Evangelical pastor Douglas Wilson doesn’t mind if you call him a theocrat. He thinks America began as a Christian nation and should become one again.
He wants a society that acknowledges Jesus’ authority over politics and patriarchal authority in the home.
For a long time, his style seemed like a throwback, but in 2025, he’s having a moment in the cultural spotlight. Is he just being hyped by his critics as a Trump-era villain? Or does America’s religious future really lie in a recovery of its zealous Puritan past?
Below is an edited transcript of an episode of “Interesting Times.” We recommend listening to it in its original form for the full effect. You can do so using the player above or on the NYT Audio app, Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music, YouTube, iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts.
Ross Douthat: Doug Wilson, welcome to “Interesting Times.”
Doug Wilson: Thanks for having me.
Douthat: So we’re going to try and talk about some pretty meaty things — obviously your vision for America as a Christian nation — but I wanted to start with a conversation about some of your theological beliefs, because I thought it would be helpful to ground the audience for when we turn to politics. And also, I’m just interested.
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