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Bonus Sample: Imaginary Children: “God’s Word on Spanking”

4 min • 29 juli 2024

This is the second episode in “Conspirituality and the Imaginary Children,” an occasional series on how children, as symbols (but not persons with their own internal lives) are at the center of conspirituality anxiety and discourse.

The title is taken from a pamphlet published by Ralph Drollinger, a former professional basketball player from San Diego who founded a 501c3 called Capitol Ministries in 1996 to facilitate prayer meetings and study guides for congresspeople in Washington, and state legislators in more than 40 states.

Drollinger’s crowning achievement was to initiate a weekly Bible study group in the White House during the Trump administration. The 60-90 minutes were regularly attended by ten Trump cabinet members.

Like many evangelicals, Drollinger argues that spanking children is mandated by the Bible But he also goes a Trumpian extra mile—explicitly connecting the virtue of child assault in the home to the state’s monopoly on violence. Matthew walks through what this looks like and how Drollinger justifies it through narrow and dishonest readings of scripture.

Show Notes

God's Word on Spanking [text]

God’s Word on Spanking [youtube]

194: The Power Worshippers (w/Katherine Stewart) — Conspirituality

How the Trump Cabinet’s Bible Teacher Became a Shadow Diplomat - The New York Times

White House Bible Study Led by Pastor Who Is Anti-Gay, Anti-Women and Anti-Catholic - Newsweek

Is God Judging America Today? by Ralph Drollinger

Ralph Drollinger | GLAAD

Exclusive Interview with Ralph Drollinger: Meet the preacher who teaches the Bible to the US Cabinet - WELT

Capitol Ministries 2023 revenue

Jordan B. Peterson’s Support of Corporal Punishment for Children: A Critique - Mad In America

Shepherding a Child's Heart — Tripp