"You're fucked anyway...might as well get fucked."

In this two-part episode, we dive into a touchy (heh) topic: CHRISTIANITY. Did it mess us up? Did it change the way we think about sex? Probably. But let's discuss...

Christianity & Sex Show Notes

Okay we are back, and scattered as ever! You may remember we spent some time last episode discussing Evelyn's upbringing as a Jehovah's Witness, her cancer diagnosis, the freeing nature of impending death to allow you to have sex, how religion affected our childhoods, and many other topics like porn and The Princess Bride! Now we would like to share some more thoughts on the impact Christianity had on our adult lives.

Christianity as Adults

Maisie muses on how she gets more religious when she's drunk. She has a specific memory of being in Spain, being really drunk, wasted honestly, peeing in a public piazza, going to a Catholic church and having a really spiritual moment there. She found it soothing.

Kelly also occasionally had sudden moments of suddenly believing in God (usually when she was watching The Prince of Egypt, tbh), but it never stuck.

Maisie points out that the way religion gets you is the nostalgia. The comfort and safety of a long time ago. It feels good to step back into that role and those patterns. Even though her family hasn't gone to church, to Christmas mass specifically, they always consider it.

Lucy remembers the last time she went to Christmas mass she was really saddened by it. Lucy had already left the Church at this point, but the moment still hit hard. She knew she'd miss the tradition and the memories of her time with her family. Church and religion provide a solace and comfort, a community, especially when you're older.

It's a compelling reason why a lot of people, when they have children, go back to church. They want to create a sense of community. Maisie is concerned she will be one of those people who goes back to Christianity when she has kids.

Gina is frustrated because she thinks people believe only religious education provides a moral structure. Public schools can properly teach morality! Church and morality are not the same, but religion does supply a pre-packaged, ready made type of morality. Morality that is especially appealing if it was the framework you were raised with.

Not Being Brainwashed by Religion

Sissel never really felt a sense of community in religion. It was just another place she felt ostracized and out of place in her childhood. She did retain a love and appreciation for the art and drama of it. Catholic Cathedrals are her favorite architectural marvel, just anywhere really. She always lights a candle and sends it to her mother. As a tribute so to speak, despite being a non-believer. Her mother is a very personal-faith Catholic. She was always open to Sissel not being religious, she just wanted her to go to church every Sunday until she turned 18 and get confirmed. For her soul, you know?

Religion in Sissel's household was a very passive thing. They just went to church every Sunday, and didn't discuss it much out side of that. Sissel argued about it every god damn time because she wanted permission to not go to church. However, she didn't want to outright refuse. She wanted to earn the lack of attendance. Spoiler: She never won the argument.

Because of this, she never really had the moment of leaving the faith, it was just inevitable. She did briefly believe in Catholicism after watching the Nativity Story. Which was very much framed in a YA Fantasy lens (the key to Sissel's soul).