WWJD? The Genealogy of a Syntactic Form

Abstract

Over the past fifteen years the letters WWJD? and the question they abbreviate, what would Jesus do? have become prominent features of American culture, appearing on book covers, buttons, bracelets, blue jeans, board games, bumper stickers, teddy bears, T-shirts, ties, key chains, coffee mugs, pencils, and even women's underwear. (This last item is truly a complex cultural artifact; is it worn by the devout or the derisive, to deter seducer or seducee, and by aesthetic or ethical deterrence?) In more recent years, the question has given rise to scores of spin-offs, devout and derisive alike. The "Who Would Jesus Vote For?" website, wwjv4.com, is a selfdescribed "progressive political blog that highlights the infringement of religion upon today's government." Those seeking a "Christian nutrition handbook" need look no further than What Would Jesus Eat? which bills itself as a "healthier, Bible-based eating program." 1 (Think water, bread, and lots of fish.) The Evangelical Environmental Network, a progressive evangelical group, launched the "What Would Jesus Drive?" ad campaign in 2002; now the question appears on bumpers across the nation. 2 Parodic spin-offs of WWJD? sometimes retain the moral aims of the original. Antiwar protesters, for example, hold up signs that read "Who Would Jesus Bomb?" But another popular variety of spin-off, in which Jesus' name is replaced with another name (usually that of a popular athlete), is markedly less rich in satire and ethical intent. Few have received

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“…The popular phrase WWJD (i.e., what would Jesus do?) is a good example of the power and influence of spiritual and religious models (Shore, 2010).…”