The primary objective of this project is to unpack the features of masculinized religiosity in American Christianity, but to furthermore contrast these discourses with other gender paradigms in popular online/media culture. My central argument is twofold. Primarily, I argue that there is a strong underpinning--a resurgence--of Muscular Christianity in American evangelicalism. This much can be seen, for example, with the documented trends related to evangelical mens' positive association with constructs of authoritarian masculinity, both in their theological and gender paradigms. I also argue that, disturbingly, the embrace of Muscular Christianity mirrors problematic articulations of masculinity that find currency on social media and online platforms--namely the "Red Pill" community. Red Pill discourse, first popularized on online host sites such as Reddit and 4Chan, and content-sharing sites such as YouTube, feature mostly male audiences and content curators who generate ideologies centered upon the demonization, disempowerment, and sexualization of women.

In juxtaposing the evangelical (re)turn to Muscular Christianity with the interventions of Red Pill masculinity discourses, I hope to offer needed commentary on the interplay between American Christianity, gender, and popular culture. What does it mean, that evangelical men adopt and display some of the same ideologies as men who, through the advantages of digital anonymity, express the most misogynistic notions of womanhood? Further, what might this suggest about the state of American evangelicalism and its approach to interpersonal relationships, women’s empowerment, or women’s liberation broadly? Such a project is useful for the American church, because it highlights the need for ongoing critique of theologies and ecclesial arrangements that mimic, rather than call into question, gendered cultural scripts that disenfranchise women and that fail to address the sexualization of women and girls.