I knew that science held the keys to unlock all mysteries. I knew that a supernatural god living in the sky was a fairy tale.

I knew that evolution was true and the Bible (which I hadn’t actually read) was false. Surprising DiscoveriesĪt this point, the question of faith was off the table. But I also began wondering whether there might be something more to human existence than science and pure reason. I found comfort and joy in the beauty, complexity, and wisdom of the scientific description of reality. If humans were a blind product of evolutionary chance, with no special purpose or significance, then how could the stated goals of socialism-to advance human dignity and value-make sense? And if religion, particularly Christianity, was really such a terrible historical evil, then why were so many Christian clergy members involved in the civil rights movement?Īs I studied science and began my research career in biochemistry and molecular biology, I formed a passionate attachment to a life of knowledge rooted in the scientific worldview. I saw contradictions in some of what I had been taught. Early on in life, my curiosity led me to ask questions. These gifts, along with my training in scientific thought and research, eventually cracked open the prison cell that held my soul captive during those early years.īreaking free was a slow process, akin to chipping away at a dungeon door with a dull spoon. At the same time, my father gave me a love of science and reason, and he taught me the importance of asking questions. My indoctrination in the dogmas of communism and atheism was deep and long lasting. Members of my extended family were union organizers and left-wing radicals, and my parents had even been members of the American Communist Party. By introducing transgender issues and language and providing stories of both biblical characters and real-life narratives from transgender Christians living today, Hartke helps listeners visualize a more inclusive Christianity, equipping them with the confidence and tools to change both the church and the world.I had an unusual childhood for an American.

Transforming: The Bible and the Lives of Transgender Christians provides access into an underrepresented and misunderstood community and will change the way listeners think about transgender people, faith, and the future of Christianity.

Into this void, Austen Hartke offers a biblically based, educational, and affirming resource to shed light and wisdom on this modern gender landscape. Years later, many people-even many LGBTQ allies-still lack understanding of gender identity and the transgender experience. In 2014, Time magazine announced that America had reached the transgender tipping point, suggesting that transgender issues would become the next civil rights frontier.

Austen hartke