The Second Pandemic: Authoritarianism and Your Future with Brian McLaren

An unexpected political challenge we face as we journey into the third decade of the 21st century is the resurgence of authoritarianism in the United States and Europe. While many Americans and, perhaps especially, American Christians believed that we were somehow beyond or above the authoritarian impulse, a generation of politicians, religious leaders, and social commentators seem intent on disabusing us of that notion through increasingly violent nationalism and strong-man affectations. At this critical juncture, it is important for us to reflect upon how we got here, the ways in which our social structures are conducive to authoritarianism's resurgence, and how the Christian tradition itself has institutionally and ideologically contributed to authoritarianism. On December 4 at 7:30 pm, we'll be joined by best-selling author, public theologian, and activist Brian McLaren, who will lead us in an exploration of Christianity's darker actions and impulses, past and present.
Brian just published a new e-book on authoritarianism called The Second Pandemic: Authoritarianism and Your Future. You can download it here: brianmclaren.net/store/
Brian D. McLaren is an author, speaker, activist, and public theologian. A former college English teacher and pastor, he is a passionate advocate for “a new kind of Christianity” - just, generous, and working with people of all faiths for the common good. He is a faculty member of The Living School, which is part of the Center for Action and Contemplation, and he co-leads the Common Good Messaging Team, which is part of Vote Common Good. He is also an Auburn Senior Fellow and podcaster with Learning How to See. He works closely with the Wild Goose Festival, the Fair Food Program, and Progressive Christianity. His most recent projects include an illustrated children’s book (for all ages) called Cory and the Seventh Story and The Galapagos Islands: A Spiritual Journey. Two important new releases are in process: Faith After Doubt (January 2021) and Do I Stay Christian? (Spring 2022).

[@wrogercarlisle]

BRIAN is a wonderful compassionate human….authoritarianism is clearly a problem in America.

[@kathrynnewton8721]

So interesting! I’m a desenter! Love all his guitars on the wall.

[@BarbaraDiederich-ut8zg]

I am coming around to this way of being Christian and have been listening to leaders in the 'progressive' community a lot lately. To a former evangelical, even admitting that is a big step. I found this conversation interesting in so many ways. The evangelical christian community (EC) firmly believes that the dictator we need to fear is not Trump but Biden/Obama. There are reasons for this just as there are reasons to fear Trumps leadership brand. You talked of the proud boys blocking entrance to a Biden event. I'm Canadian and watched as antifa proponents blocked entrance to a conservative event and got aggressive with an elderly couple. It wasn't aired on the news either. Neither side can claim the moral high ground and I am thoroughly tired of listening to both sides attempt to. I feel better having got that off my chest.

[@terryallen6688]

Amen on the authoritarian Parent. My step dad tried it on all our family. My Mother resisted vehemently, I and two of my sisters rebelled and I had one sister took it hook, line and sinker.

[@fritzmaurer3679]

A great definition of authoritarianism. I too have been so concerned for people identifying as Christian buying into authoritarian leaders.

[@Dsc3pc]

Thanks, Brian. I link "certainty" of faith becomes the unwillingness to listen or include others in our fellowship or community. That certainty then becomes authoritarianism. The Bible is not divine, we followers are not without sin, so the story is a path to explore, walk with, understand, and apply the divinity that was breathed into us a birth. An uncertainty faith gives application to a compassionate community, while a commuinty of certainty creates a pasture of sheep that has no need to be compassionate. What do you think, my fellow believers?

[@christinesmith1499]

Great show, you know after the 2022 mid-term elections, I could feel the holy spirit descending upon the USA, God is good.

[@kathrynnewton8721]

So much Pharisee paparazzism within the so called church, I’ve recognised it in myself too!

[@NewWorldDAO]

Everything he saying is true. Exactly what happened to me in a horrible way..

[@StefanHuegli]

Jesus christ himself its the definition of thruth it give only one thruth , not many ways one way Jesus, and the way. Paul says i knowe no one but Jesus Christ cruzyfie

[@clemson1993]

Considering how Naziism came from the Left, I wonder how you would assess the authoritarian actions taken by the Left and the Democrat Party today performing modern day book burnings, and silencing and cancelling all opposing viewpoints?

[@machtnichtsseimann]

I wonder the same from our Liberal/Progressive Brothers and Sisters. Not saying there are none who condemn the Fascism and Authoritarianism of the Radical Left, but the Media seems to welcome hardly any self-criticism from Believers on the Left.
The stark bias of McLaren ignoring how the Left has been guilty of the very same things he criticized in Trump is kind of boring. Yes, hypocritical, but unproductive towards more level-headed dialog among Christians from the Left to the Right.

[@claytonreeves150]

I think you're extremely confused here. Nazism was a right-wing ideology that disguised itself as leftist by using buzzwords like "Socialist" and claiming they were for the working people. They were in no way leftist, and the only ones doing book burnings these days are conservatives.

[@clemson1993]

@@claytonreeves150 this is ENTIRELY incorrect history if you view the world from an American history perspective where the right encompasses limited government, freedom and individual rights. If however, you view the world from a European history basis...you are correct. Naziism IS to the right within that worldview because in such a view communism is to the Left and Naziism to the right. However, compared to the American right as I earlier defined...BOTH communism and Naziism are ideologies of the Left. The fights the communists and Nazis were having prior to WWII were "all in the family" fights on the Left. Just as within Islam the Sunnis and Shia war with one another. This is embarrassing for Leftists today which is why so many historians such as Howard Zinn et al have tried to frame all of history from that European view of the world to save the embarassment of the reality that Karl Marx, Benito Mussolini, Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin and Pol Pot were all yours on the Left. Nonetheless...thats the reality and truth of it. This is easily seen by simply reading the 25 proclamations of the Nazi Party...it reads as if they are straight from the Democrat Party platform of today...in fact a TH-camr went to the Dem Party convention and fooled Democrats by reading those Nazi Party platform points to see if they agreed in man on the street interviews and he found almost lockstep agreement. And as to the Democrat Party and its move to additionally promote communist and Marxist ideals...well, thats evident all over that Party today. Really sorry. Its very embarrassing we all realize, but its truth.

[@claytonreeves150]

@@clemson1993 I'm not going to argue with American ignorance. Bask in it, fail with it, and go away.

[@clemson1993]

@@claytonreeves150 "Go away?" Lol! Hey, you replied to me first here, Skippy. And the only argument being had is apparently wiithin your own mind as it struggles with your chosen denial of reality and the truth.

[@user-qz7zy4iw1s]

"Woke."