Some might be inclined to believe recent discussions about totalitarianism are hyperbolic. In fact, the U.S. has a long history in which law, culture, medicine and religion have all been in the mix on exactly such experiments.

In our latest visit with Jon Rauch, we go into depth on his recent piece in The Atlantic, THE U.S. SHOULD APOLOGIZE TO GAY PEOPLE, which profiles America's historical attempts at erasing homosexuality, the impact this pervasive practice had on people's lives and what should be done to make it right. We also delve into Jon's personal experiences and his work on creating frameworks for productive conversations across political and religious divides. It's always worth revisiting Jon's landmark book, The Constitution of Knowledge. Plus we learn more about his personal connection to Justice Sandra Day O'Connor and her family.

05:12 The Happiness Curve: Personal and Societal Perspectives;

06:13 The Intersection of Religion, Democracy, and LGBTQ+ Rights;

08:28 Unveiling the History of Government-Led Discrimination Against Gay People;

32:24 The Importance of Acknowledging and Addressing Past Wrongs; 

39:34 Personal Stories of Discrimination and Hope;

41:51 A Tribute to Sandra Day O'Connor: Personal Reflections;

51:11 The Constitution of Knowledge and Navigating Social Media Chaos

Let us know what you think. You can find Corey on all the socials @coreysnathan such as www.threads.net/@coreysnathan.

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Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what’s broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it.

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www.jonathanrauch.com

www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2024/01/lavender-scare-gay-people-public-service-erasure/677236/

www.amazon.com/Constitution-Knowledge-Jonathan-Rauch/dp/0815738862/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0