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Talking Back to Purity Culture is the first prose book by author Rachel Joy Welcher. This book does an excellent job of examining the impact of the Purity Culture in America in the 90s and early 2000s. For those who may be unaware, Purity Culture was a time in which many popular Christian books, conferences, and resources emphasized remaining a virgin until one’s wedding night. While it is biblical to maintain sexual purity as a way of being set apart, Welcher helps readers understand where Purity Culture went too far.
Rather than viewing Jesus as the prize, Purity Culture made virginity the prize. Talking Back to Purity Culture helps readers see how many women were and are still being hurt by many of the teachings imposed by this Christian subculture. The book also helps readers see how Purity Culture banked on promises God doesn’t make. In this way, it emulated the prosperity gospel by basically offering adherents a fulfilling sex life in exchange for their remaining virgins until marriage. One of the things it failed to account for is that remaining a virgin until one’s wedding night doesn’t exempt anyone from the realities of life in a broken world.
In Talking Back to Purity Culture Welcher examines the transactional promises of Purity Culture in light of Scripture. Her doing so was helpful and healing to me. Although I did remain a virgin until my wedding night, I grew up with standards of modesty imposed on me that aren’t founded in Scripture. This caused me to live in shame for much of my life constantly believing that my body could cause someone to sin at any moment and I would be responsible. Talking Back to Purity Culture highlights how Purity Culture went to unhealthy, unbiblical extremes and helps readers see the beautiful freedom of the gospel.
In the book, Welcher also addresses the biblical sexual ethic and writes about how our aim isn’t only sexual purity but holiness in all areas including our sexuality. She does a lovely job of addressing brothers and sisters neglected by Purity Culture such as those who experience same sex attraction and those who are single.
Having trusted in Christ alone for salvation, I know God looks at me and doesn’t see how I don’t measure up when it comes to modesty and virginity. He sees the perfect life Jesus lived on my behalf and understanding that compels me to want to pursue holiness in all areas of my life. Talking Back to Purity Culture was incredibly helpful in reminding me of this. I highly recommend it to anyone wanting to better understand the teachings and origins of Purity Culture and/or anyone hoping to heal from it.
