Preaching to the Converted: Making Responsible Evangelical Subjects Through Media By Holly Thomas A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology Carleton University Ottawa, Ontario © 2016, Holly Thomas Abstract This dissertation examines contemporary televangelist discourses in order to better articulate prevailing models of what constitutes ideal-type evangelical subjectivities and televangelist participation in an increasingly mediated religious landscape. My interest lies in apocalyptic belief systems that engage end time scenarios to inform understandings of salvation. Using a Foucauldian inspired theoretical-methodology shaped by discourse analysis, archaeology, and genealogy, I examine three popular American evangelists who represent a diverse array of programming content: Pat Robertson of the 700 Club, John Hagee of John Hagee Today, and Jack and Rexella Van Impe of Jack Van Impe Presents. I argue that contemporary evangelical media packages now cut across a variety of traditional and new technologies to create a seamless mediated empire of participatory salvation where believers have access to complementary evangelist products and messages twenty-four hours a day from a multitude of access points. For these reasons, I now refer to televangelism as mediated evangelism and televangelists as mediated evangelists while acknowledging that the televised programs still form the cornerstone of their mediated messages and engagement with believers. The discursive formations that take shape through this landscape of mediated evangelism contribute to an apocalyptically informed religious-political subjectivity that identifies civic and political engagement as an expected active choice and responsibility for attaining salvation, in line with other more obviously evangelical religious practices, like prayer, repentance, and acceptance of Jesus Christ as savior. The discursive formation that surrounds what I term responsible salvation works to constitute the responsible evangelical subject; a subjectivity that epitomizes traditional evangelical tenets while using apocalyptic beliefs and salvation as a governing structure for everyday religious, mundane, and political decision-making. Throughout the dissertation, I examine the complexities of this evangelical subjectivity that constructs believers as active participants in both personal and national salvation. This work helps to articulate a more comprehensive understanding of how prevailing evangelical subjectivities can govern everyday decisions regarding health and financial lifestyles, charitable giving, and national and international political engagement with a range of values and foreign policy issues. In doing so, this dissertation attempts to better understand the increasingly complex relationship between religion, media, and politics in North America, and contributes to a growing literature concerning the role of mediated religion in public life by advancing a discussion of the complex intersections between apocalyptic discourse, salvation, and evangelical discursive governance. ii Acknowledgements Now that the dissertation is defended, I can boldly (and of course inaccurately) claim that this is the most difficult section to write. Reflecting on how many people have helped shaped this dissertation through academic or emotional support makes me feel truly grateful for the circle of people I have found in Ottawa, and came from back home in Halifax. This process can be intensely individual and isolating at times, but knowing how many people are in my corner made the rough times more bearable and the many good times all the sweeter. Thank you to everyone who has shared in this process with me. I want to thank Neil Gerlach first for being a truly excellent supervisor. We have worked together since my M.A. and I have learned so much from you throughout this time. Your guidance has pushed my ideas further and undoubtedly made this a stronger project. Watching you advise and teach has also helped me immensely in my own interactions with students. Finally, our shared love of all things apocalypse made even the dullest moments of dissertation drudgery all the more exciting to discuss! Thank you Aaron Doyle and Lori Beaman for making this committee incredibly strong. I have always felt lucky to have such a diverse and strong array of expertise guiding this project. Aaron, your support in teaching and softball will never be forgotten. Lori, your questions about discourse, religion, and the secular still haunt me – in the good way! You have pushed me to be a more thoughtful and critical scholar. Thank you to my examiners, David Haskell and Karim Karim, for taking the time to read my work. The defense was a shining moment in my life and your engagement was appreciated. I miss my friends from home every single day. Thank you to Paula, Krista, Erin, Brianne, Stephanie, and Sarah for always knowing how much it meant to me to ask about how my work was going. More importantly, thank you for knowing when and how to quickly switch the subject when necessary. We’ve all had a lifetime of friendship already and I’m looking forward to another. A special thanks to Krista for being an amazing roommate and helping me through the early years of this degree. Ottawa has never been the same without you. I came to Carleton expecting an exciting and intellectual experience but had no idea that I would leave with a family. I am humbled by the amazing people I have found here and everyone of you has impacted my work in ways that you probably never realized. More importantly, I hold all of your friendships in the highest esteem and am so thankful for your support. Mark, we have come a long way since our time at Dalhousie and I always look forward to our semi-annual Halifax meet-ups. Nick, I still can’t believe we never met before Carleton but I’m very glad we did. Thank you for organizing book club. Paul Datta, I blame you for this Foucauldian thesis. Thank you for being the first person I met at Carleton and the best officemate I could ask for. A big thanks to PDL, Charlie, Gerald, Birch, Hopper and Leah. I have known all of you since my early days at Carleton and while we may be scattered across the continent and immersed in various pursuits, I count you all as some of my closest friends. iii A special thanks to Christian and Jordan. I always knew you were two of my best friends but when we found our self suddenly evacuated, you never hesitated to come to our rescue. Thank you for being our unexpected roommates that summer. Jordan, you make the best gin-ser and mo-gin-to in the land. Thank you also for introducing us to Kim. Both of you are two of the smartest and funniest women I know – and that says a lot! Christian, thank you forever for having a strange affinity for late night televangelism, I also blame you for this dissertation. Cathy and Mike, thank you for moving to Ottawa! Mark made me promise to become friends with you, so I did and it was a spectacular decision. Cathy, your supportive words of encouragement and enthusiastic rage where necessary helped push me through the last stages of this dissertation, I promise to cry less now that it is finished! Jen and Tamy, I have no words to express how much your friendship means to me. Jen, I still remember the first time you invited me to come to yoga with you. We giggled for the entire time, starting a trend that would last for years. Whether on a road trip to Saskatchewan, a short trip to Carp garlic fest, or a ten hour long 90210 binge, I have never laughed so much with a friend in my entire life. I have always admired the way you think through any problem (academic or personal) and make sense of what should be done. You give great advice, just like your mom. Tamy, sometimes I think we’re the same person, its terrifying. You always know what to say, and never question when I tell you that we need to be really angry about something. One day, we will write that paper on the Bachelor. Until then, we better keep on watching…you know, for research! Thank you for making me believe that I really am funny. And Devin, you may have come into our group as Tamy’s partner, but I’m happy to count you as one of my best friends now. Thank you for celebrating my Holly-isms and being so supportive of lady liberty. Mom and Dad, aka Leta and Neil Thomas, I love and admire you more than I can express, as parents, as people, and as excellent role models. I could never have finished this degree if it weren’t for your unwavering support. You always believe in me, even when I can’t find the strength to believe in myself and for that I am forever grateful. Mom, you are my best friend and my anchor, and Dad, you understand me better than anyone else on this earth. This degree is as much yours as it is mine. Tank, I always wanted a sister when I was little until I grew up and realized what a fantastic brother I have. You have always been there for me and I’m lucky to be able to call you my brother and my friend. Emily, Penney, and Mira, thank you for making sure my brother is well loved. I’m also lucky to have in- laws that have made me feel welcome, loved, supported, and like one of the family since day one. Thank you Mary Marg, Bob, and Laurelle, I am so proud to call you my family. And James Barr! I have no idea how to thank you for all that you have done and all that you continue to do every single day.