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.
A Summary Of Ross Douthat’s Failed Arguments For Religion
At the beginning chapter 4 of Believe: Why Everyone Should Be Religious, an overconfident Ross Douthat boasts that religion is the obvious choice because he has articulated multiple rational arguments in favor of religious belief. This chapter is meant to be Douthat’s victory lap, a preparation for his argument in favor of Christianity. Actually, it’s where his book falls apart into complete disaster.
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.