Matthew Kaemingk

Professor | Faith, Politics, and Work | @Georgetown & @UtrechtTU | (KAY-Mink)

[Matthew Kaemingk @matthewkaemingk]

“This book is original and profound. Kaemingk and Hamid take the wisdom from two great religious traditions and use it to bend your mind—especially if you happen to be secular.”

—David Brooks

https://t.co/T0StFscOba

[Matthew Kaemingk @matthewkaemingk]

Orthodox Muslims and Christians are routinely told that if they want to contribute to democratic life they need to assimilate to a more secular way of life.

But this assimilation is not simply bad for their personal faith **its bad for democracy as well.** @shadihamid

[Matthew Kaemingk @matthewkaemingk]

"If you find two ants in your kitchen, the best estimate of the total number of ants in your kitchen is not two."

Nathan Calvin

[The Wall Street Journal @WSJ]

Breaking: Nvidia’s board is preparing to oust CEO Jensen Huang after he had two extramarital affairs, including one with a suspected Chinese spy. https://t.co/Pjsu5j87CF

[Matthew Kaemingk @matthewkaemingk]

Democracy is messy.

Pluralism is chaotic.

A diverse religious marketplace is wild and unwieldy.

Good.

https://t.co/yYrV6QfGbK

[Matthew Kaemingk @matthewkaemingk]

Thanks for engaging our book @Newsweek

[Newsweek @Newsweek]

Is national pride only for the Right? Author of “Can Religion Save Democracy?” @shadihamid shares his perspective with @carlo_versano on loving America, and why criticisms of the country are an expression of that love.

Watch the full episode: https://t.co/Vny4O7cvbR

[Matthew Kaemingk @matthewkaemingk]

Secular citizens endanger democracy when they refuse to admit and own up to their own dogmatism.

[Persuasion @JoinPersuasion]

@Yascha_Mounk, @shadihamid, and @matthewkaemingk discuss how the decline of faith has fueled polarization—and whether Democrats should make more room for religious voters.
https://t.co/UEbfVN2VGT

[Matthew Kaemingk @matthewkaemingk]

Does democracy need religion?

Has Europe's lack of faith proven that democracy no longer needs religion?

We had a spirited debate with @Yascha_Mounk on the Good Fight podcast about our new book "Can Religion Save Democracy?"

https://t.co/bZ4OIpgzpH

[The Trinity Forum @trinityforum]

Many have argued that less religion in public life would make for a more peaceful, unified democracy. Yet as religious practice has declined, the nation has grown more polarized, anxious, and unstable.

In this episode, @MatthewKaemingk and @ShadiHamid argue that, across their differences in faith, they agree secularism has deepened our divides, and that the resources of faith can help us rebuild trust, shared purpose, and our commitment to democracy. Listen: https://t.co/eli2ExQ338

[Matthew Kaemingk @matthewkaemingk]

Newsweek is covering our book "Can Religion Save Democracy"

[Newsweek @Newsweek]

Can religion help heal America’s fractured politics? Columnist and political analyst @shadihamid joins @carlo_versano on The 1600 to discuss his new book, Can Religion Save Democracy?, and his argument that America’s decline in religious life has helped turn politics into a substitute for faith.

[Pope Leo XIV @Pontifex]

When being just and honest comes at a price, pay it. When forgiving seems like a defeat, forgive. When everyone tells you to think of yourselves first, do not be afraid to put yourselves in the last place. Be willing to give up time, money, comfort and plans to serve others. May those who see you find themselves asking: “Why do they live in this way? Where do they get this freedom? Why do they love one another so much?” #ApostolicJourney #Uruguay

[Matthew Kaemingk @matthewkaemingk]

Trump is a prisoner.

You can see it in his eyes.

He's in a prison of his own making. Friends, your hatred will not give you peace, it can only bring chains.

[60 Minutes @60Minutes]

“I do hate some of my enemies, and I always will,” says President Trump. https://t.co/hcYuiYy6Gc

[The Intellectualist @highbrow_nobrow]

Marco Rubio: "For years to come, there are many people on the right...that are going to be having to explain and justify how they fell into this trap of supporting Donald Trump because this is not going to end well.” (2016)

[Matthew Kaemingk @matthewkaemingk]

@HendroM @georgeharinck cc

[Shadi Hamid @shadihamid]

Today is the day! My new book CAN RELIGION SAVE DEMOCRACY? is officially out — co-authored with the Evangelical theologian @matthewkaemingk and more importantly my friend. There’s no feeling quite like holding your book after years of toil, excitement, and occasionally doubt.

If you're intrigued and perhaps even a bit skeptical, please consider ordering a copy below. We argue that secularization has not made our politics more rational or reasonable. The opposite has happened. In losing our religion, politics has come to resemble a holy war. And we argue that lessons from Islam and Christianity can provide us a better path forward and help us be better democratic citizens. We’re not asking anyone to convert, but we are asking readers to be open to the possibility that religion at its best can play a constructive role in our public life.

Christianity and Islam allow us to "delay judgment" of our fellow citizens because final judgment is only God's alone. If God is all-knowing, we are anything but. If we recognize that we are mere mortals who are tempted and broken by sin, then that should allow us to hold a posture of humility about whether we're right and whether others are wrong. We see through a glass darkly.

There's also a strong utilitarian argument for religion. The religiously affiliated are more likely to give to charity and volunteer. They're even less likely to cut in line. They drink and smoke less. They are more likely to be married and have kids, which in turn leads them to be happier on average compared to their secular counterparts.

We have mixed feelings about the utilitarian argument. First and foremost, Matthew and I believe in Christianity and Islam because we believe they are true. In that sense, we disagree on the most profound theological questions regarding the very nature of God. But despite that — or perhaps because of it — we felt it was important to write this book together.

https://t.co/boHAk35wGj

[Shadi Hamid @shadihamid]

Last week, we had the Georgetown University launch of our new book — and our new Faith and the Future of Democracy Initiative, which I co-direct.

A great conversation with @AkyolinEnglish on CAN RELIGION SAVE DEMOCRACY?

Learn more about the book: https://t.co/NxakaNaYgm

[Matthew Kaemingk @matthewkaemingk]

Great to have the @washingtonpost engaging our new book "How Religion Can Save Democracy"

https://t.co/4w8aY6NBtp

[Matthew Kaemingk @matthewkaemingk]

Christian nationalists don't have too much faith, they have too little.

If you don't have confidence in the persuasive power of gospel, you must commend it to a nation through either fear or force.

At the heart of Christian nationalism is a deep and gnawing atheism.

[Erick Erickson @EWErickson]

The Christian Nationalists are the least committed to spreading the gospel. They don’t want converts. You never see them sharing the gospel.

[Matthew Kaemingk @matthewkaemingk]

"its not Texas anymore. It's the Third World wearing the Lone Star State as a skin suit."

@WilliamWolfe

The historical success of race-based identity politics for the left and the right is, well, mixed. Be it woke left or woke right, it has a shelf life.

[Edward Feser @FeserEdward]

"Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall" (Proverbs 16:18)