On Her Knees

Memoir of a Prayerful Jezebel

De: Brenda Marie Davies

Narrado por: Brenda Marie Davies

"The problem was, because purity is an idol (a validated and worshiped idol), I didn’t know who or what I’d be without my totem. My Christianity depended on purity.”

Going to a conservative Christian church when she was young, Brenda Marie Davies heard a consistent message - save yourself for marriage - that instilled in her fear and shame about sex. But after moving to Los Angeles at 19 and finding herself suddenly exposed to a world far outside her comfort zone, she was forced to wrestle with the power and perversity of Christian purity culture.

On Her Knees chronicles Brenda’s spiritual journey over the course of a decade in LA through marriage, divorce, unlikely friendship, and sexual exploration. Through it all, she began tearing down the false idol of purity while refusing to abandon her faith. Told with raw honesty, sans obligatory shame, this is a story for anyone who wonders if it’s possible to love God without fearing sex, in all its shades of grey.

©2021 Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. (P)2021 Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

Vulnerable, Raw, & Captivating

Brenda does an amazing job at telling her story about the ups and downs of her spiritual journey. Her story certainly commands your attention and ends on an encouraging note.

I need more!

Brendaaaa 😭 thank you for sharing this story with us.

Why did it end?! We need so much more please! Thank you for sharing all the scary parts. I’m proud to be in your GIG community. Can you please write another book like..ASAP?!

Xo

already want to read it again!

Brenda's story is captivating, relatable, and beautifully told. I'm definitely going to buy the print copy as well! I highly recommend this book if you're someone who has any experience with the evangelical church and/or purity culture. So many people are starting to become aware of the harms of purity culture, and Brenda's personal story raises awareness is an honest way. Beyond all that, On Her Knees is a GOOD story that captured my attention from start to finish. Please, get this book and enjoy!

I didn’t know how much I needed this!

This book was so open and honest! I didn’t know that I needed to hear this message as much as I did. I l connected in so many ways to the message- I could literally feel it.

Made me feel like I'm not alone.

Brenda is vulnerable and honest in a way that is so refreshing and relatable. She said so many things out loud that I was afraid to admit I was even thinking. This book is a great expression of why love and relationships and faith is about more than checking boxes or following rules.

A real perspective of the damage purity culture can cause

I love this book. Brenda is a natural storyteller. I’ve been an atheist for as long as I can remember, but I still enjoy hearing other people’s perspectives. Even though I wasn’t raised with religious purity messages, I definitely noticed some of the secular messages that are similar. This book makes me wonder just how many people have had similar experiences and all because of “purity.”

Thank you Brenda!

Absolutely amazing. Just finished this book and I am speechless. All I can say is that you must read it for yourself!

On Her Knees

Brenda you are the most courteous woman I know. As a parent we want the best for our children. When Purity Culture came up in our lives, I thought, wow she won’t have to go through all the hurt and pain that I did. Although we are very close and you shared most of your life experiences with me. I had no idea of the depth of what Purity Culture taught you and how it made you feel. This was such an eye opener. I learned so much from your honesty and courage.
We are all learning what we misunderstood, didn’t realize, put up with and sacrificed through the “Me too” movement and how important it is to share the experiences we may have thought were OK but damaged our spirits. Your book has opened the conversations to healing one another. You bared your soul to enlighten our understanding of things that we were unable to look at in a healthy way. My eyes are now open and processing my own life experiences and I have you to thank for that. I feel that women of all ages can relate and see themselves somewhere in this book. As your mother I am so proud of all that you are doing on your YouTube channel “God is Grey” and all other platforms. You are a remarkable woman! All my love and support. Mom

Keeping it real

I so appreciate brenda’s story. She could have shied away from the darkest parts but she shares it all. I felt a sense of freedom as I read like, oh it’s not just me? The schism that develops when we are unable to accept and forgive all the parts of ourselves.. she speaks to that and I cannot thank her enough for her candor and openness and the grace which she offers herself, lets others know there is grace for them too. That maybe, just maybe, we’ve been sold a bill of goods with this purity stuff. And maybe just maybe, it’s patriarchal bullshit. Yeah, in fact, f*ck purity culture!

Love, love, love

Thank you so much for this Brenda! You're a great storyteller and I'm hooked on the one you're telling.