"Sexy"

[qos]

havah_prewett posted a quotation and link about purity and sexuality. For those who haven't already seen it on her LJ, here's my slightly extended excerpt:

The essay was prompted by a pastor who saw a teenage girl with a t-shirt that read "Purity is Sexy."

Do you want to know what is sexy? People who are able to give themselves freely in mutual expression of love and faithfulness. . . . A God who isn't concerned with technical definitions of purity is one who might require us to think about how we relate to one another, and to make decisions based on accountability, recriprocity, and vulnerability to each other.

Reference: http://www.streetprophets.com/storyonly/2006/6/24/184232/698

Comments

[wlotus.livejournal.com]

I submit the religious right's definition of "purity" is only one thing purity could be, depending on the person and the situation.

I have this article bookmarked to peruse later.

[surly-wench.livejournal.com]

wlotus:
"I submit the religious right's definition of "purity" is only one thing purity could be, depending on the person and the situation."

I agree. Also, I think there are some things that so-called members of the Religious Right have championed that I would have real difficulty calling “pure.” For instance, have you heard about this video game tied in with the Left Behind books by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins? Here's a link to an article about it: Left Behind: Eternal Forces (http://www.startribune.com/459/story/483472.html). Apparently, it takes place in New York City after the Rapture and the player is either supposed to convert or kill all non-Christians, or they can take the side of the Anti-Christ and kill the Christians.

What was it that Jesus said again… something about throwing stones? :)

[athenian-abroad.livejournal.com]

Interesting...but I think Pastor Dan is giving the t-shirt an over-literal reading. "Sexy" has more meanings than sexually appealing. It can be used as a synonym for "cool" or "interesting" or just "desirable" (with prurient connotation, but without the literal denotation).

See, for example, the second definition here.

I'd read the t-shirt as nothing more than a clever play on the dual meaning of "sexy," rather than an appeal to the baser instincts of child molesters and rapists.

Of course, there's still the whole "purity" notion to grapple with -- there's some reason to believe that categorizing people as "clean" and "dirty" is even more dangerous (in terms of propensity to diminish empathy and thereby facilitate violence) than simply classifying them as "good" and "evil."

[surly-wench.livejournal.com]

athenian_abroad:
"Of course, there's still the whole 'purity' notion to grapple with -- there's some reason to believe that categorizing people as "clean" and 'dirty' is even more dangerous (in terms of propensity to diminish empathy and thereby facilitate violence) than simply classifying them as 'good' and 'evil.'"

Yeah, the main problem I have with the shirt has to do with the notion of “purity.” I don’t have much of a problem with the use of the term sexy in this case.

I like your profile and journal by the way. I’m a moderate Democrat myself (although I guess I can be a bit of a “radical” on human rights issues), and always enjoy a good political rant. Your comments about the term “fiscally conservative” echo my sentiments on the manner. I have no idea how anyone could believe that the current Republicans have any interest in balancing the budget or limiting spending.

[toesontheground.livejournal.com]

Wasn't Jesus a big campaigner against the evils of the purity system of his time in particular, and systems of insider/outsider, clean/unclean in general? That's how I understand it, anyway.

Ummm - should I point out that pretty much anything written on the t-shirt of an attractive young woman can be sexy...so there's all kinds of irony possible (even unintended irony), and also not too much to worry about there. Female teens are always used as poster girls for whatever social movement can get hold of them, and many seem to enjoy being such poster girls. Even in such places as North Korea, it works that way.

[surly-wench.livejournal.com]

toesontheground:
Wasn't Jesus a big campaigner against the evils of the purity system of his time in particular, and systems of insider/outsider, clean/unclean in general? That's how I understand it, anyway.

That's a good point. Yes, he was. He felt many of the rules regarding dietary restrictions and cleanliness were less important than the religious scholars of the time held them to be.

[rhonan.livejournal.com]

Intelligence is sexy.
Thinking for yourself requires intelligence.
QED blindly pleging chastity is not sexy.

[don-negro.livejournal.com]

teenage girl with a t-shirt that read "Purity is Sexy."

Jesus. Talk about setting yourself up for a fall...