15: Wilson Family Values

Doug Wilson is a key voice in modern Reconstructionism, an ideology that envisions America (and the world) remade into a confederacy of self-governing, patriarchal theocracies. Despite a history of eye-popping apologia for slavery, Wilson has become a key crossover figure for Reconstructionism. He leads a 1000-strong independent church in Moscow, Idaho; dialogues with more acceptable Fundamentalist leaders like R. C. Sproul and John Piper; laments the ugliness of the MAGA crowd, and does his best to project an image of free-thinking scholarship rather than angry dogmatism. Despite his genial tone, Wilson’s theology and beliefs are extreme even by the standards of Reconstructionism.

In this episode, we try something new — and we’re not sure whether it succeeded or failed. Rather than start with a deep dive into Wilson’s history and the controversies surrounding his work and his church, we took a (relatively) fresh look at his recent material on YouTube, as well as his son’s breakout YA novel. Beyond Wilson’s long history of racism, the undercurrents of misogyny in his arguments were impossible to ignore. Several quick searches later, it became clear that Wilson had sheltered pedophiles and punished their victims at his church in Moscow, Idaho.

Listen to this episode to hear us discover our Spidey-Senses were correct in real time… Content warnings apply: topics including religious abuse and child sexual abuse are discussed.

Mentioned in this episode

• Episode 11: The Father of Christian Reconstructionism

• Episode 12: From Rushdoony to Ron Paul, with Racism

• Southern Slavery as it Wasn’t: Coming to Grips with Neo-Confederate Historical Misinformation by Ramsey, William L. and Quinlan, Sean M., 2004

• Christ Church and New Saint Andrews College at Wikipedia

• Man Rampant, the Doug Wilson Youtube show

• Man Rampant Episode 1: The Sin of Empathy (2021)

• 100 Cupboards, by N.D. Wilson (2008)

• Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation, by Kristin Kobes Du Mez, 2020

Further reading

• Doug Wilson’s Pedophile Problem: Sex Offender For Whom Wilson Begged Leniency Back in Court with Infant Son, by Libby Anne, Love Joy Feminism, 2015

• Far-right evangelicals excused sexual abuse long before Donald Trump, by Kristin Kobes Du Mez, Flux, 2021

• The Jamin C. Wight Story: The Other Child Molester in Doug Wilson’s Closet, by R.L. Stollar, Homeschoolers Anonymous, 2015

• Doug Wilson’s Religious Empire Expanding in the Northwest by Mark Potok, The Southern Poverty Law Center, 2004

• As a plague sweeps the land, zealots see a gift from heaven, by Leah Sottile, High Country News, 2020

• Douglas Wilson’s ‘spiritual takeover’ plan roils Idaho college town

• The Controversialist, by Molly Worthen, Christianity Today, 2019

• It Is Long Past Time for Evangelical Leaders to Condemn Doug Wilson's Views on Slavery and the South, by Libby Anne, Love Joy Feminism, 2018

• Why Is a Famous Evangelical Pastor Defending Slavery?, by Morgan Guyton, Huffington Post, 2013

• Idaho pastor agrees with Trump on Charlottesville protests, by Nick Gier, Idaho State Journal, 2017