R. R. Reno’s Call for the Return of Strong Gods in Public Life
In a series of posts, R. R. Reno discusses the necessity for what he terms as the strong gods to make a comeback in public life. He emphasizes that this resurgence is not simply a matter of preference, but an inevitable occurrence. Reno asserts that the strong gods, characterized by unity and shared love, are essential for societal cohesion:
“We yearn to join ourselves to others, not only in the bonds of matrimony but in civic and religious bonds as well. The ‘we’ arises out of love, a ferocious power that seeks to rest in something greater than oneself…Our hearts remain restless. They seek to rest in loyalty to strong gods worthy of love’s devotion and sacrifice. And our hearts will find what they seek.”
Reno acknowledges that fostering unifying strong gods requires deliberate effort and commitment, unlike divisive weak gods. He highlights the political nature of the “we” that arises from shared love and intentional creation:
“The solidarity found in the ‘we’ is always political in the broadest sense. Because the ‘we’ is not natural…its particularity requires intentional effort to create, guide, and sustain. In short, the ‘we’ does not just happen.”
Conversely, Reno critiques the dark gods of identity politics, which rely on shared identity rather than shared love to sustain themselves. He argues that true unity stems from positive motivations such as love for the divine, truth, country, and family:
“Love seeks to unite with and rest in that which is loved. But, Reno laments the disdain with which elites treat such unifying loves, viewing them as inconsequential. He asserts that patriotic loyalty, in particular, plays a crucial role in keeping a nation together:
“Our shared loves raise us to a higher vantage point…As Aristotle recognized, this loyalty is intrinsically fulfilling, for it satisfies the human desire for transcendence.”
Reno warns against the dangers of succumbing to false loves propagated by demagogues in the absence of genuine and noble loves. He stresses the importance of family loyalty and religious communities as additional pillars of societal cohesion:
“To combat the idolatry of placing the nation above all else, we must nurture sources of solidarity that limit the claims of the civic ‘we’…The strong gods can reinforce each other, preparing our hearts for loves many devotions.”
Reno suggests that while political policies can influence the restoration of strong gods, cultural politics play a more significant role. He calls for a reinvigoration of public life through a language of love and a vision of unity that appeals to both reason and emotion:
“Our task is to restore public life in the West by developing a language of love and a vision of the ‘we’ that befits our dignity. We must attend to the strong gods who come from above and animate the best of our traditions.”
As Reno’s discussion comes to a close, he emphasizes the need for leadership that prioritizes the noblest versions of the strong gods to prevent the resurgence of dark gods. In the subsequent posts, we will delve into Reno’s insights and areas where his arguments may fall short.
