#403 | Kevin Vallier: The Radical Religious Alternatives to Liberalism - The Realignment Podcast

Kevin Vallier, author of All the Kingdoms of the World: On Radical Religious Alternatives to Liberalism, joins The Realignment. Marshall and Kevin discuss Catholic integralism and other new and radical religious alternatives to liberal democracy, why the 20th century didn't spell the end of faith-infused political movements, the revival of religious politics in Russia, India, Poland, and Turkey, and how a religiously infused politics would operate in an increasingly secular America.

[randymiguel]

While not necessarily radical, a niche topic I think would be interesting to delve into would be Distributism and Georgism, or Christian democracy. These topics are often intertwined, but a good author would be John Medaille, Adjunct Instructor in Theology at the University of Dallas, who wrote the book Toward a Truly Free Market: A Distributist Perspective on the Role of Government, Taxes, Health Care, Deficits, and More (Culture of Enterprise). Or Alan C. Carlson author of Third Ways: How Bulgarian Greens, Swedish Housewives, and Beer-Swilling Englishmen Created Family-Centered Economies – and Why They Disappeared.

[nathaniel]

I would like to see a conversation with the editor of Christianity Today, Russell D. Moore. Love to hear a conversation on whether he thinks Christianity will ever be viewed as separate from Republican politics. And on why he thinks we are seeing a dip in people identifying as a Christian.

[swampwiz]

The best words ever spoken about the intersection of Church & State:

Render onto Cæsar ...

[BrianSinai]

Great topic that doesn't get nearly enough airtime. Hard to go deep in the time allowed, but valuable nonetheless.

[celestvaldez]

I'd like to see Dr. George Alan Yancey, he's a sociology professor at Baylor, he wrote Compromising Scholarship, which explores religious and political biases in academia, and So Many Christians, So Few Lions a book that discusses anti-christan hostility and One Faith No More: The Transformation of Christianity in Red and Blue America which examines the schism between conservative and progressive Christians.

[Awwsteen]

It'd be interesting to hear how the themes, issues, and histories have played out for the other Abrahamic faiths in America. Kevin provides a fascinating look into Catholicism, but what about orthodox Judaism or Islam? Are the intellectual thought leaders in those groups reaching similar positions regarding the rejection of liberalism?

[JeffJones-qu]

A niche could be Joseph Grabowski from the Society of Gilbert Keith Chesterton, I think he is also the Executive Director of the International Organization for the Family. I don't know if he has a book, but i have read several of his articles on third-way ideologies.

[lamknight]

One person you could try is presidential candidate Peter Sonski, from the American Solidarity Party. It would be a niche since they focus on Christian Democracy and their ideology marries Catholic Social Teaching and Social Market Economy. it creates a unique platform that supports community, social justice, Pro-life stances, and environmentalism, alongside supporting a welfare state, and labor unions.

[middleagedbaldguy]

Of all of the things I can think of that might bring a higher quality of life to the average American organized religion is last on the list.

[S.J.L]

Yeah, totally, let's have a Zoroastrian state. That was the founders inspiration.

[JosephHarry]

Is this not just a suntan but for the catholic church?

[georgew.hayduke]

How this could work within the US- it can’t. I don’t see the epicenter of Liberalism transitioning to something else. Liberalism has to end first, the book must close.

[alanaf]

I’m sorry, but why can’t these ultra conservative religions govern themselves and not impose their doctrine on people who hold different perspectives. Why can’t they hold their own believers accountable to their shared faith? I go to a progressive church and have faith and values that are important to me. I am not without moral beliefs. But I realize other good people don’t share my religious beliefs, or may not have any religious beliefs per se, and I can still value and respect them as human beings. History shows what happens when people fight over religious beliefs. Think about The Crusades or how the Native Americans and many other indigenous groups were treated in the name of salvation. Think about the sexual scandals that have been uncovered within various church groups. I believe Jesus said simply go out and spread the good news. He didn’t say to try that and if not successful then it’s ok to kill people, enslave them, take their children and land away and remove all aspects of their culture, right down to language and traditions. Is this the kind of world we want for ourselves?