In a thought-provoking episode of The Opinions by The Salt Lake Tribune, evangelical columnist David French and Brookings Institution senior fellow Jonathan Rauch—a self-proclaimed atheist—discussed the complex interplay between Christianity and American democracy. Their conversation explored the idea that a thriving democracy may depend on a form of Christianity that stays true to its foundational ideals.
“You’re an atheist,” French began. “You don’t believe in God, but one of the points in your book is for American democracy to flourish, you argue that we need better Christianity… Why is it that you took this approach that said a better Christianity is the answer, not no Christianity?”
Rauch responded by reframing the concept of “better” Christianity. “What really needs to happen to get our country on a better track is for Christianity not to become more secular or more liberal, but to become more like itself, to become more truly Christian,” he said.
He explained his reasoning by connecting Christian principles to the foundations of Madisonian liberalism. “The three fundamentals of Christianity map very well onto the three fundamentals of Madisonian liberalism. One of those is: don’t be afraid. No. 2 is: be like Jesus. Imitate Jesus.
And No. 3 is: forgive each other. And those things are very much like how you run a constitutional republic.” French then asked how the perceived shortcomings of contemporary Christianity might translate into challenges for American democracy.
Rauch’s response delved into the historical role of Christianity as a moral and ethical foundation for the republic. “Christianity is a load-bearing wall in democracy, and the founders told us that,” Rauch explained.
“They didn’t specify that you have to be a Christian, per se, but they said that our liberal, secular Constitution… relies on virtues like truthfulness, lawfulness, and the equal dignity of every individual. And they understood that those have to come from an outside source. The Constitution won’t furnish them.”
Rauch noted that, historically, Christianity has largely succeeded in instilling these values, despite notable exceptions. He argued that a return to the core principles of Christianity—rather than an abandonment of faith—is crucial for restoring and sustaining the democratic ideals envisioned by the nation’s founders.
The conversation highlighted the enduring interdependence between religion and democracy, suggesting that a revival of authentic Christian values could be a powerful antidote to America’s current democratic challenges.