A Pastor and a Philosopher Walk into a Bar Deconstructing the Culture Wars with Laurie Johnson
Sep 14, 2025
Laurie Johnson, a political philosopher and president of the Maurin Academy, dives into America's culture wars and their roots in capitalism's impact on community. She explains how the meanings of 'liberal' and 'conservative' have drifted, creating confusion in political discourse. Laurie emphasizes that economic insecurity fosters resentment, leading to scapegoating and extremism. She advocates for churches to move beyond superficial connections, suggesting practical community initiatives to rebuild social ties and encourage genuine cooperation.
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Labels Have Lost Their Historical Meaning
- American political labels have drifted from global meanings, making both parties varieties of liberalism rather than true conservatism.
- Laurie Johnson says this narrow imagination hides alternatives and confuses public debate.
Theory Meets Practice In Community Work
- Laurie Johnson connects her scholarship to hands-on community work at a Catholic worker farm and the Morin Academy.
- She says bringing cultivation, culture, and cult together informs practical responses to social problems.
Liberalism Is The Default Framework
- Classical liberalism centers individual rights and private property and underpins both U.S. parties' policies.
- Johnson argues American 'conservative' rhetoric often masks varieties of liberalism rooted in Enlightenment thought.
