14. How Religion Fucks Sexuality

Send us Fan MailReligion has long held a front-row seat in shaping society's views on sex—often with devastating consequences. In this episode, we look into the ways religious systems, steeped in patriarchy, have controlled sexuality, perpetuated abuse, and left lasting scars on individuals. We discuss how purity culture weaponizes shame, how silence causes harm, and how many are still unlearning damaging lessons about desire, pleasure, and their bodies. From object lessons about chewed gum and crushed rose petals (damaged goods that can never be the same again) to the opportunistic lack of consent and rampant sexual abuse taking place behind closed church doors, we cover it all. We talk about why abstinence-only is unhealthy and breeds sexual incompatibility among partners, which ultimately leads to nonfulfillment and unhappiness. We also discuss why many religious folks marry young and fast (hint: our podcast is about sex), the flipped switch idea that sex is a sin the day before your marriage and a commandment the day of, and the constant conflating of sex and procreation by religious leaders.Reclaim a healthier, freer relationship with sex. Because your body isn't sinful, your pleasure isn’t wrong, and it's time to move past the twisted control.Join us for a raw, insightful conversation.