Kristin Kobes
Du Mez, Ph.D.

Historian / Writer / Speaker

Professor of History, Calvin University
Senior Democracy Fellow, Public Religion Research Institute

Kristin Kobes Du Mez is a New York Times bestselling author and Professor of History at Calvin University. She is currently a Senior Democracy Fellow with the Public Religion Research Institute. She holds a PhD from the University of Notre Dame, and her research focuses on the intersection of gender, religion, and politics. She has written for The New York Times, The Washington Post, NBC NewsReligion 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.

New York Times Best Seller

“A stunning exploration of the relationship between modern evangelicalism, militarism, and American masculinity.”  Katherine Stewart

“. . . A scholarly work of history, but it is so well written that it promises to be popular with a wide audience. Highly recommended, especially at this critical moment in religious, cultural, and political history.”  Brian D. McLaren

“This deeply perceptive book establishes Kristin Kobes Du Mez as the Christian critic of this crisis moment. . . . Required reading.”  Kathryn Lofton

“. . . A searing and sobering book, one that should be read by anyone who wants to grasp our political moment and the religious movement that helped get us here.”  Darren Dochuk

“Those who legitimately ask “How can evangelicals support Donald Trump?” need to read this book to understand why. An extraordinary work.”  Rev. Richard Cizik

“[A] fascinating study of the rise of militant masculinity among Evangelicals . . . Sure to be controversial, the author’s closely reasoned argument is thoughtful and provoking.”  Booklist

“[An] engaging history of the shifting ideal of Christian masculinity. . . . This lucid, potent history adds a much needed religious dimension to understanding the current American right and the rise of Trump.”  Publishers Weekly

“[A] fascinating and fervent book….a provocative, but insightful and detailed look at the culture and impact of evangelical Christianity today, where The Duke and The Messiah are riding saddle-by-saddle toward some sort of glory.”  Houston Press

“[An] urgent, sharp-elbowed survey of the last half-century of white American evangelicalism. . . .” Shelf Awareness

Jesus and John Wayne is a book that America needs now.” The Boston Globe

“brilliant and engaging. . .” The New Republic

“[A] smart, deftly argued book. . . . clearly explicates the way the ‘evangelical cult of masculinity’ has played out over decades.” The National Book Review

“Paradigm-influencing. . . A very readable page-turner.” Scot McKnight, Christianity Today

“Interesting . . . I hear people say all the time that Trump’s election was a tragedy for evangelicals, but after reading [this] book, I wonder if it isn’t their greatest victory.” Sean Illing, Vox

“A much needed and painstakingly accurate chronicle of exactly ‘where many evangelicals are,’ and the long road that got them there.” Tom Cox, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

“[An] absolute must-read, a stunning work, and one that deserves serious attention and further conversation.” Joel Wentz, Englewood Review of Books

“Du Mez’s portrait of American evangelicalism makes Jesus and John Wayne not only one of the most important books on religion and the 2016 elections but one of the most important books on post-1945 American evangelicalism published in the past four decades.” Jon Butler, Church History

Interview: NPR, Consider This, “The Road to Overturning Roe v. Wade,” with Michel Martin American EvangelicalismFeaturedIn the MediaInterviews & Podcasts

Interview: NPR, Consider This, “The Road to Overturning Roe v. Wade,” with Michel Martin

Earlier this week, a leaked draft opinion from the Supreme Court suggested that after nearly 50 years, the court intends to overturn Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision that legalized abortion nationwide. Almost as soon as abortions became legal, opponents…
Interview: PBS, Amanpour & Co, “Kristin Du Mez: How Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith,” with Michel Martin pbs logo white letters on blue backgroundAmerican EvangelicalismFeaturedIn the MediaInterviews & Podcasts

Interview: PBS, Amanpour & Co, “Kristin Du Mez: How Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith,” with Michel Martin

The likely demise of Roe v. Wade has galvanized America’s evangelicals. Who exactly are they? And how do they influence politics? Kristin Du Mez is a professor at Calvin University and a historian of American Christianity. Her book "Jesus and…
Interview: NPR, Morning Edition, “Sen. Josh Hawley Claims Masculinity is Under Attack. This Historian Disagrees,” with Steve Inskeep npr logo (medium)American EvangelicalismFeaturedIn the MediaInterviews & Podcasts

Interview: NPR, Morning Edition, “Sen. Josh Hawley Claims Masculinity is Under Attack. This Historian Disagrees,” with Steve Inskeep

NPR's Steve Inskeep talks to history professor Kristin Kobes Du Mez about her new Josh Hawley's claim that masculinity is under attack. For a complete transcript and to listen to the interview, visit Sen. Josh Hawley claims without evidence that…
Kristin Kobes Du Mez
November 11, 2021
Interview: The NPR Politics Podcast, “For White Evangelicals, The Identity is About More Than Religious Faith,” with Danielle Kurtzleben NPR Politics Podcast LogoAmerican EvangelicalismFeaturedIn the MediaInterviews & Podcasts

Interview: The NPR Politics Podcast, “For White Evangelicals, The Identity is About More Than Religious Faith,” with Danielle Kurtzleben

In the latest installment of the Politics Podcast book club, NPR's Danielle Kurtzleben interviews Calvin University historian Kristin Kobes Du Mez about Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation. For the complete episode…
Kristin Kobes Du Mez
October 2, 2021
Washington Post, “How a book about evangelicals, Trump and militant masculinity became a surprise bestseller,” by Sarah Pulliam Bailey image of logo of the washington postFeaturedIn the MediaInterviews & Podcasts

Washington Post, “How a book about evangelicals, Trump and militant masculinity became a surprise bestseller,” by Sarah Pulliam Bailey

Excerpts: When historian Kristin Du Mez’s latest book, “Jesus and John Wayne,” came out in the summer of 2020, it received little attention from mainstream gatekeepers and reviewers. But the book, which explores evangelical fondness for former president Donald Trump…
Braveheart’s Warped History Keeps Suckering Evangelicals logo of the daily beast on black backgroundAmerican EvangelicalismArticles & EssaysFeatured

Braveheart’s Warped History Keeps Suckering Evangelicals

The Daily Beast. June 20, 2021. https://www.thedailybeast.com/bravehearts-warped-history-has-been-suckering-evangelicals-for-a-quarter-century Mel Gibson’s sadomasochistic fantasy is beloved by evangelical Christians (and William Wallace wannabes like Ted Cruz), who wallow in its exaltation of violent, macho religion.
NBCNews.com. Op Ed. Trump pick Amy Coney Barrett’s Christian ‘Handmaid’ History Matters nbc news logo on black backgroundAmerican EvangelicalismArticles & EssaysFeaturedIn the Media

NBCNews.com. Op Ed. Trump pick Amy Coney Barrett’s Christian ‘Handmaid’ History Matters

Excerpts: Given this polarized context, it’s no surprise that leading Democrats have signaled a reticence to confront Barrett on the issue of her faith. Yet the precise nature of her beliefs, how those beliefs shape her judicial philosophy and how they align…
Kristin Kobes Du Mez
October 10, 2020