Episode 11: Puritanical Purity Culture?

from InterChristianity · host Isak Lee, Angela Kwak, Zephaniah Seung

After a bit of a hiatus, Angela, Z, and Isak are back to discuss evangelical "purity culture" and the criticisms of it that it is legalistic and sexist.  Discussion on purity culture increased last March when self-professed Christian Robert Aaron Long open fired on an Asian spa in Atlanta, citing his own struggle with sexual sin as the reason he was targeting the women there.  Critics argued that this showed that Christian purity culture absolves men of responsibility while placing it on women.  Is this true?  What are we to make of the apparent double-standards of modesty and behavior between men and women?  What's the distinction between biblical purity and purity culture?  We discuss these topics and more. Feedback and questions welcome at [email protected] as well as on the website at interchristianity.wordpress.com.

What this episode covers

After a bit of a hiatus, Angela, Z, and Isak are back to discuss evangelical "purity culture" and the criticisms of it that it is legalistic and sexist. Discussion on purity culture increased last March when self-professed Christian Robert Aaron Long open fired on an Asian spa in Atlanta, citing his own struggle with sexual sin as the reason he was targeting the women there. Critics argued that this showed that Christian purity culture absolves men of responsibility while placing it on women. Is this true? What are we to make of the apparent double-standards of modesty and behavior between men and women? What's the distinction between biblical purity and purity culture? We discuss these topics and more. Feedback and questions welcome at [email protected] as well as on the website at interchristianity.wordpress.com.