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

The book "Jesus and John Wayne" is a groundbreaking exploration of the intersection of white evangelicalism and popular culture in America.

This sweeping history reveals how evangelicals have transformed their understanding of Jesus over the past 75 years, replacing the Jesus of the Gospels with an idol of rugged masculinity and Christian nationalism.

Acclaimed scholar Kristin Du Mez uncovers the centrality of popular culture in contemporary American evangelicalism, showing how books, films, music, clothing, and merchandise shape the beliefs of millions.

The book challenges the assumption that the "moral majority" backed Donald Trump in 2016 and 2020 for purely pragmatic reasons, revealing instead that Trump represented the fulfillment of white evangelicals' most deeply held values: patriarchy, authoritarian rule, and aggressive foreign policy.

This book is a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the complex and often controversial relationship between religion and politics in America today.