The Aaron Renn Show MILES SMITH: Lessons from Reading Exvangelical Memoirs
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Jul 15, 2024 Miles Smith, an assistant professor of history at Hillsdale College, discusses insights from exvangelical memoirs and Christian nationalism. They explore loose ecclesiology in churches, clericalism's influence, pastors in purity culture, evangelical complexity, and the impact of World War I on churches.
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What 'Ex-Evangelical' Means
- Miles Smith defines an ex-evangelical as someone publicly or institutionally involved in evangelicalism who then publicly leaves it.
- They typically repudiate the movement even if they remain Christian.
A Market For Public Deconstructions
- Miles Smith observes a strong market for ex-evangelical memoirs, especially stories moving politically right to left.
- Authors with journalistic training produce the most successful books.
Pastor-As-Papal Figure
- Smith finds many evangelical churches lack traditional ecclesial structures and elevate pastors to guru-like authority.
- That elevation gives pastors near 'papal' power over moral and political life.