Evangelical support for military might fused theology with masculine power

Evidence

Although evangelicals remained divided over whether to pass a resolution on the nuclear freeze, the NAE was receptive to Reagan’s larger call, and they instituted a “Peace, Freedom, and Security Studies” program to counter the influence of mainline churches. Evangelicals found many reasons to support American military might. On a pragmatic level, they believed a strong military would ward off a godless communist takeover. When it came to risks of nuclear annihilation, evangelical theology’s emphasis on eternal life for the faithful helped mitigate such earthly terrors. In end-times scenarios they believed God would protect them; a nuclear holocaust might even be part of God’s plan. But a strong military and an aggressive foreign policy also aligned with evangelicals’ view of masculine power. — Kristin Kobes Du Mez, Jesus and John Wayne, 260

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to the book’s core thesis that militant masculinity rather than pulpit theology organized white evangelical identity; also dovetails with Reagan’s ‘evil empire’ framing set up in the previous paragraph. — connects to: Christian nationalism’s abortion stance stems from its male-authority ideal, not piety — Andrew L. Whitehead; Samuel L. Perry, Taking America Back for God, 253; Evangelical churches fuse patriotic and military ritual with Christian worship to sacralize the nation — Andrew L. Whitehead; Samuel L. Perry, Taking America Back for God, 36; Calls for a more Christian nation function as calls for greater patriarchy — Andrew L. Whitehead, American Idolatry, 103