Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) said the United States is experiencing a spiritual crisis driven by the worship of profit over people.
Murphy said these views during an NPR interview on May 26, 2026 [2], to promote his new book, “Crisis of the Common Good: The Fight for Meaning and Connection in a Broken America.” The senator said the nation's current instability is not merely political but rooted in a deeper loss of shared purpose.
In the text, Murphy identifies six societal “cults” [1] that he believes have fragmented American life. He said these structures prioritize individual or corporate gain at the expense of the collective well-being. By identifying these specific drivers of division, Murphy aims to provide a framework for citizens to reclaim a sense of commonality.
Murphy said that addressing these identified cults could serve as a pathway to unite the country. He said that by shifting the national focus away from profit-driven motives and toward human connection, the U.S. can resolve its most pressing societal issues [4].
The discussion, conducted by Leila Fadel, focuses on the necessity of rebuilding social bonds in an era of extreme polarization. Murphy said the "common good" is not a political destination but a practice of recognizing the inherent value of other citizens over financial metrics [1].
“The United States is in a spiritual crisis caused by worshipping profit over people.”
Murphy's approach shifts the conversation from legislative policy to sociological and spiritual health. By framing political polarization as a symptom of 'cult-like' societal structures rather than simple partisan disagreement, he suggests that political solutions alone are insufficient without a fundamental cultural shift in how Americans value human connection over economic gain.
