Everything Happens with Kate Bowler The New Shape of American Religion with Ross Douthat and Molly Worthen
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Mar 3, 2026 
Molly Worthen, historian of American evangelicalism, and Ross Douthat, NYT columnist on religion and culture, join the conversation. They explore why the long narrative of religious decline may be shifting. They discuss rising spiritual curiosity among young people, the tension between online performative Christianity and parish-based renewal, and how Christian nationalism shows up as symbolism versus policy.
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Avoid One-Size-Fits Religion Narratives
- When interpreting American religion, avoid one-size-fits-all decline narratives and account for diversity across denominations and practices.
- Kate Bowler urges recognizing Catholics, evangelicals, mainline, historically Black churches, charismatics, and more.
Parish Community Drives Renewals Not Hierarchy
- Renewals are often bottom-up, driven by parish communities and local encounters rather than trust in national hierarchies.
- Ross notes Catholic parish life, especially near universities, can bring people into faith despite hierarchy scandals.
Institutions Lost Their Monopoly On Worship
- Institutional distrust is now persistent even among committed believers, producing intermittent participation instead of lifelong, all-encompassing church life.
- Molly Worthen points to travel sports and weekend choices as examples of shifted priorities.
