Rauch says that you can’t separate a crisis of democracy in America from a crisis in Christianity. There’s a powerful strain of the faith that seeks power, is eager to wield it, but sees itself as under attack. Rauch sees that kind of Christianity as dangerous and different than the civic religion that the Founding Fathers imagined would be an important support in public life. In a new book, Rauch charts a course forward for American Christians, one that could renew the faith and save the nation. And the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints figures prominently in his vision, too.
GUEST —
Jonathan Rauch | Senior Fellow in the Governance Studies program at the Brookings Institution. His book is called “Cross Purposes: Christianity’s Broken Bargain with Democracy.” [Amazon|Bookshop]
Original Airdate: Feb. 19, 2025; Rebroadcast: Dec. 11 and 13, 2025.