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by Kristin Kobes du Mez
Kristin Kobes du Mez's Jesus and John Wayne lays bare the fascinating, often unsettling, seventy-five-year journey of white evangelicalism in America. This isn't just a history book; it's an incisive cultural analysis revealing how a faith tradition gradually embraced an ideal of rugged, patriarchal masculinity and Christian nationalism, often at odds with the Gospels. Reading it feels like watching a complex tapestry unravel and re-weave itself before your eyes, with each thread—from popular culture to political movements—painstakingly examined. It's a steady, analytical read, but utterly compelling, providing profound clarity on some of the most perplexing shifts in recent American politics and culture. If you've ever pondered the roots of contemporary evangelical political alignments, or if you're keen on understanding the intricate dance between faith, power, and gender in modern America, this book offers a truly essential, thought-provoking perspective.
If Kristin Kobes du Mez's unflinching look at the evolution of white evangelicalism, particularly its embrace of a specific brand of masculinity and political power, left you wanting more, our curated list continues that crucial conversation. These selections further illuminate the complex interplay between faith, gender, and national identity, offering more historical deep dives and cultural analyses. Whether you're interested in the deliberate construction of religious nationalism, the deconstruction of national myths, or the profound impact of patriarchal structures within religious communities, you'll find another thought-provoking journey here.
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Like Du Mez, Stewart provides a meticulously researched investigation into the intersection of evangelical Christianity and political power. It explores how religious identity has been weaponized to influence American policy and the judicial system.
This book serves as a crucial companion to Jesus and John Wayne by focusing on how racial identity and white supremacy have shaped the history of the evangelical movement. It uses a similar historical lens to dismantle the 'morality' narrative of the religious right.
A comprehensive historical epic that traces the evolution of evangelicalism from the First Great Awakening to the modern era. It provides the broad context necessary to understand the specific masculine subculture Du Mez critiques.
While focusing on a different subject, this book shares Du Mez's commitment to deconstructing national myths and examining how religious and political ideologies are used to justify state-sponsored violence and expansion.
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This work explores the construction of masculinity within religious frameworks. It echoes Du Mez’s interest in how gender roles are curated and enforced through theological interpretation and cultural pressure.
Kruse examines the deliberate creation of the 'Christian nation' narrative in the mid-20th century. Like Jesus and John Wayne, it reveals how specific cultural icons and political alliances were manufactured for influence.
A memoir that provides a personal, visceral look at the themes of religious isolationism and patriarchal control discussed by Du Mez. It offers a 'boots on the ground' perspective of growing up within the subcultures Du Mez analyzes.
Sexton combines personal memoir with cultural reporting to examine the same brand of 'tough guy' masculinity that Du Mez identifies in evangelical circles, exploring its damaging effects on men and society.
This book looks at the intersection of religion, individualistic identity, and global power. It shares the 'big picture' analytical style of Du Mez while connecting religious fervor to nationalistic expansion.
While Du Mez focuses on the construction of evangelical masculinity, Klein focuses on the corresponding construction of femininity through Purity Culture, providing the other half of the gender-dynamics puzzle.
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