From Pit Elders to Political Theology: Making Sense of Democratic Breakdown with Aaron Simmons

Tripp Fuller

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8d ago 1:33:58

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Just got back from three and a half weeks in Europe (still not sure what time zone I’m in), and Aaron Simmons and I dove straight into the deep end of why democracy feels like it’s falling apart. We’re wrestling with this massive question: what do you do when reason-giving just seems to fail completely – when people either dismiss everyone who disagrees as morally bankrupt, or assume their own views are so obviously correct that any pushback must be irrational? We wandered through everything from whether I should keep eating at this barbecue place covered in MAGA signs (still haven’t decided), to how 81% of white evangelicals support the least Christian president we’ve ever had, to whether Western civilization can survive without its Christian roots, with a delightful detour into heavy metal pit ethics because apparently that’s how we process political theory now. The whole conversation convinced us we need more voices thinking about these tensions together, which is why we’re launching this Democracy in Tension summit where a bunch of our philosopher and theologian friends will tackle these questions from different angles – because honestly, Aaron and I don’t have answers, but we’re pretty sure the questions matter enough to keep wrestling with them, even if it makes us uncomfortable about where we get our barbecue.

Dr. Simmons is an Associate Professor of Philosophy at Furman University. You can follow his Substack ‘Philosophy in the Wild.’

Previous Episodes with Aaron

ONLINE SUMMIT: Democracy in Tension – NAVIGATING THE INTERLOCKING CRISES OF DEMOCRACY AND RELIGION

Democracy today faces profound challenges – polarization, inequality, populist authoritarianism, and widespread cynicism are eroding the foundations of democratic life. Yet, what if democracy’s greatest strength lies not in eliminating these tensions, but in productively embracing them? The summit will navigate the complex terrain between political equality and social justice, liberal freedom and democratic sovereignty, and ethical demands and political action. Through interactive sessions, participants will explore how to transform antagonistic enemies into agonistic adversaries, confront the nihilism threatening our democratic imagination, and cultivate spaces for genuine political discourse across differences.

As always, the class is donation-based, including 0. INFO & Sign-Up at www.HomebrewedClasses.com

Theology Beer Camp is a unique three-day conference that brings together of theology nerds and craftbeer for a blend of intellectual engagement, community building, and fun. This event features a lineup of well-known podcasters, scholars, and theology enthusiasts who come together to “nerd out” on theological topics while enjoying loads of fun activities. Guests this year include John Dominic Crossan, Kelly Brown Douglas, Philip Clayton, Stacey Floyd-Thomas, Jeffery Pugh, Juan Floyd-Thomas, Andy Root, Grace Ji-Sun Kim, Noreen Herzfeld, Reggie Williams, Casper ter Kuile, and more! Get info and tickets here.

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