EconTalk Why Christianity Needs to Help Save Democracy (with Jonathan Rauch)
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Apr 21, 2025 
In this engaging discussion, Jonathan Rauch, an author at the Brookings Institution, provocatively argues that Christianity has a vital role in supporting democracy. He talks about 'thick Christianity,' emphasizing love and compassion as foundations for democratic values. The conversation explores the troubling relationship between Christianity and current political polarization, highlighting how compromise can foster cooperation in a divided society. Rauch also reflects on his personal journey and the complexities of faith in a modern secular context.
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Christianity's Role in Democracy's Health
- The decline of Christianity in America correlates with rising political polarization and social fragmentation.
- Quasi-religious political movements fill the void left by Christianity's weakening socialization role.
Christianity Supports Liberalism
- Liberal democracy requires external moral values, which Christianity historically supplied in America.
- Christianity provided shared meaning and community essential for democracy to function.
Thin Christianity's Decline
- Thin Christianity blends into society, losing distinctiveness and influence.
- Mainline U.S. churches declined as they aligned more with progressive social causes than scripture.
