The Importance of Purity Culture

The goal of purity culture was to make us virgins on our honeymoon or on our wedding nights. The question is though, is that the best outcome variable? And so we were asking, okay, what about future marital and sexual satisfaction? What about self-esteem? When you combine all of those things, then purity culture didn't work that well.

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Explore how harmful messages from purity culture have impacted women in the church and how we can do better. Mike Erre and Tim Stafford are joined by authors Sheila Wray Gregoire and Rebecca Gregoire Lindenbach from Bare Marriage to discuss their latest book "She Deserves Better," which addresses toxic teachings on sex, self, and speaking up. They delve into empowering girls to resist detrimental teachings, the importance of consent education, and creating safe spaces in the church.

Key Takeaways:

• Confronting Purity Culture – Understanding the damaging effects of purity culture on women's sexual and spiritual well-being, and the need to reframe these teachings.

• Teaching Consent and Agency – Highlighting the importance of educating girls about consent, personal agency, and bodily autonomy to protect them from harm.

• Breaking Down Toxic Messages – Discussing how internalized misogyny and harmful doctrines limit women's ability to stand up for themselves.

• Creating Safe Spaces – Exploring how men and church leaders can foster environments where women are heard, respected, and valued.

• Reframing Sexuality and Identity – Moving from a focus on virginity to embracing a holistic understanding of chastity, dignity, and mutual respect in relationships.

Guest Highlights:

Sheila Wray Gregoire and Rebecca Gregoire Lindenbach – Authors of "She Deserves Better" and "The Great Sex Rescue." They share insights from their extensive research on how evangelical teachings have affected women's lives and offer practical advice for creating healthier conversations around sex, faith, and empowerment.

Resources Mentioned:

• Bare Marriage – baremarriage.com • She Deserves Better by Sheila Wray Gregoire and Rebecca Gregoire Lindenbach – Link • The Great Sex Rescue by Sheila Wray Gregoire – Link

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Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford

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