R.R.Reno - Why The Postwar Consensus Was WRONG & How It Lead To The Rise Of Trump

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May 20, 2025

R.R. Reno, a theologian and editor of First Things, dives into the postwar consensus and its role in the rise of populism. He argues that the fear of nationalism and moral conviction has left Western society spiritually hollow. By contrasting 'hard' and 'soft' religion, Reno highlights the growing appeal of structured faith amidst chaos. He critiques modern ideologies and emphasizes the need for strong values to reclaim meaning in a fractured culture. The discussion navigates the complexities of identity, the decline of civic trust, and calls for a hopeful reawakening.

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INSIGHT

Postwar Consensus on Nationalism

Post-1945 Western consensus suppressed nationalism and ideological passion to prevent atrocities like Auschwitz and Hiroshima.
This consensus promoted a culture of 'weak gods' emphasizing meaning without absolute truth.

INSIGHT

Popper's Open Society Dilemma

Karl Popper viewed truth as a 'strong god' that must be driven out for an 'open society' based on meaning, not truth.
Meaning is flexible and subjective, enabling compromise unlike absolute truth.

INSIGHT

Definition of Strong Gods

'Strong gods' are objects of our deepest loyalties and loves, such as love of home, nation, and God.
'Weak gods' like health, wealth, and pleasure do not raise us above the horizon and fail to unify.

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Theologian and First Things editor R.R. Reno joins The Winston Marshall Show for a sweeping intellectual conversation on nationalism, identity, and the postwar consensus that still haunts the West.

Reno argues that the true crisis isn’t a conspiracy—but a consensus forged after WWII: a fear of nationalism, religion, and moral conviction, shaped by the horrors of Auschwitz and Hiroshima. He calls this the age of “weak gods”—a culture hollowed out by relativism, therapeutic liberalism, and meaning without truth.

From Karl Popper and the Open Society to the cult of DEI and the rise of populist rebellion, Reno makes the case that Western civilization is suffering from a kind of civilizational PTSD—and that only the return of “strong gods” like loyalty, love, and faith can offer redemption.

All this—postwar ideology, the collapse of civic trust, mass migration, shared mythos, and the spiritual malaise of modern life…

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Chapters

00:00 Introduction

1:49 Populism and Its Global Phenomenon

4:32 The Return of Strong Gods

21:58 Karl Popper's "The Open Society and Its Enemies"

28:29 The Impact of Post-War Consensus on Education

47:33 The Return of Strong Gods and the Role of Love

1:09:32 The Role of Religion and Spirituality in Society

1:14:37 The Impact of Popper's Ideas on Conservatism

1:18:31 Loyalty and Fanaticism in Sports and Society

1:21:15 Nationalism vs. Patriotism

1:23:15 Censorship and the Never Again Mentality

1:27:54 The Death Throes of the Open Society Consensus

1:33:41 The Role of Strong Gods in Non-Western Countries

1:37:32 The Paradox of Western Ideologies

1:38:21 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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