Where Do We Go From Here? Grace for Parents, Healing for Kids - Chatting to the authors of The Myth of Good Christian Parenting
Guests:
About the Episode: In this episode, EDJ sits down with Marissa Franks-Burt and Kelsey Kramer McGinnis, authors of The Myth of Good Christian Parenting: How False Promises Betrayed a Generation of Evangelical Families. Together they trace how James Dobson's Dare to Discipline shaped decades of Christian parenting and why authoritarian, fear-based models continue to echo in today's influencer culture.
They explore:
-
How "good Christian parenting" emerged from post-1970s evangelicalism
-
Why the focus on control and obedience took hold
-
The theology behind corporal punishment and gender hierarchy
-
How religious parenting ideals became social media aesthetics
-
What it looks like to move toward empathy, autonomy, and grace
Trigger warning: Discussion of spanking, strict discipline, and religious trauma.
Book release: The Myth of Good Christian Parenting releases October 14, 2025. Pre-order bonuses include downloadable resources making the Christian case against spanking.