Gravity Commons Podcast Kelsey McGinnis & Marissa Burt: The False Promises of Good Christian Parenting
5 snips
Dec 2, 2025 
Kelsey Kramer McGinnis, a musicologist and correspondent for Christianity Today, and Marissa Franks Burt, a novelist and teacher, explore the pitfalls of evangelical parenting literature. They discuss the historical roots of the 'Christian parenting empire' and critique its ideologies, which promote authority and obedience at the expense of empathy. The duo shares insight on how punitive approaches can harm family relationships and suggests ways to foster healthier parenting, encouraging parents to seek alternatives that prioritize connection over control.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Origins Of The Christian Parenting Empire
- Kelsey and Marissa trace modern evangelical parenting empires to James Dobson's 1970 Dare to Discipline and similar brands.
- These authors built authority through marketing, networks, and fear-based promises rather than credentials or robust evidence.
Parental Authority As Central Doctrine
- The empire centers on the ultimacy of parental authority and a God-ordained household hierarchy.
- That theology supplies promises of blessing and threats of punishment tied to compliance and parental control.
Theology That Elevates Punishment
- Theological framing often presents God as distant, punitive, and chiefly concerned with behavior management.
- That catechesis pressures parents to enact punishment to prove faithfulness, conflating obedience with godliness.
