Ross Douthat on miracles, suffering and how to talk to atheists about religion
Ross Douthat on miracles, suffering and how to talk to atheists about religion  
Podcast: The Spiritual Life with Fr. James Martin, S.J.
Published On: Tue Aug 12 2025
Description: Host James Martin, S.J. welcomes New York Times Opinion columnist and host of the “Interesting Times” podcast Ross Douthat onto “The Spiritual Life” to talk about: - The eclectic variety of religious experience Ross encountered as a child through his parents’ exploration of charismatic and Pentecostal communities and his family’s eventual conversion to Roman Catholicism.  - Ross’ five-year struggle with Lyme disease, detailed in his memoir The Deep Places, and where he found God amidst his mysterious illness. - The importance of finding gratitude for the ordinary pleasures in life.  Read Fr. Martin’s spiritual advice column about this episode here: https://www.americamagazine.org/podcasts/2025/08/12/ross-douthat-james-martin-spiritual-life-suffering Do you have a spiritual question for Fr. Jim? You can write to us at:  thespirituallife@americamedia.org Become a subscriber today at https://www.americamagazine.org/subscribe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices