Released on September 11, 2001, *The Blueprint* is widely regarded as one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time. It was created during a tumultuous period in Jay-Z's life, including legal issues and feuds with other rappers. The album features a soul-based soundscape, with notable tracks like 'Izzo (H.O.V.A.)' and 'Takeover.' Despite its release coinciding with the September 11 attacks, it debuted at number one on the US charts and has since been selected for preservation in the United States National Recording Registry for its cultural and historical significance.
In 'Hillbilly Elegy,' J.D. Vance recounts his life growing up in a dysfunctional family in Middletown, Ohio, with roots in Kentucky's Appalachia. The book details his experiences with poverty, addiction, and family violence, as well as his journey to joining the marines and eventually graduating from Yale Law School. Vance provides a personal and insightful look into the decline of the white working class in America, exploring themes of family, culture, and the loss of the American dream. The memoir also touches on the political swing of the region, particularly in relation to the 2016 presidential election and the appeal of Donald Trump to this demographic.
In 'Losing Our Religion,' Russell Moore reflects on the crises facing American evangelicalism, including the loss of credibility, authority, identity, integrity, and stability. Moore argues that evangelicals should lean into their 'exilic identity' and avoid compromising their beliefs for political influence. He advocates for a return to the gospel over politics, truth over tribalism, and integrity over influence. The book is part memoir, lament, jeremiad, and indictment, offering wisdom and counsel for navigating the current challenges in evangelical Christianity[2][4][5].
In 'Cross Purposes: Christianity's Broken Bargain with Democracy,' Jonathan Rauch delves into the intricate and often contentious relationship between Christianity and democratic governance. The book explores how the principles of Christianity can sometimes conflict with the democratic ideals of a society, leading to a 'broken bargain' that affects both the religious and the political spheres. Rauch analyzes the historical, philosophical, and practical aspects of this relationship, offering insights into how these two powerful forces interact and influence each other.
Jonathan Rauch is one of the clearest thinkers writing today about the philosophical and sociological interconnections between democracy and science, as detailed in his last book, The Constitution of Knowledge, about which we had a fascinating podcast discussion a year or two ago. When I heard his newest book was due to appear this month, I was eager to have him back on.
This new book, Cross Purposes, Christianity’s Broken Bargain with Democracy was released yesterday. It was a surprising take on the subject. Rauch is an atheist, a Jew, and homosexual, so one might have expected an attack on the failings of Christianity. Nothing could be further from the truth. Rauch argues that Christianity offers moral bases that mesh well with Madisonian democracy, and that it is necessary for the Christian community to tap into these if democracy in the US is to be resuscitated.
There is a lot to unpack there, and that is precisely what we did. He and I share atheist and Jewish roots, and we agree on many features of both philosophy and religion. But our perspectives on both the actual moral fabric of Christianity, and the extent to which society should give special treatment to religious teaching, and to what extent the positive aspects of Christian religious theology, including the theology of groups like the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, means that we should respect that theology, differ.
Because I respect Rauch as a writer and a thinker so much, I thought it would be useful to take time to explore these differences, in order to ascertain to what extent his thesis was viable, and also to allow listeners access to a thoughtful and respectful discussion of to what extent Christian religious teachings have a key role to play in the moral framework of a healthy democratic society in the United States.
As always, the discussion was educational, and illuminating. It is an important issue at the current time, and I am very happy we could have a deeper dive into it with someone so thoughtful and knowledgeable. I hope you enjoy the discussion, including the animated give and take at times, as much as both Jonathan and I did.
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The Origins Podcast with Lawrence Krauss 
