, and the greater responsibilities therein, so that you can walk the path of integrity. That can take all different forms.

still at the beginning of the video, so maybe you are about to say this, but: Easter is all about transformation, about returning in a form so perfect your friends don't recognize you at first, about a new, joyful life emerging from the ashes of a life full of despair. I can't think about anyone who understands those concepts the way my trans friends do -- Jesus would totally make a beeline to hang out with the transgender crowd, because they would understand His experience better than anyone else still alive.

O SON OF MAN! If thou lovest Me, turn away from thyself; and if thou seekest My pleasure, regard not thine own; that thou mayest die in Me and I may eternally live in thee. A7 Hidden Words of Bahá’u’lláh

Another important educational video for Benjamin peatrick! Andrew Broeckel should take notes! This is how liberal runescape cop was with me!

My first question regarding the resurrection of our bodies is this. How are infants' bodies manifested? Are they perpetually infants in the afterlife? How about mental development? Are they similarly infantile forever? Or is there sone astonishing 'unlocking' of the adult-to-be? How about the aged? Does their body 'de-age'? What about senility, or brain damage, or severe congenital mental underdevelopment? For the latter, does the perfect body cone also with a mind that does not even resemble the one the person was born with? How about the mental vegetable who has no capacity to understand and accept Jesus as Lord and Savior? Is there special dispensation? If so, how about the billions raised in other faiths? Is their genuine ignorance not held against them and thus are rewarded with an eternal afterlife in their perfect body? And what effective age is 'perfect''? 20? 30? 40? Such questions swirl about in my mind because the whole notion comes across as the most fanciful wish-casting borne of the primal fear of eternal nothingness.