File this in our ongoing conversation about whether or not there is realistic hope that the culture really can be renewed. When I was growing up, Sinead O’Connor was the voice of juvenile rebellion against historic Christianity. And . . . she pretty much still is that. Check out the entry on “religion” in her Wikipedia page – apparently she professes to believe all the core doctrines of Christianity, and pantheism. She professes to be Catholic while declaring that “the office of Pope itself is an anti-Christian office” and says “I believe in Jesus Christ” but then refers to him as “the Christ character,” like the Bible is a novel.

So what does it say that she just wrote an awesome open letter about the recent unpleasantness – you know the one – that lays out humane standards of sexuality in an incredibly powerful way?

Nothing but harm will come in the long run, from allowing yourself to be exploited, and it is absolutely NOT in ANY way an empowerment of yourself or any other young women, for you to send across the message that you are to be valued (even by you) more for your sexual appeal than your obvious talent.

I am happy to hear I am somewhat of a role model for you and I hope that because of that you will pay close attention to what I am telling you.

The music business doesn’t give a sh– about you, or any of us. They will prostitute you for all you are worth, and cleverly make you think its what YOU wanted.. and when you end up in rehab as a result of being prostituted, “they” will be sunning themselves on their yachts in Antigua, which they bought by selling your body and you will find yourself very alone.

None of the men oggling you give a sh– about you either, do not be fooled. Many’s the woman mistook lust for love. If they want you sexually that doesn’t mean they give a f— about you. All the more true when you unwittingly give the impression you don’t give much of a f— about yourself. And when you employ people who give the impression they don’t give much of a f— about you either. No one who cares about you could support your being pimped.. and that includes you yourself.

Yes, I’m suggesting you don’t care for yourself. That has to change. You ought be protected as a precious young lady by anyone in your employ and anyone around you, including you. This is a dangerous world. We don’t encourage our daughters to walk around naked in it because it makes them prey for animals and less than animals, a distressing majority of whom work in the music industry and its associated media.

Et cetera.

What it says is that Christianity can in fact influence those who are not themselves Christian in any important sense, if it can develop a language that makes sense within their cultural world and draws people to it for meaning, dignity and hope.

HT David Mills at FT