Disciples of White Jesus: The Radicalization of American Boyhood

A shifting American culture is pushing white Christian boys toward radicalization, isolation, and violence, according to this persuasive treatise from pastor Denker (Red State Christians). She contends that changing gender and racial roles and inadequate teaching about the history of American racism have left white boys with a nebulous shame—a “sense that something very bad has happened in this country, and maybe they are somehow connected to the badness”—that drives them to incel forums and other “stereotypically masculine” outlets that can foster violence. Denker links this shift to broader changes in evangelical Christianity over the latter half of the 20th century, as gender hierarchies were solidified and pastors refashioned the image of Jesus from a nonviolent “weakling” into a masculine warrior seeking total domination. The result, she suggests, is a generation of men who seek a strong, masculine leader in larger-than-life political figures like Donald Trump. Denker makes a passionate case for teaching white boys more accurate, far-reaching histories of American racism, and instructing them in how to be more in touch with their emotions. Along the way, she enlivens her analysis with intriguing research, including an interview with Caleb Campbell, a former skinhead who now leads a progressive church in Phoenix. The result is a sincere and thorough excavation of a pressing social problem. (Mar.)