Johnathan Bi A Masterclass on Machiavelli’s Unorthodox Christianity | Maurizio Viroli
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Oct 24, 2025 In this engaging discussion, Maurizio Viroli, a Princeton scholar and Machiavelli expert, delves into the unorthodox intersection of Machiavellian thought and Christianity. He articulates how Machiavelli viewed Christianity as a tool for patriotic love and liberty, presenting Moses as a model for political leaders. Viroli challenges conventional notions of universal charity, advocating for a compassionate patriotism instead. He also explores Machiavelli's lasting influence on republican movements and the complex relationship between faith and political power.
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Christianity Centered On The Fatherland
- Machiavelli endorses a distinct Republican Christianity that places love of the fatherland above personal piety.
- He reads Moses as the model founder whose divine friendship justifies extraordinary, even brutal, means for liberty.
Founders May Enter Evil For Liberty
- Machiavelli reads Exodus as showing founders may need to lie or massacre for a higher good.
- God forgives such founders because their extraordinary acts aim at emancipation and the promised land.
Glory As A Christian Virtue
- In Renaissance Florence, glory and virtue were compatible with Christianity and praised publicly.
- Machiavelli defends a religion of strength that values civic virtue and preserving liberty as truly Christian.
