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.
Ross Douthat Could Show You Proof You Should Be Christian, But He Doesn’t Want To
In chapter 8 of his book Believe, Ross Douthat refuses to provide evidence that being a Christian is reasonable, even though providing that evidence is the premise of the entire book.
Repaired Radios That Play Music Are Not Proof Of God, Ross Douthat
Ross Douthat and Michael Shermer alike are completely unable to provide any reason to believe that dead people can turn on radios to communicate with living people. Douthat once again cannot justify his belief in religion.
Animals Are Not Machines, Ross Douthat
Ross Douthat says that it’s common sense to look at animals as if they are machines that are produced in a workshop by a supernatural spirit. No one has ever seen such a thing taking place.
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.
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.