Raymond R. Roberts releases book linking faith and democracy

By AI, Created 4:57 PM UTC, May 18, 2026, /AGP/ – Pastor and University of Richmond professor Raymond R. Roberts has published A Democratic and Republican Faith: A Public Theology for a Church and Nation in Crisis. The book argues that recovering older Christian and civic principles can help repair polarization, strengthen democratic norms, and give both religious and nonreligious Americans common ground.

Why it matters: - Raymond R. Roberts is trying to connect theology to the health of American democracy at a time when he says the country’s political culture is weakened. - The book targets both church audiences and nonreligious readers, making it a bridge-building argument rather than a partisan one. - Roberts says recovering older moral and civic language could help restore public trust, democratic participation and shared purpose. - The release comes as America approaches its 250th anniversary, which Roberts frames as a moment to renew democratic foundations.

What happened: - Raymond R. Roberts released A Democratic and Republican Faith: A Public Theology for a Church and Nation in Crisis through Wipf and Stock in 2026. - Roberts is a pastor, author and Professor of Health Ethics at the University of Richmond. - David P. Gushee, Distinguished University Professor of Christian Ethics at Mercer University, wrote the foreword. - The book is available in paperback and eBook through Amazon and the publisher, with the publisher’s page listed online. - Roberts says the book was written to help Americans recover moral and spiritual reasons for supporting democratic government and to help the church reclaim its theological voice.

The details: - Roberts argues that the words “democratic” and “republican” belong to a deeper tradition shared by democrats, republicans and independents. - The book says mainstream Christianity has often failed to form believers in a “thick” democratic and republican faith that supports public participation. - Roberts lays out nine core doctrines: theocentrism, creation, image of God, natural law, sin, hope, vocation, covenant and ecclesiology. - Those doctrines are presented as lenses for understanding human dignity, morality, purpose, and social responsibility. - Roberts argues that refreshing those ideas can also reinforce secular civic concepts such as liberalism, federalism, constitutionalism, human rights, separation of powers and the rule of law. - The book includes chapters on religion and republican virtue, public wisdom, creation, human dignity, natural law, sin, hope, vocation and covenant. - Jonathan Rausch of the Brookings Institution said the book offers a new path to revival and relevance for mainline churches.

Between the lines: - The book is part religious argument, part civic theory. - Roberts is making a case that democratic habits depend on moral formation, not just institutions and elections. - The framing suggests he sees mainline Protestantism as a potential stabilizing force in a polarized country. - The pitch to nonreligious readers signals an attempt to translate theological language into civic language.

What’s next: - Roberts is positioning the book for readers interested in democracy, religion and public ethics as the 2026 election cycle and the nation’s semiquincentennial approach. - The book’s argument may draw attention from churches, scholars and civic leaders looking for language to counter polarization. - Roberts also directs readers to more information and his social channels for additional updates.