In this engaging discussion, Ross Douthat, a New York Times columnist and cultural critic, delves into the rationale behind faith in a secular world. He presents the compelling case for God's existence, combining evidence from science and philosophy. Douthat explores the challenges of consciousness and critiques being 'spiritual but not religious.' He reflects on how his battle with Lyme disease transformed his spirituality, emphasizing the importance of discernment in the spiritual journey. A thought-provoking conversation for seekers of meaning!
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insights INSIGHT
Converging Evidence For Theism
Belief in God is strongest when multiple independent lines of evidence converge.
Design, consciousness, and spiritual experience together make theism more parsimonious than many separate secular explanations.
insights INSIGHT
Consciousness Challenges Materialism
The hard problem shows subjective experience resists reduction to physics.
If mind and matter are both directly experienced, it's plausible to consider mind as ontologically prior to matter.
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Move From Exploration To Commitment
If you're spiritual, explore different traditions but don't stay indefinitely uncommitted.
Join a community to access guidance, accountability, and models of faithful practice.
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Ross Douthat is a New York Times columnist, author, and podcast host.
His latest book, "Believe," presents a rational case for faith in an increasingly secular world, drawing on evidence from science, philosophy, and human experience to make a compelling argument for the existence of God.
In this conversation, we explore:
— Why the strongest case for God rests at the intersection of multiple converging lines of evidence
— How the "hard problem of consciousness" challenges purely materialist explanations of reality
— Why being "spiritual but not religious" might be a reasonable starting point but not a desirable permanent state
— The importance of discernment in navigating the spiritual landscape
— How Ross's five-year battle with Lyme disease transformed his relationship with God
And more.
You can find Ross's work in his New York Times column, his book "Believe," and his podcast "Interesting Times."
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Ross Douthat is a best-selling author, columnist, and cultural critic whose work explores the intersections of politics, religion, and society. He has been an opinion columnist for The New York Times since 2009 and was previously a senior editor at The Atlantic.
He is the author of several acclaimed books, including Privilege: "Grand New Party", "Bad Religion", "To Change the Church", "The Decadent Society", and his memoir "The Deep Places: A Memoir of Illness and Discovery".
His latest book, Believe: Why Everyone Should Be Religious (2025), makes a compelling case for the enduring importance of faith in modern life.
Douthat graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He lectures widely on religion, politics, and culture, and lives in New Haven, Connecticut, with his wife, journalist Abigail Tucker, and their children.
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Interview Links:
— Ross' YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@InterestingTimesNYT/videos
— Ross' X account: https://x.com/douthatnyt
— Ross' book: https://amzn.to/3IlxZCj
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