<p>Helping believers think Christianly about theological and cultural issues by engaging in curious conversations with a diverse range of thoughtful people.</p>
What does the Bible really mean by modesty, and why have Christian conversations about clothing so often produced shame, especially for women and teenage girls?
Dr. Sandra Richter is a renown biblical scholar, author, and professor of Old Testament at Westmont College. The 2nd edition of her killer book, The Epic of Eden, releases in November 2026. Sandy is also a faithful mom, and one of her daughters, Noël Tsoukalas, joins us in this conversation about modesty. Noël is a Pop singer-songwriter and worship leader. She made a name for herself on Season 21 of American Idol, where she received a golden ticket and three “yeses” from celebrity judges Katy Perry, Lionel Richie, and Luke Bryan. Check out her music on Spotify!
00:00:00 “Your Outfit Is Causing My Husband to Stumble”
00:06:55 Sandy & Noel on Modesty and Purity Culture
00:12:50 How the Church Has Mishandled Modesty
00:18:10 Sandy’s Experience with Christian Dress Codes
00:21:26 When Modesty Culture Makes Girls’ Bodies “Public Property”
00:27:21 The Billy Graham Rule and Women in Church Leadership
00:32:21 What Does Biblical Modesty Actually Look Like?
00:36:18 Body Shaming and Modesty in the Church
00:38:26 Teaching Girls to Set Boundaries with Church Leaders
00:42:51 Should Churches Have Dress Codes?
00:51:26 Body Types and the Subjectivity of Modesty
00:53:36 What Does Modesty Look Like for Men?
00:56:28 Biblical Modesty Is About More Than Sexuality
00:59:12 Double Standards for Men and Women at Christian Camps
01:01:41 How Should Christian Camps Handle Swimsuit Dress Codes?
01:06:15 Does Modesty Culture Discourage Women from Ministry?
01:08:30 Social Media, Body Image, and Female Musicians
01:11:30 Healing from Shame Around Modesty and Purity Culture
01:14:05 Who Should Talk to Women About Their Clothing?
01:15:20 Forrest Frank and Cory Asbury make the internet stumble
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