The Myth of Good Christian Parenting: How False Promises Betrayed a Generation of Evangelical Families (Breaking the Cycle of Religious Trauma and Corporal Punishment)

Christian parents want to raise their kids in a godly way. But what if families have been sold promises that "biblical parenting" can never deliver?

Christian parents want to raise godly children, but what happens when popular biblical parenting methods cause more harm than good? The Myth of Good Christian Parenting exposes how the Christian parenting industry has sold families false promises for five decades, leaving a trail of religious trauma, damaged relationships, and lost faith in its wake. This groundbreaking analysis offers

● historical analysis - traces the development of the Christian parenting industry and its influential figures who built parenting empires;
● research-based insights - features survey data from adult children and parents affected by authoritarian parenting methods;
● theological examination - analyzes how popular teachings on authority, compliance, corporal punishment, and control diverge from Jesus's teachings; and
● encouragement for a better future - equips readers to pursue a new path of freedom and mutual respect within their families.

Marissa Franks Burt and Kelsey Kramer McGinnis combine rigorous research with compelling storytelling to reveal how evangelical parenting culture has shaped--and often strained--families from the 1970s to today. Drawing on history, sociology, theology, and extensive survey responses from adult children and parents, they trace the rise of Christian parenting empires that idealize obedient children and perfect households while leaving real families feeling inadequate. They also examine the lasting damage caused by popular Christian parenting teachings--including loss of faith, estrangement, religious trauma, and deep regret for older parents--and provide hope for healing.

Whether you're a Christian parent questioning traditional methods, an adult recovering from a strict religious upbringing, or a church leader seeking healthier family ministry approaches, this book equips you to pursue mutual respect, emotional safety, and authentic faith within your family relationships.

Marissa Franks Burt (MA, Columbia International University) is a novelist, editor, teacher, and cohost of the At Home with the Lectionary and In the Church Library podcasts. She lives in a small town in Washington's Snoqualmie Valley with her husband, six children, and heaps of books.

Kelsey Kramer McGinnis (PhD, University of Iowa) is a musicologist, educator, and correspondent for Christianity Today, writing on worship practices and Christian subculture. She is an adjunct professor at Grand View University in Des Moines and previously worked at the University of Iowa Center for Human Rights.