How the myth of the cowboy encouraged Christians to vote for Donald Trump and changed Christian masculinity
What do you think of when you picture a cowboy? A rugged, handsome individual? A lover? Someone who doesn’t need the government’s help? Evangelicalism has long pushed this as the ideal model for the Christian man. What is the impact of that set of ideas?
John Wayne and Ronald Reagan have both become popular figures in American men’s ministries. Their names come up often, they both played cowboys in Hollywood. But they are unlikely heroes. Both men were divorced. Wayne wasn’t an evangelical, and Reagan had once been a democrat. But both men were instrumental in whipping up anti-communist sentiment in the US, building credibility with a religion focused on individualism.
You can draw a line from them straight to former president Donald J. Trump. All three had questionable public morals but were seen as strong, uncompromising figures. They are seen in many men’s books as the epitome of masculinity. That idea, though, comes in contrast with Jesus’ own words about turning the other cheek, forgiving our enemies, and loving our enemies.
In this episode, Chris talks with Kristin Kobes Du Mez, author of “Jesus and John Wayne: How Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation“.
Discussion Questions
- What do you think of when you picture a cowboy?
- How have you heard cowboys, soldiers, and fighters discussed in evangelical circles?
- What books have you read that stressed the importance of tough men?
- What do you picture when you think of a Christian man? How has that been shaped?
- What do you picture when you think of a Christian woman? How has that been shaped?
- What is your idea of Jesus like? Is He a warrior, a gentle savior, or both?
- Can you see the link between the cowboy image and Donald Trump?
Hi Chris,
I am writing to let you know that I love the Truce Podcast and today’s episode about Wayne to tRump by way of the evangelical church was especially excellent.
At nearly 70 years, my path through Christianity has meandered from the headwaters of the Episcopalian church in the 1960’s to the Foursquare Church but leaning towards a local Presbyterian church today. I taught mostly life science to 7th graders for 35 years as a creationist in a public school. I am also a wildlife biologist and prefer to be watching God’s creation than most other activities I could choose from, including attending church.
I was raised Republican but left that party in 1994 because they were believing and acting on things spouted on hate radio. My political stances today vary from very conservative on abortion and LGBTQ issues, as I oppose both but allow for
personal choice (as God does), to moderate-liberal on conservation of wildlife, habitats and climate change. I call myself a Democrat because of the environmental and climate change issues AND because, in the mid 1990’s I sensed a large aquifer underlying the church that was saying “to be a real Christian, you have to vote (be) Republican.” By 2020, that aquifer had become an above ground tsunami that was saying “you CANNOT be a Christian if you are a
Democrat”. I declared I was a Democrat in the 1990’s because claiming to be an “independent” wasn’t a strong enough statement against that aquifer.
As all of the above I campaigned against Trump for 4 years on FB because I knew that I had many students as friends and I hoped that I had enough clout with them that they might consider my viewpoints. As a result I encountered verbal and physical assaults from adult Christians but, unfortunately, I did not turn the other cheek. Though a female, I come from warrior ancestors on both sides of the family. On top of FB campaigning, I was (am) also trying to read historical, political and theological books that could give insight into “how in the world did we get here”.
Today’s discussion was wonderful because I felt hope that Christians of a more balanced mind were addressing the issues involved in the mess that the church is in as well as trying to address how to bring peace and reconciliation within a divided church and rescue the beautiful name of Jesus Christ from all the damage done to His reputation and church in the eyes of the world! My heart is broken as I read comments on FB sites like “Christians against Trump”. In my view, these are the people who are more moderate and are looking to leave “the church” but feel they have no place to go.
I also feel strongly that a variety of “end times” belief systems (some of which I adhere to) are contributing to the Warrior Christ mentality but what is scary is that those Warrior Christ beliefs (which I espouse to as well) are intertwined with the idea that we humans are to somehow make the Earth ready to receive Jesus as King (force the Kingdom of Heaven upon the earth) along with the idea that somehow America will do this (nationalism)…
This is a truly toxic brew! I believe these are the last days. We must remember that every time the “last days” were brought up in the New Testament, the very next words were DO NOT BE DECEIVED! The toxic brew mentioned above is partly or mostly deception… but it didn’t just happen recently! It happened as we envisioned the American cowboy, John Wayne and Reagan which along with all the other stuff mentioned above, morphed into evangelical support of tRump.
It’s important that we realize that tRump is NOT gone. We must work quickly to try to help Christians see the deception he entails and to help them realize, that as “evangelicals”, they don’t have to vote for him or his copy-cats”.
There is so much more but I’ve gone on too long. Thank you for your patience with this letter and for all the time and effort you spend on Truce. I am planning to send support as soon as possible.
Best Regards,
Lynn Kelly
Truly fascinating! Thank you for that interview.
I really resonated with the section about the stereotypes of men and women that are more formed by our culture than by Scripture. I remember a few years back, I heard about a pair of books written by a husband and wife team, “Fierce Women” and “Men Who Love Fierce Women,” by Kimber and LeRoy Wagner (my wife is one of those “fierce women” of Latin American extraction).
I couldn’t make it past the second chapter of “Men Who Love Fierce Women” because it was buying in to the macho stereotypes. I don’t hunt, fish, or enjoy sports (the closest I come is archery target practice). My idea of conquest is tackling and understanding complex theological and philosophical issues. I’m much more the contemplative academic type, an extreme introvert who takes time to think things through before acting or speaking (though once I’ve thought something through, my arguments can often shred the opposition).
Thanks so much for writing in! I really enjoyed Kristin’s book and interview. I agree with you – our idea of biblical manhood is only big enough for guys who like to hunt and fish, and not for guys who read. I actually had an interesting conversation tonight at church with someone about men’s ministry. He’s the traditional model of what a Christian man is — hairy, muscular, hunts, very much into leadership stuff. He was trying to convince me that I should take over some of the men’s ministry. When I explained that my ministry is to this show, he couldn’t grasp it. Instead, he told me that with time management I could do both.
Really… I can’t. Waaaaay overextended as it is.
My whole adult life, let’s say the last 20 years, men’s ministry has been pushing leadership, structure, and discipleship as the only answers. Where are we 20 years later? Lamenting the state of Christian manhood. Perhaps we can san say that leadership, structure, and discipleship are good but not the end-all. I think it’s time that Christian people take a full picture of the Christian life instead of trying to pigeonhole everything. It’s time we stop trying to learn from the business world and start doing the hard work of both loving the Lord our God and loving our neighbor as ourselves. Not one or the other. Both. And we need to make room for men who read, paint, eat vegetables, and drive practical cars as well as guys who go to the gym.
Anyhow – God bless you! Keep on thinking, reading, and seeking the Kingdom!
I’ve been reading Stephen Nichols’ “Jesus Made in America” (IVP Academic, 2008).
In his chapter on Jesus and cinema, he talks about the 60s film “the Greatest Story Ever Told,” with Max von Sydow playing the role of Christ. Also in that movie…..John Wayne (p. 154). (A real “Jesus and John Wayne” moment!)
In the chapter on “Jesus junk” and consumer culture, he mentions an episode of the Simpsons where a corporate sponsor helped rebuild the town church after a rocket launched by Homer crashes into the building and destroys it. There are all kinds of sponsorship logos and kiosks around the church. “One such icon is a prominently placed statue of Jesus, complete with a lasso. When Lisa skeptically asks about it, Homer replies that Jesus looks like a cowboy, ‘because he’s all man.’ “