Sen. Raphael Warnock argues that progressives should bring spirituality to politics
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What is Senator Raphael Warnock’s new book and how does it link faith to American democracy?
Hi, I'm Alyssa Nadworney and you're listening to NPR's Book of the Day. Senator Raphael Warnock, a Georgia Democrat and a pastor from Atlanta, has a new book called The Crooked Places Made Straight Reflections on the Moral Meaning of America. In it, he explains how faith is intertwined with politics. He likens a vote to To a prayer. Warnock spoke with Morning Edition host Michelle Martin about how he thinks our country's divisions are less political than moral.
This week on Up First, the Midterms and the Middle East. We're tracking major primary elections in Florida, Alaska, and Wyoming. And abroad, the president's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, pursues a peace plan in Gaza. Plus, the US-Iran ceasefire hits a crucial 60-day deadline. Stay caught up on the week's biggest stories with Up First. Listen and follow wherever you get your podcasts. Long before Raphael Warnock was sworn in as the junior US Senator from Georgia, he became the senior pastor at Atlanta's Ebenezer Baptist Church, where the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once delivered sermons, and Warnock still does. That's how he came to preach at the National Cathedral at an event to recognize jeteenth as a federal holiday.
And he read a passage from Isaiah, a text in the Hebrew Bible also referenced in the Gospels.
Every valley shall be exalted, every mountain and hill shall be made low, the crooked places shall be made straight, the rough places smooth, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.
Warnock expanded that sermon into a new book titled The Crooked Places Made Straight: Reflections on the Moral Meaning of America, where he calls for Americans to commit to what he calls a greater moral imagination in our politics. But even before the book was out, his critique of the way many current politicians apply faith to policy sparked a conversation.
How does Warnock describe the moral difference between right‑wing and left‑wing politics?
In an interview with the New York Times, Senator Warnock said that after Congress passed the one big Beautiful Bill Act, he questioned whether the Christianity cited by some Republicans, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, is more performative than substantive. Soon after the interview published, Speaker Johnson reached out to Senator Warnock. Senator Warnock describes the discussion.
We agree to disagree. There are fundamental differences between how we understand the faith. I want to respect the integrity of our private conversation, but I don't think I'm betraying any confidences when I say that. He has a view of the faith. that is very personal and privatistic. It's about personal piety. And I think that matters. Certainly the faith speaks to one's personal conduct, but scripture also speaks about systems. About systemic injustice. The prophets, as I pointed out to him in that meeting, are not just pointing out a few venal individuals in a system that otherwise is fine. They are decrying injustice in their moment. Isaiah says that God says through Isaiah I cannot endure solemn assemblies with iniquity.
Although you make many prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are full of blood. Public policy is a matter of life and death.
Why does Warnock argue that many Republican faith‑based policies are performative rather than substantive?
When you knock 15 million people off of their health care, when you double the health care for another 22 million people, people die. People die as a result of that.
So for some decades now, Republicans have been the ones who have been associated with citing religious values, especially conservative Christian values, as the animating force behind their politics and their policy choices. What is your intention with this book? Is it to argue that progressives like yourself can and should also animate their politics with their faith principles?
Well, I wanna talk to all of us, people on the left and the right, because I think what we're dealing with right now is not the difference between right and left. It's really the difference between right and wrong. It's wrong to crush people. And I think it's really too bad when my party cedes so much of the faith and values space and language to those on the right, especially since more often than not, in my view, they've got it wrong.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
What is Senator Raphael Warnock’s new book and how does it link faith to American democracy?
0:02–1:55
2
How does Warnock describe the moral difference between right‑wing and left‑wing politics?
1:55–3:14
3
Why does Warnock argue that many Republican faith‑based policies are performative rather than substantive?
3:14–5:00
4
What was the private conversation between Warnock and House Speaker Mike Johnson about religion and policy?
5:00–6:20
5
How does Warnock define faith as a bridge, not a weapon, in today’s polarized politics?
6:20–7:23
6
Why does Warnock say the battle for the soul of the country hinges on hope and humility?
7:23–7:50
7
What lessons does Warnock draw from John Lewis’s life and the “bridge” metaphor for democracy?
7:50–8:28
8
How does Warnock envision a “greater moral imagination” guiding progressive politics?
8:28–8:42
Speakers
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