Thin, Sharp, and Thick Christianity @HeterodoxAcademy

Uploaded June 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

Has Christianity lost its way by embracing politics? Author Jonathan Rauch introduces his framework for understanding the secularization of American Christianity, breaking it down into three forms. He defines "thin" Christianity as mainline churches that lost their distinction by drifting into a general "do-goodism." He then explains "sharp" Christianity as the highly partisan, culture-warring church that aligned itself with political power for unconditional loyalty. Finally, Rauch describes the ideal of "thick" Christianity: a rich, counter-cultural community that can thrive within a pluralistic democracy.

To hear more of Jonathan Rauch’s insights on the interplay between our political and religious institutions, watch the full episode: youtu.be/BmjvH6twCjU

$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 our last episode this season, 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/ About Jonathan: Jonathan Rauch is a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and a contributing writer for The Atlantic, renowned for his incisive commentary on public policy, culture, and governance. He has authored several influential books, including The Constitution of Knowledge: A Defense of Truth (2021), which delves into the challenges of disinformation and the importance of truth in democratic societies. His latest book, Cross Purposes: Christianitys Broken Bargain with Democracy (2025), examines the evolving relationship between American Christianity and liberal democracy, arguing that the decline of religious institutions has significant implications for democratic health. Rauchs extensive body of work reflects his commitment to exploring complex societal issues, making him a prominent voice in contemporary discussions on democracy, religion, and public discourse. In January 2025, Rauch was appointed to the Board of Directors of Heterodox Academy (HxA), Follow Jonathan on X: https://x.com/jon_rauch Follow Heterodox Academy on: X/Twitter: https://bit.ly/3Fax5Dy Facebook: https://bit.ly/3PMYxfw LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/48IYeuJ Instagram: https://bit.ly/46HKfUg Substack: https://bit.ly/48IhjNF Listen to the podcast on: Apple - https://apple.co/3PZzplD Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3S51uee Amazon: https://amzn.to/3ZXQnFL i-Heart - https://bit.ly/3M69qYA Tune-In - https://bit.ly/3S5oBVR Pandora - https://bit.ly/46AaLze Find out more about Heterodox Academy: https://linktr.ee/heterodoxoutloud Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Jonathan Rauch 01:12 The Role of Christianity in Democracy 10:45 Religion, Liberalism, and Social Cohesion 17:05 Tocqueville, Civil Society, and Meaning 26:23 Thin, Sharp, and Thick Christianity 34:14 Decline of Christian Virtues and Institutions 41:15 Religious Identity and Campus Culture 47:14 The Hollowing Out of University Purpose 53:47 Reform, Backlash, and Future of Higher Ed 58:21 The Enduring Hope for Universities$

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Thin, Sharp, and Thick Christianity