Episode 558: American Solidarity

Why does American life feel so fractured, and what can Christians do about it?

American society feels increasingly polarized, anxious, and divided — and many people sense that the problem is deeper than politics. In this episode, we explore the idea that what’s really fraying is solidarity. Drawing on James Davison Hunter’s Democracy and Solidarity and a recent article by Jake Meador, we examine three competing visions for renewing American solidarity. We argue that neither free-market individualism nor ethnic nationalism offers a meaningful solution, and we discuss how Christianity provides a framework for a distinctive and robust solidarity.

Chapters:
(0:00) Introductions: The Future of The Wednesday Conversation
(7:45) Liberal Individualism and the Loss of Solidarity
(14:55) Nationalism as a False Solution
(22:34) A Christian Vision of Dependence
(30:35) What Solidarity Looks Like in Everyday Life
(34:00) Stitching the Fabric Back Together Locally