On the decline of institutional Christianity
“Institutional religion in the United States ”” institutional Christianity in particular ”” is much, much weaker today than it was 40 years ago. But religion itself is as strong as ever. … But the eclipse of institutional faith, and the eclipse of what I would say was a kind of a Christian center that the country used to have, has created a landscape where religion divides us much more than it used to.”
On heresies
“The heresies that I write about are what flourish in the vacuum that’s left by institutional Christianity’s decline. So if the country remains religious, but the institutional churches are weaker than they used to be, what steps into the breach?”
Douthat continues to impress as an articulate, discerning voice. The interview was well done and informative.