The Lawfare Podcast
Chatter: Pluralism and Religion within Democratic Institutions with Jonathan Rauch
Oct 5, 2023
Jonathan Rauch, author and journalist at the Brookings Institution, discusses his books, journalism career, and focus on liberalism, Madisonian Pluralism, and religion within democratic institutions. They explore the challenges and opportunities of pluralism and religion in democratic societies, the success of Lawfare as an online platform, the relationship between evangelicalism and democracy, the shift within the white evangelical church, and the divergent responses of evangelical and Mormon communities. They also debate the best James Bond.
01:06:03
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Quick takeaways
- White evangelical Protestantism has shifted towards a MAGA mindset, jeopardizing core Christian values and liberal democracy.
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Utah serves as a model of conservative Christianity embracing Madisonian-style pluralism.
Deep dives
The Crisis of White Evangelicalism and its Impact on Democracy
White evangelical Protestantism has been moving towards a MAGA mindset, abandoning core Christian values in favor of political interests. This shift, driven by grassroots members rather than leadership, poses a threat to both liberal democracy and the witness of Jesus Christ. By contrast, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Utah has embraced a conservative Christianity committed to Madisonian-style pluralism. This unexpected model provides hope for a conservative Christianity that can coexist with liberal democracy. While violence from extremist factions is concerning, the larger issue lies in the need for white evangelicals to rediscover and uphold the core values of Christianity.
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