Finished reading: The Republic of Grace by Charles Mathewes 📚

A thought-provoking book. Published in 2010, The Republic of Grace is written as an Augustinian reflection on the post-9/11 American political landscape. Mathewes wants to show how various aspects of public life (democratic liberalism, consumer capitalism, etc.) have malformed us, as well as how Christian faith has something unique to offer the pluralized public square. It could superficially seem a bit stuck in a particular moment in American history (e.g., the War on Terror), but it has some very important things to interject into the current discussions around liberalism, post-liberalism, (Christian) nationalism, and so on. To give but one example: Mathewes leverages Augustine to show how political life provides an arena for training in the theological virtues (faith, hope, and love) that fits us for heaven. Such thoughts are, to put it mildly, out of sync with much current discourse about what ‘virtues’ are necessary for political life.