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Southern Baptists and the Cold War, 1947-1989

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Southern Baptists and the Cold War, 1947-1989 University of Kentucky UKnowledge Theses and Dissertations--History History 2014 Cold Warriors in the Sunbelt: Southern Baptists and the Cold War, 1947-1989 Matthew J. Hall University of Kentucky, [email protected] Right click to open a feedback form in a new tab to let us know how this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation Hall, Matthew J., "Cold Warriors in the Sunbelt: Southern Baptists and the Cold War, 1947-1989" (2014). Theses and Dissertations--History. 17. https://uknowledge.uky.edu/history_etds/17 This Doctoral Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the History at UKnowledge. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations--History by an authorized administrator of UKnowledge. For more information, please contact [email protected]. STUDENT AGREEMENT: I represent that my thesis or dissertation and abstract are my original work. Proper attribution has been given to all outside sources. I understand that I am solely responsible for obtaining any needed copyright permissions. I have obtained needed written permission statement(s) from the owner(s) of each third-party copyrighted matter to be included in my work, allowing electronic distribution (if such use is not permitted by the fair use doctrine) which will be submitted to UKnowledge as Additional File. I hereby grant to The University of Kentucky and its agents the irrevocable, non-exclusive, and royalty-free license to archive and make accessible my work in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. I agree that the document mentioned above may be made available immediately for worldwide access unless an embargo applies. I retain all other ownership rights to the copyright of my work. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of my work. I understand that I am free to register the copyright to my work. REVIEW, APPROVAL AND ACCEPTANCE The document mentioned above has been reviewed and accepted by the student’s advisor, on behalf of the advisory committee, and by the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS), on behalf of the program; we verify that this is the final, approved version of the student’s thesis including all changes required by the advisory committee. The undersigned agree to abide by the statements above. Matthew J. Hall, Student Dr. Tracy Campbell, Major Professor Dr. David Hamilton, Director of Graduate Studies COLD WARRIORS IN THE SUNBELT: SOUTHERN BAPTISTS AND THE COLD WAR, 1947-1989 ___________________________________ DISSERTATION ___________________________________ A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the College of Arts and Letters at the University of Kentucky By Matthew Justin Hall Lexington, Kentucky Co-Directors: Dr. Tracy Campbell, Professor of History and Dr. Kathi Kern, Professor of History Lexington, Kentucky Copyright © Matthew Justin Hall 2014 ABSTRACT OF DISSERTATION COLD WARRIORS IN THE SUNBELT: SOUTHERN BAPTISTS AND THE COLD WAR, 1947-1989 Cold Warriors in the Sunbelt studies the ways in which the Cold War experience shaped the attitudes, values, and beliefs of white evangelicals in the South. It argues that for Southern Baptists in particular—the region’s most dominant religious majority—the Cold War provided a cohesive and unifying fabric that informed the worldviews Southern Baptists constructed, shaping how they interpreted everything from global communism, the black freedom movement, the Vietnam War, and controversies regarding the family and gender. This dissertation further contends that the Cold War experience, and the formative influence it had over several decades, laid the groundwork for the political realignment of the South, gradually entrenching Southern Baptists within the Republican Party. KEYWORDS: Cold War, Religion, South, Baptists, Culture ___________________________Matthew J. Hall ___________________________April 24, 2014 COLD WARRIORS IN THE SUNBELT: SOUTHERN BAPTISTS AND THE COLD WAR, 1945-1990 By Matthew Justin Hall _______Dr. Tracy A. Campbell_ Co-Director of Dissertation _____________Dr. Kathi Kern_ Co-Director of Dissertation _______Dr. David E. Hamilton_ Director of Graduate Studies ________________________April 24, 2014__ For Jeannie—without whom this project would have never been finished ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This dissertation has been a long time coming. In fact, one friend speculated it would be finished "sometime after the Mayan apocalypse, but before U2 releases their next album." I’m glad to have delivered on schedule, albeit a rather prolonged one. And as much as it may have required of its author, it has exerted a costly tax on many others who were generous and gracious along every step of the way. I am indebted to Tracy Campbell and Kathi Kern, who jointly supervised this dissertation. From the moment I began my graduate studies at the University of Kentucky, both were among my most constant and dependable encouragers, brilliant teachers, and reliable advisors. I could not have asked for better guides. I am also especially appreciative to Erik Myrup and Steven Voss who graciously served on my dissertation committee. My experience at the University of Kentucky has not been the customary one. Distance and time made me an often-difficult student to help, no doubt. But Tina Hagee was there whenever I needed her help and was invaluable in shepherding me through the administrative maze of graduate school. I would not have finished without her help and that is no overstatement. I have also been the beneficiary of another institution’s educational investment. The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary has been my other graduate alma mater, but also my place of service as an administrator. I have been indebted to friends and colleagues who have endured my seemingly unending educational journey. President Albert Mohler has always supported and taken an interest in my scholarship, even when it inconvenienced life at Southern. Former colleagues Jason Allen and Russell Moore iii both provided encouragement and friendship, even after their departures from Louisville. Greg Wills, once one of my seminary professors, has become a trusted colleague and helpful senior advisor in this project. And Don Whitney has been a constant source of wisdom and encouragement along the way. Dan Dumas and Randy Stinson have not only been valued colleagues, but genuine friends. As any historian does, I owe a particularly weighty debt to a host of archivists and librarians. I am convinced that they are among the most generous souls on the planet. This dissertation would have been impossible apart from the steady support and kindness of Bill Sumners and Taffey Hall at the Southern Baptist Historical Library and Archives. The SBHLA is the crown jewel for scholars of southern religion and that is due in large part to Bill’s extraordinary leadership. Taffey handled every request I threw at her with more kindness than I deserved. Bruce Keisling and Jason Fowler at the James P. Boyce Centennial Library at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary also were invaluable, supplying me with an unending stream of microfilm reels and a willingness to endure my constant requests. Good friends are a treasure for any scholar and in this I am rich. Richard Bailey, Greg Gilbert, CJ Mahaney, Jeremy Pierre, and Mike Pohlman each were steady and constant, never failing to provide a word of motivation or encouragement when it was most needed. The gift of their friendship is infinitely more valuable than any academic achievement. But no one has born the burden of my studies more than my family. My parents, Dave and Joni Hall, have never failed to encourage me in these efforts and even read portions of this project in its most embryonic stage. My in-laws, Mark and Kathy Klein, iv went above and beyond the call of duty by reading chapter drafts. Along the path of various avenues of graduate studies, three children somehow also showed up. George, Charlie, and Jane endured many hours when I was locked up in front of a keyboard, hidden away in archives, or going blind in front of a microfilm reader. They have even remembered me in their prayers, asking God that “the book” would indeed be finished. Well, kids, this is what answered prayers look like. Technically, I wrote this dissertation. But simply “acknowledging” the ways in which my wife, Jeannie, has been of support seems wholly insufficient. For over a decade, she has followed and supported my meandering academic ventures. Not once has she flagged in her encouragement and confidence in me, even when I may have. Babe, this thing is now done. Let’s go on a date. v TABLE OF CONTENTS AKNOWEDGMENTS…………………………………………………………………...iii TABLE OF CONTENTS…………………………………………….…………………...vi LIST OF FIGURES………………………………………………….…………………..vii CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION…………………………………………………......1 CHAPTER TWO: THE EARLY COLD WAR AND SOUTHERN BAPTIST ENGAGEMENT, 1947-1969…………………………………………………………....24 CHAPTER THREE: BLACK, WHITE, AND RED ALL OVER: SOUTHERN BAPTISTS, CIVIL RIGHTS, AND COLD WAR, 1954-1969……............…………....55 CHAPTER FOUR: “SOMEWHERE, SOMETIME THERE HAS TO BE A LINE DRAWN:” SOUTHERN BAPTISTS AND THE VIETNAM WAR...………………....99 CHAPTER FIVE: THE COLD WAR AT HOME: SOUTHERN BAPTISTS, AMERICAN FAMILIES, AND CULTURE WARS, 1972-1980……………………...132 CHAPTER SIX: AT WAR WITH THE EVIL EMPIRE: SOUTHERN BAPTISTS AND THE ASCENDANT NEW RIGHT……………………………...……………………..170 CHAPTER SEVEN: CONCLUSION…………..……………………………………...211 BIBLIOGRAPHY...………..…………………………………………………………...220
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