The Truth About Personal Sexual Purity

Researcher: Faculty Mentors: Department:

Noah Jay Fazenbaker Sara Littlejohn & Anne Barton Strong Residential College

Results

Introduction Conclusions
What: Results:
In the 21st century, how does the new generation of For the most part, the result were inconclusive on whether
Millennials receive and act out their beliefs about sex, there was an obvious connection between the overall
religion, and more importantly, the repercussions of happiness and benefits of living sexually conservative
following or revolting against what the previous and those who were religiously conservative in speech
generation is teaching? Specifically, when looking at but liberal in action. However, an interesting result arose
active church going people, how do their sexual activates from the research taken. Overall, after answering each of
effect their happiness and quality of life? the questions, either during the in-person interviewees or
the mass questionnaire, participants showed great signs of
guilt when they had to answer with anything different
Who: How:
from their own definition of sexual purity or when they
Anyone who identifies as a Each interviewee was
realized they did something opposing what their church
Christian and is an active interviewed face to face,
taught. It became very obvious that whether you are a
member of their selected while being recorded.
liberal or a conservative when it comes to sexual purity,
denominations church. They understood that at
your life is greatly affected if someone does not hold true
Participants must range from any time they could opt
to their own beliefs or the beliefs of their church when it
ages 18-28, roughly equally out of the interview as
comes to sexual purity. Therefore, the results of this
male and female. Ranging well as the video and
fieldwork seem to point to that no matter how strict or
political parties and audio portion as well.
lenient one is on sexual principles, the object the make or
backgrounds from life are Ten questions were asked
breaks your happiness and quality of life is whether you
encouraged. in succession, each
are following the decisions you and your church have
Why: following the other, and
made for yourself.
If those who follow their afterwards followed up
religious beliefs of sexual with questions personally
purity are benefitting more in pertaining to their
life than those who do not, responses'. Afterwards, at
there is reason for stricter ideals their own leisure,
of sexual purity among those participants were e-
outside of the religious context. mailed a follow-up
Likewise, if there is no survey that contained a
difference between those who short checklist of
follow their beliefs and those questions, including a
who do not, there should be more detailed list of what
less/no religious entry into the they believe and how
personal sexual activity of the they act out those beliefs
congregation. in day to day life. Purity ring and condoms atop a Bible

Anonymous Mass Survey: About Me:

Another survey was sent out anonymously, to about 30
participants, in order to get more facts and figures for this
project. This survey still followed the strict guidelines as
the one on one interviews and the questions were remained
the same, including the follow up e-mail questions that
was sent to the interviewees afterwards.
Acknowledgements':
Thank you to all who participated in my mass survey and personal interviews. The
following fieldwork would not have been possible if it were not for your willingness
to share the more personal and private parts of your lives, as well as open up to the
information that you are not proud of admitting. It will forever be appreciated.
My name is Noah Fazenbaker, Im 20 years old and a
sophomore at UNCG studying to be a BA in theatre. My
Works Cited
interest for this subject comes from 13 years in a private
Claussen, Dane S. Sex, religion, media. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield, 2002. Print.
Christian school where I learned people can say one thing
Frykholm, Amy Johnson. See me naked: stories of sexual exile in American Christianity. Boston,
MA: Beacon, 2012. Print.
and truly act out their belief in a whole another way. So
Fuchs, Eric. Sexual desire and love: origins and history of the Christian ethic of sexuality and
with this project I wanted to out those and point out
marriage. Cambridge: James Clarke, 1983. Print.
that it does not matter what you believe, but instead
Moslener, Sara. "Its Like Playing with a Nuclear Bomb." Theology & Sexuality 18.3 (2012):
253-69. Academic Search Complete. Web. 9 Mar. 2017.
understand you must commit to those believes and
Tukker, Marilize E. "Where sexuality and spirituality meet: An assessment of Christian teaching
understand why you choose to live that way and the
on sexuality and marriage in relation to the reality of 21st-century moral norms." HTS
Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies 69.1 (2013): n. pag. SA ePublication Journal Collection. Web. 9 Mar. 2017.
benefits or consequences that follow that way of life.