The Theology Pugcast Aaron Renn and Evangelical Elites (or why there aren’t any)
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Jun 30, 2025 In this engaging discussion, Aaron Renn, a writer and consultant known for his insights on Christianity and men's issues, shares his perspective on the challenges evangelicals face in cultivating elites. Amid the vibrant PCA General Assembly, he explores the decline of evangelical influence through his Three Worlds Model, contrasting evangelicals with the cultural prominence enjoyed by Roman Catholics. Renn emphasizes the need for personal journeys to foster leadership in evangelical circles, critiquing the misconception linking faith with clerical success.
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The Three Worlds Model of Evangelicalism
- Aaron Renn explains America shifted from a positive to a neutral and then a negative cultural view of Christianity since 1964.
- The "negative world" stage marks a time when Christianity is viewed skeptically or negatively by elite culture.
Men in Traditional Churches Rise
- Young men are increasingly attending traditional churches like Orthodoxy and Traditional Catholicism though this is still a niche.
- Evangelicalism remains culturally female-oriented and struggles with gender polarization among Gen Z.
WASP Leadership Declined
- The WASP leadership class failed because of demographic changes and exclusivity.
- They ultimately ceded control to other groups and didn't defend their leadership position effectively.
