JWDYMCAYMCA
iii.
Looking through the books mentioned in the link I gave in my post, I found a lot of uses of the sentence “What would Jesus do?” that predate the 1897 book by Charles M. Sheldon that popularized the phrase. I realize that this doesn’t really answer the question in the OP, but the phrase goes back further than you might think.
I read In His Steps when I was in high school. I had no idea that it was that old. I have found the idea helpful from time to time.
I also like: WWTALD? (What Would Thelma and Louise Do?)
I recall seeing “WWJD” bracelets in silver, in high school in the '80s.
How useful is “WWJD” really? I mean, how many situations are there in the real world where getting yourself nailed to a cross is likely to be the solution?
I first became aware of the WWJD meme about that time as well. (And a nice little catchphrase it is too. Too bad the folks who wear it don’t act on it more often.) Anyhow, I’ve always kind of associated it with the Reagan era. I think Reagan may have used it in a speech somewhere which would account for its popularity with evangelicals at the time.
SS
Even as a straight up atheist, I still have to defend this. I’m pretty sure the answer is “turn the other cheek”, “give to the needy”, “love your neighbor” or something else honorable and worthwhile.
I also recall late 90s. Around these parts, it culminated in the the “Christian Woodstock” frenzy that occurred when Billy Graham came to St. Louis around 1998-99.
This is the high point of one of those questions, that if you need to ask - you really don’t understand/want the answer.