Believing Is Seeing by Joshua Pauling

A Review of Believe: Why Everyone Should be Religious by Ross Douthat

For generations, it has been assumed that the inevitable march of scientific and technological progress would vanquish religious belief. Yet, despite great advancements in man’s knowledge and material condition, religion persists, even in secularizing societies. It may take on different forms (utopian political dreams, conspiracy theories, psychedelics, UFOs, transhumanism), but the religious impulse of man remains. In his new book Believe, Ross Douthat makes the case that traditional religion still offers a robust, reasonable, beautiful pathway for exercising our religious impulse in ways that are conducive to human flourishing.

Douthat has been on the front lines of these discussions in his professional and...

Joshua Pauling

is a classical educator, furniture-maker, and vicar at All Saints Lutheran Church (LCMS) in Charlotte, North Carolina. He also taught high school history for thirteen years and studied at Messiah College, Reformed Theological Seminary, and Winthrop University. In addition to Salvo, Josh has written for Areo, FORMA, Front Porch Republic, Mere Orthodoxy, Public Discourse, Quillette, The Imaginative Conservative, Touchstone, and is a frequent guest on Issues, Etc. Radio Show/Podcast.