THE ESSENTIAL SELF

▪ Our essential meaning-making

processes in relation to life, self, and
others.
▪ Spirituality: Personal beliefs and
behaviors that are practiced as part of
the recognition that we are more than the
material aspects of mind and body.
ESSENTIAL ▪ Gender Identity: Satisfaction with one's
SELF gender; feeling supported in one's
gender;
▪ Cultural Identity: Satisfaction with one's
cultural identity;
▪ Self-Care: Taking responsibility for
one's wellness through self-care and
safety habits that are preventive in
nature;
BIOLOGICAL SEX GENDER IDENTITY SEXUAL ORIENTATION
MALE FEMALE INTERSEX
 • Sexual orientation refers to an
enduring pattern of emotional,
romantic and/or sexual attractions to
What is sexual men, women or both sexes. Sexual
orientation? orientation also refers to a person's
sense of identity based on those
attractions, related behaviors and
membership in a community of others
who share those attractions.
• According to current scientific and professional
understanding, the core attractions that form the
basis for adult sexual orientation typically emerge
between middle childhood and early adolescence.
These patterns of emotional, romantic, and sexual
attraction may arise without any prior sexual
experience. People can be celibate and still know
their sexual orientation--be it lesbian, gay, bisexual
or heterosexual.
https://www.apa.org/topics/lgbt/orientation
• There is no consensus among scientists about the
exact reasons that an individual develops a
heterosexual, bisexual, gay or lesbian orientation.
• Although much research has examined the
possible genetic, hormonal, developmental, social
and cultural influences on sexual orientation, no
findings have emerged that permit scientists to
conclude that sexual orientation is determined by
any particular factor or factors.

• https://www.apa.org/topics/lgbt/orientation
 Then the Lord God made a woman from
the rib[a] he had taken out of the man,
and he brought her to the man.
What does the
• 23 The man said,
Bible say
about SOGI? “This is now bone of my bones
and flesh of my flesh; she shall be
called ‘woman,’for she was taken out of
man.”
-Genesis 2:22,23
 From a biblical perspective, the human
What does the being is a psychosomatic unity. For
Bible say example, Scripture repeatedly calls the
entire human being a soul (Gen 2:7; Jer
about SOGI? 13:17; 52:28-30; Ezek 18:4; Acts 2:41; 1
Cor 15:45)
 • Thus, the Bible does not endorse dualism in
the sense of a separation between one’s
body and one’s sense of sexuality.
What does the • A human being is also meant to be an
Bible say undivided sexual entity, and sexual identity
cannot be independent from one’s body.
about SOGI? According to Scripture, our gender identity,
as designed by God, is determined by our
biological sex at birth.
 Scripture acknowledges, however, that due
to the Fall (Gen 3:6-19) the whole human
being — that is, our mental, physical, and
spiritual faculties — are affected by sin (Jer
What does the 17:9; Rom 3:9; 7:14-23; 8:20-23; Gal 5:17)
and need to be renewed by God (Rom
Bible say 12:2). Our emotions, feelings, and
about SOGI? perceptions are not fully reliable indicators
of God’s designs, ideals, and truth (Prov
14:12; 16:25). We need guidance from God
through Scripture to determine what is in
our best interest and live according to His
will (2 Tim 3:16).
 Transgender people should be
What does the committed to ordering their lives
Bible say according to the biblical
about SOGI? teachings on sexuality and
marriage.
 The Bible commands followers of
Christ to love everyone. Created in
What does the the image of God, they must be
treated with dignity and respect. This
Bible say includes transgender people. Acts of
about SOGI? ridicule, abuse, or bullying towards
transgender people are incompatible
with the biblical commandment, “You
shall love your neighbor as yourself”
(Mark 12:31).
 The Bible proclaims the good news
that sexual sins committed by
What does the heterosexuals, homosexuals,
transgender people, or others can be
Bible say forgiven, and lives can be transformed
about SOGI? through faith in Jesus Christ (1 Cor
6:9-11).
 Those who experience incongruity
between their biological sex and
gender identity are encouraged to
What does the follow biblical principles in dealing
Bible say with their distress. They are invited to
reflect on God’s original plan of purity
about SOGI? and sexual fidelity. Belonging to God,
all are called to honor Him with their
bodies and their lifestyle choices.
(1 Cor 6:19).
 RELIGION TRADITIONS
HERITAGE

THINKING
PATTERNS LANGUAGE
ANCENSTRY SOCIAL
CULTURES

AESTHETICS
• Normally, people internalize the beliefs, values, norms, and
social practices of their culture and identify themselves with
that culture. The culture becomes a part of their self-concept
• However, some studies have noted that existing cultural
identity theory may not account for the fact that different
individuals and groups may not react to or interpret events,
happenings, attitudes, etc. in the same ways as other
individuals or groups.
• associations between spiritual health, resilience and
psychological well-being have been established through
literature.
• maternal spiritual health is a significant predictor of
psychological well-being (p < .01) and resilience (p < .01) of
their young adults.
• -Goshal and Mehrota, 2017