Culture, Faith and Politics with Pat Kahnke

Angela Denker on her book "Disciples of White Jesus: The Radicalization of American Boyhood"

Apr 24, 2025
Angela Denker, a journalist, Lutheran pastor, and author, delves into her book on the radicalization of American boyhood. She highlights the importance of storytelling and empathy in bridging divides, sharing strategies for de-radicalization rooted in community and boundaries. Denker explores the historical context of 'White Jesus' and its ties to current political discourse. She also addresses the impact of online radicalization and recommends biblical texts to challenge Christian nationalism, advocating for a more compassionate masculinity.
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INSIGHT

Three Lenses To Understand Conservative Christianity

  • Angela Denker merges journalism, pastoral theology, and personal Midwestern roots to study conservative Christianity.
  • This combined lens reveals how religion, culture, and personal history shape beliefs about gender and politics.
ADVICE

Enable Deradicalization With Boundaries

  • Maintain relationships while setting clear boundaries to support deradicalization.
  • Refuse violent or hateful language and hold space so people can safely leave destructive ideologies.
INSIGHT

Vacuum Fuels Toxic Masculinity

  • A vacuum in compassionate models of masculinity lets the manosphere and violent machismo fill the gap.
  • Providing alternative narratives of vulnerability and empathy counters aggressive, grievance-driven masculinities.
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