Where Does Your Body Begin and End?

Mike Huber, Guest Writer

This question came up when I was reading Sacred Gender: Create Trans and Nonbinary Spiritual Connections by Ariana Serpentine for a Queer Theology discussion group. When I first heard this question, thinking how my thoughts and ideas can extend from my own mind to those in my family or community and maybe even society as a whole, I inadvertently shifted the question to “Where do I end?” 

In our Queer Theology discussion group, the conversation stayed focused on how our bodies are a part of and apart from the world, something I seldom thought about. We talked about the diverse ways we express or present ourselves. We may dress so others perceive us as a potential romantic partner, a potential hire for a job, or even dress to let others know we want to be left alone. Sacred Gender points out that all of us wear clothing and accessories as gender cues to alert others as to how we want to be perceived. This led us to parse out how our internal sense of identity is tied to how others perceive us. It feels good when others see us the way we see ourselves. 

The conversation took a different turn when someone brought up the fact that the cells in our bodies are literally made from the nutrients in our food which comes from the plants and animals we eat. The oxygen and water that sustain our bodies have traveled the planet passing through creatures throughout time. The line between my body and the rest of the world suddenly didn’t seem so obvious. 

This discussion deepened my understanding of Queer Theology. My original understanding had to do with how interpretations of the Bible and other religious texts could be broadened when considering LGBTQ+ people. As I read more, what struck me was the use of the word “queer” as a verb. “Queering” is the act of questioning boundaries that are often accepted as if they are universal truths, rather than simply social norms left unquestioned. The discussion that opened this article is an example of queering the dichotomy of self and the world. 

Queering can be applied to Biblical text. In his book, Trans-Gender: Theology, Ministry, and Communities of Faith, Justin Sabia-Tanis points out that though the Bible says God separated light from darkness and “called” them day and night, sunrise and sunset are times when those terms are blurred. And for many, those times are the most transcendent. The labels we give things imply clear and distinct entities, but the real world (or God’s creation from a theist point of view) is full of ambiguity. 

Back to my original question: “Where does your body begin and end?” Queer Theology has giving me a fresh perspective on the false dichotomy of mind and body. The idea that I somehow exist in my thoughts, and I simply inhabit a body can cause me to think my experience is universal; everyone would have the same thoughts as me if they were simply as enlightened. This is as offensive as it is destructive. The notion that my body and mind are separate entities actually separates me from others. When I acknowledge that I don’t have a body but that I am a body — that all I think, believe and know is based on my experiences, whether sensory, social or intellectual — I approach others with curiosity and compassion. Mind/body dualism creates division not only individually but also interpersonally. 

My journey into Queer Theology is just beginning, but it resonates with being Unitarian (oneness) and Universalist (wholeness). Questioning where my body ends and the world begins, leads me to wonder if that is where love is. Not power, not norms... but love. 

Notes: 

• At Unity Church, the LGBTQ+ group coordinates some of the LGBTQ+ programming with the congregation. Past events have included our Queer Retreat, conversation groups, and advocacy. For more information, contact Philippa Anastos at [email protected].
• For more information about inclusion and equity in the Unitarian Universalist Association, visit “Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Justice." 

Longtime Unity Church member Mike Huber is an award-winning early childhood educator and author of several books, including Inclusion Includes Us: Building Bridges and Removing Barriers to Include All Children and Adults in Early Childhood Classrooms. He is co-host of the podcast, Teaching with the Body in Mind, has served on the board of the Minnesota Association for the Education of Young Children (MnAEYC) and Child Care Aware MN, consulted for the MN Department of Education, and is one of the founding members of Transforming Families MN.