Cross Purposes

“Rauch, a journalist and, notably, an atheist, makes the compelling argument that, in the era of MAGA evangelicals and declining church attendance, healthy religious institutions are vital to a functioning liberal democracy.”—New York Times Book Review“As a Christian, I’m impressed with Rauch’s honesty about faith, both his critiques and his admiration for the faith he doesn’t share but still wishes to succeed. One wouldn’t expect an avowed atheist to produce a forceful and eloquent case for the importance of Christianity in American democracy, but that’s precisely what Rauch gives us. His plea for Christians to play the role that America needs is one every faith leader should study and heed.”—Utah Governor Spencer J. Cox“Cross Purposes provides an insightful account of the way that a part of American Christianity has evolved in recent years in ways that have replaced its spiritual message with conservative politics, and how that harms our democracy. Invaluable reading to understand the present moment.”—Francis Fukuyama, author of Liberalism and Its Discontents“Calling those on the Left and the Right to heed our better angels, Jonathan Rauch sidesteps polarizing rhetoric and zero-sum politics to cast a compelling vision for a generous pluralism. A timely book for a divided nation.”—Kristin Kobes Du Mez, author of Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation

Jonathan Rauch is a senior fellow in the governance studies program at the Brookings Institution and a contributing writer for The Atlantic. He is the recipient of a National Magazine Award. His books include The Constitution of Knowledge, The Happiness Curve, and Gay Marriage. He lives in northern Virginia.