11. The Sexual Revolution: Why Louise Perry changed her mind
Jan 23, 2024
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Historians and thinkers discuss the influence of Christianity on secular human rights. Louise Perry reconsiders Christian sexual ethics. The Me Too movement and the sexual revolution. The inclusive nature of Christian gatherings. The limitations of academic feminism. The consequences of the sexual revolution. The transitioning from a secular to a religious worldview.
The first sexual revolution of the first century, influenced by Christian beliefs, prioritized values such as consent, love, faithfulness, and raising children within a family, challenging the notion that the 20th-century sexual revolution focused on liberation and casual sex has been entirely beneficial for women and society at large.
The feminist movement has roots in Christian morality and principles, relying on ideas such as the spiritual equality of men and women, protection of the vulnerable, and the sacredness of sexuality within monogamous marriage, emphasizing the empowering potential of Christianity for women and its core message of dignity and worth for all individuals.
The second sexual revolution of the 20th century, which disconnected sex from procreation and marriage, resulted in a porn-saturated, commodified, and depersonalized sexual culture, leading to exploitation and leaving many women feeling uncomfortable and distressed, highlighting the need to return to the first sexual revolution's emphasis on sacredness, monogamy, and protection of vulnerable individuals.
Deep dives
The Two Sexual Revolutions
The podcast explores the idea that there have been two sexual revolutions, with the first occurring in the first century influenced by Christian beliefs. The first sexual revolution prioritized the sanctity of sex, consent, love, faithfulness, and raising children within a family. Monogamous marriage, despite not favoring elite men, emerged as a dominant system due to its positive societal impact, such as lower crime rates, taming effects on men, economic productivity, and lower rates of domestic violence and child abuse. This view challenges the notion that the second sexual revolution of the 20th century, focusing on liberation and casual sex, has been entirely beneficial for women and society at large.
The Legacy of Christianity for Feminism
The episode discusses how the feminist movement has roots in Christian morality and principles. It argues that feminism depends on Christian ideas, such as the radical belief in the spiritual equality of men and women, protection of the vulnerable, and the sacredness of sexuality within monogamous marriage. The guests suggest that feminists who oppose Christianity fail to recognize the Christian legacy within feminism and the unique ideas it has contributed to women's rights. They emphasize the empowering potential of Christianity for women and its core message of dignity and worth for all individuals.
The Pitfalls of the Second Sexual Revolution
The podcast highlights the negative consequences of the second sexual revolution, which took place in the 20th century. This revolution disconnected sex from procreation and marriage, leading to a porn-saturated, commodified, and depersonalized sexual culture. The rise of the porn industry, casual sex, and surrogacy has resulted in exploitation, particularly of vulnerable groups like poor women. The guests argue that this revolution failed to deliver true freedom and equality, leaving many women feeling uncomfortable, distressed, and unable to articulate their concerns within the prevailing cultural narrative of consent. They suggest a return to the first sexual revolution's emphasis on sacredness, monogamy, and the protection of vulnerable individuals.
Reconsidering the Christian Story
The episode encourages a fresh look at the Christian narrative that gave rise to the first sexual revolution. It challenges the idea that human rights and humanism can be solely grounded in science or reason, emphasizing the Christian roots of concepts like human dignity, equality, and compassion. The guests argue that the decline of the Christian story in Western societies risks a return to more pagan or exploitative systems. They highlight the unique contributions Christianity has made to society, including the taming effect of marriage on men, the protection of vulnerable individuals, and the promotion of social well-being. The suggestion is made that the Christian story and its teachings offer philosophical grounding for a meaningful humanism and a more just society.
Christianity's Impact on Sexual Behavior
Early Christianity introduced new standards of sexual behavior, challenging the double standards and exploitation prevalent in the Greco-Roman world. Christian teachings condemned practices like sex with prostitutes or slaves, and emphasized the same standards of chastity for men as expected of virtuous women. Christianity promoted the idea of equal dignity among individuals, redefining marriage as a union based on mutual love, respect, and equality between partners. This transformation of sexual morality laid the foundation for concepts like consent and the recognition of the equal worth and dignity of every individual in modern society.
Christianity's Influence on Monoagamy and Consent
Christianity's impact extended beyond promoting monogamy and consent in sexual relationships. The early Christian church rejected practices like pederasty and sex with small children, introducing new terms to designate these practices as abusive and corrupting. The concept of virtuous self-control and celibacy also gained prominence, highlighting the importance of self-mastery and refraining from using sex as a weapon of power. The Christian emphasis on consent within marriage challenged the prevailing Roman view and promoted harmony and equality between spouses. Ultimately, Christianity's influence on sexual behavior had a profound and lasting effect, shaping modern understandings of sex, consent, and the value of every individual.
The 20th Century's sexual revolution led to free love and the modern hookup culture. But some secular intellectuals are now saying we need to return to the values of the 1st Century sexual revolution.
Justin hears from historians and thinkers who identify Christianity as the source of secular human rights, and why feminists such as Louise Perry are re-evaluating the Christian sexual ethics of marriage and monogamy.
