However, despite the good I see in Du Mez’ work, I have to admit my mixed feelings about it. Every evangelical needs to wrestle with this book.īut I also think Jamie Carlson‘s largely critical, often courageous, and honest review of the book at Mere Orthodoxy raises some great points.
I sung the book’s praises in my interview with Du Mez in Episode 73 of The Way of Improvement Leads Home Podcast and I stand by those words.
It’s a strong book that says things about the recent history of American evangelicalism that should have been said a long time ago. “An excellent, well-researched examination of the complex and troubling relationship between white evangelicalism and conservatism in America…Du Mez has crafted a superbly written and powerful book that should be read by everyone interested in understanding the current state of our nation.If social media is any indication, everyone loves Kristin Kobes Du Mez’s book Jesus and John Wayne. Anyone who wants to understand the roots of our current political polarization should read this important book.” This is a well-researched book that makes a powerful case for how evangelicals have twisted Christianity to serve their own political agenda, with disastrous consequences for American society. “Kristin Kobes du Mez has written an incisive and timely account of the rise of white evangelicalism in America. This is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding how we got to where we are today.” Kobes du Mez provides a clear, insightful analysis of the role white evangelicals have played in shaping American politics over the past few decades. “Jesus and John Wayne is an important book – one that should be read by Christians and non-Christians alike. Essential reading for anyone interested in American politics.” Timely, insightful, and well-researched, her book is an important contribution to our understanding of the roots of today’s political divisions. “Kristin Kobes du Mez has written a tour de force on the intersection of white evangelicalism and conservatism in America. She is the author of several articles and book chapters on this topic, and her work has been featured in venues such as The New York Times, The Christian Science Monitor, and Religion News Service. Her research focuses on the intersection of religion and politics in the United States, with a particular interest in evangelicalism. Kristin Kobes du Mez is an associate professor of history at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Du Mez provides a well-researched and insightful look at the history of white evangelicalism in America.It’s also for those interested in how white evangelicals have perverted Christianity to serve their own political ends, leading to a fractured nation with rampant racism and bigotry. This book is for people who want to understand the deep connection between white evangelicalism and conservatism in the United States. Jesus and John Wayne is essential reading for anyone hoping to understand America’s current political landscape. The result has been a fractured nation where racism and bigotry are rampant. Through an examination of figures like Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, and Ronald Reagan, du Mez shows how white evangelicals have perverted Christianity to serve their own political ends. She argues that while Evangelicals have traditionally claimed to uphold Christian values, they have instead become a powerful force for division and hatred. In this book, Kristin Kobes du Mez explores the deep connection between white evangelicalism and conservatism in the United States.