Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation

Jesus and John Wayne examines the evolution of white evangelical Christianity in America from the 1940s to the present. The book tracks how militant masculine ideals and cultural warrior mentality became intertwined with evangelical faith and political identity. Du Mez analyzes evangelical media, books, organizations and leaders to reveal patterns in how concepts of Christian manhood developed over decades. She demonstrates connections between evangelical culture and broader American themes of nationalism, militarism, and traditional gender roles. The narrative follows key figures and movements that shaped evangelical views on family, society, and politics through the latter half of the 20th century and into the Trump era. Through extensive research and historical documentation, Du Mez reconstructs the path that led to current evangelical political alignments. This cultural history illuminates the deep roots of contemporary evangelical Christianity's relationship with power, gender, and American identity. The work raises important questions about how religious beliefs interact with cultural and political forces to shape worldviews and social movements.

Readers view this book as a detailed examination of how masculinity and evangelical Christianity intersected in American culture. Many conservative Christians disagree with the author's conclusions, while progressive readers tend to affirm her analysis. Positive reviews highlight: - Clear documentation and research - Personal connection to evangelical culture adds authenticity - Helps explain current political alignments - "Finally puts into words what I've observed for years" (common reader sentiment) Critical reviews cite: - Perceived anti-evangelical bias - Selective use of examples - Too focused on negative aspects - "Fails to acknowledge positive contributions of evangelical Christianity" (frequent criticism) Ratings: Goodreads: 4.26/5 (13,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.6/5 (3,800+ ratings) Christianity Today named it 2020 Book of the Year The most polarizing aspect is the author's connection between evangelical masculinity and support for Donald Trump, with readers either strongly agreeing or disagreeing based on their political views.

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🔹 The book's title references John Wayne's 1949 film "The Sands of Iwo Jima," which Du Mez identifies as establishing a template for militant Christian masculinity that would influence evangelical culture for decades. 🔹 Author Kristin Kobes Du Mez grew up in the Christian Reformed Church tradition and currently teaches history at Calvin University, a Christian institution in Grand Rapids, Michigan. 🔹 The book spent 25 weeks on the Publishers Weekly Trade Paperback Bestseller list and sparked intense debate within evangelical circles upon its 2020 release. 🔹 Through extensive research, Du Mez traces the evangelical embrace of militant masculinity from the 1940s through the rise of Donald Trump, examining how figures like Oliver North and James Dobson shaped the movement. 🔹 Billy Graham, despite being one of evangelicalism's most prominent figures, initially resisted the militant masculine ideal, though he later aligned more closely with it during the Cold War era.