Jan 1, 2019
Linda Kay Klein author of PURE: Inside the Evangelical Movement That Shamed a Generation of Young Women and How I Broke Free joins us this week. Sexuality, sexual purity as Christian faithfulness, girls, boys, women, men, shame, guilt, American Evangelicalism, political opportunism, the Virgin Mary, healing, hope and community – these are just a few of the topics Linda discusses with Irenicast co-host, Bonnie Rambob.
The conversation begins with Linda’s relay of her own personal experiences with purity culture during her adolescence. As Linda grew, left the church and entered the secular world, she likens her struggle in the wake of purity indoctrination to include almost PTSD-like symptoms. Though impacted women (and men) often find it hard to talk about their shame regarding sexuality, Linda heard “me too” whispers along the way coming from others with whom Linda shares a similar background. Hence, her life-changing (according to Bonnie) well-researched book.
Linda unpacks a little bit about the history of sexual repression within American Christianity and its devastating generational impact. In the 90s, purity culture became purity industry. She and Bonnie briefly consider the influential book, I Kissed Dating Goodbye written by a young Joshua Harris. Linda and Bonnie discuss the deep spiritual work of repentance, listening, talking and healing, all of which is part of breaking free from the oppression of purity culture.
Linda shares her own spiritual journey as a Christian though not a church member. In a rich detour from the central topic, Linda and Bonnie explore the value of spiritual community in relation to going it alone or belonging to religious institutions such as church.
The conversation ends with an important question – what now? How do we move forward? Linda shares her insights into the healing power of values- based, lifespan sexuality education curricula such as OWL (Our Whole Lives) developed in collaboration between Unitarian Universalists, United Church of Christ and Planned Parenting. Bonnie and Linda reflect on biblical images of women’s sexuality, for example the Virgin Mary. Together they wonder about whether there is potential for reframing these images in liberative ways. In addition, Linda shares her emerging and ground-breaking work as founder of Break Free Together.
If, as part of your faith life, you’ve ever experienced shame just because you are a sexual being, you might be a survivor of purity culture – and, this episode is for you.
RELEVANT LINKS
From Our Conversation with Linda Kay Klein Author of PURE
- PURE: Inside the Evangelical Movement That Shamed a Generation of Young Women and How I Broke Free by Linda Kay Klein (Book - Amazon Affiliate Link)
- Joshua Harris (American Pastor and Author)
- Evangelical Writer Kisses An Old Idea Goodbye (Article on Joshua Harris’ recently apology for I Kissed Dating Goodbye)
- Faith, Hope, Chastity : Thousands of teen-agers are embracing a new Christian abstinence program. Why? Many long for moral certainties. Also, "Sex is now a matter of life and death." (1994 LA Times Article)
- Our Whole Lives aka OWL (comprehensive sexuality curriculum)
- Mary’s Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55 CEB)
- Break Free Together
THANK YOU
A big thank you to Linda Kay Klein for talking with us this week!
Linda Kay Klein author of PURE: Inside the Evangelical Movement that Shamed a Generation of Young Women and How I Broke Free, is also a storyteller and innovator. Linda is also founder of Break Free Together, an organization committed to helping people release sexual shame and claim their whole selves.
Linda has been featured on NPR, Elle.com, GoodHousekeeping.com, PopSugar, Refinery29, New York Magazine’s The Cut, the New York Post, Fox News Online, Mother Jones, and several other media outlets. Click here for a sampling of these media pieces.
To keep up on Linda’s continuing work follow her on Twitter @LindaKayKlein or check out her website LindaKayKlein.com
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IRENCAST HOSTS
Jeff Manildi | producer & co-host | jeff@irenicast.com
Jeff is co-founder of Irenicast. In addition to getting his B.A. in Theology, he also received his ordination through the prestigious online organization of The Universal Life Church whose alumni include the likes of Conan O’Brien and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. Jeff loves all things that tell a story: people, movies, tv, music, comics, etc.
Follow Jeff (@JeffManildi) on facebook, instagram & twitter. You can also listen to Jeff’s other podcast Divine Cinema.
Rev. Allen Marshall O’Brien | co-host | allen@irenicast.com
Allen is the pastor of a UCC church in Northern California, resident chaplain at an area hospital, and co-founder of Irenicast. He believes in the importance of education, peace, and ecology and writes for multiple platforms.
You can follow Allen (@RevAllenOB) on Facebook,Twitter, Instagram, & Good Reads. Also if you are in the Sacramento, CA area check out Allen’s brick and mortar version of this podcast calledIntersections.
Rev. Bonnie Rambob | co-host
Bonnie is the co-pastor at Parkside Community Church. Bonnie has also served the Congregational Church of San Mateo as Transitional Minister for Intergenerational Education. As a graduate of Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, she offers expertise in multi-faith leadership, the spirituality of children, process theology and church organizational structure. Drawing from her fundamentalist Christian background, she co-leads several outreach ministries to those spiritual travelers who are migrating out of fundamentalist Christianity.
Raj Rambob | co-host
Rajeev Rambob (Raj) is spouse, of 26 years, to Bonnie Rambob. Both Bonnie and Raj are ordained ministers in the United Church of Christ. They have two adult children who are intelligent, creative, hilarious and kind. Raj has been a K-12 educator and principal. Raj transitioned from K-12 leadership to executive leadership in the nonprofit sector. Raj's non-profit experience is largely in homelessness. Currently Raj is Executive Director of Amador Tuolumne Community Action Agency (ATCAA). ATCAA is a multi-service, anti-poverty, agency that serves two counties. Raj loves thoughtful and irreverent conversation over food and drink with family and trusted friends.
You can follow Raj on Facebook
Pastor Casey Tinnin | co-host
Casey is the pastor of Loomis Basin Congregational Church in Loomis California. He is one of the co-creators of Intersections which is a support group that meets once a month to deconstruct their evangelical past. Casey also created a non-religious LGBT teen group, The Landing Spot, that meets once a month. When Casey isn’t preaching, protesting, or providing pastoral care he enjoys spending his time reading comic books, talking about theology, politics and sex, baking, cooking, kayaking and spending time with his partner Jose of six years and walking their dog Kole.
You can follow Casey on Twitter and Facebook, or you can check out his blog The Queerly Faithful Pastor or Gutter Theology
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CREDITS
Intro and Outro music created by Mike Golin.
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