Former Pastor Ryan Burge on What Church Can Do for Democracy
Summary
In this Radio West episode, political scientist Ryan Burge discusses his book *The Vanishing Church*, arguing that American religion has undergone a massive sorting process driven by political polarization. Burge explains how the decline of moderate, mainline congregations has eliminated crucial spaces where people of differing political views could connect, thereby harming democracy and social cohesion. He shares his personal experience as a pastor witnessing church decline and analyzes how ideological homogeneity in remaining churches exacerbates societal division.
Topics discussed
Ryan Burge's background and the origin of The Vanishing Church
Why people stop going to church and the rise of doubt
The decline of mainline Protestant churches
Political polarization and its impact on religious communities
Churches as lost spaces for cross-partisan dialogue
Implications for American democracy and global stability
Literalism, biblical interpretation, and abortion views
The myth of polarization and the nuance of public opinion
Mormonism as a model for religious pluralism
The Great Reversal and socioeconomic homogeneity in churches
Social media's role in amplifying extreme religious views
The loss of doubt and the future of moderate faith
Burge's personal journey back to church and community service
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