Words that Shape Us:
How America’s Most Influential Evangelical Magazines Craft the Narrative of Christian Culture
Ken Waters
Critiques of media, Ethics, Group media, Historical studies, Mass media (general), Periodicals/Magazines, Press/Journalism, Public relations, Rhetoric (Public Communication)
YEAR
2025
Division
Academe
Pricing
Price: Paperback and Ebook, TBD
Words That Shape Us explores evangelicalism’s influence on the nation’s cultural and political discourse through the lens of its main independent news publications. Waters delves into the pages of evangelical periodicals that reveal a movement at a crossroads. This book offers an unprecedented look at the internal debates and divergent paths that could redefine the future of American politics and religion. Waters uncovers the widening gap between evangelical elites and those claiming the faith through meticulous analysis of four key independent evangelical publications. From the 2016, 2020, and 2024 Presidential elections to pressing social issues like immigration, racism, and healthcare, this work examines the complex interplay of media, theology, and politics. It’s a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the seismic shifts within evangelicalism and their implications for the future. Words That Shape Us is not just a book; it’s also a framework through which to view the evolving landscape of American evangelicalism.
About the Author
Ken Waters
Ph.D. University of Southern California
Ken Waters is an emeritus professor of journalism at Pepperdine University. His 32-year teaching career included a variety of writing courses, Intercultural Communication, Communication Ethics and an occasional public relations class. Waters also served a seven-year stint as Divisional Dean for Communication at the university. In that role, he managed 30 faculty and planned classes for nearly 400 majors. His overseas teaching assignments have taken him to London, Lausanne, and Florence. He’s also written a dozen journal articles, primarily on the intersection of religious publications and culture.
Waters received a B.A. in journalism and history from Pepperdine, and he served as editor of the award-winning student newspaper, The Graphic. He also holds an MA in religion from Pepperdine, and a PhD from the University of Southern California. He and his wife, Julie, are parents to two adult daughters, Katie and Alison. Waters is a life-long resident of Southern California.