Hub Podcasts Ross Douthat on why religion is making a comeback in the West
Nov 24, 2025
Ross Douthat, a New York Times columnist and author of 'Believe', dives into the resurgence of religious interest in the West. He explores how secularization has stalled, highlighting the cultural shift towards faith post-COVID. Douthat discusses the potential of AI and digital pressures to enhance the value of religious commitments. He connects this renewed curiosity to rising political polarization, suggesting that politics often fills spiritual voids, complicating the future of religious communities.
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Episode notes
Fogged Flight Before The Lecture
- Ross accepted Cardus' invitation partially because of prior collaboration and honor to visit Canada.
- Travel disruptions (plane turned back due to fog) made delivering the lecture more existentially important.
Secularization Has Plateaued
- Western countries stopped rapidly secularizing around the COVID era and now show renewed interest in religion.
- This interest hasn't yet become a full revival and varies by region and tradition.
Religion Counters Cultural Obsolescence
- Technological and social changes make normal human commitments harder to sustain and push people toward meaning-seeking.
- Ross argues religion may be increasingly valued as a bulwark against cultural obsolescence.
