Paleo Protestant Pudcast Confessional Protestants Are Square
Mar 10, 2026
A lively discussion about evangelical purity culture from the 1990s and 2000s and how it intersected with confessional Protestant piety. Personal stories trace Anglican, Lutheran, and Presbyterian experiences of enculturation, shame, and moral posturing. The conversation explores class, schooling, generational cycles, and whether serious Christian devotion ever became a mark of cultural cool.
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Evangelical Purity Culture As Full Day Subculture
- Samuel James and Trevin Wax describe an evangelical purity subculture that created a comprehensive alternative day-to-day enculturation for teens.
- Their examples include I Kissed Dating Goodbye, Christian radio, youth group hangouts, purity rings, and curated media like Left Behind and VeggieTales.
A Presbyterian Kid Surrounded By Evangelical Pressure
- Miles Smith recalls attending a Christian high school and Presbyterian church that were sober on sexuality but surrounded by evangelical cultural pressure.
- He remembers debates over speakers like Josh Harris and feeling pressured by the broader evangelical enculturation rather than his parish.
Purity Obsession Grew From Social Panic
- The hosts argue evangelicals talked excessively about sex in response to perceived social ills, producing confusion and obsession.
- That focus arose amid spikes in teen pregnancy, HIV/AIDS, and worries about cultural decay in late 20th century America.
