Daniel Darling: More Americans believe there are only two genders

NICK EICHER, HOST:

MARY REICHARD, HOST:

DANIEL DARLING, COMMENTATOR: A recent survey by the Public Religion Research Institute shows that a significant majority of Americans believe in the reality of two genders. Sixty-five percent of Americans—up from 59 percent two years ago—believe that there are only two genders, male and female. Unsurprisingly, this belief is held by 90 percent of Republicans. What is surprising is that 66 percent of independents and 44 percent of Democrats also hold to the traditional view.

Among major religious groups, this belief holds steady as well. Every religious cohort including white and black Roman Catholics and non-Christian religious groups affirm the same understanding.

But what about younger generations? Generation Z has grown up in a world with nonstop messaging about gender fluidity. Yet fifty-seven percent now believe men are men and women are women—that’s up a whopping fourteen points from two years ago. And when it comes to schools, a majority of Americans in every racial, religious, and generational group now believe that topics of sexuality and gender should not be taught to children in K-fifth grade.

What should Christians make of these numbers? We can rejoice that Americans are resisting the attempt to distort reality about the meaning of male and female. Corporate boardrooms, academic faculty lounges, and media green rooms are attempting to convince us that gender is fluid. But people are recoiling.

Witness the backlash to school boards across the country or the financial losses incurred by Budweiser and Target in recent months. Even some European nations have begun to pull back from gender transition surgery for minors. These developments testify to the reality that natural law is God’s fixed order in the universe designed for human flourishing. And that order can be seen even by those not regenerated by the Holy Spirit. This gives conservatives a window to appeal to common sense and press beautiful creational truths into a confused world.

Christians should also take heart that history does not travel in a fixed line, despite the left’s dream of the unstoppable march of progress. Throughout history, conflicts churn, false ideologies rise and fall, and there is always possibility for renewal.

That said, we should not base our belief system on the fickle winds of popular opinion. The true and beautiful vision for humanity in Genesis is good for human flourishing, regardless of whether it polls well. We speak this truth, not merely to be contrarians, but to obey our calling as the people of God.

As Paul wrote in second Corinthians, we speak up against “every proud thing that is raised up against the knowledge of God.”And we do so not out of spite, but out of love for our neighbors who may fall prey to destructive ideologies. We can “have an answer for every person for the hope that lies within us” and we can do this with “gentleness and kindness” (See 1 Peter 3).

Male and female genders reflect the glory of God in the creation of His image bearers. Because we love our neighbors, we can point out that this reality they see is a reality they shouldn’t deny.

I’m Daniel Darling.

WORLD Radio transcripts are created on a rush deadline. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of WORLD Radio programming is the audio record.