Militant masculinity and patriarchal authority anchored Falwell’s religious identity

Evidence

Falwell’s rhetoric was reminiscent of earlier fundamentalist militancy, but he combined it with Cold War militarism and a rigid reassertion of patriarchal gender roles; for Falwell, each would define and reinforce the other. Falwell’s rhetoric resonated with members of his congregation. The region surrounding Lynchburg had a strong military heritage, and at Thomas Road Baptist Church, military service was “probably the rule rather than the exception.” For members who had relocated from Appalachia, Falwell’s militaristic brand of Christianity dovetailed nicely with long-held traditions of masculine honor and violence. Falwell’s militancy promised protection, from enemies within and without. In this way, Falwell’s authority depended on maintaining a sense of vulnerability among his followers. This was achieved through the continual fabrication of new enemies. Danger, discrimination, and disparagement lurked around every corner. Malevolent forces aligned against true believers. Outsiders were likely to be enemies. Threats of a spiritual and cultural nature required a militant Christianity; threats to the nation required unrestrained militarism. — Kristin Kobes Du Mez, Jesus and John Wayne, 229

Categorization

• DEEPTHINKING: The load-bearing mechanism of the whole book is stated here: manufactured vulnerability plus continual fabrication of enemies is what sustains the leader’s authority. This is the engine driving the continuity-not-hypocrisy thesis.