Rebecca Goldstein and Steven Pinker on Reason, Fiction and Faith

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Rebecca Goldstein and Steven Pinker on Reason, Fiction and Faith

05 Mar 2010

Rebecca Goldstein talks to Steven Pinker about faith, reason, fiction, and God, all of which are themes explored in her novel 36 Arguments for the Existence of God (2010).

Goldstein explores the implicit argument in her book that religion is more than merely the arguments for God’s existence. These arguments can be rebutted but will make little difference for those that find meaning in religious communities. Her novel adds to the conversation about reason and faith by arguing that religion is about much more, including self- and group-identity, loyalty of community, historical narratives, and certain ways of confronting existential dilemmas.

Goldstein discusses some of the characters in her novel, whose actions represent a secular expression of religious traits and impulses. For example, the love life of the main protagonist relates to her argument that the metaphysical belief of love, immune to empirical revision, parallels so-called irrational religious belief. These impulses are rooted in human nature, and can therefore be given secular expression.

Goldstein concludes by arguing that while her book makes a strong case for atheism, fiction is capacious and leaves room for the readers to bring their own experiences to their interpretations of a novel.