Can Christianity Save Democracy? Os Guinness v Jonathan Rauch hosted by Vince Vitale

18 snips

Oct 23, 2025

Guest

Os Guinness

Guest

Jonathan Rauch

Jonathan Rauch, a senior fellow and author, shares how he evolved from a secular worldview to recognizing Christianity’s vital role in preserving democracy. Os Guinness, a Christian author, emphasizes the importance of faith in supporting civic virtues. They discuss the historical roots of American ideals, overlapping Christian principles that foster liberalism, and the necessity of moral values in governance. A poignant moment arises when Guinness apologizes for past Christian mistreatment, highlighting the potential for reconciliation in contemporary discourse.

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ANECDOTE

Author's Public Change Of Mind

Jonathan Rauch recounts his earlier apotheist stance and calls it the biggest intellectual mistake of his career.

ANECDOTE

Faith Strengthened By Challenge

Os Guinness describes his lifelong Christian faith growing stronger when tested by encounters with other worldviews.

INSIGHT

Liberalism Needs Transcendent Roots

Liberal democracy supplies structure but not transcendent moral foundations or community.

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Can Christianity save democracy? Vince Vitale hosts a frank, generous exchange between social critic Os Guinness and author Jonathan Rauch about faith’s civic foundations, liberalism, and power. This is one we’ve been looking forward to! Rauch, a scientific materialist, argues that democracy needs Christianity’s deepest teachings; Guinness locates America’s virtues in the Hebrew–Christian tradition. Don’t miss the most moving moment: around the hour mark, Guinness turns to Rauch and apologises without caveat for the ways Christians have treated gay people like him. Rauch receives it with grace, and the room changes. It’s a rare, exemplary act of repentance that models the public virtue both men commend. Is religion necessary for public virtue? What happens when politics replaces moral conviction? And how can Christians engage civically without being captured by partisan extremes? From the founding ideals of democracy to the spiritual crises of modern secularism, this discussion asks whether Christianity’s values of conscience, humility, and truth are exactly what our societies need most. For Jonathan Rauch Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/jonrauch.bsky.social Jonathan Rauch's Books NEW Cross Purposes: https://yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780300273540/cross-purposes/ and here: https://amzn.to/47laSQC For Os Guinness: https://osguinness.com/ Os Guinness' Books: Guinness' America Agonistes: https://amzn.to/4hmnzzj Our Civilizational Moment: https://amzn.to/4qlqHPV SOCIAL LINKS Twitter: https://twitter.com/unbelievablefe Facebook: / https://facebook.com/premierunbelievable Instagram: / https://instagram.com/premierunbelievable Tik Tok: / https://tiktok.com/@premier.unbelievable 👉 Get bonus content, updates, fascinating articles, and early access to new episodes - absolutely free! Join now at www.premierunbelievable.com 🎉📢 • Subscribe to the Unbelievable? podcast: https://www.premier.plus/unbelievable • Support us: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate