Uploaded June 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
What is the proper relationship between secular democracy and religion? Author and journalist Jonathan Rauch argues that liberalism and Christianity are like two planks that need each other to stand. Rauch explores how religion has historically provided the transcendent values that a secular state cannot, and he discusses Alexis de Tocqueville’s insights on how Americans use their liberty to form associations—often religious—to combat individualism and create meaning. This conversation delves into what happens when this crucial partnership fails.
To hear more of Jonathan Rauch’s insights on the interplay between our political and religious institutions, watch the full episode: youtu.be/BmjvH6twCjU
What is the proper relationship between secular democracy and religion? Author and journalist Jonathan Rauch argues that liberalism and Christianity are like two planks that need each other to stand. Rauch explores how religion has historically provided the transcendent values that a secular state cannot, and he discusses Alexis de Tocqueville’s insights on how Americans use their liberty to form associations—often religious—to combat individualism and create meaning. This conversation delves into what happens when this crucial partnership fails.
To hear more of Jonathan Rauch’s insights on the interplay between our political and religious institutions, watch the full episode: youtu.be/BmjvH6twCjU
