I personally do consider that the ambiguity of the ways in which the image of XXI has developed in various decks is wonderful.
I have in another thread attached a copy of
the World card from Dodal (1701), to show that it is indeed possible for the figure to be seen as any of three possibilities: as masculine Christ-like image, as feminine, or as hermaphrodic.
I also attach an image here from the Cathedral of Angouleme - there are so many similar images around the French countryside that it would have been difficult, I suggest, to have been able to have seen the card as anything other than a Christ representation. I am not suggesting that it may not have
also been used to depict either heretical notions of either Christ as Hermaphrodite or as World
Sophia - it quite rightly may also have been so used. Rather, it seems likely that
with time, what may have been long-haired and beardless masculine representations become slowly transformed to feminine figures. Here what comes to mind are especially two cards (there are also others, such as the Papess, which may also have been a young priest, and the 'proper' place for the youngest son to take), that of Samson and the Lion (Strength) and of Christ (XXI). Personally, I consider, let it also be clear, that the feminine depiction of Strength is more than appropriate and accurate. For myself, I personally prefer to consider the XXI figure as hermaphrodic - but not as upper
vs lower, but as right/left
cuniunctio (of united Sun & Moon as Mercury).
Of course, this does not directly address the principal question which Frank asks in opening this thread.
To address this a little, I personally do consider that the variety and sequence of images utilised, in its formative stages, quite clear Christian ones, but that it is very likely that these were developed (from my personal perspective) by
crypto-Jews who remained in Southern French lands after their, and the Huguenots', expulsion at the time.
I therefore personally also consider that the alphabetic correlations, as presented by Mark Filipas, to actually be correct, and suggest that this was actually the deck's overall organising pattern on what was
otherwise a wonderful and allegorically rich set without over-arching organising sequence.
As such, it certainly also, and undoubtedly to my mind,
included what would have been considered heretical to the Roman Catholic Church, but quite consistent with various other Christian movements - especially Christian Jews with Huguenot tendencies.