Faith's Place In Public Life & Politics | Devil's Cut w Michael Wear
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Welcome back, everyone, to a special Devil's Cut edition of Truth in the Barrel. I'm Amy McGrath. Today, we are discussing the role of Christianity in public life and politics in America. We are lucky to have Michael Ware, the founder, president, and CEO of the Center for Christianity and Public Life. And he's written a really important book called The Spirit of Our Politics, Spiritual Formation, and the Renovation of Public Life. Welcome, Michael.
Hi, so good to be with you. Glad to have this conversation.
Well, it's an important one right now. And I'm really thankful that you would come on the show and talk to us because there's a lot to discuss at the moment here about Christianity, public life, and what's happening in America.
What is the role of Christianity in public life and politics in America?
Yeah, absolutely.
Well, let's start out. You're the CEO of the Center for Christianity and Public Life. And I want to get your take on what is the state of Christianity and public life in America right now?
Yeah, so, you know, it's a big story. Faith plays a really important role in this country, in our history, in our present, in our future, and in a lot of different ways. As you know, as you've traveled the country, traveled Kentucky, there are just so many different permutations of religion and religious experience in this country. I'd say maybe a few things. One, America remains... exceptional when it comes to religion, comparative to a lot of other places in the world. And religion is the source of so many Americans' sense of self, sense of their place in the world, sense of community. That's really important to understand about America. Large number, around 40 percent, depending on the poll of Americans, say that their religion informs their daily decision making.
The vast majority of Americans are religious. It's actually hard to think of another meaningful marker, another meaningful marker. characteristic that binds Americans together than religion. Now, not all Americans are religious, but there are more Americans who are religious than are male or female or who are Democrat or Republican. And so that's really important. That being said, we've seen over the last 20, 30 years, though there's some data to suggest it's plateauing, but we've seen a rise in religious disaffiliation, a decline in church attendance and regular participation in religious life compared to where America was 30 years ago. Mm-hmm. I think a lot of people thought that that would mean that religion became less important, less salient in American life.
But I actually think that pressure on religion has actually increased the conflict and salience that we see in the religious and political landscape in such a way that religion in some ways hasn't declined in importance, but actually has increased in importance. And, you know, I think we'll be able to talk about some of that. Maybe just one more comment I make is I think that the ways in which religion is being, and specifically Christianity, is being misused as brought to... the light in a different way and for different people, the good things that religion brings and can bring in a way that is in some way, it's encouraging to me, you know, like in the same way that I think some people understand the importance of character among those in public office.
That seems like a really important thing to people who maybe didn't think so 15 years ago. So we're seeing through the misuse of public office, the misuse of religion, I think a rising awareness of the value of good character, the value of religious contribution that is positive.
It's interesting what you say that religion has increased its importance maybe in public life. And I think you're right about that if you really think about it. One of the things that has concerned me is, you know, in my experience in the military, commanders, leaders – Many were religious.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
And that was very important that they go to church, that they be seen. I always felt like that was good. Yeah. But they were very professional in the sense that in public life, meaning in public service in the United States of America,
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Chapters
6 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:06–0:50
2
What is the role of Christianity in public life and politics in America?
0:50–6:37
3
How does Michael Wear describe the current state of religion in America?
6:37–17:47
4
What trends are affecting religious disaffiliation in the U.S.?
17:47–25:03
5
How is religion being misused in political contexts today?
25:03–29:55
6
What is the significance of character in public office according to the discussion?
29:55–39:12