Is it a sin for a actor to dress in drag ?

[QuestionQuest74]

Some actors do it for comedy is that wrong? Reading deuteronomy it was a sin in the Old Testament but is it still wrong to do it now for theatrical purposes?

 

[Reluctant Theologian]

The New Covenant books seem to retain the distinctions between the sexes that the TNK/OT already emphasized. I wouldn't experiment with that, why would you? Somehow GOD prefers the sexes to be recognizable distinctively - possibly because of their distinct roles, the writings of Paul and Peter don't seem to change that.

 

[AlexB23]

Some actors do it for comedy is that wrong? Reading deuteronomy it was a sin in the Old Testament but is it still wrong to do it now for theatrical purposes?

Well, it has made me not want to watch the new Doctor Who. My favorite shows from the 1960s-2010s are getting ruined in the 2020s.

Doctor Woke: https://www.doctorwho.tv/news-and-features/jinkx-monsoon-joins-cast-doctor-who-series

 

[PloverWing]

An actor is already pretending, and we know they're pretending. They're not really Henry VIII or a Klingon or a time lord from Gallifrey. It's a character and a costume. Drag is one more kind of character and costume. Seems harmless to me.

 

[eleos1954]

Some actors do it for comedy is that wrong? Reading deuteronomy it was a sin in the Old Testament but is it still wrong to do it now for theatrical purposes?

All theater is fiction ... we are to pursue truth ... not fiction. God never changes.

 

[RandyPNW]

Some actors do it for comedy is that wrong? Reading deuteronomy it was a sin in the Old Testament but is it still wrong to do it now for theatrical purposes?

Well, of course there is the matter of conscience. Some may be able to do things in faith that others cannot do for whatever reason--past scars, young faith, etc. Nobody should do anything unless they have faith and can thank God for it.

How a person acts requires a good look at the message of the play/movie. If it glorifies sex and violence, or corruption of any kind, bad. If it has a good message, you can play any character you like--good or bad. This is contributing to a good message.

Sometimes showing evil can be a good message. It really depends on the spirit behind the play/movie.

Actually, displaying the seedy side of life can simply present life in an authentic way, as it really is. This is legitimate art at times, and is even therapeutic at times. Entertainment is therapeutic. But on a scale of good to bad, how much good is in it, and how much bad?

 

[AlexB23]

An actor is already pretending, and we know they're pretending. They're not really Henry VIII or a Klingon or a time lord from Gallifrey. It's a character and a costume. Drag is one more kind of character and costume. Seems harmless to me.

Yeah, that is true. But as soon as gender pronouns are forced into a show, it gets cheesy, and potentially harmful.

 

[QuestionQuest74]

The New Covenant books seem to retain the distinctions between the sexes that the TNK/OT already emphasized. I wouldn't experiment with that, why would you? Somehow GOD prefers the sexes to be recognizable distinctively - possibly because of their distinct roles, the writings of Paul and Peter don't seem to change that.

Where did Paul and Peter discuss it ?

 

[Reluctant Theologian]

Where did Paul and Peter discuss it ?

Paul and Peter did not address distinctive clothing for men and women, but the distinct roles and asymmetry in the relation between husbands/wives. Are you inquiring for me to elaborate on the latter? Clothing/hair-style in their days was very distinct already - no unisex; exhortation to do so (in accordance with Torah) was unnecessary. Paul and Peter do encourage women not to focus on outward beauty and adornment, but that's another issue of course.

 

[Aaron112]

Some actors do it for comedy is that wrong? Reading deuteronomy it was a sin in the Old Testament but is it still wrong to do it now for theatrical purposes?

Totally.

 

[jas3]

Some actors do it for comedy is that wrong? Reading deuteronomy it was a sin in the Old Testament but is it still wrong to do it now for theatrical purposes?

Yes. The ancient Christian writer Tertullian addresses both of these questions in his work De Spectaculis:

Are we not, in like manner, enjoined to put away from us all immodesty? On this ground, again, we are excluded from the theatre, which is immodesty's own peculiar abode, where nothing is in repute but what elsewhere is disreputable. So the best path to the highest favour of its god is the vileness which the Atellan gesticulates, which the buffoon in woman's clothes exhibits, destroying all natural modesty, so that they blush more readily at home than at the play...

The Author of truth hates all the false; He regards as adultery all that is unreal. Condemning, therefore, as He does hypocrisy in every form, He never will approve any putting on of voice, or sex, or age; He never will approve pretended loves, and wraths, and groans, and tears. Then, too, as in His law it is declared that the man is cursed who attires himself in female garments [Deut. 22], what must be His judgment of the pantomime, who is even brought up to play the woman!

Tertullian was not the only one who wrote against the theater, either.

 

[Strong in Him]

Is it a sin for a actor to dress in drag ?​

No.

 

[kiwimac]

Totally.

nope

 

[Dan Perez]

Yeah, that is true. But as soon as gender pronouns are forced into a show, it gets cheesy, and potentially harmful.

And in Deut 22:5 God calls it and ABOMINATION !!

dan p

 

[ViaCrucis]

An actor is already pretending, and we know they're pretending. They're not really Henry VIII or a Klingon or a time lord from Gallifrey. It's a character and a costume. Drag is one more kind of character and costume. Seems harmless to me.

Sounds like something a Woke Communist would say. Mr. McCarthy would like a word with you.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[PloverWing]

Sounds like something a Woke Communist would say. Mr. McCarthy would like a word with you.

-CryptoLutheran

I am not now, and never have been, a member of a drag performing company.

 

[okay]

Some actors do it for comedy is that wrong? Reading deuteronomy it was a sin in the Old Testament but is it still wrong to do it now for theatrical purposes?

While one may exist, I haven't read/heard a clear-cut, consistent approach to determining which requirements in the OT that Christians should follow and which we don't need to. Well, I guess an approach that says we must obey everything in the OT would be consistent, but I haven't heard a Christian say they believe that (although I suspect there are some who do, perhaps it is more common outside of the US?).

I personally don't think dressing in drag is problem. Likewise, I don't think it is important that we never wear mixed-fabric clothes, or avoid shellfish (unless allergic!). But I do believe the 10 commandments need to be obeyed. I try to view these things through the lens of Jesus, but that still leave judgement calls.

As Paul writes, I think everyone should follow their own conscience and not judge others.