The Cult of Purity Culture
June 10, 2025
1 hr 10 min
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168 of 222
June 10, 2025
The Cult of Purity Culture
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Amanda Montell Episodes Around June 10, 2025
Episode 168 of 222 — walk the feed in the order it was published.
The Cult of Purity Culture
Summary
RERUN! We took a cute little break to have a very culty wedding weekend but couldn’t leave the culties high and dry on content! This week we give you one of our favorite episodes from last season! Anyone who grew up evangelical Christian and/or plugged into teen celebrity news circa 2008 will be familiar with today’s cult: Purity Rings. You know, the dainty piece of jewelry placed ritualistically on a teen girl’s wedding finger to signify her vow of chastity until marriage, or else?? Purity rings are not just an accessory-they’re a bonafide industry, complete with rules, ceremonies, secrets, veiled threats, and religious trauma up the wazoo... but are they a cult? This week, a very special (ex-evangelical) guest, @normalgossip’s @mckinneykelsey, is joining host Amanda to unpack just that!
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