Highest Power: Church + State Ep20: Authoritarian Theology & Entitlement, with Christa Brown
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May 8, 2025 Join Christa Brown, author of "Baptist Land," as she unveils the disturbing ties between authoritarian theology and oppressive relationships. She explores how conservative evangelical beliefs shape individual freedoms and societal norms, particularly through authoritarian parenting. Brown discusses the Southern Baptist Convention's historical connection to slavery and its enduring effects on gender dynamics. She sheds light on how such theology impacts child development, advocating for critical examination of these themes for justice and healing.
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Entitlement Drives Authoritarianism
- Authoritarian men feel entitled to take what they want, a key driver of Trump's appeal to conservative evangelicals.
- This links deeply to evangelical authoritarian theology emphasizing control and submission.
Pervasive Authoritarianism in Evangelicalism
- Authoritarianism is pervasive and normalized in evangelical life, affecting women and children through hierarchical control.
- Such social structures inherently increase the risk of abuse within these communities.
Historical Roots of Theology's Harm
- Southern Baptist origins in defending slavery influence ongoing hierarchical theology justifying male authority over women.
- This theological legacy damages all genders and perpetuates systemic abuse and control.
