We’re getting ready to interview @emilyjoyallison.bsky.social and I have had her book on my shelf for two years without reading it. I sat down today and read the first 150 pages (out of 200) in one sitting. Some thoughts: 1/
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1. This is a MUST MUST READ for anyone who is deconstructing purity culture. For awhile I mistakenly thought that this book only talked about specific instances of abuse. What I’m realizing is how thoroughly Allison outlines why purity culture IS abuse and creates ripe environments for abuse. 2/
2. SO MANY BOOKS about purity culture fail to address how forcing abstinence on people IS purity culture. They skirt around it, saying that the problem with purity culture was the SHAME, not the stance. Allison addresses the harmful theology head on and skirts around nothing. 3/
3. You can’t have a book about purity culture without addressing how queer people have been targeted in the church. Allison thoroughly addresses the violence inflicted on queer people through toxic theological stances being preached as capital T “Truth.” 4/
4. Some books people celebrated by even exvangelicals are geared more toward straight white married women. This book addresses all sides of purity culture and sexual ethics. 5/
5. Long before Joshua Harris and “I Kissed Dating Goodbye,” purity culture enabled the control over bodies of enslaved Black women. This important piece of the bigger picture is discussed in #ChurchToo through interviews. 6/
6. Many authors and books I already recommend related to purity culture - Dr. Tina Schermer-Sellers, Linda Kay Klein, Matthias Roberts for example - are also included in #ChurchToo. 7/
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5. Long before Joshua Harris and “I Kissed Dating Goodbye,” purity culture enabled the control over bodies of enslaved Black women. This important piece of the bigger picture is discussed in #ChurchToo through interviews. 6/