Do We Need God? Steven Pinker vs. Ross Douthat Debate

Religion has faded across much of the West—but the search for meaning hasn’t. In this debate, cognitive psychologist Steven Pinker and New York Times columnist Ross Douthat explore whether a secular society can truly sustain itself. For years, many intellectuals predicted that as religion declined, society would become calmer, more rational, and more scientific. Instead, modern politics often feels just as fervent—driven by new forms of moral conflict, tribalism, and ideological certainty. So where does morality come from without God? Are ideas like human dignity and human rights grounded in something transcendent—or can they stand on reason alone? In this conversation, Pinker and Douthat debate the role of faith in modern life and whether religion is declining—or simply returning in new forms. Part of the Things That Matter debate series.