Jonathan Rauch on Christianty's Broken Bargain with Democracy
Cross Purposes: The Broken Connection Between Christianity and American Democracy Matt Robison explores the relationship between Christianity and American democracy with Brookings scholar and Atlantic author Jonathan Rauch. They discuss the themes of Rauch's new book, Cross Purposes, which argues that the health of America's political and religious institutions are deeply intertwined. The conversation delves into the decline of Christianity's influence, the rise of secular substitutes, and the problematic blend of religion with partisan politics. Rauch also highlights the potential model of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints as a way forward for American Christianity. 00:00 Introduction: Christianity and American Democracy 01:28 Christianity's Contributions to America 07:17 The Decline of Religiosity in America 14:50 Sharp Christianity and Its Political Influence 19:17 The Broken Bargain Between Christianity and Democracy 22:03 Why Christianity Matters in America 31:05 The Decline of American Christianity 37:22 The Church Within the Church 42:40 A Civic Theology 44:51 The LDS Church as a Model 47:48 Final Thoughts and Reflections