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The Evangelical Vote (2019)

Jun 23, 2022

Molly Worthen, a history professor at the University of North Carolina, delves into the powerful intersection of evangelicalism and U.S. politics. She traces the evolution of white evangelicalism, linking it to conservative movements since the 1970s. Worthen highlights the impact of pivotal figures like John Nelson Darby and the racial divides that shaped the community. The discussion also touches on the surge of political activism following landmark events like Roe v. Wade, illustrating a complex and often contentious relationship between faith and politics.

50:45

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Episode guests

Molly Worthen

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Episode notes

Intro

2min

The Intersection of Faith and Politics: A Historical Perspective on Evangelicalism

5min

Darby's Theology and Evangelicalism

9min

Racial Divides and the Evolution of Evangelicalism

4min

Divine Warnings and the Rise of Fundamentalism

14min

The Shift from Isolation to Political Engagement

4min

Evangelicals, Desegregation, and Political Realignment

13min

The Divine Role of Evangelicals in Politics

2min

When Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died, the door opened on one of those rare opportunities to tip the balance of the highest court in the U.S. It was the opportunity that one particular voting bloc had been waiting for: evangelical Christians. Now, we await a ruling in a case that has the potential to overturn Roe v. Wade – an outcome evangelical Christians have spent decades voting and lobbying for. So how did this religious group become such a powerful force in U.S. politics? In this episode, we examine how white evangelicalism in particular became linked to conservative political issues...beginning with a roaming Irish pastor in the 1800s.

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