Parenting, Cultural Shifts, and God’s Design for Sexuality w/ Dr. Juli Slattery

Show notes

About This Episode Aaron Smith sits down with Dr. Juli Slattery, clinical psychologist and founder of Authentic Intimacy, to explore sexuality from a Christian perspective and the ideas in her book Surrendered Sexuality. They talk about how cultural shifts have moved sex away from God's covenantal design toward self-fulfillment and self-expression, fueled by porn, social media, and AI, and about the tension many Christians feel between psychology and faith. Juli explains why purity culture often gave rules without discipleship, and why parents need open, honest conversations that teach kids how we know what is true. She recommends delaying smartphones until high school and social media until 16, with driver's-permit-style training, and shows how surrendering shame and brokenness to Jesus leads to real healing.

About Dr. Juli Slattery Dr. Juli Slattery is a clinical psychologist, the founder of Authentic Intimacy, and the author of Surrendered Sexuality. Married 31 years, she is a trusted voice on God's design for sexuality, a thoughtful critic of purity culture, and a guide for parents discipling their kids about truth in a confusing culture.

In This Episode The cultural shift — How sex moved from a covenantal, family gift to a tool for self-fulfillment. Porn, social media, and AI — The forces accelerating confusion about sexuality. Psychology and faith — Why many Christians wrestle with how the two fit together. Purity culture — Where rules without discipleship fell short. Teaching kids truth — Helping children learn how we know what is true, beyond feelings. Phones and social media — Delaying smartphones until high school and social media until 16, with driver's-permit-style training. Shame and strongholds — Seeing shame, confusion, and trauma as walls that surrender to Jesus tears down. Truth is a person — Why healing requires a relationship with Jesus, not just concepts.

Resources from This Episode Dr. Juli Slattery's books: Juli Slattery on Amazon Authentic Intimacy: authenticintimacy.com Instagram: @authenticintimacy Shop Marriage After God books and devotionals Full show notes and blog post

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