Beyond Consent: Rethinking Intimacy

In this episode of For the Good of the Public podcast, Michael and Phebe present a conversation with Christine Emba, staff writer at the Atlantic and author of Rethinking Sex: A Provocation, and Chine McDonald, director of Theos, a research think tank based in London. Christine argues that when it comes to sexual ethics today, “Consent is the floor. It was never meant to be the ceiling.” In this vital conversation, Christine and Chine help us face the reality of our culture today, and discuss what it might look like to build a healthier culture around sexuality and romantic relationships. 

Watch the video recording of this talk on YouTube!

“It also feels like from your work and your conversation with younger people, that there is almost a realization that consent isn’t enough, that there is a dissatisfaction somewhere in their sexual relationships.” -Chine [10:34]

“As a number of people have told me, the vibes are bad. They’re very bad in the romantic culture. And that’s actually true.” -Christine [11:58]

TIMESTAMPS

[00:00] Intro

[02:29] What we highlighted this conversation

[04:47] About this week’s guests

[06:11] The problem with the focus on consent

[10:35] It’s ok to want intimacy

[15:44] Men and toxic masculinity

[23:12] The role of the Church

[28:07] Outro

REFERENCES

• Christine Emba’s articles at The Atlantic
• Rethinking Sex: A Provocation by Christine Emba
• Chine McDonald
• For the Good of the Public, Episode 9: Faith and Belonging
• Men are lost. Here’s a map out of the wilderness. By Christine Emba
• Theos
• For the Good of the Public Summit
• Let’s rethink sex by Christine Emba
• Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation: The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on the  Healing Effects of Social Connection and Community

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