Jonathan Rauch: Christianity’s Broken Bargain with Democracy

In this episode, we welcome back Jonathan Rauch, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and a contributing writer at The Atlantic. Jon joined us to discuss his new book, Cross Purposes: Christianity’s Broken Bargain with Democracy.
We dive deep into the intersection of faith, democracy, and civic engagement (that's our jam!), exploring how American Christianity has shifted in recent years and what that means for the future of our democracy. We also discuss the aftermath of the 2024 election, the rise of political tribalism, and the role of faith in shaping a more just and stable society.
What We Discuss
How Jonathan Rauch’s perspective on faith and democracy evolved over time (including what Jon refers to as the dumbest thing he ever wrote).
Why he believes Christianity has played a crucial role in supporting democracy-and where it has gone wrong.
The key differences between “thin Christianity” and “thick Christianity.”
How the LDS Church offers a model for civic engagement based on negotiation and peacemaking.
Why the loss of institutional trust is fueling political and social instability.
The role of Braver Angels and other organizations in bridging political divides.
Episode Highlights
⏳ [00:02:00] - Jonathan Rauch discusses his background, his past books, and his upcoming release, Cross Purposes.
⏳ [00:07:00] - Reflecting on the 2024 election and why it was surprisingly “ordinary” despite extreme circumstances.
⏳ [00:13:00] - How Trump’s second administration is reshaping democracy and institutions.
⏳ [00:22:00] - Rauch’s personal journey: From skepticism about religion to recognizing its role in democracy.
⏳ [00:35:00] - The rise of “thin Christianity” and how churches are struggling with political identity.
⏳ [00:44:00] - How the LDS Church provides an example of “thick Christianity” and civic engagement.
⏳ [00:57:00] - Rauch’s concerns about post-liberalism and authoritarian tendencies in American politics.
⏳ [01:10:00] - The importance of doubt, curiosity, and engaging across differences.
⏳ [01:17:00] - Final thoughts: How to be better citizens and people of faith in a pluralistic society.
Featured Quotes
💬 “I believed, with some justification, that Christianity was bigoted and cruel and hypocritical to minorities like me. And I was wrong.” - Jonathan Rauch
💬 “Liberalism, properly understood, means that all human beings are created free and equal. And if we lose that, we lose everything.” - Jonathan Rauch
💬 “The LDS Church is one of the few religious institutions that has thought through a theology of civic engagement. And that’s something all Christians can learn from.” - Jonathan Rauch
💬 “Jesus’ message is radical and countercultural. The question is: Are we actually following it?” - Corey Nathan
Resources Mentioned
📖 Cross Purposes: Christianity’s Broken Bargain with Democracy by Jonathan Rauch
yalebooks.yale...
📖 The Constitution of Knowledge: A Defense of Truth by Jonathan Rauch
www.brookings....
🌎 Braver Angels - Bridging the Political Divide
braverangels.org/
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[@ronaldnathan3548]

Brilliant analysis of the election that is so straightforward & obvious, but has been missed by every pop-pundit across the spectrum of American politics!

[@ronaldnathan3548]

What does it mean when someone self-IDs as a Christian? I think the problem resides in the fact that it really doesn't mean anything until the person clarifies why they self-ID that way & the reasons for that identity vary so greatly that the label doesn't communicate anything meaningful other than the label itself. When Protestants talk about "The Church," even after asking literally dozens of "Christians," including pastors & even you, Corey, I still don't know what the heck you're talking about. There is no "The Church" in my view. There are a myriad of perhaps hundreds of churches as different from one another as horses & cows. Claiming to be "a Christian" or talking about "The Church" because they all claim to be followers of Jesus Christ is about as defining as a horse & cow deciding they have something in common because they both have 4 legs.
Jesus in the Gospels was a disrupter of the status quo &, unlike the other wannabe messiahs of the time, he was a non-violent disrupter. It seems to me that when someone calling him/herself a Christian is either a defender of the status quo or attempting, as is the case with MAGA, to impose an older status quo he/she is an imposter. Worse still, if violence or the threat of violence is a running theme in the movement, again as is the case with MAGA, it's a con.
In a world where right-wing militias call themselves Christian Nationalists, Jesus is not a Christian.
It's both edifying & profoundly ironic that Jonathon identifies the LDS Church as representative of the "Christian" way of engaging in secular politics inasmuch as "Christians" don't ID Mormons as Christians. That's how meaningless the declaration, "I'm a Christian" has become.