Homebrewed Christianity

Why Postliberals Want Authoritarian Power (And What to Do About It) with David Congdon

27 snips
Jan 25, 2026
David Congdon, a political theorist who studies liberalism and religion in politics, explains why postliberal currents seek authoritarian power to recreate medieval Christendom. He traces liberalism’s origins after the Reformation, critiques neoliberal betrayals, and maps varieties of postliberal thought. Conversations cover religion in public life, institutional defense, and how pluralism can be defended without sacrificing economic justice.
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INSIGHT

Liberalism Is An Unfinished Project

  • Liberalism evolved through competing versions; neoliberalism regressed many earlier emancipatory gains.
  • David describes liberalism as an unfinished, aspirational project, not a single unbroken progress story.
INSIGHT

Neoliberalism Privatized The Public Realm

  • Neoliberalism privatized and financialized society, undermining earlier liberal commitments to positive rights.
  • David calls neoliberalism a disaster that corrodes public goods and equality.
INSIGHT

Post-Liberalism Is A Mixed Coalition

  • 'Post-liberal' is a broad label covering different attacks on liberalism: philosophical, economic, and anti-pluralist.
  • David disaggregates these strands to better understand who opposes what and why.
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