Description:
Decoding the Digital Church offers a compelling and original examination of the intersection of evangelical Christianity, digital media, and American politics. Through an analysis of more than 150 online sermons from some of the nation's largest megachurches, Stephanie A. Martin reveals how stories of faith, patriotism, and American exceptionalism shaped evangelical political identity in the years surrounding the 2016 presidential election. Challenging common stereotypes and partisan assumptions, this interdisciplinary study provides valuable insight into the cultural narratives that influence religious communities and democratic engagement in the digital age.
Review Quotes:
"Martin explores the intersection between religion and politics in a variety of evangelical contexts, specifically political sermons by white conservatives about the election of Donald Trump. This investigation tries to understand why many Evangelical pastors were blamed for endorsing Trump when, in fact, most did not. This book joins other attempts by scholars and journalists to analyze the relationship between Trump and Evangelicals. Recommended." --CHOICE
"Decoding the Digital Church offers a compelling and readable analysis of evangelical sermons around contemporary politics from the 2008 recession through the Trump election. For newcomers to religious rhetoric, this book will surely provide an accessible introduction to the mystifying relationship between evangelicals and Republican politics."--Kristy Maddux, author of The Faithful Citizen: Popular Christian Media and Gendered Civic Identities