The Holy Vote: Inequality and Anxiety among White Evangelicals

Sarah Diefendorf's research explores how the evangelical church is adapting to cultural shifts by revisiting topics such as feminism, gender equality, racial inclusivity, and queer life, highlighting how White evangelical understandings about sex and families have shaped a political movement that has impacted American politics.

Format: Hardback
Length: 242 pages
Publication date: 07 February 2023
Publisher: University of California Press

Sociologist Sarah Diefendorf delved into a two-year ethnographic exploration within a megachurch, seeking to understand the strategies employed by the evangelical community to navigate the cultural shifts that were causing young individuals to drift away from religion. Recognizing the need for expansion, the church revisited once perceived external threats to its organization, including feminism, gender equality, racial inclusivity, and queer life, which Diefendorf categorized as the "imagined secular" in the minds of evangelicals. However, The Holy Vote revealed a nuanced reality. While the church attempted to present a more welcoming image by reworking its messages, it inadvertently perpetuated privileged identities. This insightful work by Diefendorf sheds light on the intricate origins of these understandings and explores their intersections with contemporary culture and enduring social inequalities. Through her meticulous research, Diefendorf highlights the complexities and challenges faced by the evangelical community as it strives to adapt and thrive in a changing world.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780520355590