

Since 1900, the Christian Century has published reporting, commentary, poetry, and essays on the role of faith in a pluralistic society.
© 2023 The Christian Century.
The rituals we need
Religion scholar Molly Farneth shows how rituals—both civic and religious—change us and the societies we live in.
Letters to Anthropocene kids
Ethicist Larry Rasmussen tells his grandchildren the truth about the earth’s peril—and calls them to embrace its beauty.
America the biblical
In a breathtaking scholarly work, Mark Noll explores the doomed experiment of a republic built on an unwritten law of sola scriptura.
Jedediah Purdy’s democratic vision
This formidable yet accessible book should be homework for every thoughtful American.
Maria Ressa’s fight for democracy in the Philippines
The renowned journalist explores how the authoritarianism and corruption she has been fighting for 35 years are now aided and abetted by the internet.
Devil in the algorithm
Social media platforms are damaging democracy, and it’s not primarily about what speech they do or don’t moderate.
I went to the first McDonald’s in Russia for the bathroom
As the Soviet Union crumbled, the West sent French fries.
by Amy Frykholm
American democracy can’t survive without federal election reform
The party in Trump’s thrall is going after the very notion of fair elections. Yet Congress has failed to act.
Rescuing patriotism from nationalism
Constitutional patriotism, Steven Smith argues, is both ethical and necessary.
Mike Duncan’s Revolutions podcast shows how history repeats itself
His ongoing exploration of political instability feels excruciatingly relevant.
Voter suppression is lethal to democracy
We can’t let the filibuster keep us from doing something about it.
Americans need robust local news outlets
Democracy is about membership in a local community. It can’t flourish without local journalism.
How the dream of a Judeo-Christian America shaped the culture wars
Healan Gaston excavates a label that has both divided and united us.
The crumbling myth of American exceptionalism
To believe that moral values and virtuous leadership are self-enforcing is to fool ourselves.
At the US Capitol, pro-Trump extremists laid siege to democracy
Democracy is fragile. But the things that make it fragile are the same things that give it power.
Rock star Yuri Shevchuk imagines an anti-nationalist Russian democracy
The performances of his band, DDT, are like teach-ins.
by Amy Frykholm
How Heather Cox Richardson looks to the past for hope
The “Letters from an American” author provides historical context for today’s threats to democracy.
by LaVonne Neff
Political attacks on the US Postal Service threaten more than just the mail
Democracy, equality, and opportunity are at risk.