"Fear had been at the heart of evangelical postwar politics–a fear of godless communism and a fear that immorality would leave Americans defenseless. What changed by the 1960s was evangelicals' sense of their own power."
- Kristin Kobes Du Mez, Jesus and John Wayne, p.59
Although the evangelical cult of masculinity stretches back decades, its emergence was never inevitable.Over the years it has been embraced, amplified, challenged, and resisted. Evangelical men themselves have promoted alternative models, elevating gentleness and self-control, a commitment to peace, and a divestment of power as expressions of authentic Christian manhood. Yet, understanding the catalyzing role militant Christian masculinity has played over the past half century is critical to understanding American evangelicalism today, and the nation’s fractured political landscape. Appreciating how this ideology developed over time is also essential for those who wish to dismantle it. What was once done might also be undone.
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- Kristin Kobes Du Mez, Jesus and John Wayne, p.304