The Remnant with Jonah Goldberg

I never miss an episode, I owe my newfound intellectual and conversational brilliance to this podcast, and to the several others linked by host/participant or ideological sympathy.

Jonah, your friend is a bit in front of his skis, don’t you think? It’s a bit rich to hear this self-identified atheist tell me I need to be a better Christian, a “real” one, “for the sake of the country.” The Christian faith contains no theology regarding political behavior? What? I’m not a “white evangelical,” I’m a “white Roman Catholic”—whatever that means in terms of Mr Rauch’s “research.” Still, I know evangelicals, white and otherwise, and they and I tend to agree that Christian discipleship means the same thing in every sphere of life, including civic engagement. Christians who vote Republican likely do so because conservative values seem to be more in line with Christian values—not because they are being “bad Christians!” Both parties are a bad fit, and the Christians I know feel politically homeless and are simply doing the best they can when voting. So this guy’s thesis is what exactly? He’s got the right idea in some respects (Christian faith and discipleship supports personal and civic thriving, stop the presses!) but his priors prevent him from seeing his subject with humility or clarity.

Enough of the “is Trump Hitler” analysis. I can’t take anymore of it. I’m not a fan of Trump. I was a fan of Jonah. I think people come to this podcast for insight on politics writ large - not just which fascist Trump is most like. (P.S. he’s more like PT Barnum than Peron.) Please, Jonah, knock it off with them negative waves. Why don’t you say something righteous and hopeful for a change.

Here’s a relevant excerpt from Democracy in America (Volume 2, Part 1, Chapter 1): “A false but clear and precise idea always has more power in the world than one which is true but complex.” This observation reflects Tocqueville’s concern with how simplicity in thought, while appealing, can lead to widespread acceptance of misleading concepts