Darvish Intelligence: The Left’s Hatred of Christian ‘Purity Culture’

Saturday, December 7, 2024

The Left’s Hatred of Christian ‘Purity Culture’ – A Personal Reflection

By Bobby Darvish, Iranian-American Ex-Muslim, Former Vegan, Former Democrat, Former Socialist, Former CAIR-Columbus Executive Director, Former Muslim Forum of Utah President, Former Pagan, Christian Conservative LDS Priest

As someone who has walked a long, complicated journey through different identities—Muslim to Christian, vegan to carnivore, left-wing to right-wing—one thing has become crystal clear to me: the left in America, particularly its most vocal advocates, has a deep-seated disdain for Christian "purity culture." As an Iranian-American man with a royal Safavid lineage, and a former executive director of CAIR-Columbus, I have had the unique perspective of witnessing firsthand the cultural and political battles that are fought in the name of purity, freedom, and decency.

Purity culture, for those unfamiliar with the term, refers to a set of beliefs centered on the idea of maintaining sexual purity, often promoted within Christian communities. In its essence, it calls for abstinence from sexual activity before marriage and emphasizes modesty, chastity, and virtuous living. These beliefs are not mere moral suggestions but are deeply tied to a spiritual understanding of what it means to be human. The message of purity culture—rooted in the teachings of the Bible—addresses not only sexuality but also the need for self-discipline, spiritual clarity, and respect for one’s body as a temple.

The left’s rejection of purity culture, however, is not just a disagreement with religious practices; it is an attack on the very foundations of Christian morality. This is not a surprise. As someone who was once enmeshed in the left-wing, I have seen this hatred firsthand. The progressive ideology has worked tirelessly to discredit and dismantle traditional Christian values. From their vehement opposition to abstinence education in schools to their push for the normalization of promiscuity and non-traditional relationships, the left seeks to undermine anything that suggests the need for moral boundaries.

This hatred of purity culture stems from an aversion to the self-discipline it demands. Purity culture requires individuals to resist the temptations of the flesh and to live according to divine standards. For a society that increasingly values instant gratification, personal freedom, and autonomy, this kind of cultural resistance is viewed as an oppressive force. The left perceives purity culture as a symbol of control—an archaic remnant of a more rigid, less free society.

But what the left fails to understand is that purity culture is not about control; it is about empowerment. It’s about making conscious choices in the face of a world that constantly pushes us toward indulgence and sin. Purity culture offers young people a better way to navigate their relationships and their bodies, encouraging them to make decisions based on values rather than fleeting desires.

In my personal journey, the rejection of purity culture led me down dangerous roads. As a young Muslim, I saw the Islamic emphasis on modesty and the control of one’s sexual behavior as something worth emulating. Yet, after my conversion to Christianity and further understanding of the Bible, I found the Christian concept of purity culture to be a natural extension of those same values, but with an even more profound spiritual basis. It emphasizes grace, forgiveness, and redemption for those who have strayed but seeks to protect the soul from unnecessary harm.

For those who reject Christian purity culture, there is a marked desire to embrace anything that can be defined as freedom. But the reality is that this freedom often leads to spiritual and emotional destruction. I have seen countless lives ruined by the consequences of promiscuity, the breakdown of the family, and the erosion of moral values. These outcomes are not coincidental; they are the inevitable consequences of rejecting the very concept of purity that Christianity promotes.

The left's hatred for Christian purity culture is not just an attack on morality; it is an attack on the very idea of truth. In today’s world, we are witnessing a battle between moral relativism and objective truth. Purity culture represents the latter—an unflinching belief that there is a right way to live and a right way to behave. The left, driven by the ideology of moral relativism, seeks to tear down any standards that do not conform to their vision of an "enlightened" society.

As a former socialist and pagan, I can attest that the left's vision of society is a utopia built on self-indulgence and personal autonomy. But that utopia is built on a shaky foundation—one that undermines the very principles that create healthy, flourishing communities. Christianity’s message of purity, chastity, and restraint is a force that keeps society grounded in higher moral principles.

In my conversion to Christianity, I found a path that not only healed me spiritually but also aligned me with the values that have always defined my Iranian heritage. My Safavid ancestors, like many others, understood the importance of family, community, and spiritual purity. These values resonate today, in stark contrast to the secular, moral chaos that the left embraces.

The left’s hatred of purity culture is a symptom of a much larger problem—a rejection of the very essence of what makes humanity sacred and worthwhile. It is not simply about sex; it is about respect for life, for the sacred, and for divine order. The attack on purity culture is part of a larger attempt to secularize society, to break down traditional values, and to push for a world where personal autonomy trumps collective responsibility.

As a Christian conservative, a former Muslim, and a man with a deep respect for the wisdom of my ancestors, I stand firm in defending purity culture. Not because it is easy, but because it is good. It offers a path to healing, restoration, and a closer relationship with God—a path that the left seems determined to destroy. The choice is clear: we can embrace the freedom that comes with purity, or we can continue down a road of moral decay.

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