Not Everyone Believes, Ross Douthat

This podcast examines, page by page, the ideas proposed by Christian writer Ross Douthat in his book Believe: Why Everyone Should Be Religious.

In his book, Ross Douthat claims that religious belief in general, and Christian belief specifically, is the rational choice. Do his arguments hold up to scrutiny?

Why make this podcast? Well, not everyone believes. We want to know why Ross Douthat thinks that’s so terrible, and why he’s using his power as a member of the media elite to try to get everybody in America to believe the same thing.

Clifford Cook 11/12/26 Clifford Cook 11/12/26

Ross Douthat Admits He Loves Catholicism For Its Abusive Power

Ross Douthat urges his readers to conform to authority, and not think too hard about religion. Then he explains that the abuses of his Christian church are don't matter because the church is so beautifully powerful.

Clifford Cook 10/30/26 Clifford Cook 10/30/26

Truth Isn’t Proven In An Ideological Deathmatch, Ross Douthat

Ross Douthat argues that religions with the most members must be the most cosmically true. What if members of one religion just use violence to kill of members of other religions? Is that Truth?

Clifford Cook 10/27/26 Clifford Cook 10/27/26

Why Should I Let A Church Tell Me How To Live, Ross Douthat?

On page 117 of his book Believe, Ross Douthat suddenly announces that people should submit themselves to the moral commands of Christian churches. Why? Ross Douthat has provided no rational reason to think that religions have any moral authority. He just takes it for granted.

Clifford Cook 10/26/26 Clifford Cook 10/26/26

Why Join A Christian Church If You’re Not Hot For It, Ross Douthat?

Ross Douthat says that God will torture us for being only lukewarm about religion, but then he says that we shouldn't worry about the Catholic Church, because a lot of Catholics don't even believe what the church says, and that's cool. Which is it?

Clifford Cook 10/24/26 Clifford Cook 10/24/26

Christianity Is A Map Into Fantasyland, Ross Douthat

On page 114, in chapter 4 of his book Believe: Why Everyone Should Be Religious, Ross Douthat argues that if everyone else is jumping off a cliff, you should do it too. Also, Douthat writes that he has a map that takes you from Bangor, Maine to an invisible city that doesn’t exist. Yes, Ross Douthat’s book is that kooky.

Clifford Cook 10/19/26 Clifford Cook 10/19/26

Questioning Religious Authority Isn't Embarrassing, Ross Douthat

Ross Douthat argues that scientists and atheists are to blame when religious people discover that what Christian preachers tell them isn’t true. Douthat is angry at skeptics embarrass people by pointing out the crazy lies of religion. Why isn’t he angry at the religious lies?

Clifford Cook 9/29/26 Clifford Cook 9/29/26

Can Reason Ever Begin In Fear?

Ross Douthat, in the book Believe: Why Everyone Should Be Religious, claims that he will make a rational argument, but even in the acknowledgements, he tells his readers that they should BEGIN by being afraid of the Christian god, motivated by religion first, not by reason.