Power of Purity | Helping Men to Honor God with their Sexual Gift

POP 208 - A Critical Response To Purity Culture Outrage - Part 1

Jan 21, 2020

Explore the complex world of purity culture and its impact on individuals raised in Christian environments. Discover the metaphor of the 'no muscle' in resisting sexual temptation and the importance of practicing saying no. Delve into critiques against traditional teachings on sexuality, including the voices of prominent critics and the backlash against abstinence rituals. Learn about misconceptions in purity culture, the need to normalize sexual development, and how these discussions matter for contemporary faith communities.

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ADVICE

Exercise Your No Muscle

Strengthen your "no muscle" by practicing saying no to sexual temptation regularly.
Tony Ingrassia says repeated small victories build self-control and prepare you for future temptations.

INSIGHT

What Purity Culture Means

"Purity culture" broadly refers to evangelical teachings that sexual activity belongs only inside heterosexual marriage.
Tony frames it as promoting abstinence, rituals like purity rings, and esteem for virginity before marriage.

ANECDOTE

Bolz‑Weber's Purity Ring Protest

Tony recounts Nadia Bolz-Weber collecting purity rings and melting them into a golden vagina as a protest.
He uses this example to illustrate cultural hostility toward purity teachings.

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The term "purity culture" is often used in a pejorative way to describe the traditional Christian and biblical viewpoint and teachings concerning human sexuality. At the epicenter of this traditional viewpoint are such tenants as this:

* Sexuality is a precious gift that God has given to us... and we are called to honor God with the expression of our sexual gift.

* That God has a will... plan... and design for human sexuality... and God has an opinion about what is right and what is wrong when it comes to sex.

* That doing sex God's way involves expressing and experiencing our sexual selves exclusively within the context of a loving... committed... and monogamous marriage between one man and one woman.

* That because of this... it's appropriate to teach and to promote sexual abstinence before marriage... and to esteem the virtue of virginity before marriage.

Many people who came of age in Christian evangelical churches in the 1990's and 2000's were exposed to these teachings of the "purity culture"... and many had experiences with rituals promoting abstinence until marriage through initiatives such as "purity pledges"... "purity balls"... and "purity rings".

As a result of these experiences and teachings... many people today have come to hold a deep anger and resentment toward "purity culture"... and even believe that their lives were deeply and profoundly harmed by their experiences within the "purity culture". Because of this there is a growing cacophony of voices that are raging against the Christian "purity culture"... and thus the title of this series...

A Critical Response To Purity Culture Outrage.

In this important series... among other topics... Tony does the following:

* Defines "purity culture".

* Identifies the 5 primary complaints that are held and voiced against "purity culture".

* Shares 5 observations regarding "purity culture" in general.

* Then responds to the 5 primary complaints that are being levied against "purity culture.

Are the traditional viewpoints and teachings of the church... and of the bible... concerning human sexuality harming peoples lives and souls?

Are Christian parents harming their children by teaching them biblical principles about sex and sexuality?

Is what the bible says about sex old fashioned... out of date... an irrelevant in our modern world?

Discover the answers to these and other important questions in this intriguing series of episodes...

A Critical Response To Purity Culture Outrage.