Pure

...whatever is pure ... think about these things.

 - From Philippians 4

I'm entering into a focus on the topic of purity. You may get tired of hearing about it.

You see, that seems to be the only concept left to us, in the "Culture Wars." It's our only weapon, our only offense, our only defense. The idea of it can bring together people that are diametrically opposed in every other wedge issue. There are purity advocates among the environmentalists, the atheists, Hollywood types, Joe Six-Pack, the Left, the Right. It might surprise many people to find this is the case.

A lot of people know it's important. They know that purity is something that any culture should, in some way, lift up. They want to support people that stand for it. But they're afraid to put themselves out there. The anti-purists have done an excellent job isolating the purists. 

A thing is either 100% pure, or not. There is not a "fluidity" to it. 

And this is not to say it's a standard we have to practice. While it's possible to be 100% pure, it is not likely. So that, it's not something we expect all people to practice. But it's a standard we expect as many people as possible, to uphold and honor. 

Paul included "whatever is pure" in his list of things we should think and talk about constantly. 

And so there's our opportunity. Let's bring it back up to the forefront. Let's get it into the debate. 

Purity is sexual veganism. Pure relationships are organic relationships. Purity is sacrificial. You will deny yourself something you really want, something for which you have a hunger, in order to reach some higher plan. 

You cannot attain self-actualization without being pure. The denial of something elemental and primordial to oneself, is a difficult exercise which builds one's self-control. And yet, unlike food, water, and even shelter, of all of our basic physical needs and drives, you will not die if you deny yourself of it. This is what makes it such a splendid aspiration for the path to human excellence. 

Self-actualization is done alone. You must give up selfish needs. 

Purity is ecological. You do not need medications, devices, procedures, and expert advice to be pure. 

It leads itself to humility, which is a good thing. A person desiring purity is not going to seek to draw attention to him or herself. He knows that society will mock him, so he keeps the journey closely hid. Yet people are going to sense there's something different about the purist. 

The purist does not leave a trail of broken hearts and souls in his wake. He does leave a growing crowd of friends and associates who appreciate that he never seemed to want something for him or herself, out of each relationship. 

I know that I am painting a very one-sided picture here. There are holes in my arguments. And I probably have no intention of seeking the lifestyle I have described. But again, it's a standard, an aspiration for us. It's a perfect objective that imperfect humanity will usually miss. But this does not mean we do away with the standard at all.

When I was a teenager, we knew that teens would experiment with a lot of things. We were realistic. But we also knew that the standard of purity was important to establish, even if we knew it was not readily practiced. We knew that it was a good thing . . . . even, a sacred thing.

So let's talk about it. Let's think about it. And let's get it out there, so that at least our conversations may be cleansed by its presence.