Matthew Kaemingk

Miss Rhonda Hansome is still under the weather, so, uh, she won't be with us.

We're also gonna be talking with Shadi Hamid and Matthew Kaemingk about their new book, Can Religion Save Democracy? It's a, it's a liberal Muslim and a conservative Christian wrote a book together about, uh, religion and how it can help democracy, and I have some questions.

And, of course, one of our favorite journalists, Brian Karen, will be here very shortly, uh, about 20 minutes or so, to discuss the new White House [laughs] Press Secretary, and boy, I'm, I'm a fan of comedy.

So welcome to the show, everybody, and welcome to America.

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[upbeat music] So what if one of the things we might need to save American democracy is something that many Americans have been walking away from? That is the very fascinating argument of a new book I wanna recommend, Can Religion Save Democracy? How More Faith, Not Less, Can Heal Our Public Life.

And it's fascinating for many reasons, one of which it's by Washington Post columnist, Shaadi Hameed, who's a liberal Muslim political scientist, and Matthew Kaemingk, who is a conservative Christian theologian.

Their argument together in this book challenges a very long-standing assumption in our public life that as religious involvement recedes politics will get more rational, more tolerant, less divisive.

It's gotten more apocalyptic, more certain about who's good and who's evil, more willing to sacrifice family and friendship on its altar.

Our guest today, Matthew Kaemingk, has written a book with Shadi Hamid.

Shadi is a Muslim who leans center-left.

Matthew is an evangelical who leans center-right.

We get into cancel culture and covenant, the loneliness that makes young men vulnerable to extremism, and what fear and politics reveal about the strength of our faith.

If disagreement isn't going away, what would it take for you to be grateful for your opponent? So join us as we wrestle with religion and politics.

Here is my conversation with Matthew Kaemingk.

Matthew, welcome to Shifting Culture.