Can Religion Cure the Loneliness Epidemic?

Open to Debate

Education, News, Society & Culture

4.6 • 2.2K Ratings

🗓️ 26 December 2025

⏱️ 52 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

America is suffering from a loneliness epidemic. Some groups have suggested religious communities may be key to solving it. Could it help? Those arguing “yes” say it gives people regular social contact, support systems, and a sense of purpose that could combat isolation. Those arguing “no” say that secular options would provide better, broad-based solutions. Now we debate: Can Religion Cure the Loneliness Epidemic? Arguing Yes: Harold Koenig, Director of Duke University’s Center for Spirituality, Theology and Health Chris Murphy, Senator from Connecticut Arguing No: Ruth Whippman, Author of "America the Anxious: How Our Pursuit of Happiness Is Creating a Nation of Nervous Wrecks" and "BOYMOM: Reimagining Boyhood in the Age of Impossible Masculinity." Dan Barker, Co-President of the Freedom from Religion Foundation Emmy award-winning journalist John Donvan moderates Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:30.0	Hi, everybody.
0:31.0	A quick note before we get to today's episode.
0:33.4	As you may know from my mentions at the end of each episode, we are a nonprofit and our work is supported by donors like you.
0:40.5	We love what we do, and we hope you love it too. We want to continue to bring you debates on all of the issues that matter to all of us.
0:47.9	And if you want to support that work and help keep us going, we would really appreciate it.
0:51.6	So please consider making a gift or becoming a paid subscriber to our open-toate Substack. These are tax deductible. And as a paid subscriber on Substack, which, by the way, comes out to less than $7 a month, you'll be included in behind-the-scenes conversations and early access to live event tickets. Thank you again for listening and supporting Open to Debate. This is Open to Debate. I'm John Donvan. Hi, everybody. Somehow, the holiday season is already
1:15.4	nearly over and the start of a new year is right around the corner. Holidays can be actually
1:20.4	pretty isolating. And as you may have heard, there's a year-round epidemic of loneliness,
1:24.9	particularly among men, retirees, and others in the population.
1:29.6	This loneliness can have some pretty serious consequences health-wise, cardiovascular disease,
1:34.0	dementia, stroke, depression, anxiety, even premature death. So bearing all of that in mind,
1:39.1	we wanted to take another look at a debate we did earlier this year, the question is,
1:43.2	can religion cure the loneliness
1:45.0	epidemic? We originally broadcast this one in early 2025, but despite the topic, I want you to know
	...

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