Ross Douthat: Is it Rational to Believe?
Today, Zach Davis is joined by New York Times columnist and author Ross Douthat to talk about his new book, Believe: Why Everyone Should Be Religious.
Ross has spent his career bridging worlds—explaining faith and conservatism to a largely secular audience while also translating secular ideas back to religious readers. In this conversation, he makes a compelling case for why belief isn’t just a leap into the unknown, but a rational and maybe even necessary response to the world as we actually experience it.
Zach and Ross also explore some of the major barriers that keep modern, intellectually serious people from embracing faith—things like the Copernican and Darwinian revolutions, which many see as having displaced humanity from the center of the universe. But Ross challenges these assumptions, showing how science, rather than disproving faith, could actually deepen the mystery of our existence in a way that makes belief more compelling than ever. And he points out something undeniable–– that even as religious affiliation in the West declines, people across all backgrounds continue to report profound, life-altering encounters with the divine. Ross suggests that these experiences, far from being irrational, may be one of the strongest indicators that something real is at work in the universe.
This conversation was a fascinating mix of theology, philosophy, and cultural analysis, and we think Ross offers an important and thought-provoking perspective—one that invites both skeptics and believers to take faith seriously.
And if you enjoyed this conversation, check out The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God — A Conversation with Justin Brierley and Fully Alive - A Conversation with Elizabeth Oldfield.
Books we mentioned:
Believe: Why Everyone Should Be Religious by Ross Douthat
Fully Alive: Tending to the Soul in Turbulent Times by Elizabeth Oldfield
The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God: Why New Atheism Grew Old and Secular Thinkers Are Considering Christianity Again by Justin Brierley
Living in Wonder: Finding Mystery and Meaning in a Secular Age by Rod Dreher
Faith Matters is an affiliate of Bookshop.org and will earn a commission from qualifying purchases if you click through and make a purchase. Thank you for supporting the work of Faith Matters!
COMING UP AT THE COMPASS
Deepen your Come Follow Me study for 2025 as Terryl Givens and Dr. Ariel Laughton explore questions like, What was the original Christian church? Did it look anything like the Restored Church? Is our great apostasy narrative accurate? In-person attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions of these remarkable scholars. It’s an opportunity you won’t want to miss!
This conversation is the first of a new Faith Matters series, The Big Questions, happening at the Compass.
Join Terryl Givens to explore The Big Questions
Join scholar, theologian and author Terryl Givens for a 12-month series of conversations we are calling The Big Questions. Each month at The Compass in downtown Provo, Terryl will invite a special guest expert for conversations around some of the most fascinating theological and historical questions that will come up during this year’s study of the Doctrine and Covenants. Questions like:
Friends of Faith Matters and paid Substack subscribers get complimentary access to the livestream and recordings—a link will be emailed to you 24 hours before the event. Thank you for your support!
Our Compass events are subsidized and made possible by private rentals of the space for wedding receptions, business retreats, birthday parties, and more. If you or someone you know has an event coming up, consider supporting Faith Matters by recommending The Compass!
STUDY “COME FOLLOW ME” WITH FAITH MATTERS
What is the Work of the Restoration?
January 27-February 2
Is there a faithful way to push for change in an institution one believes is divinely guided?
What could missionary work look like in the 21st century?
What does it look like to serve God with all our mind?
What do we make of the Book of Mormon?
How can we "fear not to do good"?
Feburary 3-9
How do we learn to hear God's voice? What does "doubt not, fear not" mean? How can we overcome fear? How do we hold on to hope when the world seems to just keep getting worse? How do we respond to God's silence? And how should we think about the translation of the Book of Mormon?
To receive Come Follow Me resource roundups from Faith Matters in your inbox, first be sure you are subscribed to the Faith Matters Substack, then go to manage your subscription and turn on notifications for “Come Follow Me”.
PEACEMAKERS NEEDED
THIS WEEK IN WAYFARE
MORE FROM THE FAITH MATTERS PODCAST NETWORK
