Jesus and john wayne christianity today
In my view, these are the people who are more moderate and are looking to leave “the church” but feel they have no place to go.
Jesus and john wayne christianity today how to#
Today’s discussion was wonderful because I felt hope that Christians of a more balanced mind were addressing the issues involved in the mess that the church is in as well as trying to address how to bring peace and reconciliation within a divided church and rescue the beautiful name of Jesus Christ from all the damage done to His reputation and church in the eyes of the world! My heart is broken as I read comments on FB sites like “Christians against Trump”. On top of FB campaigning, I was (am) also trying to read historical, political and theological books that could give insight into “how in the world did we get here”. Though a female, I come from warrior ancestors on both sides of the family. As a result I encountered verbal and physical assaults from adult Christians but, unfortunately, I did not turn the other cheek. I declared I was a Democrat in the 1990’s because claiming to be an “independent” wasn’t a strong enough statement against that aquifer.Īs all of the above I campaigned against Trump for 4 years on FB because I knew that I had many students as friends and I hoped that I had enough clout with them that they might consider my viewpoints. I call myself a Democrat because of the environmental and climate change issues AND because, in the mid 1990’s I sensed a large aquifer underlying the church that was saying “to be a real Christian, you have to vote (be) Republican.” By 2020, that aquifer had become an above ground tsunami that was saying “you CANNOT be a Christian if you are aĭemocrat”. Personal choice (as God does), to moderate-liberal on conservation of wildlife, habitats and climate change. My political stances today vary from very conservative on abortion and LGBTQ issues, as I oppose both but allow for I was raised Republican but left that party in 1994 because they were believing and acting on things spouted on hate radio. I am also a wildlife biologist and prefer to be watching God’s creation than most other activities I could choose from, including attending church. I taught mostly life science to 7th graders for 35 years as a creationist in a public school.
I am writing to let you know that I love the Truce Podcast and today’s episode about Wayne to tRump by way of the evangelical church was especially excellent.Īt nearly 70 years, my path through Christianity has meandered from the headwaters of the Episcopalian church in the 1960’s to the Foursquare Church but leaning towards a local Presbyterian church today. Can you see the link between the cowboy image and Donald Trump?.What is your idea of Jesus like? Is He a warrior, a gentle savior, or both?.What do you picture when you think of a Christian woman? How has that been shaped?.What do you picture when you think of a Christian man? How has that been shaped?.What books have you read that stressed the importance of tough men?.How have you heard cowboys, soldiers, and fighters discussed in evangelical circles?.What do you think of when you picture a cowboy?.In this episode, Chris talks with Kristin Kobes Du Mez, author of “ Jesus and John Wayne: How Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation“. That idea, though, comes in contrast with Jesus’ own words about turning the other cheek, forgiving our enemies, and loving our enemies. They are seen in many men’s books as the epitome of masculinity. All three had questionable public morals but were seen as strong, uncompromising figures.
You can draw a line from them straight to former president Donald J. But both men were instrumental in whipping up anti-communist sentiment in the US, building credibility with a religion focused on individualism. Wayne wasn’t an evangelical, and Reagan had once been a democrat. Their names come up often, they both played cowboys in Hollywood. John Wayne and Ronald Reagan have both become popular figures in American men’s ministries. What do you think of when you picture a cowboy? A rugged, handsome individual? A lover? Someone who doesn’t need the government’s help? Evangelicalism has long pushed this as the ideal model for the Christian man. How the myth of the cowboy encouraged Christians to vote for Donald Trump and changed Christian masculinity