Faith, Fear, and the Future of Democracy with Jonathan Rauch | Ep 38

Why does a self-described “gay, atheistic Jewish guy” argue that America needs more Christianity right now? In this thought-provoking episode, Jonathan Rauch, author, Brookings Institution senior fellow, and newly appointed board member of Heterodox Academy, joins host John Tomasi for an insightful discussion recorded in Washington, D.C.

Jonathan reflects on his new book, Cross Purposes, a contrarian apology for the Christian values that once helped sustain both American self-government and its universities. Drawing from personal narratives, constitutional history, and contemporary social fractures, Rauch argues that the decline of robust, virtue-based Christianity and the politicization of faith have contributed to polarization, anxiety, and a crisis of institutional trust.

Jonathan and John discuss Tocqueville’s analysis of individualism, the “God-shaped hole” now filled by less constructive substitutes, and what both faith and scholarship can contribute to a pluralistic republic. Join us for the conversation and explore practical and philosophical pathways to revive the transformative power of both religious and academic institutions.

In This Episode:

💥 Three core Christian virtues as a civic foundation

💥 The perils of “thin,” “sharp,” and “thick” Christianity

💥 Tocqueville, individualism, and the promise of civil society

💥 The hollowing of purpose and scholarly virtue in higher education

💥 Faith, viewpoint diversity, and restoring vibrant campus culture

💥 Challenges and opportunities for self-reform in academia

Read Jonathan’s latest book, Cross Purposes: https://a.co/d/dRaWsfL

Check out more about the Brookings Institution: https://www.brookings.edu/