The Art of Evangelical Self-Promotion: A Tale of Two Memoirs

J.D. Vance’s latest book, Communion, has left many wondering about its purpose and audience. On one hand, it’s a memoir that explores the author’s conversion to Roman Catholicism. On the other, it reads like a thinly veiled campaign manifesto for aspiring politicians.

Vance’s writing style is characterized by an excessive focus on minutiae, which can be seen as an attempt to humanize himself through anecdotes. However, these stories often come across as contrived and lacking in depth. For example, his wife Usha recommends Joan Didion’s memoir The Year of Magical Thinking while they were students at Yale Law School. This anecdote strains credulity and seems designed to showcase Vance’s supposed intellectual curiosity.

Vance frequently invokes the memory of Charlie Kirk, using it to justify various personal and political decisions. This rhetorical trope has become a staple of modern evangelical politics, where the deceased are invoked as authority figures to legitimize one’s actions. In Communion, Charlie Kirk’s widow is cited as having expressed regret over not having more children, which supposedly inspired Vance’s wife Usha to have another child.

The book’s reliance on personal testimony and anecdotes serves a larger purpose: it allows Vance to promote his own brand of faith-driven politics while avoiding any meaningful reflection on the consequences of his actions. The lack of introspection is striking given its ostensible themes, including criticism of anhedonic ambition. It’s difficult not to wonder if these criticisms apply to Vance’s own rapid ascent to public office.

One of the most interesting aspects of Communion is its implicit apology for Vance’s past remarks about “childless cat ladies.” This seems like a calculated attempt to deflect criticism and pander to his audience. It’s a reminder that, in the world of evangelical self-promotion, personal growth and accountability often take a backseat to advancing one’s career.

The implications of this trend are far-reaching. As Communion demonstrates, the art of evangelical self-promotion has become increasingly sophisticated. Rather than simply proselytizing, politicians like Vance are now using their faith as a means to promote themselves and their agendas. This blurring of lines between personal testimony and partisan politics threatens to undermine the very fabric of our democracy.

Communion is not just a book about J.D. Vance’s conversion to Roman Catholicism but also a telling example of how evangelical self-promotion has become an art form in its own right. It’s essential that we critically examine the role of faith in public life and hold politicians accountable for their actions. Anything less would be a disservice to the very principles of democracy itself.

As we move forward in this increasingly polarized era, it’s worth considering what Communion means for the future of American politics. Will we continue down the path of evangelical self-promotion, where personal testimony is used as a means to promote partisan agendas? Or will we take a step back and reexamine the role of faith in public life? Only time will tell.