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.
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.
The Chaos of God Does Not Support Science, Ross Douthat
Ross Douthat argues that the Christian universe is full of magical monsters and spells but then says that Christianity is about an ordered universe. Douthat can't have it both ways.
A Poet Who Destroyed Art And Split His Family, Ross Douthat?
Why does Ross Douthat begin a book that’s supposed to be about the rationality of religion with a bizarre Catholic poem about how the Christian god is a smudge of pure crude oil? Ross Douthat is so deep in his religious faith he doesn’t see how weird that is.