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A review by jinnayah
Damaged Goods: New Perspectives on Christian Purity by Dianna E. Anderson
3.0
I went into this thinking that this was a more academic book than it is. I was expecting an in-depth study and factual analysis of purity culture, when this is more of a book to criticize the status quo and persuade the reader towards new ways to view sexuality within a religious context without abandoning evangelicalism entirely. I am Christian but not evangelical, so I wasn't the target audience, but I decided to read it anyway to widen my perspectives.
The book brings up some good discussion, but it needs more "crunch", more facts and data and less unsupported opinion. Also, for its evangelical audience, it should include a lot more scripture, more historical context for that scripture, and would do well to draw more on how other faith traditions interpret those scriptures. Some of the authors she criticizes are interpreting scriptures in ways I have never heard, or even in direct opposition to the interpretations I was raised with. For example, I am boggled by how some authors can apparently interpret "It is God’s will… that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust" as meaning that women are responsible for any lust men feel towards them and thus must go to extreme lengths to prevent men from feeling lust.
Overall, I'd say the book was a good start, but was not fleshed out and backed up as much as it should be.
The book brings up some good discussion, but it needs more "crunch", more facts and data and less unsupported opinion. Also, for its evangelical audience, it should include a lot more scripture, more historical context for that scripture, and would do well to draw more on how other faith traditions interpret those scriptures. Some of the authors she criticizes are interpreting scriptures in ways I have never heard, or even in direct opposition to the interpretations I was raised with. For example, I am boggled by how some authors can apparently interpret "It is God’s will… that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust" as meaning that women are responsible for any lust men feel towards them and thus must go to extreme lengths to prevent men from feeling lust.
Overall, I'd say the book was a good start, but was not fleshed out and backed up as much as it should be.