The Independent Nones
It is an easy and entertaining setup. Recruit one fervent believer and one atheist, give them microphones, and let them have at it. And that is exactly what happened when Catholic New York Times columnist Ross Douthat debated atheist psychologist Steven Pinker on the subject, “Do we need God?” inside Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church earlier this year.
TL;DR
- Ross Douthat and Steven Pinker debated "Do we need God?"
- Pinker disputed the idea that political tribalism has replaced religious tribalism.
- He stated that evangelical Christians are the most politically polarized faction in the US.
- Individuals with no religious affiliation ('nones') are the least politically polarized.
- Pinker suggested that religion and political polarization are correlated.