A God We Could Believe In Bad sex and the Church
Sep 28, 2025
The podcast dives deep into the church's teachings on sex, challenging the notion that it's only for marriage. Hosts dissect cultural shame and the role of power in sex education. They explore how different denominations influence restrictive sexual norms and the mixed messages surrounding desire. Conversations range from the drawbacks of purity culture to the impact of porn. A whimsical discussion even touches on the divine aspect of pleasure, highlighting the need for a more holistic approach to sexuality.
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Marriage As The Defining Frame
- Most churches teach sex is morally acceptable only within marriage and frame marriage as the prerequisite for 'good' sex.
- This marriage-centered teaching has blurry edges but remains the dominant Christian sexual ethic today.
Procreation Reframed As A Political Tool
- Evangelical emphasis on procreation has increased as a tactic against same-sex marriage, reframing sex's purpose as childbearing.
- Catholics historically held a procreative framing consistently, while Protestants have shifted opportunistically.
Crude Sex Ed And Missing Female Pleasure
- Rachel describes school sex ed as embarrassingly basic: a banana and a condom, with little on female pleasure.
- She recalls no safe classroom space to ask normal questions about bodies or desire.
