Episode #94
094: Following the Thread from Holiness Theology to Hallmark Movies with Kristin Kobes du Mez
Can spiritual abuse actually be traced to a system that was centuries in the making? What started as a fun project about mommy blogs and Hallmark movies became a staggering, meticulously researched narrative of how evangelical women's culture was engineered to suppress dissent and punish those who step out of line. Kristin pulls the threads of New Thought philosophy and largely unknown figures like Hannah Whittall Smith and Henrietta Mears to reveal how they led directly to our present reality. It’s an eye-opening and fascinating episode. If you’ve ever questioned how we got where we are today in the church, you won’t want to miss this conversation. You’ll hear about: How hearing and understanding history can help us to How the “power of positive thinking” became synonymous with evangelical culture and how it keeps women silent, compliant, and loyal How understanding a long view of history can reveal a direct line from 1800s holiness theology to Hallmark movies, Thomas Kinkade, purity culture, MLMs, and Turning Point. Guest Spotlight ✨ Author of the New York Times bestseller Jesus and John Wayne , Kristin Du Mez is a writer, speaker, and scholar who explores the intersection of religion, gender, and politics. She has written for The New York Times, The Washington Post, NBC News , Religion News Service , and Christianity Today , and has been interviewed on NPR, CBS, and the BBC, among other outlets. Her most recent book is Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation. Her next book, Live Laugh Love , is expected in September 2026. An academic by training, Du Mez holds a Ph.D. in U.S. history from the University of Notre Dame, but she writes and speaks for popular audiences in an entertaining style that is equal parts winsome and hard-hitting. Her unflinching examination of the American church, however, is ultimately a call to confession, a call to lament, and a call to greater faithfulness. She teaches at Calvin University and lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with her husband, three kids, and a dog named Paco. Links & Resources Website | Instagram | Facebook | Substack | BlueSky Live Laugh Love: The Secret History of White Christian Women and the World They Made by Kristen Kobes du Mez | Amazon | Bookshop Jesus and John Wayne by Kristen Kobes du Mez | Amazon | Bookshop “For Our Daughters” project and film ————— We need your help. Your gift of just $25 will make a big difference and help us continue this work. Donate today . ————— Sign up to receive our weekly Podcast Newsletter with new episodes, updates, exclusive discounts, and more! Subscribe using your favorite podcast app: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | YouTube Leave us a rating and review on Apple or on Spotify . This all helps us to grow and continue providing quality content for you and our community of listeners. ————— As an Amazon and Bookshop.org affiliate, I may make a small commission at no extra cost to you.
