Believe Audiobook By Ross Douthat cover art

Believe

Why Everyone Should Be Religious

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Believe

By: Ross Douthat
Narrated by: Ross Douthat
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About this listen

An Instant New York Times Bestseller

"Truly a Mere Christianity for the 21st century"--World magazine

From the host of the Interesting Times podcast

Read by the author.

Do you ever wish you had more faith? Here is a blueprint for thinking your way from doubt to belief.

As a columnist for the New York Times who writes often about spiritual topics for a skeptical audience, Ross Douthat understands that many of us want to have more faith than we do. Douthat argues that in light of what we know today it should be harder to not have faith than to have it.

With empathy, clarity, and rigor, Douthat explores:

  • Why nonbelief requires ignoring what our reasoning faculties tell us about the world
  • How modern scientific developments make a religious worldview more credible, not less
  • Why it's entirely reasonable to believe in mystical and supernatural realities
  • How an open-minded religious quest should proceed amid the diversity of religious faiths
  • How Douthat's own Christianity is informed by his blueprint for belief

With clear and straightforward arguments, Believe shows how religious belief makes sense of the order of the cosmos and our place within it, illuminates the mystery of consciousness, and explains the persistent reality of encounters with the supernatural. Highly relevant for our current moment, Believe offers a pathway for thinking your way from doubt into belief, from uncertainty about our place in the universe into a confidence that we are here for a reason.

©2025 Ross Douthat (P)2025 Zondervan
Apologetics Christianity Philosophy Religious Studies Theology Paranormal Fantasy Agnostic
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Compelling Arguments • Thoughtful Analysis • Accessible Writing • Balanced Perspective • Intellectual Depth
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A cosmos made for manas proven by our ability to comprehend the cosmos. What an interesting spin, I loved it.

Centering one in the universe

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Douthat accomplishes exactly what he set out to do - this book is an extremely compelling case for belief in a world that seeks to stamp it out. His writing is dense but (mostly) accessible and his common-sense analogies successfully unpack some of the most challenging topics. Perhaps most pleasantly surprising: this book contains only a sensible amount of repetition eg to make a point clear. In contrast to the all-too-common "I have 40% of a book so I'll just repeat myself for the next 120 pages" pattern I've observed elsewhere. I'm recommending this book to everyone I know.

Compelling

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Well-reasoned propositions that are out of step with current Western culture. All the more reason to consider the propositions with vigor.

Very timely and compelling.

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Really enjoyed this book. His information especially on the state of our understanding of mind was very informative. His argument for belief is also compelling and well reasoned.

Informative and well argued

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Normally I find this type of book tedious, but I just about listened to this in one sitting. I immediately ordered the physical book. Concise, convincing, and doesn't resort to intellectual dishonesty, complex theology, or jargon. Doesn't gloss over any hard questions that might be posed by the religious skeptic, but addresses each question fairly and clearly. It's a really compelling rational case for religion generally, and a guide for choosing a faith tradition even in the face of uncertainty. Truly a book for everyone.

I don't read this type of book

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I liked Ross on Matter of Opinion. I thought his appearance on Ezra Klein promoting this book was interesting. I was hoping for a deeper dive in the book it's self, but it felt like a contemporary gloss on the silliest ideas I remember from my Philosophy of Religion class 20 years ago. I get the strategic goal of fighting for "Religion is true" over "Religion is good" but I spent the whole book feeling like Ross was tossing out straw men he can't possibly believe are convincing. The tone he reads in also has a smugness that makes his arguments for design and God of the gaps views insufferable. I like Ross as the conservative you can chat with about interesting stuff, but this ain't it

Disappointing & Unconvincing

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Refreshing and level headed approach. Read it with someone you can talk about it with.

Inspiring

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This is a thoughtful, serious, intelligent, and inspiring analysis. Douthat challenges the listener to grapple with fundamental truths. His presentation is clear and simple enough on some points to actually cause you to pause and rethink your own approach and faith on both specific and broad topics. Worth the listen.

Well done and convincing.

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A compelling case to be skeptical of absolute skepticism, to take spirituality as the ordinary, to take organized religion as the only serious form of religion, to start with the religion that makes some sense to you, to commit to serious religious practice, and to be always striving to go further up and further in to the divine mystery. After all, the one who believes in nothing, will fall for anything.

Religion is Normal for a Reason

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I cannot recommend this book highly enough. The author brilliantly weaves multiple lines of reasoning into a very compelling work. I don’t believe an intelligent atheist could read this book without being moved towards having a deeper respect for, and appreciation of, religion.

A book for thoughtful theists, atheists and agnostics

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