Friendly Atheist Podcast 611 - Marissa Franks Burt, Co-Author of The Myth of Good Christian Parenting
Nov 27, 2025
Marissa Franks Burt, a novelist and co-author of "The Myth of Good Christian Parenting," dives deep into the troubling aspects of evangelical parenting. She discusses how strict authority and compliance methods prevalent in evangelical circles often lead to harm, questioning the validity of popular figures like James Dobson. Marissa reveals the blurred lines between discipline and abuse, highlighting research on the negative impacts of corporal punishment. She also notes a rising movement within Christianity rejecting harmful practices, urging a return to more compassionate teachings.
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Authority And Instant Compliance As Core Goal
- Evangelical parenting prioritized authority and instant compliance as its primary goal.
- That focus often ignored child development and framed disobedience as sin rather than development.
Prioritize Connection Not Compliance
- Reconsider punitive frameworks and prioritize connection over compliance in early childhood.
- Learn child development and adopt noncorporal discipline methods that preserve joy and attachment.
Dobson Kickstarted A Marketable Parenting Industry
- James Dobson pioneered the modern evangelical parenting industry with Dare to Discipline in 1970.
- His messaging linked parenting manuals to broader law-and-order political rhetoric and fear-based appeals.
