It doesn’t take long to get to the point of the lesson in Tom Perrotta’s latest novel, “The Abstinence Teacher.” The king of suburban satire is back, focusing on themes similar to what he followed in previous novels while adding some new elements to the curriculum. The Massachusetts author is known for his ability to tap into the toddler anxieties of parenthood, as he did in the well-known book “Little Children.” This time, he expands his territory to focus on the anxieties of arguably more mature adults and cinflicts arising from an evangelical church.

When the members of the Tabernacle Church start to spread their religiously fervent message across the community in the Northeast suburb of Stonewood Heights, the sexual education teacher, Ruth, gets hit hardest. Not only does she have to stop teaching about safe sex, she has to stop teaching about sex entirely. Abstinence is the word in the newly designed lesson plan, but it’s not what Ruth endorses, and her blatant disregard of external pressures comes across when she refutes some of the abstinence “facts” she is told to teach. Her slight rebellion in making these remarks in class causes still more external pressure from the religious right.  

At the same time, Ruth finds herself struggling with a growing crush on one of the foremost members of the church, who happens to be her daughter’s soccer coach. A former mischievous rock musician, Tim turned his wayward past into a religious addiction, and he attempts to proselytize his players by having them join in prayer after a game.

This leads to more drama for Ruth, as she deals with her inexplicable attraction and simultaneous disgust for Tim and his faith. Tim, on the other hand, doesn’t have life easy as a religious person. The faith that is supposed to help him only hinders him. He lives his life under the bossy influence of the local pastor, who comes across more as a devil on the shoulder than as an angel. The manipulative leader is hard to elude, and Tim needs his religion as much as Ruth needs her bitterness. Tim is pressured by the harsh pastor to the point that it seems wrong to make decisions independent of the church. Yet he craves the structure and intensity of it, too.
           
“It was impossible, intolerable, at this point in his life, to just be left with this—lousy job, cruddy apartment, the wasteland of the TV and the computer … Sure, there were other churches, churches where the busybody Pastor wouldn’t make a house call to tell you you were going to hell, and wouldn’t cry if you disappointed him.  But what would be the point of belonging to one of them?”

Tim’s confusion increases as the novel progresses. He struggles with fantasies about his ex-wife, who he lusts far more than his current, good Christian wife. He has a gradually deepening doubt of his faith, and Ruth’s healthy skepticism starts to have a powerful influence.

Soccer, sex, drugs, abstinence, religious fervor and townspeople with no sense of political correctness make this a book that will likely translate well to the big screen. It’s easy to cast the characters: Tim—the hunky but religious-crazed coach—could be played by Hugh Jackman, while Ruth—the athletic, divorced sex-ed teacher—could be played by Julianne Moore. Two of Perrotta’s previous works were transformed into film: “Little Children” and “Election.”

Perrotta explores the unhealthiness of any excessive habit, as well as the surprising ways people can meet and connect. He has an acute awareness of the suburban soccer scene, and even more knowledge of the distinct lack of happiness in replacing former addictions with an empty religious one. It’s hard to tell which addiction is worse.