Bare Marriage

Episode 297: The Myth of Good Christian Parenting

Sep 25, 2025
Marissa Burt and Kelsey Kramer McGinnis, authors of The Myth of Good Christian Parenting, shed light on the troubling history of Christian parenting advice. They discuss how the industry, rooted in figures like James Dobson, promotes harmful practices like spanking as a disciplinary norm. The duo critiques the hazardous language surrounding parenting and the implications of authoritarian teachings on child development. They also explore healthier, research-backed discipline methods and the cultural consequences of conventional Christian parenting beliefs.
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INSIGHT

How The Christian Parenting Industry Began

  • Christian parenting emerged as a profitable market promising spiritual and social safety through authoritative methods.
  • Cultural fear, inerrancy, and media platforms amplified self-credentialed experts who discouraged outside evidence.
INSIGHT

Authority Over Child Development

  • Christian parenting often centers parental authority and instant obedience as spiritual goals rather than child development.
  • This authority-first model reframes parenting as producing compliant disciples, not autonomous adults.
ANECDOTE

Spanking To Train A Greeting

  • Nancy Wilson recounts spanking her preschooler to train her to greet her upon pickup.
  • She described giving a review and expecting an immediate, joyful greeting afterward.
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