Shattering the ‘good Christian wife’ complex
General

Shattering the ‘good Christian wife’ complex

Posted on by admin

You’re reading Matter of Faith, a newsletter all about the intersection of faith, sex and politics (everyone’s favorite Sunday lunch menage a trois).

This week, we gotta talk about Joshua Harris, the former purity culture pastor who wrote THE book that became a key text in the purity culture movement.

Guess what? His wife wrote a book, too. Before we get into her side of the story, let’s freshen up on her ex-husband’s infamous work.

Shannon Harris is shattering the idea of the good Christian wife

purity culture and marriage (Abbey Crain/[email protected]).

You’ve heard about Joshua Harris, the pastor who in 1997 wrote an anti-dating book called “I Kissed Dating Goodbye” that became a mainstay of the purity culture movement. He’s been in the headlines a lot in the last few years since he announced he’s no longer a Christian and got divorced.

Now, his ex-wife Shannon Harris has written her side of the story in her book, “The Woman They Wanted: Shattering the Illusion of the Good Christian Wife,” published by Broadleaf Books last week.

Here’s a primer on the Harris’ and their anti-dating work to get you up to speed.

5 trans and nonbinary people get real about the tangled web of transitioning, euphoria and grief

A protester with the scars of mastectomy seen along Bravo Murillo street during the demonstration.

MADRID, SPAIN – 2023/06/28: A protester with the scars of mastectomy seen along Bravo Murillo street during the demonstration. Different groups have demonstrated in the Tetuán neighborhood in Madrid to claim the Stonewall riots and protest against capitalism that has taken over the (official) state demonstration. The demonstration that is held every year in parallel to the official ones is called “critical pride”. (Photo by David Canales/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

By Denny

Diane Daniel grieved when her husband transitioned to become Selina Lok, her now wife. In 2011, Lok told ABC News, “I had the strange realization that I was at a birthday party, and [my wife] was at a funeral.” Like Daniel and Lok, discussion around grief and transition rarely centers the person transitioning.

From personal essays to podcast episodes and articles, the grief around transitioning trends to center spouses, friends and family members.

Read more about what trans folks have to say about transitioning, gender euphoria and grief.

From my browsing history:

It seems like there’s so many stories and so little time in the land of faith, sex and politics. Here’s the headlines that caught my eye this week, even if I didn’t have time to report on why it matters.

Benediction:

Thanks for joining me for another week of Matter of Faith. You can find me online on Instagram, Threads and X.

Send your questions and curiosities to [email protected].

Keep wandering.

Anna