Homebrewed Christianity

Why Postliberals Want Authoritarian Power (And What to Do About It) with David Congdon

26 snips
Jan 25, 2026
David Congdon, a political theorist who studies liberalism and religion in politics, explains why postliberal currents seek authoritarian power to recreate medieval Christendom. He traces liberalism’s origins after the Reformation, critiques neoliberal betrayals, and maps varieties of postliberal thought. Conversations cover religion in public life, institutional defense, and how pluralism can be defended without sacrificing economic justice.
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INSIGHT

Liberalism's Core Is Universal Equality

  • Liberalism's core is universal equality and individual dignity rather than the partisan meanings it now carries.
  • David Congdon argues we should reclaim liberalism's egalitarian root to protect plural societies.
INSIGHT

Reformation Launched Modern Pluralism

  • The Reformation opened a 'Pandora's box' of religious diversity that made liberalism necessary to avoid sectarian violence.
  • Tripp Fuller and David stress historical amnesia hides why liberal frameworks evolved to manage deep pluralism.
INSIGHT

Post-Liberals Seek Authoritarian Homogeneity

  • Post-liberals aim to recreate a homogenous Christendom by using concentrated authoritarian power to suppress difference.
  • David warns that this strategy misreads human diversity and depends on coercion, not persuasion.
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