

Re-enchanting... Belief - Ross Douthat
Jul 9, 2025
Ross Douthat, a columnist for The New York Times and author of 'Believe: Why Everyone Should Be Religious', dives into the transformative power of faith. He discusses the positive impacts of religion on well-being and navigates the complexities of maintaining beliefs in a divided political landscape. Douthat shares his personal faith journey and the shifting dynamics of Christianity, while advocating for a thoughtful engagement with institutional faith. The conversation also touches on contemporary interest in spirituality amidst skepticism, exploring faith's renewal in modern culture.
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Engage Opposing Views Charitably
- Strive to engage with and understand the best arguments of opposing views with humility and charity.
- Recognize that both political or religious sides often have partial truths and appreciate the humanity of their adherents.
Ross's Faith Journey
- Ross Douthat experienced charismatic Christianity intensely as a child but personally did not have mystical experiences like speaking in tongues.
- His faith eventually rooted in intellectual Catholicism, blending reason with mystical elements.
Disenchantment's Myth and Persistence
- Disenchantment of the natural world has been overstated; mystical experiences persist even within modern secular contexts.
- Official knowledge excludes supernatural elements, but cracks have appeared, allowing for renewed fascination with the mystical and unexplained.