American Author David Berlinski | PBD Podcast | EP 146

Apr 13, 2022

David Berlinski, an acclaimed author and senior fellow at the Discovery Institute, delves into intriguing subjects like the critiques of Darwinian evolution and the philosophical insights that have shaped his views on God and religion. He discusses Pascal's Wager, the effects of the Holocaust on his beliefs, and the lessons from the 1960s generation. Berlinski also reflects on the intricate connection between faith and mathematics and the role of religion throughout history, questioning the institutions we trust too much whilst navigating the complexities of modern secularism.

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ANECDOTE

Early Doubts About Evolution

David Berlinski and his roommate read Darwin's "Origin of Species" at Princeton.
Both intuitively felt the theory lacked truth, despite having no scientific basis for this feeling.

INSIGHT

The Failure of Secular Substitutes

Berlinski's parents, musicians who rejected Jewish orthodoxy, embraced art as a substitute for religion.
He observed this substitution ultimately failed to provide the needed fulfillment, a common experience with secular substitutes.

ANECDOTE

Indifference, Not Certainty

Berlinski maintains his agnostic position not out of certainty, but indifference to religious commitment.
He compares this to having mathematical talent but lacking the "urgency of desire" for a religious life.

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