How White Evangelicals Think: The Psychology of White Conservative Christians

by Dave Verhaagen

Overview

The majority of Americans have looked on in some combination of horror and befuddlement as many white Christians, particularly evangelicals, have revealed beliefs and opinions seemingly antithetical to the Christian faith, whether holding racist attitudes, supporting conspiracy theories, aligning with nationalistic and authoritarian movements, or becoming hostile toward the different and marginalized. Dr. Dave Verhaagen, a nationally board-certified psychologist and author, tackles the challenge of explaining the psychology behind what has become the unique mind of the modern white Christian. Each chapter explores one or more robust psychological principles that help make sense of why white Christians think like they do.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781666710700
Publisher:	Wipf & Stock Publishers
Publication date:	08/16/2022
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	320
File size:	5 MB

About the Author

Dave Verhaagen is an author of eight previous books and nine book chapters. He is a licensed and nationally board-certified psychologist who earned his PhD from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. Before he cofounded one of the largest psychology practices in the country, he served as the clinical director for three mental health agencies. His numerous faculty appointments include a current appointment as Adjunct Assistant Professor of Psychology at Vanderbilt University.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“How White Evangelicals Think is a book that meets the current moment. Drawing on decades of clinical expertise paired with an insider knowledge of the movement, Dave Verhaagen highlights the barriers facing white evangelicalism with an unsparing yet empathetic spirit. Those inside white evangelicalism as well as those outside it will benefit from wrestling with what Verhaagen shows us.”

—Andrew L. Whitehead, author of Taking America Back for God: Christian Nationalism in the United States



“A number of authors have offered important analysis of alarming trends among US white evangelicals. Dave Verhaagen takes a psychologist’s perspective here, and his diagnosis centering on collective vulnerable narcissism is a breakthrough proposal that rings sadly true. This book must be added to a handful of others that constitute essential reading about what has gone so very badly, dangerously wrong with US white evangelicalism.”

—David P. Gushee, Mercer University

Editorial Reviews

How White Evangelicals Think is a book that meets the current moment. Drawing on decades of clinical expertise paired with an insider knowledge of the movement, Dave Verhaagen highlights the barriers facing white evangelicalism with an unsparing yet empathetic spirit. Those inside white evangelicalism as well as those outside it will benefit from wrestling with what Verhaagen shows us.”

—Andrew L. Whitehead, author of Taking America Back for God: Christian Nationalism in the United States



“A number of authors have offered important analysis of alarming trends among US white evangelicals. Dave Verhaagen takes a psychologist’s perspective here, and his diagnosis centering on collective vulnerable narcissism is a breakthrough proposal that rings sadly true. This book must be added to a handful of others that constitute essential reading about what has gone so very badly, dangerously wrong with US white evangelicalism.”

—David P. Gushee, Mercer University

From the Publisher