Atheist Community of Austin: Recent Episodes
Atheist Community of Austin
The Atheist Community of Austin is a 501(c)3 which produces programs such as The Atheist Experience, Talk Heathen, Truth Wanted, Secular Sexuality and others.
In today's episode of the Atheist Experience, Jim Barrows and Kelley Laughlin dive deep into philosophical arguments, information theory, and the limits of knowing God!
Donald in LA presents an argument for an 'unactualized actualizer' using information, actuality, and potentiality. What exactly does 'information' mean in your framework? The hosts challenge his definitions and question whether the law of identity supports his premises. If everything that changes requires an actualizer, what actualizes the actualizer? Donald's complex terminology raises more questions than answers about whether his argument proves what he thinks it does.
Bob in NY attempts to discuss the contingency argument and thermodynamics but spends most of his time complaining about the previous caller's airtime. After repeated warnings about staying on topic, Bob is disconnected. Sometimes the most revealing part of a call is what the caller chooses to focus on instead of their actual argument.
Allison in MO offers a thoughtful perspective: if God exists, humans could never truly know God's nature because all information would be propaganda from an all-powerful being. The hosts agree this is a genuine epistemological problem. How would we distinguish God's truth from God's manipulation? Without empirical evidence and measurable properties, any claim about God's nature becomes unfalsifiable. This raises profound questions about what it would even mean to 'know' God.
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In today's episode of the Atheist Experience, ObjectivelyDan and Seth Andrews tackle the problem of evil, epistemology, and whether math could be God!
Darth Dawkins from the East Coast challenges Seth on how anyone can know what a maximally benevolent God would allow. The conversation escalates as Darth repeatedly accuses the hosts of dodging his question and being abusive when muted. If this is the best defense of God's benevolence, what does that say about the argument itself? Can you really claim to know what an all-good deity would permit without defining your terms?
Aaron in TX explains how evolution completely undermines the concept of original sin and the entire Christian narrative. He also explores how religious obedience can lead to financial exploitation and poor personal boundaries. If Adam and Eve never existed, what happens to the foundation of Christianity? How does blind obedience to religious authority make people vulnerable to manipulation?
Allison in MO proposes that math is the only thing that could be considered God, as it exists outside time and space and governs all physical laws. The hosts struggle to understand the premise and suggest workshopping the argument. Does math exist independently of minds, or is it a tool we invented? If math is God, what does worship even mean?
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In today's episode of The Atheist Experience, The Cross Examiner, Godless Engineer, and Kelley Laughlin tackle biblical slavery, religious privilege, and the lengths believers will go to defend the indefensible.
Julie in CA shares a text exchange with a Christian friend about slavery in the Bible that ended a 50-year friendship. After Julie removed illegal religious signs from public property, her friend accused her of attacking Christianity. The hosts explore how the Bible explicitly endorses slavery while mandating trivial ritual details, and why believers reinterpret these passages only after secular humanists forced moral progress. Why does an all-powerful god fail to prohibit owning humans as property?
Stumpy Nubs on TikTok argues that Mark 14:51-52 proves Jesus owned a young slave based on Greek translation and connections to Dionysian rituals. The hosts challenge this interpretation, noting the passage mentions neither ownership nor slavery. Is this careful scholarship or reading your conclusion into the text? The difference between exegesis and eisegesis matters when making extraordinary claims about biblical figures.
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In today's episode of the Atheist Experience, Thinker, Godless Engineer, and Kelley Laughlin tackle divine command theory, biblical atrocities, and mystical claims about reality!
Andrew in NJ argues that evil is anything outside God's purpose. If God commanded murder, would that be good? The hosts challenge his inconsistent definitions and ask if he'd condemn selling daughters as slaves. When divine command becomes your moral compass, where does accountability go?
James in OK claims morality requires God, not human consensus. The hosts confront him on Exodus 21:7 and his rationalization of biblical slavery. Why does God's law permit owning people as property? If God is the source of morality, why does scripture endorse cruelty?
Georgi in Bulgaria presents a New Age view that God needs humans for experience and claims ancient structures like Machu Picchu prove supernatural involvement. The hosts explain the known construction methods and redirect him to Truth Wanted for alien topics. Why assume the supernatural when human ingenuity suffices?
Juan in Columbia presents a panentheistic view where God is a non-materialistic basis for reality and consciousness. He struggles to clearly define his concept of God. What does it mean to say God is the basis of reality if you can't articulate what that basis is?
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In today's episode of the Atheist Experience, Justin DZ and The Cross Examiner tackle biblical authorship, Christian nationalism, and the delicate balance of deconversion within families.
Anne in CA asks about the authorship and historical compilation of the Bible. Justin explains the documentary hypothesis, detailing how multiple sources were edited over centuries with political motivations driving the final compilation. The Bible wasn't written by single authors but assembled from various traditions. Understanding this academic scholarship reveals the human fingerprints all over what many claim is divine revelation. How does knowing the Bible's messy origins change how we evaluate its claims?
Hidde in Netherlands struggles with whether to deconvert his religious mother, who finds comfort in her faith after losing her own mother to dementia. The hosts discuss balancing truth-telling with compassion, recognizing that not every battle needs fighting. Sometimes causing unnecessary pain to someone vulnerable isn't worth the ideological victory. What responsibilities do we have to protect loved ones from harmful beliefs versus respecting their autonomy and comfort?
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In today's episode of the Atheist Experience, Godless Engineer and Jim Barrows confront callers defending biblical morality, slavery, and genocide!
Jeremy in MS claims God is not evil but struggles when confronted with 1 Samuel 15:3 commanding the killing of children and infants. He admits God said it, then deflects by asking if the hosts believe in Satan and oxygen before abruptly hanging up when challenged on his reasoning.
Courtney and Rachel in FL call to defend biblical morality. The hosts read Exodus 21:7-11 on selling daughters into slavery and Leviticus 25:44-46 on buying slaves. Rachel shockingly states she would sell her daughter to a rich man, comparing it to Jeffrey Epstein. They claim slavery was acceptable back then and defend beating slaves while appearing intoxicated. Where does this moral framework lead?
Glenn in Australia discusses his stepson's dream before dying, interpreting it as having spiritual significance. The hosts struggle to understand how this anecdotal experience proves God exists. Glenn mentions PTSD medication and modern slavery, but the conversation remains unfocused and unclear.
Marko in Canada argues God is not evil and the Old Testament law has been replaced by grace. The hosts challenge him with Matthew 5:17-19 where Jesus says he came to fulfill, not abolish the law. Marko claims Paul supersedes Jesus. When confronted with Numbers 31:17-18 and Deuteronomy 21:10-14 about taking virgin war brides, he defends these passages and refuses to answer whether he would kill a baby if God commanded it.
Papo in Puerto Rico presents a contingency argument claiming the universe needs a necessary being. The hosts counter that energy is necessary, citing E=mc² and the first law of thermodynamics. Papo claims the first law was created at the Big Bang but admits he doesn't know what E=mc² means while trying to argue physics.
Jase in OH claims aliens are proof of God, describing beings around his bed who disappeared when he cried out to Jesus. He references UFO researcher Joe Jordan. The hosts ask for evidence beyond personal experience, noting hallucinations feel real to those experiencing them. Can subjective experience prove objective reality?
William in MD argues Christians don't need to follow Old Testament law, citing Acts 15. The hosts counter with Matthew 5:17-19 and reference Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14 restricting diets. They cite Galatians 3:29 showing Christians are Abraham's seed. William tries arguing different rules for different people but has to leave.
Z in MA calls as a palette cleanser after intense previous calls. He shares his background with a Christian father and atheist mother, asks about agnostic versus atheist, and brings up Ouija boards as proof of energy or the afterlife. The hosts explain Ouija boards are manufactured by Hasbro and thank Z for his reasonable approach.
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In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, The Cross Examiner and Godless Engineer dissect the dangerous rise of Christian nationalism! From state-sanctioned violence in Uganda to the dismantling of secular education in Texas, the hosts expose the consequences of codifying dogma into law. Can a society remain free when its legal boundaries are dictated by ancient scriptures instead of objective human rights?
Tom in MI uses dreams and feelings of love as proof of a higher power. Godless Engineer defines love as a chemical process, while hosts critique why stories fail as data. Can we trust internal experiences when our biology is fallible?
Gannon in CA claims Noah’s Ark proves the Bible. The hosts challenge his fixation on labels while debunking fraudulent archaeological claims about rock formations. If your evidence is a misidentified rock, what remains of your belief?
Muhammad in India argues for Divine Command Theory, claiming child rape is "good" if God commands it. The hosts are stunned by this rejection of decency for religious consistency. How can a moral system be respected if it allows atrocities?
Joel in CA believes in God because he "sees" the devil with his eyes closed. The hosts dismantle the design argument using stellar evolution and planetary formation. Can internal visions serve as a reliable yardstick for external reality?
Will in Canada defends biblical slavery by calling God a "political gradualist." Hosts point out God made absolute laws for diet and sex but not for owning humans. Why would a perfect deity require centuries to condemn human ownership?
Aeve Morningstar in Canada applies a feminist lens to theology, questioning if Mary's impregnation was sexual assault. Hosts debate legal definitions of battery and the harm of divine voyeurism. Is the biblical relationship with God inherently coercive?
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In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Thinker and Zenamae celebrate Father’s Day by comparing the silence of a celestial parent to the immediate response of artificial intelligence! From the ethics of missing children advocacy to the submissive vows of religious weddings, the hosts explore how deconstruction provides a community based on facts rather than the "voicemail" of a distant deity. Can we build a moral legacy for the next generation without waiting for a ghost to return the call?
Hannah argues that the universe is a necessary infinite substance with infinite attributes that we should call God. Thinker and Zenamae challenge the semantic need for the label "God," noting that existence does not exhibit personal traits like listening or making promises. Does redefining the universe as a deity actually provide any evidence for the supernatural?
Tom in TX describes God as the ultimate deadbeat dad who has abandoned his creation to suffer through global boiling and corporate greed. The hosts emphasize the importance of fighting for real-world progress rather than waiting for a silent celestial father to intervene in a rigged system. Will the next generation be able to clean up the mess left behind by a negligent deity?
Zama waseMzansiza on TikTok struggles with the pain of potentially disappointing her fragile, religious mother while navigating her own deconstruction journey. Zenamae shares her personal experience with setting boundaries and learning to see parents as flawed human beings rather than just spiritual authority figures. Can we find a way to honor our family relationships without sacrificing our own intellectual integrity?
Asherah in South Africa questions whether Jesus was actually a disciple of John the Baptist, citing potential overlaps in their apocalyptic messages and ministry origins. Hosts dive into the "deceiver" narrative found in apocryphal texts and discuss the historical competition between these two rival religious figures. Was the Christian savior originally just a member of another preacher's crew?
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In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, The Cross Examiner and JMike tackle the subtle "little things" of Christian nationalism and the liberating reality of secular mental health! From the Pentagon's reclassification of Mormonism to a personal struggle with depression, the hosts dismantle the idea that faith is a viable substitute for evidence or professional care. Can we find a better grounding for reality than ancient forgeries and emotional placeholders?Levi in LA questions why he shouldn't believe in a higher power if it provides comfort, such as a positive outlook during illness. The hosts use the "diamond in the backyard" analogy to explore the high cost of religious tithing and emotional energy spent on unsupported claims. They emphasize that a lack of evidence should lead to agnosticism rather than conviction. What happens to your resources when the promise of a diamond never materializes?Michel in NY asks if the fame of the Gospels proves Jesus was a historical figure rather than a myth. The hosts compare this reasoning to the popularity of King Arthur or Robin Hood, noting that legendary status doesn't establish physical reality. The conversation briefly touches on apocryphal texts and modern gender commentary before being identified as potential trolling for its lack of substance. Can the popularity of a story ever serve as a reliable yardstick for historical truth?Marcos in New Zealand presents a trilemma regarding children and free will on Judgment Day. He also cites documented witnesses of Ellen White as proof for his theism. The hosts challenge this "hearsay of hearsay" by comparing it to the modern "James River Church toes" miracle, which lacked independent verification despite multiple claims of witnessing the divine. They urge applying a consistent standard of evidence to all extraordinary stories. Why do ancient legends receive a special pass from skepticism?Thank you for joining us this week! We will see you next time!
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In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Godless Engineer and Thinker celebrate Pride Month by dismantling the "superior" morality of the biblical deity! From the horrific commands to slaughter nursing infants in 1 Samuel 15:3 to the modern-day "crash out" over LGBTQ rights, the hosts expose the moral depravity behind ancient dogmas. Can a religion that affirms capital punishment for love ever claim the moral high ground?
Ashira in South Africa discusses why churches create fear to keep people in pews. She reflects on deconstructing as a black woman after reading biblical violence. Can community exist without hell? How do we navigate family when faith fades?
Jaden on TikTok debates Paul’s existence and Matthew’s zombies. The hosts examine Gnosticism versus orthodoxy and the "imagery" of the holy ones. Is thinking better than faith? Was Paul a real figure or a character for theological disputes?
Alec in WA claims consciousness is reality. The hosts use zircon crystals and the logic of racism to dismantle this solipsism. If reality is a dream, why can't we fly? Does the physical world exist independent of our minds?
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In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Secular Rarity and The CrossExaminer tackle the rising tide of Christian nationalism and the subjective nature of "personal" truth! They explore why mandatory Ten Commandment displays fail both the Constitution and basic math, while challenging callers to ground their supernatural claims in evidence. From Near-Death Experiences to the logical boundaries of creation, the hosts examine whether faith is a reliable path to reality.
Kelly in MN cites a Near-Death Experience involving Jesus as proof of divinity. Hosts challenge brain reliability during trauma and the circularity of using a personal moral yardstick to pick scripture. Can hope exist without objective evidence?
Luke in FL argues God is impossible because words cannot create matter. Hosts critique shifting the burden of proof and suggest compassionate inquiry over mockery. Is calling a belief "stupid" an effective way to change minds?
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In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Thinker and FE tackle the psychology of deconstruction, the fear of questioning, and the pitfalls of defining God into existence! From the "Jesus juice" of religious shortcuts to the biological reality of our brains, the hosts challenge listeners to bring verifiable receipts for their holy claims.
Poz on TikTok claims a universal mind grounds conscious experience. Hosts critique the lack of evidence and use of jargon. They challenge him to find scholarly support for this theory. Does consciousness need a metaphysical supervisor or is it an emergent property of the brain?
GodProvidesBest on TikTok argues for telepathic oneness with a gender-neutral God. Hosts expose the toxicity of Ezekiel 16 metaphors. They highlight how unconditional forgiveness destroys accountability. Why does God find figs but ignore suffering?
Jimmy on TikTok discusses neurotheology and spiritual labels for brain states like ego death. Hosts argue that labeling neurology as spiritual muddies the waters with religious baggage. Can we explore the mind's wonders without mystical terms?
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Special Episode: We Are Here 24 hour fundraiser! https://aca.show/wearehere
This episode was extracted from our 24hour fundraiser live stream on May 16-17. We apologize for the delayed posting!
In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Justin and Godless Engineer celebrate the "We are here" fundraiser by exposing forged scriptures and dismantling the toxic "true vine" metaphor! From styleometric algorithms to the brutal reality of biblical editing, the hosts challenge believers to bring receipts for their holy claims.
Aaron in TX critiques John 15, noting Jesus’ vine metaphor sounds like a threat. Hosts explain how the Bible uses guilt to manufacture a need for a savior, similar to a drug dealer. Can a toxic relationship ever be considered divine love?
Keith in TX asks about Bible editing, leading to a dive into the Documentary Hypothesis and interpolations. Hosts highlight how forgeries were added to push specific agendas. If God is guiding the text, why are there so many human errors?
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In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Justin and Scott Dickie celebrate Mother’s Day by examining the "bad design" of childbirth and the failed promises of the Bible! They dismantle the myth of messianic prophecies, the forgery of the Shroud of Turin, and the logical gymnastics required to ground reality in a transcendental deity.
Isaac in AL argues eyewitnesses and the Shroud of Turin prove Jesus. Justin notes the "500 witnesses" are unnamed, and the shroud is a confessed forgery. They analyze Hebrew text to see if Jesus failed the messianic job description. Will he find a counter?
Joel in AZ asks if a perfect God could create imperfection. Scott challenges the vague term "perfection," while Justin notes that if God is good, unnecessary suffering is a contradiction. Does this resolution simply delete the Christian message?
Toby in Italy asks how God grounds logic. Scott explains logic is a descriptive tool for reality, not a transcendental entity needing an anchor. They critique Platonism. If logic is just a language, what happens to the transcendental argument?
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In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Godless Engineer and Fish Stark from the American Humanist Association tackle the encroaching tide of Christian nationalism and the hollow promises of deity-focused morality! They dismantle the "axis of nonsense" between billionaires and bishops, exposing how forced Ten Commandment displays in schools are more about power grabs than historical accuracy. Can a secular focus on human dignity provide the community we crave without the authoritarian baggage of ancient myths? From military secularism to the "American Empathy Project," the hosts explore how humanists are building real-world power to protect civil liberties for all.
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In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Thinker and Trust But Verify dive into the dark side of biblical "morality" and the fear of the Holy Spirit! The hosts explore the psychological grip of deconstruction and challenge callers to provide verifiable receipts for their supernatural claims. Can personal anecdotes survive the scrutiny of probability and logic? Join us as we put divine interventions and spiritual "knowledge" to the ultimate test!
Adrian in CA asks why the hosts are no longer believers. He shares that nine years of prayer led to finding his wife. Hosts challenge the post-hoc fallacy and note that humans, not gods, did the work. Can he prioritize evidence over fear?
Amasa in MD claims he "knows" God because his prayers heal people. Hosts note that 98% success rates for surgery make prayer redundant. Why avoid demonstrating this at St. Jude's? Can an unfalsifiable claim be considered knowledge?
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In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Godless Engineer and Scott Dickie put the "omni-benevolent" creator on trial and examine the silence of the divine! They tackle word salads about information, the emergent properties of consciousness, and the hilarious consequences of childhood church avoidance. Can logic bridge the gap between ancient myths and modern biological reality?
Steph from Canada defines God as truth and information. Hosts challenge this word salad and the claim that rockets explode due to a lack of God. If truth is just correspondence with reality, why is a deity necessary?
AJ from Canada asks how unconscious starts lead to consciousness. The hosts explain consciousness as an emergent property of complex nervous systems rather than a supernatural gift. Does a soul explain consciousness better than biological interaction?
Ben from CT shares a deconstruction story where lying about having no clothes led to an accidental church fundraiser. The hosts explore how deconversion often leads to dismantling other social biases. Can we separate heritage from convictions?
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In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Justin and JMike tackle "wizardly" philosophy, the hiddenness of God, and the dangers of religious bait-and-switches! From vampire lighting to the problem of a hidden cosmic dictator, the hosts challenge listeners to examine if faith is just a mask for mankind's worst instincts.
Steve in OH fears the Noahide laws represent a literal Mark of the Beast. Justin identifies 666 as Nero and explains the tefillin's symbolic role. They debate if Daniel’s prophecies about Greece apply today. Can ancient laws predict geopolitics?
Jason in OH argues for a mind-dependent universe based on the uniqueness of consciousness. JMike uses Occam's Razor to show that a deity adds no explanatory power. Does the experience of redness require a cosmic observer to exist?
Push Back Ministries on TikTok argues mathematics proves a designer. JMike and Justin defend nominalism, viewing numbers as human inventions. They critique the Trinity’s logic. Can a hidden God be blamed for people losing their faith?
Steph in Canada suggests truth is an ingredient of God. JMike mocks this with the "boom of who" to show labeling truth as an entity is arbitrary. They
debate science as inquiry. Will the caller find a way to verify his ontological claims?
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In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, the secular Jesus Christ himself, Secular Rarity, and
Dr. Darrel Ray rise from the tomb to dismantle biblical prophecies and discuss the necessity of trained secular leadership! From flying goats to religious attachment systems, the hosts put the supernatural under a microscope while navigating the treacherous waters of family deconversion.
Steve in OH claims Daniel 8 predicts B-2 bombers via flying goats. Hosts challenge the special pleading and numerology involving football players. If conflicts always match text, does prophecy mean anything?
Sean in KS discusses the Institute for Secular Leadership. Dr. Ray notes training prevents church-style guilt and power hoarding in groups. Can professional methods fix the leadership vacuum?
RJ in CO argues biblical winds and demographics prove God. Hosts expose his double standards between the Bible and Quran regarding prophecy. Why is ancient myth more reliable than science?
Hera in US asks about pushy in-laws. Dr. Ray discusses religious attachment and clear boundaries for partners. Will prioritizing harmony eventually lead to a loss of total autonomy?
Big Ern in WA asks why women still suffer original sin. Hosts explore biblical misogyny and leading by example over command. If atonement is finished, why does gendered suffering remain?
Michelle in NY compares losing God to a breakup. Hosts identify brain attachment systems and celebrate her personal agency. Can neurological awareness help soothe the wound of lost faith?
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In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Godless Engineer and Jim Barrows deconstruct the bloody magic of Palm Sunday and the logic of substitutional atonement. From the "hostage negotiation" of salvation to the bizarre preservation of papal hearts, the hosts challenge believers to explain why a perfect deity requires such macabre rituals.
Tiny Rick joins from TikTok to ask which ACA goals take priority. Hosts explain how values like secular humanism and church-state separation are vital when nationalism threatens government. Will focusing on these lead to a more rational society?
Daniel in Mexico worries that on-screen pronouns create public friction. Hosts argue that normalizing identification supports the trans community and challenges systemic bigotry. Is avoiding social friction more important than respecting identity?
Ann questions the validity of saints and the strange preservation of popes' hearts. Hosts discuss the absurdity of miracle verification and how relics are used for power. Can traditions built on magic provide a reliable path to truth?
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In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Justin and Thinker put God on trial for gross negligence! They explore why "spiritual vibes" aren't evidence, the cultural weight of deconversion, and why the crucifixion was just an "inconvenient weekend" for an eternal deity.
Robert in MN questions why the hosts believe rationality is the only path to God, suggesting a "spiritual feeling" is more universal. Hosts argue feelings are subjective and unreliable for truth. How can internal emotions provide objective evidence?
Emperor on TikTok asks the hosts what specifically led to their deconversion from Christianity. Justin cites scientific errors and failed prophecies; Thinker notes historical fiction and slavery. What evidence can stand up to rigorous scrutiny?
Cheedo in PA asks about the unique social pressures of being a Black atheist. Thinker notes religion is a cultural heirloom, making deconversion feel like betraying heritage. They explore the fear of blasphemy and vitriol directed at Black women.
Janet in KS relies on first-cause arguments, finding it hard to abandon faith without proof. Hosts challenge the need for a beginning, noting the universe may be eternal. Why is an invisible creator more plausible than eternal matter?
Robert in Hungary converted to Catholicism to find hope. Hosts dissect the "inconvenient weekend" of the crucifixion, arguing an eternal God cannot truly suffer like a human. They also clash over biblical slavery and moral contradictions.
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In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, The Cross Examiner and JMike confront the alarming rise of Christian nationalism in the military and the psychological weight of deconversion! From the ethics of animal consumption to the mechanics of prophecy, the hosts challenge callers to ground their reality in evidence rather than "personal truth."
Michael in NM asks about slavery and murder but shifts to veganism. Hosts discuss legal distinctions, altruistic evolution, and moral anti-realism. Is speciesism just biological conditioning? What threshold makes a life worth saving?
Debbie in FL asks why believers proselytize. Graham uses a "drain cleaner" analogy to explain the theist mindset of "saving" people. JMike suggests using rattling questions. Can we bridge the gap if "no" means "not enough bribe"?
Chapter on TikTok asks for the best theistic argument. JMike and Graham dismantle the "look at the trees" and fine-tuning claims. They identify the "presuppositional" trap. Why use God as a placeholder for things science hasn't explained yet?
Pete in MI uses a family coincidence to claim "personal truth." The hosts critique mind-dependent reality and the failure to investigate natural causes. Is a spooky feeling sufficient evidence, or just a coincidence counting the hits?
Marcus in New Zealand cites prophecy about a magazine. Hosts expose circular logic and unfalsifiable claims. They urge him to raise his bar for evidence. Can savvy predictions prove God, or are they just savvy humans counting hits?
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Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-atheist-experience--3254896/support.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-atheist-experience--3254896/support.
In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Justin and Jon the Skeptic explore the shrinking "God of the Gaps" and the carnages of evolution! They challenge faith-based morality and the logical hurdles of deism in an eternal universe.
Mark in FL argues biological codes require a creator as abiogenesis is undemonstrated. Hosts call this a "God of the Gaps" placeholder with no explanatory power. They compare his god to a unicorn. Is DNA really proof of divine intent?
Alfie in TX asks if biblical morality has utility. Hosts identify these "high" values in Stoicism and Confucius. They argue against keeping the "rolls" with the "cyanide" of slavery. Did Jesus actually endorse harsh Mosaic laws?
Ryan in PA seeks clarification on the burden of proof for faith. Hosts assert any claim requires evidence. They distinguish between religious faith and secular hope for a second chance. Is everyone technically agnostic?
Hayden asks why the Bible uses water imagery for salvation. Hosts link baptism to ancient rituals where sin was treated as physical filth to be washed away with divine detergents. Can baptism truly cleanse a moral impurity?
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In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Justin and Godless Engineer explore the blood-soaked roots of the Bible, challenge the validity of biblical inerrancy, and play a game of "Infallible" to highlight scriptural contradictions! From the ethical horrors of Esther to the "Jesus mode" of logic, the hosts invite believers to defend a deity whose morality seems stuck in a loop of violence and non-consensual interactions.
Eric in CA asks about the hosts' deconversion journeys. Justin shares how he continued living his life, even performing weddings, while John describes creating an online persona to avoid family conflict. Is isolation the only way to find peace?
C.J. in MA faces believers using "Pearls before Swine" rhetoric. The hosts suggest using 1 Peter 3:15 and Hebrews 6 to flip the script. By putting pressure on the believer, can you expose their fear of debate?
Ben from Canada struggles with identity thirty years after losing faith. Justin explains that secularism allows you to choose your own destiny and value. Can realizing that worth is chosen help a person finally find peace?
Ben in CT seeks advice for debating his Catholic brother. The hosts suggest the brother's persistence indicates internal doubt. Can using "Mary was raped" and Old Testament facts force him to confront his creed?
Sands in AZ argues teaching religion in school exposes kids to diverse views. John warns that nationalists would abuse this to prioritize dogma. Can exposing scriptural contradictions serve as a vaccine against indoctrination?
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In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Secular Rarity and The Cross Examiner dismantle the legal myths of Christian nationalism and expose the tribalistic roots of biblical law. From the dark history of slavery in the Levant to modern-day "persecution" complexes, the hosts challenge believers to provide evidence that justifies merging church and state!
Mason in OK argues the Bible guides morality. Hosts pivot to laws regarding chattel slavery in Leviticus 25, questioning why a good deity endorses owning people. They challenge the reliance on tradition to mask biblical cruelty. How does one choose which divine commands to follow?
Emmanuel in TX proposes a theocracy where non-believers are taxed to incentivize conversion. Hosts identify this as a violation of the First Amendment and Establishment Clause. They warn against discriminatory policies that create second-class citizens. Would a just society ever benefit from state-sponsored religious extortion?
Mike in SC fears hate speech laws are tools for Christian persecution. The Cross Examiner clarifies that hate crime enhancements require criminal acts and intent, not just offense. They debunk algorithm-driven misinformation regarding religious suppression. Is the perceived war on faith just a result of confirmation bias?
Moises in CA questions the need for proof and miracle claims. Hosts apply theological non-cognitivism and note that miracles lack reliable eyewitness accounts. They also explore how faith healing leads to medical neglect. Can a story be a reliable pathway to truth if it cannot be verified?
James in OH critiques states' rights rhetoric using the Articles of Secession. Discussion moves to the Insurrection Act and the dangers of religious exemptions in child protection laws. They highlight the struggle against abuse permitted by dogma. Will legal systems ever prioritize children over ancient dogmas?
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In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Justin and Thinker explore deconstruction and challenge theists to present evidence for their genocidal deities! They dissect the psychological hooks of faith and the sexism faced by secular women in debate.
Jim asks why atheism is frequently viewed as a religion. Justin suggests it is a form of whataboutism used by religious individuals to equalize the playing field and mask their own insecurity regarding a lack of evidence. Thinker notes that atheism lacks the dogmatic monolith of faith. Does the desire to label atheists as religious reveal a fear of intellectual accountability?
Supreme Leader asks if humans are easily deceived, attempting to suggest the hosts are deluded by their reliance on knowledge. The hosts see through the trolling, identifying his defensive reaction to their critique of biblical myths. Can a caller who refuses to provide an argument ever facilitate a productive dialogue about reality?
Ozzy from FL challenges the use of the null hypothesis and posits that an eternal, cyclical universe is effectively God. The hosts struggle to find a coherent argument, as Ozzy relies on "why not" as a primary justification and highlight that adding a deity to a self-sustaining universe is unnecessary and lacks explanatory power. Why insist on the God label if the universe can be explained through physics?
Chloe from NV asks for secular alternatives to prayer for coping with anxiety and maintaining hope. The hosts suggest therapy, meditation, and radical acceptance of emotions as valid mental health tools. They encourage her to build community and practice self-soothing without the expectation of supernatural intervention. Can moving through the stages of grief lead to a more stable, self-reliant existence after losing a lifelong faith?
Steve from MO discusses theories on how geographical surroundings shaped early God concepts, such as desert monotheism versus forest polytheism. Justin explains how God's supposed location shifts as science explores previously mysterious spaces, eventually retreating into the unfalsifiable immaterial plane. They trace the transition from animated nature to undetectable deities. Does the constant moving of God's goalposts prove the concept was merely a human invention?
Chidumebi from PA asks why prosperity gospel preachers target marginalized and low-income communities. Justin and Thinker explain that these scams prey on the desperate by promising supernatural solutions to systemic wealth gaps. They highlight the exploitation of authority and the "slot machine" nature of tithing. Is increasing literacy and critical thinking the most effective way to dismantle these religious predatory models?
Watcher 215 argues that biological function proves a designer and that suffering results from original sin. The hosts differentiate between function and purpose, noting that evolution explains complexity without intent. If God premeditated the death of his son, is he morally responsible for the act? Why follow a deity that uses suffering to teach righteousness?
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In today’s episode of The Atheist Experience, hosts Forrest Valkai and Jim Barrows tackle the dangerous rise of Christian nationalism and its alignment with fascism, explore the limits of biblical morality, and examine the overwhelming evidence for evolution and geology.
Lucy Spina in TX, ACA chair, details the Rainbow Rights Roadshow drive with Equality Texas, aiding LGBTQ+ resource deserts. Hosts stress "no strings attached" secular community support needed against current political threats. Is this grassroots outreach vital?
G-Man (nudibranchs jumping sea slugs) argues atheists lack objective morality, asserting God is the source of all good. Hosts challenge this as Divine Command Theory, making God the subjective arbiter. They critique God's immorality, citing the Flood and slavery. Does God's omnipotence and omniscience make him culpable for all sin?
Ujay in SD, a deconstructing agnostic, asks for a scientific explanation of evolution and dating methods. Forrest refutes the creationist claim that evolution begets racism, explaining it is Social Darwinism. He details radioisotope half-lives and Hubble's constant for dating the Earth and Universe. Can overwhelming evidence cure religious skepticism?
Hannah argues research on morphogenesis (Michael Levin) suggests evidence against materialism, supporting a platonic space of information. The hosts warn against using this gap as evidence for the supernatural. They challenge the assertion as an Argument From Ignorance, noting that complexity does not equal magic. Is Platonism a justifiable conclusion from current unknowns?
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In today’s episode of The Atheist Experience, Godless Engineer and JMike tackle the concept of arbitrary biblical morality, the search for stance-independent purpose, and failed prophetic claims about global digital currency. Supreme Leader in CO asks if the fulfillment of the Mark of the Beast prophecy, appearing as mandatory one-world digital currency, would force belief. The hosts critique the vagueness of Revelation, noting that a single correct prediction does not validate the Bible or prove magic. They suggest that such vague claims are akin to low-probability guesses. Why does this particular apocalyptic prediction persist despite being easily dismissed? Patrick in FL argues that if God truly engaged in intelligent design, the world would not contain genetic diseases, mental defects, or other flaws, finding perfection incompatible with observed malfunction. He then questions the purpose of life without a God. The hosts clarify that absolute purpose is a meaningless concept, much like arguing someone is "taller" without context. If purpose requires a conscious mind, is it fundamentally subjective? Cyrus in England questions the utility of debate, noting that most people are either immovable or easily swayed, suggesting he should stop debating on Discord. JMike and Godless Engineer argue that debate is crucial for honing skills and influencing fence-sitters who watch, even if the direct interlocutor is unmoved. Is engaging hostile opponents worth the positive effect on casual observers? All right, well, that's going to be our show for today. I hope all of you humans out there have a great day. And don't forget to stand up and use your voice. 00:00 Intro 06:32 Supreme Leader-CO | Belief Caused By Fulfilled Prophecies 30:49 Patrick-NY | Intelligent Design Correlation With Success 1:12:30 Cyrus-(ENG) | Utility Of Debating Theists The ACA, American Humanist Association, and Genetically Modified Skeptic, are joining forces to support the Equality Texas Rainbow Rights Roadshow. Join us at the Freethought Library, on December 7th, between noon and 8 o'clock, where we'll be accepting donations for clothing, personal hygiene products, banned books, school supplies, and canned and dry food. Can't make it to the event, but you'd still like to help? You can follow the links below to support Equality Texas directly. We need your help to make this campaign a success, so follow us on MeetUp, or donate directly through the links below and help support us today." MeetUp: http://tiny.cc/acasupportseqtx Equality Texas: https://equalitytexas.org/give/501c3/ Atheist Community of Austin: http://tiny.cc/donateaca American Humanist Association: http://tiny.cc/acapartner Believe in God? Call the show on Sundays 4:30pm-6:00pm CT: 1-512-991-9242 or use your computer 💻 http://tiny.cc/callaxp and tell us what you believe and why! We request pronouns as part of the call screening process on our shows, and we display the pronouns our callers provide. If you see a caller with no pronouns indicated, this is because they chose not to provide us with any, and we respect that decision.
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In today’s episode of The Atheist Experience, hosts Justin (Deconstruction Zone) and Richard Gilliver seek evidence for God, diving into philosophical arguments, biblical contradictions, and the flaws in theological defenses. The hosts challenge callers to step up their game, urging them to drop the evasions and present solid justification for their faith.
Joe in OR, an atheist, asks how to debate various denominations about unfalsifiable claims without being antagonistic. Richard stresses the importance of gaining experience and being humble enough to say "I don't know" rather than risking incorrect biblical arguments. The hosts agree that avoiding errors maintains trust for future dialogue. Is experience the only way to refine the subtle skills needed for secular discourse?
Jim in MO, an agnostic, presents Homer Simpson's classic rebuttal to Pascal’s Wager. The argument fails because it ignores all other gods, potentially sending the wagerer to an Islamic or Greek Hell instead of the Christian one. The hosts agree this standard counter-apologetic is effective for exposing theological hypocrisy. Why do theists assume everyone defaults to the Christian god concept?
Adam in NC, an agnostic, asks why Stephen was martyred for the same ideas Paul later preached, noting that Paul was at Stephen's execution. Justin explains Paul’s ministry focused on Gentiles outside Jewish strongholds, minimizing conflict with elites. Adam also questions Paul’s conversion story due to contradictory accounts in Acts. Do internal biblical contradictions undermine Paul as a reliable source?
Good Question in WA contends atheists incorrectly concede that all morality is subjective, arguing objective morals are based on objective causes. Justin pushes back, arguing that morals are mind-dependent; if all minds ceased to exist, so would morals. Objective means and measures for adhering to a subjective framework do not make the framework itself objective. Why insist on transcendental objective morality if the system relies on conscious receivers?
Patrick in FL claims atheism is nihilism and just another faith, as atheists cannot define what evidence for God would be. Richard challenges Patrick on why he uses a different name every week and dismisses his assertion that he neither believes nor disbelieves as dishonest. The hosts demand Patrick present evidence for his God-belief, which he fails to produce before the call is abruptly ended. Why do some theists conflate atheism with nihilism?
The Supreme Leader in CO asks, hypothetically, if God's existence (the first mover) was proven, why atheists wouldn't follow him, citing his tyrannical nature. Justin focuses on failed biblical prophecies, demonstrating how quotes are taken out of context (e.g., Isaiah 7's "virgin birth"). Richard applauds the caller’s maturity for listening to the context. Does belief in a God compel moral submission to that God?
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In today's episode of The Atheist Experience, Justin (Deconstruction Zone) and Mike Briggs (Geology Daddy) tackle the nature of morality outside of religion, cosmological origins, and deep critiques of biblical literalism and theological consistency.
Sam in FL promotes the "cult of X," defined by hedonism and lack of morality, claiming it is his faith. Recognizing him as a troll, the hosts insist on a clear argument for his specific God, noting he provides no philosophical substance.
Larry in TX discusses secular humanism and theists' misperceptions of atheist morality. Mike stresses morality is internal, based on introspection and empathy, not divine authority. Justin suggests critiquing supposedly "objective" God-given morals using internal biblical examples (slavery, genocide).
Hollis in WA, who is deconstructing, questions why God did not reconcile the fallen angels. Justin explains this is an ancient, widespread archetypal theme across Near Eastern mythologies. The hosts clarify that the Satan-as-fallen-angel idea developed much later, noting the biblical inconsistency that other fallen angels are imprisoned.
Ahmed in Germany questions the cause of the Big Bang and the need for a creator, citing suffering as a potential test. Mike explains that quantum fluctuations in a vacuum might spontaneously produce universes, noting the Big Bang may not be the beginning. The hosts challenge the test premise and expose the God of the Gaps fallacy.
Marilyn argues "we're all gods" because we are the image of God and claims atheists are closer to the truth than Christians who require a master. Mike challenges her ambiguous definition of "God" and points out the contradiction in her simultaneous belief in Jesus as the son of God. Justin criticizes her "perfect design" concept using common physical flaws (choking, needing glasses).
Ulrich in Mexico claims veganism is wrong and that lacking connection to God "messes up your mind." Justin demands substantive evidence for his God rather than mere complaint. Using internal biblical critique, Justin pressures O Rick on the moral acceptability of Deuteronomy 22 (stoning non-virgins) and 1 Samuel 15:3 (killing Amalekite babies). O Rick repeatedly evades the questions, exposing his theological inconsistency.
Des in Jamaica, who is deconstructing, asks what prevents atheists from being evil, arguing fear of eternal consequence keeps Christians moral. Mike explains morality is an evolutionary adaptation driven by empathy and social cooperation. Justin argues Christian theology offers no moral consequence, as sins are forgiven solely by accepting Jesus, meaning moral behavior is irrelevant to destination.
Billy in KY, an older atheist living in the Bible Belt, expresses his struggles with the chastisement and ridicule he faces in his community after deconstructing his Christian faith. Justin validates his position, noting that reading the Bible is often the key to deconverting believers.
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In today’s episode of The Atheist Experience, Forrest Valkai and Godless Engineer dismantle claims regarding prerequisites for end-times prophecy and critically analyze an English teacher's grammatical objections to using singular "they/them" pronouns.
Anson in gerrymandered anuses asserts end times prophecy required the 1948 rebirth of Israel, arguing Paul was mistaken about Christ's imminent return. Hosts critique this "going out of business" scheme, asking why God is constrained by geopolitics and human evil. They reject the claim that atrocities like the Holocaust could be "worth it" for salvation. Why must suffering precede divine intervention?
Jason in misanthropic orangutans, an English teacher, objects to singular "they/them" usage on rigid grammatical grounds, preferring "one" or "we." Hosts note that singular "they" has been standard since the 1300s, citing the Oxford English Dictionary. They argue that refusing a requested pronoun in favor of using a person's name is unnecessarily difficult, dismissive of their identity, and driven by personal comfort. Is linguistic conformity more important than human respect?
Thank you for watching this chaotic episode. We are back next week, Sundays at 4:30 p.m. Central Standard Time!
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In today’s episode of The Atheist Experience, Secular Rarity and Godless Engineer tackle the pervasive threat of Christian nationalism and the historical evidence (or lack thereof) for Jesus. They also dive into challenging calls questioning whether intellectual inquiry is necessary for belief and celebrate a caller's successful deconstruction into secular community.
Robert in WI argued intellectual inquiry is useless for finding God, claiming belief is primarily emotional and universal. The hosts questioned why objective truth regarding God's existence should exclude rational methods used everywhere else. Is intellectual honesty only reserved for non-religious claims?
Mary in NC updated the hosts on her long deconstruction, noting that realizing the creation story was a myth finally clinched her atheism, ending 17 years of guilt. She now enjoys freedom and thriving secular community through painting classes and events. Does community without indoctrination offer a better foundation for life?
Gigi in NC questioned why preachers avoid discussing harmful Bible content, asking if they are ignorant or intentionally deceitful. SR and GE explained that many religious authorities lack deep theological knowledge, sticking only to scripted, surface-level narratives about Jesus. Are preachers equipped to address difficult biblical passages truthfully?
Thank you for joining us this week! The Atheist Experience will be back next Sunday at 4:30 p.m. Central Time.
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In today's highly charged episode of The Atheist Experience, Forrest Valkai and Jimmy Jr. dive into the concept of learned helplessness and the vital need for resistance and defiance against systemic injustice and trauma. They challenge callers on the evolutionary origin of meaning and morality, and wrestle with the difficulties of engaging in rational debate with those who redefine terms to avoid definitive answers.
Jeff in LA believes human curiosity is an evolved trait that explains the search for meaning and the rise of religion. The hosts agree that early religion was a "first attempt at science," offering quick answers and evolving into a societal "domestication tool" for control. Can curiosity drive meaning without dogma?
Anatoly in NY posits that people leave religion due to misunderstanding biblical definitions. The hosts found it impossible to debate, as he offered confusing, constantly shifting definitions of God (e.g., "social structure" plus "physical world"). They challenged him on God's immorality, specifically citing biblical commands for slavery. Forrest criticized his profound inability to answer simple, direct questions. Why does he avoid defining his belief clearly?
Thank you for tuning in this week! Jimmy Jr. encourages believers to "do better" and challenge them with substantive arguments next time. Thank you to the crew, producers, and mods who make the show possible. We will see you next time!
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In today’s episode of The Atheist Experience, Dr. Ben and Scott Dickie of Talk Heathen stage a friendly takeover, fielding calls on the nature of reality, mathematics, and divine revelation! From philosophical deep dives into a priori knowledge to the challenges of grappling with infinity, this episode puts logic and the burden of proof center stage.
Zeno from the International Space Station begins by mentioning intelligent design but quickly pivots to telling the hosts they have faith. Identifying as agnostic, he insists atheists claim God's non-existence. Dr. Ben and Scott challenge him to state his own beliefs rather than misrepresenting theirs, but when he fails to engage productively, what will become of the conversation?
Donald in LA presents a complex philosophical argument for God, blending concepts from Aristotle, Plato, and others, suggesting that the effectiveness of mathematics points to a prescriptive cosmic consciousness. Scott counters that math is merely a descriptive language humans created to model observed universal patterns. With the conversation delving into a priori knowledge, can Donald defend his premise without relying on observation?
Ken in MI struggles to comprehend an infinite past and future, and the concept of a universe without time. Scott simplifies infinity as the consistent existence of a "yesterday" and a "tomorrow." Ken then asks if it is wrong for an atheist to find comfort in reading religious texts, leading to a discussion about appreciating literature without accepting its claims. Where does one draw the line?
Jim in MO proposes that the atheist's burden of proof is analogous to a defense attorney's: simply demonstrating reasonable doubt in the theist's claim. The hosts largely agree but refine the analogy, emphasizing that the burden lies solely with the claimant, and the non-believer has no obligation at all. If the prosecution fails to meet its burden, what is the correct verdict to reach?
Miller in MI expresses that religion can lead down a dark path and shares a personal conflict: he holds a belief against having children before marriage, a value from his religious past that now causes friction in his dating life. The hosts differentiate between personal boundaries for a partner and imposing universal moral rules on others. How can one navigate personal values rooted in past dogma?
Sheldon in NY shares his personal testimony that Jesus is God, based on a voice he claims has spoken to him for over 50 years, providing guidance and predictions. The hosts challenge the reliability of this subjective experience, highlighting auditory hallucinations and conflicting claims from other religions. Faced with a contradiction between his claim to value truth and his unfalsifiable belief, what will he choose?
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In today’s Atheist Experience, Justin and Jim Barrows dissect the flimsy foundations of faith, critique the peculiar "design" of the human body, and explore the logical leaps required to uphold belief in the face of scientific understanding. They challenge callers on everything from deconstruction guilt and family relationships to questionable links between Kabbalah and quantum physics.
Mary Cate in NC is working through deconstruction and feels guilty, missing her religious community. The hosts suggest building new secular communities and emphasize that maintaining family relationships without endorsing beliefs is not dishonest. What steps can one take to navigate these complex social dynamics?
Ben in KS, an agnostic, questions if science’s inability to explain "spirituality" or deeper layers of existence leaves room for God, citing particle-wave duality. Hosts challenge him to define which God and argue that naturalistic explanations, supported by Occam's Razor, remain the most coherent approach. If a God is added, how does one explain that God's grounding?
Daisy in WA asks if dogmatic religions can be disproven, unlike deism. Justin and Jim provide numerous examples of internal contradictions within the Bible and the Quran, highlighting scientific errors and failed prophecies. How do these internal inconsistencies challenge the claims of divine inspiration?
Hannah claims that modern physics, specifically the concept of ten dimensions and the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle, provides evidence for Kabbalah and an unknowable Godhead. The hosts dismiss these as coincidental numerical matches and misrepresentations of scientific principles without testable evidence. Why do such parallels, without supporting evidence, often amount to pareidolia?
Benji, a theist, discusses the point of converting atheists if worship is subjective and brings up the "terra fallacy" regarding insufficient evidence. The hosts clarify the distinction between belief and worship, stating that objective evidence of God's existence would be compelling, unlike failed prophecies. What kind of evidence would be universally convincing for existence, but not necessarily for worship?
Jim in MO asks if free will truly exists with an omniscient, omnipotent God. Justin and Jim explain that while omniscience alone doesn't negate free will, combining it with omnipotence creates a problem of predetermination and the problem of evil. Does God's ultimate power mean our choices are merely part of a divine plan?
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In today’s thought-provoking episode of The Atheist Experience, Forrest Valkai and Deconstruction Zone Justin dive into the persistence of bad arguments, the misinterpretation of scientific findings, and the profound impact of beliefs on personal and societal well-being.
Rook in NY posits that belief in God isn't inherently bad, suggesting that in a "perfect world," individuals could hold such beliefs privately without negative consequences. Justin and Forrest counter that religious beliefs inevitably influence behavior and policy, citing historical examples of religiously motivated oppression and arguing that even private beliefs can hinder personal growth and societal progress, as beliefs don't stay in a vacuum. Rook ultimately acknowledges his point's shortcomings upon deeper scrutiny. What are the broader implications of beliefs that remain unchallenged?
Simone in United Kingdom presents a syllogism, arguing that if thoughts are part of reality and we think God exists, then God exists as part of that reality. The hosts challenge this, asking if imagining a creature means it truly exists, and if this is a genuine reason for belief or a fear of hell. Simone reveals she is still in the early stages of deconstructing her Christian upbringing and has more questions than answers. How does one navigate a deconstruction journey when fundamental beliefs are questioned?
Brisbane in AZ questions satanic atheism, claiming an AI overview suggests it promotes self-indulgence and a rejection of altruism. Forest refutes this by reading the Satanic Temple’s actual tenets, which include compassion and justice, and critiques Brisbane's reliance on inaccurate AI summaries over primary sources. The discussion highlights the dangers of trusting AI for complex information and the importance of critical thinking in evaluating belief systems. What role should AI play in informing one's understanding of complex philosophical or religious concepts?
Robert in GA challenges the hosts on Jesus's fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies and asserts that the complexity of life necessitates a creator, claiming the Big Bang violates thermodynamics. Justin explains how Robert's cited prophecies are taken out of context and not messianic, while Forest refutes the scientific claims, pointing to evolution and the accurate understanding of thermodynamics. The hosts urge Robert to engage with actual scientific and biblical scholarship rather than relying on misinformed arguments. How do individuals overcome ingrained misinformation when seeking truth?
Hindu in India argues that consciousness, rather than emerging from the brain, is an ultimate reality of the universe, aligning with the Vedic concept of Brahman. Justin and Forest press for empirical evidence, pointing to how brain modifications alter personality, contradicting the idea of consciousness as an external driver. The hosts emphasize that materialism offers an evidence-based framework for consciousness, while idealism often relies on presuppositions. What scientific breakthroughs would truly bridge the gap between materialist and idealist views of consciousness?
Robin in FL shares a family claim that a "spark of life" at conception, supposedly visible during horse breeding, proves the existence of a soul. Justin and Forest clarify that this "spark" is a scientific observation of zinc release during fertilization, not a visible soul, often misinterpreted from studies on mice. They question the logical extensions of this argument, such as mice having souls, and the implications for asexual reproduction. How do scientific findings become distorted and adopted into religious or spiritual narratives?
Chris in KS raises the question of circular reasoning in Old Testament prophecies applied to Jesus, particularly Isaiah 7. Justin affirms this circularity, explaining that such prophecies often require secondary interpretations not supported by their original context, challenging the criteria for true prophecy. Forest then discusses gender, distinguishing it from sex as a fluid, socially constructed spectrum not bound by a binary, and encourages self-reflection for deeper understanding. How can an individual reconcile deeply held religious beliefs with evolving scientific and social understandings?
Thank you so much Richard for being here thank you Forest and thank you crew we'll see you again next week uh same time same place 5:30 uh Eastern time 4:30 Central time bye!
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Believe in God? Call the show on Sundays 4:30pm-6:00pm CT: 1-512-991-9242 or use your computer 💻 http://tiny.cc/callaxp and tell us what you believe and why!
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Forrest Valkai, Secular Rarity, and The Cross Examiner, later joined by JMike and Objectively Dan, dive into complex discussions on the nature of evidence for God's existence, the reliability of personal experience in validating supernatural claims, and the logical coherence of philosophical arguments for a divine being. They confront callers with critical analysis, aiming to clarify the distinctions between belief, reason, and empirical reality.
Orrick in Mexico argues atheism is fallacious, ignoring human experiences, citing a prayer-answered "blue line" guiding him. Hosts assert personal anecdotes are unreliable, suggesting natural explanations like the brain's problem-solving. How do we distinguish genuine divine intervention from subjective interpretation in stressful situations?
cCaleb in "Wallaby Armpits" (WA), a Catholic, presents the argument that God is "existence itself" and the "unmoved mover," influenced by Thomas Aquinas. Hosts critique this philosophical approach as conflating concepts and lacking empirical basis, highlighting the need for real-world evidence. Can complex philosophical arguments for a necessary being truly lead to a specific, interacting God?
Our Executive Producer Greg James asks the hosts some fun and insightful questions.
Thank you for joining us this week! We will see you next time!
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In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Secular Rarity and JMike dive into various arguments for belief, including personal, historical, and philosophical claims, challenging callers to define their terms and defend their positions against logical scrutiny and internal contradictions. They also explore the practical applications of critical thinking in constructing a secular moral framework.
Marianne in NJ calls in to present personal experience, scientific, and historical evidence for Christianity, focusing on the Bible's supposed singular narrative written over 1500 years by 40 writers. The hosts challenge this idea with the Documentary Hypothesis, noting the Bible's internal contradictions, and quickly identify her reasoning as circular. They question the utility of her "Google this" approach and dismiss her car crash analogy as not representative of the Gospels' discrepancies. Why does the God of the Bible continue to be described as loving when his actions are anything but?
Sam in AZ initially seeks to discuss scientific and historic arguments for God, but quickly pivots to advocating for a "general theism" and then the ontological argument. The hosts challenge the coherence of arguing for a God about whom nothing is known, using a "bare designer" analogy to highlight the lack of predictive power in such a vague concept. They press him to provide a specific version of the ontological argument, which he struggles to articulate clearly. What distinguishes a "general theism" from other unsubstantiated claims? Unable to actually carry on an intelligent conversation, Sam resorts to racial and anti-lgbtq+ slurs before rage quitting, but thanks to the magic of editing, you won’t hear the slurs! We did however leave in the hosts justified ridicule of this immature tactic. You're welcome!
Rich in CT questions the Council of Nicaea, believing it's where "the whole Jesus bullshit started" and wonders why it isn't discussed more. Hosts explain that while the Council does not inherently disprove Christianity, its historical context should invite skepticism. They note that many self-professed Christians are not knowledgeable on this history and recommend Bart Ehrman's work for deeper insight. Can historical skepticism lead to a more honest understanding of religious origins?
Watcher in PA presents life, love, and goodness as evidence for God. Focusing on "God is love" from 1 Corinthians 13:4, the hosts construct a modus tollens argument, contrasting this definition of love with God's actions in the Bible, such as commanding the slaughter of innocent infants. They highlight the special pleading involved in Watcher's justification of such acts as "judgment," challenging him to admit the contradiction inherent in his definition of love. Does the Bible's portrayal of God align with any consistent definition of love?
Lord in CA introduces his secular moral framework called "compression logic," which aims to ethically remove contradictions from systems by focusing on reducing suffering, recognizing all variables, preserving existence, and allowing mobility. The hosts question the foundational basis for these four moral pillars, discussing the long-standing debate between moral realism and anti-realism. They also push for a more precise definition of "collapse" in his framework, differentiating between tangible and conceptual failures, and suggest exploring the works of Immanuel Kant and constructivism. Can a moral framework truly avoid collapse if its foundational principles are not universally accepted or clearly defined?
Thank you for joining us this week! We will see you next time!
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In today’s episode of The Atheist Experience, Forrest Valkai and Jim Barrows dive into heated discussions surrounding the definition of God, the complexities of biblical morality, and the human search for purpose, challenging callers on logical consistency and the practical implications of their beliefs.
Will in the UK claims that if God isn't real, nothing is, defining God as "that which has authority of all things" and later equating it to "truth" or "objective reality." Hosts challenge the idea of "truth" having "authority" or "governance," pointing out the vagueness and the caller's confusion between a map and the territory. Can an abstract concept dictate reality?
Patrick in "Flying Lemurs" (FL) suggests atheists can't go wrong by following Jesus' command to love one another, referencing 1 Corinthians. Hosts question the practical application of this vague definition of love, asking if kindness can sometimes be impatient. Why should one rely on a book that also condones slavery and genocide for moral guidance?
Watcher 215 asks about "information" in biology, hinting at Stephen Meyer's intelligent design argument. Hosts dismantle Meyer's flawed definition of information, explaining that random processes can produce information and arguing that DNA, if designed, is "horribly bad." They also highlight the logical contradiction in God simultaneously keeping and not keeping a record of wrongs.
Mike in "Scuttling Crabs" (SC) disagrees with Jim's interpretation of "love is not proud" from 1 Corinthians. Hosts reiterate the biblical verse's vagueness, arguing it's uselessly general for practical life. They also critique the King James Version for deliberately misrepresenting words like "slave" as "servant," questioning the Bible's reliability as a moral guide.
Joshua in Arizona asks if we need God to be moral, leading to a discussion on the problem of evil and God's condonation of slavery and genocide in the Bible. Hosts press Joshua on how an "all-good, all-powerful, all-knowing" God can exist in a world with immense suffering, suggesting such a God is not worth worshipping.
Owen in Canada questions how atheists find purpose without eternal life or intrinsic meaning. Hosts explain optimistic nihilism, where individuals create their own purpose, and attribute the drive to survive to evolution. They challenge the caller's argument from ignorance, asserting that personal meaning does not necessitate a divine source.
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Show notes will be posted upon receipt.
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Welcome to The Atheist Experience 29.25 with Jmike and Seth Andrews @TheThinkingAtheist and Special Guest, Godless Engineer! This week, your hosts dive into some thought-provoking discussions about morality, belief, and the challenges of open dialogue.
This episode kicks off with a powerful monologue about the very nature of good and evil, challenging the idea that everything, even atrocities, could be justified as part of a "greater good" or a consequence of free will. The segment questions the coherence of concepts like sin and atonement if all events are ultimately part of a divine plan. Guest host Seth Andrews then shares insights into his background and experience, including a look back at his past as a Christian radio broadcaster. He also reflects on the importance of extending grace to those with differing beliefs, advocating against demeaning or superior attitudes towards religious individuals.
Drew from California calls in to discuss the challenges of managing temper and emotions when engaging with people who hold opposing views. The conversation explores a specific incident where a friend, despite knowing Drew's skeptical stance, sent him astrology content, leading to a breakdown in communication and a feeling of disrespect. The hosts and caller delve into the dynamics of setting and respecting personal boundaries in conversations about deeply held beliefs.
Jim from Missouri raises questions about the resurrection story, presenting arguments that it is a complete fabrication. He challenges the traditional biblical narrative of Jesus's burial, positing that crucified individuals were typically left unburied or thrown into mass graves, rather than being placed in tombs. The discussion extends to the broader lack of contemporary historical evidence for Jesus's existence and the reliability of biblical accounts when proving biblical claims.
A theist caller, Shabbaz, asks where atheists get their morals and why they often seem disrespectful or condescending. Seth answers the first part by explaining evolved ethics and pro-social behaviors as a basis for morality. The conversation then delves into Shabbaz's reasons for believing in Allah, including a "falsification test" from the Quran and supposed "scientific miracles" related to bees and honey. The hosts challenge these claims, questioning the criteria for such tests and highlighting historical knowledge that predates the Quran regarding honey and bee behavior. The discussion also unpacks why some atheists might express frustration or disrespect in such conversations, often stemming from repeated, vague arguments.
Finally, John from New Hampshire calls in to discuss the historical existence of Jesus, prompting a nuanced conversation about what kind of evidence is sought for such claims. The hosts and caller explore the idea of a "minimal historical Jesus" and the challenges of relying on common names or biblical accounts for historical proof. The call culminates with the hosts sharing their own "pause moments" – instances where their beliefs were genuinely challenged, leading to deeper inquiry and a strengthening of their skeptical positions, including Jmike's pivotal experience with Flat Earth theory.
Thank you for watching and listening to The Atheist Experience!
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In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Forrest Valkai and Objectively Dan, sort through calls of AI, logical fallacies, and apocalyptic dream interpretations. No circular arguments made today!
Chidumebi in PA asks how to combat religious students that insist on AI reliance to justify the Bible. It is important to teach children how to search and explain why there is bias behind some of the input. These models are designed for good output, not accuracy. Be sure they understand what material they will need to know as a requirement, regardless of their personal beliefs or use of AI language models. What is the student supposed to do if they end up in a career they do not know how to do as a result of their reliance on AI?
Mike in SC, thinks that AI can replace atheists but not theists because it can do anything atheists can do by using less resources. What is your understanding of the massive centers needed to support AI? If the soul is a factor, how do you explain an AI video that turns people to Christ? It is odd that you believe the actions of human beings that are atheists can be reduced down to a chat box. If dogs don’t have souls, is it cool that we just replace all dogs with AI? Our lives are more than just a sum of our labor and we find this conclusion dehumanizing.
Herman in Canada has massive observations of “things begotting things” so therefore there must be a creator. It is important to point out that energy has not been created. What created the actual creator of the universe? How do you know that the reality of physics was exactly the same just before the big bang? If everything is contingent on something, what would a world that was not created look like?
Luc, a Catholic in Canada, explains his different perception in the prime mover argument and that is that rules need rulemakers. Why are the rules of nature excluded from this argument? We do not need to provide evidence for not believing in something. What evidence do you have that everything needs a rule maker? Of these two things, which is the more reliable pathway to truth; evidence or faith? Why is it good enough for you when the Catholic Church says something? We are not expected to just believe a thing because a teacher told us to; we must do the work/tests, and experiments to learn this stuff.
Prophet Daniel from Australia, believes there is one god for the entirety of existence and the interpretation of dreams made in the Book of Daniel prove his existence. How do you think this story has been adapted to meet the events that actually transpired? Why would this book be a reliable source when Daniel speaks with a dragon?
Jamie the Blind Limey, our backup host joins to close out the show and offer some post thoughts on some of the calls. Thank you for joining us this week and we will see you next time!
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In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, JMike and Secular Rarity tackle fallacies, logic, and questions of ontology!
Sura in India believes that because religion exists with stories, there must be supernatural things such as beings. Would these supernatural beings exist without religions? Once you wiggle the terms of supernatural beings with wiggle room, the more meaningless these wiggly terms become.
Arec in Norway is questioning if it is fair to criticize people who use faith rather than reason when there is no other answer. Why do you think it is important that people play by the same rules when having these conversations? We like to have reliable ways to get to conclusions, and that does not include the use of faith. Keep investigating this and call us back with what you find.
Rajin in NY wants some science based reasoning for the lack of god’s existence. Logic and science are terms that should be used separately. Why is it that in all possible worlds, god has to exist? If god has to exist from all points of view, what is the point of talking about it? What does “something from nothing” even mean? The Motte-and-bailey fallacy describes the method many theists use when trying to prove god. Why should we accept “nothing” as a possibility?
Rostaman in Mexico describes how none of us have access to ontology because it belongs with metaphysics. Categorizing beliefs can make us feel like there is substance, but why use labels and terms if the meaning can be explained?
JMike has to bail so Scott Dickie takes over for him to talk with Dave in India who believes that science has not been fully discovered and therefore we don’t know what that means for our soul and body. How does the lack of our understanding or ability to prove things through science prove that magic happens? Is god causing the things we don’t understand or are these things themselves god?
Tom in MS has some thoughts about the Catholic Church and how things have historically not changed when having different popes. If god can do everything, wouldn't he be able to choose the next pope? The actions over the millenia are a good indication of what will change with each pope.
Dee in IA has some questions about a logic problem that is apparently not solvable. Some of these logic problems are weird and reading up on them by diving head first can be super cool. Unfortunately, we don’t have access to the physical foundations of the universe. Sometimes we need to look in the direction Occam's Razor points to.
Thank you for joining us this week! We will see you next time!
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(00:00:00) The Atheist Experience 29.21 with Secular Rarity and Scott Dickie 2025-05-25
(00:10:43) Hannah - MS | Materialism And Physicalism
(00:43:43) Watcher 215 - PA | Love Is The Fruit Of The Holy Spirit
(01:03:18) Paul - AZ | Foundherentism And Munchhausen’s Trilemma
(01:25:50) James - (CA) | Proof Of Evolution?
(01:45:04) Ulrich - (MX) | Church Is Evidence For God
Hannah calls in from Mississippi to talk about materialism and physicalism. The hosts say that they mostly subscribe to methodological and practical materialism. Hannah argues that the hard problem of consciousness undermines materialism. She says that materialism denies the existence of consciousness as a nonmaterial thing. The hosts point out that it’s only a problem if you presuppose that consciousness is immaterial. Hannah believes that consciousness is immaterial because you can’t observe consciousness. She shifts the burden of proof by saying that she would need to see a falsifiable experiment that shows the material nature of consciousness. It isn’t our responsibility to prove a counterexample to a claim without evidence.
Watcher 215 from Pennsylvania calls in to talk about his relationship with the holy spirit as evidence for god. The hosts explain that believers in other religions use the same evidence as proof of their gods, so it isn’t convincing. Watcher says that if other people got the same benefits as him from other religions, he would have to seriously investigate those religions. What if people also get the same experience from leaving religion? If you want people to believe in a specific god, you need to narrow down the evidence to show that religion/god is the correct one. Watcher uses circular reasoning and says that he knows that love is the fruit of the holy spirit, and he knows that by believing the word of the bible.
Paul from Arizona calls to talk about the hosts’ ground for knowledge. What is the ontology behind the hosts epistemology for the grounding of knowledge about their atheist worldview? Paul and the hosts discuss Foundherentism (a blending of coherentism and foundationalism), Munchhausen’s trilemma, and theories about infinite regress. The hosts say that there can’t be an infinite future without the possibility of an infinite past as well. Paul thinks that there needs to be a start to something, so there can’t be an infinite past because it would eventually run into a starting point. But why does there need to be a start?
James in Canada starts with the premise that all we know is that we are here and we don’t know how we got here. The hosts can agree that they are here and it’s not 100% known how we got here. James says that there is no proof, but the hosts can’t totally agree to that. There is solid proof about evolution and the genetic code, etc. James points out that evolution is a theory and describes a theory as an idea that may be true but isn’t proven. However, in scientific communities, it has a different meaning. A scientific theory is pretty much a fact. When asked, James says that you can’t have evidence of god, but he also believes that we shouldn’t believe evolution if there was no evidence for it. If we’re held to that standard, why isn’t religion as well?
Ulrich from Mexico claims that the existence of churches proves that God is real. The bible says that there will be churches for God, so the fact that there are churches means the bible is true. He says that no other holy books have fulfilled prophecies. When asked for an example of a fulfilled biblical prophecy, he brings up a prophecy of Jews returning to Jerusalem before the end of days. Does he think the end times are happening right now? He says maybe. When arguing his case, Ulrich couldn’t engage in an honest conversation, so he got hung up on.
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(00:00:00) The Atheist Experience 29.20 with The Cross Examiner and Dave Farina @ProfessorDaveExplains 2025-05-18
(00:10:31) Neil-WA - Deconversion Responsibilities
(00:19:26) Andrew in CA- AI Is Conduit To Source
(00:25:18) Jason-CA - God Existing Outside Space And Time
(00:58:44) Mike-SC - Sharia Law Or Christian Nationalism?
(01:27:48) Steve-NE - Star Being Slowed Down By Artificial Force
In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, The Cross Examiner and Dave Farina, discuss topics of AI, deconversion, deceleration of stars, and church and state separation.
Andrew in CA has a conduit of contact with AI and the source of all existence. How do you know this is the source of existence? What reason is there to treat AI as the god of honest truth?
Jason in CA says that matter, space and time had to come to being at one point and there can't be an infinite regression. What evidence do you have that we didn't see an infinity before the moment of creation and that there is a creation to begin with? If god exists outside of time, how did the realm where god existed change when the universe was created? What evidence do you have that this realm or state of being even exists? Every time we see consciousness, we see a physical entity, the brain. Why would we believe there is a consciousness outside the universe? We do not fully understand the origin of the universe or consciousness. We just don’t have evidence for the claim of a deity that fills in these lack of knowledge gaps.
Neal in WA grew up as a Mormon and has been wondering if as an atheist he should be doing more to help deconvert people. If you could help make a different path available to people, you may help them from taking on beliefs that are harmful. There is no reason to feel guilty for beliefs that you were indoctrinated to have when on this long journey of deconversion. You are accountable for your own actions, not the beliefs of others.
Mike in SC wants to know if between Sharia Law or Christian Nationalism, what is more dangerous for atheists. Which of these two movements do you think is dismantling The Constitution? Anybody can be corrupted by financial, political, or religious power. The answer to the question depends on where you live and who is in power. Using religious ideas to take away freedom and change federal law is where the danger is. Kennedy v. Bremerton School District shows how the Lemon Test, that determines if there has been violations of the Establishment Clause, has been abandoned by the Supreme Court. If people are being locked up simply for praying, we have an objection to that. Anytime you see a story where this is happening, go read the actual case and original source to learn what really happened.
Steve in NE wants to talk about the star that is supposedly being slowed down by an artificial force. This is something we can’t explain and need evidence to support what is causing this deceleration.
Thank you for tuning in this week!
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(00:00:00) Intro by Forrest
(00:08:53) Nick-CA: Approaching Trans Rights
(00:21:26) Hank-TX: Some Evidence For God
(00:59:57) Dave-TX: Existence Of Eternal Hell
**In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Forrest Valkai and The Godless Engineer, work with three callers who know how to have respectful and interesting conversations.
Nick in CA wants to take an alternate approach to trans rights and ask the politicians why they care since trans is such a small part of the population. The primary issue is people being able to pick and choose who they discriminate against. The arguments we hear now are the same as they were when the hate was for same sex marriage. When people’s genitals seem to be at the top of the agenda, how can we get a transphobe not to care? Talk to some of the trans people that host with us and ask them what the most important and effective way to tackle the problem.
Hank in TX has scientific evidence that points toward a god. The first thing is how pleasant near death experiences are. How do we know these experiences happen right at the time of death? It makes sense that when the brain lets go, the loss of consciousness would be chill and not scary. His second piece of evidence is that things are going well, and his consciousness was not put in a body 200 years ago. What about the people who were born back then? How about the people born into bodies in war torn countries? Consciousness is an emerging property of the brain. What is your proof that it is transported anywhere? Even if we did have multiple lives over hundreds of years, it does not mean that there is a god doing it. The third piece is there must be a god guiding the response of people like Ghandi and Martin Luther King, and the response goes against nature. Why don’t we see this behavior in your god?
Dave in TX does not believe that hell where souls burn eternally exists. Is the Bible literally true or is it figurative?The god of the Bible is a monster. Where do we draw the line with interpretations? How is the resurrection of Jesus not contradictory when there are four different stories? Cover to cover, the Bible is pro-slavery, pro-genocide, pro-misogyny, is full of contradictions, and looks nothing like a god inspired book should look. What good can we get out of the Bible without the baggage of this evil god?
Thank you for tuning in this week, theists and atheists! Secular Rarity, our back-up host, joins to help close us out. See you next week!**
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00:00 Intro02:33 Adam-(EN) | Contingency Argument For Necessary Entity
55:41 Mike-SC | What Level Of Natural Disaster Is Okay?
1:37:03 Michael-FL | Dealing With Observable Phenomenon
SHOW NOTESIn today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Justin and Allegedly Ian, take calls ranging from philosophy to phenomena.
Adam in England has a contingency argument for a necessary entity. Why should we believe that there was ever a point in time where things were selected?
Prior to god creating the laws of physics, did god believe that he created the laws of physics? Was there a state that the universe did not exist?
How can something exist and not exist at the same time?
What causes something to be true?
At what point does the universe become god?
If part of god is contingent, then god is not fully necessary. How can god be all benevolent if not all parts of god are good?
Why did god not create a world with no natural disasters? What is god’s intention when making people suffer?
Mike, a theist in SC, wants to know what it would take to make us happy in relation to natural disaster casualties. All good means doing the best thing and that is zero deaths with not one bad thing is to be expected. How can free will exist if god is all knowing?
If something is outside of time, would it have future, present, and past states?
If god is all benevolent, why is he such a misogynist?
Why does this god give instructions on how to own people?
Why would the time period have an affect on the people’s morals?
Profiting on the ownership of other people is bad and not dependent on perception. Why does god justify blood feud?
Michael in FL is deconverting and curious how the hosts deal with phenomena that they can observe. It is always important to ask if there is any peer reviewed evidence showing this is a phenomenon. If god had a belief about a spiritual experience that changed once the experience happened, god can’t exist outside of space and time. Find the tests that can be done to investigate and reproduce this phenomenon. If we are unable to reproduce the results in a controlled environment, then we are looking at a psychological phenomenon.
Thank you for joining us this week! We will see you next time!
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In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Justin and JMike discuss Biblical inaccuracies and the truth of these claims.
Steve in NE, argues that enslaved people in Egypt would have owned their own houses. Justin explains that the Hebrews were subject to forced labor and how this differs from being owned as property. The illogical claims of Moses writing the Torah is as problematic as the stories Exodus. Sargon of Akkad is a story that is suspiciously similar to that of Moses; and it occurs earlier in time. There is no evidence that the Torah was written in Egyptian or that Moses wrote it. What language would Moses have spoken and used?
Kevin in TX wants to know if it is wrong to believe in a deity based on self-preservation reasons. Having the support of family and peers may go away if you come out in some situations. How much and what component of this belief is fear based?
Kaiser in OR thinks that The Atheist Experience is intellectually fraudulent because the issues of god are not complex enough to warrant a full show. How do you know that some of the hosts did not have a concept of god before they deconverted? We live in a society where lots of people believe in something we don’t think exists; we push back when there are consequences for these beliefs. How are you not a hypocrite when you call yourself an evangelical atheist? Maybe you should roll with theists.
Dylan in FL has questions about the validity of the New Testament. If the New Testament tells a lie about the older scriptures, should we still trust it? Does the Bible need to be inherent? How many lies have to be told before you say it is not true? Why does Mathew 2:14-16 tell a bold faced lie about a prophecy? The sharpshooter fallacy starts with the conclusion starts with an arrow in a tree where a circle is drawn around it to show the target. They start with the conclusion and then find things that look like it and call it prophecy.
Alfred in TX says that religion has utility and wants to know if the hosts want it phased out.
Mike explains that he wants to see the bad things that come from religion go away and how it depends on a number of things. Justin uses a brilliant analogy of an umbrella that has utility, but every 1,000 uses omits a noxious gas. Why would god tell the Israelites that they could own slaves, kidnap women to make them wives? When conforming to Biblical lies, where do you draw the line? You might be de-converting quicker than you think if you continue on this path.
Dr. Ben joins to offer some final thoughts before closing us out. Thank you for joining us today and we will see you next time!
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In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, The Cross Examiner and Godless Engineer work through questions from theists and those who are questioning their beliefs.
Vickie in NC feels that what the hosts on the show are saying make sense and she is starting to question her beliefs. You are not alone and are correct in not accepting a claim until you are convinced with the proper amount of evidence. If you want to hold on to the idea of god having a good nature, how do you rationalize the Old Testament atrocities? How horrible would god’s actions have to be before you question the morality of this all knowing god? Why does the New Testament tell slaves to obey their masters and how do you reconcile this with a good god? Try pondering how it would be to be a slave under Old Testament laws. If you look at life without the lens of god, you will realize how full your life is!
Shabazz in KY wants to know what led them to atheism and what they find unbelievable about a creator. On the quantum level, particles will appear and vanish out of existence with no cause. What is your best evidence for a creator and what convinced you the universe was created? What gives you the indication that god is directly involved with the laws of nature such as when it rains? Why do you consider a natural inclination the best reason to believe in your god, and why do you believe what is written in the Quran? The moon is still intact.
RJ in CO has some corrections on some Biblical references Godless Engineer(GE) made. GE explained Numbers 31 and what the story about the age of the girls (women children) would have meant at the time. What is the morality of keeping young girls for servants and why is there such a heavy emphasis on virginity? When you call into a show where there is a time limit, be ready to make your case.
Jeff in NC, says the message of slavery in the Bible is misunderstood, the supernatural claims of the Bible being allegories, and talks about how Moses was influenced by the laws of Egypt. If the Bible is full of allegories, why should we listen to the writings of Paul? How do the stories of Paul equate to evidence for god?
Alex in Britain wants to talk about Biblical accuracy, interpretations, and trustworthiness. Ben Clodfelter joins to offer some perspectives where fallacies can be spotted and used as red flags. The Cross Examiner sees that people are raised to believe in the premise, and then when they start reading scripture, it is done through Bible class. This prevents the problematic and controversial verses from being read. If this is supposed to be the most important message ever, wouldn’t the book have been clearer about which passages are metaphors and which are literally true?
Thank you for tuning in this week! There are plenty of volunteer opportunities if you want to get involved. We will see everyone next week!
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00:00 Intro5:26 Lily - (UK) | Hinduism Vs. Christianity
22:33 Caleb - OH | Morality Of The God Of The Bible
29:27 John - CA | The Meaning Of The Lord’s Prayer
42:30 Mike - SC | Intelligent Design
1:24:15 Nick - NC | Religion And Science Can Go Together
1:49:31 John - OH | Evidence For God’s Nonexistence?
SHOW NOTES
Thanks for joining us for The Atheist Experience! Today, Forrest Valkai and Justin discuss Hinduism, the morality of God, and alien intervention.
Lily from the UK asks the hosts if they think Hinduism is more ethical because it lacks a hell concept. The hosts explain that when they talk about the dangers of religion, there’s a spectrum. Even in their most benign state, religious and magical thinking is harmful. Hinduism, as far as the hosts understand, seems more tolerant than Christianity, but at the end of the day, it’s all still dogma, just more or less progressive dogma.
Caleb calls in from Ohio to discuss the morality of God. If the hosts believed in the God of the bible, would they think he was immoral? When the hosts ask him if he agreed with the morality of an unfair punishment by God, Caleb hung up.
John from California calls to say that no one knows what the Lord’s prayer means, but he has figured it out by watching AXP. He considers himself a biblical literalist. He says that the Lord’s Prayer as said by Jesus in the bible contains a Greek word that was never used anywhere else, so we don’t actually know what the translation means. But we have good resources to know how a word was used based on our knowledge of similar languages. John got dropped because he’s a troll.
Mike from South Carolina believes that the world is too finely tuned to not have been designed by a creator. The hosts ask him if there is a reason for natural disasters if they were designed that way. Mike says that they’re punishment because of a fallen world. The hosts point out that his original argument of a finely tuned world fell apart since he had to jump to God’s mysterious reasons for creating things like natural disasters. When the hosts push Mike on all of the terrible things that God has done, like murdering people, he says that it’s not that bad since the people who died went to heaven.
Nick from NC says that science and the bible work well together and that religion was like the first science. While the hosts can concede that ancient religions were ways to explain the world, they don’t agree that current scientific knowledge and the bible complement each other. Nick says that the Adam and Eve story shows that some actions can impact future generations and others besides the individual. You have to really read into the story to get that conclusion. In the bible, it’s straightforwardly about punishment. Nick mentions that he thinks that gods have been misinterpreted and that they’re actually aliens.
John from Ohio asks what evidence we have for the nonexistence of God. He says that if there was polytheism, chaos would ensue. But the hosts can’t agree with that, because there’s no way to support that claim. How could we know that there would be chaos? John claims that the hosts are militaristic atheists and extremists. John lays out a false dichotomy of the universe being created by a god or the universe was always here. Why isn’t there a third choice? Why can’t we say we don’t know how the universe started? He misunderstands modern physicists and thinks that the big bang theory says that nothing gave rise to something.
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00:00 Intro
03:14 Steve-NE | Mosaic Law Protects Women
36:29 Art-PA | Representing Spinoza's God
1:02:30 Tim-NY | Human Simulation Is Evidence Of A Creator
1:42:30 David-CA | God Formed The Planets, Not Gravity
1:52:24 Noah-TX | Why Do People Still Believe?
1:59:05 Zak-MD | How Do We Detach From Religion?
SHOW NOTESIn today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Justin and JMike, shift through the laws of Moses to find how cruel ancient men were before discussing god in a cape that is really just another word for gravity.
Steve in NE proposes that Mosaic law protects women against physical abuse. What happens to the woman under this law if she lies about her virginity? If a woman is stoned as a punishment, how is that protecting women? Why didn't god know that only 45% of women bleed after the first time having intercourse? If women were not property, why is it they could not go free like the way men could? Is war a good reason to rape and enslavement people? Men under this law did not need the brightly colored suits and feathered hats to sell their “property” as concubines.
Art in PA is concerned that Spinoza’s god is being misrepresented. How can god be defined without using the term, “god”? There is no real interesting dispute when language is being used differently to describe something. What would the universe be without this god? What evidence is there for us to conclude that we are manifestations of the mind of god?
Tim in NY argues that just because abiogenesis is real, it does not mean that it is independent of a creator. What evidence is there for us to believe there is a creator to begin with? If one thing creates other things, that does not mean that the first thing also has to have a creator. Extra entities being added will need extra commitments. Why do we need to add the creator stuff into the hypothesis and complicate things? What is the benefit of adding this complication? How do we know there are not an infinite number of gods working together?
David in CA asks the hosts how they think the planets were formed. Justin explains how the accretion disk theory is the current model with gravity pulling things together towards a massive central body. Why do we need to add a creator to this? The caller has a hard time answering whether or not scientists have a good understanding of gravity.
Noah in TX wonders why so many African Americans still believe in Christianity when the history is easy to research. Justin explains how people are not likely to let go of instinct and centuries of culture until something compels them to do so. Sometimes it can be difficult to convince family members when they know all your flaws already.
Zak in MD has been an atheist for around 13 years after doing some research and finding that god is a lie. Over the course of time we get conditioned to have an emotional response to things that do not just go away once you leave religion. This takes work and the deprogramming is different for everybody, sometimes taking years to detach.
Thank you for tuning in this week! Jamie the Blind Limey joins us to close out the show with some final thoughts on caller subjects.
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In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Secular Rarity and Holy Koolaid, untangle the entangled particles to see that abiogenesis may not have an AI cause.
Bill in MI has a theory that the purpose of life is to entangle every other particle in the universe in order to resolve uncertainty. We as humans are good at seeing patterns. What patterns are you seeing in the entanglement? Why do you think it was you that discovered this? What are the reasons for gatekeeping with high level academia?
Tim in NY is 51% believer and 49% atheist because we have seen humans create intelligence but we have never seen intelligence show up. If one structure of the argument has a fallacy, like this black swan, the whole argument chain needs to be reworked if you want to get to a reliable conclusion. Why would the intelligence on this earth not be considered to have arised naturally? There is a difference between an increase of likelihood of existence and actual existence. We have seen amino acids and nucleic acids form on their own in simulated conditions.
Denny in IL talks about how mathematicians and philosophers have defined god as the foundation of existence. When scientists talk about energy, they are talking about something that is measurable and a different definition of what people use for god. This sounds like a classic case of equivocation. Explore some responses people have to presuppositional apologetics.
Hannah in MS has an argument that morality should be universal and that abortion is wrong when it is not saving the life of the mother because it is killing innocent people. How would you feel if you were forced to use your kidneys to keep someone alive for 9 months? Do you have an obligation to keep this person alive, or do you want bodily autonomy? Why should we preserve life and why is this a universal principle? Why assume sapience and sentience by equivocating this fetus as a fully formed human and why does it have more value than the mother?
Omega Weapon in NY says that by using basic cosmology and logic that most concepts of god can be falsified. For instance it is logically impossible for god to be independent of space time and be the creator of it. You might have to shift some things for the idealists to agree with this, but the argument works.
Antwion in NC wants to talk about how to let go of the fear of hell and what methods the hosts used. SR found his secular therapist through The Secular Therapy Project. Holy Koolaid realized how many things there are in life that have been attributed to demons but really are not demons. The phenomenon of sleep paralysis is a prime example of this where hypnagogic hallucinations are experienced. We know exactly what is happening in the brain and can measure it, yet people believe this is caused by demons. What types of things do people mistake for demon possession? If you go out and learn about how these religions evolved, it will help understand how man made these things are.
Thank you for joining us for this live show! We will see you next week and remember to call early!
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**In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Justin and The Cross Examiner, work with the Legendary Jesus who uses preferred pronouns in the simulation created by Bible bashing atheists that question the answers given by the argument from motion.JIm in MO compares Jesus to King Arthur because he could be a legendary character where everything is written down after the fact. Justin explains how he learned in Seminary that it was a given that Jesus was a real person. What are your experiences like when people attempt to prove the existence of Jesus?
Mike in SC wants to know how using pronouns is any different from the Emperor wearing new clothes in the movie, The Emperor’s New Groove. Why would this be comparable to a fictional story? Would you choose to call someone other than their name? Refusal to use preferred pronouns are black and white fallacies and false equivocations because there is more that goes on other than what is between your legs. There are mountains of evidence that show that the gender one identifies with is different from the biological sex. Why is it a problem to use the pronoun that someone requested? Where in the Bible does it say that using preferred pronouns is breaking a rule? Gender and sex are NOT the same thing.
Ransom in WY, believes we are in a simulation with a bunch of idiots that have better computers than we do, and that atheism has an incorrect view of the universe. Atheism does not say that this universe is all that exists. Our claim is not to know what is not in our universe; it is simply not believing that a god exists. The observer being necessary is not how the Double Slit Experiment works.**
**Joshua in AZ thinks faith is just trust and does not like the hosts bashing the Bible because it is a big deal to believers who take it seriously. We can find numerous contradictions and historical errors in the Bible. If this book is from god, where is the evidence? Is it Bible bashing to question the absurdities in it? We don’t have to respect people’s beliefs, and that is different from respecting the person. Is being taught something from someone in authority or someone that you trust a good reason to believe it? As the outrageousness of the claim increases, your demand for evidence also needs to increase. How can god exist if he is so unaware of human biology that he created a law allowing women to be stoned to death for not bleeding on their wedding night? It is okay to look at the man behind the curtain and realize the house of cards is about to crumble.
Hannah in MS presents the argument from motion where there must be a first cause of motion outside of space and time, and that first cause is god. What evidence do you have that anything outside of space and time can exist and that it can interact with things inside space and time? How is this god distinguishable from things that don’t exist? Does space time exist as most physicists do? This is an example of an argument that believers make so they don’t feel silly about their beliefs.
Jimmy Jr. joins us to show his obligatory drawing of Jesus with a they/them name tag! Afterall, the Trinity is a trans configuration! Thank you for joining this great show! Question of the week is: It was really petty when god _______.**
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In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, The Godless Engineer and Armin Navabi, work with callers who think that not only their god is loving, but slavery is not a bad thing.
Larry in Canada, thinks that the Bible has a different meaning for the word, “slave” than what “slave” means in the original Hebrew. The caller asserts “servant” as a definition for slave and believes this nullifies the atrocity of slavery. He then struggles to understand the basics of dialogue that usually involves more than one person. Why do you think you can just ask the hosts to read from the Bible and not offer their opinions? We are waiting for you to perform a semantic cartwheel that is beautiful enough for us to believe the Bible is against slavery.
Oblivious in CA says that even though a rational person denies the belief in god, nobody really can deny god. What does it mean for god to be the conscious explanation and answer for all things? Why can’t this god explain something easy like rain? We agree that we can’t deny the existence of something that we don’t know. God is either nothing, or god is everything, both of which are completely pointless to prove, and we don’t have a definition for your “box”.
Steve in NE made a claim that slaves were just prisoners of war. If people are prisoners of war, is it a good thing to turn them into slaves? Why believe in a god that is not all powerful and does not have the ability to end slavery? The conversation revealed the caller’s belief in ancient aliens influencing the past. Appealing to ignorance in regards to unknown forces does not work when attempting to defend Biblical slavery.
Simeon in GA believes the god of the Bible is a loving god. We are going to question everything about this god, and will especially question whether this god is loving. How is it loving for god to send people that he created into a place of torture that is also created? Why did god not create things without the ability to sin? It is never okay to kill small children like what your god commanded his people to do. If the Bible says that babies are evil, we don’t want that kind of love.
David in CO is on a journey to figure out what god is. He addresses the people who try to defend slavery by telling them that this is not learning from our mistakes. Why give the credit of doing all the good things to the evil monster of the Torah?
Hannah in MS wants to discuss the communitarian case against secularism. Secularism is not anti-religion, but rather it allows for a level and fair playing field that does not favor any religion. This topic deserves more time and we hope you will call in again to discuss in depth.
Thank you for tuning in this week! Scott Dickie, our backup host, joins to help close us out. Question of the week is: What is the worst thing to give up for Lent?
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In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Secular Rarity and The Cross Examiner, sort through some wild thoughts from callers.
Ulrich in Mexico, believes the expanding universe proves The Bible. If everything points to there being a singularity, why do you think it was not always expanding and did not come from a singular point? There are ways of predicting what happened in the past and god moving the goalposts in the past is not a good argument. Why do you not believe the Bible can be wrong about things? Why would we care if you don’t care to read the truth about your Bible that is written directly in your Bible? How important is it to believe things that are true? What chapter and verse claim who the witnesses are? We don’t know who wrote the Gospels and there is no evidence to support the claims you made.
Joshua in AR had it in his heart to say that Christians need to stop thinking that a belief in god is obvious, and god is necessary to remove guilt from sin. How is sin defined and why do we need to remove guilt from it? Is god responsible for removing those bad feelings that we get whenever we do something wrong? Is it appropriate for a third party such as god to alleviate your guilt after doing something wrong and can this be done without god?
Benji in Al has some questions about incest in the Bible. There are lots of examples of these things happening in the Bible. If you take the Bible literally and believe that we came from just two people, do you think that incest is moral? There are a lot of people who believe these stories in the Bible who vote. If a lot of the Bible is not only untrue, but also bad, why hang on to the rest of it?
Dawn Dark-Light in AL is a non-Abrahamic monotheist that believes we are all extensions of the godhood. We have no idea of what you are talking about. This sounds like something that must have demonstrable evidence. Where is the evidence and how did you find this information? How is this different from all other trips that people have? What tool do we have to figure out which claims people are making are correct?
Chris in KT wants to talk about a bill that was just introduced that will conflict with church and state, and how to address it. These bills that are blatantly unconstitutional used to be publicity stunts but now that is no longer the case. This kind of thing needs a broad coalition of people! There are many secular and Christian organizations that are against this.
Kelley Laughlin, our backup host, joins to close us out for this birthday weekend. See you next week!
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In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, JMike, The Godless Engineer, and Kelley Laughlin take on a variety of challenging and fun calls.
Tommi in Portugal wants to talk about the problem of evil and considers it to be the greatest challenge to the Christian faith. Does god desire to have evil in this world? Is it possible for an agent to always make a good choice? Why did god fail in substantiating a world where all the agents always do good? Why is there unnecessary suffering in this world that an omni god created? Is it justice for god to cast a magical incantation on all of humanity just because he got man at someone for eating something? Why does god just not pick the file where everyone makes the right choice?
GB in CA has a question about what effect the White House Faith Office will have on the country. It is a direct violation of the First Amendment and irresponsible to have an office of faith where faith leaders can have influence on our policies. This will result in policies being made that are in alignment with the Bible. How would you feel if decisions were being made based on other faiths like Islam? What if a member of the atheist community influenced the government to allocate religious communities less funding than others? Or make it unlawful to go to church? What parallels can be drawn between the current subject and The Handmaid’s Tale?
Yoshi in TX who is sometimes an atheist and sometimes a theist depending on the definition of god. Being an atheist in respect to a specific god is fine but saying that god is everything is a way to change the subject. Why do we have to rename something god that is already labeled? Defining god in a way that we can neither prove or disprove turns into a semantic game.
Hannah in MS wants to provide a moral argument for the Jewish religion as a foundation for an ethical society. Doesn’t this depend on how much god is worshiped by the society? How can this be explained without using continental philosophy? What context is it okay for an all powerful deity to do what he commanded in Numbers 31:17-18? There is no context where genocide is okay. When everything happens for a reason, things like the Holocaust happen because they ought to happen.
Kelley Laughlin, our backup host, relieves JMike before taking our next caller, Blaine, an atheist in Ca. He asks about people using religion as a cover for bad behavior by cherry picking. This all depends on how they are using their religion. If the religion is used to judge other people or shield bad actions, then it can be problematic as opposed to when people keep it private. When do you think humanity will get to a point where we don’t need magical thinking?
Cade in TX asks for advice on how to deal with the recent loss of his father and dealing with the comments of theists. Kelley shares a personal experience with similar challenges and offers support with empathy. People are just trying to deal with it the best they can and tell you what worked for them to try and provide comfort. Maybe just thanking them for their kind thoughts is all that is needed.
Thank you for tuning in this week! Prompt of the week is: If god is so smart, then why is it____?
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In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Secular Rarity and Armin Navabi, add sprinkles to our Sunday(sundaes), swim through the world of proof that atheism is in fact imaginary and not created by a non-god.
Kenneth in VA, wonders if proving god should be done in the mystical sense when the scientific method fails. What is the point of talking about it if you are unable to describe this method? Are you feeling something that is god, or are you describing the feelings themselves? If SR has a pet that he is unable to describe at all, what is the likelihood that the pet is real? When something is happening that you are not in control of, is that what you would describe as god? How does being in a highly emotional state affect your perception of whether or not there is a god involved? How would you value these experiences, if it turns out their origin is not from a larger source, but are coming from you?
Muslim Intellect in the UK asks: Would the world exist if god did not exist? How did you arrive at the position that the existence of the world proves god? Please describe how this is obvious to you, when it may not be obvious to us or anyone else. Why would we take the Koran seriously when we have not even established there is a god, and that particular god brought us the Koran? The message from Allah is worthless without this happening first. Why should we believe a book that says god is real and how do we know if the claims in the book are true?
Mike with no pronouns in SC says that the song, “Imagine” is an atheist anthem and that atheism is imaginary. Why is it a problem for atheists to take a lack of position? How do you decide what question is the biggest question to ask? Somebody that does not have a claim does not need to prove anything. The burden of proof applies to specific claims, not general things. There is no need to mix up concepts and muddy the water. What changed your mind to make you go from a non-believer to a believer? Before your scientific discoveries, was anyone else in your eyes justified in believing in the god that you believe in?
John in Canada believes in a non-god creator and uses the laws of energy and math to explain his position. You are making an equivocation on the word, “create”. Did you really think that explaining that things cause other things would prove your point?
Jackie in MS wants to build a case that idealism as a metaphysical system makes the most sense out of any system. It is not necessarily true that without our perception, things won’t exist. Language having a limit does not give us a reason to reduce the definitions of words to mean another word. Do the qualities of a rock change when there is nothing to look at that rock? Why is it impossible for the universe to exist before there was any consciousness to describe the perception? Do you think we have done enough to understand this topic? Does omnipotence seem weird or does it just break the rules?
Thanks for tuning in this week! Question of the week is: What is really buried under the Kaaba at Mecca?
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In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, JMike and Justin Deconstruction discover that Jesus is the Devil as they comb through Biblical atrocities with bears and lions mauling presuppositional arguments made by people who believe the L.A. fires are caused by god.
Chuck in HA says the hosts on the show sometimes sound like they support Christianity because they say there just is no proof for god. The hosts wasted no time backing the caller into a corner about his beliefs. It turns out the caller was not able to articulate what the Bible describes about god and even claimed that Jesus is the Devil. How do you determine what parts are right and what parts are wrong in the Bible? If you do not believe in Jesus, how do you know that Jehovah is true?
Mike in SC wants to know if there are any books in the Bible that Justin thinks are true. Justin gave a handful of examples from the Bible that are true, and a number of contradictions found. If one part of the book is true, how does that make the whole thing true? What about the atrocities? How does making fun of somebody justify bears being called to maul kids or people at all? You must read the text for what it is and not what some goofy website says. God is vengeful and sends lions to kill his own prophets. Why did Jesus not fulfill even one of the Messianic prophecies?
Bill in PA wants to know how to defeat presuppositional arguments. Ask them for the argument, and then ask them to support the first premise. They will rarely have an argument for the first premise.
Jon in Canada says the fires in LA are caused by god and there is a correlation between sin and fire. How do you know what god’s rules are and what sin is? Where is the comprehensive list of sins found? What sins are people in California doing that other states are not? If all natural disasters come from god, why is he not focusing on another area?
Gabe in TX wants to know how to respond when someone says that atheists have no moral standards. Justin’s opinion is that objective morals don’t exist and people want them to exist so they can point to a behavior and say it is bad. JMike’s take is that there are views compatible with there being no god such as subjective meta views. Can a shoe exist without a person to wear it?
Jim in MO says that the discovery of the new world changed the laws of Christianity, and not Jesus. Remember that Christianity long before this happened already determined they did not have to follow the laws of Moses. The whole book of Hebrews talks about this and how there are new laws being replaced. Even Jesus and the apostles can’t agree with each other. How did the people that came to America have a different belief than the people that came before them? What is the end goal of this dialogue and support for your conclusion?
Ben, our backup host, joins to close out the show! Thank you for tuning in this week. Question of the week is, “What would Jesus do?”(Wrong answers only).
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In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Armin Navabi and Kelley Laughlin, face attacks with no gravity and hurl their molecules under a big udder that prevents the sacrifice of finding the truth behind what the U.S. was based on.
Chuck in HI says he has scientific evidence for god and this is that the matter in the universe is eternal. He goes on to say there is no such thing as gravity and that god is holding everything together. Where is the evidence for this self aware, thinking agent that holds the universe together? The caller uses an inappropriate ad hominem and is warned by the hosts. He then goes on to try to convince the hosts that the same molecule is inhaled that is exhaled. How would this get us to god if it is true? Why does something have to make the atoms work and what is the work you think they are doing? The caller continues his childish attempts at insulting the hosts before repeating claims instead of providing the evidence for the claims.
Jackie in MS name dropped right off the bat even though Kelley explicitly asked him not to. He proposes that religion becomes a big udder that prevents sacrifice. How can you make your own points without referring to other philosophers? The key is to communicate in a way that is understandable. Why is there a need to use words that are undefined?
Mike in SC wants to know how to determine if something is true. Armin likes to put things into two categories: empiricism(more reliable) and rationalism(less reliable). He explains how critical thinking skills and spotting logical fallacies play into figuring out which arguments are the best in addition to using Occam's Razor. There is a difference between the truth and what is justified.
Kelley looks for unambiguous empirical evidence to find truth. The topic swings over to the existence of Jesus. Where is the evidence for the resurrection? Why should we believe the Bible being used to prove the Bible? How do you get from the claims of physical evidence to the supernatural? How do people being willing to die for their religion make it true? People have died for bad ideas and things that are wrong throughout history. What is your path to truth and how do you arrive there? When do you accept your evidence and what is your process to prove it? If you have a low percentage of surety, what makes the difference between a positive and a negative decision?
Jon in Canada asks Kelley if he believes the U.S. was based on Christianity. Kelley explains how people misunderstand that separation of church was put there to protect religion from the government. And how many of the founding fathers were deists meaning that the U.S. was not based on Christianity but there were Christian influences on the founding of this nation.
Ben Clodfelter joined to close out the show as Kelley cut a red tie. Thank you for tuning in this week! Prompt for the week is: When is it inappropriate to respond to, “checkmate atheists”?
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In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Forrest Valkai and The Cross Examiner, walk Jackie through some thought processes of his own before encountering questions of existence with some New Age sprinkles.
Jackie in MS was not able to answer Forrest’s question of whether he has any of his own thoughts. It goes absolutely nowhere when this happens. Jackie agrees not to mention the names of philosophers and to answer the hosts’ questions. He argues that the existence of metaphysical things associated with religion are the reason for religion being a positive thing. What is an example of a good point you have made regarding these things? Why do you think people listening to this conversation will become convinced to believe in a god? Why do you believe a god exists? What created god that is more complicated than god? Why does the universe need a god to do what it does? Not knowing how something could have happened is not a basis to make a conclusion in the version that you like. Not only is there a magical explanation, but you know the dude that did it, and believe we must hate trans people! This could be a product from your environment, and Jackie, you deserve better than this.
George in Bulgaria claims that god is pure existence and we are eternal beings. What does pure existence mean? If we agree that things exist, how do you get from there to a god or to eternal beings? What would happen to existence, if a person was born that never reacted with anyone or anything else? What does your god want you to do? If god is asleep, why should we care? What is the evidence for our consciousness producing reality? Why is this better than just saying reality exists? How can your belief be falsified? A god that does not interact with the universe is indistinguishable from a god that does not exist. What can be gained knowledge wise by testing this?
Ibrahim in the USA, converted to Islam, and wants to know the strongest arguments against god. Would you say that the burden should be on us to prove things like Santa Clause are not real? When you get into the business of arguing about god, you get into different versions of god. If this god does exist, what kind of god is it? If half of the things that the Abrahamic god is said to have done are true, he is a monster. The amount of evil and suffering this god has allowed is atrocious. This is not a religion of morality, but a religion of threats. Why would somebody believe something that is not true when there is harm associated with it? If someone could convince you to believe in absurdities, they can also make you commit atrocities. The real danger sets in when you think you know what that god wants; this is when we start seeing cults, the Crusades, and the Dark Ages. Why does god not fix the suffering in the world and why did he not choose to create a universe where this did not need to happen?
The hosts are joined by Ben Clodfelter to close out the show. Thank you for tuning in this week! Question of the week is: What is an underquoted scripture at a funeral?
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In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, the Cross Examiner and Ryan Jayne talk about the significance of separation of church and state, rising Christian nationalism in the United States, and phenomenology.
Keyon in Utah claims that the stories of multiple religions point to there being a creator god. So many traditions have similar stories, so they must be on to something. He says he’s not religious but seems to still believe in the Bible and Christianity to an extent. Why does the similarities between different traditions’ stories mean that one (Christianity) is true? Keyon says that concepts like the devil are a type of energy and that he feels the truth of them energetically. He can’t conceive of a world where so many people could be wrong about religion. The hosts explain that religions like Islam and Christianity that contradict each other can’t both be true. And how can we tell which religion is true if both groups came to their conclusion through the same methods? Keyon responds by saying that every religion has god because god is love and energy.
Manuel is calling from Brazil to challenge the hosts’ views on separation of church and state. He argues that there is a level of importance in issues. He says that there are more important issues like the murder of trans people, but it presumes that you cannot fight both fights at the same time. The hosts point out that something that seems so small like Christian iconography in government spaces impacts other issues like systemic transphobia. It helps justify discrimination and violence in society and legal processes.
Jackie in Missouri wants to discuss the “phenomenology of givenness” which is beyond intentionality. Some things are given to you and are not part of your intentionality. The word “given” implies that a “giver” exists. Why are things we can’t explain not just part of the natural world or the human experience? The hosts try to understand why Jackie believes in god, but he just keeps reading his script. Is this his best reason for believing in god? When asked for his best evidence of God, Jackie says that the question is not applicable to his god. We don’t care about a god to which evidence cannot apply or is independent of evidence. It makes that god unfalsifiable. When asked again for his #1 piece of evidence for god, he answers with “the hierarchy of value perception.” We don’t have time to unpack all that today. Jackie can call back to talk about that concept in particular.
Mike is calling in from South Carolina with questions about the Fair Housing Act. He asks the hosts if the Fair Housing Act overrides any discriminatory laws at the state level. While landlords can’t explicitly evict someone because of their sexual orientation, they can come up with some kind of other excuse for kicking them out that isn’t blatantly discriminatory. Enforcing a law like the Fair Housing Act is a lot more challenging that you might think.
Jason from Massachusetts expresses his challenges with family after deconstructing from religion. Unfortunately, stories like Jason’s are far too common, but demonstrate how essential atheist communities can be.
Thank you for calling in this week! This week’s prompt is: Why did God kick out Lucifer? Wrong answers only!
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In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Forrest Valkai and Doctor Ben tackle several fun issues.
Jack in Canada asks the hosts about the problem of evil. If god made the rules, why would he choose to cause suffering when he is powerful enough not to? Why did god choose something that causes suffering? If your god is in charge of everything, why does he not fix childhood poverty? You are more moral than your god.
Max in Russia wants to help but is unable to donate. Every action helps no matter how small and we appreciate you. Doctors without Borders must work legal negotiations before being able to enter a country.
Mike in SC has a perception that atheists and theists are doing the same thing because atheists say god is evil, and theists say god is good. Is a bi-sexual trans man better off in hell? Why is it okay that someone is sent to Hell for being gay? What if another god says it is a sin to be heterosexual? Why is it okay for Christians to kick people out of their family for being queer? Imagine what it feels like to be told that because of this monster in the sky who treats you differently for being gay, you deserve to be tortured forever. How is the lesson someone learns from the loss of the baby worth the baby’s life? Is freewill more important to god than protecting children?
Kelvin in FL asks if the existence of transgender people goes against the societal push of deconstructing gender norms. Dr. Ben explains that the trans community is not about adapting femininity or masculinity, and how the trans community leans into gender abolitionism. There is societal pressure put on trans people to perform to those stereotypes. Forrest discusses how sex and gender are different, and how things in the 1400s that were considered manly are not manly today.
Vic in TX believes in a creator, but does not believe in the New Testament or Jesus. How is the Bible considered to be morally good? Is it morally good to stone your children if they disobey? Why should this be accepted as an instruction manual when it instructs how to own and beat slaves?
Jackie in MS wants us to dig into a bunch of philosophers to promote Christian values. What do you have to say about these values being carcinogenic to human minds? How does the function of an idea speak to the morality of an idea? What is one example where consciousness is independent of matter?
Nate in NY discusses his deconstruction before the last caller, Kevin in MA, brings the hosts into a discussion about sexual dimorphism.
Thank you for calling in this week!
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In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Secular Rarity(SR) and JMike sort through a variety of callers before being joined be Scott Dickie to wrap it up.
Jackie in MS misgendered Dr. Ben on Talk Heathen and then refused to issue a proper apology so he was dropped! Be a man, Jackie and do the right thing if you want to play with us.
Olivia in TX has questions about the Bible being true and how things she was told would come true when she was a kid are true now. How did you independently verify this if you have not read the Bible? The book alone making a claim is not sufficient. How are the things that have come true now any different than how they were hundreds of years ago? At what point do you trust the things people are telling you? Why is the church telling you the Bible is true, a reason to accept it?
Caleb in OH asks the hosts how they have come to the conclusion that there is no god. JMike explains how there are no minds that can exist, and how the commitments that need to be taken on for theism are massive, and therefore not simple. SR confirms that is his position as well. The evidence available leads us to a conclusion that leads to a belief of something being likely to be true. Probability may be interesting, but has no bearing on whether something is true or not. What is the reasoning that you have come to your conclusion about the universe being designed? Does god have free will to create other constants? Why not add more gods?
Johan in FL is a pantheist instead of an atheist because for the ethical reason that words have power and atheists tend to play on the word, “god”. What does god/goddess mean to you? What are you adding to the word, “universe” that we don’t share? What does the philosophy of mind stuff have to do with this? Why is there a moral imperative to believe something that supports well being?
Polo in PA wants to talk about secular humanism and how he wants to start a new religion that does more interfaith with other religions who see themselves as humanist organizations. The word “religion” can connote a set of rituals and dogma that may not work for many humanist organizations.
Alexander in the UK has gradually stepped away from the Christian religion and is curious why some smart people are still so involved. Scott reminds us how smart people can be excellent at justifying what they believe and compartmentalization. There are people that have great arguing skills. None of us properly adhere to the correct methodology 100% of the time.
Dee in IA thinks the hosts missed the mark by not having a stronger acknowledgement when speaking with Olivia. What she got out of Olivia was fear and understands her not reading the Bible. Dee was also in a charismatic cult that took decades to claw out of. We always want to do better and not discount the emotions entirely. Your criticism and suggestion is well taken. Thank you for tuning in this week!
Question of the week is: If you want to get banned from Bible Study, which Bible story should you pick?
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Show notes upon receipt.
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Show notes upon receipt.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-atheist-experience--3254896/support.
Show notes upon receipt.
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Today we have a Bat Cruise edition of the Atheist Experience live in the studio with Forrest Valkai, ObjectivelyDan, JMike, and Secular Rarity!
David in CA, wants to create an experiment where we remove religious teachings from a society, and if it leads to a god explaining things that science is leaving out. Notice how the things we can’t explain keep getting smaller. We would find that we can use rationality to come up with morality.
Sean in TX, wants to talk about the Eucharist miracle of Lanciano, where it turned into actual flesh and blood, and they found the specimen was still alive. If this is true, why is ritualistic cannibalism part of your practice? What if we wanted to be more like another person and decided to eat that person? Why would god choose this miracle instead of ending world hunger?
Ivan in CA feels that religions are man’s attempt to explain things, and is curious about how to cross the threshold to believing there is not any god at all. If there is a god, what kind of god is it? What does your god actually do?
Joshua in the USA, thinks the fine tuning argument is one of the best arguments that exists for theists, and proposes a thought experiment, where every piece of matter has the words, “made by Jesus”. Why does god create a world with life permitting constants rather than no world at all?
Mike in WA believes that if a scientist can’t make a complete set of amino acids, then abiogenesis could not possibly happen. Why are you not accepting the evidence that amino acids can self assemble? Was there a time where we could not create lightning in a lab?
Benjamin in AL is calling once again to defend slavery in the Bible. What is the motivation for you wanting this and why do you want to defend slavery? Does that make god a good person if he is okay with slavery and would you worship this god? Why do you believe certain parts in the Bible over others? You are better than your god.
Steve, a theist in NE, wants to discuss a research paper that argues for panspermia titled, "The Cause Of Cambrian Explosion, Terrestrial or Cosmic?” While cephalopods are life, it does not say anything for the rest of life on earth. Why are you making the leap of intentionality from this event?
Jimmy in NY asks the hosts why they don’t believe in god. How can the whole Bible be true if different parts say different things? Why do people go to hell and what kind of asshole would send someone there for not believing in him?
Billy, a deist in TX, asks about the observer effect where 95% of the universe is not observable. This has been misunderstood for decades. Think some more on this and there is no need to get mad.
Mike in SC says that god did not create a lousy world. Who made the Garden of Eden and who was in charge of where the trees were placed? Who allowed the serpent to tempt them?
Thank you for tuning in! Question of the week is: What is a warning label that god forgot to make?
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Show notes will be posted upon receipt.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-atheist-experience--3254896/support.
Show notes upon receipt.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-atheist-experience--3254896/support.
Show notes upon receipt.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-atheist-experience--3254896/support.
In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, The Cross Examiner and Secular Rarity explore the godliness of Superman as they explain where atheists get their morals. Crew cat helped with technical challenges before jumping into grandparents pushing agenda and the Mandela Effect messes with memory.
Jim in MO uses a Superman analogy to god, and questions why Superman did not try to stop Lex Luther from doing evil. What kind of similarities can be drawn between stories in the Bible and comic books? We can easily imagine super powerful beings that are more moral than the god of the Bible.
Jon in Canada wants to know where we get our morals if it wasn't from the Ten Commandments. Were there recorded civilizations before the Ten Commandments and where did they get their morals from? Laws can make society a better place, but it may not be necessary for them to be in place.
Jax in UT asks if the hosts think god is evil and if so, why doesn't he kill us now? God creates all kinds of atrocities. He may not be evil, but he could be an idiot child playing with matches. How is it possible that god disobey’s his character? We don’t know why god does not kill us, he is a mysterious character.
Robert in CA, shares how his parents are showing Veggie Tales to his children which caused a switch from neutral to proactive. How much do you trust your parents to honor your wishes? Studies show that if a child reaches an age where they can reason, they will be less likely to adapt to religion. Your parents don’t have to stop being who they are to not put it on the children. These are your kids and no one is entitled to pushing their agenda on them. What are your thoughts about supervised visitations? This situation is an example that answers why we do this. Religion hurts people, that is why we care.
Blind Limey in TX describes a Freddie Mercury performance at a Live Aid event that was televised less than 50 years ago. At this event, there were actors as police. How many people would remember there were police present at that event? There are lots of examples of the Mandela Effect. This kind of thing happens all the time and we know this. Even if we had access to eyewitnesses from Jesus’s time who saw something, how could we rely on that? SR shares an interesting story of his memory owning Golden Retrievers and how they were really Terriers. Memory is a fascinating thing with many chemical variables floating around in our brains!
Thank you for tuning in this week! Prompt is: What prayer will have you banned from saying grace?
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Have the ultimate Atheist Experience today with Johnny P. Angel and John (Godlessengineer)! They wrestle with an argument from popularity right before diving into another theist argument from ignorance with all the chemical gaps being filled with no other but god himself.
Bernard, a theist in NYY, presents two options for the writing of the Old Testament: god or human. What is your criteria for determining this is actually the word of god? How did you rule out these scriptures are not just from people telling each other stories that describe how they thought the world exists? Why do you accept that this book is accurate? How do you explain all the different ways god is referred to such as Yahweh and Jehovah that indicate different writers of the first five books? Why is it supposed to be persuasive if a book references history? Large amounts of people believing in something has no bearing on how true it is.
Mike, a theist in SC believes that because of the complexity of DNA, that it had to be designed, and proceeds to lay out his argument using chromosomes as a start. How do proteins come together? What is your definition of information as it pertains to DNA? Why are we replacing chemistry with magic? Why does any of this require a divine intelligence? When was the last time you looked up how many possible life supporting planets there are? What is the nature of the supernatural existence responsible for this design? If god is all powerful, why do genetic disorders exist? God has some explaining to do for this shoddy craftsman work. How is it fair that a kid dies of leukemia and why can’t god intervene to prevent this? Is it because he doesn't care or he doesn't exist? We think you are better than your god.
Rachel, a skeptical agnostic in AZ, was told by her friend that she can only accept advice from other Christians. Why do Bible thumping folk think they cornered the market on correct action? It can be helpful to ask the person how they reconcile the genocides mentioned in the Bible such as Numbers 31, with moral actions.
Thank you for tuning in this week! Prompt for the week is: What should you NOT say to a friend that is trying to deconvert?
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Show notes upon receipt.
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Have an Atheist Experience today as Secular Rarity (SR) and Armin Navabi, sort through questions of “creation”, differences in Quran scriptures, and ponder the unfalsifiable simulation claim.
Jasmine, a theist in Ohio, says that all of existence including us, is part of god and that everything is created through god. How can everything be created through god and be god at the same time? How can something that does not make sense be convincing? Is there a way you can build a claim without using language that is so vague?
Rick, a theist in TX, asks how atheists explain the creation of the universe and the world. There are people dedicated their lives studying how this happened and their explanation does not include a deity. The framing of this question assumes there is a creation and that we as atheists have an answer. Why do atheists need to come up with an explanation when we are not making any claims? Even if things did have a beginning, does not make it true there was a creation. We do not have to have any justification for not believing something. Why do you think the scriptures such as the Bible or Quran will have any validity with atheists? If you were to be shown something that shows how the universe got here, and that does not include a god, how would that change your beliefs and certainty there is a god? If justifiable evidence were to be provided for the existence of god, we would believe, however, worshiping that god will be a another story. Armin and SR have a different opinion on this.
Abdur Rahman, a Muslim in NY, has laid out three criteria: logical theological framework, preservation of the original text of the Quran, and miracles. There is a ton of evidence showing the Quran has not been preserved perfectly. How do we explain the different versions of the Quran that actually differ in the commandments of Allah? If there were Quranic verses in two separate versions that were so radically different that it changes the commands of Allah and can’t be harmonized, would that make you no longer accept that the Quran is perfectly preserved? Why do we need the opinions of the scholars to make this harmonious? How do you explain these differences without changing the commandment of Allah and committing a sin?
Steve in NE wants to talk about the collapse of the wave function, how things will exist in the fuzzy quantum state until they are observed, and the Second Law of Infodynamics which requires information entropy to remain constant or decrease overtime. He wonders if these things are indicators of a simulation program. How are you connecting these things? It doesn't really matter if we are in a simulation or not because our reality is indistinguishable from a base reality. We don’t believe there is anything that can rule this claim out, making it unfalsifiable.
Thank you for hanging out with us today and remember the prompt of the week is: Create the next god!
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You will have the ultimate Atheist Experience today as JMike and Darante’ Lamar discuss the moral standards of not throwing babies off roofs. They jump right into a discussion about Moses writing the Old Testament and then they have a short wrangle with Satan Incarnate.
Daniel in NC responded to a video where JMike and the caller were discussing if throwing a baby off the roof is wrong in a world where there is no god, and a world where there is a god. Daniel agrees that this action is wrong in both worlds. What is the logical contradiction in a world where there are moral facts? It does not make sense to describe a world with independent obligation. What is the standard for god’s absolute morality? How do you explain the morality that people have who don’t hold a god belief? God has to be defined and shown to exist before you can prove that morality flows through god. Claims that are snuck in such as god being the creator need to be proven as well. Why is there a different standard of morality for god than there is for us? Why is it morally acceptable that god tells people to kill their children?
Bernard in NY attempts to demonstrate that god wrote the first five books of the Bible through Moses, who he says also wrote the Old Testament. Where is the scripture that says this? This call just did not get anywhere.
Devon in PA relied on the Bible during a tough situation and references the verses that name, “Philadelphia”. This verse helps clear his name because he is Satan incarnate with black curly hair and a star under his eye. Dude! Why do you think this?
Calum in Canada had two near death experiences as a teenager and saw an afterlife that was identical to what his mother described that included a “split” with a choice of where to go. Why did this experience not convince you there was an afterlife? It is rare that we hear this perspective from an atheist.
Keith in OR asks what the hosts think when someone is healed at the same moment as the person who did the arm is asking forgiveness. We would ask for evidence of this taking place and would also be intrigued. Could god create a backdoor to allow for such things to happen just so we can ask for forgiveness?
Compares the story of Job to the 1919 World Series with the Chicago Black Sox. If god is omniscient, why would he not bet on Job? God does come down, talk to Job, and stack the bet, just for the record.
Thank you for tuning in this week! Have a fun week thinking of why it is wrong to throw babies off roof, and make sure to think about our question of the week: What NOT to say if you meet Jesus.
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Johnny P. Angel and Secular Rarity combine for a wild show featuring callers that find divinity through getting high (huh?), the numeric secrects of the universe and more!
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Show notes upon receipt.
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Have an Atheist Experience with Secular Rarity and Armin Navabi as they work through callers determined to prove god’s existence.
Moses in FL says our lives are the manifestation of god’s truth. Why should emotions override the data? How is it that living our lives shows the truth of god? How do the narratives contained within religion affect a person’s self respect? What is the point of using logic if it is not to achieve better things and progress? When those who follow Jesus are supposed to be good people, why do Christians still do terrible things? What kind of love uses threats of eternal fire and torture?
Caleb in OH tries to prove that god exists by stating the universe has a beginning because it is expanding. We don’t know if the universe had a beginning or not. What was the second law of thermodynamics like before the big bang happened? How do you know that other people besides the disciples didn't write the Gospels? Even in modern times with video recordings, people come up with all kinds of narratives of how they perceive current events. What do you think it was like 2,000 years ago?
Landy in FL wants us to know that we are all beings of light and science is catching up to what the Bible tells us. Why do letters in a text adding up to a certain number matter with anything? Why should we believe this is any kind of code? Every religion uses number games within their scriptures. Why should we believe one over another? What Biblical information is science just catching up to?
James in CA asks what the hosts think about Paul’s argument for Christ being the Messiah. Paul, Mohamed, and Joseph Smith all said the same thing and we reject all of them. How can we believe Paul’s claims if he is not even an eye witness? Why is Paul’s revelation moment any more true than those that others have had?
Thank you for joining us this week. Question of the week is “What is Jesus's Secret hobby?
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Today you will have a total Atheist Experience as the one and only Shelley Segal treats us to the best start to the show ever! Jim Barrows and JMike walk us through what does and does not matter when providing evidence just before learning there are holograms in our brains! Shelley provides a beautiful concert to conclude our show.
Nick in WI believes that he has found god in the same way he would find a specific car in a car lot. If you were to search for god, what reason would you have to think god exists before you start searching? Why would we care about the characteristics if this god has not been demonstrated to exist? How do you explain a Christian foundation’s findings that say prayer has no more effects than a placebo? What does “spiritually alive” mean? Considering the history of the Cananites, how did they get from polytheism to theism? Why blame god for something that is part of you and wanting to know as many true things as possible?
Mac in CA has the argument from perennialism to prove god and is described as god has been contacting humans through history. The sound trailed off into underwater territory.
Sura in India says there is a strong force that is driving all religions. All religions attempt to explain things we have no control over is a more reasonable explanation than adding a supernatural god to the equation. Why postulate a god for natural phenomena? How do the percentages of people that believe something have any bearing on the truth?
Oliver in FL wants to know what science or LGBTQ has to do with atheism and atheists use faith for not having evidence for god. By your definition of faith, what am I believing in as an atheist that I can’t substantiate or confirm? What is the entailment for when we continue to ask for evidence? Why would Einstein saying anything get us to believe in this useless god of Spinoza?
Angus in NE, Jesus Mythicist asks what the hosts think of Yahwey or Yesua never saying anything. The same thing can be said of The Hobbit or other stories. What does what someone says prove anything about their existence?
Dave in India asks the hosts if they would consent to the point that there is a hologram in their brains. How would that point to god? Personal experience does nothing to move the needle here. How does your brain making you see stuff get us to god? Under what circumstances should we assume the supernatural is real? Why would you believe our lives as atheists are meaningless?
That was awesome wasn’t it? Thank you for hanging out with us this week! Question of the week is: Why did god really go no contact with people?
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Have an Atheist Experience with Secular Rarity and Forrest Valkai as they work together to catch a troll who won’t answer a question only to later have another transphobe try a bait and switch tactic with the call screeners.
Kevin in GA asks the hosts why he is incorrect by believing there is an intelligent designer without having specific proof such as a video describing how a car is made. What do you have to compare a designed universe with? Not knowing something is not the same as magic. There are multitudes of different types of proof that are needed for us to believe that a creator designed the universe. We do know where things came from and they are all from natural sources. If there is no proof, what is it that leads you to accept it and why do you believe your god is real?
Royal Trans Atheist in the UK asks about the morality of homosexuality under atheism. Why are you going out of your way to poke at people? What is your understanding of how reasoning and logic leads one to accept that being homosexual is how one is born? Overwhelming consensus is that it is not a choice but is part of the spectrum of human sexuality. At what point in your life did you decide to be straight? Do you believe that homosexuality is immoral? “Pleading the fifth” is now how this show works; if you are going to be a troll, at least be honest.
Seethi in OH asks Forrest about a call where Forrest had said there is no gender of a sex. Forrest explains that gender is a social construct and changes throughout time. Using the proper terminology from a scientific perspective will be inclusive. Agreeing on the facts and agreeing on what the facts mean are two different things. It is important to be careful to not cause more harm when describing how gender does not line up with sex, even when trying to be well intentioned.
Caleb in OH has evidence of the supernatural and asks the hosts their belief of the supernatural. Neither host believes in anything they do not have evidence for. How would accepting the universe having a beginning get us to god? Why would we believe anything contrary to the wealth of knowledge we already have about the universe?
Mr. British in London asks the hosts if atheism is appropriating the word “theist” in a proper way? What could this possibly mean? Is it misappropriating the word “symptom” to use the word “asymptomatic”? Can a term be used to describe whether or not something possesses a particular quality? Why should we use the word “secularism” when it does not mean the same thing as atheism?
Mike in SC asks SR about his prior belief and if he just grew out of religion. SR explains his deep belief and involvement early in life until an effective method was demonstrated to him. Forrest describes his exposure to a variety of churches and religions and how he applied the same rules to those beliefs as he did for anything else. Mike then asks if all atheists believe that gender is fluid. The majority care about gender identity, but as with other groups, there are atheists that are transphobic. If you are not willing to speak up against policies that are harming trans people, then we would argue you do not have a trans friend.
Thank you for joining us this week! Remember to call the show and not just comment in the chat! The prompt for this week is: What is a good come back for, “You need Jesus”?
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Have an Atheist Experience with Jim Barrows and The Cross Examiner and work through the current challenging issues that both theists and atheists continue to sort through.
Chidumeei in PA asks how he is to tell atheists that they are not morally superior. How do you deal with Christians that think they are morally superior? You take it one step at a time like you do everything else. Many people go through the angry atheist stage, and sometimes this is frustration from learning the Bible is wrong and realizing people have been lied to. If you slow the conversation down, ask for definitions, and look for understanding, people will realize the conversation is more important than the finger pointing.
Miguel in CO asks about how society handles transgender people in sports. How does society reconcile the two established facts of transgenderism being real, and the hormonal treatment being good but not perfect? Sports matter more than we think it should, and solutions that we come up with for one sport may not work for another. Maybe early recognition of one being transgender will solve some of the issues. It would be insulting to all genders to just boil it down to not allowing men to compete with women. People do not on a whim just decide to change their gender. Be careful to weed out the lies such as “six year olds getting surgeries”.
Brandon in CA wants to know why we embrace the trans community by using pronouns. What problem do you have with inclusion? How has the use of pronouns just come out of nowhere? We are hoping to build a society where it does not matter where you are dropped in, and the bottom rung of the ladder keeps going up so that everybody is included. What skin do you lose by using pronouns?
Dan in Canada has just been through the loss of a service dog and wants to know if it is okay to be Catholic without proof of god. How do you feel about believing a story without evidence of your dog being in a better place? What is your community around you now like? You may consider calling The Secular Therapy Project for someone to talk with or Recovering from Religion. It is okay to go to a church; there are times when communities offer more benefits than risks. The thing to look forward to when you do not believe in a god, is the exciting prospect that the future is yours to make and do what you want.
Chloe in MI says that the USA is not a Christian nation even though she is a Christian and does not see the attitude of Jesus and putting other people first. How do we define what a true Christian is? What do you think people mean when they say it is a Christian nation? In addition to legal meanings that are wrong on many levels, it could mean that people who are white evangelicals feel like they are losing their power. How do we determine whose interpretation of the Bible is correct? Who has the proper insight to know what the Bible means? We agree the United States is not a Christian nation.
Thank you for tuning in this week! Prompt of the week is: How did god the father get out of paying child support?
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Show notes upon receipt
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To be added.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-atheist-experience--3254896/support.
Recorded in front of a LIVE studio audience in Austi, TX!
Join The Atheist Experience with Jamie Boone and Christy Powell and work through issues, lack of evidence for god, and religious trauma challenges.
Caleb in OH, believes the Big Bang is evidence for god, and asks the hosts if atheists believe there is no evidence for god. Evidence that is meaningful, compelling or that stands up to scientific rigor has not been observed yet. The universe having a beginning is consistent with many religions. How is your religion any different? Why would an all powerful and all loving god not show us something on this show? Call back with one good argument that is overwhelming.
Yetmas in FL makes an analogy about god, people, and ants, and then asks why we are searching for god evidence when we have not even mapped 25% of the ocean floor. This is 25% more than before there was science.
AJ in MN asks the hosts what they used to justify the Bible when they used to believe. Christy described having to read a chronological Bible that noted the numerical differences realizing it was not inerrant. Jamie never looked into the claims, and when he finally did, he became an atheist. How many talking animals do you need in a story before you realize it is not literally true?
Terry in NY wants to know how to bat away the indoctrination and fear of hell. Why would we lose sleep over the Christian hell if we are not worried about the Hindu hell? Your nervous system does not need to be argued with and it is okay to struggle with this distress. Adult logic may not work with your first early childhood concept of hell. Recognizing this conflict is the first step to acceptance. Is it fear or is it guilt that is so scary? A book called, Leaving the Fold, by Marlene Winell is a good place to start along with Recovering from Religion where they are trained to help through this struggle.
Jon in Canada says that the 10 Commandments are necessary for society to function and prove the existence of god. How can you tell me that they eradicated slavery? How do you explain the basis of Chinese civilization before the Ten Commandments?
Katie in OK is trying to determine if she has religious trauma or if it is being raised in a hetero culture. Living in a religious society is almost certain to cause cuts and scars. Having to pretend to believe in something you don’t believe in can be traumatizing. If it hurts, you are allowed to have compassion on yourself and do something about it.
Barry in GA says that faith is the basis for believing along with the word of god. Where does faith come from? What does it mean if something that you read moves you? What other creation stories from other faiths have you read? Why do you use faith for the Bible but not anything else? What would you say to someone that has faith in Allah?
Josef asks the hosts their opinion on the scriptures that condemn homosexuality. Jamie disagrees with the verses. Christy finds these verses to be a big problem and is what caused him to challenge Christianity. If you remove a person's exposure to a type of person, it is easier to make them hate that type of person.
Thank you for tuning in! Question of the week: Missing from the Sermon on the Mount is, Blessed are the ___.
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- 00:00 Intro
- 11:08 Ameen-WA | Should I Come Out As An Atheist To My Parents?
- 34:42 Andrew-FL | Power Dynamics Preventing Consent
- 56:51 Bjorn-(NO) | Upholder Of Potential Is Consciousness
- 1:13:52 Jason-WI | Prophecy From God As Barnum Statement
- 1:18:55 Jake-AR | Societies More Prosperous Without Religion
- 1:25:49 Lucy-(LT) | Religiosity Breeds Toxic Positivity
- 1:34:26 Josef-MI | Fascinating Details As Argument For God
SHOW NOTES
In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Jim Barrows and Armin Navabi sort through evidence for a designer, Barnum statements, and upholders of consciousness.
Ameen WA is contemplating reasons to come out as an atheist to his Muslim parents. What would be the two main costs and benefits to making this decision? Considering this will upset your mom, how long will it take for her to get over it? What will you do if the costs outweigh the benefits? What can be done to help fill the void your mother would feel? Showing support to your family is not the same as believing something. Sometimes you need to play a little peek at a boo with the mask. Don’t do it fast and get them scared.
Andrew in FL says that Armin failed to debunk the slippery slope argument about sexual relationships being allowed that have no potential for harm. How can you claim a failure when you don’t know everything that was said? The potential for harm with incest is much higher than it is with LGBTQ, that is why it is not fair to compare on to another. Incest will have the problem of power dynamics that makes it hard to demonstrate consent. The emotional harm can’t be prevented as easily as STDs can.
Bjorn in Norway has research that connects consciousness with god and every real life moment has to have the potential of becoming a realization. If you are trying to prove god’s existence, please define god beyond a name. What is god? How would you demonstrate this? How can we connect all these random sentences together and tell us why consciousness is necessary? How do you know that something can’t exist alone? Why do we care about things that are potential but not probable? How do you know what happened before the Big Bang?
Jason in WI has a prophetic message from god about things that will happen. What will happen specifically and what is the exact date and time? Making Barnum statements is not the same as prophecy. Don’t waste our time.
Jake in AR says the world would be better off without religion. Would a society that has closer beliefs to reality have a better chance of prospering than one that does not have true beliefs? As Forest would say, all models are wrong, and some models are useful.
Lucy in Lithuania says that religiosity can breed toxic positivity. We agree and this is also a way for religious governments to take advantage of people.
Josef in MI asks what god the hosts have an issue with and uses DNA as an example of why he believes god exists. We have a problem with all claims without evidence. Your interpretation of an experience is going to be heavily influenced by the culture in which you are raised. What do you think a good standard for god is and are we there? It must be proven the designer exists before we can prove that things were designed. Why would we assume that the supernatural or god has anything to do with our existence more than chemicals? Why would DNA being fascinating be an argument for the existence of god? How do we find the creator of the body like we can find the designer of a car?
Thank you for tuning in! Question of the week is: Why is Satan competing for god’s followers?
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Welcome to the full Atheist Experience where JMike and Secular Rarity(SR) take on the resurrection, complaints of atheists, and people being saddened by the truth before Kelley Laughlin takes over for JMike battling the allegation that atheists have no will and the fear of hell.
James in OH has evidence for the resurrection that has been heard before and is Biblical based. Why would it need to be a supernatural cause if Jesus did in fact resurrect? You must make your case for this with an argument because just stating it doesn't cut it. How can this be done without just adding more miracles? Giving reasons and evidence will move people closer to your position. What is the earliest date of the earliest gospel?
Michael in FL asks why atheists complain that Christians can’t agree on issues when atheists can’t even agree on what atheism is. SR reminds the caller that Christians inherently have the same idea of the deity while atheists do not have any idea of a deity. JMike points out the problem of interpretation agreeing with god’s principle with Christians, and still has yet to complain about it. How do two people have a relationship with an entity and be so wrong on the most basic aspects of it? Does god love the LGBTQ people or does god want them to be murdered in the streets the way the Bible says?
Chloe in MI, one of our more honest and engaged callers, is a theist who responded to the chat poll with atheists should NOT be persecuted for their lack of belief in god. She added some good reasoning behind this; one of which is that god is love. Is love the reason why billions of infants die? How do you reconcile your two concepts of love?
Jon in Canada looks at the sky and wonders how all this came about by accident. Just because something is not intentional, doesn’t make it an accident. Why is it okay to let people believe untrue things that may end up killing them? Would you rather have people who are sad because they learned the truth, or people who believe in an imaginary deity that makes them feel broken? Take the risk of bumming people out by telling them the truth when the alternative is how the Bible considers them worthless.
Leonard in Germany says that atheists have no will or drive. SR explains how he has been involved in starting up several non-profit organizations, and Kelley runs his own business. How is this not a sense of will? There is a common thread of religions being political, where politics is not a part of atheism, however, individual atheists can be politically active. Every group of people will have bad people within the group. Why do we find justification in the core doctrine of religions to do atrocious things? The crusades, inquisition and conquest of the Americas are examples of this. Make friends with an atheist to get an idea of how they live and treat other humans.
Autumn in MD asks how to calm the fear of hell in her partner. Be patient and be a support system. Reach out to Recovering from Religion and the Secular Therapy Project.
Thank you for tuning in this week; question of the week is: Why did god wipe out the dinosaurs?
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In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Secular Rarity and Armin Navabi, question the universal theist answers and someone figured out that Jesus is the Devil, but not to worry, it is all in the mind because the experience is having us not believe that god is true because of cultural longevity.
James in OH asks if the hosts think atheists have more questions than theists. Theists may have more answers, but many of those answers are wrong. Would you agree that having more answers is not necessarily correct? A lot of times, answers that are given on the non-religious side do not unravel more layers of questions. Why would you use the Bible as a method to demonstrate god? What would you do to prove that Abraham almost slaughtered his own son and that the Bible is a good source for this claim? What information has been given to you that makes the supernatural a viable option?
John in CA claims that Jesus Christ is the Devil and quotes something that he calls a parable from The Book of Revelation to try and prove it. Why does this “parable” bring you to your conclusion? Is the Devil the good guy or the bad guy? Why is it that nobody else has figured this out? Why are you one of the few or the only one that has solved this puzzle?
Mark in MN says that the proof of something is in a person’s own mind. Accepting a belief is up to the individual, but that does not change the facts. What is your best evidence for god being real? Lets pray! God please provide us atheists proof of your existence! Amen! Okay now everyone get off your knees, you are released from the magical spells.
Josh in MT says that Jesus awakened a truth about people’s experience of the world. Most of the universe is not experiencing anything.
Michael in CA says that it is important to believe in god because god has always been a part of human culture. Would this be a good justification for the conclusion if we used another word instead of god? Why would longevity make it reasonable to believe in god? If you believe in something, and good things happen because you believe this, would the good things happening justify believing it is true? What if it is a lie? Where is the tomb now? How easy do you think it was for fraudulent claims and lies to spread thousands of years ago?
Thank you for tuning in and be as blasphemous as you need. Don’t forget Atheist Day on March 23. Question of the week: Name a time that God unfairly blamed someone.
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Show notes upon receipt
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In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Secular Rarity and JMike float above their bodies as they look at the chat in order to prove they exist as an all knowing god does illogical things with free will.
Jeff, with no location disclosed, believes in Jesus because he experienced floating above his body right before someone took him to church. Why does this give you creedence to believe? How do we justify this content in your head? What does “demonstrated by love” mean? Asking questions does not mean we are disrespecting you, it just means we want to understand the methodology used to arrive at your beliefs.
George in TX asks the hosts if they can see the chat. And then he just left with a classic troll mic drop of running away.
Ali in VA asks the hosts if they can prove that they themselves exist. Available views can be compared to demonstrate how we exist and views that have less explanatory power lose out on justification abilities. Of the two following questions, which will have more justifications in the answers? “Why am I seeing a tree rather than anything else?” Or “Why am I seeing a tree rather than not a tree?” If you received words from Allah directly, would you accept that is Allah speaking?
Abe in NJ asks the hosts about god being all knowing and having free will at the same time. It feels like these ideas clash with each other hard. An open theist might say that knowing the future is not a propositional attitude. This contradiction can reveal some theological and scriptural concerns.
Thank you for tuning in today everyone! Question of the day is: Name a time that god had not chills. Put your answer in the comment section.
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In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Forrest Valkai, Armin Navabi, and Seth Andrews sort through information that causes design as they dodge spiders with wings because Jesus just was not an apocalyptic creature.
Adam in England wants to talk about the relationship between information and design where the information needs a mind to exist and therefore the mind must be god. How is this different from the argument that says DNA is so perfect we must need a designer? Why do people have different understandings of words like “mind” and “freewill”? Where do we draw the line for what has a mind? Being too inclusive with how these words are defined cause them to lose their utility. What is one example of something that was chosen by god to be the way it is? Why add dead weight to the universe to try and explain it?
RJ in CO asks why spiders have not developed wings if evolution is real? If you are such a hard worker, why are you not blowing glass yet? Spiders have some terrifying ways of traveling through the air and there is just no reason to develop wings, just like not having a reason to blow glass. What are the benefits and cons of spiders having wings? Why would the wing mutations have any advantage over what spiders are now? Why would god create a spider to cause its prey to die so horribly? If your god is real, he is evil. Why would god punish a child that he designed for things a child does not understand?
Mikael in GA asks why atheists feel that Jesus is an apocalyptic preacher, when he presented himself as a peaceful Messiah. Why can’t Jesus be both? How do you reconcile the verses that suggest the second coming would happen within the lifetime of his followers? Was it right or wrong for god to forcibly impregnate a young girl?
Thank you for tuning in this week! Question of the week is: It is a bad idea to (blank) at church.
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In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Secular Rarity and Jim Barrows walk callers through logical fallacies, getting out of faith mindsets, and ways to learn more about evolution.
Luke in AZ states that the existence of god is a rational necessity because everything will be meaningless if god doesn't exist. Why does some god’s opinion of what is meaningful have anything to do with anyone else’s? Lack of knowing what is behind everything does not mean there is a god and shows the fallacy of incredulity. Do you accept this same reasoning for anything else in the world?
Art in PA regards god as the ultimate ground of existence. How do you define the “ultimate ground of existence”? Does existence have to exist and is pure philosophical nothing possible? If there was a number other than 17 frequencies to use, what does this do for your concept of god? What do we care about what theology says about science? If your god is the same as “existence”, how does calling “existence” god not lead to problems? What is the difference between Spinoza’s god and a hurricane?
Jack in MD argues that the universe was created because it needs an uncaused cause, and free will is the only uncaused cause. We have not been able to rule out all the potential causes so therefore this is an argument from incredulity. What is an example of free will existing without a brain and how do you get to this being an uncaused cause? Does someone with a traumatic head injury that has lost their ability to eat have free will? We do not need to assume free will to make progress, but we do need to assume logic. Patrick in SC would like to know how to get out of a faith mindset. You ask yourself how you know things and why you think they are true. This is not done overnight but is constant because we are always learning new things. Ask yourself if you could get to any conclusion using the same method you use to get to god.
Olivia in NJ asks if god was created to cope with the uncertainty of death and to explain what we don’t know. We need to make sure we are not presenting this as if the first believers were doing this maliciously. Humans like telling stories and we need to assign agency to random events.
Adam in TX is looking for hardcore evidence for evolution. Start by defining what evolution is, and then must prove that either genes don’t exist, or must prove their frequency does not change over time. Watch the science journals for all the ways that evolution happens. Check out the content by Erika Gutsick Gibbon and Forrest Valkai for helpful information. You can also check out Crash Course for bit size chunks that will help broaden your understanding.
Denny in MI went through conversion therapy that did not work and is considering telling his parents who he really is. Your safety and security needs to be weighed along with how hurtful it may be to your parents. Contact Recovering From Religion for help with ideas on how to deal with this.
Thank you for tuning in folks! Question of the week is: What is an example of god’s sense of humor?
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In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Jim Barrows and JMike find Jewish atheist communities to help not trust their brains for the truth while they travel into the past to discover that oral traditions are partly the root of religions and to finally confirm that gravity is real.
Chuck in HI is that humans are here to provide a dwelling place for Jehova and gravity is not real. If he is omnipotent, why can’t he provide his own dwelling place? How would he be omnipotent if he does not know who he is dwelling in? Where do you get your god claim if we do not have the sensors to detect him and you do not have evidence? Whining about things that fly in the face of science does not meet the criteria to make them true. Try and bring your A game next time.
Richard in NY is looking for a community of Jewish atheists. Jim points out that both Judaism and Islam are as much a culture as they are a religion and how people have a hard time accepting that. Mike mentions that it is not that weird to grow up never thinking about god. There are many social media platforms available, and if you don’t find what you need, you can create one.
Katelyn in WA asks why we should trust our brains for truth when the basis is to survive. Jim explains how we know that our thinking is faulty with the pattern recognition leading to cognitive bias. This and the need to reason better is why we developed science. We build machines that do better things than we do and see that god’s design is flawed. We are most fascinated about why you believe in a god; what is the reason? Why does god not stop suffering or allow us to survive off just sunlight? Why does god not have the ability to make a world where people do not choose evil? Would the most important message in the world be shrouded with ambiguity?
Colin in the USA wonders if the religions made laws because they were easier to remember as stories through oral traditions prior to the written word. We like tales and stories, but this is not the only reason why religions made laws.
Thank you for tuning in this week! Question of the week is: Name one of god’s unpopular opinions.
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Show notes upon receipt
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-atheist-experience--3254896/support.
Show notes upon receipt
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-atheist-experience--3254896/support.
Show notes upon receipt
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-atheist-experience--3254896/support.
Happy New Year from The Atheist Community of Austin! This year we began a new segment called “Share Your Experience,” or as we generically referred to as “question of the week.” This segment is only as good as the comments we get to respond to, and you, the viewers, really rose to the challenge!
Here is a compilation of our ten favorite questions and answers.
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Dive into this year's best, most viewed calls of The Atheist Experience with 'The Atheist Experience Top 5 Calls of 2023.' Forrest Valkai, Seth Andrews ( @TheThinkingAtheist ), Johnny P. Angel, Jmike, Kenneth, and Dave Warnock in thought-provoking conversations that challenge beliefs and promote critical thinking, and in rare cases, change minds.
We're giving our valued hosts, guests and crew this holiday season off, but we still want to be able to bring you some of the moments that have made Season 27 one of the best ones so far! So from all of us at The Atheist Experience and The Atheist Community of Austin, we wish you Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year. Join us in January when we resume our live productions.
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In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Christy Powell and Armin Navabi, meet god in a dream that tells them which gender is god’s gift before finally being told that god is in fact everything which is really nothing.
Trees in KS had an experience where they met infinite blackness in a dream and felt immense love being surrounded by faceless Grim Reapers. How do you explain what happened to you in this dream? How do you know it was some kind of god and not something generated from your brain? Calling an experience you had god does not make you a theist. How do you know the difference between an experience in your mind and actually meeting a deity? You can have the feeling of meeting god as an atheist just like you can feel like you are flying when dreaming, but those feelings do not make either of these things true.
Jon in Canada describes women as god’s gift to men. Are men god’s gift to women? How can you rectify the problematic ideas about men and women in the Bible? Are you able to provide reasoning to this 1950’s way of thinking? Do you have any data to suggest your suggestion is better than other households? If two parents are better than one, wouldn't it be true then that three parents or even four would be better than two? There is no reason to believe that the nuclear family is superior. What about two toxic parents that are fighting with each other?
Jared in KY rushes through a proposition that agnosticism’s claim is a contradiction to itself. What claim are you talking about? We are getting bored of people who think they are intelligent that put words together and then think they are winning. Watch out for theists purposely speaking in philosophical language just to be not understood.
Erasmus in CA believes that god talks to people through dreams and visions. Why is it that Muslims have Islam related dreams, Christians have Jesus related dreams, and so forth? What metric do you use to know that dreams are not from your mind? Why is it not possible for dreams to be both clear and unclear? What is your evidence that clear dreams are more than a product of the brain? Having a scientific understanding of dreams will help dispel some of these theories you have. Dreams might just be weird thought noise.
Rick, in Canada believes that atheists dodge evidence for god and that energy is god. We are not following your notion of evidence, but do see the word salad you put together. Deep emotional experiences are insufficient evidence for a supernatural claim. Where is the evidence that energy is conscious? If everything is god, then the word god means nothing and loses all utility. Is there anything that is not god? How does matter and energy being everything prove there is a god? How is any of this relevant to the existence of god?
**TJ in TX asked god for less pain in a prayer and got beaten up in school the very next day. You can hate a character in a book that does not exist. Emotions do not have to be rational or true because it makes no difference to your nervous system. Don’t try to define yourself by how people see you. We are not seeking the approval of theists.
Thank you for tuning in this week! Question of the week is: What is a minorly inconvenient way that god punishes people?**
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In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Forest Valkai and Johnny P. Angel works through issues of Genesis, Unicorns, suffering, reproduction and babies hating god.
Ray in WV says that asks if the hosts believe we evolved from higher apes He then states that god is sovereign and every human hates god when they are born. The scientific argument is not if evolution happened, but how and why. Why do you think there is a god? How does a baby know there is a god to hate? How can one hate something when they don’t believe it exists? How do you know that god exists? We feel the same way about Yahweh as we do other mythological villains and fictional antagonists. Our explanations for how the universe came about are based on evidence. How much time have you spent talking with people who don’t already agree with what you think? Being a Christian does not give you the ability to have a monopoly on goodness.
Camden in NC asks if the innate response of evolutionary reproduction compliments what god says in the bible. Reproduction is one way that we classify what is and is not alive. If something did not reproduce, we would not know about it and evolution is the logical outcome of reproduction. We did not suddenly jump from a worm with no eyes to a human with eyes. Once the earth cooled from this fiery hello, life appeared relatively quick, and this can show that it is possible for life to arise without needing a cause. There are certain biological constants throughout history that have been developed through evolution and can be seen in many cultures.
Andrew in FL says religion gives meaning to suffering and that atheism makes suffering meaningless. Atheism does not have the narrative that religion does, however humanism helps reduce unnecessary suffering. What is the issue with not seeing the meaning to human suffering or existence? Religion has been used by powerful groups to convince us that we should just accept that suffering has a greater purpose. What do you think about rooting out the causes of suffering and fixing it? The current work structure is not a call from god, it is a call from capitalism. If you did not believe in a god, and you believed this is the only life you have, what would you do for your life, family, and career?
CJ in KS references a previous call where he had evidence for Eve's creation from Adam’s rib and is calling to develop the conversation. He explains that the water mentioned in Genesis is a manifestation of Jesus. The writers of Genesis did not know there would be writers of John. The people who wrote the Bible had access to earlier writings, not the other way around. The later writing does not prove the book is true, but rather develops the theme. Why do you believe the Bible is not just a literary book? How is sin anything that causes death? What about children who die from SIDS? Do you believe in a literal hell?
Thank you for tuning in! Question of the week: What is an inappropriate thing to say or do at a holiday party?
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In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Secular Rarity(SR) and Seth Andrews, The Thinking Atheist, wrestle with the foreshadow of Jesus.
Christina in Canada calls to inform us that it is humans that are poisoning the earth, not god. What does people not being interested in saving the planet have to do with there being a god? If Allah speaks to you in your dreams, why do you read the prophecies of the Bible and not the Quran? Tethering these things to the real world is the concern.
Nikol in Armenia says that if we don’t believe in god, we would live better in this world than others rather than pretend we can help others. The less religious nations are the more peaceful and produce a better living. The changing of our scientific positions is a feature, not a bug. How does god allow all kinds of bad stuff if he is all knowing and all good? The belief in a divine essence produces all kinds of problems that a secular morality does not have. If you stopped believing in a deity today, why and how would you suddenly become more selfish?
James in CA describes circumcision as a foreshadow to the blood sacrifice Jesus made. Why does circumcision need to be the penis? What does our immorality have to do with this practice? Why is self mutilation as a reminder that we are not able to meet up to god's standards not a problem? Even 2,000 years ago, we would not just walk up to someone and ask to see the penis so we could cut off the tip, unless of course we had a need of 100 Philistine foreskins.
Jimmy in Texas thinks that an atheist view of god is naive and asks the hosts about what their conception of god is. SR does not have a conception of god, but uses the callers’ conception of god for discussion. Seth explains how the argument for any kind of benevolent god falls apart. If a benevolent and omniscient god wanted to have a relationship with us, why would he not intervene and prove himself to us? Would it make sense for a loving parent to be confusing on purpose when clarity is the goal? Why does god need Jimmy to do the heavy lifting by calling a show? Presumptively crawling into our skulls does not mean you know our view or experience.
Harvey in Canada asks why the hosts are convinced there is not a god. Which god are you talking about? If we are not really delving into what god is, we have not moved the needle with being convinced. Keep asking questions and being honest with yourself on your journey. If you find something concrete, have your people call our people.
Jon in Canada asks what the worst part of Christianity is. Seth answers with a list of awful things and most offensive being how Christianity sells itself as a love relationship when it is in actuality abusive at its core. SR says that at best, there is no methodology for knowing what is true, and the existing method used is what has led to the worst experiences we have had.
James in Ca asks if we can demonstrate morality. The question is ridiculous, offensive and lazy. Do we need to be told not to harm in order to know the difference?
Thank you for tuning in this week. Question of the week is: What would you give Jesus for his birthday?
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In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Armin Navabi and JMike exist only in god’s imagination as callers discover that you just can’t get to an all powerful god from the Kalem or patterns in books.
Peter in IL proposes that if god exists, then we are imaginary and are entirely within god’s mind. What is the reason that brought you to this conclusion and what argument do you have to support this? Describing more details is not the same as providing evidence. How do you know that other scenarios where god exists are not true? Are we being made imaginary to solve the problem of evil? What is the problem with two competing good things? Does god have reasons for evil to exist? It is important to spend time thinking of things that are real, and not just things that could be real. If you study how logical fallacies work and take some time to understand how the scientific method works it will help you build a stronger position.
James in MI claims there is evidence for god in the book of Numbers and that Christ, Jesus and Messiah are the three words that prove it. How are the three words evidence for your claim? How do you get from patterns in a book to an all powerful god that is the creator of the universe? If the Quran has patterns as well, why does that not make it the word of god? Why does this only work in English?
Robert in CA asks if Arabic has changed as much as English has since the sixth century, when the Quran was written. Early Arabic would be unreadable for Arabic speaking people today. The evolution of the Quran is more complicated than what Muslim narratives say, and it seems that some of it came from pre-Islamic periods and other languages than Arabic. The vast majority of Muslims do not speak Arabic and will need to read the translation of the Quran. There are many competing translators of the Quran and can be different from each other.
Roger in the UK asks why the Kalam cosmological argument is not taken seriously, and how to determine the difference between “no evidence” and “non convincing evidence". The difference resides within how language is used. No good evidence for something is essentially the same as no evidence. There is evidence for everything if bad evidence counts. Can you give an example of anything that has no evidence at all? What if someone dreams of a square circle and calls that evidence? What in the Kalam gives you the attributes and characteristics of god such as being all knowing? If you want to just call random things god, then anything can be god. Nothing from the Kalam will prove god based on your own definition of god.
Yeshua in the UK believes the universe only exists in the mind of god. How can you support this belief with a coherent sentence? Questioning the hosts does not support the view or produce an argument. Personal incredulity does nothing to support your claims.
Thank you for tuning in this week!
Prompt for the week is: Name a weird thing that god gets offended by.
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In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Forest Valkai and Jamie the Blind Limey sort through the creationist talking points while someone admits that sicking bears on kids is okay as a regular caller once again tries to prove god by using the seven day week.
Jonathon in CO asks how the hosts decide who to talk to. The hosts must consider how productive the conversation will be. They think through who they are actually talking to and what the goal is. Someone with bigoted talking points will always be debated, and it may not be pleasant. If not the caller, somebody listening may change their mind.
Mr. Le Cook in Canada uses several premises including the seven day week to claim the Bible proves god, as usual. You know the seven day week dates back to hundreds of years before Jesus, right? Did this become a global practice because of divine intervention? Or was it that one culture steamrolled accross the earth committing genocide against those that disagree? Is the seven day week the only power your god has? Trying to continue to sell your show to other hosts and constantly repeating yourself does not get through. If we changed to an eight day week would you stop believing in god? The only cultural religious practice that matters is yours, just like how your condescending seven day special dish is undercooked, contains empty calories, and lacks any kind of seasoning or reasoning. You are serving us something that is deeply weird and your position is irrational.
David in CA asks what the hosts consider to be knowledge and what they consider evidence. We think we know where this is going. Something that is verifiable in everyday life is knowledge, and beliefs can be more subjective. If god exists, then that creature would know what it takes to get someone to someone and present that as evidence. If Jamie’s eyes were to be fully healed, how do you know what god to attribute that to? How did you come to the conclusion there is only one god? If you were born in Saudi Arabia, would you have the same beliefs you have today? How do you deal with the inconsistencies, inaccuracies, and atrocities contained in the Bible? If you derive your faith from the Bible, why do you not practice all of it? Would it be cool for Jamie to sick bears on children who laugh at him being bald? If you think so, we are deeply disturbed by this and are not taking you seriously.
CJ in KA claims Genesis 1 contains evolution and that Genesis 2 is scientifically accurate. There are problems with birds coming from water and insects coming from earth. Why are things coming from the wrong places? Why is there no mention of fungi and why are these things in the wrong order? This sounds a lot like post hoc rationalization. How is making a person out of a rib scientifically accurate and not just magic? Did birds come from water like in Genesis 1 or did they come from earth like in Genesis 2? Why should we believe myths of people being made out of clay written by a bunch of goat herders? How do you explain what does not line up with scientific reality such as the timing of day and night? Why is the creation story not made to be something more understandable? Justifying a book is not the same as asking questions.
Thank you for tuning in to this crazy show! Question of the week is: What is a modern sin that god did not know about 2,000 years ago?
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In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Jim Barrows and Armin Navabi battle the problem with evil, as they commit blasphemy right after discovering that only men have the breath of life because ideas must be real.
Mike in SC asks about free will and the problem of evil. Is violating someone’s freewill the only way to prevent someone from doing something bad? Is it rational to believe in things for which you have no evidence? How do you know that the eyewitness testimonies presented in the Bible are not just part of the story? If god is omnipotent, why do people have to burn for not believing? How is the Bible a guide for life if it can’t even get the answer for what we can and can’t eat right? Can you provide evidence without just repeating what you are saying? Are all the ancient gods that changed cultures and performed miracles real?
Michael in GA asks why atheists say that a baby is not a person before it takes its first breath. He also believes that only men have the breath of life since god breathed into a man, not a woman. Your Bible does not even use masculine terminology until after Eve so Adam is gender neutral. Nobody has the right to tell you how to use your body, otherwise we are creating slaves. Bringing up the race of the fetus will do nothing to further your case. In fact, take a wild guess of what that kind of trolling will do for you. Bye!
Rami in Hawaii reads out of the Bible as evidence of the holy spirit’s presence. Why do you need the holy spirit to attain positive qualities? Why is it okay to blasphemy against Islam by not believing that Mohammed is the profit, but not okay to blasphemy against the holy spirit? We are all going to hell in somebody’s religion. You know that right? If god is real, he is a narcissistic monster and should be jailed for crimes against humanity. Is it good or evil to create an organism that is spread by mosquitoes and kills billions of people? Did god create everything including malaria? If we are good people, and do not believe in Jesus, what happens to us when we die?
**Oliver in the UK asks what right atheists have to question someone else's reality, if ideas are real. Just because an idea is real, does not mean that it is true. What makes you think atheists don’t have the right to ask questions? Why would Muslims have the right to say that Allah is real, but don’t think that atheists have the right to say that Allah is not real?
Thank you as always for tuning in this week. Question of the week is: Why is god really mad at Satan?**
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In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Forest Valkai and JMike hoped to experience miracles as they wrestled with miracles, animals, morality, failed preachers, gender, and apes.
Ben in Utah has seen some miracles such as praying and fasting for a person to come back to church that worked, and the person came back. How do you know this happened supernaturally? How do you know there was not something in their life that happened to cause this? If this god is real, what is it doing and why is it useful to us? Apply the same rules of logic that you would for everything else when it comes to god.
Levi in Canada asks why it does not undo the concept of morality when atheists believe we are no different than animals. Non-human animals have plenty of morality such as empathy, grief, fairness and equality. The desire to obtain human well being is a source of morality for some, “Survival of the Fittest” causes more harm than good, falls into Social Darwinism, and is complete BS. If there is a being that has the ability to stop harm, wouldn’t you expect the being to prevent the harmful action? If god knows the future and everything that is going to happen, how can we have free will? If god is infallible, then it logically follows that god wants evil to happen.
Rick in Canada calls to challenge JMike’s position that Jesus is a failed apocalyptic preacher. Luke and John had to reinterpret what was being expressed in Mark’s account. It is not enough to cite the proof text. How do you know which red lettering in the Bible are the words that Jesus said? Early Christians had apocalyptic messages like Paul, and later believers had to re-interpret that as a spiritual notion. Reality exists outside of the Bible and we can check what happened.
Mike in Canada asks if Forest believes that genders are categories that we invent, and inquires about his earlier statement about nature fuzzy that we draw boxes around. Gender varies culturally and generationally so it is impossible to say how a man or woman should behave. Gender is something that we do, and not something that we are. Can you give us a definition of man or woman that is exclusively and solely based on physical characteristics? Just because nature is fuzzy, does not mean Biblical lines can be drawn to classify humans differently than animals. Based on the available data at hand, humans are primates, mammals, and animals. Also, sex and gender are two different things. This is not comparable to the arbitrariness of using the Bible.
James in California explains that if god did intervene, he would have to punish all of us because we became immoral. Could you freely not have sinned the last time you sinned? Was it logically possible for Adam and Eve to make the right choice? Could they have freely chosen good over evil? Is god a being that can instantiate any state of affairs that does not contain a contradiction? How are we not just tools for the end?
Thank you for tuning in! Question of the week: What is the real definition of the soul?
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show notes upon receipt
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In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Jim Barrows and JMike have fun with antinatalism, and most importantly, blasphemy!
Kirsten in TX asks about the benefits of religion providing community, and how secular communities can provide the same benefits. We now have many choices on social media where you just can find your community. You can even start your own group! You can use words like “critical thinker”. If we do not do this ourselves, it is not going to happen.
Samuel in Canada asks how to talk with a pastor that believes there is no evidence for creation or evolution and to just decide based on faith. There is more evidence for evolution than there is gravity. Everything in biology and in medicine is related to evolution. Changes in allele frequencies in a population over a period of time is already a fact that evolution occurs, and we haven’t even got to natural selection yet.
Jon in Canada believes that evidence for god is that people have faith. Does the number of people who believe something have any bearing on whether it is true? If we have evidence that god exists, we will believe in god. We do not have anything against something that does not exist.
Queue in IL asks about the hard atheist stance with the belief that god does not exist and needing to provide the burden of proof. You can give a strong inductive case of why god is not probable. Every theist tends to make deductive cases for their god. Every phenomenon that we know of has a natural explanation or we just don't know how it happens. Even in places where naturalism might be improbable, it is just as improbable under theism with extra ontological baggage.
Amanuel in TX says there should be a restriction on freedom of speech or expression because of an experiment of his that showed panic caused when some hosts tore up the scriptures. What kind of experience do you have setting up these experiments and was there a control group? How is bias not built into your study if these were people you knew? Stating a position of non god belief is not blasphemy or causing harm. Your irrational fear that should not be someone else's problem is used to justify atrocities such as gay conversion therapy. How does a blasphemous meme harm you? Look at how the Islamic world goes nuts for drawing on magazines. Restricting freedom of speech and what artists can portray is the totalitarian way and downright wacky.
Andrew in FL calls to state that atheists tend to lean towards antinatalism and how they are damaging the population. Where do you get this claim? If this is true, why is atheism the fastest growing segment? If correlation is causation, then the increase of ice cream would increase the crime. Up until the last 10 years, the US was 90% Christian. The No True Scottsman fallacy does not work with the Baby Boomers messing up the population.
Thank you for tuning in this week and the question of the week is to capture the image shown on the screen by giving us a caption!
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In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, ObjectivelyDan and Jamie the Blind Limey are live in studio wrestling with callers who believe the Bible is scientifically accurate and a progressive document.
Josh in FL asks about the Bible being taken literally. Do Christians literally heal people by laying on of hands? People make incredibly important decisions about their life, health and family by this flawed way of thinking. What positivity comes with prayer? How do you explain replacing people’s medical care with prayer? It is the secular values that have corrected Christianity, not the other way around. The atheists in this country did not fight to take away rights from people; can you guess what group has?
Somber in WA postulates that god is not real if the universe can be reduced to a non-dimensional point because there is no outside space and time for god to exist. A physical universe requires physical things to happen.
Sir Le Chef in Quebec believes the Bible is 100% true because there is nothing we can disprove that is in the Bible. How do you know this? Of course, he knows this because of the seven day week! You don’t get to just call into the show and say this without proving it; that is not how logic works. The seven day week existed before Jesus so we do not accept your premise. Is the creation narrative the word of god or not?
Rick in Canada says the Bible is 100% accurate because Jesus says that only the sick need a physician. How do you explain people who have cancer with no symptoms? If the disciples had magical powers, is every other Christian who claims to have these powers a liar because only the elite can do it? So the people who prayed for Jamie’s eyes(not faith) were not part of the special 144,000? There are people who pray to get better daily and we have never seen evidence that it works. Isn’t it interesting that cancer can go into remission, but blindness can’t? Can prayer regrow a hand that has been cut off? Can you find someone who can heal Jamie’s retinas through prayer?
Jose in TX says that god created a “snowglobe with a dome”, not the universe, and that theists try to make the myth work. Many cultures explained the world without knowing what was happening. The problems with Genesis are a mile high!
Andrew in FL says the Bible is a progressive document and just because it is not scientifically accurate that doesn’t mean god doesn't exist. We hope the god that inspired that book is not real because he is obviously not a nice person. Do you believe that god changes himself to suit the times? Does the Bible have literal falsehoods? Why do we even look at the Old Testament in the first place if it is so bad? Why should we care about Christianity any more than Islam or another religion? If cancer does not have intentions, why do you think it is evil? If you believe that god made us, why were we made with the capability of having cancer?
Thank you for joining us with these fun callers! The question of the week is: The hardest part about being an atheist is what?
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In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Johnny P. Angel and MD Aware work through questions from callers that range from evolution to morality.
Louis in FL says that scriptures are a revealed message from god to Moses that support evolution. How do you explain god creating plants before creating light? Call back when you are not driving or distracted.
Beast in CO describes how he was harmed by the church by sexual abuse among others, and how the pastor did not do anyting about it. What we end up seeing, is there are no reparations needed in this religion because of confession and the forgiveness of Jesus. Voices that report abuses are downplayed and diminished because the church has too much at stake. This is because if people start to ask if the church is wrong, then they will ask if its interpretations are wrong. Check out Recovering from Religion and the Secular Therapy Project for help and support.
Joseph in GA reads something to us that says atheists put too much trust and can limit the imagination. What do you think about how a healthy understanding of science can spark imagination? Imagination is key with science because we are trying to figure out the explanations for things, once we know the basics. If atheists are putting too much trust in science, what would be the alternative? How does atheism limit the imagination?
Ely in TX believes the historicity of the Bible is what makes it true. If the Bible is not true, does that mean that someone made it up? Could the people who wrote the Bible have been wrong? What is to be said about a useful character such as Jesus being used to tell stories that are trying to educate people about morality or ethics? We know that the Jewish people existed for a long time, but we don’t know that the fantastical claims such as the Red Sea parting happened. What evidence matters most and where is it found? When a book predicts something that happened that is in the same book, there is a problem. Are the witnesses that verified Joseph Smith and his magical seeing stones and golden tablets correct, are they mistaken, or are they liars? Just because brimstone is found in a location does not mean the mythical story is true. Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.
Alok in CA says that the slow growth of atheism in the US is due to people on the fence not understanding where we get our morality, and people looking for some higher purpose that atheism does not offer. People made up the rules to both secular and Biblical morality. The spiritual journey that atheists sometimes pursue involves humans, animals, and plants and can take a lifetime.
Michael in FL asks if morality is supposed to be thought of in a social and psychological context, very much the same way we see health. Our sense of fairness, justice, and right or wrong has evolved with its base level in biology.
Thank you for tuning in this week! Our question of the week is: What do you think the last words of Jesus really were?
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In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Jim Barrows and Secular Rarity take on calls about divorce, single parents, trans women, and technology before Armin Navabi flies in to help.
Andrea in FL calls to claim that atheism leads to higher divorce rates and that Christians have more satisfactory sex lives than atheists. How do you explain the Pew Research Center studies that contradict this claim? Is it more important to stay married and be miserable for the children or is it better to teach them about happiness? What is it specifically about being married and not getting a divorce that makes people better?
Otari in the nation of Georgia proposes that children of single parent households are more likely to be delinquent. What studies do we have that single parent households are radically problematic? Could the problem be linked to only one income for the household and poverty? Other than income, how are two parents raising a child better than one? Is the real problem divorce, or is it socioeconomic status? Would abortion cut down on single parent households?
Nate in CA asks if trans people competing in sports would have a physical advantage, and what the difference is between sex and gender. Some cis women can have naturally higher levels of testosterone than other cis women. In sports, why are we testing women for testosterone levels but not men? People can be born intersexed, and also be born with different gendered brains. We would rather be on the side of inclusivity to give everyone a chance to participate.
Corey in TX asks how technology changing our environment affects our evolution, and is it causing it to speed up. We may be able to evolve to handle higher levels of pollution, but how rapidly do the pollution levels change? There can be a new species of hominids that evolves alongside homo sapiens.
Theist in the USA claims that theists have better lives than atheists. There is nothing about community building that is better with religion, and there is no link of intelligence to either atheism or religion. There is no data to demonstrate that atheists are more likely to go down a bad path. If an action increases the overall happiness, then it is good. The evangelical stance on LGBTQA increases the number of suicides in that community, and that is a bad thing. Do NOT Google dolphins having sex with blow holes.
Mr. Porter from IL asks what the worst evidence for god is. Jim mentions to look at the trees and Armin says it is the argument for chicken.
Kathy in IL calls as an atheist attending the Unitarian Universalist Church, and explains how their model is not conversion, but cooperation. Compared to other religions, this may be good, but secular humanism is a better instrument. When a church seems loving and tolerant, but accepts bad ideas, we must oppose that.
Thank you for tuning in this week! Question of the week is: What should the Norse have had a god of, but didn’t?
Today’s Atheist Experience is live in the studio with Forest Valkai, JMike, and Johnny P. Angel! They operate as a triple host power team to help us work through pubic angles, Biblical interpretations, more pubic angles, bad design, and casting off religious weights.
Evan in VA knows Jesus is true because the Bible says so, and asks the hosts how they know if something they believe is true. Simplicity works for philosophy and evidence works for science. If there is not a good reason to know something, we either stop believing, or look for evidence to see what we should believe. Functionality works if we are not trying to shoehorn something into our beliefs. The perceived reality that we live in has facts that are true and can be tested. Which version of the Bible is true? How do you know that the red lettering are the words of Jesus?
Amanuel in TX says that the teachings of the Old and New Testaments are consistent with each other. In Judaism, was the Messiah a concept of a dying and rising god? How do you know what parts to believe and what to not believe? Was there a talking donkey? Other than the book, what raises the probability that this is true? Do you understand the difference between something being evidence based and something being book based? What use is a mental model that will allow you to believe absolutely anything?
An audience member asks how we change our brain space to recognize our own power and ability to cast off religious weights. The biggest deconversion manual is the Bible. Exploring and analyzing your faith with a critical eye is a start.
Otari, in the nation of Georgia, asks how evolution accounts for bad design in humans like the way the fall of man does and why homosexuality does not lead to extinction. Recent evolution in humans explains this because we can make testable predictions. According to the Bible, god told the very first lie in history to explain bad design. The reason why homosexuality does not lead to extinction is because they are not 100% of the population. This has been observed in over 1,500 species and something that is this ubiquitous, clearly has some sort of benefit.
Jimmie in TX feels there is no contradiction in scripture, Forrest’s interpretation is outrageous, and we should listen to Joseph Campbell when interpreting the endemic myth. Do you have access to god’s intentions and know what he wants you to interpret? How do you know that god did not want us to interpret the Bible literally, or a different way? When you criticize another’s view, you have to beg the question.
Thank you for tuning in this week! Question of the week is: What is the best comeback for when someone says, “A fool says in his heart, there is no god.”
In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Johnny P. Angel and Hemant Mehta work through calls of free will, the supernatural, and morality.
Art in PA says god is believable because people have seeked thousands of gods over thousands of years and you still have to believe in god to give up the Bible. Just because people were looking for something does not mean they were on the right track for what they are seeking. Wanting something to exist does not make it true. Why would an appeal to popularity make something true? If you care about truth, what is the best thing to do?
David in Ireland asks how to deconstruct supernatural beliefs when using things such as Tarot cards or crystals. Going through a ritualistic process can put yourself in a different mental state of focus, but does not mean the items used in the ritual have any special powers. How do you know these items are helping more than any other practice? If all these tools you use disappear, would you end up in the same place? The power is within you and you do not need magical items.
Tyler in NC does not believe god exists, but is not sure about free will. The idea of free will or not free will is a false dichotomy. How can a circumscribed universe of limited choices be considered free will?
Sam in NY says that if people don’t pray, they are incomplete. Are people who believe in a different god from you incomplete? What is the feeling of the power of prayer? How did you become complete? Is god’s power limited to that of sight? Why do you believe the Bible is true? What if something is in the Quran but not the Bible? Are people who pray that use other books than the Bible or Quran?
Shinobi Sheran in the USA believes a woman should have the right to choose all around. Who should make medical decisions on people’s behalf? Once a politician starts making these decisions, it can be a slippery slope.
Jon in FL does not believe religion is needed for morality. Why do you believe this? Countries that have the smallest belief in religion are arguably the most moral. How do you define morality? If you Google Phil Zuckerman you will find some interesting information on this. It will be hard to find anything that shows religious people are more moral when the playing field is even. The differences between secular morality and religious morality reside in the goals of each.
Dave in India asks if god is the government’s way of controlling people and part of the military industrial complex. What version of these beliefs would get people to think a certain way? The belief in a higher power has been around before nations had militaries and leaders may sprinkle the fairy dust of religion on their mission. This does not mean it is part of a conspiracy. When politicians use religion as a weapon, it backfires.
Thank you for tuning in today! The question of the week is: What is the weirdest Bible story?
In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Secular Rarity(a.k.a. "Schmike") and Jmike get philosophically fun as callers discuss deconstruction and free will.
Devon in CA calls to discuss how worshiping in two religions at one time does not make sense. Some religions have beliefs that are mutually exclusive, but there are also some that are not. How often do you run into people who have dual beliefs? When you see this, analyze the two and compare the contradictions. What is the criteria used to pick these two different beliefs? It is important to have consistency to help not hold two contradictory beliefs.
Austin from TX informs us that Alex Grey is building a Chapel of Sacred Mirrors in NY, and this work of art encompasses all the theist ways of being. How do you arrive at this being what your religion is about? What are they doing to demonstrate their truth claim of there being a god? How do you determine what is true from religions to incorporate into your world view? How would this be independently verified?
Alan in TX believes we have choices with consequences so therefore we all have free will. Do you believe that if you were given the ability to rewind life, that you would not make the same decision you did five minutes prior? If you chose A over B, is there something that explains why? Are there agents in your brain that can break the causal chain? Where does the free will sneak in? How do you demonstrate that free will exists without referring to things that are predetermined? Do you think your thoughts before you think your thoughts?
Jason, a former megachurch pastor in CA, asks how to latch on to something larger than the self to find new purpose when in the state of post deconstruction. Secular Rarity explains there is nothing that is needed if one already knows how to connect with other people. There is no space to be filled because all you have is the beauty of the world around you, and no longer have the need for added magic. There are lots of systems out there that are incredibly worthwhile in terms of understanding the world and giving us a framework of what we should be doing next. When you step away from the supernatural, you get to discuss the big questions in life. The Clergy Project and Recovering from Religion are two great resources for people that are deconstructing. Love and grace from some religious communities might be conditional.
Dustin in WI believes we have free will because language informs decisions. Free will is not defended by being defeated. How do you demonstrate that something does not work out the same way if we go back in time? Just stating that you can move your arm, does not tell us that the movement was your own free will. Where does the free will come from if it exists?
Thank you for tuning in! You are pre-determined to consider the question of the week: What would be a red flag on a religious dating app? We will see you next week because you don’t have a choice in the matter.
Today’s Atheist Experience has Objectively Dan and Christy Powell in the studio take audience questions in between wrestling with concepts from callers.
God’s Sign in CA calls to say that Christianity is not immoral because it teaches one to be selfless. Why does this need to be Christianity and not the Boy Scouts or some other organization? Many people have a moral problem with the scriptures, including the words of Paul from the New Testament. If Jesus was god, was the crucifixion really a sacrifice? How do you feel about the extortion threat of hell?
Gene in TX brings up Matthew 10 where Jesus tells the disciples to not preach his message to anyone but the people of Israel, and that some of them will still be living when he returns. There are weird differences in each of the gospels. Gene also tells us about Southern Baptist groups called the Royal Ambassadors(RAs) and Girls Auxiliary(GAs) that seem to be somewhat of a mystery.
Lee from the audience asks why it takes some people longer to figure things out with their beliefs. It is not the individual brain power; it is about how you grew up. Being smart and believing in god are not mutually exclusive ideas.
PG in TX wants to know why it seems like atheists switch from the supernatural god to the god state because they leave religion and become authoritarian. People are leaving Christianity often because of political issues. There are a lot of atheists who lean left, but why do so many people on the right have a god belief?
Omar from the audience asks if there are Bible verses or ideas that contradict the possibility of aliens. This world was supposed to be for people made in his image and if it is only 6,000 years old, aliens don’t factor into that.
Jay in IL claims that god is life and life created everything. Is cancer in children and war from god too? Why should we believe the Bible is true without using the Bible as a reference? If we all have “common sense”, why do we need the Bible? Would you have the same notion of god if you have been born in Japan where less than 2% of people believe in god?
Figgy in NY brings up that sometimes callers are questioning their beliefs. If your belief system can’t hold up to scrutiny, that is something you need to be questioning.
Jose in Honduras asks the hosts what caused them to lose their faith. Christy explains the reasons as logical errors in the bible and how LGBTQIA people would be rejected by Christ. Dan realized there were man made parts in the Bible and god has never contacted him.
Robert in TX has a dilemma because science can’t really explain the origin of things. There is a human desire to fill in any question we don't have an answer for with something else. Have Christians proved the origin?
Thank you for tuning in! The question of the Week: Where did the Catholic Church really get all their money? (Wrong answers only).
Welcome to The Atheist Experience! Our hosts Secular Rarity and David Warnock are looking for proof of God. Or Allah. Or Jesus. Or even Thor. Will they get it? Probably not, but you will be entertained!
Peter from MA wants to talk about blasphemy, having humility, and where does that come from. Our hosts discuss how human beings need to be “checked”. That science shows us where we are wrong and to learn from being wrong. We all have limits in our knowledge, and that’s a good thing. We are all human after all.
Mason from Florida is asking why we care for animals, children, each other, etc? Unless some God or other outside entity gives us that love? Does this sound like circular reasoning? Yes reader, you are correct, it is.
Lisa from CO is on the journey! YAY! And like many, has had these thoughts, moments, feelings that feels “outside” their own thinking/experience/perspective. So, how do we differentiate between what is our own minds and something “outside” of our minds? The hosts walk through the philosophy and the psychology of how we process information, how we learn, and how it manifests into our consciousness. Our brains are amazing! (though very flawed)
Yoel from NY tells our hosts what he believes. Now, can God be the creator of everything and be everything? Confusing isn’t it? Listen in folks, this is gonna be good!
Ultimated Judeo Christian from Australia calls. He is saying words about his belief in his God and wants our hosts to convert. How does he do this? This show notes’ writer is not sure, as he sounds like a random word generator. The hosts tried to get UJC to make sense. They tried.
Let’s welcome our first caller Michael, whose limited understanding of quantum mechanics somehow equals consciousness and that leads to God existing. Now, if this seems like a leap in logic, well because it is. This also has something to do with abiogenesis and life wouldn’t be likely without a God? Well dear audience, this seems a bit confusing & a bit of a gish gallop. Let’s watch our hosts walk Michael through the flaws in his thinking shall we?
Hey Arnold from Texas! Our number two caller brings to our hosts the probability of God due to the predisposition of human beings to believe in a God. Emma gives a great response on the flaws in evolution, animals having supernatural beliefs, and how socially we used religion/beliefs to form cultures still doesn’t prove a God/Gods.
Jimmy, our third caller from the great state of Texas asks our hosts, does rationality lead to an atheistic perspective? The hosts argue that rationality and intelligence does not mean atheism comes afterwards, nor is it a perfect tool, and in some cases may lead to flawed thinking and logic. Jimmy also explains how a “spiritual” experience informed his beliefs and our hosts question how that proves a God exists.
John from Canada calls to argue (terribly) for the “merits” of being anti-choice. Though he agrees the government shouldn’t be involved in making decisions when it comes to his own body, but if you own a uterus? Nah! Hypocritical much? This show notes writer could go into why this is silly, but our hosts do a fantastic job. Listen in!
Otari from Georgia wants to have a conversation about how it seems illogical to think the Universe came into being without a creator. Johnny and Emma bring up certain logical fallacies such as the entropy principle and the randomness of the universe as a way to counter that thinking.
Nick from New York calls in asking for help and a new perspective on the gospels, specifically that the authors would knowingly lie to say salvation comes through Jesus. Emma and Johnny bring up that the Bible can be used as a historical and mythology book for the people at that time, but still cannot be used to prove divinity or anything supernatural. This moves into a conversation of morality, God’s role to the believer, and the arguments how God, even if he existed, is not needed for morality.
In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Christy Powell and Jimmy Jr., are live with fun words of encouragement!
Darius in CA asks about how to have a conversation with believers at his grandmother’s funeral. This is the time to be with family and get through this rather than discuss beliefs. How upsetting are ideas of the afterlife or lack thereof for you? Be mindful of your own experiences and how painful this can be.
Arthur in NY asks how religious extremists and atheists can get to a place where they can harmonize. It takes these conversations to move the needle. There will always be diversity which means conflict, but we are getting better by working together as a species. We can create a more harmonious society in part by having these discussions.
JR. in WA asks about private revelations leading to public revelations, and if god is pushing towards the model of prophets. Which god would it be that is pushing this model? How can you tell the difference between a visit from your god or something that was made up? It would be good to understand what your own thoughts sound like and how to figure out how to differentiate between those thoughts and god’s revelation.
Frank in NC does not believe in the god that commands violent actions, but the god that is about love and freedom. Who is the god you believe in and how do you know it wants love and freedom for everyone?
Christian in MI has changed beliefs and come out to his wife and this is causing problems with the in-laws and asking for advice about raising children. Alongside the magical stories your children are receiving, teach critical thinking. This can be a conflict heavy situation, and there will be sacrifices made, just don’t harm yourself in the process.
Christian in GA asks why the hosts think the gospels are unreliable. We can start with the four contradicting each other, and then look at how they tend to progress in a mythical way. Why would something contradict itself if it is inspired by god? How is Christianity consistent with the message we are supposed to receive in the New Testament? How is this stone age poetry that is supposed to be the perfect word of god not perfect? If the four gospels are not the word of god, then what makes them so special?
Ellis in Canada asks if there is any value in a person not identifying with social stereotypes and the usage of pronouns. A lot of these ideas are about functionality so we should be descriptive and not proscriptive. If one were to lose a bunch of weight, we don’t like people giving commentary on how we express ourselves.
Felix in GA states that human corruption is the problem and not religion, and that religion is a tool to reduce anxiety. How does the crime that is done in the name of religion factor in with this concept?
Thank you for tuning in this week. The question of the week is: What is an inappropriate thing to say at the crucifixion?
In today’s episode of The Atheist Experience, Jim Barrows wrestles with multiple callers that trigger the best Forest Valkai science rants ever.
First caller is Art in PA who says that atheists are quitters because they skip a step. We are at a point where the god explanation is no longer needed. The first attempt to explain the natural world is oftentimes the worst attempt. Atheists have one less assumption than theists do.
Mikal in CO asks how to reply to someone that says atheists must have faith for what they believe. Faith and belief are not the same things and we proportion our beliefs to evidence. Not believing someone does not require faith. Atheists do not have the TV on any channel; it is simply off.
Elias in TN asks how to respond to people when they claim that sex is binary since gametes production determines sex. What if someone does not have gonads? Does that mean they do not have a sex? This is not new science and is undergraduate level stuff. This has only recently become a hot topic issue that is controversial. The model of sex is useful and helps explain nature, and nature does not care about our explanations. Binary for lack of a better word, is just not good enough.
Dan in Canada asks why the Laetoli footprints were huge when Lucy was supposed to be small, and not bipedal. No part of Lucy’s skeleton tells us she was ever a knuckle walker. The size of the foot does not change much about the big picture or disprove evolution. What the footprints tell us is that 3.5 million years ago there was something like us walking in this area. It is recommended you go to https://humanorigins.si.edu/ to learn more. Humans are apes, primates, mammals, and animals! Do you believe any part of the Bible is wrong? Were humans created before or after animals? In the Book of Genesis, is Chapter 1 correct or is it Chapter 2? When you try to justify the many things in the Bible that are not true, it is like carrying around a miltone. Would you use faith based thinking for anything else? Why would you not use faith to start your car?
David, an educator in AZ, asks how to respond when students ask about his beliefs. When in a public setting, it would be unethical to talk about religion or politics in any capacity to a captive audience. This would be a misuse of public funds and trust. Answering these questions will change the way the students see you and can take away their objectivity.
Thank you for tuning into the show and never stop learning! The question of the week is: What did the caller say to make Johnny P Angel look distraught?
SHOW NOTES
Today’s Atheist Experience is the “show of hair” with Jmike and Secular Rarity. They sort through philosophical naturalism, because morality changes when god creates evil that is spoken through the unfalsifiable Quran and the all inclusive Catholic Church.
First caller is Matt from CA who tells us about The Secular Student Alliance Convention. Vist Secularstudents.org to register before it closes on Wednesday.
Rogue Show in SC calls to clarify Jmike’s position on philosophical naturalism. Natural sciences exhaust natural reality. The simplest theory is the one with the least amount of axioms, commitments, and predicates. Unjustified assumptions do not hold up to stacks of evidence.
Kevin in GA asks why we think we do not get morality from god and if morality changes over time. We see more benefit and less harm when looking at other moral systems compared to god’s system. Do you think that what is good is in virtue with god’s commands? Will the basics of mathematics be the same in the future?
Slave of Christ in TX asks about the problem of evil and says that god is all good for only the chosen ones. Does god intend there to be evil? How do you believe in an irrational god that creates evil? Either god permits the impermissible or there is not anything that is impermissible. How do you resolve this contradiction? Why would you take commands from a villain? If a view is contradictory, would you agree that the view is false?
Jamal in Ca does not know if the hosts are really atheists, and asks the hosts what proof is needed to believe god exists. How is what the Quran says about embryology true? There is nothing in this book that is novel. We are going to be tortured in hell for eternity under Allah’s view and so will you unless you can provide some evidence to convince us because our sins are yours now. The Quran places other people’s burdens on you.
Mary in FL asks about the difference between ought and is and had some general questions about logical fallacies. Ought and “is” are unrelated except for when the premise contains both an “is” statement and a value. Descriptive premises do not follow value statements, and we can’t get prescriptions from descriptions. There must be more work put in to fill in the gap. Search for intro books about logic, inference rules, formal and formal fallacies, and propositional logic.
Xavier in FL wants to know what is wrong with the Catholic Church. The church puts aside money that is specifically used for fighting against holding people accountable for abusing children. Enough said.
Thank you for tuning in everyone! The question of the week : If it weren’t for ____________, I would still believe in God.
In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Jmike and Doctor Ben die for Jesus so immorality won’t cause riots from atheists with meaningless worldviews after disconnecting emotionally from religion.
Davis in CO wants to know why people would die for Jesus if it was not true. What does the psychological state of your reasoning have to do with whether it is true or not? When death is the gateway to getting to a better existence, and people honestly believe it, they will embrace it. Huge amounts of people believing in something does not have any bearing on its truth. People are willing to risk their existence for smaller things than a reason for eternity.
Patrick in AR experienced his wife having a vision after dying in his arms. After she was revived, he was told her recovery was miraculous. The treatment used at the facility such as epinephrine and CPR increase the chances of survival. We don’t know medically why someone survives in this state for so long, but we also don’t have a reason to believe it is supernatural. Statistically, the outlier events are going to occur, and there will always be someone who asks why that happens to them. Hug the people around you and love them.
Trevor in MI has some questions about Biblical interpretations when having conversations with his dad. If you want to be correct about something, then you need to have a principle and intention of what was said. How do you validate anyone’s interpretation? You could follow a weird train of interpretation to the original which turns out to be a different denomination entirely. God is seemingly the author of confusion.
Jon in Canada says that god is necessary for morality, and immorality is what causes riots. How do you explain wrong things that occur in god’s world? Can people do good things for bad reasons? What evidence do you have that supports the claim that people being immoral are the cause of riots?
Icon in Canada presents a thought experiment where we attach reasonableness to time, where a belief is reduced by a percentage slowly over time. What metric would we use to assign the percentages?
Adam in Saudi Arabia finds it unattractive to accept life being meaningless as part of atheism. If an intrinsic value is not forced on something, does that make it any less valuable? If everything has a purpose, then can we agree there is a reason for all events, good and bad? When babies die suddenly, are we going to say they need to die as some sort of a sacrifice for whatever a deity needs to prove? It makes no sense to simultaneously have evil and good if evil is the thing that leads to the good.
Shi in the USA asks how to disconnect from religion emotionally after already disconnecting intellectually. What does emotional disconnecting mean to you? You may not need to entirely disconnect in that way.
Thank you for tuning in this week! The question of the week is: What do you think is the weirdest prayer god has ever heard?
In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Jim Barrows and Christy Powell are live in the studio! They will discover different economic systems through absolute morality before performing a thought experiment with god as the arbiter of morality. This god is responsible for the high level grammar of the Quran and the fine tuning of the universe. We know this because we can’t replicate abiogenesis and the messianic prophecy is all we need for proof of Jesus.
Julia in Florida would like to hear input on other gods that we have in our society such as different systems. Economic systems can be one of these things. Look at what you are willing to do to support what you believe.
Audience Question- Kathy wants to know about absolute morality. Morality is a judgment of behavior. How do you prove that an animal is acting out of forethought and no instinct?
Michael in GA presents a thought experiment. If there was a god, then that god must be the arbiter of all morality. The god of the Bible is not only imaginary but also sounds like a narcist.
Omar in CA presents the Quran as the highest level of grammar and is a sign of the original being preserved. What does the highest level of grammar mean? How is the Quran different from any other book? Before voice recordings, how do you prove the voice vocalizations are the same? Why is the Quran superior?
Frank in NC asks what the hosts would accept as proof for god. We don’t know what that evidence would be exactly. It is frustrating to see people indulging in antidotes that don’t work in place of real life solutions. What is the evidence for the god you believe in? If we talk about probability, there is a problem with sample size and inherent sampling error. The problem with fine tuning is we only have one universe to draw samples from. If you don’t know what something is, how do you know that it is fine tuned?
Mike in WA asks if we have ever been able to replicate abiogenesis. Just because we can’t replicate this, does not mean that it did not happen. Not knowing the answer to something does not prove that something else exists. Over the last 3,000 years, we have no new evidence for the existence of god, and no phenomena has been proven to be supernatural. Are you trying to make the watchmaker argument from design? This will not work for people who think critically.
Anthony in MA brings up the Messianic Prophecy argument. If there are a number of books in a series, and the first book is true, how does that make the other books true? There are a number of stories in the Bible that we know did not happen as written. The people who wrote the gospels knew of the prophecies and they were more interested in theology than they were history.
Thank you for being here everybody! Question of the week is: If god is so powerful, then why hasn’t she___________?
SHOW NOTES
In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Johnny P. Angel and JMike discover that earth is god that communicates to transgender people through prophets with intuition.
First caller is Eric in AR who has concluded that earth is god because the earth created us. What is your definition of god? Is the earth conscious with thoughts, goals and intelligence? We can use this same logic to say that our parents are god. Rather than thinking the earth is god, ry thinking that the earth is home.
Kevin in GA would like to know why supporting the trans community is important. What do you think the members of the LGBTQ+ community are trying to do? How do you know that someone is not transgender? What is the difference between sex and gender? Expression of gender is not the same as genitalia. Once you speak to a human in the community, you will realize they want the same things you want. When you start making friends and talking with people, you also start seeing life through their eyes.
Jamar in PA knows that transgenderism has always been around but has insights that there is a greater emphasis on terms. It is not for us to say that an experience of another is real or not. When somebody tells you something about their own experience, you may argue the source, but not deny the reality of the experience.
Rodney in MI declares that atheists are not smart because when we die, there will be a problem with god. Which god? What if it is the wrong god? What if there is a god who set up all these religions to test people of their critical thinking abilities? Look into the arguments against Pascal’s Wager and you will find that there is a joke in there. What do you use to raise the probability that the Christian god exists? Historians do not appeal to supernatural events to verify facts. How is the resurrection the most likely thing to have happened when it is the most improbable event? Do you care about whether or not the text that you read is true?
Ronan in Saudi Arabia was born a Muslim started applying philosophical arguments and is now asking why god communicates through prophets. We don’t know what the sure fire way is for a deity to communicate to all of humanity. A shared ghostly experience with many people might be a good method. How can you apply a tool set to your imagination to show that it reflects reality?
Andrew in SC disagrees with the hosts when they say that the Christian religion is morally bankrupt and does not believe that all someone has to do is accept Christ. How do you know who is right and wrong and what methodology do you use to prove this? What method do you use to separate opinion from the truth? Would you believe it if your intuition tells you the earth is flat?
Thank you for tuning in this week! The question of the week is: It was a real jerk move when god created_______.
SIn today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Johnny Angel and Christy Powell will work both sincere calls and trolls.
First caller is Emmanuel from GA who asks how to come out as an atheist to his parents. It is about setting healthy boundaries. Do you feel like you have to do this? Are the interactions filled with tension? Sharing this part of yourself could make the tensions worse, however, some transparency can be an important step. Make sure your parents know it is about your own beliefs, and not them.
Wesley in WV thinks that the hosts witches because they do not believe in angels and are sluggish with the holy spirit. We hope that you get the care that you need and are surrounded by loved ones that will help you work out your thoughts on this subject.
Mr. Warlight in AK has proof in the form of stories that leprechauns exist that wear green suits and hide gold. Where are you getting this folklore from? Is there any evidence beyond the story? Where are they documented to show up and why can’t we see them today? If you aspire to be a troll, bring a better game than this. Do some research.
Carpe Diem in CO wants to know the distinction between obligation and virtue. If you can do better, then you must do better. If every virtue is imperative then we would wear ourselves out by spending all our time performing virtuous acts. Is there good and evil in the world, or can we step away from these words and look through the eyes of preference?
Rick in Canada states that atheists are slowing scientific progress. How do you think scientists do their job? Do you think that a scientist sits at their desk and disproves a theory? Did you examine all the evolution? Examine your sources on some of your data points and recognize there are many tiny contributions to this thing we call science.
Chuck in HI believes science is just another religion that says there is no god. Science is the opposite of religion. Science starts with observation; religion starts with the conclusion and works backward. Science is evolving and religion is holding people back. Science delivers the goods and religion causes us to kill each other.
**Sam in NY has evidence of Jesus performing miracles and resurrecting. Who are the witnesses? There are statements such as the writings of Paul that are not allowed into evidence because they do not meet the hearsay exceptions. Why do we drop the standard of evidence for how we spend eternity? Just because we don’t know something, does not mean there was a supernatural cause. You don’t solve a mystery with a greater mystery. Is there anything you could not believe based on faith?
Thank you everyone for tuning in folks! The question of the week is: What is a life hack that god does not want you to know about?**
Welcome to this week's episode of The Atheist Experience. Host Jim Barrows is joined by Talk Heathen regular Secular Rarity. It's going to be a great show, so let's get onto the calls.
Unbeliever discusses the difficulties and the benefits of coming out as an atheist in a Muslim family. How do we navigate these conversations and in the long run, is it worth having?
What does an open or closed universal system show there is a God? Our hosts and John debate the flaws in this concept, that solipsism cannot be proven or disproven, and adding assumptions where we don’t have answers doesn’t solve anything.
Caller Roland asks if having faith in a God the more reasonable explanation for everything vs. the skepticism atheists have. Does existence have a purpose?
Romeo is curious, have our hosts heard any “good” arguments for God? Romeo,Jim, & Secular Rarity discuss what is convincing evidence for a God and how does one move from being an atheist into a believer? Are those reasons valid? Ehh, probably not. Also, an evolution argument..again!
Science Time! Eli calls in and asks “where does energy and mass come from?” Jim patiently explains the science and how to avoid the argument from ignorance fallacy. Eli admits to having some doubts as well while our hosts how we become more skeptical.
Ni and the hosts explore what absolute truth is, the standard for it, scientific proof, and what standard of evidence would be sufficient to prove God is real.
Slave of Christ explains what sin is and how it is a “good” standard of immoral acts. Our hosts pushed back against this argument followed with a discussion of ethics, morality, and the areas of gray the bible does not provide answers for. Also biblical slavery defended again—ugh!
In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Forrest Valkai is joined by Jmike!
Frank from the USA claims that if you don’t believe in God, your life is meaningless. The first premise of this fallacious “argument” is the existence of objective morality. Here’s my advice, slow down and think this through.
Chris from SC wants clarification on the difference between sex and gender.
Cliff from Canada wants to ask, eventually, why we ought to worship God assuming it is real.
Mr. Warlight is calling in with an argument for the supernatural that our hosts just CAN’T HANDLE.
Abhishek from India wants to know why it’s so important to question religious beliefs and focus on its problems when it does have benefits.
Andrew from Canada’s argument for God is the same processes science textbooks go through when they are updated. Why revamp the bible? If it’s outdated in terms of its conclusions about reality, why would it be useful to go back and rewrite it with our current scientifical findings integrated when the bible has nothing to do with modern science? Instead of having a story with inaccurate claims about reality, you now have a story with some inaccurate carry-overs, because they have to be there for the bible to still be the bible, with some modern scientific understandings sprinkled in.
Chuck from HI believes that matter, space, stars, and Earth are all eternal. Oxygen is as eternal as everyone’s excitement about Marvel’s Eternals. I would add more, but anything I say would detract from whatever just happened.
In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Johnny P. Angel is joined by Seth Andrews!
First up is Mr. Warlight from AK who believes that the hosts whom they’ve previously debated on the show have been closed-minded to their arguments.
Mike from WA claims that naturalist claims about the origins of life are irrational. Where have I heard this argument before?
Daniel from WI asks the hosts how serious they are about actually finding the truth. The proof for the truth of a global flood is wherever Daniel is.
Felix from FL claims that exorcisms are evidence of the existence of hell. There are quite a few sub-claims that need to be justified before we can get to that conclusion.
Clark from CA believes that there is a separation between the mind and brain. The claim is that the mind is immaterial and doesn’t need to be connected to a physical form and that this somehow points to the existence of God.
David from NY is calling to discuss the book, “The Late Great Planet Earth,” which the caller claims predicts many recent events.
Welcome back to the show! Please welcome today’s hosts of the Atheist Experience, Johnny P. Angel and ObjectivelyDan!
Dave from WI wants to know if our hosts believe that there is any validity of prophecy. The caller seems to think so.
Jon from Canada claims Atheism is a religion because they are woke and believe in things that are based on their own ideas. So is being woke at all relevant? So does that mean that Christian fundamentalist denominations are not actually religions?
Frank from NC asks what our hosts think of the idea that God is actually source-energy that jumpstarted the big bang.
Michael from UT has faith that aliens exist but in a super unexciting way. We have an example of a planet that can sustain life, therefore it is possible that another planet somewhere in the universe might have life of some variety on it.
John from IA had a mystical (hallucination) experience that lead them to agnostic atheism.
Pablo from Spain asks why finding the truth is important. Why hunt for the truth when the search for it might negatively impact humanity in the process or disrupt the status quo?
Jonah from TN wants to know if reforming the church is an attainable goal. It's one of those things that as an institution will always be lagging behind, but I’d rather work to reform it and get half of its followers to fight for progressive issues than not and have all of them work to maintain injustice.
Kennedy from CA asks if became possible for us to scientifically investigate the possibility of life after death, would that sway people away from religion?
Welcome back to the show! Please welcome today’s hosts of the Atheist Experience, Kenneth and Jmike!
Mr. Warlight from Ak claims he can prove the spiritual form of Jesus Christ and even better can do so on the show! No, he can’t.
Clark from CA has a transcendental argument for God and asks if moral statements are propositional.
Kevin from GA claims that traditional Christian values produce the most moral society. Why are we in such a rush to toss those society-shaping rules aside?
Amunuel from TX wants to discuss Kenneth’s position of free will when it comes to the proposition that God created people. Apparently, god created some people to be saved and others to be sent to hell and punished. What an immoral thug that God is.
Jon from Canada is back, again. Today he asks what evidence would convince our hosts. Listen to Kenneth’s fantastic reframing of this question.
Zach from D.C. asks if Atheists have an argument against Islam. Apparently, Atheism is just doubt and arrogance. If it is arrogant to admit you don’t know something, then I’ll take arrogance any day. “Beware this boy.” - Dickens.
Welcome back to the show! In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Johnny P. Angel and Phoebe Rose!
Scott from (PL) has a justification for biblical slavery and genocide because morality is subjective. Kill or be killed, I guess?
Tommy from AL is calling to explain how the Fibonacci number sequence is evidence of intelligent design. How would conclude that this sequence is evidence of an intelligent creator and not just a coincidence in nature?
Gary from MD asks why so many people are convinced that they will continue on in an afterlife when they die given that we don’t have any experience with non-existence.
Tim from D.C. asks why atheists bust on God and Jesus instead of just accepting God and freeing themselves. Loving God is the only thing that matters. How exactly is that freedom if there is only one acceptable action you can partake in and it's based on the demands of an unsubstantiated god?
Mike from WA asks if the formation and combination of 300 amino acids in the “correct” order to form life were caused by random chance.
Mack from CA is an atheist who has a Mormon friend who is being abused by their religion and church and doesn’t know what to do to help them.
Welcome back to the show! In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Forrest Valkai and Johnny P. Angel!
Frank from the USA is calling to teach us atheists that God is real and how we are leading ourselves away from salvation. Turns out the evidence is the spirits we met along the way.
Mark from NY wants to talk about the great ostracization of Intelligent Design “theorists” by the scientific consensus and mainstream, accredited scientific journals. ID isn’t a theory. It's creationism with a gilded scientific paint job that started peeling off on day one because ID isn’t the same base layer as properly conducted science.
Mike from FL is calling to prove the existence of God and ask why our hosts would still refuse to believe in the Christian God even if they became convinced he was real.
Emery from CA is non-binary and is wondering if science can explain why a person might identify as non-binary.
Chris from NY wants to know if Forrest has any sources that can give help them explain the steps from the Big Bang to life as we know it now. Forrest recommends Astrobiology Primer by Nasa.
Amanuel from TX claims that everything written in scripture is ethical. That’s it, I have nothing else. What could you possibly add to that?
In today’s episode of the Talk Heathen, ObjectivelyDan is joined by Kelley Laughlin live in the studio!
Rick in OR says DNA is scientific evidence for a creator and does not understand why the hosts don’t subscribe to intelligent design. Why is DNA evidence of a creator? We go to where the evidence and data leads us which is away from a deity or creator. Is any scientist 100% accurate with what they do? The caller stated that all the big bang predictions are wrong because galaxy clusters go against the model. Sigh. We are still waiting for specific proof of a creator. Why should we believe that the universe is a giant prokaryote that will expand until it goes “bang” and splits? There should be a Nobel prize for this.
Freyja from TX updates the hosts on her decoversion from young earth creationist and is told she will receive her atheist card in the mail soon. She describes how multiple religions have some source of prayer and through meditation, there is a feedback loop where you can give yourself hallucinations. We as humans like to attribute something that we don’t know as something that is divine. Pentecostals have practices that can make the participants feel as though something is happening, like the holy spirit speaking. Many things can cause this such as human to human connection and live concerts.
Nate from TX mentions theists who used philosophical arguments to justify their conversion from atheism and asks if pure philosophy has any merit. Empiricism is saying that knowledge is derived through observations and experience. Rationalism is a philosophy where we gain knowledge just by thinking. It may seem that empiricism rejets rationalism at times and this is a difficult question. We can’t just solve any kind of argument with science. We would not have the scientific method if it were not for epistemology and other thinking methods.
Jason in the audience asks if the belief that rocks have magical properties is harmful. Kelley explains how this can cause people to not obtain adequate health care and therefore this can be immensely harmful. This can also cause other people to not be healed who see this, causing more harm. It is despicable that people profit off of this.
Jonah in MO says that atheism has intertwined itself with left wing politics by doing things like identifying with LGBTQ rights. Religion and politics are absolutely braided. The church has been responsible for laws that destroy LGBTQ communities and prevent them from having the rights that others have. If you don’t have a problem with the LGBTQ community, why would you have a problem with us advocating for their rights? Sorry to break the news to you, but TikTok is not supporting evidence.
Thank you for tuning in to this exciting show! Remember to thank the essential workers and see you next week!
The gender revolution is here, and since we can’t go over and can’t go under it, we’re going on a bear hunt. There are nearly eight billion people on this planet and whether that means there are eight billion different genders or not SecX is proud to introduce to you Ms. World Bear 2022. Daddie Danger, philanthropist and bad ass, joins Christy and Miss O Kissed in a conversation about gender coding, bear culture and community. Call us live and let us know what’s too hot, too cold or just right for your gender, plus what’s turning us on this week on SecX!
In today’s episode of Talk Heathen, ObjectivelyDan and Johnny Perceval Pursable Angel sort out questions of wars, existence, biblical criticisms, and solarpunk future.
Connie from Canada is our first caller who believes the events occurring today have been predicted in the Book of Revelation. Can you name a time when there was not a war or rumor of a war happening? If the wars in the book are true, does that mean everything else in the book is true? Who are we to say that wars that affect certain cultural groups are less important wars than others?
Mark in NY says the universe is contingent on something to exist and that must be god. The caller asks if nothing is a possibility instead of a universe. There is nothing that we can observe that suggests design has to be part of the universe. Maybe it was started by an outside force, but defining what that force is takes us far from theism. If the universe is contingent on something that kicks it into motion, how do you explain the exemption of the prime mover? Why does this prime mover have to be a god? It is okay to admit that we just don’t know.
Daniel from SC asks what the criticisms atheists have of the living Bible. Is it your understanding that the Bible is a collection of stories that provides guidance but is not divinely inspired? How is divine inspiration that allows us to own others any different from just owning people? Kindness, compassion, and cooperation speaks to us being human, not Christian. Why is faith a virtue?
Gabriel in Canada educates us about how solarpunk puts an emphasis on secular spirituality, and asks what communities and spiritualities would look like if solarpunk were to happen. Environmentalism has existed as a spiritual practice for decades if not longer. It is important to keep individual rights as a priority and not let them be forfeited for the greater good.
Thank you to all our viewers and supporters! We want to thank all the essential workers. See you next week!
American equality has always been a little more equal for some and nowhere is that more clear than the recent Respect for Marriage Act which failed to fully codify rights granted by the courts in Obergefell v Hodges and Loving v Virginia. Even as those important precedents stand, marriage equality eludes many with financial and medical hardships and its protections exist only for the monogamous. Long-time friend of the show Lily Bacon returns to share her life experiences and day to day realities made less safe in a post Dobbs world. Politicalized polyamory, your calls and questions and what’s turning us on this week on SecX!
Welcome back to the show! In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, JMike is joined by MD Aware!
Nicol from Armenia is wondering how atheists organize their marriages compared to that of biblical Christians.
Joe from KA is calling to express frustration with atheists’ answer to Christians with regards to God creating a world where humans can perform evil. Why would God create a world where evil can take place?
Hay Z from LA is calling in to discuss evolution. The caller is having a hard time understanding how the world can be so orderly and a perfect fit for us if God didn’t create everything.
Kevin from WI wants to discuss science and the assumptions that scientists make prior to doing the work. Can you trust the findings if said findings are based on unjustified assumptions?
In today’s episode of the Talk Heathen, Katy Montgomerie and Student Doctor Ben will discuss the Bible proving the Bible, atheism as a religion, why communities exist, the ethics of using charity to spread religion, and if historical Jesus is important.
Bernard in NY is our first caller and has evidence of god’s existence! The proof is that the Old Testament says it would be accepted and it was accepted. Does having people accept a text make it true? Could a person write something that is partially true and partially false? Is it possible that god is lying? Do you know everything about this god? How do we know god told Moses to write this? The caller creates the best circle we have ever seen by stating that the people must accept the text first.
Malachi from AR perceives that atheists seem religious because it leans left like the religious community leans right. We agree the community should not have political leanings. In many countries, religion is not a driving force, but in others, it is a huge deal to come out as an atheist. When this happens, the community wants to support freedom of religion or lack thereof. Ben’s family was more willing to accept coming out as trans then they were coming out as atheist. The caller goes on to say that both the gay community and the black community are preposterous. Communities prevent civil rights from being removed. Adding rights to these communities that other people already have, is not taking away any rights.
Prasad in India says that charity is a good thing and asks why it matters if this charity is from a religious group. When the underlying motive is to convert, it is not fair to the recipients because it teaches people to rely on religion and authority to eat. This works for conversion and the religions know this. People who truly believe they are doing the right thing with good intentions can still cause harm. If schools are created that teach religion in a place that does not have schools, indoctrination happens.
Last caller is Evan in CO who asks if the hosts believe Jesus is a historical figure. It does not matter because we don’t accept that he did what the Bible says he did. Even if we accept this as a premise, we don’t need to care about it. It is interesting to see how ancient people lived, however, it is unacceptable when religious people exclaim that morality has changed because it was a different time. Either it is made up garbage, or god is not moral, or objective morality has changed.
Thank you for tuning in and watching us talk to callers who believe in circular reasoning! This is your community!
Reality Dating may not be the most accurate mirror to hold up to society but it does shine a light on where we’re at as a culture- a biphobic, mate guarding, co-dependent culture. Is there more to trashy tv than meets the eye or is the toxicity catching? Kara Griffin corrals a conversation with our panel of pop-corn throwing reality tv star super-stans Phoebe Rose, Miss O Kissed and Licensed Professional Counselor Ashley Hogan to find out once and for all who is here to make friends and who is here to win. Catch the four person round table discussion, be sure to call in with your takes, learn what’s turning us on this week and find out who wins the final rose on this week’s SecX!
► Learn more and find what’s turning us on at https://www.vcatx.com/media/realitydating Secular Sexuality show is LIVE every Thursday from 7:00 to 8:30pm Central Time
Welcome back to the show! In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Forrest Valkai is joined by Dave Warnock!
Our first caller of 2023 is Greg from TX who is wondering why it would be useful to prove the existence of God? What is the purpose of the “why” question that is always asked by host’s on this show?
Carlos from Argentine is calling to discuss the rise of Christianity in the Argentinian government and how the caller was persecuted for their activision the separation of religion and government.
Rick from Canada believes that the theory of evolution is full of many holes including that Forrest can’t disprove talking donkeys, horses, and snakes. Interesting hole you’ve found. The evidence indicates that it is of the rabbit variety.
Bill from IL recently deconverted from their religion and is looking for advice about how they are going to tell their wife?
Sir Delicioso from Canada has an argument for why the God of the Bible is good. Get ready for this tapdancing defense at justifying genocide.
In today’s episode of Talk Heathen, Secular Rarity is joined by BlatantBlatheist and will wrestle with slavery, trans issues, and immorality.
First caller is Grant from ME who suggests we talk about morality in a different manner; an action is immoral only if it causes greater suffering. Do certain actions lead to greater suffering? Is the desire to minimize those actions coming from outside the person? Be careful not to try and define something into existence.
Alok from CA says the ACA goes too far with trans issues. He is concerned about being called a transphobe when he questions the issues and 72 pronouns. What are you doing at that moment to be called a transphobe? Trans people are being heavily targeted at this time and we can never talk about human rights too much. If we don’t have these discussions, how are we going to educate people about it? Bigotry is background noise baked into society. We can always take an opportunity to be better.
Amanual in TX says that people don’t understand Biblical slavery and it is not the same as was practiced in modern times. If the creator of the universe tells us that we are supposed to obey our master, the answer is going to be no. If you were the most powerful being with a message, would you say, “Slaves obey your masters” or would you say, “Don’t own people”?
Jamar in PA asks if blacks should receive reparations. The best way to do this is through systemic reparations because it is difficult to prove lineage. When the system is fixed, everybody benefits. If reparations are monetary, the money will not come because the ancestry has been purposefully erased. How do you prove something when the records have been destroyed? Look at how redlining alone has destroyed the schools in inner cities.
Bar in TN finds that people are always giving thanks to god for mundane things like finding their keys. They think about the good that happens to themselves but ignore all the bad things this god allows. Does it get more self centered than thinking the creator of the universe helped you find your keys? It is hard to see people we love put things on god when they can do things themselves to improve their situations.
Cynthia in IL and from the Non-Prophets provides some facts about reparations and proving lineage. Slavery was a capitalistic institution where money was gained. If only labor is viewed, 6.9 quadrillion dollars would be the value after inflation. No reparation program in the U.S. happens without monetary compensation. There may be a lot of barriers, but it is not impossible. The majority of people that were born prior to 1965 came through chattel slavery. Lineage can be traced in a short period of time with the right tools.
Thank you for tuning in this week! Thank you to essential workers! See you next week!
The Midshow Promo clips. You like them! You love them! You want more of them! Well, consider your prayers answered, because we present some of the best moments from our past season. The video elves have been working overtime to bring you this collection of some of the funniest, most intense, and overall best segments.
We’ll be back to live production in the new year, but for now the hosts, crew and volunteers of The Atheist Experience and The Atheist Community of Austin wish you all the best for this holiday season and in the new year to come. We’ll see you next year!
The Midshow Promo clips. You like them! You love them! You want more of them! Well, consider your prayers answered, because we present some of the best moments from our past season. The video elves have been working overtime to bring you this collection of some of the funniest, most intense, and overall best segments.
We’ll be back to live production in the new year, but for now the hosts, crew, producers and volunteers of The Non-Prophets and The Atheist Community of Austin wish you all the best for this holiday season and in the new year to come. We’ll see you next year!
The Midshow Promo clips. You like them! You love them! You want more of them! Well, consider your prayers answered, because we present some of the best moments from our past season. The video elves have been working overtime to bring you this collection of some of the funniest, most intense, and overall best segments.
We’ll be back to live production in the new year, but for now the hosts, crew and volunteers of Talk Heathen and The Atheist Community of Austin wish you all the best for this holiday season and in the new year to come. We’ll see you next year!
The Midshow Promo clips. You like them! You love them! You want more of them! Well, consider your prayers answered, because we present some of the best moments from our past season. The video elves have been working overtime to bring you this collection of some of the funniest, most intense, and overall best segments.
We’ll be back to live production in the new year, but for now the hosts, crew and volunteers of Truth Wanted and The Atheist Community of Austin wish you all the best for this holiday season and in the new year to come. We’ll see you next year!
The Midshow Promo clips. You like them! You love them! You want more of them! Well, consider your prayers answered, because we present some of the best moments from our past season. The video elves have been working overtime to bring you this collection of some of the funniest, most intense, and overall best segments.
We’ll be back to live production in the new year, but for now the hosts, crew and volunteers of Secular Sexuality and The Atheist Community of Austin wish you all the best for this holiday season and in the new year to come. We’ll see you next year!
As we wind down 2022, we wanted to take a look back at all the best moments of the current season, and we've chosen the Top 5 calls, as determined by your viewing. Relive some of the most memorable and favorite moments from this past year of The Atheist Experience.
We are also compiling this collection so that we could give you something interesting to watch over the holidays, but also give our hard-working hosts and crew some time off to spend with their family and friends.
The ACA wishes you all the best for 2023, and make sure to join us in this coming year for more of the stuff you love!
As we wind down 2022, we wanted to take a look back at all the best moments of the current season, and we've chosen the Top 5 calls, as determined by your viewing. Relive some of the most memorable and favorite moments from this past year of The Non-Prophets.
We are also compiling this collection so that we could give you something interesting to watch over the holidays, but also give our hard-working hosts and crew some time off to spend with their family and friends.
The ACA wishes you all the best for 2023, and make sure to join us in this coming year for more of the stuff you love!
As we wind down 2022, we wanted to take a look back at all the best moments of the current season, and we've chosen the Top 5 calls, as determined by your viewing. Relive some of the most memorable and favorite moments from this past year of Talk Heathen.
We are also compiling this collection so that we could give you something interesting to watch over the holidays, but also give our hard-working hosts and crew some time off to spend with their family and friends.
The ACA wishes you all the best for 2023, and make sure to join us in this coming year for more of the stuff you love!
As we wind down 2022, we wanted to take a look back at all the best moments of the current season, and we've chosen the Top 5 calls, as determined by your viewing. Relive some of the most memorable and favorite moments from this past year of Truth Wanted.
We are also compiling this collection so that we could give you something interesting to watch over the holidays, but also give our hard-working hosts and crew some time off to spend with their family and friends.
The ACA wishes you all the best for 2023, and make sure to join us in this coming year for more of the stuff you love!
Welcome back all you sexy mother addition know, shut my mouth. We're taking some time out of the holidays to reflect on the year that has been 2022. We look at the good, the bad and the ugly, and even look forward a bit to 2023. Christy Powell is joined by the always thoughtful Kara Griffin, the irrepressible Pheobe Rose, and SexEx's newest addtion to the hosting role, Miss O Kissed. It's going to be a good episode, so sit back, relax, and give yourself a big ol'....on second thought watch the show first.
Welcome back to the show! In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Jim Barrows is joined Student Doctor Ben at the Freethought Library!
Kevin from GA disputes the reliability and double standards of social constructs. From a social perspective, the caller asks why it isn’t acceptable to kick down someone’s door to steal food from others if we are hungry? If humans are animals and other animals will take drastic action in the name of self-preservation, why is this any less acceptable?
Jon from Canada has ultimate proof of God. It's the force. Jon, are you 100% sure that it isn’t the Schwartz?
Paul from Canada is calling to ask about what the terms: gnostic, agnostic, theist, and atheist mean, and how and when to use them.
Seth from ID believes that atheists get the meaning of separation of church and state wrong. The caller claims that the statement was to prevent a specific sect of Christianity from becoming the dominant faith in the United States, not that religion and government should be separate. Oh boy...
Olivia from IL has some beef and feedback for the show. Gotta shut down the theists at the name of their God.
Audience Question One asks how certain anti-choice individuals who also believe in free will get around it when it comes to situations involving for example, rape, something that clearly violates the mother’s free will.
Brittany from GA is a questioning Christian who despite discovering holes in the faith they were indoctrinated to believe, is still struggling to cope with the fear of a Christian hell.
Hank from TX argues that slavery is a part of what makes humans special compared to other species. Why do humans only take moral issue with humans enslaving humans and not humans enslaving animals?
In today’s episode of Talk Heathen, ObjectivelyDan and Student Doctor Ben are live in the studio handling both audience and caller questions.
An audience member, Jaime, kicks off the show with a reminder that Christians do not have a monopoly on Christmas. It is okay for Atheists to celebrate! The holiday was hijacked from pagans anyway.
Our first caller is Michael from Ohio who wants Christians to explain why the second coming of Christ is the best thing that can happen. Christians seem joyful whenever there is a disruption in the middle east. These beliefs can have dire consequences for the world. Many people have rapture anxiety. People always expect the special things and end of the world to happen when they are still alive.
Hayley from DE, wants to convert one of the hosts to Christianity since Christians have lots of denominations and atheists only have one, Christianity must be true. We believe this is a troll.
Zach in TX sees misconceptions about morality. Even if god created everything, this is still not an objective morality because god would be a subject. Christians want this so they can have the ability to legislate people’s lives. We want a morality that cares about human beings.
Tim from the audience asks if we could find an objective moral obligation, if we would then be required to create a legal obligation. Just because something is objective does not mean it is something we should follow.
Jasmine in Canada wants to discuss how religion has entered into politics and the heartbeat bill in Texas causing the underground abortion pill trade. What does abortion have to do with atheism? People who have passionate views about taking abortion away, have religious reasons for it. Abortion being denied results in an entire population being denied medicine that is necessary.
Jessica from UT asks if she should just let people be religious when there seems to be benefits to that person. Would they just suddenly become an amoral person if they are no longer religious? Even though there are benefits, there is real world harm that happens on the institutional level and that is why we talk about the issues.
Connor from the audience is from the Baha'i faith and believes the second coming has already happened in 1844. If it was supposed to have happened on a day in the past, can we just name anyone as the messenger? We want to know as many true things as possible and if what this faith teaches is true, we want to know about it. What about this belief convinces you of its truth? We are atheists but that does not mean we are not open to new ideas and learning new things.
Thank you for tuning in this week! We will see you next year.
Hey Truth Seekers! Welcome to another episode of Truth Wanted! This week ObjectivelyDan is joined by Jason Friedman!
First up is Liam from LA who presents a study that indicates that pathological liars make great athletes. It would be interesting to figure out why. Is it because they believe their own B.S. to hype themselves up, or because it helps them tune out smack talk from competitors, or is it something else entirely?
Tymm from LA is calling in to discuss the refreshing portrayal of bi-sexuality in the show “Heartstopper,” the tragedy the community unleashed onto the lead actor, and the social indoctrination that bi-sexuality is really just a stepping stone to homo-sexuality when that just isn’t the case.
Jonathan from FL, a close friend of Jason, asks what was harder: coming out as queer or coming out as atheist.
Pat from FL discusses an experience they had when they had a tooth operation and were put under and was wondering caused them to hear what they heard.
SecX has been graced with some true experts, M.D.s, J.D.s and more LPCS and Ph.D.s then you can shake a stick at, and has had the opportunity to pose some of the weirdest questions to some of the most incredible minds around. And diversity being the spice of life, this week we invited back Jamie Boone. Friend of the show and Average Joe, Jaime brings his personal experiences, failures and successes to a conversation about day to day life as an out atheist and openly gay millennial. For every question you’ve been too afraid to ask or embarrassed you didn’t already know Jamie joins Christy in a dialogue full of candor and verve about the strange life and times of the modern man. Catch the conversation live at 7p CT and share your concerns and questions as check-in on what’s turning us on and more on SecX!
Welcome back to the show! In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, JMike is joined by Dave Warnock!Davis from CO is calling to ask about what God or what kind of God atheists are rejecting. The caller states that they do not have enough faith to ascribe to “the atheist worldview” whatever that is.Julian from FL has a question about Job 38:16 and how it predicted the recently discovered geysers in the sea. How did we get to that out of this vague verse?Bear from WA claims that God’s glory is indirectly derived from permitting a world, he created, where there is both good and evil. If he is either capable of creating a world where there is no evil or stepping in when evil is being committed for the sake of his own necessary glory, why should anyone think of this God as a self-centered, pacifistic thug? And unfortunately for you, without evidence to support the existence of this God that would otherwise act as your ideology’s meat shield, your beliefs Bear, are abhorrent and disgusting on their own merit.Johan from FL presents a two-pronged argument that people should just support the broad concept of well-being, regardless of religious or non-religious belief. There needs to be a specific definition in order to actually assess the concept because well-being as a term is far too vague to make any judgment call. Well being for whom and based on what?James from AZ asks if science or atheism requires faith. Science is based upon evidence and testing and therefore doesn’t fall into the same category as faith as its used when theists talk about God. Previous determinations of science do not become pseudoscience because they are proven to be false. They just are no longer the current determinations for a particular scientific field. Pseudoscience differs in that is not falsifiable (i.e. psychics).
In today’s episode of Talk Heathen, Student Doctor Ben and Richard Gilliver work with topics of miracles, Islamic claims, magical rituals, Ten Commandments, the second coming, and godfather issues.First caller is Vaclav from the Czech Republic who wants to know what evidence we need to prove miracles have happened. If you could demonstrate causality then that could be convincing. How do you rule out a deity and deal with all the variables? When speaking of miracles, not only is it necessary to prove that a deity was the cause, but it also must be proven that the event happened at all. There are no situations that we can see where a supernatural event can be attributed to a god. Phil from Barbados is next and has some questions about the claims of Islam. Richard explains how Islam has borrowed many arguments from Christianity. Now we see Christian apologists using some of the Islamic arguments such as the Kalam. When people try to define their supernatural claims, they tend to stack claim after claim on top of each other. Single lines will be taken from the Quran to show scientific prediction. These are post ad hoc fallacies and found among adherents of many religions.Saul in MO brings up that we need better evidence than just the Ten Commandments. A theist might have a claim that god is just a recluse and does not want to deal with us. We need to be careful not to make the same problematic arguments that we see on the other side. Lester in El Salvador feels that magical rituals are crazy, but the points of view of the practitioners are interesting. He asks if we are blocking ourselves from other forms of reality. If there is intervention with the physical realm, there will be something that is affected and therefore can be justified or measured. What would convince you that magic is real? How do you know if your belief is real? Wesley in WV believes the Second Coming has happened on January 4, 2003 where Baal(Satan) imitated the words of Jesus and everyone felt a spiritual rain from the sky. He saw his body burned and as ashes during a vision one night when homeless in Chicago. What parts of this experience could have been influenced by other variables, such as hypothermia? We need evidence besides the experience for this. Cameron, an atheist in MN, has been asked to be a godfather to a baby by a close friend. His friend insists that he is a believer. Is there a way to talk about core values that might overlap when asked to speak to the family about your role as a godfather? It would be good to take some time to think this through and sort out what you want to do. Recovering from Religion is an excellent resource for situations like this. Thank you for tuning in this week, and always treat the essential workers well. See you next week!
Hey Truth Seekers! Welcome to another episode of Truth Wanted! This week ObjectivelyDan is joined by Sinn Sage!Mohammad from CA is calling in to defend the claim that there is an objective truth because without it people would go insane. What is your evidence other than that it's a scary thought to not have a purpose for existence?John from Canada asks our hosts what made them lose their faith in Christianity and what they have faith in now?Mr. Krabs from MD wants to discuss how sex-trafficking is being utilized as a weapon and crutch against sex workers in other fields of sex work, an argument that also prevents victims of sex-trafficking from safely coming forward to law enforcement.Our final call is ForgingThought who wants to address how ingrained the false correlation between sex work and sex trafficking is within society and popular media.
It’s generally true that yeah, size doesn’t matter, at least not for that thing that matters most. And, quite frankly, it’s never a good look to get into some sort of measuring contest in a misguided effort to prove your masculinity. But standing next to the rest of the animal kingdom, what can it tell us about our humanity? This week renegade science teacher and bioanthropologist Forrest Valkai returns to talk about our human form and function, about monkey dicks and human hearts, your calls and questions and of course what’s turning us on this week!Secular Sexuality show is LIVE every Thursday from 7:00 to 8:30pm Central Time
Welcome back to the show! In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Forrest Valkai is joined by JMike!Muhammad from CA wants to discuss their views that naturalism takes away the characteristics that make humans unique. But a lack of uniqueness and predetermined purpose doesn’t necessarily correlate with value or worthiness?Sheep of God, because why not, from TX is calling to defend the claim that secularism is a form of faith. The more atheist shows SoG watched, the more they learned about their doctrine and the more their faith strengthened.Brian from Canada asks that given many atheist’s don’t believe there is substantial evidence for God, what kinds of evidence are our host’s looking for?Mark from NY believes that evidence exists that leads to the conclusion that god is more probable. What is this evidence you might ask? It’s that atheism failed to provide answers to some of the caller’s questions. Just because something claims to have answers in no way means that those answers are true, and atheism’s lack of explanation to said questions doesn’t equal evidence against atheism.
In today’s episode of Talk Heathen, we have the tag team duo of Secular Rarity and Johnny Angel hosting to answer all the caller’s questions and concerns. First up, Phil in England says that we are mocking god all the time and asks how do we know god isn’t gonna get us. Of course someone can come up with lots of “what ifs”, like god is an alien, but there is no reason to believe any of it. You have to have good evidence to believe these outlandish claims. Rick in Canada claims to have scientific evidence of a soul then references what God is described in the bible. The bible is not scientific evidence of anything, especially a soul. Sadly, neither is word salad. Sure, energy is real…but doesn’t prove any kind of a soul.Tom in Michigan claims Occam’s Razor gets you 75% of the way to a monotheistic god because humans haven’t found signs of life on Mars. Not finding evidence of life somewhere other than earth can’t lend any credence to a god. This is so confusing… How does lack of evidence of Thing A mean that Thing B is real??? Thank you everyone for tuning in! We will see you next week and try to be decent human beings!
Middle ground is in short supply these days- bipartisan legislation, mid budget movies and peaceful protests all seem to have gone the way of the easy listening radio station. As ‘nones’ take the majority and organized religion finds itself in retreat, how much space is there for tolerance? How does a tolerant society tolerate a book that offers no peace but proposes “to turn a man against his father” and ”a daughter against her mother?” In these vitriolic times activist and high priestess Shannon Q returns to SecX to offer her insight, her compassion and quite possibly her sword in the ongoing culture wars. Catch the conversation plus your calls and questions and what’s turning us on this week on SecX! Secular Sexuality show is LIVE every Thursday from 7:00 to 8:30pm Central Time
Welcome back to the show! In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Student Doctor Ben is joined Adam Elmasri!
Jon from Canada is calling to ask what is one’s purpose in life if the person doesn’t believe in God or if there isn’t a god? And also education about trans people is apparently the equivalent of genocide, and no they won’t defend that.
Jaime from TX wants to know how to criticize Islam without coming off as Islamophobic especially with the history of that in the U.K. Make it general about the core foundation of theism, and engage specifically only if the conversation shifts to a specific religion. Even then, don’t attack the religion or its culture but instead, focus on getting them to defend the claims made in the book.
Rick from Canada is just calling to tell us that if we don’t agree with God’s genocide of the Canaanites and Amalekites or else were the evil ones? Because inbreeding? Whaaaaaaaat, why? Lot of genocide talk so far today.
David from Romania is calling to talk about how their mother claims to have seen God and offers the follow up question of how our hosts would react if they found themselves in her position.
Michael from GA wants to ask if God was determined to be real, does their existence correlate to the validity of their moral pronouncements? Is what the God says objective, or is it just another slew of subjective moral judgments but this time being made by someone who is potentially smite happy.
Henry from Estonia is calling to present an argument that pulling people away from religion is causing harm. Specifically, the caller saw read some articles and watched a video saying the religious people live longer than atheists, but didn’t read the actual studies.
In today’s episode of Talk Heathen, Katy Montgomerie and Johnny Angel will work through caller questions of Sharia Law, pronouns, god creating chaos, and judgemental atheists.
First up is Brett in CA who describes a study in Islamic research that showed that 70% of moderate Muslims support Sharia Law. He is concerned about how many people believe it is okay to kill apostates or those who leave the religion. These findings are not surprising; we know that some of these places are not great for human rights. When anyone gives a number that is just percentages, it is easy to conceal the big picture. Progressive minded folks tend not to focus attention on Islam since it is not the dominant religion in the U.S. However, as humanists, we need to care about these things.
Carlos in OK who askes about atheists that appear to be forcing their gay, transgender, and pronoun views on others. Katy explains that the pronoun thing is quite easy because you just address the person by what they request like you would their name. Sometimes when people get misgendered, they just want to make sure the person knows and move on. We don’t know what a person has been through on a particular day or why they would react in different ways to an inadvertent misgendering. The trans person is not trying to force their beliefs on you, but just wanting to be treated like a person. Treat trans people with the respect they treat you with. What is the point in being disrespectful or impolite?
Amanuel in TX says that maybe all religions have it correct since they all say similar things and when bad things happen, we can trace it back to God. What happens when religions make claims about each other? Can they all be right? Why is god not a monster for creating the laws of nature, Covid, and childhood cancer? Why is scripture the ultimate authority? If you choose not to take a risk, why are you not afraid of sparking the wrath of Allah? How do we know which scripture/religion is right and where to spend our time? How will one survive in heaven and not always be on pins and needles with the possibility of a Luciferian thought? Did god create non-believers with the purpose of not believing in order to burn in eternity? If god exists, why should we worship this immoral monster?
David in CA says the atheist community is judgemental. People in the comments and live chat call him stupid. That is not cool, and we do not like this! People on the internet can be horrible, and that includes atheists. Atheists may be judgemental, but they are not uniquely judgemental or abusive. It is not judgemental if we ask you to bring something to the conversation other than giving us homework.
Thank you everyone for tuning in! We will see you next week and try to be decent human beings!
The Non-Prophets, Episode 21.48 airing Sunday, 11.27.2022 featuring Richard Gilliver, Student Doctor Ben and Kelley Laughlin.
Oh non-god I am stuffed. I don’t even want to invoke the Flying Spaghetti Monster as I don’t even want to THINK about food! If you are in the USofA we hope you had a great Thanksgiving (eg Gluttony day) and hope you don’t break the bank on all those sales (eg Greed day). Wonder if we can fit some more mortal sin days in the next few weeks. As for us The Non-Prophets we have also been stuffing ourselves with news articles for our hosts Richard Gilliver, Student Doctor Ben, and Kelley Laughlin to serve to you on a silver platter! Let’s get into it.
First up, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the 8 BILLIONTH person born! At the same time, we are already and 8 BILLION PEOPLE! Seems the religious took that “go forth and multiply” thing seriously. Well here’s an idea, maybe when people are more secular they will study the carrying capacity of the planet and practice safer population growth. Here’s hoping Elon Musk’s plan to go to Mars is not his own version of population control.
Up next. Show of hands, who here has heard the phrase “hate the sin, love the sinner”? Hmm I am seeing a lot of hands out there. Well seems that The Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints (not typing that out again) is living that. They seem to be just fine with Congress trying to codify gay marriage. They still think it is a sin and that you are all going to burn in hell forever and ever… Hey, it’s baby steps right?
Speaking of changing view points, seems some US Bishops are really worried about the their congregations views on abortion. Those diagonal moving church leaders seem to not be able to put their pawns in check. So they spend their knights deep in their rooks to stop all those nasty mates. Also somewhere queens are involved. Hey doing a whole thing on chess puns is harder than you think when you are board!
Lastly, We take a look back at Thomas Jefferson and his terrible, horrible, no good very bad Thanksgiving. No, wait that was Alexander who wasn’t Hamilton. Oh no I must not break out into song! AhHem… Seems it partly had to do with separation of church and state which he was a big supporter of. Then again he was also hypocritical in a lot of other aspects. So I guess we still have a lot of mixed feelings about this.
That will do it for this week. Be sure to tune in this Sunday at 3:00 PM Central. Most of the shows this week were pre-recorded, but Talk Heathen and The Atheist Experience are going to be live shows. See you all next week!
Segment 1: Could the rise of the nonreligious defuse the population bomb?, Only Sky, Andrew Fiala, November 16, 2022 http://bit.ly/3VrBesC Global population hits 8 billion as growth poses more challenges for the planet CNN, Tara Subramaniam, November 15, 2022 http://bit.ly/3Xv0Y9q
Segment 2: Mormon church backs same-sex marriage law, maintains relationships still sinful Associated Press, Sam Metz, November 16, 2022 http://bit.ly/3GJysLf Don't be fooled: The Senate's gay marriage bill does not protect religious objectors, Washington Examiner, Kaylee McGhee White, November 18, 2022 http://bit.ly/3U7zaF4
Segment 3: US Catholic bishops worry about abortion views in the pews, AP News, Peter Smith, November 17, 2022 http://bit.ly/3gvCoEX
Segment 4: Looking Back: What a Turkey: When Thomas Jefferson Refused to Acknowledge Thanksgiving, Mental Floss, Jake Rosen, November 14, 2022 http://bit.ly/3GJJa4t
Don't like ads? Consider becoming a patron for commercial-free episodes: http://tiny.cc/patreonnp We welcome your comments on the thread for this show. ► http://tiny.cc/fbnp ► Contact us with questions or news stories at: nonprophets@atheist-community.org
Welcome back to the show! In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Forrest Valkai is joined by Christy Powell!
First up is Damien from WA who wants advice on how to explain to their family that they don’t enjoy the religious inquiries and love, and that their non-belief is not an attack on them.
Jay from IA asks why Atheists feel the need to talk about their non-belief and tell others God doesn’t exist all the time. The answer varies from atheist to atheist based on their own experiences. But don’t worry, the call doesn’t stop there so be sure to keep watching and listening?
Next is Bear from WA who is presenting personal testimony about how they experienced problems with their life, but that these problems resolved themselves after seeking out God.
Eric from WI is calling to tell Atheists that God doesn’t send them to hell, but that we send ourselves. Theists have had 12 years to make the choice to revise and rehabilitate this argument before calling in again, but they haven’t.
Next is Nicole from Armenia who is wondering if the Bible is a good guide for having successful relationships & marriage?
Teo from Croatia wants to talk about how its ridiculous that people judge people who have not read the bible or believe in a God in ways they wouldn’t judge others.
In today’s episode of Talk Heathen, the entertaining pair of ObjectivelyDan and Forrest Valkai are live today. They work through questions about evolution and the age of the earth.
First is Tom from MI who identifies as a deist and believes god exists but is not involved in his life. He is hopeful and wishful that god exists because it makes him happy. Why should we believe god exists? Does wishing something to be true make it true? Would you use this line of thinking for anything else? Do you actually believe this as a fact or is it just something that makes you happy? Does it matter that things are true? We don’t just believe stuff because it makes us happy, even if it feels good. There must be some reality in there somewhere.
David from CA wants to give the hosts a chance to prove evolution since no one has ever heard of it in history. We have mountains of proof and this is one of the most well documented theories in science. Why should we care what one person’s family thinks about evolution? If the Bible has no mention of something does that mean it does not exist? Individuals don’t evolve; it is the whole population. When an advantage is gained in one environment, fitness is lost in another environment. As Forrest calmly describes how things work, the caller insists that it is all science fiction. He also thinks the planet was designed for humans and does not understand why we protect endangered species. Does the puddle say that this hole in the ground was designed for me? The hosts ask the caller how radiometric dating works, and no answer is provided. If you don’t understand the basic principles of how biology works, how can you possibly critique it?
Mark in NY is trying to keep an open mind about theism and sees a strong line of reasoning that god exists because god is the explanation for why there is anything at all. Human beings want there to be an answer even when we don’t have one. The Cosmological Argument lies within metaphysics and any kind of claim can be made with this. Unless we have material words, we are just taking ideas out of thin air. These types of things are unfalsifiable. We can’t give metaphysics special pleading.
Yasir from India explains how the science teacher in school would not talk about evolution and tells the students to study it on their own. He has questions about speciation, and Forest gladly explains the steps. There is no single set definition of what a species is. Family lines are also arbitrary, for instance, look up the definition of a fish. If you arrange these tax groups in a certain way, you could call everything on land fish. We are not more evolved than other species. Everything that is currently alive, has evolved. We change the definitions of groups as we learn more. Forrest recommends a book called, The Ancestor’s Tale by Richard Dawkins.
Thank you everyone for tuning in. Please have your grandma call next week because we are pro-grandma.
The Non-Prophets, Episode 21.47 airing Sunday, November 20, 2022 featuring Jason Sherwood, August, and Cindy Plaza
This week you can join Jason Sherwood with an amazing panel of August and Cindy Plaza! I know I say all the panels are amazing every week, but here’s the thing: THEY ALL ARE!!! So check us out this Sunday at 3:00 PM Central. Let’s get into it.
First up, Texas churches broke the law, and the law… didn’t seem to care. Uhh oh. Seems at least two different churches supported different candidates in this latest election. If only there was some kind of law that prevented that from happening. Maybe some Texas Senator could amend the tax code so that non-profit organizations couldn’t do that. Oh wait, that is a thing that happened. So did anything happen? Did those churches lose their tax exempt status? Well you will just have to tune in to find out, but you can guess...
Now over to the land of fine wine, fine food, and now racist nationalists? Seems a politician got into a little hot water for suggesting a boat of migrants go… well it was racist so you can guess which continent he wanted them to go to. We explore a little of the history of how they got here and hope that France can throw out their far right nationalists before very uncomfortable salutes become commonplace there.
Ever hear that the more education you have the less likely you are to believe in a god? So have we, but it seems so very religious news/research sources have a very different take on that. They also have the numbers to prove it! So are Atheists big old dummies or is it possible these sites have a narrative they want to spin? Check out these sites, but make sure you do your own research. Cindy did!
Lastly, we follow one man’s journey from being a Hindu Nationalist to becoming a humanist. It is a tale of misinformation, hatred, and tragedy. We wonder if the reasons he became a humanist are ones that can stand the test of time and wish him the best even if there were any kind of back slide.
That will do it for The Non-Prophets this week. Hope you have enjoyed all the studio shows this week and we will be back next week with another amazing panel and show!
Segment 1: Texas churches violated tax law ahead of Tuesday’s election, experts say, The Texas Tribune and Propublica, BY Jeremy Schwartz, Jessica Priest AND Perla Trevio, November 6, 2022 http://bit.ly/3EL0If9 http://bit.ly/3UOv9Xf
Segment 2: In France, an Outburst Is a Setback for the Far Right, The New York Times, by Catherine Porter and Constant Méheut, November 10, 2022 http://bit.ly/3Xk0rXJ
Segment 3: Does education ‘cure’ people of faith? The data says no, Religious News Service, By Ryan Burge, November 10, 2022 http://bit.ly/3TRMnSi In America, Does More Education Equal Less Religion?, Pew Research Center, Report, April 26, 2017 http://bit.ly/3hX6dOJ
Segment 4: One man's journey from a Hindu nationalist to a humanist, The World, By Priyadarshini Sen, November 10, 2022 http://bit.ly/3TR6gZY
Don't like ads? Consider becoming a patron for commercial-free episodes: http://tiny.cc/patreonnp We welcome your comments on the thread for this show. ► http://tiny.cc/fbnp ► Contact us with questions or news stories at: nonprophets@atheist-community.org
Hey Truth Seekers! Welcome to another episode of Truth Wanted! This week ObjectivelyDan is joined by Jaime Boone! Welcome back, Jaime!
David from CA has an issue with the show urging callers to have discussions that the callers may not have the knowledge or ability to defend their positions on contentious topics such as God.
Nate from CA is calling to propose a hypothetical scenario where Mother Mary was the only documented case of asexual reproduction and what the implication of that would be.
Amanual from TX is calling to ask out hosts if they think all believers are irrational. The answer is far more nuanced than a blanket statement.
Heath from Canada is calling to dispute the saying “there are no atheists in foxholes.” The caller provides their own near-death and dangerous experiences, and how belief in God was the last thing they were thinking about immediately after.
Sam from OH is calling to ask if there is a place in Christianity for LGBTQ people.
Should you ever have the chance to join us here at the Atheist Community of Austin’s Free Thought Library in Central Texas you’ll likely hear one of our favorite bits of local slang- ya’ll know the one I mean. And, as we like to say, ya’ll means all ya’ll. Joining Christy this week live IN STUDIO is LPC Associate JP Cardenas, health at every size therapist and fat liberation activist, eager to set the record straight on body positivity, BMI and possibly a little TMI on bodies of all sorts and sizes. Join us by phone, internet or in person with your calls and questions and find out what’s turning us on this week on SecX!
Welcome back to the show! In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Forrest Valkai is joined by Dave Barrows!
First up is Victoria from Chile is wondering if religion or religious practices, given their predominance across modern cultures, may have first formed prior to the emergence of homo sapiens.
Next is King from AK is calling to present evidence, that at least to their friend, that Atheists converting to Christianity such as C.S. Lewis and Anthony Flew is evidence for god. The evidence would be based on their reason for the conversion, not merely that they became Christian.
Joshua from NC believes that gender and sex are the same for biological reasons. Forrest can explain this far better than I can even if I had an unlimited character count so listen to him. Jim’s Recommended Link: https://www.nature.com/articles/nn.3988
Frisco from AZ is working hard to figure out the mind-state of Atheists, but not too hard because we’re weird and the worst of human beings. Yes. We are laughing.
Amanual from TX is calling to address the constant atheist question, “why won’t God reveal himself to us?” Why would anyone worship and follow the rules attributed to something whose existence is not at all demonstrable?
James from OH is calling to present the biblical prophecies as physical evidence for God. Even if the prophecies appeared to have come true, that doesn’t evidence that these said events were caused by a religious reason, a God.
In today’s episode of Talk Heathen, Student Doctor Ben is joined by Johnny P. Angel who together will unravel caller’s opinions about trans people in sports, leaving religion, and propaganda.
First up is Bill from PA has a question about what advantages cis males who transition into woman might have with sports. How do you arrive at the conclusions you have about this topic? How honest is your representation of the data when your intuition tells you trans women have advantages? What factors make someone good at sports? What is the difference between a trans woman who has physiological advantages as a result of going through male puberty, and a cis female who happens to already have those same advantages?
Kay in London was a Jehova Witness for years and now sees holes in the religion. He finds it more difficult to see purpose in life not being in a cosmic battle. The purpose now is to make every second count and truly be human. Stepping away from a fantasy can free up time to make the world a better place. Time changes what one is passionate about. In the end we all die, but in the meantime we can play as hard as we can and make it count. How can you use your life to improve the lives of others and alleviate some of the suffering? What types of things make you want to engage with this reality?
Joseph in CA has an idea about creating memes to help with the transition from fossil fuels. Is it ethical to spread propaganda that you know is false in order to do something good for the environment? Humor has been used recently to poke holes into the absurdities of religion, but it is not going to cure our fossil fuel problems. Creating alternative myths for people who we think can’t be convinced of climate change is not the answer. Correct representation of true facts is how we get out of this sinkhole. What percentage of evangelicals are climate change deniers?
Thank you for tuning in this week! Thank you to all the veterans for your service! See you next week!
The Non-Prophets, Episode 21.46 airing Sunday, 11-13-2022 featuring Richard Gilliver, Jason Friedman, Cynthia McDonald and Kelley Laughlin
It was once postulated: does a bear crap in the woods? Well I would like to know if the thing I just stepped in was Cryptid Poo or is it really some New-age Woo? Join Richard Gilliver and the amazing panel of Cynthia McDonald, Kelley Laughlin, and newcomer Jason Friedman as they delve deep into this week's topics. Let’s get into it.
First up, mind over matter? Nature vs. nurture? What are the best psychological approaches? In the past experts would segment things out. Breaking things into nice little packages from a subset of people who they were able to talk to. Human’s are a bit messier than that. So we explore more of the humanistic approach. Is it perfect? Maybe not, but humans are very complicated. Even if some claim they are simple. It’s just another tool to put in the tool box when dealing with people.
Next up, BLAME CANADA! In this case British Columbia as they are quickly becoming the most secular province in Canada. We explore how that has happened, get some takes from religious leaders in the area, and see if this is a sign of religion in the future for the Americas. I for one think it has to do with all the science Canadians need to deploy to keep themselves alive through all those cold winter months.
Then our very own Cynthia McDonald discusses her time at The Women of Color Beyond Belief conference. This year was not a great time for women in general, and especially women of color. With terrible court decision and trigger laws that will end up in the deaths of countless women, these brave many will get their voices heard.
Lastly, You are walking in the woods. There is no one around, and your phone is on 1% charge. Out of the corner of your eye, you spot something. (Big Foot?) He’s walking around a nest camera focused on some eagles. You quickly try to snap a photo, but as you do the screen goes dark. You run to your car hastily unlock the door. Getting in you grasp for the charger and with shaking hands plug it up. The phone comes to life and you see it. The last photo you have taken. It’s blurry, but you now know the truth! Then some guy in a ghillie suit comes up and knocks on your window asking, “hey did you see where I dropped that turkey?” Sorry, no big foot for you this time!
Well that will about do it for this week.
Segment 1: Humanistic Approach Humanistic Approach Simply Psychology, By Saul McLeod, 2020
http://bit.ly/3UwWX2q
Humanistic Psychology’s Approach to Wellbeing: 3 Theories Positivepsychology.com, by Tiffany Sauber Millacci, Ph.D. 9 Jul 2022
http://bit.ly/3UyPdNe
Segment 2: Secular British Columbia on the rise Census data shows B.C. is the most secular province in Canada CBC News, By Josh Grant, Oct. 30, 2022
http://bit.ly/3O4qZbh
Modeling the Future of Religion in America Pew Research Center, Sept, 13 2022
http://bit.ly/3TvRZBI
5 facts about religion in Canada Pew Research Center, By Michael Lipka, July 1, 2019
http://bit.ly/3fX0EQ2
Segment 3: Humanist Women of Color Gather The Humanist, BY ANNA CLAY, 6 OCTOBER 2022
http://bit.ly/3UGXleq
Segment 4: Proof that Bigfoot is real? Exemplore News By Cassandra Yorgey, Nov. 2 2022
http://bit.ly/3E3A5Ap
Bigfoot May Have Been Spotted By an Eagle Nest Observation Camera
http://bit.ly/3hzSJbF
Species Spotlight: Top 10 cryptids of the Pacific Northwest The Cardinal Times, By Owen Adams, Jan. 5, 2022
http://bit.ly/3g47e75
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We welcome your comments on the thread for this show. ► http://tiny.cc/fbnp ► Contact us with questions or news stories at: nonprophets@atheist-community.org
Hey Truth Seekers! Welcome to another episode of Truth Wanted! This week MD Aware is joined by Kelley Laughlin!
First up is Arthur from NY who believes that foreign substances may have contributed to the formation of religion and might serve as an explanation for the supernatural occurrences depicted within them.
Kevin from TN wants to discuss occult magic. The caller defines magic as “making changes according to will,” both through the demonstrable process of taking action, and the less demonstrable collective unconscious.
Suzie from FL is calling to talk about her experience with Feng Shui (the use of specific colors and object placement in rooms), and how she has noticed how specific room arrangements affect “the energy” of the room. Is it possible that this energy isn’t so much energy in the physical sense, but more to do with how our environment affects our fight/flight responses and other psychological social queues?
The internet can be dark, and full of terrors, but many of us rely on it to learn not just about the world but each other and ourselves. It’s no surprise then that the same tools that have endangered our health and threatened our elections in recent years are being used to divide us, not just into arbitrary gender boxes but into the sexed and unsexed, the hunter and the gatekeeper or the alpha and the beta. What’s a lonely ex-vangelical to do? Emma Thorne brings her specific blend of little duck energy and British snark from her channel to ours to help us understand what the hell an alpha male really is and what we can do to avoid the pitfalls and pseudoscience on our way to the love we want and need. Catch the conversation with all of your calls and questions plus what’s turning Emma Thorne on this week on SecX!
Secular Sexuality show is LIVE every Thursday from 7:00 to 8:30pm Central Time
Welcome back to the show! In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Kenneth is joined by the one and only Dave Warnock!
Michael from CA is calling to claim the prophecies in the Bible are in fact accurate because the Euphrates River is drying up, waters in China are turning blood red (not actually turning to human blood.) and that there are wars and rumors of wars.
Jay from NY presents the double slit experiment and the observer effect in order to demonstrate that conscious observation actively affects the particles of our universe.
Drew from CA claims to have biblical evidence that the Bible is true, specifically that the New Testament and Old Testament stories align and fit with each other.
John from CA comes fully loaded with threats about our going to hell and a claim that the bible is smarter than you about deciding who is saved or not. Lots of preaching with this one.
Diana from CA wants to point out the correlation from the psychological tactic of love bombing to some of the methods used by religions to gain and maintain the interest of children through tactics such as gift giving.
Jaime from TX is calling to ask if there is ever a situation where any books should be bad. Books, even if dangerous, should be allowed to exist with the hope that the “bad” books should be critically analyzed with the intent of education and learning on why the bad ideas presented are in fact detrimental. But banning is a slippery slope based entirely on the dominant ideology in power.
Amanual from TX claims the New Testament apostles were credible...because they died brutally? Doom Guy brutally rips and tears through the demonic armies of hell. Does the gruesomeness of their deaths portrayed in DOOM in any way prove this demon army exists?
The Non-Prophets, Episode 21.45 airing Sunday, 11-6-2022 featuring Kelley Laughlin, Blatant Blatheist , Scott Dickie and Phoebe Rose
Blathering Blatherskite! Behold Blatant Blatheists broadcasts bodaciously! Who writes these things?! Watch them all on this Sunday’s Non-Prophets now premiering an hour later! Because of Daylight Savings ending. Still 3:00 PM Central. Let’s get into the segments!
Whew this is an article packed episode. Don't even have enough room for the "amazing write up!" That's ok you can find the full write up at tiny.cc/fbnp. So short descriptions will have to do it for YouTube. Hey YouTube! Can I have 6000 or 7000 characters please?!
First we talk about how it is so hard to get elected as an atheist. On that same line we explore how secular ideas are gaining ground in the political space. Maybe our second segment will destroy the first! Next, Former Vice President Mike Pence is striking a chord with Christian Nationalists by saying we do not have freedom FROM religion. FFRF might have something to say about that. Lastly, UK has a new Prime Minister and he's Hindu. Wonder how that is going to work for a theocracy where the people are mostly secular?
That will do it for this week’s Non-Prophets. Remember if you are in the United States that we have a very important midterm election. While we cannot tell you who to vote for, it is important to vote. You might think your voice doesn’t count, but I promise you it won’t count if you don’t speak in the only language politicians know! VOTE!
Segment 1: In Atheist They Don’t Trust
The midterms will see a number of nonreligious candidates – but why is it so hard for atheists to get voted into Congress? The Conversation, By Phil Zuckerberg, October 24, 2022
https://bit.ly/3h6Hk2J
Segment 2: Seculars Gaining Political Ground
Americans who aren’t sure about God are a fast-growing force in politics – and they’re typically even more politically active than white evangelicals The Conversation, By Ryan Burge, October 27, 2022
https://bit.ly/3Td2TMl
Segment 3: Mike Pence: No “freedom from religion”
Mike Pence says Americans don't have a right to freedom from religion The Salon, By Brandon Cage, October 27, 2022
https://bit.ly/3T6N3D9
Mike Pence says the Constitution doesn’t guarantee Americans “freedom from religion” LGBTQ Nation, By By Alex Bollinger, October 27, 2022
https://bit.ly/3NEt5yg
Segment 4: New UK Prime Minister is Hindu Rishi Sunak’s religious identity under radar as Christian UK gets first Hindu prime minister mint, By Sounak Mukhopadhyay, 25 Oct 2022
https://bit.ly/3DEd9Yn
How will Rishi Sunak’s Hinduism inform his premiership? The Spectator, By Samir Shah, 29 October 2022
https://bit.ly/3zGH8hh
Britain’s new PM is almost a billionaire — with a net worth twice that of King Charles CNBC, By Karen Gilchrist, OCT 28 2022
https://cnb.cx/3E3Bt7u
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We welcome your comments on the thread for this show. ► http://tiny.cc/fbnp ► Contact us with questions or news stories at: nonprophets@atheist-community.org
Hey Truth Seekers! Welcome to another episode of Truth Wanted! This week ObjectivelyDan is joined by Jon the Skeptic!
First up is Whisper from UT who argues that QAnon and its subsequent beliefs are harmful to everyone, followers or not.
Next is Phoenix from TX who is calling to bullet point out the unfounded things they used to believe in when they were a theist all the way from hearing voices to full environmental hallucinations.
Phatman from OR is calling to ask if there is a correlation between Chrisitan nationalism and QAnon. If someone were to make a venn-diagram between the two, the middle section would be quite large.
Rebel from D.C. is calling to claim that QAnon has a hairline of truth regarding the child-trafficking and the elitist pedophile ring even though most of the rest is malarkey. Basically, take Epstein and then add a little salt for some extra flavor and boom, truth!
You remember recess at school- dressing up like a firefighter or cops and robbers, playing house, pulling hair… maybe not all that different from playtime for adults. Turns out, play and imagination weren’t exactly things we meant to outgrow and 10,000 ads about how to ‘spice up our relationship’ aren’t exactly solving the problem. This week play therapist and Licensed Professional Counselor Ashley Hogan joins Christy in a conversation about play, toys and the magical kingdom of adult make-believe. Join us with your questions and comments or let us know whats turning you on this week by sending an email to sex@atheist-community.org or call us live at 1-512-991-9242! Secular Sexuality show is LIVE every Thursday from 7:00 to 8:30pm Central Time.
Welcome back to the show! In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Jim Barrows is joined by Johnny P. Angel!
First up is Kevin from Canada who claims that there are other dimensions, among many other claims. So. Many. Claims.
Next up is Sarah from Belgium who is beginning to question their faith, and asks out hosts if there is any truth to Judaism. Historically speaking regarding the Israelites, definitely. With regards to the religious beliefs and stories, likely less so.
Connor, TX from the audience asks our hosts what their opinion is on having nuanced rules for taxing churches based on size (i.e. Megachuches versus small community congregations.) The answer may surprise you.
Max from TX was a theist, but after listening to the show they are starting to question whether they are still a Theist.
William, TX from the audience continues the conversation started by Connor by asking if the hosts are concerned that gauging the tax status of churches based on how much they benefit their community opens the door to excessive proselytizing?
Patrick from FL is an agnostic who disagrees with the definition of agnostic on google and wants the hosts to convince them to be an Atheist.
Allen from Jamaica is calling to ask why God decided to hold off on creating a woman, Eve, rather than just create her with Adam. Just another thing to add to the nonsense list of the story I guess.
Bill from TX is calling to ask why there aren’t atheist churches, and why doesn’t the ACA create one. Bill sees the growth of the “Nones” as an example of a group of people who need accessible groups that mirror the community-building aspects of religious organizations but are secular. This way these individuals don’t come out of religion into an unfamiliar social void.
Jon from Canada is calling to tell us that removing God from the United States is causing the moral decay of society. Which society? All of it presumably.
In today’s episode of Talk Heathen, the creepy duo of Johnny P. Angel and Cynthia McDonald work through questions of cryptids, aphasia, The First Amendment, religious trainers, and supernatural causes of expansion.
First up is Val in Canada who asks which of the cryptids is most likely to exist. The Abominable Snowman might be a character that was confused with a polar bear. How could something manage to escape our technologies and abilities? Would it be a great ape variety? How would they have migrated to the new world? We don’t even know if these are mammals. How do you rule out the existence of cryptids? Imagine how our understanding of human evolution would change if a hominid were to be discovered.
Henry from the audience asks when it is best to respond to a trainer as an atheist. Cynthia shares some calm ways of shutting this down. Johnny waits for the second offense to firmly tell the trainer that we just need to stick with form.
David in CA posits that expansion can only occur with an outside force or supernatural realm and that Jesus sustains the cosmos. What empirical evidence do we have that a supernatural being exists? What tool is used to measure the supernatural? If you needed a heart transplant, and the surgeon only had 16 hours of cursory research as their training, would you allow that person to proceed? Will you try this theory on the Dean of Physics at a university?
Conner from the audience has a church and state separation in discussions with a parent. We had to go to the First Amendment for this one. Check out the Freedom From Religion Foundation for more answers on this. What are some ways we can prevent Sharia Law? How would you like it if a government entity of a different faith tried to tell you what to do? If young people continue to not tolerate this crap, many religious groups will be endangered. Do Catholics know that the money given to the church helps the pedophile defense fund? When we have too much overlap between church and state, it becomes a two way bad street. This is great when your political force is on top. But not so great when it is not.
Rick from Canada has evidence for the Tower of Babel. The tower collapsed and came down on their heads and caused aphasia that separated the languages. Have you ever studied linguistics? Where do you get information that all the languages are connected? What is just one example of how Japanese is like Hebrew? Rick has shown his stripes. If you are going to call in with an argument, please produce your evidence before saying that we don’t like your argument.
Thank you for joining us today! We appreciate all of you who are taking care of each other and those who are standing up for our rights!
Ghouls and Goblins rejoice as another spooky Non-Prophets descends upon the unsuspecting countryside. In this dark hour and a half we have our disturbingly knowledgeable panel lead by discount Legolas (Secular Rarity) With a confused cowboy (Richard Gilliver). Hello, we have Inigo Montoya (R Kelley Laughlin) you killed his father. Prepare to die! Our final panelist is the last thing you want to see when you die, the devilish Raphael! Check us out at the witching hour of 3:00 PM Central this Sunday!
Let’s get into the articles.
First up, How do you celebrate Halloween? Do you get dressed up with the kidos and hit the neighborhood so you can steal all their treats once you get back home? Maybe you dress up as a scarecrow sitting out on your porch all night with a candy bowl on your lap to scare anyone to dares to trespass on your property. Maybe you go to a raunchy Halloween party so you can do the November walk of shame. Well for religious leaders there are many different options and we explore what some of them are!
https://religionnews.com/.../when-it-comes-to-halloween.../ Speaking of what options religious leaders might do, Greg Locke… Seems there is a plan for Mr. Christian hate-preacher himself to hold another book burning. Well I guess it might get a bit chilly up there in the hills of Tennessee. Chances are it is going to be a direct repeat of his February roast. I wonder if people are going to remind him of the history once again of what side book burners tend to be in in history. Eh, I am sure he will just put those history books on the fire as well. Look, hate takes a lot of heat to prepare just right. https://onlysky.media/.../christian-hate-preacher-greg.../
Here’s a question for everyone. Have you ever heard the term “Bump in the night?” Well it seems that host of The View Joy Behar had a ghostly visits that showed her a new meaning. Is this like the time Ray got some pleasure from a visitor in his sleep? Was this more like one of the worst episodes of TNG where Dr. Crusher felt the ghastly presence of an alien ghost? I don’t know but if they start talking about making toes curl I am out!
https://people.com/.../joy-behar-reveals-on-the-view-she.../
Lastly, we see some Sh!t internet apologist say in the form of a Texas mom being very vocal against direct to streaming Hocus Pocus 2. Her claims are that the movie will unleash Hell on your kids and your home. Can a confusing money grab really summon daemons and possess your pots and pans? Truth be told I did not see either this movie or the one that came out almost 20 years ago? Come on Disney!
Hey Truth Seekers! Welcome to Truth Wanted’s Holiday Special! Join MD Aware, Exxtian Erin & Objectively Rob Boss on this spooky landscape filled adventure as they guide you through the spookiest of tales.
Scotland from NY calls to share a story where they spotted the “IT” clown on the side of the road while pulling up to a stop sign.
Jim from NJ is calling to refute the idea that “faith” is an anti-intellectual tool. What other beliefs do you hold that were derived from not evidence and testing, but through faith?
Finally, Jasmine from Canada is calling to ask our hosts if they ever become unsettled sleeping in an environment where people have died?
It’s been two and a half years, most of the life of the show in fact, since we’ve been able to lay bare the intersection of sex and religion (and ourselves) here in person at the Freethought Library in Austin! Join Christy and special guest dominatrix Chloe Manson live in the studio as we dive deeper into the world of professional pain and pleasure. Call in with your questions and comments or just come on down for this very special LIVE! episode of SecX! Doms, Dommes and Domination plus what’s turning us on this week in person from the Atheist Community of Austin, TX!
Welcome back to the show! In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, JMike is joined by Jim Barrows!
First up is Kevin from GA, a theist who disagrees with slavery in the Bible, especially the constant Christian defense. The issue is, the caller also admits that God’s commands are perfectly justified and should be followed, therefore contradicting their own moral judgments.
Aman from TX doesn’t find owning another human being as property to be moral but also doesn’t find their god who supports slavery to be immoral.
Charlie from FL argues that the tree of knowledge of good and evil is evidence that humans shouldn’t be allowed to follow a moral system that deviates from God’s own. Why is God punishing humans for falling for a trap that he set up?
Tyler from IN is calling to recount the time they found themselves indoctrinated into a cult and their path to getting out.
Duane from WV is calling to draw a comparison between the tenets of narcissism and the Christian God. Needless to say, a ven diagram between a human narcissist and God would be very large in the middle section.
In today’s episode of Talk Heathen, we have Johnnie P. Angel and Katy Montgomerie join forces to destroy our greatest foe: Earth’s yellow sun. Er, actually we’re just talking to callers today, no sun destroying.
First up! Stephen in WA asks how to talk with family that falls for the more sensational conservative talking points, like transgender panic. Typically people hate without knowing how others live or experience love, maybe introduce them to comedians or online personalities. You can educate and find common ground or just walk away, if necessary.
Rick in Canada claims that Jesus predicted the current coronavirus. He quotes Matthew 24:15, “the abomination of desolation stand in the holy place”. This isn’t the first pandemic, nor the worst, how does that verse predict Covid-19? You need to get way more specific in your predictions. Oh wow, now the emoticon “:)” in the KJV bible is proof of god? Our first Argument From Emoji!
Kevin from NY argues that there is extra biblical evidence for the existence of Jesus, for example the apocrypha. How can we know if anything in an ancient book actually happened or if it's just a storybook? You can’t assume miracles and the supernatural because of an old text. Sorry, a bible just doesn’t work to prove anything divine.
Jamie in TX asks how to tackle the argument that transgender folks need their own sports league. That might be a good idea to allow trans people to play sports without facing transphobia. Mandatory forced segregated leagues is a horrible idea, it's the same as a ban. We should try to let anyone compete, if possible.
Thank you everyone for tuning in! Remember the essential workers and we will see you next week!
The Non-Prophets, Episode 21.43 airing Sunday, October 23, 2022 featuring Jason Sherwood, Helen Green, Richard Firth-Godbehere and August
he time to take back The Non-Prophets is now! No longer will the gay frogs, or some kind of media, or billion dollar judgments stop us from bringing you the news and topics of the day from a skeptical humanist perspective. Especially since there are settlements and closures that can help us heal from history. This week I get to lead an amazing panel of Helen Green, Professor Doctor Richard Firth-Godbehere, and August. This episode was so packed we hardly were able to end it properly! Let’s get into it.
First, we start in our own backyard of Austin Texas. Where friend of the show and shouty conspiracy broadcaster is ordered to pay nearly a billion dollars in damages to the victims and families of the sandy hook school shooting. Will this get appealed? Will he show up to that appeal? Does he have any appeal? It’s hard to say. The good news is he can always start over by going back to the Austin Public Access station.
Next up we head over to the Equal Rights state. Awesome, that means only good things coming out of Wyoming right? A ranch for troubled teens… Oh no. Closes following abuse allegations. Oh come on! Seems this ranch is little more than a work camp designed to use impossible working conditions and violence to keep teen girls in line. Oh so it can get worse! Well fine they are closed down at the very least that has to be a step in the right direction. Except the state didn’t shut them down. This one’s a rollercoaster.
Whew, well maybe we can take a little look back. Let’s see Salem Witch Trials! Dang it! For this we explore what happened in those days and how the media has turned it into a running joke. Us Non-Prophets are not laughing though. We take a hard look at our history so that we can stand and say never again on our watch will we let this happen again. We won’t stand by while others minimalize the idea of a “witch hunt”
Finally this week we talk about Vatican II and the rise of Atheism. At the Vatican sees it at least. Many a strawman will be talked about. We will also see the basis of theist apologetics that persisted for decades. With so many generalizations and misunderstandings, it’s amazing Atheists and Theists can talk together at all.
Segment 1: Alex Jones must pay Sandy Hook families nearly $1 billion for hoax claims, jury says Rueters/ By Jack Queen and Jacqueline Thomsen/ October 12, 2022
https://reut.rs/3TrKMDl
$1B judgment against Alex Jones not the final word / AP News/ DAVE COLLINS, MICHAEL HILL and JAKE BLEIBERG/ October 14, 2022
https://bit.ly/3eWiMca
Segment 2: Wyoming ranch for troubled teens closes following abuse allegations NBC News/ By Tyler Kingkade / October 6, 2022
https://nbcnews.to/3D05N1f
Segment 3: Looking Back - Community at its absolute worst’: revisiting the horror of the Salem witch trials/ The Guardian/ Veronica Esposito/ October 5, 2022
https://bit.ly/3gwAHGT
The Witches of Salem/ The New Yorker/ Stacy Schiff/ August 31, 2015
https://bit.ly/3z4DZHB
Segment 4: Vatican II and the Rise of Atheism/ The National Catholic Register/ Stephen Bullivant/ October 13, 2022
https://bit.ly/3VSeJ1e
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Hey Truth Seekers! Welcome to another episode of Truth Wanted! This week ObjectivelyDan is joined by Brennon Goodson! Welcome to the hosting chair Brennon!
First up is Kelley from MI who wants to talk about their experience working in a haunted bar, including some funny stories of coworkers enocuntering the spooky spectres within.
Phatman from OR is calling to discuss the opening conversation of the show regarding dinosaurs and more specifically Mary Schweitzer’s discovery and what the controversy specifically is surrounding it.
Jaime from TX wants to talk about the flawed thought process of over-relying on our senses given their general and well documented flaws and inaccuracies.
Marcus from TX is calling to ask if the recent verdict of the Alex Jones trial will set a precedent for holding others making such serious and dangerous claims accountable, or will it pass or worse, empower other people like him?
In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Shannon Q is joined by Kenneth!
First up is Mark from CA who wants to write a letter to their young relatives who have been raised in a fundamentalist environment and would like advice from our hosts on what to open the letter with.
Next is Troy from WA who doesn’t necessarily believe in a God, but is convinced that there is a high probability of other life in the universe and that one of these other intelligent organisms created us in their image. Basically, the caller went to the “Alien: Covenant” school of intelligent design.
Next is Aaron from WY who is curious as to why the human brain appears to be wired to jump to unfounded conclusions, i.e. spiritual thinking.
Dmitry from MA recently read a book that introduces mathematics as the foundational truth of the universe, and that the Bible spirituality is a corruption of this truth.
BenDan from WI will return later...
Michael from GA has a question on how to go about conversing with theists and helping walk a theist through the problems with their methodology and the derived conclusion.
BenDan the “Researchur” from WI is back to tell us that the soul is the part of the mind that moves on after death to be judged. Prepare yourself for warp 10 analogies!
In today’s episode of Talk Heathen, Objectively Dan and Student Doctor Ben who will navigate through the calls as a dynamic power team!
First up is Steven from Europe who says that religion can be beneficial to society for reasons such as the civil rights movement being inspired by religion. Who supported the ownership of other people in the United States? Do you think it is the religious aspects specifically that causes people to do things for civil rights? If there are multiple factors, how can we determine that religion changes the outcome? When there are two opposing points of view, do we always have to give equal weight to each side? What if each side does not have equal contributors. Atheists tend to check themselves before they wreck themselves.
Wesley from WV is next who asks about The Atheist’s Club and if atheists believe in Darwinism. He proposes a hypothetical situation where he offers the hosts electronic money to get a barcode on their hands as a reference to the Mark of the Beast. Why should we believe what the Book of Revelation Says? Why do you think these predictions are true? What if Student Doctor Ben had a vision that was opposite of what Revelation says?
Charles from GA would like to defend slavery by stating that god is a proponent of slavery and we are either slaves of god or of sin, and that employment is slavery. We have heard this argument before. Our problem is the owning of other people as an institution. How can a slave owner be loving? If I Dan was a Christian, would you like to be his slave? What if he invaded your city and took you as a slave? Has any Biblical writer ever thought to tell us that slavery is just not cool? Christian countries happened to have the worst record for slavery.
Kay in the UK who is curious about how selfless the good acts are when people are told by god to do good things. We don’t want to dismiss someone’s good acts. For instance, there are lots of Catholic hospitals that provide necessary health care, but still find ways to push their agenda. How do we allow these people to continue good works yet prevent them from causing harm in their communities? Is it possible to do an act without any kind of benefit to one’s self? There is more than one book you can read that talks about right and wrong.
Whisper from UT is next who asks if the threat of hell is conducive to society. We don’t think the threat of hell is good for anyone. We are often raised in a church to believe that we can’t do anything without god, and that leads to us not having confidence. What if hell is a really great place? This is something we need to talk about more in our community. Recovering From Religion is a great resource for this. We don’t think hell is real and no, it should not be used as a motivation.
Thank you everyone for tuning in, remember the essential workers and we will see you next week!
The Non-Prophets, Episode 21.42 airing Sunday, October 16, 2022 featuring Richard Gilliver, August and Cindy Plaza
This week we got Richard Gilliver doing his best ASMR while August and Cindy back him up with nothing but the facts. I wasted too much time with a Picard speech so let’s just get right into it!
First up, A Nobel prize winner is in some hot water. Why might you ask? Well I will give you three guesses with just one hint. He Catholic bishop from Portugal. Well where he is from isn’t really the important part so you blew a guess on that. No, it’s not because he tried to move in a straight line when he is only supposed to move diagonally. Ok, you guessed it, it is due to sexual abuse. We also get some real time fact checking in this segment so be sure to pay attention to this one!
Next up, The women or Iran are starting to protest their oppressive wear! This has reverberations of other feminist protests in both the US in the 60’s and in Iran when the Shiite regime took over in the late 70’s and 80’s. Veil burnings echoing the bra burnings an ocean away. Hopefully it doesn’t take a generation or two to get the freedoms they deserve and that their male counterparts wield over them like a deadly weapon.
We then turn back to the states and a massively hypocritical situation. It seems like a family values candidate doesn’t quite practice what he preaches. Then again we are talking about Herschel Walker. Do we always know what he is trying to preach? He is just one of the many that got caught, but this time the hypocrisy is about an abortion(s?) of a girlfriend. He is just one name in a long string of conservative leaders. That’s not to say conservatives bad and liberals good by default. It is telling though how some people want to make rules, but then not follow them in their daily life. Look, all we ask is for consistent character growth!
Lastly, We have a step in the right direction with a little bit of a ghost story. One that chills Christian Nationalism to the bone. A story that can only be told so very close to Halloween. There is a creature growing. A Secular Government Caucus that will stop at nothing to hunt down Christian Nationalism and stop them from ruining people’s lives. They want to put a stop to “Project Blitz”. They want to keep gods out of public schools. Christian Nationalism GET OUT! The call is coming from within the Minnesota State Legislature!
Segment 1: Portugal abuse cases mount amid questions over Nobel bishop AP via MSN | October 3, 2022 | By Barry Hatton
https://bit.ly/3CZcYI0
Segment 2: Iran’s anti-veil protests draw on long history of resistance AP | September 28, 2022 | By Amir-Hussein Radjy
https://bit.ly/3MyToWc
Segment 3: Bill Press: The gospel of Christian hypocrisy Tribune Content Agency via MSN | October 6, 2022 | By Bill Press
https://bit.ly/3EHaO15
Segment 4: SITRD: MN lawmakers’ ‘Secular Government Caucus’ will combat Christian Nationalism Only Sky | October 5, 2022 | Hemant Mehta
https://bit.ly/3EJHgjf
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Hey Truth Seekers! Welcome to another episode of Truth Wanted! This week ObjectivelyDan and @BLATANT BLATHEIST.
First up is Doug from Canada who claims to know the greatest truth of humanity...that Planned Parenthood is a liberal conspiracy to kill all black children. Presumably to maintain the atheist food source.
Don from WA is curious to know why the hosts of ACA shows don’t take a more rigid stance on their Atheist position, and why the individual hosts even on the same programs have different positions on the same subjects.
Daniel from Canada is the inspiration for today's show background with a call discussing the existence of bugs on Mars.
Rebel from VA is calling to accuse NASA astronauts of being paid actors who lie to the public in order to hide God and his work. His work is the flat Earth. Also apparently, NASA is an occult secret society that traffics children, but I guess we’re gonna just ignore that for today.
How exactly does one “love the sinner” and “hate the sin” when the sin in question is fundamental to who we are as people? We’ve come to see religion as one of the most powerfully dividing forces of the modern world so it begs the question- does it matter if our families see themselves as loving people following a loving god rather than the political pawns duped by charlatans that we imagine them as? If Christ came to divide families and put a sword to the wicked, is there community between those inside and outside the body of Christ? Catch this special Halloween month conversation between Christy and ExXtian Erin about why they burned witches and how we can feel about it. Burning philosophical quandaries, your calls and questions and what’s turning us on this week on SecX!
Secular Sexuality show is LIVE every Thursday from 7:00 to 8:30pm Central Time
If you'd like to be on the show, use your phone ☎ and call 1-512-991-9242 or use a computer 💻 and click http://tiny.cc/callsex
► The hosts of the show may be reached via email at:
sex@atheist-community.org,
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► Find Christy around the web as ValenceCounseling or at https://www.VCATX.com
Welcome back to the show! In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Forrest Valkai is joined by Dave Warnock!
Charles from TX is calling to claim that Revelations 17:5 is the reason for all of the evil done in the name of Catholicism.
Next is David from Australia who after decades of indoctrination is hit head on with the prospect of the religion not be true, or worse manipulative. The caller is struggling with pushing past their fear of hell from their lifetime of it being used as a tool to keep them in line.
Luke from CA has a five premise argument to make God exist in our world. You could use this argument to make any literally any fantasy character exist in our world...doesn’t mean they do.
Believer in God (BIG) from WA isn’t convinced that Atheists are actually real and those who claim to be Atheist are actually pretending Theists. They believe this because polygraphs.
Diana from KS doesn’t believe that Atheists cannot judge morality because they lack an objective moral standard. Appealing to an authoritarian moral framework can be nice because its easy to judge right from wrong, but it doesn’t necessarily align with what might actually be right and what might be wrong in specific situations, especially if no justification is given or justification in the form of faith based threats of punishment.
Ruben from TX doesn’t think it is okay for Atheists to use the Old Testament, specifically verses regarding slavery to argue against modern Christians because apparently slavery was okay back then.
Finally, Kyle from OH views the world as a complex puzzle, and if the pieces weren’t placed in the perfect order and location, then life wouldn’t exist. Therefore there must have been a creator because there needs to be an intelligence capable of solving said puzzle, but only here, not Venus.
We have the dynamic dual of Secular Rarity and Student Doctor Ben for today’s episode of Talk Heathen who will take calls from atheists on subjects that cause us to dig deep for answers.
First caller is Austin in TX who sees a benefit in having a defined difference between atheists and agnostics. What happens when you press people about the labels they assign themselves? We may be having miscommunication when we compare one broad category to a smaller one. It is easy to be charitable when communicating with someone by using the definition that person attributes to their label. You will need to work further into what the person’s label means at some point during the conversation.
Jasmine in Canada would like some opinions on assisted dying. Someone dying of cancer is not going through an easy time and it is hard to understand the amount of pain involved. This is done when the person is able to make the decision themselves. It is important in health care to balance autonomy and beneficence, and oftentimes autonomy takes precedence.
Nate in Ohio sees that many religions require certitude and believing things without evidence by not suspending their disbelief. How does knowing this change the landscape? We don’t know what metric to use that differentiates people who suspend their disbelief and those that don’t. This could be a technique, but we don’t know if this can be accepted as a definition.
Steven in AZ observes a rage that has been released within groups that are driven by fear and different communities have been developed by evolution. What factors have led to this and what has changed from the tribal focus time period to now? How would you determine if we are more altruistic now than we were a long time ago? How do we measure how altruistic one group is over another? We like to hope we are going in that direction, but we just don’t know. The more we ask this question, the more likely we are to make it happen.
Nate in CA has an idea that Jesus was actually a clone of Mary and therefore we have the gender wrong. Even if Jesus had been a clone of Mary, he can still engage as a man and therefore would not change the story. What matters is how a person presents in society, not the assigned gender at birth. Student Doctor Ben is TransJesus.
Brandi in MA who says that altruism and religion do not have anything to do with each other because we have observed altruism with archaic humans. It is always worth remembering that the religious community does not have a stranglehold on being a good person.
Russell in VA is dating a woman who is a member of a church in the Philippines that controls their congregation to extreme levels. Recovering From Religion has trained individuals that can help with these difficult moments.
Thank you for tuning in! We will see you next week!
The Non-Prophets, Episode 21.41 airing Sunday, October 9, 2022 featuring Kelley Laughlin, Phil The Caribbean Skeptic, and August
Temperatures are dropping all over the Northen Hemisphere, but here in The Non-Prophets studio things are heating up! That is because this week’s special guest is Phil the Caribbean Skeptic. He is joined by August, and first time conductor (as far as you know) R Kelley Laughlin. So break out the rum (responsibly) and get ready for an amazing episode! Let’s get into it!
First up, on the Internet Apologist are saying some shit yet again. Seems a pastor in Atlanta wants to teach how you should pray. Now what would you pay for this 4 week intensive course? $10,000? $100,000? A cool $Million!? Well good news you only need to pay $1500! That’s a steal considering it used to be up to $2000! Seriously, can you put a price tag on your immortal soul? Pastor Juantia Bynum dares to say YES! Maybe, I should start my own anti-prayer institute. This would have nothing to do with the new RTX 4090 coming out, I have no idea what you are talking about!
Next up, Remember high school? The endless classes, annoying pep rallies, and assemblies asking you what you are going to do with your life? Well a school in Louisiana decided to hide a religious service in the promise of a college and career fair. Now that seems bad enough, but what they did once the doors were closed was even more disturbing. This conversation gets a bit heated as August and Phil have a great back and forth.
Time to Step in the Right Direction with Cuba? In Cuba love rules as gay marriage is legal. Not just some court decision like in the US. It is codified law! Our panel congratulates Cuba on being so open and explores a little of their history in Pride. They are also allowing adoptions and expanded women’s rights! Now we are not saying you should escape to Cuba as a way to get personal freedoms, but this was a great step and hope to see more of it around the world!
Lastly, what happens when you mix faith with science? If you watch any shows on the Atheist Experience Network of shows you know there tends to be a lot of goal post moving. We see a little of that in our last article about the images that are coming back from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). Trying to find meaning and context with faith through beautiful images. Don’t get us wrong, the images coming from JWST are beautiful and amazing. The data we get back can push our understanding of our universe further than we thought possible. Don’t need a 2000 year old book for that!
[02:50] Segment 1: Shit Internet Apologist Say: We Thought Jesus Paid It All? Pastor Juanita Bynum Defends Her $1,500 Prayer Course/ Blavity/ Sep 21, 2022/ By Matie Bowser
https://bit.ly/3rAEV2u
One Of the Reasons People Have Lost Faith in the Church: Pastor Juanita Bynum Faces Scrutiny After Revealing She is Charging $1499 for a Month Long Prayer Course/ Atlanta Black Star/ Sep 24, 2022/ By Diamond Jeune
https://bit.ly/3CkG6Ip
[21:29] Segment 2: Students Say They Were ‘Duped’ Into Attending Twisted Religious Event/ Daily Beast/ Sep 24, 2022/ By Kate Briquelet
https://yhoo.it/3T4WZxj
[46:13] Segment 3: Step in the Right Direction: Cubans approve gay marriage by large margin in referendum/ Reuters/September 27, 2022/ By Marc Franc
https://reut.rs/3yo2U8O
[1:07:37] Segment 4: Faith: The wonders of a telescope and our search for meaning connect us/ Austin American - Statesman/ Sep 20, 2022/ By Shakeel Rashed
https://bit.ly/3SMVHqU
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Hello again Truth Wanters! This week, Erin is joined by Rion of TikTok fame, host of Skeptic Haven and owner of many plants! Erin and Rion talk about their deconversion process before we move on to your calls.
This week’s Patron of the Week is Maxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxwell Carlisle! You wanted the X emphasized Max, careful what you wish for! May a thousand bad Vin Diesel movies haunt your dreams!
First up is Mr. Enigma, who’s emerged from under his bridge to ask a series of silly questions. Dogs, genies, spirits… perhaps too much of another kind of spirits are involved here? Erin tries to parse this caller and his claims of a visit to heaven, but we’re not getting anywhere. Cool story bro.
Next is Thomas, who thinks dried up rivers caused by climate change are evidence of the truth of Biblical prophecy. Our hosts point out that lots of rivers go dry, and counting the hits while ignoring the misses is a terrible road to truth. Thomas throws out a few weak examples of prophecy correlating to reality, but let’s face it, make enough predictions and a few are bound to pan out. We’re not convinced.
Jamie’s in Texas, and he’s fed up with the constant failed prophecies of the end times. Human hardships are pretty damned common, and connecting the yarn to the latest pushpin doesn’t prove a thing. Both our hosts agree that correlation isn’t causation, and calamity is a recurrent part of our experience here on Earth.
Finally it’s Lake, he’s wondering about the plum pudding model of atomic composition, and how our modern understanding is more analogous to the structure of our solar system. Our hosts agree that lots of things in nature look alike, but similitude doesn’t equate to divinity
That’s a wrap for this week folks, we’ll see you next time!
Welcome back to the show! In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Matt Dillahunty is joined by Jim Barrows!
Mr. Warlights from AK starts off the show by accusing Matt of secretly believing in spirits because Matt is just a normal human like the rest of us, and regular humans all believe in spirits. You know, as opposed to all of the not regular humans who don’t?
Next is Isaiah from Korea who is calling to talk about the parental reaction to deconversion, or not sharing the religion of their parents, and why some parents react so harshly compared to others.
Kevin from CA is convinced that a God exists because they encountered portal spirits who showed them a plane of existence that mirrors our own reality.
JB from CO calls in to present problems they see with any reliance on naturalism regarding answering questions about our perceived reality.
Next up is Jeremy from Fl who asks our hosts if a coincidence would ever be enough to convince our hosts that there is a god or supernatural power controlling the universe.
Darius from CA claims to have an argument that will prove that no one really believes that a God exists. Care to explain how you managed to get into every person’s head?
Paul from PA doesn’t understand why Atheists get to ask Theists for evidence supporting their beliefs, but Theists can’t do the same for Atheists. Effectively, why don’t Atheists have a burden of proof?
Chris from Sweden proposes the Hitchens razor, “what can be asserted without evidence can also be dismissed without evidence,” and attempts to nullify it with a weird example of Matt questioning his mother about who his father is.
Phillip from PA asks how someone would be able to discern the universe of some cosmic being sending you a message, or just something fabricated by your own mind.
In today’s episode of Talk Heathen, Katy Montgomerie and Secular Rarity will sort through callers as Katy drops us some fun lichen facts.
First caller is D in DC who is wondering about the distinction between religion, deism, and theism when it comes to ecological circumstances. There could be a cultural practice linked with religion such as vegetarianism that can help. Having a ritualistic set of practices can have its benefits, but what happens if people decide to stop doing these things? Will ecologically beneficial religious practices be harmful in 1,000 years? Employ critical thinking to help guide that process.
Next is Thomas in Canada who states that not having a belief in Jesus leads to murder. Do Christians murder and if so, were they just not real Christians? If we start throwing rules down on what makes an actual Christian, how many Christians will we have left? How does not knowing if you are going to heaven or hell have anything to do with your current state of belief? If someone isn’t a Christian if they sin, and everyone sins, does that mean that no one is a Christian? This is a textbook No True Scotsman fallacy.
Patrick in FL is curious about what Dawkins means by Pantheism being sexed-up atheism. When someone describes god as literally everything, it can be agreed that everything exists but to call it god is just a word game. With this definition, at the end of the day, god is indistinguishable from reality. How have you demonstrated to yourself that the universe is conscious? Even if you have, we would just have one new fact.
Jasmine in Canada has some thoughts about atheists perceiving other atheists negatively. Some atheists will carry their arrogance to other domains just because they might be right about some things. Atheists can appear to be the only one that has a problem with something when in the minority, and there are also atheists that are just dickheads. Just being an atheist can put you in a position where you can’t really live, while not affecting Christians. It does not matter what the label is and there is no sense in being worried where you land. It is okay to be apathetic and not care about what you call yourself.
Tom in MI says that as a critical thinker, he uses Greek history as proof of the existence of gods. What is your definition of existing? Where does your god sit on this definition? What is the correspondence of ancient beliefs and the world we live in now? If people in the past thought something was real, does that make it real? We remain unconvinced of Zeus and Poseidon.
Thank you for tuning into today’s show, remember to thank the essential workers and turn us on next time for more of Katy’s facts!
The Non-Prophets, Episode 21.40 airing Sunday, October 2, 2022 featuring Secular Rarity, Neil the 604 Atheist, Kelley Laughlin and Scott Dickie
First up, you know your racist uncle who will stop at nothing to ruin Thanksgiving? Well it seems him and a majority of Republicans support calling the United States a Christian nation. This is not surprising. With the article of last week saying Christians will “soon” be in a minority, and science gaining ground, it tracks that Christians are feeling more persecuted than ever before. So can’t wait to hear about how they are losing while drinking out of their holiday cups in a few more weeks…
Next up, we take a look in a book, but reading rainbow is a little different these days. One of the headlines we have been tracking over the past few months are all the book bans going on. We have also seen good old fashioned book burnings. Seems no one has told the older generations about e-books, tablets, or phones. While making it difficult for people (eg someone please think of the children!) to gain information is terrible. It seems that someone forgot to tell these banners that PDFs exist. You know if they just ban the internet for themselves they can set up their own echo chamber and we can all go on with our lives. One can dream.
Mooving on. Two cow segments in as many weeks? Well this one is more about the end of days this time around. You see, five red heifers have been brought to Israel as a sign that temples should be rebuilt, or descend from the heavens, or something. I mean it’s like prophesy right? Its not like someone could read Numbers 19:2 and totally say that is a sure way to know The Bible is real. I mean fulfilling prophesy from well known materials would just be silly and could never be proof. Right?
Lastly, why are atheist numbers growing all over the world? Researchers set out to study that very phenomenon. Could it be that a book that is full of contradictions and doesn’t account for things that actually happened is no longer believable? Is it the hyper woke media elite really controlling the youth through memes and the tick tocks (sic)? Maybe the aptly named “Kinda obvious if you think about it” study will shed light onto what is going on. Solid Rick and Morty reference!
Well that about does it for this week. Again to our friends and family affected by hurricane Ian, please stay safe as you pick up the pieces that storm has left behind. We want to see you back here for even more episodes!
Segment 1: Most Republicans Support Declaring the United States a Christian Nation By Stella Rouse and Shibley Telhami September 21,2022
https://politi.co/3UT7uFL
Segment 2: Book bans reflect outdated beliefs about how children read The Conversation By Trisha Tucker September 20, 2022
https://bit.ly/3dVaiBI Segment 3: (Strange But True) Does the arrival of five red heifers in Israel signal the third temple, end times? By Nicole Jansezian September 17, 2022
https://bit.ly/3CnYyRj
Segment 4: Researchers to explore why atheism is growing across the world By Queen’s University Belfast September 21,2022
https://bit.ly/3LZllGh
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We welcome your comments on the thread for this show. ► http://tiny.cc/fbnp ► Contact us with questions or news stories at: nonprophets@atheist-community.org
Oooh, it’s Friday, it’s 5pm in Texas, and today, Dan is joined by perhaps the only educator that could possibly drag me back into a classroom, it’s Richard Firth-Godbehere, on loan from the Non-Prophets! Dan and the good doctor discuss his work and his book before we start taking your calls.
Our Patron of the Week this week is Katie Stewart! Thanks for the support Katie, even if you do eat bugs for breakfast!
From the Great White North comes Jasmine! In the vein of our discussion of emotion thus far, she wants to talk about how religions use fear and hell. Dan and Rich talk about why the concept of hell doesn’t make logical sense, but let’s be real, emotions don’t always have to. Our hosts discuss the pitfalls of letting go of indoctrination, and remind Jasmine that it’s ok to be scared of something you know isn’t real!
Another Canadian? You betcha! Daniel’s back! Diving back in, Daniel alleges that the NASA interactive camera tool that allowed users to pan around the Martian landscape seems to now omit the section that showed the evidence for Martian insectoids. Our hosts are skeptical that NASA would allow and subsequently delete evidence of alien life, past government gaffes notwithstanding, paredolia still seems a more likely explanation.
Next up is Coyote Boy, love the name! He asks Rich to quantify what “counts” as a discrete emotion, and Rich talks about how our understanding is still evolving. This is right down the good Doctor’s alley, and we get a crash course on his life’s work.
Jamie’s in Texas, who offers circumcision as a great example of how church/state separation can come into conflict with personal freedoms. Dan offers his opinion on navigating these tricky waters, and Richard points out that consent is what’s important here. A JW can refuse a blood transfusion, an infant can’t refuse genital mutilation.
That’s the show this week folks! Join us next time, and keep wanting the truth!
Westworld, Spencer Gifts and possibly even the secret ‘robot brothel’ down the street all evidence the same thing- humans are lowkey obsessed with putting their dicks into things. Plastic, silicone and rubber may be some of our favorites for obvious reasons, but why does it need a face? While psychologists, evolutionary biologists and pearl clutching Karen’s may never find the answer Doll Master Ricky Adames is here to shed some light on the soft silicone world of sex dolls. Catch the conversation and find out what’s turning on the Doll Master plus your calls and questions on this week’s SecX!
► Learn more and find what’s turning us on at https://www.vcatx.com/media/dolls
Welcome back to the show! In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Matt Dillahunty is joined by Andrew Seidel!
Dustin from TX is calling to ask Matt what his stance is on the claim that they “choose to believe” in a God. How can you choose to be convinced? You either are or you aren't.
Next is Jaime from the audience who was called something unfortunate after stating they were an agnostic, and are curious if agnosticism really is just sitting on the fence.
Thomas from KY is calling to ask how Christianity is attempting to weaponize the religious freedom outlined in the first amendment within US legislation.
Pedro from Ireland has an argument for God that requires God to be undeniable and necessary. What a great, absolutely unhelpful definition.
Next is Mark from AL who claims to have an answer to the question of divine hiddenness.
Next is Seth from TX who asks for the legal standing on the more creative, rebellious signs being donated in response to the “In God We Trust” signage law.
Peter from Canada claims to have irrefutable evidence. Apparently evidence = Gish gallop. This call feels as chaotic as the Mt. Saint Helens eruption.
Patrick from NY believed in a God because they believe they have experienced answered prayers.
Trent from OH is wondering if one of the driving forces behind many religions is death denial, or at least serves as an attempt to add meaning to life when there may not be one.
Today we have ObjectivelyDan with one of the original hosts of Talk Heathen, the one and only Jamie Boone! The calm humor has melted into the live studio!
R.A.O. from WY wants to talk simulation theory and how our minds exist outside the digital reality. Why would a simulation be self-aware? Why do equations and similarities lead to the conclusion that we are living in a simulation? Just because we use similar language to describe different things, doesn't mean these things are the same as each other.
Next is Rick from Canada who wants to talk about Christian morality and the Bible. He defends genocide in the Bible by comparing it to defending one’s home. If you had the power of god, would you use violence or would you choose something more humane? Why didn’t god defend his people with miracles instead of ordering genocide? If you are going to make assumptions on the host’s positions, it helps to do some research first.
Sunflower in WA who as an ex-Mormon wants to talk about religious trauma and cognitive dissonance. There is this feeling of believing in god, but also not believing in god. It is totally normal to still believe things that are not totally rational when you grow up with this way of thinking. “Apatheist” can be a helpful label to use, where one does not care if or not god exists. You are not alone by feeling that this messes with your psyche. As you come up with things that make sense during this process, don’t let people gaslight you.
An audience member questions the host about the very obvious violation of church and state, “In God We Trust '' sign law in Texas. Jamie has some mischievous ideas about how to deal with it.
Jamie in TX wants the hosts to talk about how to deal with the emotional and mental stresses of dealing with what is thrown at them. The hosts try to have the conversations that other people wished they had. The desire to help others and explain things gets them through it. Jamie will say things driving alone in the car whether than say those things to loved ones. Dan wants to be sure people are heard, and not belittled.
Patrick in FL takes a position that praying to the pool god is helpful when playing billiards. This god is better than the one who made a woman out of a man’s rib. You are going to need to add some stuff to your religion, and what good is it if you are not going to fight the other religions?
Thank you for joining us both in person and online! Please remember the essential workers and we will see you next week.
The Non-Prophets, Episode 21.39 airing Sunday, September 25, 2022 featuring Cynthia, Cindy Plaza, Josh and Nate Smith.
This week we for you Nate Smith reprising his conducting skills. He is joined with Cindy Plaza, Josh Entner, and Cynthia McDonald. With lots of blood,sweat, and tears, let’s into the articles.
First up, Yee haw down to the Lone Star state where I am sure everything is progressing just fine, right? Hmm, a judge is blocking preventive HIV medication? On religious grounds? But, why? This one is deeply rooted for many of our hosts due to professional and personal reasons. Personal as this decision seems it is targeted on the LGBT community. The funny thing is that the actual numbers of new HIV cases doesn’t support what they think it will do. This will make it much harder on caregivers deep in the heart of Texas.
Up next, Holy Cow Batman! Seems like a sickness is mooving through the cattle population in India! It is a disease that in other countries would be stopped in its hooves by culling the cows and having a massive burger BBQ [citation needed] (do not try this at home). There is just one little problem within India. That has to do with cows being sacred by the Hindu faith. This highly contagious disease is costing India billions. So our Non-Prophets come up with a little suggestion. However, it’s not very likely India is going to change their faith any time soon. Guess we can’t have these cows man!
Well while we are jumping all over the world let’s check in with the Big Sky Country state of Montana! This was originally going to be a Step in the Right Direction. Then lawmakers got into the mix and well everything started to get messy. You see, one of the many obstacles trans people have is their birth certificate. A judge thought it was cool for transpeople to make that change, but hours later the state said nuh-uh! So a back and forth fight is on the way while people who just want to live their lives hang in the balance.
Lastly, we got a question for you. What are you doing in 2070? Well according to pew research what you won’t be doing is praying to the Christian god. That is the predicted turning point where the Christian population will fall below 50%. Our Non-Prophets are a little divided on this. Some think Christianity is going to fall faster, others think we are 100 years or more away from that turning point. Let’s ask Punxsutawney Phil. If he sees Christ’s shadow we will have another 2000 years of Christianity, if now secularism is just around the corner!
Segment 1: Government can't mandate coverage for drugs that prevent HIV infections, Texas federal judge rules: September 7, 2022 By Benjamin Ryan and Corky Siemaszko (Cynthia Leads)
https://nbcnews.to/3C3tjem
Segment 2: When Sick Cows Can’t Be Culled: India’s Battle With Brucellosis By Sandy Ong
https://bit.ly/3LGUjUb
Segment 3: SITRD: Montana defies judge’s order on transgender birth certificates Associated Press September 15, 2022
https://bit.ly/3BA8mGg
Segment 4: The future of American religion? Christians will finally be in the minority Only Sky September 13, 2022 By Hemant Mehta
https://bit.ly/3BIXYMu
U.S. Christians projected to fall below 50% of population if recent trends continue Pew Research September 8, 2022
https://pewrsr.ch/3UAGxqc
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We welcome your comments on the thread for this show. ► http://tiny.cc/fbnp ► Contact us with questions or news stories at: nonprophets@atheist-community.org
Welcome back to Truth Wanted folks! This week, back by popular demand, is Jon the Skeptick! He’ll also be joined by some Dan guy who wandered in off the street. Dan and Jon chat about horoscopes and other kinds of charlatanry before we move on to your calls.
This week’s Patron of the Week is I Heart Dogs! Clearly a Saggitarius, who are known for their generosity. Or something.
We’ll open the show with Nevyn, whose friends describe him as a conspiracy theorist. He’s just asking questions! In this case, those questions are about the moon landing, and some missing answers. Jon points out that missing answers doesn’t mean the Apollo missions were faked, and Dan doesn’t think a Youtube video is very convincing. This is an interesting example of a credulous caller with an argument from incredulity.
Jamie’s calling in from Texas with an observation about how the United States’ veneration of concepts like freedom and liberty may be a roadblock to having universal healthcare. We’ll listen to two Brits dunk on the myth of American exceptionalism for a few minutes before a REAL American chimes in… and agrees. The ghost of Senator McCarthy is coming for you, Dan!
Our third caller is Greg, he downloaded a phone app that talks to ghosts. Testing whether the app actually communicates with the spirits of the dead, he got some responses that were eerily relevant, and saw a ghost “tour guide” use dowsing rods. Jon gives us a demonstration of his magical ability, but Dan rains on this parade by suggesting that ideomotor movement is a more likely explanation. We all agree that stories are cool, but they’re just that.
Finally we have Daniel in Canada, and he’s convinced that some alien abductions are real and that the government is hiding the evidence. Our hosts quiz Daniel on what he believes and offer some good reasons to be skeptical of claims, as well as a few examples of what might convince them. We finally get to the good part when Daniel claims NASA has footage of insectoids on Mars using tools. Sadly, we lose Daniel when his connection is sabotaged by a Martian insect with an adorable tiny pickaxe.
What a way to end the show! We’ll see you all next week, truth seekers!
There’s a lot of literature in the world about how to come out to your parents, but what about your barista? Is it important that your bus driver truly understand your gender identity or that the coat check recognize that you’re not husband and wife but owner and pet? How do we know how, when or especially how often we’re meant to ‘come out?’ Kara and Sinn join Christy in a roundtable discussion on the micro-interactions, disclosures and aggressions that come with being out and proud in an increasingly complex world. All that, your calls and questions and of course what’s turning us on this week on SecX!
Learn more and find what’s turning us on at https://www.vcatx.com/media/tag/Secular+Sexuality
Secular Sexuality show is LIVE every Thursday from 7:00 to 8:30pm Central Time
Welcome back to the show! In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Shannon Q is joined by Dave Warnock!
First up is Philip from Canada who is calling to answer this weeks poll question “Is the Holy Spirit something that is experienced outside the brain?” Why did God reveal himself to you and save you from overdose and abandoned others in your same situation.
Next is Michael from KY who claims to have evidence for the existence of God which is apparently hidden in the “Book of Eli” with Denzel Washington, no doubt hidden in the secret number code Michael was transmitting throughout the call. Also Michael is God–the caller, not the Archangel.
Next is Steven from AZ who brings up their experience of wanting to return to religion after suffering a near-death experience, and is wondering if the hosts have any experiences of their own or advice for dealing with this pull?
Robin from DC is going to overturn our trailer for the show with a transcendental argument for the existence of God. God’s revelation to everyone supports premise one for the argument that God exists. This sounds like an elliptical argument at best.
Kelly from CA is calling to present an argument for the existence of God through an appeal to the physical, aka an argument from contingency.
Zeleni from Europe continues the conversation of the previous call to pose the question if it is even possible for God to have the trait of pure benevolence. Thank you for calling!
In today’s episode of Talk Heathen, Secular Rarity and Student Doctor Ben work through caller claims of biblical truth, prophetic dreams, music causing faith, and the third eye.
Charles in FL is our first caller who believes that the Bible is infallible and has never been proven wrong. Tell the police officer behind you to be cool because you are on a live call in a show. Is the mustard seed the smallest seed in the world? Is what is true in biology going to be true years from now? Did gravity not exist before we knew about it? Did your omnipotent god know about the things that we did not know about at the time the Bible was written? Incorrect information is still false regardless of what we know about it at the time something was written.
Heath in Canada has prophetic dreams and wants to know about the brain squirting chemicals at the right time. Brains are highly susceptible to patterns and our brain tends to jump on to these things. Information can bypass your short term memory and go to your long term memory without your awareness. We make brain shortcuts based on our experience, and this is sometimes referred to as intuition.
Deirdre in NJ was an atheist but then heard a piece of music that awoke something in her that led her back to a faith that god is real. If there is no other reason than a claim, is that when we should accept the claim? When something is true, it is not a subjective thing. If it is true to SR, that a carrot fueled flying Ferrari with a talking dog exists, does that make it true? Is it possible to have a false belief that impacts you in a positive way? How can you possibly believe in something that has no attributes and is not defined?
Rick in Canada would like to talk about the third eye on the prefrontal cortex that all religions mention, and this is what separates us from animals. Can we believe everything we see on YouTube and is this a good source of information? How would we determine what is more or less valuable information? Is there any value in peer reviewed academic studies? Sources are usually listed in the description of the video so a citation can be verified.
Patrick in FL wants to know if atheism is more comfortable than theism. It doesn’t really matter because it may be more comforting to believe in a lot of things that are not true. Does comfort matter as much as truth? Can comfort be found in true knowledge?
Thank you everyone for tuning in and remember to support the essential workers!
The Non-Prophets, Episode 21.38 airing Sunday, 09-18-2022 featuring Cynthia, Phoebe Rose, and Malty.
First up, the bans on abortions are still marching forward. So are the people trying to defend rights to choose. Even those who are not exactly heroes of abortions are joining in saying the total bans are way too extreme. Not even carve outs for rape or incest are safe. Is this going to fracture the issue and cause battle lines to be drawn in each party? Hard to say. Maybe the enemy of my enemy of their enemy of your enemy can pull themselves out of their own backside to do something? What a mess.
Next up! Shhhhh if you listen closely you can hear exactly what agendas are being proposed. Just kidding you don’t have to be quiet at all because Dalton Clodfelter sure isn’t. He has become the latest in a ever growing list of shit sayers, saying the quiet things very loud indeed. It is to the point he wants to arrest with everyone who doesn’t think the say way he does. What does this list include? Well, let’s just say that if he got his wish, over 75% of the country will be behind bars.
Ok now let’s all open up our non-existent books to page 69 and read how some activists want to ban books that are not even on the shelves of libraries. Are we still talking about school libraries where we need to think of the children? Nope. So what gives? It seems that some titles are so very scary that people want to ban them before libraries are even able to stock them. You know, the ban on books seems so silly when PDFs exist.
Finally, get out your debunking tools it seems Christian Nationalists are trying once again to say the United States is a Christian nation. Claims of scripture being all throughout the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution keep failing. When pressed no one can cite the passage in either document in reference to The Bible. Yet this claim persists. Come on, show me where in The Bible it says We The People!
Segment 1: SC GOP Congresswomen: Ban Most Abortions The GOP lawmaker who condemned an extreme anti-abortion bill isn’t a hero OnlySky | Hemant Mehta | Sept. 8, 2022 https://bit.ly/3Dw6WPO Female SC senators blast abortion ban bill’s lack of exceptions in male-dominated chamber The State | BY MAAYAN SCHECHTER | Sept. 7, 2022 https://bit.ly/3qIUynY
Segment 2: Once We Take Control ‘Once We Take Control’: Dalton Clodfelter Lays Out His Christian Fascist Agenda Right Wing Watch | By Kyle Mantyla | August 22, 2022 https://bit.ly/3BLFMmG
Segment 3: A Preemptive Book Banning Conservative activists want to ban 400 books from a library — but they aren't even on shelves NBC news | By Tyler Kingkade | Aug. 23, 2022 https://nbcnews.to/3eYTzgI
Segment 4: Debunking Christian Nationalists ‘Their Failure to Consider the Bible Relevant’: Debunking Christian Nationalists’ Favorite Claim About the Founding Era Right Wing Watch | By Kyle Mantyla | August 30 https://bit.ly/3SeXULo
Don't like ads? Consider becoming a patron for commercial-free episodes: http://tiny.cc/patreonnp We welcome your comments on the thread for this show. ► http://tiny.cc/fbnp ► Contact us with questions or news stories at: nonprophets@atheist-community.org
Ehhhh what’s up Doc? This week on Truth Wanted we’ve assembled our crack medical team to dissect… ugh… Matt Walsh’s “What is a Woman?” Oh boy, this is going to be a wild ride. MD and Ben chat about quack medicine before destroying this piece of transphobic garbage.
This week’s Patron of the Week is I Heart Dogs. May you never have to explain the difference between sex and gender to Matt Walsh in a busy nightclub. Also, we at the ACA also heart dogs. And cats. And cockatiels.
Our first caller once visited a psychic eye surgeon? I didn’t see that coming! After experiencing visual anomalies due to a tricky retinal dysfunction, in desperation, Jamie reached out to a wish doctor. Our hosts discuss the preposterous charlatanry that is psychic healing, MD squeezes in a James Randi reference, and Ben reflects on the ethics of using the placebo effect in medical practice.
One-Eyed Heathen is next, they’re a reformed Reiki practitioner who’s come around to a rational approach to health care. MD tries to drill down on the actual practice of this… cough cough… technique… but the actual processes of Reiki are just as nebulous as the perceived benefits. Ben points out that human touch therapy has demonstrated benefits, and doesn’t require magic to work.
Next, we have Gerard calling in about the value of fetuses. Yes, it’s an abortion call, bear with us. MD quizzes our caller on the “ends justify the means” aspect of this ethical question, and Ben points out that even surgery is a calculated risk that can cause short-term harm for long-term benefit. We chat about subjective morality and what the word “value” really means to Gerard before moving on.
Our final caller in Canada believes that COVID misinformation comes mainly from the conservative side of the spectrum. Well, yeah, tell us something we don’t know! Poor reasoning in political views bleed into poor reasoning in other aspects of the human condition. We get into the self-declared Queen of Canada, who, to no surprise, is an anti-vaxxer before wrapping up.
That's all folks! Join us next week, and make sure to answer the survey questions for the upcoming holiday special!
Whether you’re a thinking atheist or a wayward christian daring to doubt you’ve unquestionably been impacted by purity culture. Even if you managed to never wear a promise ring or join the moral majority your rights and relationships have no doubt been damaged by the rule of the religious right. Seth Andrews and Alice Greczyn are no strangers to a secular sexuality or skeptical worldview and invite Christy and us to imagine a freer world. All that plus what’s turning us on this week with Seth, Alice and Christy on SecX!
Learn more and find what’s turning us on at https://www.vcatx.com/media/tag/Secular+Sexuality
Sexuality show is LIVE every Thursday from 7:00 to 8:30pm Central Time.
In today’s episode of Talk Heathen Johnny Angel is joined by Secular Rarity who will draw strength from callers who give us their prophecies and reasons why Biblical prophecies are fulfilled.
First caller is Patrick in FL who feels that being agnostic is the default position, with Taoism and Pantheism being plausible options. What makes one god more plausible than another? As limited beings there has not been enough evidence to convince us of any god, flying camels, or pixies. Currently there is too much junk to get through before we can even accept god claims. We are not making the claim that no evidence exists, we just have not observed it. Not accepting a claim could be a hard or soft stance.
Rick from Canada is next, who argues Biblical prophecies are being fulfilled. He uses the example of Jesus quoting Psalm 22 when he was on the cross and the last supper. Did the gospel writers have access to Jewish tradition when these things were written? It is not until we go towards the future that it is a prophecy. Look for scholars that cover the same material of interest that have different perspectives. Is there a prophecy that is not self-referenced in the Bible? Has god’s word reached all corners of the earth and will the end times be a rapid roll out as a result?
Xeno in South Korea argues that god is an abstract entity instead of the folklore of a bearded man, and asks if it is possible to be outside of an infinite regress that was created. Do you believe in something that you can’t define the properties of? There is a big difference between dark matter, an actual thing, and an all knowing god that makes decisions and cares who you have sex with. If you do not have a way of defining the god entity, then how do you know it is true? If we used the word “unicorns” instead of god, how would that change things? When is it time to believe something is true?
Vivian in ND would like to know how to talk with her friend, a believer who is progressive. When asking the “why” question, get specific. Showing fallacies may not go over particularly well, but having some rivalry might. Respectfully push back with curiosity in your conversations.
Thank you for tuning in and remember to support our essential workers! Be respectful to the people out there who must be exposed.
The Non-Prophets, Episode 21.37 airing Sunday, 09-11-2022 featuring Jason Sherwood, Pseudonymousaurus Rex, Teo el Ateo and Kelley Laughlin.
What an interesting show from the past we have for you this week. You see we sometimes record an episode and keep it in the vault on the off chance that something happens and we cannot get a show out to you. Now not to worry nothing happened this week, but we do want to air out the vault just to keep things somewhat fresh. So that is what we got for you this week. From the way back in the day of June we present to you R Kelley Laughlin, Mateo Montero, Pseudonymousaurus Rex, and I am conducting! So let’s get into it!
First up, we talk about New York passing a secular addiction recovery bill. This bill allows tax payer money to go toward secular recovery options as well as the old school and hidden Christian indoc… I mean program of Alcoholics Anonymous! To be clear we don’t just bash on AA and Kelley has a few things to say on it, but we still see this as a Step In The Right Direction. No Cynthia though. I wonder if anyone is going to step up and sing it for her?
Continuing on the mental health care note, we look into some of the religious barriers for people getting help. These barriers might be stigma or as means of a religion to control its people. Seriously though if you need help you should get help. If anyone is telling you that you don’t and you still are feeling it. GET HELP!
Next up, let’s all take a trip over to India. Well maybe not all of us. Actually, it might be getting concerning for any of us. You see a historically secular government is taking a drastic turn toward Hinduism. Right now they seem to be focusing all their xenophobia on Muslims who stayed on the India side after the Partition. However, they are also trying to take rights away from anyone who isn’t Hindu. So at least the United States isn’t the only one going to a Theocracy?
Lastly, do we have some new evidence that proves old evolution ideas? Well, maybe. There was a discredited idea from the 1800s that is getting a new lease thanks to some new discoveries. They haven’t been fully proven yet so we are still going on the tried and true Theory of Evolution by means of Natural Selection. We discuss a bit about what that means and then congratulate science in making better science. We also show that The Bible still fails to disprove science. Don’t worry theists, I am sure someone will find a challenge to evolution in the Bible. NOT!
Segment 1: Step in the Right Direction: FFRF lauds passage of New York’s secular addiction recovery bill FfRF June 2, 2022 https://ffrf.org/news/news-releases/i... Keep health care safe and secular Center for Inquiry https://centerforinquiry.org/campaign... New York Senate Bill S6183A https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/...
Segment 2: Religious Barriers to Mental Healthcare The American Journal of Psychiatry, Emine Rabia Ayvaci, M.D. April 19, 2017 https://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/doi/...
Segment 3: The Hinduization of India is Nearly Complete https://www.theatlantic.com/internati...
Segment 4: Will new scientific evidence shake up theories about evolution? https://onlysky.media/jpearce/new-evi...
Don't like ads? Consider becoming a patron for commercial-free episodes: http://tiny.cc/patreonnp We welcome your comments on the thread for this show. ► http://tiny.cc/fbnp ► Contact us with questions or news stories at: nonprophets@atheist-community.org
Do you remember that summer, at least a couple of years, maybe even decades ago, when your body was full of hormones and you couldn’t help but want to fall in love with, kiss or even just rub up against every beautiful person and/or inanimate object you came upon? Just me? How about more recently, when all of the religious lies started to fall apart or the call towards the wild side got loud enough to drown out the priests, and suddenly a whole new world of options came available? Well Jason Friedman remembers and returns to the show for a conversation with Nate and Christy about what’s turning us on. then and now. Second puberty and post-deconstruction re-awakenings, your calls and questions and a whole lot more on SecX!
► Learn more and find what’s turning us on at https://www.vcatx.com/media/tag/Secular+Sexuality
Secular Sexuality show is LIVE every Thursday from 7:00 to 8:30pm Central Time.
Welcome back to the show! In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Matt Dillahunty is joined by Jmike!
First up is Tyler from TX who is an Atheist who is calling to explain the better reason for why God condones slavery in the bible. But why tho?
Next up is Aaron from IL who believes that Catholicism is absolutely factual and their God is the one true God. The caller is very adamant in telling us what they believe but is incapable of actually explaining why they believe.
MacGruber from Canada is calling to present a presuppositional argument to demonstrate that God has revealed the truth of Revelations to all of us.
Next is Erik from MI who experienced something they can’t explain, but doesn’t want to label as supernatural. The caller wants advice on how to go about determining the cause of said experience.
Next up is Kevin from Canada who is a former Christian who has now transitioned to Daoism. The caller mentions that Daoists didn’t have a problem with him when we were Christian, which begs the question, does Daoism care about the truth of one’s beliefs?
James from NM is struggling with family after the death of their brother. The caller is an Atheist but their immediate family is fundamentalist and is threatening the caller’s well-being and assistance with alcoholism if the caller doesn’t participate in their fundamentalist rituals.
Kyle from TX recently discovered the subject of synesthesia and is curious if it has anything to do with certain individuals having the ability to see auras.
In today’s episode of Talk Heathen, Student Doctor Ben is joined by Katy Mongomerie who will challenge creationists to refute crab facts and evolution, talk about trans brains, energy, and hateful atheists.
First up is Humanist Reformation in OR who is going to use the bible to disprove the bible. God made some predictions and prophecies that never came true. Look at Matthew 23 and think through what, “this generation” means. If your religion has room for interpretation, how do you know that your version is the correct one?
Eli in VA describes a link between the brain chemistry of trans people and the affirmed gender. He asks how this translates into cultures that don’t hold the strict views of gender that we have here in the U.S. Gender identity is something that develops as a part of the brain or person very much the same way that left handedness does. Trans people are largely composed of nature parts, and it is more complicated than the binary brain model. Some of it is sexual bimorphism. With some parts of the brain you will find that trans men and women are like cis of the affirmed gender. We know that conversion therapy does not work even through torture and that the overlap between male and female brains is so tight that there is very little difference. This is still only 1% of what the hosts wanted to say.
Rick from Canada defines energy as something that is all around us, comes in many different forms, is eternal, created the big bang, and that the only thing certain in the beginning was energy. We don’t know if energy has always existed or was created by a divine being. An afterlife is a separate claim. Why should this concern us? Just because that energy exists, does not mean that there is awareness. Energy is the capacity to do work, not consciousness. We can detect energy, but how can we measure a soul? If energy cannot be created or destroyed, and if souls are energy, then where do the new souls come from? Why do we need to take the Bible's word for what a soul or energy is?
Hayley in DE observed atheists being loud and hateful when she was growing up (particularly one person) and now views them as the cause of all sorts of discourse and rancor throughout history. Have you encountered enough atheists to know this? It is very easy to draw conclusions from patterns that we perceive to be there. Were these atheists already not nice people, or is it the atheism that caused them to be less kind? Sometimes you can see these same patterns in politics, sports, and other examples in our society. Try and make friends with an atheist, find common ground, and you will find that some of them are okay.
Thank you for tuning in this week! Remember to check out our other shows and stay safe!
The Non-Prophets, Episode 21.36 airing Sunday, 08-28-2022 featuring Cynthia McDonald, August, Phoebe Rose and Cindy Plaza
We have fun with this episode as we explore the main theme of Jesus Pimpin’ Pimpin!
So let’s just jump right into it!
First up! We have a Sh!t Internet Apologists Say where a Missouri pastor says his congregation is poor, broke, and busted. Why does he say this? Well because they just won’t buy him a Movado watch! You know Kenneth Copeland knows his congregation loves him because of his quite large fleet of jets! Honestly, I was happy with my faux-mega watch I bought from a folding table one time…
Next up, we Step in the Right Direction because Virginia just approved Gender dysphoria care is now covered by disability law! This is a great move seeing that Virginia is a quantum political experiment existing in both conservative and liberal spaces and only breaks down when you try to observe it. Can this, will this be a model for other states to build up other laws? Only time, and your vote will say for sure!
Now, ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FUTBOL! Oh wait, not NFL? Dang, and I was so hoping I got that sportsball reference right. Unfortunately, this is about Soccer (or what the rest of the world calls football) and the World Cup missing the GOOOOOOAAAALLLLLLL…. A gay man from Uatar is sounding the alarm about LGBT oppression and I am sure FIFA is going to handle this controversy with swift action and dignity to all as they are known to do right?
(crickets)…
damnit
Lastly, what goes around comes around. Remember how Texas (and a few other states) want to ban books that have questionable content that parents don’t want their children exposed to? Well it seems that a Florida activist was able to use their own policy against then and got Bibles pulled from school libraries. Some thing this is a great idea, others think this would still do harm, others think this is funny as hell. No mater where you stand on this issue, just know knowledge is power.
Now if you excuse me I need to put on my big purple velvet coat, lace up my platform shoes with goldfish residing in them, the shine up my pinkie rings because it’s time to head out into town and shout to the churches, “B!tch better have my tithing!” See you next week!
Segment 1: Shit Internet Apologist Say: Missouri pastor says congregation is ‘poor, broke, busted’ for not buying him a luxury Movado watch - Cynthia Leads
https://nbcnews.to/3BbnMC5
https://bit.ly/3KJjhSa
Segment 2: Step In the Right Direction: Gender dysphoria covered by disability law, court rules - August Leads
https://bit.ly/3QdHUHZ
Segment 3: Gay man from Qatar sounds alarm about coverage fo the World Cup and LGBT oppression - Phoebe Leads
https://bit.ly/3e9giX1
Segment 4: The Bible is among dozens of books removed from this Texas school district - Cindy P Leads
https://n.pr/3Ru5Zes
https://bit.ly/3RdNMCs
https://bit.ly/3elsUdU
https://bit.ly/3RfG4aS
Added: Texas posting poster ‘In god we trust’ in arabic
https://bit.ly/3RfG7n4
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Welcome back to Truth Wanted, the weekly callin show that’s seen the most episodes of The X-Files. Joining Dan today is host of Secular Sexuality, Kara Griffin!
Today’s Patron of the Week is Dawn Nelsen! May the sun never set on your glorious empire.
Our first caller is Masedog, who mayyybe watches too many pseudoscientific youtube videos? She asks our hosts what they think about content creators that claim to speak to the dead. Dan explains why balderdash and hoakum are too generous a term for this nonsense. Masedog is still working out what he believes, and our hosts offer some techniques for sorting out trash from truth before we move on.
Oh boy… Suzie wants to talk about the adoption of the swastika by Nazi Germany. Did Hitler visit the far east and co-opt their symbol? Dan isn’t sure, but Kara has a whole lot to say about pseudo-archeology and how National Socialism perverted the traditional meaning of the symbol that’s come to represent evil across the world.
Heath in Canada witnessed a rain of frogs. A toadstorm, if you will. A tizzy of tadpoles. Upon further conversation, we determine that the toadstorm occurred in a rainforest during a storm, so a natural explanation seems more likely than a resurrection of an Egyptian curse. Heath tells us about another strange occurrence he experienced after a seven day bender, but our hosts aren’t convinced that this is anything other than a product of a drug-addled brain.
We wrap up the show with Dan’s Deep Dive into Severus Snape, the only character from Harry Potter ever to be dropped from Nakatomi Plaza. Sorry, wrong movie… is love of this complicated character a religion? God I hope not.
That’s the show tonight folks, we’ll catch you next week!
If you’re anything like us you’ve probably been avoiding learning about monkeypox as best you can, I mean who needs another potential pandemic? In this economy? But, as we’ve all learned the hard way these past few years, global health crises aren’t the type of thing you should let fester. Luckily Student Doctor Ben joins Nate and Christy this week to help the unwanted information go down, to get us up to speed on what we know and need to do and to clue us in what’s turning him on this week. Some inconvenient truth and a quality conversation plus your calls and questions on this week’s SecX!
Learn more and find what’s turning us on at https://www.vcatx.com/media/monkeypox
Secular Sexuality show is LIVE every Thursday from 7:00 to 8:30pm Central Time
Welcome back to the show! In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Matt Dillahunty is joined by Jim Barrows!
First up is James from Canada who supposedly has scientific evidence that supports Jonah’s ability to survive in a whale’s mouth. Except it wasn’t a whale's mouth, but the stomach of a fish.
Our first audience question of the show asks what the host’s opinion what the weirdest Christian denomination is.
Next is Sean from UT who criticizes referencing the harm caused by Christianity throughout history because they don’t believe those who carried out that harm truly understood the bible’s teachings.
Next is audience member James from TX who asks if the same criteria used to determine which books to include in the bible can be used to exclude certain books.
Bob from VA thinks Atheists won’t accept that God does all of the miraculous things the caller claims he can because they willingly don’t understand.
Roy from IL presents an argument for the exodus story and how this is evidence for biblical truth and the existence of a messiah.
Next is Kevin from GA who believes Matt holds theists to a different burden of proof than he does himself.
Kai from Israel asks how atheists can evaluate something as immoral without an objective moral authority, and if they can, why should anyone care or respect their subjective moral opinion?
In today’s live studio episode of Talk Heathen, Johnny Angel is joined by Student Dr. Ben to take both audience questions and calls!
Jasmine in Canada is the first caller who mentions a case of a doctor refusing to use a proper pronoun for people based on a scripture. Doctors need to set aside their imaginary beliefs and focus on the patients. We trust doctors with our lives and it is not their place to bring religion into the conversation.
Michael, in the audience, asks: Is it legal for a judge to hand out a lenient sentence on someone because the church and Jesus forgave the person for stealing?
Rick is our next caller from Canada who is a human and since he is a human, he is an expert on the human body. He wants us to produce evidence that the body is NOT intelligently designed. Do you really think just by having a body that you can determine everything that is going on with it? How do you think the kidneys work? How do we determine that the body is intelligently designed objectively? The body doing cool things and an argument from incredulity does not necessitate design. Who is the intelligent designer? Why do you believe that a god exists? You can convert tens of thousands of people right now if you can prove your god did this.
An audience member comments on the call by mentioning knee pain and glasses. Johnny reminds us that god brings us to our knees! Student Doctor Ben educates us about the human body being an engineering nightmare.
Gabriel, our third Canada caller, wants to know why Muslims are not criticized as heavily as Christians by atheists. We have more conversations with Christians and understand their arguments. We don’t run into as many Muslims in the U.S. as we do Christians. Who do you think is taking over our country right now?
Rao from WY wonders about a connection between simulation hypothesis and fibromyalgia and designing survey questions with a control group to determine who has this condition. How would these questions be set up and with what controls? We are not the best judge of what is happening with us. How would the responses prove a connection? What are the variables you can think of that might skew these numbers?
Katherine in the USA asks how as an atheist she could volunteer for a theistic group. Does this organization provide meaningful and tangible resources and services? It depends on the nature of the group and if they are doing these services as a shared sense of humanity. Is there a way to talk with their clients to see what is going on? Are they doing a lot of evangelizing and pushing their agenda on the clients?
Our last caller, Chris from the UK, has a thought of Noah's flood possibly being a mythological archetype. There are a lot of flood myths all over the world; we live and die by these cycles of nature as these events work their way into our stories and culture. How would you test for a global flood?
Thank you for joining us this week and remember to thank the essential workers!
The Non-Prophets episode 21.35 2022-08-28 with Secular Rarity, Scott Dickie and Kelley Laughlin.
The show where we tell an Immature Florida that they Need a Ban on Christian Hoaxes. This week we have a Three Musketeers in Secular Rarity, Scott Dickie, and R Kelley Laughlin. I’ll let you debate who is whom. Let’s get to it!
First up, we are on a watch, a POPE WATCH! Seem the pios pontifical papal pow-wow’d with prestigious people preferring perception of priority. (Hey you try getting good alliteration…). Pope Francis met with trans people at the Vatican and it seems this is not the first time. Did he want to personally send them to hell or is this another way he is trying to bride the gaps of old thinking and new tolerances? Hopefully he didn’t have another headdress gaff by just walking into whatever bathroom he wanted. Though since he wears a dress all the time… https://www.them.us/story/pope-franci...
MOVING ON! Florida… You ok? You seem a little confused yet again. Let me ask you this. How can someone be so mature that they can carry a child to term, but they are not mature enough to have an abortion? What kind of bizzarro logic is that? That seems to be exactly what Florida is saying when a 16 year old is telling them she is not ready to have a baby. This is an absolute heartbreaking story that in some states wouldn’t have even been a blip on the news cycle. Now every victim of circumstance becomes the biggest national issue. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/...
Ok, let’s wash that sour taste out of our mouths with a Step In The Right Direction. This step is coming from the Pennsylvania signing an executive order banning conversion therapy! Woo! Good job PA though Canada did it before it was cool! Considering there is little difference between conversion therapy and straight on physical and mental abuse, one wonders if there will ever be a national ban.
https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-p...
Finally, we look into some of the greatest Christian Hoaxes. These seem Strange But they are True! Bust out your Christian hoax bingo card and see how many you can get right during this segment. Some you might have known. Others, well you will just have to wait to see!
That about wraps it up for The Non-Prophets this week. Be sure to also tune into Talk Heathen and The Atheist Experience as they will once again be live from The Freedom Thought Library!
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Hey Truth Seekers! Welcome to another episode of Truth Wanted! This week MD Aware is joined by Adam Elmasri.
First up is Red from OH who talks about a conspiracy that her friend believes revolves around the government having a cure to cancer, but won’t release it because they make money off of cancer treatment.
Next is Jasmine from Canada who brings up the subject of religiosity being engrained in hospitals and medical culture.
Next is Frank from IL who has questions surrounding the philistines and how and why they exist biblically or scientifically if we all came from the same two people.
After so much discussion on bodily autonomy, personal liberty and social responsibility drowning out our political discourse we thought it might be time to ask a simple question- what do we owe one another? And more close to home, what do we owe to the people we love, or them to us? Take a lifetime of sex work, a career and education in relationship counseling and the ACA’s patented philosophyphilic programing (patent pending) and hopefully you’ll find a nuanced conversation on what exactly married people are and aren’t allowed to do with their junk. Sinn Sage, Christy Powell, love and duty and what’s turning us on this week on SecX!
► Learn more and find what’s turning us on at https://www.vcatx.com/media/autonomy
Secular Sexuality show is LIVE every Thursday from 7:00 to 8:30pm Central Time
Welcome back to the show! In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, JMike is joined by Forrest Valkai!
First up is Charles from Canada who is calling to present a bible quote that supposedly supports the truth of evolution. What about all of the other verses that do not?
Next is Luc from Canada who disagrees that Atheists can have an objective moral system without belief in a God. There are objective facts about our reality that we can form a morality around. Chopping off someone’s head objectively damages someone physically, so we can then objectively evaluate the action of head-chopping and come to the exact same moral conclusion.
Antonio from AL is calling to argue that the Bible is the evidence for God and that Atheists are unfairly throwing out the Bible because science can’t yet explain all of the claims. The caller also believes that Adam and Even were literally formed out of dust and a rib respectively, and cites modern science and medical procedures that vaguely align with the claim to support it.
Alcibiates from FL thinks that we ignore science when it comes to gender identity. Also, vaccines aren’t necessary because they didn’t get vaccinated and interacted with old people and they didn’t get sick.
Next is Henry from Estonia who claims that since religious people are as a collective happier, therefore it’s better to be religious than Atheist.
Tyler from IN is calling to discuss the typical theist rebuttal, “Everybody knows there was a historical Jesus.” The caller dug into finding evidence for that claim and like most of us, couldn’t find anything. Even if he did exist, a historical Jesus in no way supports the magical aspects claimed in the Bible.
Is Christian Nationalism inherently racist? In today’s episode of Talk Heathen, ObjectivelyDan, and the wonderful Cynthia McDonald from our flagship show, The Non-Prophets, tackle the answers to this question and others.
First caller is Phoebe from the UK who is looking for ideas on how to push back against pushy clients, particularly Jehovah Witnesses, at work. Cynthia shares a personal story of how she dealt with this when asked why she was not a Christian, and how important it is to remind colleagues to focus on work, and not these types of discussions. Dan also shares a helpful story on how to handle this.
Charles from Canada calls with a position that Christianity is good for society. He argues that the abolition of women and slaves came from Jesus, and that can be humane to own a human being. Cynthia calmly gives a history lesson including the Baptist preachers that would use the Bible to justify slavery. Even when the civil rights movement was happening, preachers used Christian principles to uphold segregation. How many times did Jesus mention not using slaves? We will give you a hint, it was none. What did Paul say about slaves being obedient? If Jesus did not say certain things about slavery, how do you rectify the specific instructions in the Bible about how to own slaves? Jesus talked about all kinds of things but why did he never say it is not cool to own slaves?
Steve from AZ is freaked out about the recent SCOTUS decision. He started watching a popular show that seems like a playbook for the Christian Nationalists. Cynthia describes Operation Blitz, which is an actual playbook these people use by installing theocratic law on the local and state level to influence federal law. We can see how harmful the state laws have become since this recent SCOTUS decision. It is all about power, not pleasing Jesus or the good of the people. We hope that people wake up and take action against the propaganda which is strong.
Patrick in FL has a question about a supernatural god vs a natural god being falsifiable. How do we know for sure if something is supernatural or just advanced using the laws of nature? We would first have to know what is meant by natural god. There is nothing that we can point to and describe as supernatural. Things that we have thought were supernatural in the past, now are understood to have natural explanations.
Sam, a physics major from CA, wants to know how miracles are explained. She gives an example of a pastor who was stung by a scorpion, almost died, and then is doing okay now. We can’t verify this claim because it is a call in show, but it does boil down what a lot of claims are: stories. A lot of these stories in the medical world can be attributed to treatment. When these claims are tested, they happen to not be miracles. When we can’t find out why someone survived after we think all other possibilities have been ruled out, we have a god of the gaps fallacy.
Thank you for watching the show! We will see you next week! Remain skeptical, ask a lot of questions, and try to seek out the truth.
The Non-Prophets 21.34 2022-08-21 with Cynthia McDonald, Emma Thorne, Jim Barrows and Kelley Laughlin.
Show notes will be posted upon receipt.
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In today’s episode of Truth Wanted, Dan is joined by creator of the show Belief It Or Not, Trevor Poelman. Trevor is a former youth group leader and would go through actual theology audits. Together this team will ask viewers what they believe and why. Special thanks to Lauren Zhuge, the Patron of the Week!
First up is RedDeadBread from CA who is wondering about how the environment in which a person is raised causes anger towards religion. How does religiosity affect the nature of atheistic beliefs? Dan explains the difficulty involved with separating religion from politics and how conservatives would get mad at Obama for just breathing. Trevor confirms that since he has lived that life, he tends to get more angry about these things than his co-host who was not raised in religion. There is still the perception that atheists are a bunch of whiny, angry white dudes that go off about all sorts of things, and we need that to change.
Muhammad in CA wants to talk about western morality and eroding belief. Is this being caused by “tolerance” and being okay with everything? Tolerance can be a tightrope to balance. Trevor mentions that he can tolerate beliefs until those beliefs start to harm others. Tolerance can lead to great things but it can also lead to bad things such as giving bigots platforms. The intention of the U.S. was to create a secular democracy where individual denominations would not influence aspects of government. There are people who are intolerant to those who don’t have beliefs. Is it a common occurrence that people become more tolerant and progressive prior to leaving Christianity? Conservative, evangelical types rail against being tolerant because they know what it threatens. Maybe it is time to move on from some of the moral codes we had.
A question from the chat asks if either host has had paranormal experiences. When Trevor was a kid, an orb of light went over his head and thought it was an angel at the time. Years after leaving the faith, it was discovered through research the carbon monoxide can cause this type of hallucination.
Next is Red in OH who as a kid came to the conclusion that the Loch Ness Monster might be leviathan in the Bible. She would draw pictures of it and show it to creationist professors who actually liked her theories. Dan remembers a fundie pastor on TV talking about a leviathan verse in The Book of Job that proves dinosaurs lived at the same time as humans. Trevor explains how the famous picture is made with a toy submarine and plaster for the head that can be pulled with a string.
Tonight we have learned that the truth is everybody knows BigFoot is king! Thank you for joining us this week! Special thanks to Trevor! Be kind and always keep wanting the truth.
Sex education seems like one of those fields where it’s all fun and games until you have to explain to someone why their favorite TV show is actually sexist AF. And yes, we like to have a good time, I swear we don’t do this on purpose, but unfortunately, a lot of things in life really are secretly sexist. So we invited a sanity saving social media siren to our secular podcast on sexuality to suss out the shameful and the silly in our unsceptically scrupulous society and hopefully to make a slightly better world. Catch the conversation between Christy and Eve Was Framed as we explore the day to day patriarchy of ‘Man Cave’s and more, plus what’s turning us on this week on SecX!
Learn more and find what’s turning us on at https://www.vcatx.com/media/ughpatriacrhy
Secular Sexuality show is LIVE every Thursday from 7:00 to 8:30pm Central Time If you'd like to be on the show, use your phone ☎ and call 1-512-991-9242 or use a computer 💻 and click http://tiny.cc/callsex
The hosts of the show may be reached via email at: sex@atheist-community.org.
Welcome back to the show! In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Shannon Q is joined by Secular Rarity!
Our first caller today is Charles from Canada who claims that the big bang model is consistent within the story of Genesis.
Next is Kevin from NV who is very persuasive in converting people to their beliefs, but is concerned about bigoted acts being committed by these people after deconverting.
Bob from VA is convinced that “all” Atheists are just making arguments from personal incredulity. Your definitionally significant God is realistically insignificant and has zero explanatory power.
Next up is Emily from MA who is wondering if mental illness increases the likelihood of a person becoming religious or increasing the religiosity of an individual.
Aaron from IL claims to have a clear argument with straight forward evidence for the claim that God, a supernatural being, is biologically natural.
Our final caller Andrew from ME wants to tell us that there is an equal amount of evidence for evolution as there is for creationism. Is the caller well read on the theory of evolution? That is up for you to decide.
In today’s episode of Talk Heathen, Secular Rarity is joined by Captain Dadpool who will take on several different topics from excellent callers!
First up is Dave from The South who has proof of Orchestrated Objective Reduction (ORC) theory which is consciousness arising at the quantum level. An electron in a vacuum falls out of its location on its own and this is consciousness. There is no god involved or supernatural anything. This sounds mostly like our brain is still working in conjunction with everything. Maybe we now have a better hypothesis about consciousness and the reasonable conclusions are that it is still biotic material. We need to keep looking more into how the brain works because that is where we will find a lot of answers.
Cameron in MN wants to know how to talk with people who think that the Bible is historically correct. You can tell them things like, even if an ark is discovered, it is not evidence of Noah’s flood. It is just proof that someone built a boat. It depends on what your conversation is and what your goal is for that discussion. The method that you grasp on to the most, is not necessarily the most effective for all people.
Jamie in TX is seeking a good response to the problem of evil. There are not a lot of places to go in conversations with devout believers about this because of “god's mysterious ways”. Why are you making the claim that you understand this if you admit that there is no way to understand god? Belief in god and agreeing with the actions of god are completely different things. Why are cancer, natural disasters, and extinctions necessary to get to god’s mysterious ways? The world is a lot more interesting when you get out of the two dimensional box.
Xeno in South Korea asks if we come from something or if we are contingent on something, and that we can switch out the word god for “a reason”. If everything breaks down, doesn’t that mess with the cause and effect stuff? Do you feel like you are getting to god by default? We don’t have the capability of ruling out all other options. Why call it god?
Alok in CA would like to see most atheists not believing in god to also not believe in other supernatural things. There is a need in humans to have answers for stuff. Many atheists happen to also be skeptic. Laying out an atheist worldview is problematic because there are already so many things they disagree on, such as the definitions. We are not born believing in god and that is our default setting. It is worth having these discussions internally to better our community. There is too much in-fighting and we tend to yell at each other too much about these definitions.
Bitter Truth in IL has views that religions are a curse on humanity because of innocent people being killed. Religions are spreading hate and terrorism. Captain Dadpool agrees that religion is a poison and we would be much better off without it. What can we do to make some of these things better? The more we step away from religion, the better our lives will be as a whole.
Thank you for having fun with us today! Thank you so much to the essential workers for putting yourself out there day in and day out. We keep making progress if we keep doing these simple things.
The Non-Prophets, Episode 21.33 airing Sunday, 08-14-2022 featuring Secular Rarity, Richard Firth-Godbehere, Nate Smith and Jason Sherwood.
This Sunday at 3:00 PM Central we are going to have some actual good feels in the news! So Join Secular Rarity kicking off this episode with new comer Dr Richard Firth-Godbehere, Nate Smith and myself for the latest episode. Will I finally get myself canceled? You be the judge!
Up first, we ARE in Kansas, and they voted FOR abortion? What the whaa…? Yes it’s true, Kansas has voted to keep abortion protections in their state constitution. Does this mean Kansas is going Democrat? Well, there is so much more to it than that. We would have called it a step in the right direction, but it is going to take some wait and see to know where we are at.
Next, we check in with the original residents of the US as they suspend Christian Missionary work! Seem they didn’t care for Christians saying Jesus is the only god and trampling over their spirituality and culture. I mean Americans wouldn’t do that… again… and again… Well this didn’t age well.
Speaking of Christians, we look into how Christian Nationalism has gone mainstream. Yes, yes, the Lamestream media is now filled with hatred and your favorite congresspeople MTG and Boebert are leading the charge. I’m sure they are just happy they can finally say their quiet parts loud and proud?
Lastly, we take a bit of a Looking Back at the creating of the Royal Observatory and a few of their discoveries. These discoveries would go on to teach generations about our world, the universe, and our place in it. Bringing out the truth of our universe starting, and what the Bible thinks happens. Lessons that will stand the test of time, until YouTube starts to exist…. Oops.
That about wraps it up for this week. Be sure to check out all the shows this week as we have more information on the bat cruise, and catch Talk Heathen and The Atheist Experience on the 28th for another show live from The Freedom Though library!
Segment 1: Progressives win in… Kansas? Three big takeaways from the Kansas abortion vote https://bit.ly/3QGbdng Kansas votes to protect abortion rights in state constitution https://bit.ly/3JWgXHo
Segment 2: Sioux You, Missionaries! Oglala Sioux Tribe Temporarily Suspends All Christian Missionary Work https://bit.ly/3SNC96j Oglala Sioux Tribe Rescinds Ordinance Suspending Churches and Missions https://bit.ly/3SNC96
Segment 3: Christian nationalism going mainstream After Trump, Christian nationalist ideas are going mainstream – despite a history of violence https://bit.ly/3peXnN1 “Christian Nationalism” Used to Be Taboo. Now It’s All the Rage. https://bit.ly/3Ps0bRf Faith Is Powerful. That's Why Christian Nationalism Is So Dangerous https://bit.ly/3piHfdi
Segment 4: Looking Back: The Genesis of Astronomy August 10: Royal Observatory Opens (1675): Churches v. Astronomy https://bit.ly/3QlWxKj History of the Royal Observatory https://bit.ly/3w3dSPY Rev. John Flamsteed https://bit.ly/3QlXp1i (if you want add some trivia from the James Web)
Don't like ads? Consider becoming a patron for commercial-free episodes: http://tiny.cc/patreonnp We welcome your comments on the thread for this show. ► http://tiny.cc/fbnp ► Contact us with questions or news stories at: nonprophets@atheist-community.org
Welcome back to Truth Wanted, the ACA call in show with the highest frequency. This week Dan is joined by rock scientist and former groupie for the Grateful Dead, R Kelley Laughlin! (Ok I made that last part up, kinda)
This week’s Patron of The Week is Gabriel Guerra. We may not believe in angels on this show, but you’re a close second in our books Gabriel. Thank you for the support!
We’ll kick calls off with Scottland, and he makes his case for why a multiverse might indicate that his particular god is real. Not particularly well, but hey, at least he’s a friendly theist! Dan isn’t so interested in deities that exist outside our universe, Kelley throws in a Tolkien reference for all you nerds out there, and somehow we land on John Lennon being a jerk?
Luc’s in Canada, he asks our hosts what sort of evidence would convince them that gods are real. Kelley wants a sandwich in the hand of every starving child on Earth, and Dan wants to see a manipulation of nature that couldn’t be done naturally. We fence with Luc about what qualifies as a miracle, how we might test for one, but he’s not getting it.
Next is Jamie who’s become increasingly intolerant of bullshit. Horoscopes, crystals, you name it, holding beliefs without good reason is dangerous, and Jamie is frustrated. Dan advocates for having healthy conversations in a constructive manner, and plugs Street Epistemology for the 148th time. Kelley is just as curmudgeonly as Jamie, perhaps more, but he offers a few tips on avoiding alienating people we disagree with.
Finally we’ll talk to Gabriel, who asks if classism plays a role in people buying into conspiracy theories. Is Marxism a gateway drug to believing in the New World Order? Dan points out that political ideology tends to be more based on observation than Uncle Frank subscribing to QAnon, but we can definitely see the overlap there.
That’s it for this week folks, if the FBI asks, we definitely have no top secret nuclear documents squirreled away at the Freethought Library. See you all next Friday!
Welcome back to the show! In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Matt Dillahunty is joined by Kenneth Leonard!
Our first caller today is Michael from MI who believes that mathematical imaginary numbers can prove the existence of well– their definition of God at least.
Denver from VA wants advice on how to introduce skepticism to their very unskeptical girlfriend who believes in significant amounts of woo including astrology and alternative “natural” medicine. While the caller doesn’t want to interfere with their right to do these medical procedures on their own body, they are concerned about the future if they happen to have a kid.
Ralph from FL is calling to demonstrate the existence of a God but claims that you must accept it first then look for evidence. Alright then, the initial singularity that the big bang originated from was actually a hot dog, just accept it. I don’t know what goes into modern hot dogs, maybe this one contained all of the matter in the universe, trust me.
Tyler from MD asserts that because we can’t know everything or have evidence for every claim, that faith is somehow a viable alternative.
Khan from India is calling to make a case that Atheists have a faith-based position because they claim to know no gods exist. No, we don't.
Eric from NY is calling to present an argument from complexity and modified watchmakers analogy, but with atoms and smartphones and beavers so it's cooler.
For today’s Talk Heathen, we have Secular Rarity joined by Nate Smith and Jason Sherwood who will take calls in search of the answers for the big questions in life.
Patrick in FL is first and wants to talk about the difference between a panpsychism and a panprotopsychism. There seems to be a problem when we try to put a nice little neat circle around consciousness and then extrapolate that for all living beings. Response to stimuli does not necessarily mean that something is conscious. How do we determine the difference between responding to outside stimuli and a self aware being? How do you make the leap to all consciousness being connected in the universe? What is the value of thinking this?
Xeno from South Korea would like to pose the ontological argument for god. The hosts asked several times, “Xeno, what do you mean by ontology? “ The caller was unable to provide a definition.
Jason in TN has religious friends that are uncomfortable with the struggle of trans people going through transition. The Bible does not really talk about trans people but the bigots like to take the opportunity to lump everything together. We need to stop gatekeeping who is and is not accepted in that community, and tear down the barriers of tribalism that have poisoned us for so long.
Jason in FL says that Jediism started as a myth and has turned into reality, and that we can do amazing things with the mind. It is a physical and mental art of disciplining oneself. There have been many religions that have been used as the philosophy of Jediism. Do you believe in The Force and have the ability to lift stuff up with your mind? This sounds more like a philosophical practice rather than a woo woo religion. If you get more out of movies than art and entertainment, then more power to you. Just be careful if you feel like these things are literally talking to you.
Thank you for tuning in! Thank you to the essential workers!
The Non-Prophets, Episode 21.32 airing Sunday, August 7, 2022 featuring Cynthia, Mateo, Kelley and Malty.
This week on The Non-Prophets we wanted to give you a little warning. You should always Watch out for Those Robber Alien cats! You never know when they are going to take over your area and steal all that you hold dear. At least until the insurance adjuster comes, but I am getting a head of myself. We have a powerhouse cast with Cynthia McDonald leading the charge with Teo el Ateo, Kelley Laughlin, and Malty. Let’s get into it!
For our first segment we look into Pope Francis’ apology tour and see how it’s going. So how are things going Frankie! Wait, why are you in a native headdress? Oh Frankie! Well can’t wait till next year when Pope Francis does an apology tour to apologize for this apology tour. Hopefully he doesn’t go in black face…
Up next, THIS IS A STICK UP! A Prosperity Pastor gets robbed of all his jewelry while he is giving a sermon! Hundreds of dollars… no wait, thousands of dollars… What? $1 million dollars of jewelry has been reported to their insurance agency. Now we can’t say it is fraud. We just look into some other shady dealing this pastor has had a history of.
Previously, on The Handmaid’s Tale. Oh wait sorry, this is just Kenneth Copeland coming out with a “Watchman Decree”. Oh and it is fully canon with Christofacists. Well thankfully we don’t have any of those in positions of power right? This is a scary one viewer discretion is advised.
Last segment this week we have a close encounter of a fury kind as science has figured out what all us dog people have known for years. Cats, with their murder mittens are IN FACT an invasive species! You heard it here first! Those jerk demons will worm your way into your home promising a mouse free lifestyle, but soon they are knocking water off your table and plotting the downfall of the human race!
We also get a little bit of viewer mail which we read for your enjoyment. Send us more and hear your words come out from our amazing hosts!
This about wraps it up for this week’s show which you can find premiering Sunday at 3:00 PM central. See you there!
Segment 1: Pope Watch! - Pope’s Cosplay plus gets strong reactions Mateo Leads Pope in headdress stirs deep emotions in Indian Country https://bit.ly/3dcoTYs Tribal leaders, members react to pope’s apology on schools https://bit.ly/3SywTDi
Segment 2: Prosperity Pastor gets plucked - Malty Leads NYPD: Preacher, wife robbed of $1M in jewelry during sermon https://bit.ly/3QmVJEr Brooklyn pastor says he and his wife were robbed of more than $1 million in jewelry while preaching https://cnn.it/3p0Y7oC
Segment 3: Shit Internet Apologist Say… ‘Watchman Decree’ is new canon for Christofacists - Cynthia Leads The ‘Watchman Decree’ is a scary vision of Christian nationalism in action https://bit.ly/3dbFVGm Kenneth Copeland's Christofacist "Watchman Decree" is straight out of The Handmaid's Tale https://bit.ly/3vJ1d4k
Segment 4: Strange But True…Close Encounter of the Fury Kind - Kelley Leads Scientists Just Classified Cats as an "Invasive Alien Species." Here's Why. https://bit.ly/3vJdDt4 Cats are an invasive alien species, claims Polish scientific institute https://bit.ly/3QqQtzO
Don't like ads? Consider becoming a patron for commercial-free episodes: http://tiny.cc/patreonnp We welcome your comments on the thread for this show. ► http://tiny.cc/fbnp ► Contact us with questions or news stories at: nonprophets@atheist-community.org
For more than 500,000 years homosapiens lived, loved and f**ked their way across Africa among pansexual chimps, sex changing frogs and three gendered bees, all without a single pink hammer or blue balloon to let them know who was who. People say that we’ve gone and made things a little too complicated these days with our transmasc this and enby-femme that but turns out, this stuff has always been weird. This week science educator Forrest Valkai joins Christy for a conversation about the natural, unnatural and supremely weird world of virgin birth giving sharks, sex swapping fish and other challenges to our supposedly two box system. A bioanthropological look at gender, some news of the weird and a healthy dose of what’s turning us on this week on SecX!
► Learn more and find what’s turning us on at https://www.vcatx.com/media/xxxy Secular Sexuality show is LIVE every Thursday from 7:00 to 8:30pm Central Time
Welcome back to the Atheist Experience everyone! Today, here to kick off our first episode back in the studio are your hosts, Jim Barrows and Christy Powell!
Our first audience question is from Aaron from TX who is wondering how our host’s ended up volunteering here at the ACA?
Rodney from MI is calling to prove the existence of the Christian God. Their evidence is that they believe in Jesus and his life story, and the likeness of the near-death experience accounts.
Next is Gohan from TX who wants to know when it is ok to force someone else’s to use their body without their permission? This person is like the magic eight ball of anti-abortion arguments, always wrong.
Next is Andrew from TX who asks why theist apologists continue trying to use the non-interactive deistic “nothing” god as a stepping stone to get to their own interactive god.
Up next is Vàclav from the Czech Republic who is calling to tell us about the biblical stories and mythological claims that convinced them in the past.
Next up is Larry from TX gets annoyed when people tell him that Atheism is just another religion and is wondering if the host’s have any advice for how to respond.
Nancy from TX points out that Austin is known as a beacon of blue in a sea of red, and is concerned about how the insane governmental decisions are going to affect that “balance.”
Steve from FL is grieving a loved one, and despite recognizing the irrationality of believing in a God without evidence, they still feel a pull towards it due to the hope it gives of seeing them again. The caller is wondering if our hosts have any advice for how to sequester this feeling of hope.
Welcome back to Talk Heathen everyone! Today, here to kick off our first episode back in the studio are your hosts, ObjectivelyDan and Jim Barrows!
First up is Elizabeth from the UK who has been blacklisted for finding housing by a fundamentalist social worker for being an out atheist.
Next up is Nate from CA who believes that you cannot be an atheist to a deist god. The Atheist position exists in accordance with the claim that a God exists, the specific characteristics of which are irrelevant.
Next up is Alok from CA is an Atheist who is struggling with the question of what kickstarted the universe. The caller understands that inserting God doesn’t further our understanding of the subject, but wants to know if humans will ever actually find out a definitive answer.
Ryan from Utah recently watched a debate, and was caught off guard by the theist perspective that humans cannot ground logic & reason without the Christian God? What did people do before Judaism or Christianity?
The Non-Prophets, Episode 21.31 airing Sunday, July 24,2022 featuring Secular Rarity, Phoebe Rose, and Richard Gilliver.
I got to tell ya. It’s a God Eat God World Out There. This week we got Secular Rarity leading a mostly British panel in Phoebe Rose and Richard Gilliver. Will They force poor Secular Rarity into appreciating tea and using nothing but metric, or is SR going to throw his own Boston Tea Party? Nah, likely they are going to have an amazing discussion over this weeks topics. Let’s get in it.
First up, POPE WATCH! If it is one thing the Vatican doesn’t like it’s gays. No wait, If it is one thing the Vatican doesn’t like it’s people having the right to choose. Sorry, let me try this again. If it is one thing the Vatican doesn’t it’s competition! Seems like the German Catholic movement is getting a little too progressive for Pope Francis’ liking. So they are trying to pump the brakes on them.
While we are on the topic of a movement not wanting to follow lock step, down there in Florida…. Hold on, please tell me this ISN’T a Florida Man story. Well kinda. Unlike our friends over there in Germany seems like Florida churches want to break away because Methodists are too progressive for them. In the land of sun, alligators, and god it seems like messages of love and inclusion want to fall on deaf and likely sun burnt ears.
Up next, can we get some victim blaming up in here? Texas floated a proposal to change the teachings of slavery. They thought it would reduce their guilt of they changed the term to “involuntary relocation”. Yes, changing the language of horrible history allows you to ignore the past. Then while you are doing that, maybe you can repeat it! No? They don’t think that is what is going to happen? Really, well what would be stopping them then? This one does have a happy ending, but we should all be on alert because I won’t be surprised if we hear this story again.
Finally, Verizon takes a Step in the Right Direction by removing One America “News” Network from their services. Verizon was the last network to do so, and we look into the actual motives of this move. Will they find a new home in the vast wasteland that is the Internet? Anything is possible I guess. For right now let’s take solace in hate losing a platform and keep fighting for love to find away!
That wraps it up for this week.
Segment 1: Pope Watch: Vatican puts brakes on progressive German Catholic movement https://bit.ly/3POUcHh Euronews, By Reuters, 22 July, 2022 Vatican warning: Germany's ‘Synodal Way’ poses ‘threat to the unity of the Church’ https://bit.ly/3vsktDc Vatican slams German reformers, warns of potential for schism https://bit.ly/3JlHZYq
Segment 2: More than 100 Florida churches file lawsuit to leave United Methodist Church https://bit.ly/3zTKFJL New denomination urges United Methodists to walk out of the wilderness https://bit.ly/3zky4gX
Segment 3: Texas education officials proposed changing "slavery" to "involuntary relocation" when teaching second graders https://cbsn.ws/3oInH1E State education board members push back on proposal to use “involuntary relocation” to describe slavery https://bit.ly/3OR8m9A Opinion: Texas Could Change Enslavement To ‘Involuntary Relocation’ But The Truth Remains The Same, It’s Still Enslavement https://bit.ly/3cMZ9BP
Segment 4: SITRD: Far-Right Channel One America News Officially Dropped by Last Major TV Carrier https://bit.ly/3OOd5Jb Truth Social's refusal to use Amazon servers added to tech troubles and huge waiting list at launch, report says https://bit.ly/3JhP4sJ
Don't like ads? Consider becoming a patron for commercial-free episodes: http://tiny.cc/patreonnp We welcome your comments on the thread for this show. ► http://tiny.cc/fbnp ► Contact us with questions or news stories at: nonprophets@atheist-community.org
Welcome back to Truth Wanted, the ACA show least likely to be trampled by elephants. This week we have ExXtian Erin in the host chair, joined by Chris Keaton.
This week’s Patron of the Week is Jonathan Hull! Thanks to patrons like you, the ACA can finally hire someone to come to the Freethought Library and investigate those strange sounds coming from the crawlspace.
Kennita’s calling back from Cali, she identifies as an atheopagan, and also as an atheist. She shares her journey from Catholicism into skepticism, and while she doesn’t believe in the supernatural, she finds the practice therapeutic. We don’t see any harm in reflection Kennita, but beware the dangers of believing things without good reasons!
Phil wants to talk about Godzilla! Just kidding, he offers the myth that there was an alternate ending to a monster film as an example of how it’s possible to do the leg work as a skeptic, yet still get it wrong. We take a quick tour of some common misconceptions, and both hosts agree that we must continue to be vigilant and open-minded about our beliefs.
Next up is Jasmine, she asks if our hosts miss anything about being Christian. We get an emphatic no from Erin, and several examples of why. Chris is conflicted, but realizes it’s the community he missed, and he’s found other ways to find that, through volunteer work and social groups. We’ll stomp on the dangers of faith healing for a few minutes before we move on.
That’s it for this week folks! We’ll see you back here next week, but in the meantime, be wary, Godzilla is still out on the prowl, searching for the lost hidden ending of his film, where he beats King Kong.
So, you’ve been curious. You haven’t quite felt comfortable asking. These are probably good instincts but why did Al Gore invent the internet if it wasn’t to have a better understanding of other people’s genitals, am I right? Phoebe Rose returns to the show for a bit of show and tell and a concerted effort to help the world recognize and understand trans women, or atleast their underpants. Catch the not-so-delicate conversation plus your calls and questions and what’s turning us on this week on SecX!
► Learn more and find what’s turning us on at https://www.vcatx.com/media/gfs
In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Jim Barrows is joined by Kenneth Leonard!
First up is Kevin from FL who compares our relationship to God, as a child’s to their parents. From this, the caller claims that God’s past actions and “rules” about morality are disagreeable to us because we are incapable of understanding his reasoning in a similar manner to how a child doesn’t understand why playing video games all day can be detrimental.
Marcus from KY apparently has a miraculous survival story after getting attacked by a black bear. What about the story indicates a miracle occurred?
Jay from MO asks our hosts about evil atheists and if they would want to live in a sin filled, evil atheist world filled. I’m not necessarily saying the framing of the question is underdeveloped, but, I’m definitely saying that.
Jody from DC is coming in with a plan to prove God’s existence with metaphysics and ontology. I am looking for an oasis of a single relevant point in this expansive desert of ideas.
Next is Mohammed in the United Arab Emirates who is an Atheist parent with a child entering the school system soon, and doesn’t want to outright tell their kid that God is made up, but also doesn’t want their child to be pressured into Islam by those around them.
Next is Rich from GA who asks our hosts if they would think getting cast into hell by God is unfair because they maintained their skepticism and didn’t accept God prior to their death? Well yeah, obviously.
Up next is Michael from FL came out of religion and became a skeptic relatively recently, and explains that when he hears personal religious anecdotes, they feel like they have to actively hold back their years of indoctrination that draws them to those claims, but recognizes that just “tuning it out” is no longer skepticism.
In today’s episode of Talk Heathen, Secular Rarity hosts a fun show with Kenneth Leonard and are in search of callers who will either present the existence of god, or prove that it is not true that a shapeshifting dragon named Steve formed itself into Kenneth’s chair.
Marco in NV is our first caller and has had a personal revelation from god. He started noticing coincidences after smoking lots of weed. What does an experience tell us about the cause and nature of the experience? How did you rule out that you weren’t being pranked by a mischievous wizard? How do you know this was supernatural? Do you have a solid way to demonstrate the truth of your claim?
Barry from Europe wants some input about going through deconversion and coming out to spouses. There are people who can help with Recovering from Religion. When going through something like this, ask yourself what your goals are. Explore the best methods to determine true things with your spouse and focus on shared agreements. Talk with other people about it in the Facebook groups.
Stephen in the USA has evidence of god! This evidence is a passage in the Old Testament that is talking about piercing hands. What is the reason you think this verse is talking about the Messiah? How does any verse in the Bible prove god? How do we know what Jesus said about anything? How do we know the Gospels are true? Is it a problem that multiple manuscripts have contradictory statements? Is it possible that the writers of the gospels were familiar with these prior writings?
Icon from Canada had a message from god and has verified that nothing could have caused it other than chemicals. He has been unable to replicate the experience with more chemicals. What does it say to you that you did not get the same results from the first time? It is a beautiful thing when the honest answer is admitting that we just don’t know. There is some wacky brain stuff that happens! Is the original experience that you had actually connected to the real world?
Frank in GA wants the atheists to know they go to this place of outer darkness after death. There is this giant snake that circles the earth and we can hear the screams of atheists when the snake is opened. Why should anyone believe this is a real place? Why do we think that any part of the body survives death?
Zack in TX has proof of god which is the earth itself. How can we know the earth is a creation? Just because something is here, does not mean that it was created. How can we tell the difference between something that was created and something that was formed naturally? What is the criteria for one thing being designed and one thing not?
Evan in TX knows that semen to birth proves god. What would you say if you saw evidence that the earth is billions of years old? If your beliefs are immune to evidence, do you care about whether they are true? Is there a better way to determine if our beliefs are true than following the evidence?
Thank you for hanging out with us today! If you are an essential worker we thank and respect you!
The Non-Prophets, Episode 21.30 airing Sunday, July 24,2022 featuring Laura Magee, ExXtianErin, and Nate Smith
We are fully in the dog days of summer and things are heating up! Good thing we got a cool panel for this week of The Non-Prophets. We welcome back Laura Magee in the hot seat with ExXtian Erin from Truth Wanted and Nate Smith from Secular Sexuality. I’m sure this will go well for it.
First up we hear some Shit Internet Apologist Say. We look into Pastor Creflo Dollar and his ideas on tithing So what does dollar dollar billz ya want? Oh, more money! That make cents. Wait…. Dang it. I got my mind on my money and my money on my mind. Let’s just hope his moral check doesn’t bounce.
Next up… oh boy this is heavy. This is about some of the aftermath of a 10 year old rape victim crossing state lines and having a doctor perform her abortion. We knew the story wouldn’t end there. Seems the Indiana Attorney General is really worried about the paperwork filed by this doctor and wants to levy criminal charges against her for not filing in time. Then because of the charged atmosphere it becomes a media circus.
Now we head down to Texas! Oh wait, ahhem, you all know what is coming up. The Attorney General Ken Paxton is suing the Biden administration over the executive order giving abortion guidance. We just talked about him signing last week! Did the Non-Prophet’s turn into prophets saying that it would likely be challenged? Nah, we just know how history goes…
Ok Michigan wrap up this week for us. In Grand Rapids a new wedding venue listed out its policy on LGBT weddings. They are saying no. Oh come on guys! Well this sparked protests and other people taking almost stands. I mean it’s not like they are going to do a coat/gay check at the door. Well not until the Supreme Court makes LGBT life illegal, but I might be getting ahead of myself. See you next week!
Segment 1: Sh*t Internet Apologist Say | Trying to get Good with God PASTOR CREFLO DOLLAR WHO ONCE ASKED CONGREGANTS TO HELP HIM BUY $65 MILLION JET, NOW ADMITS HE MISLED THEM ABOUT TITHING By: Kia Morgan Smith, July 4, 2022 https://bit.ly/3BdvUm3 Mega Preacher Creflo Dollar Says His Preaching On Tithing Was All Wrong: Black America Responds By Ann Brown, July 7, 2022 https://bit.ly/3RWWhlZ
Segment 2: Indiana AG eyes criminal prosecution of 10-year-old rape victim's abortion doc By Alice Miranda Ollstein, July 14, 2022 -https://politi.co/3BcG71P Letter from AG Rokita Todd Rokita, July 13, 2022 https://bit.ly/3OuZjep Wash. Gov. Inslee “Washington is and will remain a sanctuary for any person seeking abortion care…” June 30, 2022 https://bit.ly/3yVSUmw When Fact-Checking Goes Wrong: the Pregnant 10-year Old By Rebecca Watson, July 15, 2022 https://bit.ly/3Pur3Bh Abortion ruling prompts variety of reactions from states AP, July 21, 2022 https://bit.ly/3vdyaWC Abortion doctor signals she’ll sue Indiana AG over comments By Arleigh Rodgers, July 19, 2022 https://bit.ly/3POp7mD
Segment 3: Texas AG Ken Paxton sues Biden administration over emergency abortions By Mark Moore, July 14, 2022 https://bit.ly/3J4EdCn Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sues Biden administration over abortion guidance From NPR Morning Edition Rachel Martin and Elizabeth Sepper, July 15, 2022 https://n.pr/3J170I4
Segment 4: LGBTQ policy sparks protest at Grand Rappids wedding venue By Whitney Burney, July, 11, 2022/updated July 12, 2022 https://bit.ly/3S9tMBV
Don't like ads? Consider becoming a patron for commercial-free episodes: http://tiny.cc/patreonnp We welcome your comments on the thread for this show. ► http://tiny.cc/fbnp ► Contact us with questions or news stories at: nonprophets@atheist-community.org
Welcome back to Truth Wanted, the weekly call-in show with the highest nutritional value on Youtube. Today, Dan is joined by an ACA regular, it’s Talk Heathen host and lover of video game recommendations Johnny P. Angel!
This week’s Patron of the Week is Garret AJ! May the Flying Spaghetti Monster extend his noodly appendage in your direction.
Our first caller is Wayde, and he wants to psychologically profile his favourite deity as part of a doctoral thesis. He gives us a few nebulous descriptions, but Dan and Johnny are less interested in what God is, and more curious about whether God is. We have an interesting exchange about competing religions, and Johnny asks questions about Wayde’s education in theology. I don’t know about you folks, but if I was to get a degree in magic, I’d prefer it be from Hogwarts.
Mark is calling back to share more of his deconversion journey. He’s come to realize that vampire tales have a lot in common with resurrection narratives in the Bible, and Dan offers are few more contemporary examples of visitors from beyond the grave that are equally silly. Johnny steers Mark towards finding activist involvement that doesn’t have a religious bent as a method of finding purpose without the agenda, and Dan gives Mark a few specific resources for finding secular community.
Next up is Alyssa, her father tragically disappeared when she was a child. Her family consulted mediums, and even as a skeptic, she finds the similarities in their stories to be compelling. After hearing the similarities, Dan points out that “being in water” is a very common image sold by psychic charlatans. Johnny talks about James Randi, and his lifetime of testing psychic claims with zero results in the clairvoyance column. We all agree that taking advantage of grieving families is disgusting.
Finally we have Tyler, who claims that there are empirical reasons to believe in God. Johnny drills down on Tyler’s notion of justice using the example of Hell. Tyler’s stumped, as he should be, because infinite punishment for finite crimes is wrong, and even Tyler admits this. He attempts to rationalize his position, but Johnny’s not having it. We get a scathing yet cogent contrast of free will vs. omniscience from our hosts, but Tyler’s having trouble seeing the point. Johnny tries to get through with analogies to Anne Frank/Hitler and his role as custodian of his adorable dog. Tyler seems like a nice guy, but needs to shake off the indoctrination.
Thanks for tuning in tonight everyone, we’ll catch you next Friday!
If the best things in life are free then talking about the birds and bees with the hosts of SecX is what we all want. And since SecX gives you such a thrill, why not join us on a mission (away) from god? As new host Kara Griffin joins the show they meet Nate and Christy for a conversation about atheist activism and the importance of sex positivity during these trying times. Catch our conversation about atheism, activism and the inevitability of awkward moments as sex positive people in an increasingly dont-say-gay world. All that plus your calls and questions and what’s turning us on this week on SecX!
In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Dave Warnock is joined by Forrest Valkai!
First up is Devon from CA who asks our hosts why tragedies, big or small, influence people’s position on the God belief either one way or the other? Why do bad things happen to good people, and vice versa?
Next up is Daniel from NJ who recently had a conversation about evolution with their creationist father, and felt scientifically unequipped to rebut the creationist claims. Creationism itself is a claim that requires evidence, and the truth of evolution is entirely irrelevant to proving creationism.
Gabe from KY acknowledges that since their deconversion from Mormonism, they have struggled to put the magical thinking they utilized while religious behind them and engage in critical, skeptical thinking. The caller wants advice on how to rectify this, and apply skeptical thinking practically.
Patrick from FL claims Atheism is a faith. Is it faith to say “I don’t believe you,” to a claim? Patrick sure thinks so.
Next is Timothy from FL is calling to ask our hosts when they think a fetus gains the rights of personhood, and what the evidence for that timeframe is?
Rob from CA is calling to claim that science no longer supports evolution, and provides examples of naturally “unexplainable” phenomena to support this. Turns out, they are explainable. Oh yeah also, God flooding the world was 110% justified!
Next is Joseph from TN believes that since we cannot know anything with 100% absolute certainty that we must need faith.
George from NY who wants advice on how to converse with people who make unjustified claims, and are obviously unwilling to move their position even a little?
Finally, Paul from MN asks our hosts if they have ever considered using Numbers 5:20 against Christians “pro-lifers.” As we have learned today, and almost exert episode, most Christians don’t know their own bible, and those that do and hold that position will find ways to ignore specific verses that are inconvenient.
In today’s episode of Talk Heathen we have Johnny P. Angel joined by the one and only Katy Montgomerie who will ask callers questions to make them think in addition to giving us some fun facts about the animal kingdom.
Our first caller is Kyle in IL who argues that if there is no religion, we can end up having bad ideas, and productivity goes down. This is because his son made up a religion and has abandoned Christianity, and can’t make money doing that. What is the difference between a 15 year old making up a religion and anyone else doing so? How do you determine which religion is the right one? We are not convinced that religion has anything to do with productivity. Is it necessary for a society to have a supernatural goal in order to succeed?
Next is Ulrich in Mexico that wants to know how evolution results in being transgender.. Katy fires away with some examples in nature including an amazing crab fact. Often in meerkats, in order for the best survival of the genes, they need to work together. There are examples within the animal kingdom where the genes are not necessary to be passed on for survival. Gender identity is something that lots of animals have where the males and females act differently around each other. Some species often change sex such as clown fish. When this happens, the behavior changes happen first. 90% of all the sex that bonobos have is lesbian sex and this builds social bonds making them less likely to fight.
Patrick in Fl asks why pantheism is laughable. He is exploring the possibility that the universe could be considered conscious and that it comes down to faith. He claims that atheists state that god does not exist. Just because we agree that the universe may have come from something, it does not mean that we believe in your god. Is there another reason we should believe other than faith? If a god exists, that god would know what it takes to convince us of that god’s existence. If your god is a natural god, then you should be able to use science to prove it. Why do you believe that the universe is god if we do not have evidence for it?
Joe from PA claims that the earth did not just come out of nowhere and there has to be a god. We could have three possible world views, one is god created the earth, another is that a spell was cast a day before you were born by a wizard named Gary, and a third is that planets collided. Of these possibilities, how do you go about determining the right one? Why does a child being born make you think that god exists? Why did god create humans where we need air to breathe?
Last caller is Alok from CA that wants to know if being LGBTQ is a choice. All human behavior is a mixture of nature and nurture. In this case it is largely nature. There is evidence in every culture and all throughout history. We have evidence that conversion therapy does not work. If it was a choice, then they should be allowed to choose that.
That is all for today heathens, thank you for tuning in and always stay safe!
The Non-Prophets, Episode 21.29 airing Sunday, June 17 2022 featuring Jason Sherwood, Scott Dickie, Richard Gilliver and Teo el Ateo
This week’s episode covers…
We are back with another episode of the Non-Prophets. The Lord of Levels Jason Sherwood is back in the conductor chair where he is joined by our Scott Dickie, Richard Giliver and the cutest emo cartoon in Atheism Teo el Ateo!
First up, Richard Giliver starts us off on Biden’s Executive Order to protect abortion rights. Pressured by the electorate to push for reproductive rights, Biden releases an executive order to protect access to abortion as part of his administration's response to the Supreme Court's ruling last month overturning the constitutional right to the procedure. Does it go far enough?
Next on the docket, Scott Dickie takes us to his neck of the woods to discuss The Wisconsin Supreme Court handing down to the Republican-controlled State Senate broad authority over the makeup of state boards and commissions. Is there a way to stop gerrymandering? How does it affect the rest of the United States?
For the next segment, our resident cartoon Teo el Ateo leads us into a looking back to discuss the founding of the Christian Scientists Church? Can being Christian and science go hand in hand?
Finally, Jason Sherwood (The Techlord) wraps us up in a nice bow with a Strange but True discussing the Georgia Guidestones in Elbert County getting vandalized. There have been lots of spooky and spectacular claims associated with the Guidestones and dubbed “America’s Stonehenge.” Hear the panel talk about some of those claims and even how a certain congressional candidate wanted them gone!
That wraps it up for this week. Make sure you keep it right here to the Flag Ship Show of the ACA!
Time Stamps, Segment Titles and Articles Discussed (clips under the segment heading):
Segment 1 - Biden Goes Rouge with Abortions https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/whit...
Segment 2 - Wisconsin: Gerrymandered Cheddar https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-s...
Segment 3 - Looking back: Putting the Christian into Science? https://freethoughtalmanac.com/2011/0... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_...
Segment 4 - Strange but true: Rocks go POP! - https://www.wgauradio.com/news/local/... History of the guide stones https://elbertchamber.com/visit/play-...
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Hey there Youtube wanderer. Sit a spell, warm up by the fire, and enjoy another episode of Truth Wanted! This week Dan is joined by former pastor turned humanist author Drew Bekius!
This week’s Patron of the Week is Richard… just Richard. May you join the ranks of folks like Cher, and be showered with fame, fortune, and enough plastic surgery to keep you looking young well into middle age!
Our first caller is Richard (no, not that Richard) from Arizona. He’s struggling with a lingering fear of hell, and asks how our hosts got over this hurdle. Drew asks some probing questions, and Dan reminds our caller that this stuff takes time to conquer. Drew recommends finding community, and shares a great analogy to car accidents that seems to help. Be patient with yourself Richard!
Isaiah’s calling back from Korea, asking if a multiverse could affect the likelihood of a god being real. Short answer, no. Dan and Drew can’t see how multiple universes could affect the null hypothesis or make deities more likely. Drew pushes back on the idea that more universes equals greater probability for creator gods, and Dan refutes Isaiah’s argument from incredulity. Nature is beautiful, but lots of pretty things we have explanations for don’t require sky wizards.
Next we have William in Canada, who thinks humanism is just a reimagining of concepts from holy texts. Drew draws a great picture of how those authors then, and people now, construct our moral views through the lens of our experience. Dan simplifies the discussion by pointing out that most people want the same things, regardless of the century they’re living in. Is humanism a new iteration of humanity’s efforts to build a moral code? Sure, but that’s a far cry from a religion.
That’ll wrap it up for this week folks, join us next week, although it won’t be hosted by Ashton Kutcher and Russell Crowe’s atheist avatars, it’ll still be pretty good. See you then!
Oh, the masks we wear. Sometimes because we want to, sometimes for safety from the Governor of Florida, and occasionally because we’re attending a Victorian-era ball. Tonight, these three Muskequeers will be talking about our experiences as queer folk who don’t present as such, our journey to being honest with ourselves, and how much fun butt stuff can be. Join Nate, Helen and Jason this Thursday, call in with your questions and stories, and don’t miss this episode of Secular Sexuality!
Dive deeper into the episode and find what’s turning us on this week at https://www.vcatx.com/media/mpaa
Secular Sexuality show is LIVE every Thursday from 7:00 to 8:30pm Central Time
In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Matt Dillahunty is joined by JMike!
First up is John from CA who says that there are multiple pathways to reaching the truth about God’s existence, and that a pathway available to one person might not be accessible to another.
Next up is Dean from CA who believes that science doesn’t require methodological naturalism, but does require philosophical naturalism. So scientists get to use unmeasurable supernatural phenomenon to create new theories? Seems legit.
Questioning Theist from WA finds the host’s arguements for God relatively convincing, but doesn’t think their credible due to the caller’s disagreements with the host’s other positions. So if we both agree that the sun causes skin cancer, but you don’t like my position on a women’s rights to bodily autonomy, therefore you won’t be a pro-sunscreener like me? Wut?
Next up is Brandon from WA who claims that the time doesn’t exist in the subconscious, and uses the perceived time before death as evidence of this.
Serge from Australia is calling to ask why Atheists are asking for evidence and why Theists would want to present any. Why do beliefs require evidence?
Next is Jonah from TN who is wondering if our host’s think that this show and other like it have opened the floodgates for the online platforming of evangelicals or presups like Darth Dawkins?
Next up is Mike from WA asks if naturalists have proven the natural origin of life. As the caller doesn’t believe in naturalism, they conclude that Theists must have proven it by default.
Next is David from TX is calling to argue that differences in epistemology allow for different standards of acceptable evidence and arguement. I mean sure, but that doesn’t mean they should be accepted or be convincing.
Tom from the UK is calling to present an arguement that can somehow disprove every God, Theist or Deist, regardless of their respective properties.
Seth from CA from is calling to say that porn has perpetuated a bad perception of women, and therefore God exists? How did we get here?
Today we have ObjectivelyDan joined by Johnny P. Angel who will work through topics of ontology, AI, binary systems, and 911 conspiracies.
First caller is Noah in OK wants to know what the world would be like without religion and how to create change to prevent theocracy. We would have different kinds of magical thinking but we would not have dogmatic religious branded thinking. People would not be able to tell fairy tale stories that justify not liking other people. Get out there, vote, call representatives, vote with your dollar, get engaged, search what you can do to push back, give your creativity and get moving in a constructive way.
Xeno in South Korea is next who wants to talk about ontology where an entity has to depend on another entity and therefore everything is divisible and has an origin point which is god. This is an oversimplification of what we know of the universe. When you use the word, “god” as the origin, you are sneaking in other qualities that are not within the definition. Why can’t this be called physics? Why would there not be a bigger origin point than god? If god has things that make him contingent on something else, then he is not the origin.
Dean in CA is next, who is a creator of AI and argues that religion could be a factor in the creation of Artificial Intelligence(AI) and that some AIs have religious views now. Advanced chatbots will just say what you want to hear while religious algorithms can end up pushing people in certain directions. If we design an AI, do we program it with assumptions that god is not real? Think about what choices you make when programming and why.
Alok in CA does not agree with the binary system of being convinced, and would rather attribute a percentage to his level of belief. If you are not sure, the classic label is agnostic. Some use belief scales to determine the strength of the belief. Just because we are not convinced that Thor exists, does not mean that Thor does not exist. Discovering the reason behind this belief is much more important than the label. Rather than alienating people who are not hardcore anti-theists we need to find the common goals we have in common.
Marcia in NC is a 911 Truther and is questioning why certain key people were out of touch or new to the job when this happened. It is not an unnatural inclination to be skeptical of the events that occurred that day, however many of these claims are truly bananas. That does not mean there were no mistakes made within the chain of command. This is an excellent call for Truth Wanted.
Gabe in KY is the final caller who argues that if we just snapped our fingers and got rid of religion, we would eventually be seeing the same problems. We agree, and human beings want to find ways to have magical thinking. If we teach people how to teach skeptically, religion will start to evaporate. Religion is a front of where social war is taking place.
Thank you for tuning in! Please thank essential workers in all areas. We will see you next week!
The Non-Prophets, Episode 21.27 airing Sunday, July 10th 2022 featuring Cynthia McDonald, Cindy Plaza, Kelley Laughlin, and Nate Smith
Segment 1: Shit Congressional Apologist Say: Rep Boebert’s Tired of the First Amendment - Kelley Leads Boebert says she is ‘tired’ of separation between church and state: ‘The church is supposed to direct the government’: The Hill/ By Brad Dress/ Published 6/28/2022 https://bit.ly/3c4vXFW Kinzinger slams fellow Republican Boebert and warns of ‘Christian Taliban’ https://bit.ly/3yR3LPU
Segment 2: Establishment Clause and Freedom of Religion Muddled - Cindy Leads Supreme Court rules for former coach in public school prayer case: NBC News/ By Pete Williams/ Published Jun 27, 2022 https://nbcnews.to/3RliZUu The US supreme court is letting prayer back in public schools. This is unsettling: The Guardian/ By Moira Donegan/ Published 6/28/2022 https://bit.ly/3yPHsdw
Segment 3: The Slippery Slope of SCOTUS’s Decisions: Cynthia Leads Supreme Court Blocks New Majority-Black Louisiana House District: Bloomberg/ By Greg Stohr/ Published 6/28/2022 https://bit.ly/3PgZYkg Experts: Brown v. Board of Education is Not Safe!: The Root/ By Jessica Washington/ Published 6/28/2022 https://bit.ly/3bYBSfR
Segment 4: Supreme Court Faux ‘Originalism’: Nate Smith Leads The Supreme Court’s Faux ‘Originalism’. The conservative Supreme Court's favorite judicial philosophy requires a very, very firm grasp of history — one that none of the justices seem to possess. Politico Magazine/ By Joshua Zeitz/ Published 6/26/2022 https://politi.co/3ItoiNy When the Supreme Court Makes a Mistake: The history of the Supreme Court is replete with outrages and abominations, but they can be tough to overcome: Politico/ By Peter Canellos/ Published 6/29/2022 https://politi.co/3PjXKkl
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Something something Truth Wanted? Sorry Youtube reader, coming up with witty intros every week is tough, so this week…. I’m phonin’ it in! Fortunately our guest tonight will be far less uninspired, Dan is joined by The SkepTick!
This week’s Patron of the Week is SkeptiKarl, may you not be zapped by magical laser beams, thank you for the support!
Sven’s a skeptic making a living from ghost hunting apps, but he’s conflicted about enabling folks that believe in nonsense. Our hosts both agree that framing his content as “for entertainment purposes only” is an ethical way to make money from people who hold different beliefs. No judgment here, Sven.
Next up we have Richard, who’s under a think attack by “prayer warriors” in his family asking their imaginary friend to make him come back to Christ. Unfortunately, the recent converts are his wife and stepson, and this is causing strife in their relationship. Dan thinks honesty is important, and the Skeptick has quite a humorous, yet frank method for communication that might work. This can’t be easy Richard, keep us posted!
Ricardo’s calling in from Italy, and asks how Christians reconcile the character of their God in Old vs. New Testaments. Dan gives a brief history of the Bible, and explains New Covenant theology. Of course it’s silly, but hey, this is what they believe. Ricardo asks how religious folk are able to cheerfully ignore the parts of the Bible they don’t like. Cognitive dissonance is a powerful thing my friend!
Jean’s replying to our chat poll, which was asking the live chat if they believe Shakespeare actually wrote all the works attributed to him. He’s got a degree in theatre and gives our hosts a brief backstory on this myth. After Jean mentions the forensic analysis of the Bard’s writing styles, Dan brings up that experts believe only half the letters attributed to the apostle Paul were actually written by him. This is quite the entertaining chat, don’t miss this call!
We wrap up with a quick exchange about Georgia guidestones and our guests experience in the USA. Enjoy your weekend fellow Truth Seekers!
Each and every week we encourage people to take a quiet moment for themselves and… well you’ve seen it. You know we’ve talked about everything from porn addiction (myth) to gooning (surprisingly real) and still somehow forgot to talk about the benefits of masturbation- turns out the perks of self-love aren’t always self-evident. Enter then writer and Sex Coach Shannon Burton who walks Kara and Christy through a long list of best practices and special treats for your favorite special someone- YOU! The low down on going down low, what’s turning us on this week and all the best euphemisms on tonight’s SecX!
Dive deeper into the episode and find what’s turning us on this week at https://www.vcatx.com/media/masturbation
In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Matt Dillahunty is joined by Forrest Valkai!
First up is Christian from the UK who has a hypothetical argument for the existence of a God or a divine being.
Next up is John from India, who has found a connection between Anti-Natalism and Anthropodicy and has concluded that the only justification for having children in this imperfect universe is universal salvation.
Next is John from TX claims to have scientific, historical, and testimonial evidence for God. When the hosts push for the scientific evidence, the caller continually wants to return to their personal testimony instead.
Declan from Australia is calling to ask why atheists don’t believe in the Christian God when he’s made the caller’s life, and apparently everybody’s life, better?
Alex from CA is a deist who believes that a non-interactive intelligent creator-God can be demonstrated through perceived coincidences? Wouldn’t coincidental creation imply that things weren’t intelligently designed?
Mr. Warlight from AK says Matt is a Gothic Preacher. What & Why?
Our final call is Andrew from ME believes the supernatural is a requirement for the first two laws of thermodynamics to be true.
In today’s episode of Talk Heathen, Secular Rarity is joined by Student Doctor Ben who will both discuss issues with callers ranging from antinatalization to messages from god.
Michael in CA is our first caller who is a proponent of zero population growth and asks the hosts what they think is important about this topic. We know that if we continue to expand consumption, the ramifications will be bad. Is it moral to strive for zero population growth? If we knew the ideal number the population should be, how would we go about striving for that? How would we achieve minimizing bad outcomes when focussing on zero population growth? What policies would be put in place for this? If we could get rid of the negative consequences of population growth, yet still increase the population, would that be okay? Who gets to have children and who doesn’t?
Josiah from MO wants to discuss ways to deal with people telling him that he was never a true Christian, once they find out he is an atheist. Ben describes his story and mentions that it is oftentimes difficult for people to understand this news of change. When this happens, it is not a reflection of you, but rather their own thought process. You are the same person, but in their eyes, you violate what they perceived you as. Is your goal to convince your family and friends that you were a true Christian? Or is your goal more about being at true peace? When people state that you were never a true believer, sometimes it is a defense mechanism. Try to be patient with them; you might be the first person they have met who has deconverted. The best way to engage is with empathy. There are people that know what you are going through and are here to support you.
John from India would like to talk about creation and believes that god created human beings, and humans created other humans through reproduction. He wants to know what justification people have for bringing people into the world. You don’t need to believe in magic to bring someone into the world. If humans need to justify their reasoning for bringing a human into the world, is god bringing people into the world of suffering?
Tom in MI, a deist, has some thoughts about ontological evidence or consciousness. He asks if the hosts think this is a good reason for god. He says there are two groups: atheists and theists. His philosophy teacher taught that we can’t talk about something that we know nothing about. We can talk about something whether it is material, physical, or just a concept. Talking about a story is different than talking about a car in the driveway.
Icon from Canada wants to know how to proceed getting a message to the world from god. The message is, “All religions are man made.” How do we know it was a deity that gave you this message? How did you receive this message and what were you doing at the time? Did anything meaningful or memorable happen in your life during that day? What was your mindset as you were doing this?
That is all folks! Thank you for tuning in and be sure to thank our essential workers!
The Non-Prophets, Episode 21.27 airing Sunday, July 3rd 2022 featuring Richard Gilliver, Zachary Shedd, Josh Entner and Genevieve
What a wild ride, and just think this is only the beginning! Can we all get off this roller coaster?
Yes, The Non-Prophets are talking about the worst Supreme Court decision next to all the next decisions they are likely going to make in the next few months. This time we decided to attack it a little differently. So come Sunday at 3:00 PM Central, sit back, relax, and we will all get through this together.
For this episode we have a brand new conductor. Sorry Richard Gilliver, wish it was under better circumstances. He is joined by a newcomer, though you might remember him from Truth Wanted Live from UTSA’s Secular Student Alliance, Zachary Shedd! Again sorry the timing sucks! Rounding out the rest of the stellar panel we have Genevieve from That GD Show, and Josh Entner from Bloody Good Film Podcast.
First up we discuss what it was like for women before the Roe Vs. Wade decision. Was it a perfect utopia of super protected babies and everyone was happy? Was it a barren hellscape fill of fetuses and rusty hangers? We got this history for you so you can go into these discussions better armed.
Are you one who gets your news and daily topics from the internet? I assume that if you are reading this right now that is at least sometimes a yes. We all know that privacy of a woman’s body has gone away, but what people might not know is the dangers of even googling abortion topics. We look into some privacy and security tips to keep you safe and still fighting.
So then what can we do? Well as a 501(c)(3) there are some limitations on what we can suggest. That doesn’t mean we cannot look into what others are doing. There are people from all walks of life fighting for their rights, for your rights, for everyone’s rights. From people marching on the streets to companies offering pay to those in states that made abortion illegal? This is something to keep an eye on!
Finally this week, we figured we would change it up a little bit. To cleanse the pallet of all these sour tastes the week has brought us. We discuss a Looking Back of Churches v. Scholarships. Join us on a journey through time when Pope Pius X condemned the intellectual movement in the early 1900’s. Who would have thought over 100 years later he would start winning?
This will wrap it up for this week’s episode of The Non-Prophets. We will keep fighting for the rights of everyone around us and hope you do too!
Segment 1: Lessons from Before Roe: Will Past be Prologue? Guttmacher Policy Review By Rachel Benson Gold, March 1, 2003 https://bit.ly/3bJzNV4
Segment 2: DIGITAL SAFETY TIPS: FOR PROVIDERS OF ABORTION SUPPORT Electronic Frontier Foundation, By Daly Barnett, June 23, 2022 https://bit.ly/3ugTDgA In A Post-Roe America, Googling "Abortion" Could Put You At Risk. Here’s How To Protect Yourself. BuzzFeedNews By Sarah Emerson & Emily Baker-White https://bit.ly/3Ako1KP
Segment 3: What are people doing to fight back? Input Mag By Andrew Paul, June 24, 2022 https://bit.ly/3bEYMZA After Losing Roe v. Wade, How to Fight Back The Advocate BY TRUDY RING, JUNE 24 2022 https://bit.ly/3R3McDy Here’s How Philanthropy Can Protect Access to Abortion in a Post–Roe v. Wade World Guttmacher Institute By, Jonathan Wittenberg & Wendy Sealey, May 12, 2022 https://bit.ly/3NCQeQ0
Segment 4: Churches v. Scholarship The Freethought Almanac By Ronald Bruch Meyer, July 3, 2011 https://bit.ly/3Ag2Nhn
Get ready for a very wacky episode of Truth Wanted, because this week Dan is joined by Calvin Smith, podcaster and aficionado of all things weird and wonderful!
This week’s Patron of the Week is Fortuna Ex Machina! May extraterrestrials shine down their hidden knowledge upon you.
John’s up first with a divine thought experiment. After an explanation of what a god is to him, our hosts offer their take on how likely that entity is to exist. John responds with an argument from popularity, since most people believe the Earth is round, and most people believe in a deity, aren’t both likely to be true? It takes Dan & Calvin a few minutes to explain why not, but we get there eventually.
Next up is returning caller Ransom, who’s wondering if the UAP footage recently confirmed by the Pentagon is evidence of alien visitors. Everyone agrees that unidentified doesn’t mean extraterrestrial, but Ransom wants to focus on how unlikely the phenomenon are to be advanced foreign (ie. Earthly) technology. While it is fascinating that even the governments of the world can’t identify these, we’re going to withhold belief until we have good reasons.
Finally, VJ wants to chat about the shift towards religious extremism in India, and how the media frames these events to favor the Muslim worldview. Dan briefly describes the historical context for sectarian violence in the subcontinent, and we all agree that religion has a habit of encouraging folks to hate each other for no good reason.
That’s the show folks, we’ll see you all next week!
Zombies rising from the dead, whole armies of injured peasants and well dressed super assassins all have plenty of screen time in our culture- but what about female pleasure? How is it that John Wick can kill 84 people in a little over two hours, usually without breaking his stride, but Blue Is The Warmest Color receives the cinematic death penalty for showing two women enjoying each other’s love? If you’ve ever wondered why you can make fun of queer people in a movie but can’t have them kiss Josh Entner of The Bloody Good Film Podcast joins Christy and Laura in a conversation about sex, cinema and violence. Bloody good films, pretty women and your calls and questions plus what’s turning us on this week on SecX!
Dive deeper into the episode and find what’s turning us on this week at https://www.vcatx.com/media/mpaa
Secular Sexuality show is LIVE every Thursday from 7:00 to 8:30pm Central Time
Welcome to Talk Heathen! Today we have ObjectivelyDan and MD Aware who will tackle the topic of abortion taking calls from people on both sides of the spectrum.
First caller is Mark in MS who is believes in the resurrection, but is also in favor of pro-choice stemming from his experiences as an OBGYN. You have to put a value of person-hood on the fetus. MD asks him, “Where do you draw the line? How late a term of abortion would you be comfortable performing?” What deserves protection and rights? Viability outside the womb as a practical criteria has its limits.
Charles, a Christian from OH, uses the “No True Scotsman” fallacy to attack the previous caller. He then proceeds to ask the hosts why they consider themselves atheists and what standard of evidence is needed for them to believe. We have not seen all the unique claims of Christianity to be true. You must be more specific than just saying the “Christian God”, and for every property you state, there must be justification as evidence. We have meaningful explanations for how our sun was formed, and there is no god required. How do you prove that something supernatural actually exists? Not only have we seen stars being formed, but we also understand how this happens. We want to know and use the best methodologies to get to the truth and this is a standard that no religion has met. Why do you believe what you believe? Is it due to observations or because a book made the claim?
Andrew from ME, wants to talk about the recent SCOTUS abortion decision. His claim is that it leads to a more democratic process because it throws the decision back to the states. When slavery was legal, and states had the right to determine if slaves can be owned, was that a good thing or a bad thing? Do you think that democracy is the best way to make these sorts of decisions? Should everything be decided by democratic decisions and is this a fair way to run a society? What kinds of checks and balances should we have? Does the will of the people have anything to do with people’s rights?
Laura from England discusses having a bi-polar condition and was pregnant at 17. She found out early and made the choice to have an abortion. She asks, “If people can’t look after themselves in this world, how can they have a child?” Our other rights could be on the chopping block and we need to continue to raise hell about this until we make that change. In Texas, there are no exceptions for rape, incest, and other things. Some people may not be capable of understanding the consequences of a pregnancy and the associated decisions to be made. These decisions need not be made by men!
Teo from Croatia asks if the hosts consider Christianity a hoax, and why they do not say that it is just a different path that may work for some people. This path decides policies and what rights to have such as the right to have an abortion. How do you measure who is right? It is not about what you believe, but it is about why you believe.
Thank you for tuning in, and huge gratitude to our essential workers! See you next week!
The Non-Prophets, Episode 21.26 airing Sunday, June 26, 2022 featuring Cynthia McDonald, Kenneth Leonard, Teo el Ateo and Malty!
This week we have a power house panel. Leading off we have Cynthia McDonald. That means a Step in the Right Direction cannot be far behind! She is joined by friend and the Talkiest of Heathens Kenneth Leonard. Everyone’s favorite cartoon Teo el Ateo, and the facts man himself, Malty! Let’s get into the show.
First up, or is it fists up!
[insert ASCII fist here] *it looked better on facebook... We talk about Juneteenth. What it is, why it is important, and how it started. Would you believe there is a Texas connection to our latest federal day off? Makes it sad that due to bad policy decisions 15 states are not able to even teach about it!
Up next, what happens if you get a Catholic school that wants to put up a BLM or Pride flag? Well you get the Catholic Church saying you cannot be a Catholic school anymore. The Bishop says seem me after class and then gave a Massachusetts school detention. Maybe it was all that note passing with that cute progressive ideas. Talk about two steps forward and one giant leap behind!
Now, what if I told you faith can lead you to being pro-abortion? Sounds crazy right? Well in our next segment a rabbi explains why their faith leads them to the idea that abortion is ok. This might seem like a stretch for many, but it dose show that one person’s faith can lead to a different conclusion compared to another person’s faith. Let’s hope those ideas take off. Lastly, we Step in the Right Direction. How low can it go? Public belief in a god is limboing further and further. We are now at the lowest point in the history of the United States. Yay! We’re doing it! Belief is still very dangerously high, but comeon! Can we have just a little good news in the sea of sh*t?
That will do it for this week. Keep it right here for the next next article dump and maybe more ASCII art! (shakes head vigorously)
Segment 1: Juneteenth is Sunday. What's the significance behind the federal holiday? USA TODAY, By Chelsey Cox, June 15th 2022 http://tiny.cc/juneteenthhoiday What Is Juneteenth? Juneteenth commemorates the effective end of slavery in the United States. ELIZABETH NIX UPDATED:JUN 17, 2022 ORIGINAL:JUN 19, 2015 http://tiny.cc/whatisjuneteenth How to properly celebrate Juneteenth in the age of commercialization June 20, 2022 5:03 AM ET Heard on Morning Edition By Destinee Adams http://tiny.cc/howtojuneteenth
Segment 2: Massachusetts school can no longer be called Catholic after flying Black Lives Matter and pride flags, bishop says CBS News JUNE 16, 2022 http://tiny.cc/cathschoolnomore
Segment 3: My Religion Makes Me Pro-abortion The Atlantic, By Danya Ruttenberg, June 14th 2022 http://tiny.cc/proaborttheist
Segment 4: Public's belief in God drops to historic low: Poll MSN, By Luke Gentile, June 17th 2022 http://tiny.cc/lowbeliefingod Gallup: Only 81% of Americans believe in God, an all-time low Only Sky, by HEMANT MEHTA, June 17th 2022 http://tiny.cc/81andfalling
Don't like ads? Consider becoming a patron for commercial-free episodes: http://tiny.cc/patreonnp We welcome your comments on the thread for this show. ► http://tiny.cc/fbnp ► Contact us with questions or news stories at: nonprophets@atheist-community.org
Psst. Hey there. Yeah you. Thanks for joining us for another episode of Truth Wanted! This week, Jason Sherwood emerges from behind the ACA camera like a curmudgeonly grizzly bear in spring to join Objectively Dan!
This week’s Patron of the Week is Allegedly Dave, but we’ll need a citation before we can accept this assertion.
John’s up first with a silly reductionist argument for why abortion is the termination of human life, which is quickly dismantled by our hosts. Jason discriminates between terminating a life and terminating a pregnancy, and Dan points out that a clump of cells isn’t suffering. This is kinda irrelevant John, even if a zygote is a person, bodily autonomy is still paramount, and no, I won’t give you my kidney.
We have Kaylen calling from the Land of the Rising Sun next, and he doesn't think there’s a Biblical justification for theocracy. Both our hosts agree, and offer a few abhorrent examples from the Bible that reinforce Kaylen’s perspective.
Red’s concerned about moving to a state where it’s likely she’ll be denied healthcare, and our hosts couldn’t be more sympathetic. We’ll chat about potential solutions for this current crisis, and how this recent decision will disproportionately affect those without the means to travel for healthcare.
Loving the international callers tonight, Ricardo’s from Italy, and he’s struggling with picking your battles when having constructive conversations with theists. Dan thinks we have to examine our own motivations before we even approach using Street Epistemology to build better interactions.
Our next caller is concerned about moving to a red state in the current political climate, and we’re sympathetic. Fascist policies lead to a brain drain, learn from Nazi Germany folks. We’re all better when we’re all healthy and free.
Nick’s wondering how to talk to people who are so staunchly committed to their beliefs that they won’t consider changing their mind. How do we get through to these people? Dan throws exposure therapy out there; normalize it, plant the seed, and hope it grows. Jason thinks you oughta ask yourself, “Is it worth it?” No one’s required to be the arbiter of progressive policy Nick, but keep fighting the good fight.
Finally we have Dylan who suggests replacing our legal system with a poll system where the internet decides what’s correct. We’ve seen this episode of Black Mirror, but if you haven’t, loyal TW viewer, check it out. It was a disaster. At this point however, anything might be better than having lifetime appointments to the highest court in the land in a time of a quickly shifting moral landscape.
That’s the show tonight. It’s a dark day in the history of the United States, but activism and hope will see us through. Stay strong, vote, protest, do anything but remain silent. Catch you next week!
In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Secularity Rarity is joined by Apostate Prophet!
First up is David from Canada who is calling to argue for a necessary uncaused first cause for the universe, ie a creator god.
Next up is Kevin from UT who is calling to ask for advice on how to help comfort religious family members who are grieving the death of a family member. The caller is out as an atheist, so they are unsure of how to approach them without potentially triggering a confrontation.
Ben from AK makes an argument for something, in theory about a necessary first cause being. If anyone watching can piece this puzzle together, please let us know on the Facebook group.
Next is Kevin from GA who is against the support for trans individuals because they don’t understand how someone knowing their trans is any different than someone claiming to have spoken with God in the bedroom.
Up next is Ahmad from WA is calling to talk about the anchor point for objective theistic morality, and the lack of one when it comes to Atheism.
Next up is Timothy from CA who wants to talk about what the Hadith says about abortion, specifically that Allah gives a fetus a soul after four months. AP breaks down this statement and points out the inconsistencies between Islamic culture and the schools of thought therewithin, and what is stated about abortion.
Next is William from FL who is calling to ask our hosts how we know 100% that other humans exist. Apparently, our hosts know humans exist with 100% certainty because we have some sort of soul knowledge and that is somehow proof for God?
Daniel from MD is calling to ask if religious indoctrination, e.g. inducing fear of hell, child abuse and if so where should that line be drawn between the two?
Welcome to Talk Heathen! Today host Katy Montgomerie is joined by the amazing Kenneth Leonard who will talk with callers who present a number of ideas to them for contemplation, and talk about wasp facts involving caterpillar AIDS. In light of Father’s Day, who was the worst dad in the Bible? Abraham? Lot? Noah? Jephthah? How about Yahweh himself?
First up is Davan in NE who argues the soul could potentially exist partly because of having out of body experiences, even though rationally he attributes these experiences to a dream. The idea of the soul as originally brought out by the texts is valid is his stance. How can any given experience be evidence for a soul if we know these things happen in the brain? Why would we use the “soul” label? Does the soul have some other component that is not part of the brain or body?
Next is Teo from Croatia who wants to talk about the possibility of a heathen experiencing a Christian god. Would you agree that it is possible for people to imagine things that are logical and make sense? How do we tell the difference between experiencing a god and our imagination? Is it possible to believe things on faith that are not true? How do you know you have had an experience with a god and if it is true? Why should anybody believe that a god has manifested anywhere? Could your same reasoning prove a genie? If you can’t prove something does not exist, does that mean you can prove that it does exist?
Judy from IN has an insight that we are stardust because fluorine from another planet is connected to the fluoride in our body. Katy explains who things formed including large stars, nuclear fusion, and supernovas. Scientific claims need to be supported by evidence. Truth is valued differently in the scientific community than it is the Christian community. If we have a claim, we should be able to test that model.
Tony in NY feels that atheism only works in the physical world and that money is a god that we worship. Does not believing in Santa Clause only work in the physical world? Money is real and has transactional value as currency. What is the evidence of there being a non-physical world? Why do you think that thoughts are not physical? What in money maps the claim that god exists? Is there anything that religion is essential for, and we could not achieve through secular means? As atheists, we are not saying religions do not exist. We are only saying it is possible to exist without religion.
Chris in Scotland would like to know if it is possible to be moral without knowing how bad you can be. He wants to know if you can truly know the best without knowing the worst. Morals are not well defined. Without defining morals, this statement is as ridiculous as not running a marathon if you never had cancer. Can you climb Mt. Everest without making your bed?
Thank you for joining us today and to the essential workers! We will see you next week!
The Non-Prophets 21.25 for June 19th 2022 with Teo El Ateo, Scott Dickie, Richard Gilliver and Kelley Laughlin.
On this weeks Non-Prophets the panel talks about the connection or lack there of between ACB and the founder of the People of Praise, a secretive charismatic Christian group. They agree that skeptic hats should be worn when evidence is lacking.
A bible is your friend in prison because it won't be taken away from you. We talk about how bibles are commonly used to keep important information with you when being re-assigned to another facility.
Teo tears into Megachurch leader Naasón Joaquín García, for his abrupt guilty plea to three felonies on the eve of a long-awaited trial. Garcia will spend 16 years in prison after pleading guilty Friday to two counts of forcible oral copulation involving minors and one count of a lewd act upon a child who was 15. In exchange, prosecutors dropped 16 counts that included allegations of raping children and women, as well as human trafficking to produce child pornography.
We end with thoughts about how to come out as atheist without damaging your relationships.
Segment 1: Legal claims shed light on founder of faith group tied to Amy Coney Barrett The Guardian, June 6th 2022 http://tiny.cc/ACB
Segment 2: Atheist Reveals why she always had a bible in prison BBC, By Shira Li Bartov June 8, 2022 http://tiny.cc/prisonbible
Segment 3: Megachurch leader gets over 16 years in prison for sexually abusing young female followers: "They thought he was basically God on Earth" CBS News, June 9th 2022 http://tiny.cc/Megachurch
Segment 4: How to 'Come Out' As an Atheist Without Destroying Your Relationships LifeHacker.com, BY MEREDITH DIETZ, 01/07/2022 http://tiny.cc/ComeOutAtheist
Don't like ads? Consider becoming a patron for commercial-free episodes: http://tiny.cc/patreonnp
Bienvenue dans un autre… wait sorry, my Canadian is showing. Tonight our fabulous Canuck host MD Aware is joined once again by Vino for an all-star episode of Truth Wanted! Let’s dig in!
Tonight’s Patron of the Week is SG! Thanks for the support!
David’s up first, he supports abortion rights, but has a few what-ifs for our hosts to ponder. Is it ethical for parents to keep aborting zygotes until they get the perfect mix of chromosomes they’re seeking? Short answer, yes. Clumps of cells aren’t people, and the person with the uterus has the call. Does this decision approach eugenics? Not really. Keep asking questions David, this was an interesting chat.
Average Andrew has beef with our host’s determination of the intrinsic value of human life. His god assigns value, and our subjective morality can lead to genocide! Like the thing your god did multiple times in his manifesto Andrew? Yes, we want to avoid that. Our hosts illustrate the superiority of secular humanism using the example of euthanasia. Sucks to be dead, but sucks more to be suffering.
Our third caller is Jay, he wants to talk about the is/ought gap from the previous caller, and how that affects our use of the word “arbitrary.” Our hosts draw a metaphor with the rules of gaming, be it chess, volleyball, or anything else. The people playing have to agree on the rules before we can start playing.
Sal wants to talk more about how the rights of a fetus balance out with the rights of the person carrying it. Specifically, how adoption as an option might be a better choice than abortion. In a perfect world, sure, unwanted pregnancies might result in a loving adopted family, but this doesn’t get us past the right of the person with the uterus to decide. We discuss the flaws of the current adoption system before we move on.
That Truth Wanted this week! See you all in seven Earth rotations!
A painted fingernail, a tattered pair of overalls or a genderswaping nickname- we all participate in a little gender f**kery from time to time. And a little role play, gender play or just play with gender roles might be exactly what we need to unleash, unlock or understand ourselves. But can we go too far, or make a mess of things as we play? Veteran performers and sex-worker advocates Sinn Sage and Summer Hart join Christy in a conversation about the silliness and sissyness of it all and the roles and genders we play. Two incredible porn producers, what’s turning us on and of course your calls, questions and curiosities on this week’s SecX!
Dive deeper into the episode and find what’s turning us on this week at https://www.vcatx.com/media/genderroleplay
Secular Sexuality show is LIVE every Thursday from 7:00 to 8:30pm Central Time
In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Secular Rarity is joined by Dave Warnock.
First up is Sebastian from IL who is calling to voice their disagreement with Matt’s bodily autonomy abortion argument.
Next up is George from MD who is looking for advice for talking to their girlfriend who is a Young-Earth Creationist & biblical literalist. The caller wants to know how to go about approaching them about this subject to potentially start them changing their mind.
Next is Karol from Europe who apparently has a certain set of conditions that apparently, somehow, help indicate that heaven and hell “might” be real. Loving these odds so far.
Up next is Nikki from OR who is once again calling to tell everyone that they believe in God now after years of being Atheist, but still refuses to answer the host’s question regarding why they believe.
Vincent from UT is calling to discuss the relationship between humans and our flavor of consciousness, to use Secular Rarity’s term, compared to other animals, and whether that flavor is a byproduct of our surroundings or god.
Next, Anto from Italy has video evidence of flying people. Honestly wasn’t expecting that–– one moment...
Up next is Timothy from CA who wants to talk about the widespread misconception that science leads to the truth when all it is is a tested methodology that assists with limiting our biases while investigating reality.
Welcome to Talk Heathen where we have Jmike joined by ObjectivelyDan who will see what caller has evidence the gospels are historical.
First caller is Devan in MI who describes proof as the handy work and god as the mechanic. How do you falsify this position? Why does it have to be the Christian god? We can all construct a hypothesis about anything, but it must allow for falsification. How would you know what a non-designed thing looks like? The gospels make particular claims about the world and the life of Jesus, and this is where we take issue. If this is hard to swallow, why do you believe it? What other stories like Joseph Smith and Muhammad can we consider to be plausible?
Zach in NY is next, who used to be a follower of Sam Harris and wants to talk about free will. His position is that it is difficult to claim any kind of truth without it being grounded in faith and there are gaps and limitations in what atheists know as truth. When we think something is true, there is a justification for that belief, not faith. Free will means there are intentional states laden with the ability to choose. Does an agent's attitude towards a proposition have anything to do with whether or not that the proposition is true? How does volition sneak in when there is this entire trail of explanations? Did you conclude Jesus rose from the dead before or after considering these arguments? The strength of a secular world view is we don’t have to explain the claims made in scriptures.
Here To Serve in NY questions the use of the word faith in relation to the hosts being former Christians and that the hosts were never true Christians. Why don’t you make us true Christians by giving us evidence? An argument using logical propositions is not the same thing as evidence. Arguments do not lead to evidence. We look at evidence first and that leads us to the conclusion. Whenever you have a trail of reasoning, the premises must be true. Ad hominem fallacies do not prove anything about the seven day cycle.
Thank you for tuning in this week and please join us next time to see who can provide the evidence that gets us to believe!
The Non-Prophets, Episode 21.24 airing Sunday, June 5th 2022 featuring Cynthia, Genevieve, Cindy Plaza and Teo el Ateo.
Another heavy episode dealing with massive tragedy, religious abuses, and taxes. Even thinking about taxes makes me want to shudder!
First up, Cardinal Glick would be proud of what a Catholic Diocese of Erie is trying to do. Get them while they are young! New programs push confirmation earlier and they are ramping up the indoctrination making sure to fill them pews!
Then… oh yes we are talking about gun violence. There has been far too much. While we are not suggesting solutions, it would help to discover when and where all the many shootings have happened this year. Maybe someday we can do something about the United States' fatal love affair with deadly weapons.
Next we take a look at the Southern Baptist Convention as I am sure they are looking to move in the right direction after all their scandals over the past couple years. Nope? Even more sex abuse, cover ups, and databases? Well, I am sure they will get on the right moral footing some decade.
Lastly, we talk about Shit Internet Apologist Say, and boy does friend of the show Greg Locke have a lot to say. Look, he’s just tired of people telling him he can tell others how to vote because of tax statuses. So in a move of fire and brimstone, he dissolves his church tax exempt status! Are we sure this isn’t also a step in the right direction? Oh no wait it can’t be because he is still spouting off with things he likely shouldn’t be saying. Thanks for tuning in and we will see you next week!
Segment 1: Catholic Diocese of Erie to launch earlier confirmation, new programs for kids and teens http://tiny.cc/confirmation
Segment 2: 27 school shootings have taken place so far this year npr BY JACLYN DIAZ May 25, 2022 http://tiny.cc/27shootings Student-led gun control group planning nationwide protests, march on DC The Hill, BY BRAD DRESS - 05/25/22 http://tiny.cc/studentprotest Beto O’Rourke confronts Texas Gov. Greg Abbott at Uvalde press conference: “This is on you” Texas Tribune, BY PATRICK SVITEK, MAY 25, 2022 http://tiny.cc/onyou 22 weeks into the year, America has already seen at least 246 mass shootings NPR, BY SAEED AHMED, JUNE 5, 2022 http://tiny.cc/246shootings
Segment 3: Report: Top Southern Baptists stonewalled sex abuse victims AP News By DEEPA BHARATH, HOLLY MEYER and DAVID CRARY May 23, 2022 http://tiny.cc/SBCStonewall Southern Baptist leaders covered up sex abuse, kept secret database, report says By Sarah Pulliam Bailey May 22, 2022 http://tiny.cc/Sdatabase http://tiny.cc/SBCStonewall
Segment 4: Shit Internet Apologist Say: Pastor Who Called Democrats 'Demons' Claims He Gave Up Tax-Exempt Status Newsweek BY ANDERS ANGLESEY 5/24/22 http://tiny.cc/taxlockeed Preacher claims he ‘dissolved’ his church’s tax-exemption for political gain OnlySky BY Hemant Mehta 05/23/2022 http://tiny.cc/dissolved
What’s everyone’s favorite day of the week? If you said Friday, you’re correct, and not just because it’s time for Truth Wanted! This week, Erin is joined by atheist content creator Scott Baker.
This week’s Patron of the week is Kori K Reine! Thank you for the support Keri, you get the corner piece of lasagna!
Melissa’s got a few good reasons that she thinks the USA is a Christian nation. Erin agrees that having Christian events as stat holidays is favoritism, and that political candidates who don’t espouse religious belief stand a far smaller chance of being elected. Scott talks about how the Christian nationalist agenda has twisted formerly secular American traditions.
Terry’s up next, and we quickly move from “Christmas is stolen from pagans” to a truly strange and long-winded no true scotsman fallacy. All Christians nations are fake because of the plurality of biblical interpretation? I think? Erin isn’t having it, she interrupts this odd sermon, and Scott quickly pokes a few holes in this caller’s argument before we move on.
Next up is Isaiah, he’s got a theist friend, Scott’s got a theist friend, how do we navigate holding opposing beliefs with our pals? Scott thinks maturity is key, and Erin recommends setting boundaries, and sticking to the stuff that made you friends in the first place. Pick your battles Isaiah!
Nate in Canada is looking for ideas on handling theists in the workplace, specifically a Muslim subordinate. Balancing the urge to free minds with remaining productive in the workplace is tough, Erin recommends Street Epistemology combined with boundaries and restraint. Scott works from home and hasn’t had this experience, but recommends exposing Nate’s colleague to the ACA’s own former Muslim host, Apostate Prophet! This caller is likely very handsome, and also does show notes for Truth Wanted.
That’s the show folks, we’ll see you all next week!
Hello everyone and welcome to another episode of The Atheist Experience. This week, Shannon Q is joined by the one and only Forrest Valkai!
First up is Anthony from VA who is calling to argue that the body of God is the universe. The argument is founded on the idea that complex arrangements of atoms can lead to consciousness, and solar systems look similar to atoms and they might be the atoms of God?
Next up is Noah from CA, a deist who claims that we are born and are currently living in hell. They abhorrently suggest that all of the sufferings that occurs in the world is just the waiting room to get to the perfect place, and is something that we can all laugh about later once we get to the other place after spending years being hazed by this bully of God. Piss off!
Next up is Jeffrey from PA who believes that God created two genders. The idea of two genders is a very antiquated western viewpoint that is not reflected by other cultures. Thank you for being a great caller Jeffrey.
John from Canada is the less pleasant version of the last caller. Good use of assertions buddy.
Next is Gohan from TX who has questions regarding the pro-choice argument that relates to abortion (the fetus’s use of the mother’s uterus), and organ donation.
Our final call is Tony from MA who presents the idea religion encourages narcissism and platforms for extreme narcissists.
Greetings! Today we have the talented duo of Johnny Angel and Kenneth Leonard who will patiently present questions to callers that cause deep thinking about how to determine what is true.
First caller is Ernie from CA who has proof of Jesus. It is because the Bible, which has always been true, talks about giants and we can find fossils of giants all over the world. Then there is Nimrod, who is why we have continents and the earth no longer has Pangea. Where is the connection between all this and god? When is it time to believe something is true? Why is the Bible a reliable source of truth? How do you know what Jesus said about anything? Did you know that the Rig Veda has been around longer than the Bible?
Next caller is Sasha from OR who is exploring Reiki and Astrology as spiritual practices. Love is when you are operating through your heart chakra. How do you define spirituality, the concept of love, chakras, and energy? Can these things be measured by any kind of scientific instruments? Why is the medical industry not making money off of Reiki? How do you tell the difference between feeling the effects of these things and something your brain is doing? What is the experimental design for proving these claims? How do you know something exists other than tradition?
Mark from MS no longer believes some of the things in the bible such as the original sin, 6,000 year old earth, and the flood, but still considers himself a Christian. He believes in a creator but it should not be taught in schools. Why are you still a Christian? What does it mean for someone to be a Christian? If you don’t believe in original sin, what is the purpose of the crucifixion and resurrection? Why do you believe he died in front of his disciples? Is there independent extra-biblical evidence for this? What tools are we using to arrive at our conclusions?
Drew from WA would like to know how to respond to friends when they get offended from being told that god isn’t real. We say that we don’t believe that god exists and ask for evidence. You want to produce a conversation, not a confrontation. If friends are using slurs or hurtful terms, you do not need to hang out with them. Look at some of Anthony Magnabosco’s work and Street Epistemology for ideas on how to address this. You do not owe anyone an explanation of who you are.
Aelora in OR has a question about advice heard from witches on TikTok that is inducing abortion by taking different herbs. People who have taken this advice ended up in the hospital or dying. They want to know about this in light of Roe Vs. Wade. This is one of the effects that magical thinking has on the mind. There are people that are science educators who listen for this kind of stuff and make response videos. Look for doctors on TikTok such as MD Aware, that address this and tag them so that it can be effectively dealt with.
That is it for the show! Keep up the good work and support of our essential workers. See you next week!
The Non-Prophets, Episode 21.23 airing Sunday, 06-05-2022 featuring Secular Rarity, Scott Dickie , Richard Gilliver and Cynthia McDonald.
This week’s episode covers…
Another deep dive episode where we cover two major topics. Abortion going illegal throughout the land, and a devastating shooting in Buffalo. Let’s get into it.
First up we look at how Oklahoma is making it illegal to be a woman with their latest abortion bans. While it is the most restrictive in the US we discuss what is and is not allowed. It might not be as bad as first reported, but restless assured, it is still horrible. While on the topic of abortion we look at the Turn Away study. Showing the effects on being allowed abortions, or what happens when women are denied them. You might be surprised by the numbers, if you lived under a rock that is.
Lastly, Did the Buffalo shooter get radicalized by Tucker Carlson? Is Fox News responsible for the content they put out, or are they just there to poison peoples minds? I’m just asking questions! Like, isn’t it weird everyone at Fox News is distancing themselves from hours of Replacement Theory content? I mean they didn’t load the guns, but did they pull the trigger through their rhetoric? It seems to me that the answers are clear, but we are just asking questions right? Right?!
Segment 1a - Abortion Not OK in OK Oklahoma passes strictest abortion ban; services to stop AP, By Sean Murphy, May 19 2022 http://tiny.cc/abortnotokinok
Segment 1b - The Turn away study A landmark study tracks the lasting effect of having an abortion — or being denied one NPR, By Megan Burbank, May 15 2022 http://tiny.cc/turnawaystudy
Segment 2 - Can we Replace this “Theory” Conservatives Are Defending a Sanitized Version of ‘The Great Replacement’ The Atlantic, By Adam Serwer, May 18 2022 http://tiny.cc/greatreplace
Additional links: A neo-Nazi idea to spark a race war inspired the Buffalo killings Vox, By Zack Beauchamp, May 16 2022 http://tiny.cc/neoracewarbuffalo
The Great Replacement: The Past & Disturbing Present of American Nazis Skepchick, Rebecca Watson, ~May 16 2022 http://tiny.cc/greatreplacehistory
Fox News Suddenly Goes Quiet on ‘Great Replacement’ Theory After Buffalo Shooting The Guardian, Adam Gabbatt, May 17 2022 http://tiny.cc/slyfoxgoesquiet
Whaddya buying, stranger? Not theism? Well you’re in the right place, it’s time for Truth Wanted, and this week Dan is joined by Alice Greczyn! She has an IMDB page!
This week’s Patron of the Week is Jay Gu! Thank you for the support Jay!
Jessica is a mental health professional in Texas, and she’s called in to speak about the struggle of being true to your beliefs while providing care to folks who don’t always share your worldview. Alice recommends the Secular Therapy Project as a resource for maintaining Jessica’s integrity, and Dan shares how his own nonconformity contributed to his own deconversion. We also find out a bit more about Dan’s family’s contempt of male jewelry.
Second is Jay, who quizzes our hosts on their knowledge of how the Bible treats women. Dan and Alice are down for a quote battle. Despite Jay’s claims that we haven’t read the Bible, ours host's response call is clear evidence to the contrary. We get the weak argument for context. Context. CONTEXT! Jay isn’t listening, We close out with some misogynistic garbage from Jay, and this show notes writer is fed up. Gay people work in construction, women are mechanics. We see it every day. Get stuffed.
Adam’s up, and he is super miffed by the misrepresentation of the null hypothesis. For someone who isn’t familiar with the concept, Alice gives a great response. Dan speaks to the nomenclature of miracles, and how that might apply to our caller's topic of conversation.
Our penultimate caller is Jan, with a story of how purity culture affects our sex lives. Dan illustrates the absence of consent in biblical conceptions of sex, and both hosts agree that we’ve moved on from these ancient concepts of what constitutes a healthy sex life. Sex good, dogma bad.
Finally, Drew wants to talk about incest and genetic viability from a Biblical perspective. Our hosts agree that the stories in the Bible are scientifically impossible. Alice talks about how inter-marriage in European monarchy is an example of why this can be dangerous. Hapsburg jaw anyone?
That’s a wrap folks! Thank you for joining us, and never don’t not keep unwanting the truth!
When you sincerely believe that god has a perfect plan for your life and a Proverbs 31 wife all lined up for you, the dating scene can be a little bit different. When you lose all of that through divorce and the deconstruction of your faith, night clubs can suddenly seem irrationally intimidating, to say nothing of one night stands. Author and speaker Drew Bekius joins Christy in an intimate conversation about dating and deconstructing and what it really feels like to save your first date until after marriage. Purity culture problems abound, your stories and questions and of course what’s turning us on this week on SecX!
Dive deeper into the episode and find what’s turning us on this week at https://www.vcatx.com/media/datingdeconstruction
In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Matt Dillahunty is joined by @Paulogia!
First up is Issac from Israel who presents an argument for the truth of Judaism and its version of God by using the continued existence of the Jewish people.
Next up is Clarence from OH who is confused about the laws of identity, non-contradiction, and excluded middle.
Kevin from NY has a claim that will help our hosts find God. What’s the claim? The book of Enoch apparently describes supermassive black holes, but only if you interpret the text correctly. Whatever you say dude...
Next up is Jonathan from CO who questions why Atheists would choose to help others and make the world a better place if there is no God to motivate them. Please keep believing in a God.
Up next is Shiela from KY who had a recent confrontation with a family member who used their husband’s declining health as leverage to bring the caller back into religion.
Next is Mercy from China is wondering what Matt’s position on assisted suicide and death with dignity, is and what the qualifications would be for granting permission to do so.
Our final call is John from TX who wants to share some of God’s laws of reality. A lot of these sound like they were pulled out of a very specific orifice.
Explore with us how theists describe what they believe and why with Jmike and special guest ExXtian Erin!
First caller is James in Canada who wants to talk about the utility of using philosophy as proof for god. If a perfectly syllogistic argument is presented that shows god is true, do we become theists? The hosts explain that sometimes people think that if they are a Christian, it will convince the audience better than scripture or facts will. Syllogistic arguments have just not been presented to us yet. Oftentimes words are used differently or incorrectly.
Amanda in TX would like to talk about Christian forgiveness in cases of child abuse. Erin explains that the idea of being forced to forgive everyone is one way abusers escape accountability. There is no need to forgive everybody and encourage further victim blaming. It does not always help to be forced to move forward with something before you are ready. Anger is a valid emotion and tells us something to stay safe or prevent further harm. There are some things that we need to stay angry about.
Bee in VA who has an acquaintance that does not want to talk about religion but brings up strong opinions on the LGBTQ community. This person has been told about what is in the Bible but has not read it. They are not accepting that sex and gender distinction is based on a text they have not even fully read. It helps to go through the person’s reasonings and discuss ideas. If what they believe is true, there should be nothing to fear with investigations. You will have to break this down granularly. Ask yourself what you want out of this friendship or if you are worried about this person. Avoid getting your friend on the defensive and try to figure out some good boundaries.
Patrick in FL asserts that atheism is a leap of faith exactly the same as theism. He describes atheism as a rejection of any possibility of god. What do you think atheism is? Our distinction is that there is not sufficient evidence for god. We don’t reject the idea that there would ever be any evidence in the future. Which god do you believe in? If we do not believe there is an even number of atoms in the universe, does that mean that we believe there is an odd number of atoms? What is the evidence for the god you believe in?
Michael in AZ asks what a prosperity minister would say if there was a news report of a more advanced extraterrestrial civilization contacting us. There are already teachings that are working these ideas into their doctrines. You can always hide god behind something in every case. He also asks if it is true that god wanted the first born of all the Egyptians to be killed before the mass Exodus. These are just stories and no reason to believe that these things happened.
Thank you everyone for tuning in huge thanks to the essential workers. We appreciate you!
The Non-Prophets, Episode 22.23 airing Sunday, May 29, 2022, featuring Cynthia McDonald, Kelley Laughlin, Jason Sherwood and Secular Rarity.
This week’s episode covered a West Virginia student walk out over a (mandatory?) Christian revival at a public high school. Is VR the next big place to attend church? A major report from the FFRF and the Baptist Joint Council on Christian Nationalism and the Jan, 6 2021 Insurrection. Ending with anti-vaccine ‘Expert’ Sharri Tenpenny’s latest claim that COVID-19 Vaccines Will Turn People Into ‘Transhumanist Cyborgs’!
Articles Discussed
Segment 1
West Virginia students to stage walkout over Christian revival at high school Associated Press, 9 Feb 2022 https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2...
Oops, I got some Jesus on my homework!
WSAZ-TV reports: Mandatory attendance at religious assembly called 'mistake'. WSAZ News By Marlee Pinchok, Feb. 3, 2022 https://www.wsaz.com/2022/02/04/manda...
Segment 2
Faith in the metaverse: A VR quest for community, fellowship Associated Press, 31 Jan 2022, By Luis Andres Henao https://apnews.com/article/coronaviru...
Segment 3
CHRISTIAN NATIONALISM AND THE JANUARY 6, 2021 INSURRECTION By Freedom From Religion Foundation, Baptist Joint Counsel and Christians Against Christion Nationalism https://static1.squarespace.com/stati... Document release Zoom meeting w/ the authors https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3aA1...
Segment 4
Anti-Vaccine ‘Expert’ Sherri Tenpenny Says COVID-19 Vaccines Will Turn People Into ‘Transhumanist Cyborgs’ RIGHT WING WATCH, 28 Jan 2022 By Kyle Mantyla https://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/a...
Hey Truth Seekers! Welcome to another episode of Truth Wanted! This week Nate Smith is joined by Paulogia!
First up is Otangelo from Brazil who wants to know what kind of evidence for god the hosts would accept, and what it would take to thoroughly convince them.
Next up is Raymond from FL who wants to continue the conversation about why people are so easily indoctrinated to fear hell, even long after they’ve deconverted.
Next is Red from OH who believes that religious indoctrination is often, although not always, a pathway to child abuse.
Our final caller for the evening is Kristen from NC who recounts a past experience with an “apparition,” and how that interpretation of events made it challenging to deconstruct their faith.
Welcome to another episode of The Atheist Experience. Today we have Apostate Prophet in the host chair alongside Shannon Q, this is going to be a good one!
First caller Gregory in AZ asks how to talk with muslims about hijabs and other face coverings as he feels it’s outdated. We mainly have a problem with islam societies mandating wearing hijabs. Try arguing against the idea that it empowers women.
Eric in NH claims god exists and is the foundation for all reality and is an omnigod, and other word salad. How can one summarize this call when Eric can’t seem to agree on his definitions. Yeah no, lucid dreaming is not a pathway to understand physics or to prove god.
Ahmet in OH continues on the hijab call claiming it’s a human rights issue. We agree people can wear what they want but we disagree with making it mandatory. Some muslim women feel it’s subjugating and not actually a choice.
Ben in AK believes god is the universe and we have to forget everything we know about the universe. God, a young solar system, Saturn birthing plants, and LOKI??? Try making sense next time.
Noah in OK asks AP what the creation story is in the Quran. It's not that different from other Abrahamic religions, almost as if it pulls from those previous religious myths…
Parham in The UK worries liberalism/secularism won’t survive an influx of theocratic voters, like muslim immigrants in Europe, and thinks only Christianity can combat this. Sure religions have held on for millenia, but non-believers are growing in numbers due in large part to secular efforts. Don’t forget, christian law is just as bad as islamic law…
Derrick in SC asks if the locus of control is pseudoscience and if people control what they believe by avoiding consenting viewpoints. Sure, you can control what information you expose yourself to, to an extent, but not what you are convinced is true.
That's all the ACA shows for this week, thanks for joining us. Catch the next ACA live show, Secular Sexuality, this Thursday at 7PM central!
The Non-Prophets, Episode 21.21 airing Sunday, May 18th 2022 featuring Malty, Pseudonymousaurus Rex, Kelley Laughlin and Josh Entner
This week’s episode covers…
Welcome to another episode and a special welcome to a brand new show host in Pseduonymousaurus Rex! Man that is a finger full to type! He is joined by Kelly Laughlin and Josh Entner while Malty keeps this crazy train on the rails where it belongs!
First up, Talking all about Texas HB 20 which is to keep media platforms from editing or removing posts based on the posters view point. It’s one of those freedom bills that seems like a good idea until you realize they just want to turn Twitter into Parler. I’m sure that isn’t a dated reference.
Up next, we head to the land of potatoes where the LT Governor says that “God calls us to pick up the sword and fight - Christ will reign in the state of Idaho”. We have some questions about this. Sadly this type of language might be gaining traction as we are attempted to be dragged into a theocracy.
A disclaimer for this next segment. Please do not watch while sitting down to a meal. Especially if it is Thai. Police arrest a leader of a corpse worshiping cult. If it just stopped at the worshiping maybe this would have been a non-story. Also, did no one tell them the sacrament is metaphorical? Also, also, it’s supposed to be the body of Christ, not the body of Chris! (bah dum tiss)
Lastly, The numbers have been crunched and it seems that the non-religious are overwhelming pro-choice! Whether you are surprised or not it does seem that once you start thinking and learning for yourself you tend to think people having choices of their body is a good thing!
That’s about it for this week. If you like Pseduonymousaurus Rex’s first time on the show please say so down in the comments and give him a big thumbs up on that like button. We just might see more of him in the future!
Segment 1 - Texas Came and Took it: …Free Speech, That Is. In a Blow to Free Speech, Texas’ Social Media Law Allowed to Proceed Pending Appeal Electronic Freedom Foundation BY KAREN GULLO May 12, 2022 http://tiny.cc/texashb20
Segment 2 - Holy war in the land of potatoes Idaho’s Lt Governor: ‘God calls us to pick up the sword and fight — Christ will reign in the state of Idaho’ DeadState BY SKY PALMA May 9th 2022 https://deadstate.org/idahos-lt-gover...
Segment 3 - Corpse-loving Cult Leader in Cuffs Police in Thailand arrest leader of corpse-worshiping cult AP news By TASSANEE VEJPONGSA May 9, 2022 http://tiny.cc/thaicorpserecipe
Segment 4 - Survey says: Non-Religious are Mostly Pro-Choice The nonreligious are overwhelmingly pro-choice Only Sky BY ADAM LEE 05/13/2022
Tonight’s the night for another episode of Truth Wanted! This week ObjectivelyDan is joined by our guest Eve was Framed. Eve was raised as an evangelical christian in and around Seven Mountain Theology and attended the Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry… You can now find her at www.tiktok.com/@eve_wasframed
Our Patron Of The Week is SkeptiKarl, thank you so much for donating.
First caller up to tonight is Mary in FL asks Eve if she was shunned by her family. While they hold different beliefs, she is still loved and accepted by her family! Only a lucky few get to say that, given that background.
Evangelical Christianity seems to be about a third of the population with a surprising amount of young people. Eve has been pushing back on Tiktok and talks about her experience dealing with christians on that platform.
Doug in CA dives into Eve’s experience at Bethel’s as he has a healing school nearby and has people trying to try to lay hands to heal him. Eve had to go out “treasure hunting” to try “healing” people, usually visually disabled, and never saw anyone magically healed. Apparently, the school even had award ceremonies for someone that “healed” the best.
Red from OH wants advice on how to come out to parents as atheist. If it’s important, we totally accept that. Make sure you are safe and have a plan if a catastrophe happens. A normal conversation is best, don’t make an ordeal out of it. Eve wrote an email, it gives space and allows them to take it in and respond when they are ready. Boundaries are important, make sure to enforce them. Good luck Red!
Jon in Canada asks why Eve chose her name. Eve was Framed retells biblical stories and dislikes how Eve was punished in the bible. Biblical Eve got a bad rap. We don’t believe it and are out here looking for the truth…
Wesley in WV claims Jesus gave us all a vision. Before you dive into this, how can you know god told you this? Going on, Wesley claims all perverted religious texts turned to dust for a minute, as per his last call’s prophecy. Hmm, we don’t see any news on this one anywhere…
Thank you to all who joined us in person for last week's live show and especially those that donated to the UTSA SSA! We ended up raising $4002.64!!!
Porn, huh? What is it good for? This supposedly “new drug” arguably dates back to prehistory and yet our access to and relationship with it have dramatically shifted in the last decade, and not always for the better. Join us as Christy, Laura and Sinn explore the messy and often sticky world of erotic audio, dime store paperbacks and good ole fashioned internet porn. Catch the episode live and add your thoughts and questions or tune in just to find out what’s turning us on this week as we explore the height, breadth and um, girth of all things naked or nasty on this week’s SecX!
Welcome to another episode of The Atheist Experience. This week, Matt Dillahunty is joined by Dave Warnock!
First up is Aiden from IL who is calling to update our hosts on their life since their previous call about dying with dignity.
Next up is Cody from TX who wants to talk about the importance of the Secular Student Alliance and its role in normalizing atheism and providing opportunities for atheists to find community.
John from Canada is calling to express their opinion on the overturning of “Roe vs Wade.” Your opinion has been noted; we thank you for your business. Next customer, please.
Art from PA is calling to present an argument that Jesus isn’t actually God. Flawed premises equal a flawed conclusion.
Oh, Mykil from Canada is mad. Really mad.
Next up is Tory from IL, an ex-Jehovah's Witness who lost everything when they departed the organization.
Up next is Victor from TX who claims that God cannot be demonstrated by using reason, but can be using intuition.
Next is David from AZ who is apparently super pro-choice, but still has questions regarding the rights of the fetus.
Next is Ciel from OR who believes that deep, internal spiritual experiences are what drive people to God.
Today please join us to learn from Kenneth Leonard who is joined by the exceptional Katy Montgomerie. They will both work with callers who try to present evidence for god.
First caller is Ruth in CA who has a message for Christians: Get out of the way and let us be people. You are taking us back to the dark ages and are afraid of losing your evangelical followers. Kenneth reminds us that the incentive for elected officials is not always to do the right thing, but to take advantage of peop’s rage against those who are different. Katy connects the dots between misogyny, the Bible, and the opposition to abortion. It is scary when people weaponize religion. Ruth finishes the call by thanking the hosts for providing an education for us.
Dani in the UK asks Katy if it is easier to be trans in the UK than it is in the U.S. Katy informs us that most people are not wanting to take away trans rights and are not bigoted in the UK. She mentions that the U.S. has states with varying laws and attitudes regarding trans people. Even within states, things can vary and it is not even as simple as rural vs urban.
Xeno from South Korea has scientific evidence for god. His evidence is mathematical and starts by asking the hosts to put a number on how much they know about the universe. Even if the hosts know virtually nothing, where is the evidence? Can we convict somebody of a crime by using evidence found with all the stuff that we don’t know? Science is the best method we know of to explain what is true. If you have another way to show if something is true, then you need to demonstrate that. How do we know that a frog wizard with colors is not the something that was the beginning of your god?
Special guest Clara, president of the UTSA Secular Student Alliance (SSA) in San Antonio is our last caller. She got involved with the SSA in 2016 by noticing the students with the table and attending meetings. She slowly learned more and has been president since 2019. This is an important group because there are over 25 religious groups on campus, but this is the only secular group. The SSA has been around since 2013 and is there to support non religious students when they need help getting out of religion. The best way to learn about the organization or support is through the website. Lots of guest speakers have visited such as Anthony Magnabosco who practiced street epistemology at the school for a number of years.
The Non-Prophets, Episode 21.20 airing Sunday, May 11th 2022 featuring Cynthia McDonald, Dr. Abby Hafer, MD Aware and Student Doctor Ben.
This week’s episode covers…
Well it is finally here. The Roe versus Wade deep dive we never wanted to do. Yet we do have one of the best panels for this discussion. Our conductor this week Cynthia McDonald is a social worker deep in the trenches of Chicago. Student Doctor Ben is an aspiring and talented MD. MD Awere a fully practicing MD from up north. Then you have Dr. Abby Hafer a PhD teaching prospective doctors all about anatomy and physiology! We couldn’t get a better panel if we tried!
Since this is a deep dive into nasty waters we only have three segments for you. First we look into History’s Pivot to attack Roe v Wade. From the big hair of the 80s to today we look into how attitudes changed, but the attack kept getting worse.
Then we talk about the effects of what will happen when Roe v Wade is rolled back. Does the US turn into a conservative utopia, or are even more people going to die? Only history can tell for sure.
Lastly, we touch on the SCOTUS leak. How much of a deal it is and isn’t.
This is likely going to be with us for a while and we will keep informing you as to what is going on.
Segment 1 - History’s Pivot to attack Roe v Wade
How the Supreme Court went from cementing abortion rights in Roe v. Wade to drafting their demise
CNBC, BY KEVIN BREUNINGER, May 6th 2022
http://tiny.cc/howrvwchanged
Supporting Articles
The U.S. Was Democratically Legalizing Abortion. Then Roe Happened and Created a Backlash | Opinion
Newsweek, BY SHANY MOR, May 5th 2022 http://tiny.cc/didrvwhurt
Segment 2 - Slippery Slope if RvW is rolled back
Slippery Slope if Roe v. Wade is rolled back Here's what could happen if Roe v. Wade is overturned
NPR, BY JOE HERNANDEZ, May 3, 2022
http://tiny.cc/rvwrollback
Supporting Articles
Abortion Pills Will Be the Next Battleground in a Post-Roe America
NYT via msn.com, BY PAM BELLUCK & SHERYL GAY STOLBERG, May 6th 2022
http://tiny.cc/abortpillbattle
13 states have passed so-called 'trigger laws,' bans designed to go into effect if Roe v. Wade is overturned
http://tiny.cc/13statestriggered
CNN, BY ELIZABETH WOLFE, May 3rd, 2022
Why overturning Roe v. Wade could impact other privacy rights KHOU.com, BY lAUREN TALARICO, May 3rd 2022
http://tiny.cc/rvwandprivacy
Segment 3 - Point/Counterpoint to SCOTUS Leak
Point/Counterpoint to SCOTUS Leak Biden Pledges to Try to Enshrine Roe Into Law If Court Strikes Down Landmark Ruling
Bloomberg via msn.com, BY JENNY LEONARD Et al. May 3rd 2022
http://tiny.cc/bidentocodeabort
Senate to Vote Next Week on Codifying Roe v. Wade into Law, But Obstacles Remain
U.S.News, BY LISA HAGEN, May 5th 2022
http://tiny.cc/sentovotervw
Guide: Fight for abortion rights with FFRF FFRf
http://tiny.cc/enterffrfinrvwfight
‘Abortion Will Always be Safe and Legal in Illinois,' Gov. Pritzker Says nbcchicago.com, May 3rd 2022
http://tiny.cc/ilsupportsafeabort
Washington Governor Promises to Defend Abortion Rights AP news, BY RACHEL LA CORTE, May 3, 2022
http://tiny.cc/wapromiseabortrights
SHOW NOTES
This Friday the 13th Dan is on location at UTSA, with Secular Student Alliance and special guests! Not to worry folks, none of them are surnamed Voorhees.
Zach Shedd speaks with Dan about creating secular communities, and our first caller asks the hosts how to approach conversations with a budding atheist. Dan recommends Street Epistemology, and agrees with Zach’s point that setting boundaries is important.
We hit up our audience for some Q&A. Some strange Johnny guy asks Dan if he prefers the live show format to the remote, and Jamal asks what was most difficult about Dan’s deconversion process.
Our next guest is John Dye, he studies volcanoes, and erupts into the background of the SSA and why he joined. Needs more magma.
An audience member suspects that her child may be faking faith to further their romantic pursuits. Neither Dan nor John recommend it, and John is very clear that he will not be dating any crystal cuties. Finally, Madison shares a story about his first date experience with a spiritualist.
After a quick chat with John about his deconversion, Paul in the audience asks how to get involved with the secular movement. A former Muslim asks how to find community after leaving religion, and finally Donovan asks how the SSA approaches activism.
We take a call from Michael, who asks our hosts for their perspective on the recent odious activities of the Supreme Court. Surprising zero people across the globe, our hosts are champions of women’s bodily autonomy. This is why activism is so important!
Back to our audience, Zoe encourages locals to show up for the Bans off our Bodies protest, and Jamal asks how to promote positive atheism. Cody Valdez joins us on stage, and shares his experiences as a newcomer to the atheist movement.
Next we’ll talk to Larry, who has a grandson starting at U of T, and asks Cody how he can get involved! The power of SSA grows!
Shifting back to our audience emcee, Johnny talks to another SSA member who expresses his gratitude for the exposure today. We’re happy to do it! Joel asks our hosts what other beliefs they’ve shed, and Dan admits he used to have some misguided views about the LGBTQ+ community. It’s ok Dan, we forgive you.
Tanjil calls in and asks about coming out as an atheist to family. Our hosts recommend kindness and discretion, and an audience member offers his perspective.
Hal has an argument from incredulity that will shock and amaze. Jk, no it won't. Dan and Cody make short work of this, but Hal seems nice.
Special guests Christy Powell and Jim Barrows join the conversation with some banter before we wrap up, thanks for watching!
Welcome to another episode of The Atheist Experience. This week, Matt Dillahunty is joined by Forrest Valkai!
First up is John from Georgia, who has been asked by others in their community the classic question, “If we came from monkeys, why are there still monkeys?” The caller wants to know if our hosts have a better response to that question than they do.
Next up is John from CO who is wondering how Matt could have possibly lost faith when the truth of the Bible is apparently as obvious as math.
Dan from FL believes that abortions are murders and that there should be a penalty for those who get one.
Joseph from the UK believes that mathematics provides evidence for a creator through the use of probability calculation.
Next up is Tony from CA, who is wondering if biological evolution has any connections to societal evolution and the widespread tribalistic polarization we see today?
Next is John from the UK who engaged a creationist on a forum, and has questions for our hosts regarding abiogenesis and the origins of life in the universe.
Our final caller is Ashton from CA who is wondering if our hosts still hold out hope for evidence and quality arguments after all these years of running the show?
In today’s episode of the Talk Heathen! This week, Jmike is joined by Richard Gilliver!
First up is Isaiah from South Korea who is calling to discuss the origins of an animal or plants’ instinct to survive and perpetuate their species’ existence.
Next is Tristan from TX who finds that many of the commonly presented definitions of Gods to be contradictory.
Next up is Laura from England who believes that they were resurrected three times earlier this year.
Edward from WI has questions about having productive discussions with people who are deep into woo and pseudoscience.
Next is Mark from AU who disputes that the scientific is the best method we as a species have for determining truth.
The Non-Prophets, Episode 21.19 airing Sunday, May 8, 2022 @3:00pm CT featuring Jason Sherwood, Teo el Ateo and Laura Magee.
This week’s episode covers:
Welcome back to another episode of The Non-Prophets! This week Jason Sherwood is back in the driver’s seat joined by our veterans Laura Magee and our favorite Cartoon (2 weeks in a row) Teo El Ateo!
Segment 1 - Teachers“Grooming”Kids? Beware of God’s Sword!
For the first segment we talking about a hate preacher who is calling for the beheading of teachers he things are "grooming" children away from his idea of a god. Wow that's a bit extremist!
http://tiny.cc/hatepreacherviolence
Segment 2 - SCOTUS Tackles Football Praying Coach
Then we head to the seat of US government for a look at a supreme court case... no not Roe v. Wade. That is going to be a whole other deep dive next week. Nope, this is a high school coach who was fired for praying with his players after games at the 50 yard line. Now, I'm no sports ball fan, but that seems a bit public.
http://tiny.cc/thelongestprayer
Segment 3 - Are Covid Curls still Lurking in our midst?
Then we crunch the numbers and wonder if we are in the middle of an invisible Covid wave? Honestly, I don't have much witty comments on this other than wash your hands and take personal responsibility!
http://tiny.cc/invisiblecovidwave
Segment 4 - A Florida Man you can be proud of!
Finally this week, we take on a Florida man story? Oh boy! No wait, it is a Florida man who is trying to use Florida's book banning law against them! Banning the bible because of it's offensive content. Sex, drugs, murders, and I hear it actually talks about an invisible sky daddy that is ok with it as long as you do it in his name. So weird!
http://tiny.cc/floridamanbanbible
Well that just about does it for this week when Praying for Bible Bans that make Preachers Prance. See you next week!
Hellooo fellow combers of candor, it’s Friday night, and this week ExXtian Erin will be joined by Neil the 604 Atheist, a familiar face from the ACA show Non-Prophets, and host of his very own Youtube channel featuring deconversion stories. It’s a Canadian takeover, and no, we will not apologize. We will, however, feast upon poutine and be terrorized by geese.
This week’s Patron of the Week is Freethinker 215! Many thanks, but we’re still waiting on cheques from freethinkers 1 thru 214.
Patrick wants to talk about overpopulation and the tendency of religion to encourage procreation in the interest of making more Christians. Neil thinks that part of this might be a holdover from an age before modern medical care, when juvenile mortality was much higher. Both hosts touch on how education is the key to healthy skepticism, and agree that the younger generations seem to be breaking the cycle of indoctrination.
Up next is Sven, who asks our hosts if they believe that a soul is intrinsic to the human experience. Neither Erin nor Neil have seen evidence of consciousness existing outside a physical body, so one might say this is a… no-brainer? I’ll show myself out. We’ll dabble in the potentiality that souls might be real and we haven’t figured them out yet, but until we can demonstrate it, we’re not convinced.
Mark had a brush with death that reinforced his atheism. This is a great perspective from an atheist in his 70’s, Mark’s takeaway from almost dying is that kindness is paramount. Couldn’t agree more ol’ timer! We appreciate this nugget of wisdom!
Finally we have some more international representation! Isaiah in South Korea missed the community that religion offers, until Jesus paid him a visit one lonely night. Our hosts quiz Isaiah on how Jesus changed his mind, but he’s reticent to describe the experience. It’s tough to parse your conversion without details! Spill that tea!
That’s a wrap folks, join us next week for a very special episode as Dan joins the Secular Student Alliance live at the University of Texas! This episode will be a fundraiser for SSA, and we’ll be joined by some very special guests as we promote this great cause, don’t miss it!
Perhaps as many as a third of us are neurodiverse- equipped out of the box with a brain that doesn’t neatly fit into our world because of ADHD, ASC, dyslexia, sensory processing and a handful of other considerations. Marie LePage, everyone’s favorite deconstructive and spiritual atheist, friend of the show, tells us their story of masking, loving and living with a neurodivergent diagnosis. Marie, Myself and I host Marie LePage, Christy, what’s turning us on and your calls and questions on this week’s SecX!
Dive deeper into the episode and find what’s turning us on this week at https://www.vcatx.com/media/masking.
Secular Sexuality show is LIVE every Thursday from 7:00 to 8:30pm Central Time.
Welcome to another episode of the Atheist Experience! This week, Matt Dillahunty is joined by Shannon Q!
First is Larry from VA who is curious to know what parts of our brain are utilized when a person speaks or listens to someone speaking in tongues?
Next up is Rosalind from FL who doesn’t understand how Atheists can be moral since their morality can be anything.
Next is Anthony from VA who says you can still have Christianity without Christ.
Up next is Mark from PA who believes that theists are mentally ill and that society should not be tolerant of them. Take it away Shannon.
Next is Jay from MO who asks if Atheism is a mental illness, among other enlightening questions.
Next up is Gary from CT who asks what makes a real, “insert group label here,” and what type of evidence is acceptable.
Next is Luke from FL who believes that xenophobia and racism don’t occur naturally, but are generated through science.
Our final caller is Victor from TX who seems to have invented their own God with their chosen qualities, but cannot justify any of it.
Greetings Heathens! In today’s episode of Talk Heathen, Kenneth Leonard is joined by Johnny P. Angel. These two are a hoot, it’s going to be a good show!
Let’s get to calls! “God Almighty” is angry that we don’t believe in him and there is no world peace. Kenneth asks, Why should we believe that God is speaking through him? Pro tip, don’t get intoxicated and try to call the show. It never ends particularly well.
Cameron in Minnesota is up next, he wonders what counter-apologetics to employ when talking to his Muslim coworker. We definitely recommend chatting with Apostate Prophet, he is absolutely wonderful! Though you don’t have to be an expert with counter-apologetics, just be honest and forthcoming (and above all else, nice!)
Steven in Texas claims there is scientific evidence for Islam and God. He provides a couple examples and it seems as though he is rationalizing and counting the hits and disregarding the misses from the Quran. Also sounds like a LOT of cherry picking.
Oh yay, it’s Gohan in Texas calling in again about abortion. Playing word games and trying to emphasize how it should only be done if the pregnancy is high risk or causes severe harm. When doesn’t it though? So who determines this? What about bodily autonomy? Dude, call in when there are folks with uteruses on panel, ugh!
Bonnie in Wisconsin claims she is pro-abortion, but only for specific reasons and definitely not as a birth control method. Abortion as birth control is a myth Bonnie. It is not a thing and is an assertion made by anti-choice alarmists that want to paint people who have to make an incredibly troubling choice as bad people. This is a slippery slope Bonnie, and rife with pitfalls. Oh, now she calls it murder. I don’t think you’re actually pro-abortion Bonnie.
That’s our show for this week, please continue to be safe in your area, wear your mask, and please please PLEASE get vaccinated if you can. The world is better with you in it. See you next week!
The Non-Prophets, Episode 21.17 airing Sunday, May 1, 2022 @3:00pm CT featuring Cynthia McDonald, Teo El Ateo, Richard Gilliver and Jessica Bluemke.
Welcome back to another episode of The Non-Prophets. This week we have a returning special guest for you. Jessica Bluemke joins the veteran crew of Cynthia McDonald, and our friends from across various ponds and land masses, Richard Gilliver and everyone's favorite toon Tel El Ateo!
Segment 1: Satanists will sue PA school district for rejecting After School Satan Club http://tiny.cc/np_satanistssue
Segment 2: This Alabama librarian wanted to adopt a child. Her lack of religion became a barrier. http://tiny.cc/np_atheistadoption/
Segment 3: WTF Florida??? Florida bans 54 of its school math textbooks for 'trying to indoctrinate students': Half of the prohibited titles feature Critical Race Theory http://tiny.cc/wtffloridabooks http://tiny.cc/np_wtffloridacrt
Segment 4: SITRD; Atheists, spurred by growing ranks, gather for first time since start of pandemic http://tiny.cc/np_atheistsgather1
Welcome back to the best thing about your Friday night, it’s time for Truth Wanted! Tonight, are two terrific titans of the show, we have ExXtian Erin hosting with MD Aware for the very first time!
This week’s Patron of the Week is James Fitzwater! A thousand blessings upon your ancestors James.
Our first caller is the big cheese, the man upstairs, the sky wizard we’ve all been waiting for, it’s God! Our hosts never learned not to play with their food, they ask the caller a few leading questions, and quickly discover there are other god’s, but this god’s not sure how many. I thought this character was omniscient! We have an exchange about free will and souls, and move on.
Estevan thinks using profanity is a poor way of communicating ideas, and asks our hosts if they think it’s moral to use curse words. Erin doesn’t think swearing is intrinsically bad, and MD traces the religious aversion to cursing to the commandment dealing with taking the Lord’s name in vain. He points out that folks usually associate swearing with some negative event, and it’s more about how you say a phrase than what you say. Estevan says a bad word for the very first time, and it’s quite liberating. Curse on, Estevan!
Next on our list is Mark, and he thinks that religious folk that claim to speak to God should be called out more and confronted as being mentally ill. MD clears up what constitutes a mental illness, and asks Mark why he wants to connect those dots between prayer and psychosis. Mark sees harm happening, and while Erin partially agrees that making bad choices based on unverifiable religious belief is dangerous, it doesn’t make a person mentally ill. Gohan’s in Texas, and knock me over with a feather, is opposed to female reproductive autonomy. MD helps him drill down his definition of an organism, and we finally get to the real DNA of this call when MD compares the abortion debate to euthanasia. Gohan’s got no rebuttal when we establish that brain dead people are indeed organisms, and he agrees that terminating life can be a morally correct decision. Eventually, Gohan admits that his stance is “God says so,” and has no legitimate position. This is actually a civil conversation about a touchy topic, with a shade of nebulous goal posts, enjoy!
Jon’s back, and as usual he’s got a big bag of bad ideas. This may be the first time we see MD Aware become visibly annoyed, you’re gonna want to watch this one. It may be short, but it’s oh so sweet.
That’s the show folks, join us on Facebook or on Discord to continue the conversation! Never don’t not un-want the truth!
We know you’ve been wondering. We know you’ve been working up the courage. So just go ahead and ask already, we don’t bite. For free. Whether you’re brave enough to call or just calling for a friend, join Christy and our audience of voyeurs as our favorite sinner and adult performer Sinn Sage rejoins the show to answer all your silliest, sexiest and most salacious questions in this ask me anything event. Nothing but your calls and questions and plenty of things to turn us on this week on SecX!
In today’s episode of The Atheist Experience, Matt is joined by Everyday_Atheist to see how capable callers are answering questions this week.
First caller is Dane in KS who is suggesting that a bracelet that dates back to the 14th century BCE is proof that the Bible is true. How does this bracelet confirm the Biblical stories in a way that proves god? In 2,000 years, when NY City is dug up, will it confirm that Spider Man is real?
Next caller is Jamaal from CA who believes that our consciousness is our soul since we don’t have a scientific explanation for consciousness. He believes that consciousness can affect the brain state and that the supernatural explains experiences. If we don’t have an explanation, you don’t get to make something up. Labels that religions tie to a soul are emergent properties of the brain. You can’t solve a mystery by appealing to a bigger mystery. Can you prove that consciousness is magic and that it exists? How do you know that consciousness is a soul?
James in SC brings up how other animals than humans are living in original sin, and how there are 450 species that engage in same sex acts. Matt puts on his Christian hat to explain that human beings are the only ones who have a duty to god and are accountable to the law. How is it there is the serpent that was cursed to crawl on his belly?
Jelmer in the Netherlands wants to remove the word existence by saying if there is a god that is foundational reality, then either it is true that foundational reality has defined properties or it is not true. If your conclusion at the end is still either god exists or god does not exist, then why go through all the trouble? What is the point of presenting an argument that we ultimately agree on?
Jack in FL would like to talk about the transcendental argument for god. He states that either our worldviews are going to bottom out or we are going to fall into a coherent paradigm or it will be an infinite set of justifications for our beliefs. He thinks that atheists don’t have the basis for logical reasoning. Justin points out that he is begging the question. Matt asks: How do you show that logic is in fact ungrounded? How did you determine that these things must have a grounding?
Jon in Canada claims that BLM is harming black people because it teaches to resist arrest and people end up getting killed. What difference does it make if BLM has any connection to Black Nonbelievers? We don’t believe you have a point.
Vanamali in IL wants to know what the difference is between death cults and religion. It is not about the number of people. Not everything that is under the umbrella of religion is on equal footage to its harm. Death cults hold views that isolate people ultimately resulting in their death.
Thank you for tuning in! We look forward to seeing you back here again so please follow the guidelines and stay safe.
The Non-Prophets, Episode 21.17 airing Sunday, April 24, 2022 @3:00pm CT featuring Malty, Emma Thorne, Teo el Ateo and Cynthia McDonald
Welcome back to another episode of The Non-Prophets. This week we have a new special guest for you. We have new to The Non-Prophets (though not to the ACA) Emma Thorne! Malty takes us into another packed episode with the voice, Cynthia McDonald, and everyone favorite toon Tel El Ateo!
This week’s episode covers the Catholic Diocese wanting to be a “friend of the court” in an Idaho abortion bill lawsuit. Planned Parenthood claimed the bill unconstitutional.
The Pastor of First United Methodist wants his parishioners to “give up whiteness” for lent. We have a cautionary tale from The Gospel Coalition about the evils of Multi Level Marketing and some good news, MLMs are shrinking.
Ending with some good old Chritain Nationalist bullpucky from Ali Alexander on Alex Jones’s InfoWars. May it rest in peace…pieces
Segment 1 - Catholic Dioceses, Idaho “Friend of the Court”? Catholic church asks to intervene in Idaho abortion lawsuit By REBECCA BOONE April 12, 2022 / AP News http://tiny.cc/cathmashesidonabort States move to front lines in battle over abortion rights with Supreme Court decision looming BY MELISSA QUINN JANUARY 20, 2022 / CBS News http://tiny.cc/abortrightinussc
Segment 2 - ‘Fasting from whiteness’ for Lent Oak Park pastor who urged a ‘fasting from whiteness’ for Lent gets worldwide attention BY STEFANO ESPOSITO Apr 8, 2022 / Chicago Sun Times http://tiny.cc/fastinfromwhiteness
Segment 3 - Christians cautioned as MLMs continue to shrink Beware the ‘Christian’ Pitch to Join Multi Level Marketing: BY WILL ANDERSON Jan 28, 2022 / The Gospel Coalition http://tiny.cc/xtiantojoinmil Forced Optimism: MLMs Overlap With Christianity Yet Again BY CAPTAIN CASSIDY Oct 12, 2021 / Patheos http://tiny.cc/xtianandmlm
Segment 4: Ali Alexander Suggests He Won’t Cooperate With DOJ, Says Democrats Want to ‘Usher in a New World Order’ http://tiny.cc/alialexandthenwo
In today’s episode of Talk Heathen, we have Kenneth Leonard joined by Forrest Valkai who will fire away questions for theists to ponder.
First caller is Nicholas from MO who is expressing the benefits of believing and how it makes him happy. He also believes that god’s morality is the basis for existence and if there is a god, then we should be afraid of him. He talks about the Bible being old and the apostles dying for their beliefs.
Consider the questions the hosts ask the caller: How much do you care about whether or not your beliefs are true? What happens when someone believes that blowing people up in a market makes themselves happy? Do people dying for beliefs make the claims true? If we are only talking about utility, can conflicting beliefs both be true at the same time? When is it time to believe a claim? What does the age of a book have to do with whether it’s contents are true? How do you know that the religion you picked is the right one? You must have evidence that god exists in the first place. Just because something is useful, does not make it true. If you can show us evidence that your claims are true, then we will have to come with you.
Rex in SC who has some questions about the possibilities of living in a future simulation. He is asking if it is reasonable to believe this hypothetical. We need to be careful with the terms we use and distinguish between reasonable, probable and possible. This whole idea hinges on the word, “if”. The one thing we can prove for sure is that we exist.
Michael in CA is next who helps out the homeless by providing needed services in different areas, and he does this without god. The reason is to help people, and not because of god or religion. Be a good person because it is the right thing to do, not because someone is telling you to do it. What goes through your head when someone tells you that you can’t be good without a god? The idea that a fear of hell needs to be there for people to do good is just absurd. You don’t have to believe anything that is not true before you go out and be a good person.
Ruth in CA has some comments about the belief of people healing faster when they believe and that her atheist body heals just as fast as others who have faith. She also makes the connection between debating science deniers and debating Flat Earthers. Forrest mentions that in these situations, there is value to the entire conversation being published so that others can benefit. This discussion turned to the popular question theists love: If we came from monkeys, then why are there still monkeys? Because we did not evolve from monkeys. People who ask this think that monkeys are less evolved than humans and there is a hierarchy of existence.
Thank you everyone for tuning in to today’s show! Theists please call in and be prepared to answer questions! Thank you to all the essential workers for continuing to show up and all that you do. See you next week!
It’s Friday, it’s 7p Central, and you know what that means! Tonight, Objectively Dan is joined by his first supernatural creature, shaking the very foundations of his worldview. Welcome WIllow the Wendigo!
This week’s illustrious Patron of the Week is Maxxxwell Carlisle! Gracias, merci, danke, however you say it, thanks for the support!
Chelsea’s up first, she’s dealing with a toxic relationship with her mother. Dan asks if the relationship is salvageable, and Chelsea asks for some details on the dynamic. Both hosts recommend surrounding yourself with people who are a positive influence, and reassure our caller that it’s ok to draw a line in the sand when it comes to the people in your life. Family isn’t who you’re related to genetically, family are the people who accept and love you!
Alison used to be a ghost hunter, and sadly, didn’t find any in ten years of investigation. We get an insight into some of the flawed techniques of ghost hunting in the media, and then we get an epic story that would make for a great Scooby Doo episode, you’ll have to listen to this one! Zoinks!
Next up is Chadwick who wants to talk about the different versions of the Bible, and how we arrived at our current iteration. Dan’s got some great insights on how this book has been shaped for the agenda of those choosing what’s included, and Willow points out that the works attributed to Paul are the true framework of what we know as Christianity. We’re gonna riff on the subject of Paul’s influence on early Christianity for a bit, and end up agreeing that early Christians…. didn’t agree.
Ernie in Canada asks about why hateful bigots are platformed on certain internet sites that shall remain unnamed, and our hosts commiserate. Awful people gonna awful Ernie.
Good grief… it’s Jon in Canada again. Willow absolutely owns this weak-ass apologist, and he retreats to the Arctic. Poor Dan didn’t even get to weigh in, but really, did he need to? Shoulda have known better than to tangle with a wendigo Jon.
That’s a wrap folks, and in case you were wondering, next week’s guest is probably definitely mayyybe not a cannibalistic cryptid.
If modern media is to be believed our forefathers were serious people with simple demands- the freedom to bear arms, buy cheap gas and believe in whatever alternative facts they choose. In a post Truth/ post Trump world it’s starting to feel like the message has gotten a little messy. The ACA’s own Kenneth Leonard joins Christy in a conversation about J6th, CRT, MTG, HRT and what will probably be the death of me as we explore Christian nationalism and the future of America. Catch the conversation plus your calls and questions plus what’s turning us on this week!
Dive deeper into the episode and find what’s turning us on this week at https://www.vcatx.com/media/wcnationalism
Welcome to another episode of the Atheist experience! This week, Jim Barrows is joined by Forrest Valkai!
First up is Alex from Israel who wants to talk about lucid dreaming and its possible naturalistic explanatory power for out of body & near death experiences.
Next is Nate from CA who identifies as an atheist, but takes a 50/50 confidence stance on the true/false claim that a God exists.
Next is Brett from MO who asks us if Atheism is an objective position or subjective?
Up next is Matthew from SC who doesn’t understand what makes someone biologically transgender, versus someone just “choosing” to identify as a sex they weren’t born as.
Next up is Theodore from PA who reasons that after death, our consciousness continues onward via the consciousness of others. So is consciousness like an organic version of distributed computing?
Next up is Jay from TX who claims to have had a near death experience, and believes it to be evidence of the afterlife.
Finally, Jay from MO is calling in to present the standard “it’s just a theory” gish gallop. The call comes with such great quotes like “Life can’t come from nothing,” and “Where does electricity come from?”
Greetings Heathens! We hope to be a sanctuary for you in this chaotic world. In today’s episode of Talk Heathen, JMike is joined by Kenneth Leonard. The gauntlet has been thrown folks, if you have a case that proves sin is a thing and should be a part of our morality, call the show and ask for Kenneth.
Let’s get to calls! Dominic from California would like to prove there is a higher power through a series of convoluted premises. Can science prove intrinsic purpose, JMike asks him. How is this different from debunkable pseudoscience? Dominic goes on to claim that he knows God exists 100%! JMike respods, can you give justification for this God you think is true.
Richard in New Hampshire is up next, he is wondering about the age old question of what makes someone who they are, nature vs. nurture? If only Shannon Q was here to chat about this, but Kenneth does his very best to talk about his perspective on it.
Returning caller Kevin in New York, (Yes THAT Kevin!) would like to talk about Jesus’ resurrection. Oooooh, the topic of the day! Definitely seems like the same old Kevin though, and definitely was hoping he’d be further along with deconstructing his faith, but alas, he returns with the same questions about faith and the Bible. He does believe that the resurrection of Jesus did in fact happen. But why Kevin? Waiting for the Apocrypha to be mentioned… and he does imply it (and Kenneth mentions it) at 1:32:58. BINGO!
That’s our show for this week, please continue to be safe in your area, wear your mask, and please please PLEASE get vaccinated if you can. The world is better with you in it. See you next week!
The Non-Prophets, Episode 21.16 airing Sunday, April 17 2022 featuring Secular Rarity, Kelley and Mateo Ateo
Happy zombie Jesus Day! The showers have fallen and spring has sprung. That means that your faithless Non-Prophets are stomping through the puddles of yellow journalism to bring you the hardest hitting news story… Hmmm should have phrased that better.
This week it is all about Operation Blitz. What it is, some examples, and how it is going to affect the lives of not just the faithless, but of all peoples. Including the ones it is trying to “help”. With our new segment The Blitz Report we hope to bring you more of these pushes to put religion into government.
We also look into a step in the right direction where an Alabama school district has ended school mandated prayer before each game. Or was it? Yes, but maybe no! This is likely going to be a dirty fight to go on for ages!
See you next time!
[03:34] Segment 1 - The Jesus Movement
https://www.schwartzreport.net/2022/0...
[26:17] Segment 2 - BLITZ REPORT - What is Operation Blitz?
http://tiny.cc/firstblitzreport
[47:11] Segment 3 - CA GOP Secretary of State Candidate Rachel Hamm Wants to ‘Make It Hard’ for People to Vote
http://tiny.cc/hammingitup
[1:06:48] Segment 4 - SITRD - No more prayer before football in AL
http://tiny.cc/noprayerfootball
http://tiny.cc/noprayerfbstatement
http://tiny.cc/noprayerfbplottwist
Welcome back to a very good Friday, and not just because it’s time for Truth Wanted. This zombie Jesus day, Dan’s guest is the host of the Bloody Good Film podcast, a three-time guest on Non-Prophets, and a Facebook moderator for the ACA fan groups, welcome Josh Entner!
This week’s Patron of the Week is J.P. Young, thank you for the support!
We’ll kick it off with Jeff, who feels some skeptics suspend their standards when it comes to UFOs. Our hosts agree that unidentified doesn’t mean aliens, and offer a few potential explanations for weird stuff in the sky. We talk about how to approach these conversations with friends; as the mantra goes, confront ideas, not people!
David in Florida wants to talk about Canadian legislation banning Holocaust denial. We talk about sensible limits to free speech, and Josh points out that misinformation can be harmful. Dan draws a great parallel between libel and slander laws, illustrating the importance of having sources when making claims. Josh and Dan chat about journalistic integrity before we move on.
Jay in Florida is up next, he offers a different take on why Holocaust denial should be illegal. Josh isn’t convinced that promoting bad ideas is tantamount to yelling “Fire!” in a crowded space, and Dan asks how the legislation would look in practice. Jay thinks Germany’s approach to the ugly history of WW2 is a good model, that being honest education combined with a banning of hate speech.
Biblically is back! He’s got a deity on call, right next to him on the couch, and wants to talk about Genesis. Dan and Josh try to dissect his bizarre web of claims, and attempt to nail the caller down on a few specific elements of his narrative. Unfortunately, Biblically is just waiting for his turn to talk. Josh makes an attempt to lead this list of assertions into a constructive conversation by redirecting to one point of contention Dan asked about. It doesn’t work. This is apologetics at its worst, but it is kinda entertaining, so without further ado… we announce that… The winner of the Award for Worst Pre-Suppositionalist of 2022… is… BIBLICALLY!!
That’s a wrap folks! Shoutout to Judas for the long weekend, we’ll see you next week!
The old joke goes something like this- A man and a woman sit down with a therapist complaining about their sex life. “He wants it all the time, we never stop having sex/ she’s never in the mood, we practically never make love” they explain. “How often do you actually have sex?” the therapist asks. “Once or twice a week” they agree in unison. As old jokes go it’s a B minus but the truth is it captures the narrative of our culture while being exhaustingly, mind numbingly out of touch with the real life needs and stories of couples struggling with healthy and normal desire discrepancies. This week Dr. Sexology herself, Dr. Renee Lanctot, DHS joins Christy in a conversation about who wants what, why, and what to do about it. The battle for the sexes, your calls and questions plus what’s turning us on this week on SecX!
Dive deeper into the episode and find what’s turning us on this week at https://www.vcatx.com/media/sdd
In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Matt Dillahunty is joined by Shannon Q!
First up is Dominic from CA who claims to be able to prove the existence of God using the concepts of “Objective Morality” & “Karma.”
Tim from CA is calling to see if our hosts agree with their assessment that religious belief is a psychological disorder.
Next up is John from Sweden who wants to know what motivates someone who does not believe in a God or afterlife, why care about creating a better world if we are just going to die and not get to experience it?
Isaiah from NV is calling to present a definition of spirituality. I am convinced that spirituality is necessarily first person at this point because I’ve yet to hear a single, consistent definition for that word. “The Mind is everything...” O_o
Next is Anthony from VA who wants to take a crack at arguing for intelligent design via a hypothetical, and an appeal to probability.
Anthony from FL is calling to argue that there is a proto-consciousness within all matter in the universe that when combined, emerges as a base-level consciousness throughout the universe.
Finally, Don from OH is calling to argue that secular morality allows for people to create their own personal morality and do whatever they want.
In today’s episode we have the amazing duo of Katie Montgomerie and Genevieve who will see if callers can convert them by calling and giving it the best arguments.
First up is Ruth in CA who studies science and quantum physics. She brings up to religious people these questions: Did god create this huge area that we can’t explore including black holes, radiation, and solar flares? In a universe so vast, why would we be the center of creation? Why did god not even give us gills, wings, or the eyes of a bee? Why did god create Covid? The discussion led to pondering the types of religious upbringing that can be considered child abuse such as conversion therapy, young earth, or women being inferior.
Next is Forest in MA that would like to talk about bringing down the wall when communicating with religious people. He uses Philippians 4:8 as Hitchens suggests to assist with this process. If people are not wanting to know what is true, then they are not true Christians. Katie tends to not use verses when talking with Christians because they are open to interpretation. Genevieve has an approach where she will ask them if they want to make sure that what they believe is true when there are such high stakes involving eternity. She would like to see an inquisitive mind with what people believe.
Billy in TX states that atheists don’t argue against the existence of god well and just because the universe is hostile, and religious people are stupid, does not mean there is not a god. He never heard Christians say that god made the universe for them and says that most scientists will tell you that random mutation will not get us where we are now. He thinks that the hosts' responses are pointless and does not understand how mutations can be caused by the environment. He angrily wanted the hosts to prove what the majority of scientists believe. Should we contact every scientist and ask them? Why did god just not skip the whole heaven and hell thing and make the universe a giant playground? The two displayed patience as the caller got abusively belligerent with plenty of accusations and ad hominems. Billy, strength does not come from suffering, but it comes from what the hosts have shown you.
Thank you for tuning in and we will see you next week for more fun with Heathens!
The Non-Prophets, Episode 21.15 airing Sunday, April 10 2022 Featuring Jason Sherwood, Josh Entner, and Richard Gilliver.
Jason Sherwood is back in the conductor’s chair! Everyone on the count of 1…2…3…scream for him in the comment section! He is joined by our favorite religion expert Richard Gilliver and film expert and self proclaimed cheese head Josh Enter .
Our first segment falls back for the religious Jewish community that opposes the Sunshine Protection Act. Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts, the original cosponsor of the legislation is quoted by The Guardian as saying: “No more switching clocks, more daylight hours to spend outside after school and after work, and more smiles—that is what we get with permanent daylight saving time..” Should religion have a say if this bill passes?
Up next is Pope Watch, the pope is begging for forgiveness for Indigenous for Canada school abuses . Another apology tour for the Pope? Is this a regular thing we should expect or should one demand more accountability? WHAT SAY THEE?
We then are looking back at the establishment of the Church of the Latter Day Saints. The host gives their take on the history of the influence of the Mormon Church and Joseph Smith Ideology. Do we see a large influence on society today?
Lastly is a strange but true where the host look at the finding of the ASPCA and how they helped find a home for dog people did not want because they accused him of being gay. Yes you read that right. Goes to show that dogs are just too darn good for people. Take that cat parents!
Well that about it for this week. Go down to those comments and let Jason, Richard and Josh what you think of this week's episode below!
Segment 1: Jewish leaders vow to oppose the Sunshine Protection Act: ‘It will affect our religious life’ http://tiny.cc/daylights
Segment 2: Pope Watch: Pope begs forgiveness of Indigenous for Canada school abuses http://tiny.cc/popesooorrytour
Segment 3: Looking Back: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints established http://tiny.cc/ldshistory Mormons Lower Temperature on Hot-Button Issues at Conference http://tiny.cc/mormomschil
Segment 4: Strange but true/looking back ASPCA is Founded http://tiny.cc/aspcafounded Dogs are too good for people http://tiny.cc/goodgayboi
It’s Friday, it’s 7pm Central, and it’s time for another episode of Truth Wanted! Tonight we’re joined today by two terrific titans of truth testing, Objectively Dan and MD Aware! Let’s take some calls! This weeks Patron of the week is Zachary Wilkes, thanks for the support Zachary!
Out of the gates we have a familiar voice, it’s Tim in Washington! He’s concerned with the recent Florida legislation known as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, and with good reason. Is throwing a blanket over the subject of sex education good for our kids? Both our hosts think not, as does every study examining this subject. LGBTQ+ people don’t disappear if you cover your eyes Ron DeSantis!
Andrew is next and isn’t convinced that the “Don’t Say Gay” bill is as insidious as some make it out to be. MD Aware offers a brilliant comparison between the teaching of math and sex ed, in that we don’t teach calculus to first-graders. He makes a case for teaching sex ed before 7/8th grade, but Andrew’s intransigence prevents him from seeing the light. Also, gay. I said it.
Buckle up for Jon in Canada, who thinks sex ed before the age of 16 is wrong because one time he wrote a dirty sentence and got in trouble. Jon thinks any level of sex ed is tantamount to handing out condoms to 6 year olds, and MD tries to explain the concept of gradation using a bicycle analogy. Dan weighs in on why LGBTQ+ representation isn’t the indoctrination Jon thinks it is, but Jon’s not listening. Dan gets a break while these two Canucks battle it out, and it becomes evident Jon’s brought a knife to a gunfight. This man does not represent the True North, Strong and Free. (It’s our anthem)
Aaaand if you didn’t think tonight’s show could get any better, we’re going to wrap up with Biblical. I’ve listened to this call three times, and I’m still not sure what his point is. The claims of the Bible must be true if you acknowledge that it exists… I think? Our hosts fence with the caller for a few minutes, but biblically, even God has his limits for tolerance. Biblically. Floods and towers, folks. It’s biblical.
That’s the show tonight folks! Seek the truth, say gay because it makes Ron DeSantis cry, but don’t say biblically, because our callers have that covered. See you next week!
For the optimist, half full; the pessimist, half empty. To MD Aware it’s just another urine sample but whether you are a doctor, or a lawyer or a business executive how we think about trans bodies matters. Whether we understand gender as a social construct, a biological imperative or an economic opportunity to sell two of everything the way we vote, the way we care and the way we live is tied to the way we interpret this fundamental piece of our humanity. Truth Wanted’s resident medical expert and research scientist MD Aware joins the show this week to walk Christy through a series of models and medicalized points of view for understanding gender and ourselves. Medicine and manhood, philosophy, femininity, what’s turning us on this week and so much more on SecX!
In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Matt Dillahunty is joined by Apostate Prophet!
First up is Samuel from UT who is calling to suggest that Matt’s chess model of secular morality is incomplete and needs to be expanded on.
Anthony from VA is calling back to present a new and “improved” argument for intelligent design.
Next is John from Sweden who wants advice from AP on how express their dwindling faith in Islam to their close family.
Javier from IA calls to ask our hosts why they are called transphobic & islamophobia by others. I think we can figure out why.
Next is Nikki from OR who was formerly an Atheistic Jew who found Jesus, but won’t tell us what the experience was or at least where Jesus was hiding.
Henri from Estonia believes that God doesn’t physically exist, but exists metaphysically within humans?
Patrick from FL claims that Matt caused them to develop faith, but they don’t know what the God they believe in actually is.
Jacob from TX claims that they were once an Atheist, but was convinced later in life by credible evidence that Christianity was true.
Ben from TX is an ex-Muslim who is wants to call out the lies of Muslim apologists spread about the Quran regarding the subject of child mariage.
Next up is Robert from ID who admits that it is impossible to prove a God, but it's reasonable to believe in one anyway.
Our final caller is Jaime from AL presents the concept of the “elevation” emotion as a naturalistic explanation for the feeling theists associate as the holy spirit.
Greetings Heathens! In today’s episode of Talk Heathen, JMike is joined by Student Doctor Ben. Welcome to the show Ben, it’s going to be a great show!
Let’s get to calls! Snowden from Canada is calling in about Intelligent Design and how “perfect” our bodies are when they are actually pretty impractical as far as energy use and adapting for the environment. Oh but Ben changed the subject… but he didn’t. Why were we “given” eyes? Why aren’t we just rocks. Humans were clearly designed, just look at arms and eyes. Oh boy.
Todd in Florida is up next, he claims that objective morality is why we have persevered through religious and political persecution of others throughout history and has to come from somewhere. Though morality is how we evaluate behavior, it doesn’t come from somewhere and it doesn’t really just exist.
Oflameo in Pennsylvania, is wondering whether our ideas or beliefs follow reality and if our definition of God is an object of worship. Um… ok? He makes an attempt to present that if you think of something, that it becomes true, real, and exists. He’s definitely begging the question and JMike definitely breaks it down.
David in North Carolina claims that science and mysticism can overlap, giving the example that molecules “learn”. But they don’t. Ben says they are at the right place at the right time. Then he starts to give the example of the programmer or coder being similar to a God in making things.
Nekoda in North Carolina is wanting to talk about how abortion is morally wrong. Student Doctor Ben breaks it down for him and provides the science behind pregnancy and the differences between a termination, a miscarriage, and a delivery. It really sounds like the caller doesn’t want ANY of the responsibility and refuses to see how complex this decision can be. Major love and sincere thanks to Student Doctor Ben for being so patient and explaining it all. Hey, Nekoda, call back when folks with uteruses are on panel.
Keith in New Jersey talks about how people refer to science and using the scientific method to get to the truth and critical thinking.
Adam in Canada wants to know what our strongest proof for Atheism is. We have found insufficient proof for the presence of a God. No one has been able to prove or demonstrate a God or supernatural exists.
That’s our show for this week, please continue to be safe in your area, wear your mask, and please please PLEASE get vaccinated if you can. The world is better with you in it. See you next week!
The Non-Prophets, Episode 21.14 airing Sunday, April 3rd 2022 featuring Secular Rarity, Genevieve, Kelley Laughlin, and Mateo el Ateo
What is this? Another first time conductor for The Non-Prophets? Secular Rarity’s check has cleared and so we gave him a new seat on the show. Everyone give him a round of applause in the comments section! He is joined by Genvieve who works closely with friend of the show Dave Warnock. There is also a return of Kelley Laughlin who is starting to be a mainstay of The Non-Prophets. Rounding out the panel is Teo el Ateo who we can ALWAYS count on to fill in.
Our first segment goes for the GOOOAAAAAALLLL of Evangelicals in Football in Brazil. For the few points in the world that might be confused, that is Soccer. Sports rituals can be an individual thing, but what happens when an institution is taken over by a god. Should religion be infused in football, or is football a religion?
Up next we follow a Saudi blogger Raif Badawi who was imprisoned for 10 years due to ‘insulting Islam’. Could you imagine it? What would happen if the rest of the world adopted that ide… (MORAL POLICE OPEN UP!!)
We then study a new poll where Americans say that they are cool with Jesus. His followers… well not so much. Could this be a turning point in ideas and politics? (flips the page) Oh… oh no… Well maybe next generation or two.
Lastly, What is the happiest place on Earth? Is it Disney? Well a survey came out about what are the happiest nations on this planet. Where does America fall in? Who comes out on top? Spoiler, the happier you are, the least likely you believe in religious teaching.
Well that about wraps it for this week. Go down to those comments and let Secular Rarity just what you think of his first time.
Segment 1: Evangelical Football
Evangelicalism & Brazil: The religious movement that spread through a national team BBC.com By Marcus Alves, March 22, 2022
http://tiny.cc/goooooaaaallll
Segment 2: Saudi blogger Raif Badawi
Saudi blogger Raif Badawi, imprisoned for ‘insulting Islam’, freed after 10 years The Guardian, March 22, 2022
http://tiny.cc/freefrominsult
Segment 3:Hypocritical, Judgmental and Self-righteous oh my!
New study offers Christian leaders both good and bad news Americans think highly of Jesus, but they reject his followers The Knoxville News Sentinel, By Terry Mattingly, March 24, 2022
http://tiny.cc/jesusokfollowersbad
Segment 4: The Happiness Report
The happiest nations on Earth are strongly secular Only Sky, By Phil Zuckerman, March 20, 2022
http://tiny.cc/wehappysecular
Welcome to a very special episode of Truth Wanted! Tonight, ObjectivelyDan is joined by everybody!
First up is Barry from New Zealand who has a question for MDAware regarding behaviors exhibited by individuals who are reaching the end of their life, that are so common that they are accurately documented by hospital workers.
Next is Michael from CA who calls to talk about the cultural weirdness of forcing kids to recite the Pledge of Allegiance or National Anthem every morning before school.
Next is Stan from NY who asks our hosts what their objections are to God’s morality, either through their actions or commandments.
Next is Douglas who is calling to ask our hosts how they think the Earth and Universe Came to be if they don’t believe God did anything?
Next up is Lauren from Canada who has become more fearful of death since their deconversion and would like advice from our hosts on how to address these feelings.
When you don’t believe in god or hell or eternal damnation and think that sex and body positivity are important values, it can be really hard to find exactly the right words to describe what is going on in state legislatures all across the country. If these queer targeted and religiously minded policies really do reflect the prevailing culture of the land then I suppose while in Rome we can swear as the Christian nationalists do and goddamn this f*cking dumbass bigotry straight to hell. Journalist and friend of the show Chrissy Stroop returns this week to help us sift through the grandstanding, redraw the gerrymandering and work to undo the harm brought on by what the Human Rights Campaign is calling the worst year in recent history for state legislation attacking LGBTQ equality. Grab your reading glasses and a couple aspirin as we dig into the legislation, answer your calls and questions and proudly say “Gay!” plus what’s turning us on this week on SecX.
Dive deeper into the episode and find what’s turning us on this week at https://www.vcatx.com/media/antiequality2022
First up is Mark from PA who recently lost a loved one and is struggling with the typical Christian belief that God is loving when such suffering is allowed to persist.
Next up is Anthony from PA who claims that intelligent design is philosophically sound. Can the caller demonstrate the truth of intelligent design without being fallacious? Find out now!
Next is Bob from TN who calls to read us bible verses, specifically John 4:10, that somehow demonstrate the truth of...itself? Start the clock.
Tru from TX is calling to ask for advice on dealing with extremely religious family members who act hurtfully whenever the topic is broached.
Next up is Patrick from FL who wants to know why many skeptics deem extrasensory perception as “hooey” and dismiss it out of hand.
Next up is Matthew from England who believes that explicit (capable of assessing evidence), weak (not claiming certainty) atheists have a burden of proof. How?
Next is Jack from FL who presents a “simple” syllogism to prove God. Typically, syllogisms are not 1000+ words.
Mr. Warlight from AK calls to present the single greatest argument for the existence of Ghosts. Check-mate skeptics! Flawless victory!
Finally, Noah from OR wants some clarification on the objective and subjective components of a secular moral system.
Today we have JMike and Kenneth Leonard who show mastery of tackling caller’s questions with Talk Heathen.
First we have Billie in IN who wants to know how she can be in her job yet still be true to her values. She encounters people who say their religion makes them feel good and she is asked to promote prayer. The same set of skills apply to people regardless of their religion. If you see someone who is relying on their religion, we want to emphasize that life skills are not dependent on religion. Focus on giving people the skill sets they need to be successful.
Next is Chuck from IL that wants to know about cave paintings showing dinosaurs. Discovering drawings in a cave before people had knowledge does not prove the Bible. Not only do we need to prove drawings relation to reality, but we also can’t attribute them to any particular religion. Creationists are forced into not being honest. They buy into it because they need it to be true by starting from the conclusion and working their way backwards. Theists see a world that is consistent with their god because they do not understand how to do the work of thinking.
Colton in IN who has managed to get out of religion, but believes there are aspects of the human mind that are in need of a higher power. The hosts work through the following questions with the caller: Does it matter that a person’s beliefs are true? Why wouldn’t logic and reason be superior to what actually helped you get out of religion? How do you differentiate between a deity and your imagination? You are more capable than you think you are and do not need the magic feather.
Tomas in Argentina wants to understand the religious perspective better. Everybody is susceptible to believing nonsense. Try to have a principle of charity when reading where people are coming from. The more you read about decision making and belief, the more you can emphasize.
Gene in TX has a challenge with a friend who is trying to convince him that god exists and that god is his go to guy. The friend is not open to listening to his perspective. How is the relationship beneficial? If someone calls you out of the blue to talk about god, it sounds like you need to figure out if he is okay and what is going on. Don’t turn it into a lecture. Focus on why they accept this and what methodology was used.
Will in CO had an awkward experience with someone from Billy Graham’s organization trying to preach to him as they were helping with the horrific incident of his house burning down. They used a real fire to try and save you from a fictional fire. It would be worth it to set clear boundaries. It is like the service that is being performed is being held ransom for conversion. It is opportunistic to take people at their weakest moment. There are secular groups that do an excellent job with organizing and can help out with situations like this.
Thank you for tuning in and we will see you next week!
The Non-Prophets, Episode 21.13 airing Sunday, March 27th featuring Cynthia McDonald, Helen Greene and Teo el Ateo.
Let’s start off by welcoming our newest guest host Helen Green!
This week’s episode compares the humanitarian efforts by The Satanic Temple and former State representative Matt Shea when helping Ukrainian refugees in Poland.
How Hillsdale College is trying to turn teaching into a weapon.
We ask why Democrats still fear being seen as nonreligious.
Ending with a $100M Christian ad campaign, because Jesus gets you!
Segment 1:Aid for Ukrainian Refugees; Shea VS Greeves -Teo el Ateo The price of war: Ukrainian refugees get aid from The Satanic Temple OnlySky Media, by Jack Matirko | March 18 2022 http://tiny.cc/ukrainrefugeevsshea Former WA Rep. Matt Shea, accused of domestic terrorism, working to secure adoptions for Ukrainian children in Poland The Seattle Times, By David Gutman | March 16, 2022 http://tiny.cc/mattsheydt (Background on Matt Shea) MeetMattShea.com https://www.meetmattshea.com/
Segment 2: The War for Public Schools - Helen Greene Salon investigates: The war on public schools is being fought from Hillsdale College Salon.com, By Kathryn Joyce | March 16, 2022 http://tiny.cc/waronpublicschools
Segment 3: Hey Balaam, where’s your donkey? - Helen Greene Why does Christianity still dominate the Democratic Party? OnlySky Media, By Marcus Johnson | March 3, 2022 http://tiny.cc/demandfaith The Democratic Party Is Not Antithetical to Religion Religion&Politics By Vaneesa Cook | March 3, 2020 https://religionandpolitics.org/2020/...
Segment 4: Shit Internet apologist say: Jesus, he gets us? - Cynthia McDonald The $100M “He Gets Us” ad campaign for Jesus ignores an obvious problem OnlySky Media, By Hemant Mehta | March 15, 2022 http://tiny.cc/thatsalotofcrackers
Hey everyone and welcome to another episode of Truth Wanted! This week ExXtian Erin is joined by Brady Hardin!
First up is ObjectivelyDan from TX who wants to talk about some of the issues surrounding Progressive Christianity, and the “aren’t you on the same side” questions that get flung about whenever the subject is breached.
Next up is Jay from FL who is calling to see what our hosts would retcon from the bible if they had the power to do so? Great question Jay!
Up next is Jon from Canada who wants our host's opinion on critical race theory. Whew, this one is a doozy.
Next is Melvin from TN who recounts their time living through the segregation era, and their observations of how little many systems have progressed since that period.
For months now we’ve made a very special point of telling you just exactly what is turning us on but never quite got around to defining what that actually means. Turns out, a lot of people have a lot of assumptions about arousal, desire…tumescence, so it may be time to set the record straight. High Priestess Shannon Q joins Christy in an engorging conversation on turgidity, fluidity and patriarchy, plus of course your calls and questions and what’s turning us on this week, whatever that means.
Dive deeper into the episode and find what’s turning us on this week at https://www.vcatx.com/media/arousal
In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Matt Dillahunty is joined by Apostate Prophet!
First up is Padraic from Ireland who calls in to claim that belief in a god is more reasonable than atheism. A great many claims are made...
Next is David from AZ who wants to convince the hosts to adopt their theology using “logical” premises only. Oh, if only that were true.
Joseph from MD calls into ask what motivates an Atheist to act morally without a God? Queue a presentation on secular moral systens.
Next up is Abu from England who was kicked out of their home and lost man family connections when the deconverted from Islam. The caller wants to know if something similar happened to our host AP when they left.
Next is Noah from OR who believes that the laws of logic and nature were created, much in the same way that societal laws are created, and that this is evidence of a creator.
Next is Patrick from FL who called to ask why our hosts are atheists rather than pantheist. While the caller’s audio dropped, our hosts provide a straight to the point answer to their question.
Next up is Drew from AZ who calls to ask if the pros of coming out as Atheist to religious family are enough to outweight the cons.
Greetings Heathens! In today’s episode of Talk Heathen, Kenneth Leonard is joined by Secular Rarity. Should be a good show, thanks for joining us today!
Let’s get to calls! Laura in the UK would love to know a couple arguments against a Deistic God and how she can better approach this conundrum. How do you formulate these arguments about a God that abandons their creation? Questioning this epistemology by way of investigating would be a good first step.
No Contradictions in Canada is up next, he claims the word of God doesn’t have contradictions, especially and specifically written in the Bible. Then goes on to say that the reporting of God’s Word is rife with errors due to human error. How do we know what is “written by God” and what is reported by people? (Spoiler alert, the Bible is full of contradictions and written by people.) Interesting goalpost move there… If there are contingencies for the written word of God in scripture, adding more after the fact isn’t logical.
Jeff in Ohio is wanting to defend that the Bible doesn’t have contradictions and instead is the written down word of the human condition. He seems to cling more to the literary alliteration versus the literal “truth” of it. Interesting, if everything points to the human condition, then how best do we find meaning or truth, the definition of reality and our place in it. Reality is what it is and that’s what matters, says Kenneth. Truth is what is consistent with reality and reality is what it is. Good points Kenneth.
Ozzie in the UK is asking how to approach or open up to religious family members in the US and how to deal with being among the religious as an Atheist. Great question Ozzie, Secular Rarity has a great way to talk about it. Yay Atheist Day on March 23rd!
Ruth in California is calling in wanting to talk about Atheists and Theists getting married, dogs and cats living together... MASS HYSTERIA! Kidding, she talks about how her parents married and one is an atheist and one is a theist. She wanted to really emphasize that people with opposite views can live together peacefully. Great point Ruth! We definitely agree!
That’s our show for this week, please continue to be safe in your area, wear your mask, and please please PLEASE get vaccinated if you can. The world is better with you in it. See you next week!
The Non-Prophets, Episode 21.12 airing Sunday, March 20 2022 featuring Jason Sherwood, Scott Dickie, and August.
Let’s start off by welcoming Jason Sherwood to the coveted position as conductor for this week’s episode! From Video Engineer to leading the pack. Those powerful wolf eyes behind him see him through it all!
We also welcome back August for their third appearance and Scott Dickie for his second. So while the adults are away the newbies will play!
Scott Dickie leads us off with a look at how Russia’s President Vladimir Putin projects power through faith and purpose built cathedral
Then we have August dive into the hidden minority and how it is even tougher when you have other minority or even certain political tags attached to you!
Continuing this power discussion trend we go into why it might be a good idea to support your LGBT+ child as we lament about a tragic story that never got to be told.
Finally, I jump in… er Jason jumps in (good save) to talk about Sister Sharon Eubanks of The Church of LDS take on how to get rid of bad religion. Not Bad Religion which is easy to get rid of by simply throwing the CD out the window while on the highway!
Note: The Non-Prophets and the Atheist Community of Austin do not condone littering!
Segment 1 - Putin’s power through faith Holy wars: How a cathedral of guns and glory symbolizes Putin’s Russia Religious News Service, By Lena Surzhko Harned | March 7, 2022
http://tiny.cc/putinonthefaith
Segment 2 - The Hidden Minority Study: Atheists who are women, Republicans or Southerners more likely to hide beliefs Religion News Service, By Alejandra Molina | March 10, 2022
http://tiny.cc/thehiddenminority
Segment 3 - Dangers of rejecting your LGBT child The Cruelty and Recklessness of LGBT Ideologues National Review, By Madeleine Kearns | March 10, 2022
http://tiny.cc/nationalisminschools
Segment 4 - What is a better religion? An authentic answer to a criticism of religion Deseret News, By Tad Walch | March 10, 2022
http://tiny.cc/goodguywithreligion
First up is Chris from Canada who wants the hosts opinions on the anunnaki (an example of an ancient alien theory), and the belief that humans are genetically modified to be slaves.
Next is Jeff from Japan who thinks that non-vegans use a different definition of veganism than vegans. The caller draws parallels to the arguments theists create that are based upon definitions of atheism that atheists may not ascribe to.
Up next is Setuf from Spain who believes that the purchase of animal products supports the unnecessary killing of animals.
Next up is Paul from FL who has recently found out that their friends and family are convinced that the 2020 election was stolen, but when pushed for their justification, they choose to avoid the subject. This begs the question, how far should we go to have these questions on epistemology?
Next is Phil from TX who calls into talk about the contradictions in the story of Noah's flood and the absurdity of it.
Our final call is from Mr. Crabs who asks our hosts if it would even be reasonable to presume that anything we see from Earth using advanced telescopes could actually be evidence of life.
If the message of SecX is anything, it’s find the life and love that fits you irregardless of whomst is declaring the supposed commands of god. Drawing your own map and exploring your own boundaries and those of your partner(s) can raise a lot of scary questions- “Friends with ex’s? Pornography? Sex workers? NON-MONOGAMY!? WhErE Do wE DrAw tHe lInE?!?” Psychotherapist and poly advocate Justine Guzman joins Arden and P*ck to formally declare “Fucking somewhere.” Join the conversation with your calls and questions as we explore the boundaries of uncharted territory and of course let you know what’s turning us on this week!
Secular Sexuality show is LIVE every Thursday from 7:00 to 8:30pm Central Time
If you'd like to be on the show, use your phone ☎ and call 1-512-991-9242 or use a computer 💻 and click http://tiny.cc/callsex
Join us today with the fun dual of Shannon Q and Phil Ferguson who will be looking for callers to finally present the proof of god.
Clarence in Ohio would like to talk about the arrogance of anthropocentric religions leading to dangerous consequences. His perspective is that secular humanism tends to be this way where pantheism does not. This is more of a philosophy than a religion. Is there a specific list of rules with scientific pantheism that needs to be adhered to? And what did the people who made these rules call themselves before the rules were made?
Next up is Shane in GA that is going to lay some math on us. He is fixing to show us something that is irrefutable. He starts with Revelations and then Daniel. He talked about Mohammed dying in 632.5. And then we are supposed to go forward 1335 years and to 1967. Abraham has two sons going back to Genesis. His feelings got hurt and started yelling and cussing. Still no math.
Kevin in Canada believes miracles are proof of god because god is the only one that can make them happen. Recorded(recalled) near death experiences are proof of these miracles. Is it possible that this experience was not actually the person outside their physical body? None of these claims can be substantiated or repeated. The sigma-6 receptor prevents hypoxia by allowing DMT to be produced which is a natural hallucinogen. How are these things miracles when there is a chemical explanation? Your lack of understanding does not make it a miracle.
Dominic has a way to prove that gods are real and the soul is real and the bible is of divine origin. Falun Dafa meditation practice explains about the universe and reveals things to him. He asks if not knowing something shows ignorance in the subject. If all the evidence about god has been presented, would we be ignorant? Even if ignorance meant there was a possibility of a god, even a probability is not sufficient for a belief.
John in the U.A.E wants to get over his fear in hell. Think of all the other religions around the world with the different hells created by different deities. Why are you not afraid of these other hells? Be patient with yourself and the journey. Recovering from Religion has a hotline to help along the way.
Mike in MI asks if one can be an atheist without god. This depends on the definition of atheism which is going to be different for each person you talk to.
Kevin in GA asks how can god be demonstrated as the god he says he is? He then talks about psychic readings. Remember that psychics take the hits and forget the misses. The odds are in favor of the hits.
Luke in Canada wants to know what is missing to be able to say there are miracles. Hearing second hand information is not enough to prove miracles. Ask your deity what it would take to convince Shannon that a miracle happened.
Thank you for tuning in and we will see you next show!
The Non-Prophets, Episode 21.11 airing Sunday, March 13 2022 featuring Cynthia McDonald, Kelley Laughlin, Teo El Ateo and Richard Gilliver.
This week’s episode covers how the FFRF keeps reminding school board members that prayer has no place at their meetings.
Pat Roberson wants the world to end, again. This time with Russian dressing.
Pastor Greg Locke says he’s being threatened with death, hexes and sex toys! Oh no, glitter bombs!
And lastly in Los Angeles ‘Atheist Street Pirates’ remove illegal religious (and secular) signs from public streets in their ongoing religious rubbish removal program. Helping to keep their streets clean and secular.
We also take some time out to read a little viewer mail!
Why is there a husky in the thumbnail? Well simple! Jason asked for it!
Segment 1: Let’s all take a moment of silence Indiana school board ends prayer after FFRF intervenes Freedom From Religion foundation, March 3, 2022 http://tiny.cc/ffrfindianasbprayer
Additional Resources: When Students Walk Out in Protest, Here’s What Administrators Should Do Education Week, By Evie Blad, February 11, 2022 http://tiny.cc/schoolwalkout
Students across Southwest Florida walk out to protest "Don't say gay" bill WINK News, By Michael Hudak and Jennifer Morejon, March 3, 2022 http://tiny.cc/floridasbdontsaygay
Segment 2: Shit internet apologist say - It’s always been the End Times Giddy Pat Robertson on Ukraine is everything wrong with End Times belief OnlySky Captain Cassidy, March 03 2022 http://tiny.cc/patrovertsongiddy
Additional Resources: Pat Robertson Insists Putin ‘Compelled by God’ to Invade Ukraine and Kick Off ‘End Times’ Daily Beast, By Justin Baragon, Feb. 28, 2022 http://tiny.cc/patrovertsononukraine
Has the biblical Gog and Magog war begun? The Jerusalem Post, By Maayan Jaffe-Hoffman, March 02, 2022 http://tiny.cc/jpostxtianhappy
Segment 3: MORE Shit internet apologist say - Mail me a Potato! Pastor Greg Locke says he’s being threatened with death, hexes and sex toys for exposing witches Christian Post, Leonardo Blair, Feb. 02 2022 http://tiny.cc/greglockevstoys
Additional Resources: Greg Locke Shares He’s Received Death Threats, Satanic Postcards, and Sex Toys After Exposing Witches ChurchLeaders.com, By Jesse T. Jackson, March 01, 2022 http://tiny.cc/greglockeseeswitches
Segment 4: Step in the Right Direction - Cleaning Up the Streets Atheist “pirates” in Los Angeles are removing religious signs from public streets OnlySky, By Hemant Mehta, March 03, 2022 http://tiny.cc/atheistpiratescleanup
Additional Resources: In LA, ‘Atheist Pirates’ remove religious signs from public streets and overpasses Religion News, By Alejandra Molina, March 03, 2022 http://tiny.cc/atheistpiratescivics
Viewer mail
Greetings heathens and theists! Today we have the amazing combo of Kenneth Leonard and Richard Gilliver who will tackle calls from a variety of atheists and repeat caller, Setuf.
First up is Hawk from IL who is troubled by being told by theists that he never really believed and is now wondering if that is the case. Normally when people say that you never really believed, it is a tactic to get away from whether their own beliefs are legit. Recovering From Religion is an excellent resource to help with this kind of struggle. What is relevant is whether you believed true things, not things that are false.
Next up is Setuf from Spain who states it is not possible to not be a vegan and be against animal cruelty at the same time. If someone consumed surplus milk from a cow on a farm, it that animal cruelty? What does this have to do with whether there is a god or not, and how is it relevant to our show? This is not Talk Vegan.
Next is Ruth in CA who was traumatized by being kicked out of church when she was around eight years old because she asked about how people repopulated after Noah’s Ark. Her dad was an atheist and her mom is a Seventh Day Adventist. They never brought up religion to each other and stuck by that. Her friend was married to a born again pastor and would claim that god created everything, including the science show they were watching together. How does she know god created this? Ruth, you are an awesome breath of fresh air and we can listen to you all day!
Tanjil from Au is next with a point about Buddhism being full of spirits and misogyny. There is a question about many schools of Buddhism there are. Are any of these schools absent of spirits or misogyny? Where did the conception come from that Buddhism is a secular religion? If the whole model is about obtaining nirvana, isn't that where the misogyny comes in since one must be re-birthed as a male?
Gene in Texas was raised in a strict church, but managed to never be indoctrinated. When his mom read the story of Adam and Eve to him, it seemed like a weird fairy tale. His mom told him it was real and he wondered why she would lie to him like that. Oftentimes what one believes boils down to lineage and what the ancestors believed. There are plenty of intelligent people who are believers and we do not like when others in the atheist community paint the religious as dumb. Be tuned in to your own vulnerability and be careful not to believe things for the wrong reasons.
It looks like all our religious viewers got raptured or maybe it is daylight savings. That is all folks, take care and see you next show.
Hello truth seekers! Welcome to another episode of Truth Wanted! This week MD Aware is joined by the fabulous Shannon Q!
First up is Setuf from Spain, who asks our hosts if they perceive theism as illogical and if so why? The call eventually shifts topics to discuss the ethics and medical need for eating meat.
Next up is Barry from New Zealand who shares their experience with hypnotherapy. The caller tested the procedure in an attempt to break a knuckle-cracking habit, and while it seemed to help at first, it ended up failing after the doctor shattered the placebo.
Jim from Canada wants to talk about brain stimulation, specifically with regards to porn consumption, and if it is even possible to over-stimulate your brain with this activity.
Next is Bill from IL who asks our hosts what the difference is between the terms “atheist” & “agnostic”. Ask a person what position they actually hold, rather than attempt to strongarm them into a definition they may or may not ascribe to.
Next is Alison from CA who is battling MS, and wants advice from Shannon on how she is managing to cope with it.
Matthew from CA is engaged in a debate with a friend about the origin of consciousness, and wants the host’s input on the topic.
Our final call is from an individual who is very excited by Florida’s attempts to investigate and charge the parents of transgender youth as child abuse. Bye bye Peter from Canada!
The snap of a disposable glove and the swoosh and shine of a catsuit both only scratch the surface of a deep seated itch. Since it’s invention nearly 200 years ago latex, rubber wear and a whole host of fabrics have been as tied to fetish as fashion and Miss O Kissed has made a life at the intersection of both. Join Laura and Christy as fan favorite fashionista Miss O Kissed walks us through the etiquette, the erotic and all things related to latex, rubberism and a heavenly host of hellish delights. What’s turning us on this week, your calls and questions and a PVC POV on this week’s SecX!
Dive deeper into the episode and find what’s turning us on this week at https://www.vcatx.com/media/latex
Welcome to another episode of The Atheist Experience. This week, Jim Barrows is joined by JMike!
First up is Mark from Australia has faith that we are living in a situation. It doesn’t matter if you would prefer to have evidence and not employ faith, if you admit that you can’t back up your belief, why continue to believe it?
Next is John from MO who proposes that it is reasonable to pre-suppose a God because we don’t have any other explanation and therefore we should employ common sense. The caller argues that rationality is only possible if we have enough information to examine a claim.
B from VA asks who gets to name a group of people. The members of the group get to determine what they want to be called, not outsiders. It is disrespectful and offensive, especially if they continue to ignore the preferred label.
Kevin from WA is calling to compare humans eating animals is akin to slavery. Factory farming does contain traits that parallels slavery, but eating animals itself isn’t on its own slavery.
Next is Victor from TX who is a deconverting theist, but is still hung up on the issue of morality, specifically regarding incentives to cooperate. Life typically wants to continue living, and if that life is surrounded by others around it, cooperation has a track record of increasing the chance of survival.
Next is Davion from TX who claims that it is unreasonable to not pre-suppose Deism. Why should anyone pre-suppose a by definition, non-interventive God, which is therefore potentially even less examinable than a theist God?
Sean from MT wants to know when it’s time to give up trying to convince family members that their beliefs are unjustified?
Greetings Heathens! In today’s episode of Truth Heathen/Talk Wanted, Objectively Dan is joined by the inimitable Jim Barrows.
Let’s get to calls! Britany from North Carolina asks why she believes in Jesus. She goes on to talk about a personal experience where she heard the bold voice and vision of an angel (and coincidentally was very ill at the time.) Could this be due to a fever or hallucinations from this illness?
Grant in Canada is up next, The King James Bible is true and he can prove it! He goes on to claim that all humans come from Noah and has a very poor understanding of heraldry and human history. He is incredibly wrong on so many levels.
Xeno in South Korea, is equating the existence of a possible god or creator to creating applications or programs using an ontology argument. He also starts talking about probability of life forms outside the Earth, and math that isn’t based on physics and reality. Oh boy, this is a fun call.
RespectivelyStan in California is wondering about questioning his reality and depression after deconverting. He had gone through a year worth of therapy and wants to know what we think about all of this.
Dave in Wisconsin tries to explain how Christianity warmed his heart. I wonder if this experience is the same thing as people who get the chills or feel “extra” when listening to specific pieces of music or seeing specific media. As Dan says during the call, brains are weird yo.
Last call alert! Jack in Texas poses another ontological argument for the existence of God which assumes that God exists and God created everything because Atheists don’t believe. Hmmm. Interesting take, wonder how Jim and Dan will approach this.
That’s our show for this week, please continue to be safe in your area, wear your mask, and please please PLEASE get vaccinated if you can. The world is better with you in it. See you next week!
The Non-Prophets, Episode 21.10 airing Sunday, March 6th 2022 featuring Nate Smith, Phoebe Rose, Student Doctor Ben and Jason Sherwood!
This week’s episode covers Texas Gov, and A.G. anti-trans agenda, how the Florida’s House of representatives wants to ban discussions of gender identity and sexual orientation in schools. Ending with queer Black trailblazers who made history!
Segment Titles and Articles Discussed:
Segment 1: Abbott and Paxton’s Anti-Trans Agenda Opinion No. KP-0401 Re: Whether certain medical procedures performed on children constitute child abuse Ken Paxton, February 18, 2022 http://tiny.cc/paxtonchildabuse No, young children cannot take hormones or change their sex Politifact.com http://tiny.cc/nochildhormones
Segment 2: Don’t Say Gay? Well, don’t say “re-election” HB 1557 - Parental Rights in Education http://tiny.cc/hb1557 The Hill, By Brooke Migdon, Feb. 24, 2022 http://tiny.cc/brookemigdon Florida Is Protecting Parental Rights http://tiny.cc/floridaparentrights
Segment 3: Black Gay Trailblazer 16 queer Black trailblazers who made history NBC News, By Gwen Aviles, Ariel Jao and Brooke Sopelsa, Feb. 13, 2020 http://tiny.cc/16trailblazers
Additional References: James Baldwin: 'I picked the cotton and I carried it to market and I built the railroads under someone else’s whip', debate v William F Buckley - 1965 1965, Cambridge University, United Kingdom https://bit.ly/3Kd5Oke
William F. Buckley Jr. vs. James Baldwin: A racial showdown on the American dream Washington Post, By Gillian Brockell, September 15, 2019 http://tiny.cc/buckleyvsbaldwin
Hello Truth Seekers and welcome to another episode of Truth Wanted. This week ObjectivelyDan is joined by none other than JMike!
First up is Steve from TX who presents a Roman Empire conspiracy theory where they fabricated biblical figures to gain power. The caller claims that this is the most likely explanation for the presented biblical figures.
Up next is Queer Atheist from IL who asks who our hosts consider to be their leader, i.e. who is the best representative for humanity.
Next up is Peter from Canada who calls in to assert that everyone has a religion, which is apparently the hot new gotcha attempt on the theist street these days, and refuses to accept that Atheists do not believe in ANY god.
Up next is Oliver from WA who is wondering why there is suddenly so much societal support for the anti-science movement?
Next is Phil from TX who wants to talk about the neverending conspiracy theories that keep popping up and the enthusiasm which people flock to them with.
Ernie from CA calls to talk about the act of putting oneself in harm's way for social causes.
Joshua from LA wants to know if Ukraine’s citizens should understand Russia’s reasons for invading their sovereign country. Understanding why doesn’t justify or put an end to what Russia is doing.
Like an R rated movie we were too young to see, sex used to be this incredible promise on the horizon. For those of us who grew up in religion, it was often this vision of holy joy and Jesus sanctioned satisfaction for our wilder side, all just on the other side of a god ordained marriage. But whether we ultimately ‘followed the rules’ or not, many of us found the shame and confusion brought on by purity culture to be a barrier to our greatest sexpectations and were left with a more Dickensian sense of ourselves. On tonight’s show Kara Griffin returns to offer Nate and Christy an examination of the false beliefs and Victorian era virtues that spoil our fun and to unlock our true sextential. The best of times and the worst of puns, your calls and questions and what’s turning us on this week on SecX!
Dive deeper into the episode and find what’s turning us on this week at https://www.vcatx.com/media/sexpectations
In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Matt Dillahunty is joined by Dave Warnock!
First up is Charles from GA who wants to argue that scientists and their dating methods are incorrect. Does the caller present evidence? No. Does the caller understand the science they are proposing is incorrect? No.
Next up is Brian from NY who worships demons and claims that they are supernatural gods, and that there are demonstrable mechanisms to make them manifest. The caller submits that the spirit box is one such method, but fails to demonstrate that it is at all reliable in doing what it claims it does.
Next is Andrew from ME who calls to propose that everyone worships something, even Atheists. While the caller admits that they don’t claim to know what any specific individual worships, they do claim that everyone does to what they value most.
Next up is Alex from Canada who objects to religious teachings that advocate for its followers to abandon all pleasures and enjoyments in life. The caller is starting to question their own beliefs and is trying to push past fears derived from their indoctrination.
Jack from AZ calls to claim that no one can ever prove God because finding God is a personal experience. How do you know that these significant personal experiences are actually an answer from God, or just your interpretation of an irrelevant event?
Next is Anthony from CA who wants to know where morals come from? There is no reason to assume that there is a book of absolute morals or that such hard-defined morals exist or are even possible.
Stephen from CO is a questioning theist, but is still confused on whether morality applied to God due to their holiness.
Our final call is Greg from Canada who calls in to provide examples of prophecy fulfillment in the Bible. It’s not prophecy fulfillment if the prophecy is knowingly being fulfilled.
Greetings Heathens! Today we have the amazing Kenneth Leonard and special guest Student Doctor Ben (STB) who sheds insight on issues from both the trans and medical perspectives. Why do we care? Because beliefs end up being part of the legislature where state resources are used with horrific consequences.
Our first caller is Mike in OH who follows pagan deities, and denies Jesus. He argues that everyone feels pagan gods because we feel something when observing the moon and weather. He uses the ancient people as an example and feels that Freyja resonates with him. How does our connection to nature lead to the belief in gods? How is this different from a placebo and do these practices hold us back?
Next is Xeno, a programmer from South Korea who states that god is the singular point to where we come from and is the cause of everything. He thinks that everything in reality has a cause. This is the fallacy of composition and reality itself being caused can’t be proven. Does there need to be a singular point as a cause and does that need to be called god? Playing the linguistics game is not helpful or useful here. Just because reality has a set of properties does not mean that something caused this set of properties. When is it time to believe Russell's Teapot is up there?
Oliver in Brazil has a friend that believes the Biblical creation story is more correct than other creation myths. It is magical for god to use words to poof things into existence. What about the order of things being off such as plants being created before the sun? How is crafting a woman out of a rib and talking animals magical? All the creation charlatans refer to this despite the fact that everything we know about science exposes Genesis for what it is.
Roger in CA is wondering if we are misidentifying reality and takes issue with morality being subjective. When theists talk about morality, it is about their deity, not about what enhances the well being for everyone. What is the difference between morality and obedience? Morality may stretch beyond what humans can do; we see altruism in animals. Morality may be defined by asking the following question: how do we get closer to some form of well being?
Jeff in PA wants to talk about Catholic Synodal Process and if it is a good idea to attend something like this to learn. School districts are targeting kids in certain areas due to the church achieving its goals by inserting itself into political arenas. There are still millions of people who believe this is a legitimate organization and want to keep it alive.
B in VA has a friend that refuses to use proper pronouns when going into Discord. His friend says that they are shoving their beliefs down his throat and it is disrespectful to have to use pronouns. It is on an individual basis to determine what techniques you would want to use with them. You do not have to engage with people like that. Some people just do not want to be told what to do.
We appreciate our viewers! Be sure to check out all our shows and thank you to the crew!
The Non-Prophets, Episode 21.09 airing Sunday, 2022-02-27 featuring Cynthia, Phil Ferguson, and Malty.
EVERYBODY FALL IN!!
Welcome to the Non-Prophets basic training! We are going to turn you from raw recruits to lean mean skeptic thinking news and daily topic absorbing machine!
First lesson! Paraphrasing the fifth general order; you must obey all orders of the commanding officer. Unless you feel it somehow violates your religion. An Airforce officer fight against taking the Covid vaccine. Drop and give me 20 ma’am!
Next, TEN HUT! POPE WATCH! Pope Francis condemns the assisted suicide while the Italian government mulls it’s efficacy. Many years in the making and following a man who was trapped in his body after a horrible accident. Can the Pope allow that punishment to end or is it eternal punishment for wanting a release?
Then we double time it for a brisk 60 year march for new black history. Friend of the show Mandisa Thomas shows that a minority in a minority is able to raise their voices shouting out injustices. Will you join in the cadence?
Lastly, we get into a Special High Intensity Treatment that might seem strange, but it’s true. A healer in Pakistan convinced a woman that forcing a nail in her head would make sure her next child was male. Whisky Tango Foxtrot are these faith healers doing to these poor people?
Segment 1 [03:51]: Air Force can’t compel Christian officer to get Covid shot, judge rules Ground, Feb 16, 2022 https://ground.news/article/judge-air...
Segment 2 [30:50]: (POPE Watch!) Pope Condemns Assisted Suicide Italian Physician Assisted Suicide Ground, Feb 9, 2022 https://ground.news/article/pope-cond...
Segment 3 [51:53]: New Black History and Elevating Humanism The Humanist, Feb 15, 2022 By Mandisa Thomas https://thehumanist.com/commentary/ma...
Segment 4 [1:18:03]: Strange But True - Pakistan: Police hunt for 'healer' who hit nail into woman's head BBC news, Feb, 9 2022 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia...
Welcome back to Truth Wanted folks! This week’s special guest is taking a break from handing out quests in Skyrim to join Dan. He's a science communicator, he’s Tik Tok royalty, welcome Forrest Valkai to the show!
This week’s Patron of the Week is Ayame, thank you for supporting the show! A thousand blessings upon your ancestors.
Danni is having some trouble letting go of childhood religious indoctrination. Forrest recommends patience, these things don’t disappear, they fade away. He offers Danni a few tools, and a very gross, yet poignant metaphor. Dan shares an anecdote about his own upbringing, and advocates for visibility as an atheist, when safe to do so. Be patient with yourself Danni, much love!
Jay is up next, with a “No True Scotsman” argument that will dazzle and amaze. Okay, maybe not, but he tells our hosts that the Christians hating gay people aren’t true Christians. Our hosts point out that both all Xtians, good or bad, are drawing their conclusions from the same book. Jay has the one true interpretation of the Bible though! You and a million others, Jay.
TH has a real problem, that being his anti-vaxxer adult children. His kids offer up past lies from the government as reason to distrust the Covid narrative. Dan offers his own conversation with Anthony Magnabosco as an example of how minds don’t change overnight. Forrest paints a picture of how other conspiracies mirror the current anti-vax trend, and gives our caller a few tools for starting constructive conversations. There aren’t any magic words to get through to someone TH, but you seem to be on the right track.
Forrest spills the tea on this next call, Zim in Virginia asks how to explain evolution to a younger crowd, and it turns out Forrest is already on it! He’s working on exactly this topic! He gives a brief rundown of what Zim can expect, subjects like alleles, speciation, exactly what we need. Dan gets a bye round on this call, it’s entertaining as heck though!
Charles is up next, and asks our hosts what they think about the ethics of incest. Is our aversion to sex with close kin cultural, biological, or just plain good sense? Our hosts offer an impartial analysis of a typically taboo topic. Like the trolley problem, there’s no easy answer here.
Barrie the Kiwi asks if including creationism in public education has value, even if it’s just to warn students. Forrest thinks that teaching the history of science is valuable, especially because it includes the times we got it wrong. Honesty and skepticism go hand in hand!
Finally Paul gets Forrest super excited about mermaids and speciation. Actually. Best. Wrap-up. Ever.
History is written by the victors and the news is written by…Rupert Murdoch, I guess? Media bias, disinformation and an unmoderated comments section weren’t enough to stop tonight’s guest from creating The Performer’s Pod with Chelsea Poe, a passionate presentation of porn performer presence and prowess. Chelsea joins Arden and Christy in an exploration of the news media and international narratives around sex work, gender rights and more. All that, your calls and questions plus what’s turning us on this week on SecX!
Dive deeper into the episode and find what’s turning us on this week at https://www.vcatx.com/media/performerspod
In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Matt Dillahunty is joined by Jim Barrows!
First up is Kevin from Canada, who believes that coincidences are God’s way of anonymously interacting with us and therefore are convincing evidence for God’s existence. Typically, the word “coincidence” corresponds to one not having an explanation for an occurrence. Arbitrarily assigning an explanation does not make it true.
Next up is Charles from GA who wanted to present historical evidence of the bible. Apparently, Noah’s Ark is in Turkey and has metal that’s only been developed in the last century. This finding by Ron Wyatt has been debunked repeatedly, and even if what was found was indeed a boat, that does not mean that it was Noah’s Ark nor is proof of God.
Next up is Jon from Canada who argues that God is required for moral guidance. They claim that we are in a state of chaos because we as a society are ignoring God’s commands (i.e. rampant racism, apparently being gender non-conforming)... because those two are apparently the same.
Next is Bob from TN who has anecdotal evidence for God. The caller says that they will believe claims of encounters with the Holy Spirit, but will engage “skepticism” when the hosts swap “Holy Spirit” with aliens. The caller does not know how to have an honest conversation.
Next is Christian from NY who is a recently converted Catholic, and wants advice on whether they should stay in the religion and keep learning about it. The caller’s belief in the Church’s claims is founded on their process of exorcizing demons.
Next is Jesus from MO who says that Atheists can’t prove that God and Demons aren’t real, so why do they get to ask theists to prove God does. In summary, the caller doesn’t understand the burden of proof.
Carlton from NY calls in to see if our hosts see the increased size, duration, and number of natural disasters as signs that we are in the end times.
Our final call is Raj from UK who asks if our hosts would agree that slavery assisted in progressing society forward. In some ways, maybe, but there is no way to investigate what would have happened had slavery and its side-effects never occured. Slavery is immoral, regardless of whether it benefitted society or not. The ends do not justify the means.
Greetings Heathens! We hope to be a sanctuary for you in this chaotic world. In today’s episode of Talk Heathen, Katy Montgomerie is joined by JMike. It’s going to be a great show!
Let’s get to calls! Simon from the UK wants to talk about the problem of evil and how it is very possible that an evil god exists. He goes on to claim that if you have a life full of suffering and pain, it means there is an evil god behind all of it.
Casey in Missouri is up next, he claims the bible is true and accurate. He gives the example of the bible describing the Earth as a globe and this was before official scientific measurement. Except many ancient peoples and intellectuals understood the world was a globe due to naval navigation and observation, hundreds of years before the bible was written. And he doesn’t listen to the hosts and their presentation of evidence. He does get upset at the end, awwww.
Relic is wanting to talk about how organized religions are on the decline and how personal spirituality is becoming more popular. Perhaps the reason for this is the mere fact that people want to understand the world around them and they are less likely to be put to death for their beliefs (or lack of beliefs.)
That’s our show for this week, please continue to be safe in your area, wear your mask, and please please PLEASE get vaccinated if you can. The world is better with you in it. See you next week!
The Non-Prophets, Episode 21.08 airing Sunday, February 20th 2022 featuring Laura Magee, Richard Gilliver, ExXian Erin and Arden Heart.
Summary:
In the secular/humanist news reporting system you have a dedicated team of tireless hosts who will report the news and give their opinions.
These are their stories.
[BOOM BOOM]
First up on the docket, a pastor cooking it up without their pants. Is it just an innocent klutzy moment, or was he trying to get another type of religious experience. OH MY! Well the defence is going to have their work cut out for them.
Next like a page out of some of our darkest history we see a book burning by none other Pastor Greg Locke. He takes out what followers think are satanic works like Harry Potter. One might argue it was a better love story than Twilight, but investigations got distracted. A man who doesn’t follow positive Atheism tosses a Bible deep into that Pyre. Carthitic? Maybe. Could handled better? Well, let’s find out.
Then OK lawmakers follow suite with TX lawmakers. Trying to push through legislation that would punish teachers that would offend delicate sensibilities. What sensibilities would that be? Well ones that acknowledge LGTB people exist to young impressionable children. Do they have enough evidence to convince the jury of public opinion? They think they might.
Lastly, A Christian K-12 private school down under is in hot water for demanding parents sign a gender / birth-sex conformity contract. The school’s principal that sent out that paperwork has, “stepped aside”.
Articles Discussed
Segment 1: Mega Church Pastor caught with his pants down Hipster Megachurch in Shambles Over Pastor’s Alleged Affair
The Daily Beast, Jan 22, 2022 By Emily Shugerman http://tiny.cc/megchurchpastoraffair
Venue Church struggles as Pastor Tavner Smith takes time off amid affair allegations The Chritain Post, Jan 31 2022 By Leonardo Blair http://tiny.cc/cheatpastortakestime
Spicy! Shocked parishioners catch Tennessee megachurch pastor in his boxers with married co-worker wearing just a towel: Claimed they'd been cooking CHILI for hot dogs and it had splashed on their clothes!
Segment 2: Looking Back:A history of religious control by fire
Right-Wing Pastor Greg Locke Organizes 'Massive' Book Burning Newsweek, 02/01/2022 By Anders Anglesey
http://tiny.cc/greglockeburns The Taliban destroyed Afghanistan’s ancient treasures. Will history repeat itself?
Here Are the Ancient Sites ISIS Has Damaged and Destroyed
National Geographic, Sept. 1 2015 By Andrew Curry http://tiny.cc/natgeoisisdestroys Man crashes pastor’s book burning event - throws a bible into the fire and yells: ‘Hail Satan!”
Deadstate.org, 02/05/2022 by Sky Palma https://deadstate.org/man-crashes-pas...
Segment 3: Segment 3: Church - State Separation?
Oklahoma lawmaker wants to fire teachers who offend students’ religious beliefs OnlySky Feb. 2 2022 By Hemant Mehta
http://tiny.cc/oktechfired
Segment 4: Christian College faces backlash
Australia’s Citipointe Christian College faces backlash over anti-LGBTQ contract (The Christian K-12 school told parents to sign the contract or their kids would be kicked out)
OnlySky Feb. 2 2022 By Hemant Mehta
http://tiny.cc/aussieantilgbtcontract
In today's show, ObjectivelyDan is joined by the legendary Seth Andrews, host of The Thinking Atheist Podcast. They talk about Skillet (the band, not breakfast) and their message to fellow Christians. Our Patron of the week is Daniel. Thanks, Daniel.
First up is Casey from Missouri, he asks why atheists hate god if he doesn't exist. He has a very extreme view of an atheists' position and is way out there. He tries to drag the luggage of his beliefs to run roughshod over human rights, science and the usual failure of self educating. He struggles to grasp not believing in the non-existent.
Our second call is Nicky from Oregon who wants to know if she has a bias from her upbringing. She explores if seeking truth is found in science as her willingness to seek that truth is warranted. She attempts to understand logic and tries to define absolute truth but cannot.
Third caller is Jacob from Illinois, he encountered a Christian that claimed he was going to hell because he was an atheist and he also endured conversion therapy.
Fourth call is from Ashley from Colorado who is atheist, her family, not so much. She asks how to control herself when addressing her family over her atheism without losing her mind. Seth suggests ways to converse in peaceful terms.
Fifth call is Mike in Texas. He rejects the bible while being raised as Christian. He wants to explore ways to tell his family of his doubts of Christianity. Seth has a few things to consider in this conversation and what to watch for in navigating this situation.
Sixth is Jim from Canada found himself drunk preaching and making a spectacle of himself. He explores how indoctrination materializes in very embarrassing ways.
Our seventh caller is Barry from New Zealand. He asks, what do you think is the best argument for God? Dan talks about objective vs convincing arguments, what he experienced in his deconversion and common misunderstandings.
Know thyself and to thine ownself be most excellent, or whatever Bill Shapespear Preston once said. Recent neuroscience and modern philosophy have more or less extinguished not just the soul but also the idea of the one true self in favor of a model made up of many motivations and a multiverse of minds, begging the question who the hell is we? And what should we even call ourself? This week’s SecX includes a four person panel for discussing the philosophy and practicalities of all the little sex, gender and identity check boxes we so often tick, plus of course your calls and questions with Christy, Nate, Laura and Sinn Sage, what’s turning us on this week and more!
Dive deeper into the episode and find what’s turning us on this week at https://www.vcatx.com/media/overidentification
In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Matt Dillahunty is joined by Apostate Prophet.
Our first call for the day is King from AK who recently had a conversation with a theist regarding prophecy and whether it can be proof of God. The fact that something may have happened doesn’t tell us why it happened.
Next up is Aaron from FL who wants to know if telling those struggling with severe mental health issues that God wants them to live is a beneficial technique. One of main issues with this is that their reason for living is not tied to reality, and if their belief wavers they are back to where they started or worse.
Next is Jacob from NJ who wants to pick a fight with Apostate Prophet. Is this relevant to the truth of Islam? No, it's petty and fallacious.
Next is Joel who believes that the universe was created by God. Since no one has an evidence based explanation yet for the cause of the universe, any conclusion is premature and unfounded.
Up next is Kerim from Turkey who is concerned about Turkish Muslims who give up the Hadiths in favor of only embracing the Quran. Without the Hadiths, the Quran becomes merely a compilation of secondary sources.
Next is Rivalvo from Norway who presents a prophecy where Muhammad claims that a warrior won’t die in battle, and despite fighting in many, they didn’t. Just because a prediction comes true, doesn’t explain why it came true.
Up next is Marlo from TX who discovered Sufism and believes that they had a supernaturally influenced spiritual experience. The caller unfortunately has no evidence that their conclusion is anything more than a feeling.
Our final call of the day is Guy from GA who wants to ask if Muslims believe that only Allah can create life, or if they believe that humans may eventually become capable of doing so.
Greetings heathens! Join us for today’s show with Johnny Angel and Phil Ferguson who tackle questions from callers on how to handle today’s challenges when speaking with friends.
First caller is Jessica in Ut who asks if atheism can be harmful to mental health. Some people find the truth hard to handle. You are not alone when you feel that all the certainties are gone that used to be there when you had the support system of your church. Recovering from Religion can help with this. Count the good things in life and not just the negative hits. Is the cause of your distress the newly found lack of belief in magical thinking, or is it something else?
Next is Dave from NC wants to talk about the driver behind the holocaust being racism. He has an issue with society having racial categories to emphasize the illusion that races are separate. It comes down to definitions and we often talk past each other as humans. It is not our place to say who is and isn’t a race or who is in a struggle or not. It is more important to learn from the people who were involved than for us to speculate. Do you recognize that certain people statistically get the short end of the stick in society?
Next is B from VA who is talking to a religious friend that does not accept the different between sex and gender. It seems like he says these things to encourage people to hate him. The friend says the LGBTQ community is ruining the world. He also thinks science is wrong about sex and gender. Many people have received their marching orders from a book and some people believe this because it is what they learned growing up. This friend needs to meet more people in the LGBTQ community so his shitty attitude will become less. Our hope is that bigots are dwindling and fading away. Do you feel compelled to be the person that changes your friend’s mind on the subject?
Dan from OH is next that would like to know how to best converse with his friend who is autistic on theist topics. His friend at work is a Christian Fundamentalist and does not understand why the only atheist he knows does not hate Islam. We are not experts on autism, but talking with people can be different for each person. You can use clever ways to look at the Bible as a club when talking about Christianity and argue literally anything. Maybe there is something on the fringe that you can find that will help with the smallest improvement that can be enough to nudge the asteroid off course.
Marcus in TX would like to know how to play off the religious person’s superiority to encourage them into being better human beings. The morality that most people follow is not the same that is laid out in their holy book. People just assume that believers are a positive force in the world because they are part of a charity. You are not moral because of the Bible but in spite of the Bible. Ask questions. Do atheists tip better? What percentage of your tithing actually goes to helping people?
Thank you all for joining us! We want to hear your experience so please keep calling.
The Non-Prophets Episode 21.07 airing February 13th, 2022 ,featuring Nate Smith, Christy Powell, and Laura Magee!
Summary - Love is in the air and our hosts are fearless when it comes to navigating the stormy seas that is Valentine’s Day! With an attempted mutiny take over by some of Secular Sexuality hosts… Hey wait a minute! Nate… Laura…? You are Non-Prophets! YOU TRAITORS! Along with love guru Christy Powell. Our three private-teers will explore the rocky waters of Valentine’s Day history. They will stop at many ports around the world and take in how other cultures celebrate. Then to the briny deep where many feel the pressures of the day. Finally, they will hear the siren songs of Christians saying AVAST to celebrations they find a little icky. For them we say it is time to swab the deck!
Why all the nautical themes for a Valentine’s day special? Well since The Non-Prophets is the flagship of the Atheist Community of Austin, then the sister show Secular Sexuality would have to be the TUG BOAT!
Want to see more of what Christy Powell is doing head on over to https://www.youtube.com/c/SecularSexu...
Articles Discussed:
Segment 1: Grim History of Valentine’s Day http://tiny.cc/darkvday Additional Reference: http://tiny.cc/smithsonianonvday http://tiny.cc/pagenvday
Segment 2: Valentine’s Day Traditions Around the World https://odysseys-unlimited.com/valent... Additional Reference:
Segment 3: Valentine’s Day Blues http://tiny.cc/vdayblues
Segment 4: Shit Internet Apologists Say - Just Say No to V-Day https://becomingchristians.com/2016/0...
It’s Friday, it’s P*ck day, and tonight his special guest on Truth Wanted will (finally) be Emma Thorne! This week’s Patron of the Week is Matthew Scholtes!
Our first contestant is Liam in Louisiana, come on down! Liam asks our hosts about separation of church and state, specifically their opinion on the mayor of New Orleans incorporating a Catholic tradition in their inauguration ceremony. Puck isn’t about to die on the hill of swearing in on Bibles, or other traditions that are nominally associated with religion. If the Freedom from Religion Foundation is though, we certainly won’t complain!
Aaron has beef with tonight’s YouTube poll, and feels like cryptocurrency being framed as either “the future of currency” or “a pyramid scheme” isn’t entirely fair. Puck illustrates how NFTs could be perceived as a scam, and asks Aaron some pointed questions. Emma’s not convinced either, and won’t be buying a slice of any songs any time soon.
Scott wants to talk about the Central Park 5 case. Our hosts aren’t super familiar with the case, but promise to look into it further. Also, there may have been baby dinosaurs on Noah’s Ark (but probably not).
Connla wants to talk about how NFTs could ruin the video game experience by pushing out those who aren’t willing to shell out the big bucks for space. Our hosts agree that it’s a ‘dangerous game,’ analogous to the pitfalls of loot boxes and pay-to-win mechanics. All parties can agree that legislation could help limit greed, and make gaming better for everyone.
That’s our show tonight folks, stay skeptical, we’ll see you next week!
There aren’t many things in our daily lives that are perfectly legal until money changes hands and yet selling sex just seems so salacious. Then when you consider we’ve built a world where economic freedom and bodily autonomy are doubly denied to women it’s no wonder we deem the commerce of coitus beneath us. But how should we manage cash for connection- is it vital for the government to enforce our safety or an affront to our freedom? SecX’s Patron Saint of Sex Work joins our resident legal expert for a closer examination. Catch Arden Hart and Johnny P Angel with Christy Powell for a roundtable discussion on prostitution legalization vs decriminalization, your calls calls and questions and of course what’s turning us on this week on SecX!
This Sunday’s AxP has Matt returning, alongside crowd favorite, Shannon Q!
First up is Hank, who says without precreation, there’s no point to life. He gets cut off after an inappropriate comment, but Shannon and Matt offer MANY reasons why life matters without babies. Keep it PG Hank.
Kevin in Canada thinks scientists believing in gods is proof of their existence, and also believes in Intelligent Design. Shannon points out that many biological systems are clearly not designed well, and Matt doesn’t care what some people, scientist or not, might think. That's not proof of anything!
Bob is next, who is off like a rocket with his background story of being an agnostic atheist with autism. He wants to know if folks on the autism spectrum are more likely to be non-believers. Our hosts aren’t aware of any statistics on the topic, and think it may be more an issue of visibility than tendency. I would love to have a beer with Bob.
Patrick identifies as an atheist, but thinks the universe is… conscious? And also, therefore God. Shannon offers a great rebuttal, and Matt gives a great analogy for this composition fallacy. No cookies for you, Patrick. Ok, one cookie. But it’s oatmeal raisin.
Anthony has worked with the mentally ill, and wonders if the delusions they suffer are present in some small capacity among all religious folk. Both our hosts agree that being religious is not a mental illness, and talk about why irrational beliefs are not necessarily an indicator for such.
Susan has evidence for a soul! Wait, no she doesn’t. But AI being curious is a thing sooo, souls? Concepts aren’t evidence, and thinking about Narnia doesn’t manifest Mr. Tumnus.
Richard claims that without evolution, humans could not exist. Therefore, God. Sadly, his argument is all conjecture and assertions. Any call that makes Shannon rub her temples is worth watching!
Oh Will, why are you defending Biblical slavery? Will’s making excuses for the Pentateuch, and Matt’s not having it. Not today sir.
Christopher thinks he’s had a divine revelation, and has a direct line to the big man upstairs. We get a real-time conversation as this feckless deity fails at guessing what card is in Matt’s hand. This is good content, people.
Patrick has waited an hour to tell us that anyone popular enough is a God. Flashback to high school much? We’re moving on.
Relic wants to ask our hosts if building communities with believers is worth it. Shannon thinks that as long as our goals are aligned, there’s value there, and Matt agrees. Relic tells us why he’s a druid, and this tale is worth hearing! Freya the Goddess makes a cameo, but our hosts don’t see any value in a cool story.
That’s our show folks, stay safe, mask up, and get vaccinated!
Greetings Heathens! In today’s episode of Talk Heathen, Kenneth Leonard is joined by JMike. Ooooh, two powerhouses co hosting together, this should be a great show!
Let’s get to calls! Xeno claims that their epistemology is correct, ours definitely incredibly flawed. He goes on to say everything has a beginning, just look at your fingers. He also says that because we are Atheists, our epistemology is biased and conflicted. Then he complains that “it was smoother on another show.” Just get it out guy. Wow.
Joe in Minnesota is up next, he says God is something greater than ourselves. Some would say even a higher power. This sounds like someone is willing to misunderstand probability. And if there is a god, they shouldn’t have to share horrific events that you missed to show they exist.
Sean in Oregon had a frustrating confrontation with his In-Laws about religion and his recovery. He is also very concerned about his daughter becoming indoctrinated. A good recommendation would be to set distinct boundaries and have a conversation with your daughter when the time comes.
Richard in the UK is wondering if there is one true religion because of the majority of callers that call in. Are there good arguments for theism or a likely true religion? That’s not really a good way to assess whether or not a religion is more than likely true. JMike gets into this question from his perspective.
Kathy in Illinois has something in particular to talk about, a bitterness that happens when coming out of religion. How does one approach this especially with potential mental illness which may cause some discouragement in deconverting. Recovering from Religion is a great resource to get help. https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/
That’s our show for this week, please continue to be safe in your area, wear your mask, and please please PLEASE get vaccinated if you can. The world is better with you in it. See you next week!
This week’s episode on the Non-Prophets covers how musicians are calling (cow suga, honey ice, tea) b*ll$h!t on Spotify and Joe Rogan spreading COVID misinformation. The French government takes a step in the right direction by banning Christian ‘Conversion Therapy’. Books about gender are being pulled from public school districts in Washington State, a Mississippi Mayor withholding funds over LGBTQ+ books but New Jersey high school board vetoes book ban. We have two directions that we can take in America, a secular, multicultural vision that respects rule of law and political rights and a Christian nationalist vision for America where white Christians dominate the political, economic, and social orders. Tune in this Sunday, 3pm central!]
Articles Discussed bogtry Segment 1: Musicians Can Spotify Misinformation RollingStone Mag. Jan, 12th 2022 By EJ Dickson ‘A Menace to Public Health’: Doctors Demand Spotify Puts an End to Covid Lies on ‘Joe Rogan Experience’ http://tiny.cc/jregonedoneit
Segment 2: New French law bans ‘conversion therapy’ The Hill, Jan 26th 2022 By Maureen Breslin New French law band ‘conversion therapy’ http://tiny.cc/francejoinscanada
Segment 3: Bigots and Books NJ.com (True Jersey), Jan 26th 2022 By Vashti Harris N.J. high school board votes against recommendation to ban LGBTQ+ book http://tiny.cc/youdoneabadbadbook
Segment 4: It’s either Christian Nationalism or Democracy Only Sky Jan 9th 2022 By Marcus Johnson It’s either Christian nationalism or democracy. You can’t have both https://onlysky.media/mjohnson/its-ei...
Segment Titles and Articles Discussed:
Segment 1 - Musicians Can Spotify Misinformation - Josh Segment 2 -New French law bans 'conversion therapy' - Neil Segment 3 -Bigots and Books - Josh Segment 4 -It’s Either Christian nationalism or democracy - Cynthia
Truth Wanted is a show about getting to the bottom of beliefs, whether it’s karma or Christ, Bigfoot or crystals. Truth Wanted would like to know how you know it’s true. Primarily hosted by ObjectivelyDan, Truth Wanted takes calls from the community (that means YOU!) and features new guests every week, emphasizing thorough conversations over name-calling and scoffing (most of the time). Truth Wanted focuses on how and why people believe what they believe, and how you can talk about beliefs in more effective ways. Join us for truth investigations and lively conversations every Friday at 7:00pm CT!
We’ve mentioned before that no amount of pornography is truly ‘addictive’ and that erotic hypnosis, as sexy as it may be, cannot in fact wash your brain. That said, it may be interesting to note that there’s an internet’s worth of ‘pornosexual’ products meant to ‘relapse your addiction,’ ‘transform your mind’ or ‘bend you to my will.’ What should we make of these ominous warnings- sexy/silly samples of erotic submission or dangers doorways into a dark addiction? On this episode P*ck and Darrel bring Christy and our audience a cautious peek into the fantasy of being out of control, controlled or outright addicted to the supposedly slippery slope of sexual depravity. Watch if you dare, call in with your questions and comments and find out what’s turning us on this week on SecX!
Dive deeper into the episode and find what’s turning us on this week at https://www.vcatx.com/media/addictionfantasy
In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Matt Dillahunty is joined by Dr. Darrel Ray!
Starting off is Kyle from NY who believes that they hear spirits talking to them when they pray. How do you know these are spirits? Just because you don’t have an answer to the question “what is it?” doesn’t mean that you are justified in calling them spirits. For all you know it’s a manifestation of Agent Smith trying to control your life from the shadows.
Next up from KY is Eric who is calling to talk about upcoming Recovering From Religion Foundation events and volunteer opportunities! Thanks for calling Eric!
Up next is JR from AR who claims to have figured out a way to detect the presence of a spiritual world using a pendulum? Why does it seem like every time one of these “techniques” is presented, they always seem to develop a humanesque performance anxiety.
Next is Jessica from UT who believes Atheism is a privileged position. There is nothing necessarily privileged about asking a question or holding a belief, it's the external social and physical factors, such as being able to publicly out yourself atheist without fear of harm that make something privileged.
Andrew from ME is calling to ask if mental health diagnoses are subjective, and if so, does that make the conclusions of experts in those fields less valuable?
Dave from FL is coming in hot with currently unanswerable questions. Since we have yet to develop time travel, we have no idea if there was an infinite past. Like with the first caller, a lack of information isn’t a blank check to insert whatever indemonstrable assertion you feel makes sense that day.
Next is Duke from CA who recounts an argument they had with a theist regarding possible tenable positions for a given proposition. Make sure you read up on the material you are discussing so that you can adequately defend your position and have a productive conversation.
Steve from CA is calling in to talk about the possible connection between specific mental health illnesses and religious belief. That connection may or may not exist, or each case could be different making such generalizations unjustified.
Alvin from NC wants to know the difference between atheism and agnosticism. While definitions can be good educational starting points, when having a conversation, address the person's actual position, not what you want them to defend.
Next is Jason from SC who is arguing for the existence of an objective morality by comparing God to a sports referee.
Up next is Jason from Canada who thinks that atheists should find common ground with deists & theists regarding morality. Has the caller never interacted with anyone who isn’t them?
Greetings! Today we have Jmike and Johnny P. Angel are partners in the crime of dancing through various caller challenges.
First caller is Rao who is asking about simulation theory and whether or not we can prove that we exist. The caller brings up Dr. James Gates Jr. who found a string of ones and zeros that are not similar to but identical to the error correcting code that we find in our search engines today. The caller agrees that we care about the independent data, not who said it. We do not know how to falsify this theory or the expectations that are supposed to be generated by this theory, but it can be rivaled with any other theory. There is not enough information here for us to determine if this is true. If you don’t understand the math, why does this take precedence over the facts? If we are in a simulation, it sets us up for playing a role. We will all dig some more into this and do some more research. The caller also mentions to get the god claim out of this hypothesis.
Next is Thomas from TN that wants to talk about people who don’t believe we were ever Christians after deconversion. The caller realized that praying was like talking to air and described that as the reason for stopping the god belief. What does what people think matter to you? The caller also described his past life as Rock n Roll and secular, even though he was a believer. People who believe and don’t believe use different frameworks to describe their lifestyles.
Sal in OH is our last caller who talks about the ability to question oneself. Both of their parents are anti vax conservative Christians and have accused Sal of having too much pride. Dad will show them conspiracy theories about the vaccines. Dad continues to default to government control and removing people’s rights. Show your dad the data and challenge the theories. Ask the question of how you learned of this information. As long as you are willing to engage, you will need to keep poking holes in the theories. Most importantly, you will need to address the reason why he chooses to toss out certain information that is abundantly available. Find out what constitutes a reliable source to your dad. Ask what methodology was used to determine these points. Is this information that already feeds into his beliefs?
Thank you to the essential workers and those in the front lines. If we are able to promote critical thinking and get vaccinated, we can get through this quicker. Bye Heathens!
The Non-Prophets, Episode 21.05 airing Sunday, January 30rd 2022 featuring Cynthia McDonald, Teo El Ateo, Secular Rarity and ObjectivelyDan.
This week’s episode covers Pope Emeritus Benedict's lack of spine dealing with another rapist priest. Please don’t give horse de-wormer to inmates. NASA helps fund a look into religious feelings on the existence of aliens. Ending with a pastor that want to bring the faith alive by rubbing spit in his brother’s eye… Literally.
Articles Discussed
Segment 1: Popewatch! - BBC News - Former Pope Benedict failed to act over abuse, new report finds JOE HERNANDEZ. January 18, 2022 Links to Main Articles: http://tiny.cc/popewatchabuse
Segment 2: Arkansas inmates are suing after being given ivermectin to treat COVID-19 Links to Main Articles: http://tiny.cc/inmatesivermectin
Segment 3: Strange But True - NASA used religious experts to predict how humans may react to aliens The Hill, Brooke Migdon - Dec. 28, 2021 Links to Main Articles: http://tiny.cc/nasamystics
Segment 4: Shit Internet Apologist Say - A megachurch pastor in Oklahoma apologized for a demonstration during his sermon 'being too extreme and disgusting' when he rubbed spit on a churchgoer's face Business Insider, Mary Meisenzahl - Jan 17, 2022, 5:34 PM Links to Main Articles: http://tiny.cc/dontpraydontspray
Hello Truth-Seekers and welcome to another episode of Truth Wanted. This week Objectively Dan is joined once again by the USA’s favorite deity, Jesus H Christ!
Barrie the Kiwi is first up, he’s got an alien abduction/medical emergency metaphor for us. JC suggests that traumatic experiences could lead to false memories, and Dan probes Barrie for details. Verbally, of course. JC admits to an odd fetish, you’ll have to listen to find out, no spoilers! Barrie’s also got a UFO story, but sadly, is interrupted before he can finish (probably by aliens).
Steve is next, who has a new philosophical argument for… rabbits? I’m as confused as Dan. It takes a lot to bewilder a deity, but Jesus Christ! Is. We’re gonna move along, thanks for the call Steve!
Marcus is a new atheist who’s received a letter from his mother, claiming that she’s had a revelation from God. Jesus has no record of this intervention, and tells us that heaven has a “no indirect revelation” policy. Good to know, Lord. Marcus thinks there’s a chance this could be for real, and Dan has a tarot card analogy that seems more likely than miracles. Many of us have been there too, remember that we humans are pattern seekers, and coincidences are just that, and nothing more.
Our final two callers have crawled out from beneath a bridge, taken a break from extorting billy-goats, and graced us with their nonsense. Strap in!
Douglas in Canada thinks that the McCarthy era addition of In God We Trust to American currency is proof of God. Douglas is also unaware that this is a recent addition. He throws some childish insults at Jesus, which is entirely un-Christian, and our hosts play with their food for a brief moment before Douglas runs away. This man does not represent Canada.
Alex in Cali is off the road, and off the rails. We begin with the accusation that our guest is not the REAL Jesus… pretty sure we all knew that. Alex coins the term “self-exist,” presents a few ridiculous false dichotomies, is thoroughly owned by our hosts, and runs back beneath his bridge. Stick to goats dude.
Well that was fun! Tune in next week, when two lowly mortals will continue their side-quest for the truth! The main quest is donuts.
It’s 2022- COVID will go on forever, sex and gender are a spectrum and Matt Dillahunty will hang up on people- we know dis. But what is that spectrum made of and, most important of all skeptical questions, how do we know? Student Doctor Ben is here to walk us through the slippery science and vaguely serviceable skepticism of the transphobic tirades littering the internet nowadays. Catch his conversation with Nate and Christy, call in with your questions and find out what’s turning us on this week on this genetically superior episode of SecXX/XY!
► Dive deeper into the episode and find what’s turning us on this week at https://www.vcatx.com/media/xxxy
Secular Sexuality show is LIVE every Thursday from 7:00 to 8:30pm Central Time
If you'd like to be on the show, use your phone ☎ and call 1-512-991-9242 or use a computer 💻 and click http://tiny.cc/callsex
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Welcome to another episode of AxP. Matt and Jim are back together again!
First up is Mr. Warlight, who claims to have a test for souls. Sadly, it involves desecrating a statue in a cemetery, so we’re gonna move on.
Mike in Texas has More (-mon) bad arguments for God. The universe is a big place, and therefore, a universe creating entity is possible. Matt and Jim point out that possibility is not probability, and this is as good an argument for gods as it is for butt monkeys. Just listen, it’ll make sense.
Next is Jasmine who’s going to take us from the Bible to… entropy? Jim reminds us that the Bible is the claim, not the evidence, and gives our caller a quick lesson in thermodynamics. Matt points out that just because order came from chaos, that doesn’t mean God did it.
Brazilian Bruno is next, who takes a very long time to say… God could prevent evil, but doesn’t, so HIS God is a neutral one. Jim gives a great Hell metaphor, and Matt tries to show Bruno where he’s erred.
Lightning round with Earl, who had a dream that convinced him God has updated… his own mind? We’re not gonna waste time on dreams today.
Justin in New York asks our hosts for tips on engaging in constructive debates in social settings. Matt and Jim both agree, pick your battles Justin, you don’t need to die on every hill! Using the Socratic method is always a good start to any conversation Justin.
Jonathan in AZ seems to want to back Matt into a corner by saying he’s equated theism with believing other wacky stuff, flat earth, science denial, etc. He cites some calls from other past shows, but Matt is quick to shut down this attempt at verbal chicanery. Admiral Ackbar sniffed this out from 12 parsecs away.
Next up is Monsters (not the kind with scary teeth). He believes in limited deities with tremendous power…? Concepts can have power, but that doesn’t mean they actually exist. Spiderman is a great moral example, doesn’t mean he’s real.
Anon in Texas doesn’t see the harm in holding beliefs that aren’t true, and doesn’t see why it should matter. Beliefs inform actions, and a flawed process can lead to more dangerous views. Anon seems like a good guy, just a bit mixed up.
Joe hasn’t got a grasp on the burden of proof. Matt gives a courtroom analogy, and Jim explains the null hypothesis. I don’t think Joe has passed the bar exam.
AJ grew up as a JW, and is seeking advice on coming out as an atheist. Matt advises a cost/benefit approach to these conversations, and Jim offers a few resources, like the Secular Therapy Project.
Paul wants to talk about how energy shows the possibility of God, but also doesn’t think it matters. You waited two hours for this?
Finally Tim wants to know why Jesus didn’t write anything down! Dad did! Matt is less concerned about the late Bronze Age, and asks why isn’t he contributing now? We list a few absurdities from Christian theology, and give Tim a quick e-hug.
That’s the show today folks, hasta la vista!
Greetings Heathens! In today’s episode of Talk Heathen, Katy Montgomerie is joined by Kenneth Leonard. It’s going to be a great show!
Let’s get to calls! Nick from Arizona would like to talk about the greatest contradictions contained within the bible. Katy brings up the idea of Hell and how an all loving God has a place like that for punishment. I hurt you because I love you is incredibly toxic.
Alex in Australia is up next, he claims that God does exist and he has the arguments to prove it scientifically and philosophically. He goes on to try to claim that mathematics (and specifically the Fibonacci Sequence,) is magical or indicates a supreme being because of its complexity.
Returning caller Gohan in Texas claims that the existence of morality is based on God and created the standard of what is right and what is wrong in terms of this morality. Sadly, Gohan doesn’t really define their terms and the call devolves into arbitrary lists of do’s and don’ts (morality.) His arguments don’t really fly though.
Jeff in Ohio says the Bible is accurate and that it explains and reflects the human condition very well. Except for when it is inconsistent and conflicts with itself but purports itself to being THE source for accuracy, morality, etc. So it doesn’t explain it all very well at all.
That’s our show for this week, please continue to be safe in your area, wear your mask, and please please PLEASE get vaccinated and boosted if you can. The world is better with you in it. See you next week!
The Non-Prophets, Episode 21.04 airing Sunday, January 23rd 2022 featuring Laura Magee, Richard Gilliver and August.
Ships log: Rear Admiral Johnny P. Angel reporting.
Ahoy! This week aboard the Flagship of the Atheist Experience Network, Laura Magee, Richard Gilliver and August head for international waters. Of course, they begin at the official NP winter quarters, a small, but comfortable villa, up the Tiber from the Tyrrhenian Sea, not far from Ostia Antica, seaport of ancient Rome, itself. The skuttlebutt is that il Papa is singing some pro-LGBTQ shanties. A closer listen is warranted. They find that his tone is somehow off…hmmm.
Having weighed anchor, these modern day Argonauts sail for what seems a lifetime, only to find themselves traversing the Sulu Sea (yes, the SULU Sea). Upon making landfall at Bataan Port, our intrepid crew surveys the Philippines’ new ban on child marriage. About time they cheer!
But what is this, they each descry through their looking glass? The expected: religious-types making a typical stink. Noted in the ship’s log. Time to make waves…a fair wind blows them southwest along the coast to Borneo, west to Singapore, past the tip of India, through the Suez Canal, beyond the Straights of Gibraltar, hugging Portugal, Espana, and Frahhhnce, across the channel, skirting the eastern coast of England, and FINALLY laying anchor at the Port of Tilbury, in Essex, UK.
Here, Captain Laura and the Bridge Crew stride the gangplank and inspect lowly Piltdown Man and his cobbled-together head. They’ve collected their shillings and shamble (their legs are not used to such stability) to the nearest pub, where over whatever drinks they elect, they confabulate a spell on the topic of that singular cohort: Gen Z: and how they do, and do not get together. We hope you enjoy the journey as much as we did.
Segment Titles and Articles Discussed:
Segment 1: Pope Watch
Pope Francis Removes Vatican Official Behind Document Barring Blessings for LGBTQ Couples
Newsweek, By Heather Bair Jan 10, 2022 http://tiny.cc/popewatchgrsmcool
Segment 2: Step in the Right Direction - Philippines bans child marriage
http://tiny.cc/sitrdpibankidwed
Segment 3: Looking Back - January 20: “Piltdown Man” Hoax Exposed by Ronald Bruce Meyer, January 20, 2011
Links to Main Articles: http://tiny.cc/lbpiltdownmanfake
Additional reading: http://tiny.cc/piltdownmanxplaind
Segment 4: Gen Zs Aren’t “Committed to Being Committed”
BBC.com By Jessica Klein Jan 7, 2022
Links to Main Articles: http://tiny.cc/genzkeepsitinpants
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We welcome your comments on the thread for this show. ► http://tiny.cc/fbnp ► Contact us with questions or news stories at: nonprophets@atheist-community.org
Hello, all you truth seekers and welcome to today’s episode of the Truth Wanted where our host MD Aware, is joined by Vino!
Raymond from FL is our first caller tonight. This week, they claim to have devised a scientific experiment specifically designed to detect the voice of God. The experiment is flawed because the way events are determined and categorized isn’t objective. How do we determine when an event starts and ends? How do we reproduce the caller’s testing methodology without a consistent set of variables?
Next up is Otangelo. Today’s script submission tackles the concept of DNA being an intelligently programmed code. Maybe “tackles” isn’t quite the right word.
Up next is Wesley from WV who has come to talk about...something. Today we learned that the King James Bible is the real one because God says so and that MD Aware is a frog wizard.
Next is James from ME who has some biology questions for our hosts regarding genes and chromosomes, and how they relate to speciation. Chromosome count doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with an organism’s ability to breed. There are members of the same species with different chromosome counts that can breed, just as there different species with the same chromosome count that cannot.
Next up is K from a mysterious bunker in the swiss alps. Anyways, the caller wanted to share a story about how their friend started believing in ghosts after they experienced something they didn’t have an explanation for.
Next is Martin from CO who has some sexy alien stories to share with the audience. (Not alien sex stories mind you, we save those for Thursdays.)
Finally, Kyle from IN calls in to ask how and why anyone should trust government-provided information when there is a history of governments lying to their citizens. While there are many small lies, unless there is substantial, damning evidence showing some massive coverup exists like those depicted in many popular conspiracy theories, then belief in those rabbit hole labyrinths isn’t justified.
Besides checking the gas prices and looking for a clean commode, how much energy do you put into picking road trip potty breaks? How often do you worry about putting your credit card down to split a check or stress over teaching your doctor about your body? While a fistful of state legislatures earn their reelection through high-profile bigotry, the day by day reality of trans life includes an unending list of subtle sexism and daily dangers. What’s an ally to do? Phoebe Rose of Trans Stories rejoins the show to share with us the ins and outs and day to day indignities of life in a cis world. Her conversation with Nate and Christy, trans resources and activism opportunities and of course what’s turning us on this week on SecX!
Dive deeper into the episode and find what’s turning us on this week at https://www.vcatx.com/media/cisworld
Welcome to another episode of AxP. Matt’s guest this week, on loan from Truth Wanted, is MD Aware!
Dan in Indiana asks how absurd a claim has to be before one can summarily dismiss it. MD points out that scientists don’t use a yardstick of absurdity, they do experiments and test claims!
John is a believer, he states that since the existence of gods can’t be proven or disproven, atheists and theists are in the same position. He then says he CAN prove gods are real in a different way, but, sadly, he doesn’t. MD and Matt remind him that you can’t write deities into existence, real life isn’t a screenplay.
Michael in Florida asks our hosts about a psychiatrist who claims to also be an exorcist. Matt doesn’t think demons have been shown to be real, and MD Aware reminds us that psychiatric diagnoses aren’t quantitative, and offering a hidden entity as a cause of mental illness is irresponsible.
Next up is Allen, who suggests that Christianity is an atheist religion, because their god died. We’re not sure if you’re familiar with the dogma Allen, this character’s still kickin! Our hosts make it clear that atheism is incompatible with belief in Jesus, be he dead or alive.
Another Michael? This one’s from Texas, and thinks a planet-spawning alien is probable. Also, God. Umm… neither has been shown to be real Michael, and our huge universe doesn’t guarantee that everything you can conceive of must exist.
Eran in Israel wants some help in sussing out definitions of gods from theists. He’s tired of them saying what God isn’t, he wants them to make a positive claim. Matt and MD agree that what we don’t know about God isn’t as useful as what we do.
Next up is Bryan from Utah who thinks Matt’s standards of evidence are off, and that his approach leaves the door open for mysticism? Turns out Bryan’s just frustrated that people are allowed to make wild claims, we’re sympathetic, but we’re gonna move on.
Abby asks when our hosts think religion will die out. Matt doesn’t think it will, MD Aware thinks it’s more likely to take a backseat in the form of cultural habits, rather than actual belief in gods. Matt points out that many religions have died out, and its current iterations will too. Abby asks for advice on how to start teaching critical thinking, and our hosts encourage cautious activism in dangerous places.
Issa wants to know why our hosts don’t believe in god, and offers the complexity of an iPhone as a metaphor for why the universe must have been created. MD Aware replies that the universe isn’t necessarily complex, what emerges from the laws of physics is. Matt asks what information Issa has that cosmologists don’t, but Issa wants to play dodgeball.
Alex wants to talk about a study that he thinks shows evolution can’t be real. Mutations in enzymes would have taken too long, so therefore, God did it. MD Aware reminds Alex that proving one explanation wrong doesn’t mean yours is true, Matt uncovers the bias that the experimenters had. MD Aware offers to have a look at the study, perhaps we’ll have a chapter two on Truth Wanted!
Greeting Heathens! Today we have Jmike joined by the actual Jesus Christ (JC)! Will the real Jesus Christ please stand up?
First up is Tristan from TX that has some thoughts about how to prevent climate change and getting people to understand that our world matters. The idea that we can try and not do good enough, is not a reason to not try. Just do the most you can do, and don’t get hung up on everyone else. How would you ever know if it was not enough unless you can falsify the prior attempts?
Next we have Rain in UT that wants to learn more about debating presuppositionalists and what points can be most effectively used. Supply the argument that makes the contrary impossible. Are there any set of observations that the person has that can not be attributed to a god? If one of the definitions of god is that everyone knows this god exists, and one person is found that did not know of this existence, then the supposition is false.
Jeff from OH says the mind and body can’t be trusted and we need an arbitrator because the mind and body are not our friends. He wants to know if the mind can do anything to help with well being. JC says our perceptions and ideas can fail us, though the mind and body are the same. Just because you are confused about something, does not mean the conclusion used to fix it is true. If you don’t understand this, it is personal incredulity. If it is a fact that Jesus is the arbitrator, then how does one demonstrate this and why believe it if it can’t be demonstrated?
Next we have The Recipe from Canada that presents a weak argument about the 7 day week. Jmike asks for the inference rule of this claim. The caller tries to use a raising voice with aggression method to assert that the Hebrew God is what all nations follow because he invented the 7 day week and predicted this 2,000 years ago. The caller is asked if Hinduism is true because of the close prediction of the age of the universe, but that just made him more aggressive straw-manning the host’s position.
Austin in MS does not want to leave a loved one behind after death. Being dead is just like being asleep. There is not really anything to be afraid of, other than those around you that miss and love you, feeling sad. That is not good or bad; it is just how it is. There are resources to help with this fear.
Gabriel in Canada believes Jesus is real because he can be seen on the screen as a host. He would like some tips on creating an atheist group in his area. Join our Facebook and Discord groups to reach out to people within these groups. TikTok is a good one because of the eyes on it all day long; there are plenty of resources to check out.
Last we have Chase in Al that has questions about how to deal with a closed minded Christian family. It is difficult to talk someone out of something quickly that they were not talked into quickly.
Shout out to all the first responders, Uber drivers, and the crew! Thank you for joining us and have a great week!
This weeks episode covers money found behind Joel Osteen’s toilet, how the State of Utah is using the LDS church to decrease their welfare benefits, how a mob lynched a man in Pakistan due to an accusation of blasphemy, ending with a Step In the Right Direction with pastors joining “The Great Resignation”.
Articles Discussed
Segment 1: Joel Osteen is the Pablo Escobar of Christianity
Link to Main Article: “Plumber Finds Money at Mega-Church” http://tiny.cc/osteendirtymoney Additional Reference: “Plumber Receives Reward for Finding Money” http://tiny.cc/dirtymoneycomeclean
Segment 2: ..And the Poor turn to Jesus Link to Main Article: “LDS Church Enables Utah Welfare” http://tiny.cc/ldsatwar
Segment 3: The Ultimate Sin: Blasphemy Link to Main Article: “Sri Lanken Man Killed for Alleged Blasphemy” http://tiny.cc/20toeternity
Segment 4: [Step in the Right Direction] - The Great Resignation Link to Main Article: “The Great Resignation” http://tiny.cc/biblicalresignation
Hello Truth Seekers, and welcome to another episode of Truth Wanted! This week, ObjectivelyDan is joined by MD Aware!
First up tonight is Liam from LA who wants to discuss the topic of Red Mass, and by extension the necessity of the separation of religion and government. Thanks for bringing this to attention. They definitely are something to be given a closer look.
Next up is Trey from FL who asks our hosts for concrete evidence and reasoning for mask wearing. They, like most of us, are exhausted from trying to explain to others why caring about those around you should be reason enough, and want to actually be able to close the argument as cleanly as possible.
Stephanie from ME calls to continue the conversation on conversion therapy’s harm, as well as to share their own experiences with anti-lgbtq indoctrination.
Next is Phil from TX who recounts his experience as a moderate christian when his church was infiltrated by evangelical fundamentalists, and how this encounter started him on his path to deconversion.
Next is Raymond from FL who feels that we only look at what something is and its purpose without just considering the fact that it is.
Finally, Maurice from AL recently tested positive for HIV, but doesn’t know why they did. It would be a good idea to do more tests and make sure that it wasn’t a false positive, while also being careful not to prematurely make conclusions.
Ink-blots, enneagrams, eye movements, meditations… what even is good therapy? Brains are tricky, as it turns out, and while the field of psychology isn’t exactly new, we have a terribly long way to go. But whether we’re discussing the hypnosis of early psychoanalysis or the shaking and shivering of ancient shamanic healing it’s hard to know what good therapy looks, sounds and feels like. This week associate marriage and family therapist Emily Maynard returns to the show to talk pseudo-science, good therapy and how to tell the difference, plus your calls and questions and of course what’s turning us on this week on SecX!
Dive deeper into the episode and find what’s turning us on this week at vcatx.com/media/badtherapy
In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Jim Barrows is joined by Dave Warnock! Happy 2022!
Our first caller is none other than Matt with a post-surgery and recovery update! Good luck with the rest of your recovery!
Next up is Aidan from IL who was diagnosed with MS last year, and has concerns with their religious family member’s position regarding death with dignity.
Up next is Paul from PA! Paul, first off...if you want to advertise your book, go and pay for ad space on (insert popular social media platform) or something. Next up, narrative sequels act as a continuation of an existing work. Sequels, by themselves, do not IN ANY WAY serve as evidence for the truth value of the original story. You can’t use the original work to prove the truth of the sequel, or vice versa.
Next is Nick from CO who asserts that “fine-tuning” is justified by physics. This call quickly becomes 2022’s first case of the argument from incredulity. Just because we aren’t able to investigate before Planck time, doesn’t mean that a creator pulled the trigger.
Up next is Michael is MD who, after three minutes of gish galloping while they attempt to pick a topic, finally settles on “catholophobia?” Apparently criticizing the Catholic church’s criminal actions regarding moving pedophiles around is somehow catholophobic. Wow, that word is fun to write. Thanks for inventing that one caller.
Next is Sliew from Australia who has an issue accepting evolution because they don’t understand the definitions of mutation and how it differs from alleles. Open a biology textbook or at a bare minimum watch a well-researched documentary to educate yourself on the subject you clearly do not understand.
Finally, Patrick from FL presents the watch-maker argument. How did you conclude that everything around you was created by a God? What evidence do you have to support the existence of said God?
Greetings Heathens! We hope to be a sanctuary for you in this chaotic world. In today’s episode of Talk Heathen, Kenneth Leonard is joined by Johnny P. Angel.
Let’s get to calls! Kaitlyn in Texas is calling in about how to find local atheist communities within your area. She had begun to go to atheist meetups and found them to be pretty comforting and wonderful (changed her life for the better in the long run!) There is some comfort in finding inclusive and welcoming groups within the atheist community to converse with.
Nick in Arizona is up next, he is wondering about how an all powerful God doesn’t seem logical. He posits how an all powerful being could make a rock too large to lift and how it just doesn’t make any sense. Kenneth puts his Christian hat on (figuratively) and talks about how theists get around this argument.
Billy in Texas, is calling about how factory farming is used in the creation of most vaccines. He seems to claim that pharmacological companies use chicken eggs from these farms to develop and produce these vaccines. But they don’t. Correlation does not imply causation Billy.
Trevor in Washington would like to talk about how he has a good reason to believe in God. And that is because of subjective experience. Um ok.
That’s our show for this week, please continue to be safe in your area, wear your mask, and please please PLEASE get vaccinated and boosted if you can. The world is better with you in it. See you next week!
The Non-Prophets, Episode 21. Airing Sunday, January 9th featuring Malty, “Teo El Ateo, Secular Rarity and guest host Genevieve of That GD show!
Summary -
On this week’s episode we cover bigotry against burkinis in Bangladesh. Marjorie Taylor Greene calls out Kwanzaa as a fake religion. FFRF wants North Carolina Sheriff to remove bible quotes from his department’s wall and we end with a Nigerian Prophet giving Satan a Wrestling smack down to win the spiritual heavyweight championship. So… Please join us for the Non-prophets episode 21.02 premiering Sunday Jan 9 at 3 PM CT.
Articles Discussed
Segment 1 [2:52]: Muslim Women at the Beach
Link to Main Article: “Bangladesh: Women-only beach scrapped after social media outcry” http://tiny.cc/womenonlybeachscraped “When Swimming As a Muslim Woman Becomes A Political Act” http://tiny.cc/swimmingandpolitics
Additional Reference: “6 facts about women’s rights in Bangladesh” http://tiny.cc/factsbdwomensrights
Segment 2 [30:32]: Marjorie Taylor Greene’s War on Kwanzaa!
Link to Main Article: “Marjorie Taylor Greene calls Kwanzaa ‘a fake religion created by a psychopath” http://tiny.cc/mtgonkwanzaa
Additional Reference: Wiki page on the origin of Kwanzaa http://tiny.cc/kwanzaawiki
Segment 3 [46:54]: Deconvert the Police
Link to Main Article: “Sheriff refuses to remove Bible verse from Office: ‘We need more Jesuis’” http://tiny.cc/biblesheriff
Segment 4 [1:01:43]:Spiritual Celebrity Deathmatch!
Link to Main Article: “Prophet Odumeje Flaunts Championship Belt As He Claims To Have Defeated Stata In An International Spiritual Wrestling Match [VIDEO]” https://www.ghgossip.com/prophet-odum...
Additional Refrence: Wiki page for Prophet Chukwuemeka Ohanaemere “Odumeje” http://tiny.cc/Odumejewiki
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Hello Truth-Seekers and welcome to another episode of Truth Wanted. This week, Fox Mulder returns to aid Objectively Dan on his quest for truth. Hmm? Correction, It’s Ross Blocher of the Oh No Ross and Carrie podcast!
First up is a returning caller, it’s Tony in Mexico, asking about the dangers of Scientology. Ross compares their hard sales tactics to hi-pressure timeshare tactics, and gives us a glimpse into how Scientology sells themselves to new candidates. We get a brief history of the faith, before Dan flat-out recommends against attending a “new members” seminar. Careful Tony!
Next is Bob from Colorado, he claims that psychics at two different times and fairs gave him a similar past life regression story. Bob was a Vietnam-era sniper, and tells us that he has an interest in marksmanship and ballistics. Fascinating coincidence? Ross suggests cold reading techniques may be at play here. Bob’s psychics also told him he would marry a General’s daughter, and he’s married two. Ross thinks Bob had more to do with his marital outcome than the psychic, and all three agree that if you discount the 95% of predictions that weren’t accurate, the remainder isn’t that impressive. Even a broken clock is correct twice a day!
Our Patron of the week is calling! Sheila is an atheist, but still has some superstitious idiosyncrasies, and wants to know why she might be holding on to these. Dan points out that humans are creatures of habit, and habits can be tough to shake. Ross offers that pattern seeking is a human trait, a trait that science and superstition share. Keep that inner dialogue going, and keep asking questions Sheila. You’re never too old to grow as a person, all the best, thank you for supporting the show!
Sprout from Canada is looking for tips on how to investigate like Ross and Carrie do on their podcast. Ross recommends taking notes, and approaching any topic with an open mind. We’re not debunkers, we’re truth seekers! Both hosts recommend being kind, funny, and original. Can’t wait to see what you come up with Sprout!
Jenn in Australia believes that in a past life she was a tree, killed by a strangler fig, and offers her fear of this particular plant as evidence. Jenn does seem to be aware of how preposterous this sounds, but asks our hosts to examine their phobia. Ross points out that consciousness can’t exist without a brain, and since plants don’t have brains, we’d need a mechanism for how a tree’s experience transfers to a human. We think there’s another explanation for this phobia Jenn, and perhaps you do too. (Show Notes Writer: This plant is terrifying, no judgement here Jenn).
We wanted to know what it’s like to be a woman in the atheist community so we reached out to three of our favorites- Mandisa Thomas of Black Non-Believers, Non-Prophet Laura Magee and Transatlantican Arden Hart all join Christy in a round-table discussion, bringing their own unique femininity to the SecX stage. We discuss misogyny during and after religion and the ongoing and necessary deconstruction of our patriarchal world. One of the warmest calls in show history and a trifecta of what’s turning us on this week to go with our girl talk and great guests on Secular Sexuality!
The Atheist Community of Austin Holiday Trivia Challenge - Championship - Year End Special
We are pre-recording this challenge so that we could give you something interesting to watch over the holidays, but also give our hard working hosts and crew some time off to spend with their family and friends.
This will be a 5 part series, with one episode appearing on each of our AEN Network shows. The schedule is as follows:
The preliminary rounds will consist of 5 questions each, and will be shown on the Secular Sexuality channel on Thursday, December 23rd at 7pm Central: http://tiny.cc/ytss
The first two Quarter Final rounds will consist of 7 questions each, and will be shown on the Truth Wanted channel on Friday, December 24th at 7pm Central: http://tiny.cc/yttw
The second two Quarter Final rounds will consist of 7 questions each, and will be shown on Talk Heathen on Sunday, December 26th at 1pm Central: http://tiny.cc/ytth
The two Semi-final rounds will consist of 7 questions each, and will be shown on The Non-Prophets on Sunday, December 26th at 3pm Central: http://tiny.cc/ytnp
The Championship round will consist of 7 questions, and we will have a Consolation round consisting of 3 questions. These will both be show on The Atheist Experience channel on Sunday, December 26th at 4:30pm Central: http://tiny.cc/ytaxp
Call the show on Sundays 4:30pm-6:00pm CT: 1-512-686-0279 or use your computer to save on long-distance charges: http://tiny.cc/calltheshow
The Atheist Community of Austin Holiday Trivia Challenge - Semi Finals - Year End Special.
We are pre-recording this challenge so that we could give you something interesting to watch over the holidays, but also give our hard working hosts and crew some time off to spend with their family and friends.
This will be a 5 part series, with one episode appearing on each of our AEN Network shows. The schedule is as follows:
The preliminary rounds will consist of 5 questions each, and will be shown on the Secular Sexuality channel on Thursday, December 23rd at 7pm Central: http://tiny.cc/ytss
The first two Quarter Final rounds will consist of 7 questions each, and will be shown on the Truth Wanted channel on Friday, December 24th at 7pm Central: http://tiny.cc/yttw
The second two Quarter Final rounds will consist of 7 questions each, and will be shown on Talk Heathen on Sunday, December 26th at 1pm Central: http://tiny.cc/ytth
The two Semi-final rounds will consist of 7 questions each, and will be shown on The Non-Prophets on Sunday, December 26th at 3pm Central: http://tiny.cc/ytnp
The Championship round will consist of 7 questions, and we will have a Consolation round consisting of 3 questions. These will both be show on The Atheist Experience channel on Sunday, December 26th at 4:30pm Central: http://tiny.cc/ytaxp
Don't like ads? Consider becoming a patron for commercial-free episodes: http://tiny.cc/patreonnp
The Atheist Community of Austin Holiday Trivia Challenge - Quarter Finals Pt. 2 - Year End Special.
We are pre-recording this challenge so that we could give you something interesting to watch over the holidays, but also give our hard working hosts and crew some time off to spend with their family and friends.
This will be a 5 part series, with one episode appearing on each of our AEN Network shows. The schedule is as follows:
The preliminary rounds will consist of 5 questions each, and will be shown on the Secular Sexuality channel on Thursday, December 23rd at 7pm Central: http://tiny.cc/ytss
The first two Quarter Final rounds will consist of 7 questions each, and will be shown on the Truth Wanted channel on Friday, December 24th at 7pm Central: http://tiny.cc/yttw
The second two Quarter Final rounds will consist of 7 questions each, and will be shown on Talk Heathen on Sunday, December 26th at 1pm Central: http://tiny.cc/ytth
The two Semi-final rounds will consist of 7 questions each, and will be shown on The Non-Prophets on Sunday, December 26th at 3pm Central: http://tiny.cc/ytnp
The Championship round will consist of 7 questions, and we will have a Consolation round consisting of 3 questions. These will both be show on The Atheist Experience channel on Sunday, December 26th at 4:30pm Central: http://tiny.cc/ytaxp
Call the show on Sundays 1:00-2:00pm CDT: 1-512-686-0279
The Atheist Community of Austin Holiday Trivia Challenge - Quarter Finals Part 1 - Year End Special.
We are pre-recording this challenge so that we could give you something interesting to watch over the holidays, but also give our hard working hosts and crew some time off to spend with their family and friends.
This will be a 5 part series, with one episode appearing on each of our AEN Network shows. The schedule is as follows:
The preliminary rounds will consist of 5 questions each, and was aired on Thursday, December 23rd at 7pm Central. You can watch the episode now by going to tiny.cc/acahtc1
The second two Quarter Final rounds will consist of 7 questions each, and will be shown on Talk Heathen on Sunday, December 26th at 1pm Central: http://tiny.cc/ytth
The two Semi-final rounds will consist of 7 questions each, and will be shown on The Non-Prophets on Sunday, December 26th at 3pm Central: http://tiny.cc/ytnp
The Championship round will consist of 7 questions, and we will have a Consolation round consisting of 3 questions. These will both be show on The Atheist Experience channel on Sunday, December 26th at 4:30pm Central: http://tiny.cc/ytaxp
Call the show Fridays 7-8:30pm CT at: 1-512-991-99242 or http://tiny.cc/calltw
The Atheist Community of Austin Holiday Trivia Challenge - Preliminaries - Year End Special
We are pre-recording this challenge so that we could give you something interesting to watch over the holidays, but also give our hard working hosts and crew some time off to spend with their family and friends.
This will be a 5 part series, with one episode appearing on each of our AEN Network shows. The schedule is as follows:
The preliminary rounds will consist of 5 questions each, and will be shown on the Secular Sexuality channel on Thursday, December 23rd at 7pm Central: http://tiny.cc/ytss
The first two Quarter Final rounds will consist of 7 questions each, and will be shown on the Truth Wanted channel on Friday, December 24th at 7pm Central: http://tiny.cc/yttw
The second two Quarter Final rounds will consist of 7 questions each, and will be shown on Talk Heathen on Sunday, December 26th at 1pm Central: http://tiny.cc/ytth
The two Semi-final rounds will consist of 7 questions each, and will be shown on The Non-Prophets on Sunday, December 26th at 3pm Central: http://tiny.cc/ytnp
The Championship round will consist of 7 questions, and we will have a Consolation round consisting of 3 questions. These will both be show on The Atheist Experience channel on Sunday, December 26th at 4:30pm Central: http://tiny.cc/ytaxp
In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Shannon Q is joined by Arden Of Eden.
First up is Wraith from NY whose religious beliefs are actually a mosaic of the truths found across many religions. The caller also asserts that non-eternal things intrinsically have less value and are borderline worthless.
Next is Arnie from WA who asks why some of the hosts utilize Mormonism as the token example of a “ridiculous” religion. Each host’s reasons are different, but some include the relative recency of its creation compared to the more popular religions, or as Shannon says, it can be used to highlight epistemic faults that both Mormons and members of other theistic denominations fall victim to.
Next up is Joshua from NC who is struggling to understand the Pro-Choice position. Just because the fetus may be granted full human rights, does not mean that we can assign it special rights that supersede the rights of the woman.
Next up is Abdullah from NY who asks why we, Atheists, can’t accept the existence of a creator. The caller then recites the Kalam which is broken down into its usual parts.
Next is Luis from CA who believes that the story of “Sodom & Gomorrah” was a coverup of a major natural disaster. Why do you believe this? What evidence do you have that this is true other than the biblical story?
Ramsay from Egypt is calling with a question about the Kalam, and attempts to use thermodynamics as a tool to prove that before the universe, there was truly nothing.
Mike from ME asserts that parents have an obligation to give up their bodily autonomy to take of a child. Unless someone consents, keyword there, to taking on the obligation to care for a child, then they have no obligation to. You can’t force them to, period. That includes giving blood, donating a kidney, or using someone’s uterus.
Atheist Christmas Greetings from this week’s host Johnny, Cynthia, Nate, and Jason as they open the show with a history lesson on the cultural and commercial phenomenon of the winter celebrations. The hosts discuss the holiday blues in the time of COVID, which for some can be the loneliest time of the year. In the final segment, the Little Drummer Boy beats his drum to the tune of Christian Conservatives being frantic about the so-called War on Christmas. It’s the most unholy time of the year!
Articles Discussed
Segment 1: History of Xmas and Winter Celebrations
Main Article: “History of Christmas”
http://tiny.cc/historyxmas
Additional References:
“Winter Solstice Celebrations”
http://tiny.cc/winsolcel
“Roman Festival of Sol Invictus” https://www.thecolchesterarchaeologis...
“Weirdest Christmas Traditions”
http://tiny.cc/weirdxmas
Segment 2: Xmas in the Time of COVID
Main Article: “COVID Concerns During Christmas”
http://tiny.cc/covidxmas
Segment 3: Holiday Blues
Main Article: “Putting Mental Health First”
http://tiny.cc/carefirst
Segment 4: The History of the War on Xmas: So Many Lives Lost
Main Article: “War on Christmas History” http://tiny.cc/waronxmas
Today we have Kenneth Leonard and the incomparable JMike for another fun episode of Talk Heathen. Watch how this combo handles the calls spanning questions of existence, autonomy, and scripture quoting.
First we have Amit in CT who wants to discuss Christians thinking it is effective to quote Bible verses to others when trying to win their souls over. They think the book is right because it says it is right. Sometimes Christians think that atheists were always heathens and did not come from a religious background. Ask the person what interpretive principles are used for the book’s claims and why we should care about what the book says. Get people to start with whether they care or not if their beliefs are true. Since faith can be used to bring people to both true and false beliefs, how do we know if faith is the correct path to truth?
Next is K from nowhere who is asking about the likelihood of Mary’s virginity. This is already irrational; we don’t have to do any work here. A virgin gave birth after being impregnated by a supernatural entity. Anything that is natural is more likely than ghost sex.
Richard in the UK brings up the historical existence of Jesus topic. We don’t have an objection to the idea that there was a historical Jesus or Rabi with followers, but we have no reason to believe he was performing miracles as the bible indicates. When trying to prove biblical figures as historic, people are trying hard to establish a foundation to which their claims are based. We find success when starting the conversation with the smaller claims such as turning water to wine and from there you can get to the resurrection.
Next is Setuf from Spain would like to talk about the horny violinist analogy. If a violinist wants to have sex with Setuf, and causes a third party to be reliant on her body for survival, then there is a question about the right’s being violated of that third party. The problem with this analogy is the use of the word person; you first must establish that the fetus has person hood. When the properties are listed, the fetus and human are not the same thing. You also must demonstrate why a woman should not have a right to her bodily autonomy. Is it a moral good to allow people to have autonomy over their own bodies?
R in an undisclosed location mentions bodily autonomy of animals as a broadened well being of conscious creatures because we may not be able to demonstrate that one suffers more than another. Many practices that we currently have are reprehensible. Effective altruism has people that figure out the minimum amount they can live on and then donate the remainder. This is not something everyone can do, very much like veganism.
Zealous in MO has some questions about the existence of god and how we came from a game realm that we did not know about. Religious claims hide in the category of not being proven. If god is the player and we are in the game, how do you know that this god could exist?
Thank you for tuning in and we will see you next week! Thank you essential workers!
Each and every week we end by reminding you to take a quiet moment to yourself and show yourself some love, so it should come as no surprise that self-compassion is big in our book. After being told that you were born into sin and that your every thought should be held captive it makes sense that self-criticism and self-flagellation are part and parcel of our culture, something new research suggests compassion based therapies can do something about.
This week Licensed Professional Counselor Callye Lawrence joins the show to teach Christy how self-compassion can help us better connect to our partners, our lovers and ourselves. Mindful Self-Compassion, your calls and questions and what’s turning us on this week on SecX!
► Dive deeper into the episode and find what’s turning us on this week at https://www.vcatx.com/media/mscintro
► Dive deeper into the episode and find what’s turning us on this week at https://www.vcatx.com/media/appreciation
In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Matt Dillahunty is joined by Jenna Dave Warnock.
First up is Mike from IN who asks how is blindly trusting experts any better a pathway to the truth than trusting in religion and God. No one should blindly trust anyone merely because they claim to be an expert, but should look at the data presented by said expert and compare it to other colleagues of their field. Religions rarely, if ever, present any data to justify their claims, so trusting them is by definition, necessarily blind.
Next is Gohan from TX who wants to challenge secular moral positions. If you are calling in to have a useful conversation with the hosts, address the views they actually hold without referencing superheroes or other people that you are not talking to. You are either straw-manning the hosts or making what-if assertions that don’t even have addressable data.
Next is Tyler from NC who has a series of yes/no statements they want to present to the hosts. The statements are inconsistent with the definition of God the caller prescribes to or is at least presenting.
Next is Jan from the Netherlands who wants to talk about how many civilizations have had their own version of religion at some point in their history. Because of the sheer number of gods presented, and the massive ends of the spectrum in terms of characteristics between them, it seems more likely that these gods were products of people who lacked answers to describe natural phenomena than they were real.
Next up is K. K’s alternate “mechanism” of addressing faith, if we can call it that, involves a lot of confusing circles, probabilities, and homosexuality...? K.
Next is Kal from TN who asks where the line should be drawn with people whose beliefs don’t align with a shared truth about reality, especially a truth that has evidence backing it.
Finally, Guy from GA claims that the anti-science stance taken by evangelicals is the primary opponent to climate action that we are facing right now. Whether this is true or not, tying religion to anti-science positions gives evangelicals an excuse to wield their persecution as a weapon. It also may not have so much to do with religion as it does the general slide towards anti-intellectualism that has been occurring over the past 50 to 60 years.
Welcome to Talk Heathen where we have the poetic Lloyd Evans joined by Johnny P. Angel, who actually is not an angel, but rather a legend. This power combo tackles calls with tact and respect!
First up is Briar from CO who wants to emphasize how important it is to keep talking about religion and what it takes to get help when leaving a religion. This was especially important for her when she left the JW and she heard Lloyd talk about getting professional help after being in a cult.
Next is Jack from PA who is having a hard time with his grandfather, a JW, that turned his back on the family who are not JW. This is because they need to protect their righteousness from anyone who is not a JW. That is how doomsday this organization is. You could say there is an element of cowardice, but it is more likely to be cognitive dissonance. If he were to engage in too much conversation with family who are not JW, his faith might unravel.
Setuf in Spain has a question about slavery. She would like to know if slavery can ever be moral. Her belief is that slavery is utterly immoral and should be forbidden. We agree and mention the Bible has specific slavery instructions. Setuf would also like to know if doing things to fetuses without their consent is like slavery. We can’t recommend anything because we are a non-profit. Abortion is a political question and this is not a political show. We would like to recommend 4 Months, 3 Weeks, and 2 Days which is a Romanian film about the topic.
Zealous in MO, a first time caller has some thoughts about the etymology of religion. His position is that atheism is a religion because of the etymology. Etymology tells you how a word developed; it does not tell you what the word means. If we play a lot of Call of Duty, we do not belong to the Call of Duty Religion. Can we separate “fan” from “religion” devotee? How is the rejection of religion a religion? How is not collecting stamps a hobby?
Alex from Australia presents that there is a quantum order behind abstract paintings and theories. He states that science has proven that mathematics is the way the universe is and holds a belief in a nameless god. This position seems more like deism than theism. Traumatic experiences as a child led Alex to believe these experiences were divine interventions and that the pineal gland did not evolve, but was placed where it is. When you talk about order without religion, that is deism. Here is the problem with divine intervention: Why does god allow millions of people to suffer and die while intervening in another’s life? Do we want to worship a god with dreadful prioritization skills? How does having order behind things prove a god?
Thank you for tuning in and remember, if you do believe we do not hate you, we are just not convinced. We look forward to future conversations that will continue to be plowed.
The Non-Prophets, Episode 20.50 airing Sunday, December 12th featuring Laura Magee, JMike, Kenneth Leonard and NP Intimate Secular Rarity
This week on The Non-Prophets, three-time NP Intimate Secular Rarity joins Laura, JMike and Kenneth to dispel delusions of the ignorant. Kicking off the show with a discussion on the continuing fight against the opposition attempting to strike at Roe v. Wade. Author of “The God Delusion,” Richard Dawkins, strikes a chord on social media advocating for signatures declaring opposition to gender reassignment surgery. BAD NEWS: QAnon’s “Queen of Canada” Romana Didulo declares duck hunting season on healthcare workers, politicians and journalists. GOOD NEWS: Canada bans conversion therapy! Articles Discussed Segment 1 [3:14]: FFRF: Abortion in Peril Main Article: “Pro-Choice Justices Defend Roe v. Wade” http://tiny.cc/justiceforrvw Additional Reference: “Abortion Case Challenging Roe v. Wade” http://tiny.cc/challengervw Segment 2 [26:40]: Richard Dawkins’ Declaration Main Article: “Declaration Opposing Gender Reassignment Surgery” http://tiny.cc/thedawkinsmistake Segment 3 [52:10]: QAnon’s Queen of Canada Main Article: “QAnon Queen’s Call for Violence” http://tiny.cc/queenq Additional Reference: “Romana Didulo’s Political Website” https://www.canada1stpartyofcanada.ca/ Segment 4 [1:10:10]: Canada’s Ban on Conversion Therapy Main Article: “Unanimous Agreement to Ban Conversion Therapy” http://tiny.cc/banconvtherapy Additional Reference: “Conversion Therapy Illegal in Canada” http://tiny.cc/convtherapyillegal
Hello Truth-Seekers and welcome to another episode of Truth Wanted. This week’s guest comes from across the pond, Mr. Richard Gilliver!
First up is Kyle in Indiana, and we’re gonna talk about the multiverse, and how infinite universes may include ghosts, gods and the supernatural. Richard doesn’t think many universes must include magic, but we can’t rule it out. It’s tough to judge the properties of universes we don’t belong to. Dan thinks physical constants could be different, but reserves his opinion of the supernatural until we have evidence of it here, in our little backwater.
Second we have Peter in Canada, who’s wants to talk about abortion and has decided life begins at six weeks. Peter also states that a heartbeat = human life, two conflicting assertions. Our hosts point out that consent to sex is different from consent to pregnancy, and Peter comes out of left field with an assertion that the pro-choice movement is out to eliminate black people, and that Dan has been brainwashed. We’re gonna move on before this gets cray cray.
Starman in Arizona has a hot take on cryonics. He believes that one’s opinion on a singular issue forms a worldview, and wants our hosts to offer an opinion on how mortality affects morality. Richard asks why this single contentious issue necessarily informs our views. If we lack information on the end result of a burgeoning technology, how can we make a judgement as to whether it’s a good idea?
Mark wants to ask, if people knew what was coming, would they opt out earlier? How does one react when faced with their own mortality? Richard offers his perspective on end of life care, and his experience with his father. Dan finds purpose through activism.
Strap in for Biblical in Australia, and he’s serving up a word salad that’s heavy on Biblical croutons. Richard chews on these cronchy bits by asking for a demonstration that a god even exists, and Dan’s gonna go ahead and drop the call, after offering a Biblical example of how Yahweh got beat by some chariots.
Setuf is once again going to offer a weak argument from the pro-life camp. We’re not going to waste a lot of time on this, get a uterus and give us a call Setuf.
That’s our show tonight folks! Stay frosty out there, have a Merry Christmas, a Happy Hannuhak, a Craaazy Kwanzaa, and ya know… just enjoy your time with family, no matter what you believe.
Sexualization, objectification, fetishization, dehumanization? Oh my. It’s tricky to know where appreciation ends and obsession begins- throw in a dash of marketing and pinch of patriarchy and we have a capitalistic conundrum for the ages. Resident sex-work royals Sinn Sage and Arden Hart join Christy in a conversation about sex worker’s rights, trans bodies and the tricks of the trade, plus your calls and questions and of course, what’s turning us on this week on SecX!
► Dive deeper into the episode and find what’s turning us on this week at https://www.vcatx.com/media/appreciation
If you'd like to be on the show, use your phone ☎ and call 1-512-991-9242 or use a computer 💻 and click http://tiny.cc/callsex
If you would like to ask a question without being on the show, or when the show is not airing, call and leave a message on our our voicemail at 512-666-0275
Welcome back to the Atheist Experience. This week, Matt Dillahunty is joined by Genevieve!
First up is Manuel from Puerto Rico who wants to know what our hosts think is the best way to educate yourself and others about critical thinking. The first step is recognizing where we are suspending critical thinking, and then going back through and asking questions that put that previously accepted idea on trial to see whether the belief was truly justified.
Next is Setuf from Spain who asks our hosts what the difference is between Speciesism, Racism, & Sexism. All three are biases that are each relevant to the level that they operate at (e.g. Species, Race, and Sex/Gender).
Next is Steven from WA who would like advice on how to discern good sources of truth from sources that may have undisclosed conflicts of interest. If we use Matt’s definition of “truth” in that it comports with reality, then we can look at a source’s track record, their own testing data (if available), as well as any other peer-reviewed sources they used to justify their statement. The truth is unlikely to be found in its entirety within one document or source, so getting multiple quality opinions or sources may help build a better picture.
Next up is Joe from OH who thinks Matt is wrong about Doyle’s Fallacy. How do we know that we’ve actually eliminated all other possibilities? Just because something is unlikely doesn’t automatically eliminate it from consideration.
Up next is Allen from MI who claims that science as a tool cannot investigate God and other non-physical phenomena. Unless we have another tool that allows us to reliably investigate the non-physical, we are not justified in accepting the existence of such phenomena if we actually care about the truth.
Next is Michael from CA who believes that free will exists. The topic is complicated, as evidenced by the nearly continuous debate on the subject, as it is often difficult to determine the influences on our decisions such as indoctrinated beliefs, societal culture, and environmental circumstances.
Up next is Simo from Canada who asks our hosts if they are compatibilists or “hardcore” determinists. Varying forms of determinism, hard or soft, are true across various definitions of free will. Compatibilist arguments only assert that determinism and free will can both be accepted without being irrational.
Our last caller is Aaron from AR who would like advice on setting boundaries with religious family members. Being honest and upfront with family can be tricky to navigate, especially when trying to prevent an escalation. You have just as much right to set the ground rules for their behavior when it comes to raising your child just as they do when it comes to their own.
Greetings Heathens! We hope to be a sanctuary for you in this chaotic world. In today’s episode of Talk Heathen, JMike is joined by ObjectivelyDan.
Let’s get to calls! Lionel from Mississippi is wondering about what our thoughts on determinism are and has an argument he’d like to run by us. Lionel, thanks for calling in, your call and resulting conversation was interesting.
Dave in Oregon has some constructive criticism about a call between Matt Dillahunty and a caller wanting to talk about modal ontological arguments. He attempts to lay out where he thinks there are flaws with the argument and response. Thanks Dave!
Dale in California wants to talk about how God is specifically focused on us on Earth in this one Galaxy. Why is this and why is He so concerned about us on this tiny blue marble within the vastness of space? Could there be multiple Gods for the other countless galaxies within the Universe?
Returning caller Setuf in Spain is wondering why it is important to be logically consistent. JMike awesomely doesn’t let her take the conversation towards morals and applying personal morals. This call is sounding more and more like a trap to talk about morality, and it does skirt that issue a little bit. Interestingly, it also doesn’t lead to the abortion talk this time around. Hmmm.
Ron in Canada asks how we can objectively (or subjectively) know right or wrong. He then brings up a couple problematic examples to show right and wrong or good and evil. And he can’t seem to look beyond his very favorite book ever, the Bible.
That’s our show for this week, please continue to be safe in your area, wear your mask, and please please PLEASE get vaccinated if you can. The world is better with you in it. See you next week!
The Non-Prophets, Episode 20.49 airing Sunday, December 5th featuring Nate Smith, Cynthia McDonald, Richard Gilliver, and Mateo “Teo El Ateo” Montero. This week on The Non-Prophets, Nate Smith and his pact of well-seasoned hosts, Cynthia McDonald, Richard Gilliver, and Mateo Montero, open up this week’s episode with news from the Philippines of a Megachurch leader being charged with sex trafficking. As the current news cycles, the jury of the NP hosts remains in session as they assess the similarities and differences between the Rittenhouse and Arbery verdicts. TRIGGER WARNING A solemn discussion regarding the issues of “thought crimes” in relation to ‘minor-attracted people’. In the final segment, more homophobic rhetoric from Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson… Yes, he really is just the worst. Articles Discussed Segment 1 [4:30]: Sex Traffiking Behind the Pulpit *Suggested article by BrockDaMisanthrope - member of Atheist Community of Discord fan server Main Article: “Megachurch Leader Charged with Sex Traffiking” http://tiny.cc/megachurchtraffiking Segment 2 [26:55]: The Rittenhouse & Arbery Verdicts Main Article: “Warning Against Rittenhouse/Arbery Case Comparison” http://tiny.cc/rittenauberycase Additional References: “Similarities and Differences of Rittenhouse/Arbery Cases” https://thedispatch.com/p/the-similar... https://abc7chicago.com/ahmaud-arbery... Segment 3 [50:30]: Minor-Attracted People Who Aren’t Clergy Main Article: “Professor Defends Adults Attracted to Minors” http://tiny.cc/triggerwarningClip from ACA’s Secular Sexuality, Episode 8.41, Segment “Thoughts Are Not Crimes” http://tiny.cc/secx841clip Segment 4 [1:09:20]: Mark Robinson is Just the Worst... Main Article: “Mark Robinson on Homosexuality” http://tiny.cc/herestoyoumrrobinson
Hello Truth-Seekers and welcome to another episode of Truth Wanted. We have a special treat this week as Objectively Dan is joined by Anthony Magnabosco!
We’ll kick it off with Aelora in Oregon, who is curious what Street Epistemology has to offer for someone with a mental health issue. Anthony thinks that by helping others, you help yourself, and practicing SE with others will ingrain the process into one’s own introspection. Both hosts agree that the process is not a therapy method and urge caution, but encourage the pursuit of truth as a path to wellbeing. We wish you a healthy recovery Aelora!
Second we have Barrie in New Zealand, who wants to talk about how applicable the process of SE can be to other facets of life, in schools, with street preachers, and especially with followers of a particular zealous church in NZ. Anthony recommends steering away from contentious issues in the interest of building trust. Be a mirror, ask questions, and let your interlocutor reveal why they believe what they believe in a long form conversation.
Jake in Texas wants to talk to his father about political views. Anthony wants Jake to take a broader approach, asking questions like “When was the last time you changed your mind” instead of getting into social issues. Dan points out that the goal of SE should never be to change someone’s mind in a single conversation. We’re planting seeds here Jake, especially with family.
Next we have Philipp in Germany who wants to know if there’s a point where a person becomes unreachable. Dan thinks assuming a person can’t change their mind isn’t constructive, and reminds us that people can surprise you. Anthony asks Philipp to try roleplay, ask the people in your life that think others can’t be reached to steelman those people. Get some practice in!
Queer Atheist asks if “new atheism” and big names like Dawkins and Harris are harming the movement. Dan refutes the idea that a handful of people can represent such a wide demographic, and reminds us that getting atheists to agree on anything is like herding cats. Atheism is just a response to one claim, people can be wrong on plenty of other things. Anthony agrees that big names have played a role in bringing atheists to the forefront and removing stigma, but outdated views can’t speak for the ever-evolving zeitgeist of the 21st century.
That’s a wrap folks, stay safe, ask questions, and think for yourselves! See you next week!
So much of what we take as biological fact is actually just culture, and I’m tired of pretending it’s not. But if cultures are like families- you’re stuck with the one you’re born with until you build another, then why not get to work? Laura Magee returns to the show to look around the world with Nate and Christy in search of myths, metaphors and metaanalysis so we can cherry pick the best ingredients and add some flavor to our extra virgin purity culture. Our thoughts and conversation, your calls and questions plus what’s turning us on this week on SecX!
Dive deeper into the episode and find what’s turning us on this week at https://www.vcatx.com/media/Culturallybound
In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Matt Dillahunty is joined by ObjectivelyDan.
First up is Joel from AL who claims they have a philosophical argument that debunks materialism. Apparently there is something below subatomic particles that is spirit rather than material. Don’t have evidence to back that up, come back when you do.
Next is Andrew from Thailand who believes that because Christianity can offer positive benefits to members or its ideology, that it should still be followed even if it doesn’t conform to reality. Once again the subjective issue of filtering out the bad and keeping the good comes into play, especially when those same moral positions can be reached via other non-christian belief systems.
Up next is Jacob from AL who accepts creation as a part of deism. If you don’t have any evidence that draws the connection between human language and a god, then belief in that connection is unwarranted.
Next is Setuf, le sigh...sure it is... from Spain who claims that Matt is irrational. Once again, the caller wants to moan about Matt’s position on abortion and his use of the violinist analogy. Go away.
Marlon from the Philippines is back with some sweet new claims. Animals doing cool things is proof of god, somehow. Do we ever find out how? Find out next time on “Storytime With Marlon.”
Next is Kevin from NY who wants to know what the problem is with the second premise of the Kalam? The Kalam has two premises that both need to be demonstrated to be true, and even once that’s happened, it still doesn’t support the existence of a God.
Next is Billy from the UK who feels that many conversations between atheists and theists get derailed by the atheist’s focus on the definition of God. Having a clear definition for the specific god being talked about is important so that the conversation stays relevant to the actual beliefs being discussed.
Next is Phil from HI who asks our hosts if modern magicians can replicate the magic used in the biblical stories. While there are tricks that can replicate the illusion, there isn’t any reason to believe that there are any magicians actually using magic to do those tricks.
Michael from TN is up next and claims that DMT and its common experiences among users is evidence of experiencing another reality.
Our final caller is Tomas from CA who wants to know how Christianity managed to become as influential as it has throughout history, from when it first emerged through today.
In today’s episode of the Talk Heathen, our host JMike is joined by Matt Dillahunty who is eager and ready for theist calls.
Our first caller, Cambo in IA, has an opinion on one party rule being a problem with communism, not atheism as Christians tend to believe. First of all, communism is not morally bad and secondly, atheism does not lead to communism. Outside of regimes where religion is banned and the state is the official religion, communism is more of a boogeyman than anything else.
Next is Kevin in NY who wants to discuss how biblical scholars have omitted information such as the authors borrowing from other sources. For instance, as one reads through Peter II and Jude, some of the verses fit together. That is just your opinion; where is the evidence? Thinking something is not justification for it being true. When you read a text, it can be interpreted a number of different ways. If somebody else uses a different method than you, and comes to a different conclusion, how do we know who is right? We are not interested in a book report but rather knowing if god is real.
Next we have Leon in the UK who is thinking about the definition of agnosticism reflecting high level skepticism resulting in flip flopping on the god belief. Agnostic doesn't mean you waffle and this is not what is meant when academics use the term. Leon also does not want to donate his body after death because that would be the only part of him left and he wonders if on some level, he still believes in the afterlife. If you are dead, you are not going to know what happens to it. Would you donate a kidney to a sibling when you are alive?
Tania in TX would like to know if the hosts or other atheists hold any supernatural beliefs. People come to her with problems because they think she is psychic. Put your foot down with these people and let them know you can’t attribute your ability to help to anything supernatural. We live our lives by inference and induction and that is how “intuition” is trained. ESP, a testable thing, has never been demonstrated to exist. Before we can worry about whether something is natural or not, we need to first learn if there is an effect. Atheists who claim these things have bad standards of evidence. What can be used to prove these things independent of the claims?
Christina in LA was a Pentecostle who is now an atheist and calls herself an angel who has raised the dead and read minds when she would speak in tongues. Matt pulled a card from a deck and asked her what card it was. She guessed a black queen card but it was a nine of spades.
Thank you viewers for tuning in today and thank you to the paramedics and front line workers. The variants are changing! Take care everybody!
This week on The Non-Prophets, Cynthia, Jena and Malty welcome a new guest to the show, The Afro Humanist, on a series of topical news from the motherland where the state of Nigeria open delegations with Egypt to combat religious extremism. At the top of the show, we have an NP Update on Ex-Bishop Novell. He has found new employment.. as a “farmer” of sorts. Eyewitness accounts surface about the tragic slayings of cult parishioners following the death of a cultist leader from Jamaica. In the final segment, there is a “Step in the Right Direction” as a fraudulent church is forced to pay back FEMA money after making false claims following Hurricane Katrina.
Articles Discussed
Segment 1 [10:31]: Looking Back: “Ex-Bishop Exports Pig Semen.. Oh My!” Main Article: “Ex-Bishop Finds New Job” http://tiny.cc/exbishopseamen Additional References: “Spanish Bishop Quits for Erotica Writer” http://tiny.cc/bishopanderoticwriter “Cardinal Pleads for Bishop’s Privacy” http://tiny.cc/Bishopprivacy NP CLIP: from Segment #2 of The Non-Prophets, Episode 20.39 “Ex-bishop in love with a colorful sinner” http://tiny.cc/NPYT2039
Segment 2 [41:18]: “Religious Tolerance to Fight Extremism” Main Article: “Nigeria, Egypt Attempt to Fight Extremism” http://tiny.cc/Nigeriaegyptfight Additional References: “Islam: Religion of Violence” http://tiny.cc/islamnparticle “Complicated Conflict in Nigeria” http://tiny.cc/conflictinnigeria “Impact of Shari’a Law on non-Muslims” http://tiny.cc/shariaonnonmuslims “Nigerian Singer’s Death Sentence” http://tiny.cc/singersentencetodeath
Segment 3 [1:07:00]: “Because the Cultist Pastor Said So” Main Article: “Cultist Pastor Demands Beheading of Woman” http://tiny.cc/cultbeheading Additional References: “Cult Leader Dies in Car Crash” http://tiny.cc/cultleaderdies “Shun Religious Cults and Leaders” http://tiny.cc/shuntheleaders
Segment 4 [1:22:45]: Step in the Right Direction: “Pay Back for Your Sins” Main Article: “Archdiocese Pays for False Katrina Claims” http://tiny.cc/payingfakekatclaims Additional References: “Fraudulent Churches in the US” http://tiny.cc/fakechurches
Truth Wanted 03. for August 12, 2020 with ObjectivelyDan.
Call the show Fridays 7-8:30pm CT at: 1-512-686-0279 or use our green call the show button to save on long-distance charges: http://www.atheist-experience.com/
In the 3 and a half years since the ACA began production on Secular Sexuality we’ve had some incredible experiences. Like the time we had the world’s #1 legal escort and #1 phone sex operator in back to back weeks, or the time we recorded a live concert with Shelley Segal. Or the time a catholic guest walked off set 30 minutes into the interview. Good times all but none of them compare to the holiday magic of this years’ Thanksgiving episode, recorded entirely on set of a steamy Sinn Sage production. Watch this VERY SPECIAL episode where Christy interviews Sinn Sage and crew in between takes and catches as much of the action as YouTube will allow. It’s an early Christmas Miracle and a Sinnful delight on this week’s holiday SecX!
The Non-Prophets 20.47 for November 21, 2021 with Teo El Ateo, Nate Smith, Cindy Plaza and Johnny P. Angel.
SHOW NOTES
In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Matt Dillahunty is joined by Shannon Q
First up today is Mr. Warlight from AK who wants to question the host’s views on spirituality. Just like last week, the caller has nothing to present.
Mohammed from NE believes that spirits are not tangible, but internal conceptual projections of a person’s mind. Since we can’t tell whether those projections are actually related to the existence of spirits or just a part of a person’s imagination, how does this help us prove that spirits truly exist in reality?
Next is Setuf from Spain who doesn’t understand the point the of Violinist analogy. It’s about bodily autonomy, not consent as consent can be revoked.
Up next from California is Raul who has a question regarding free speech versus free action. As the conversation unfolds, the caller’s points begin to drift towards the advocation of thought crimes.
Next is Rob from VA who claims that emotions are irrational. Our hosts respond that emotions themselves are not necessarily either rational or irrational, but are reactions to stimuli. How we reach those emotions and handle them is what makes them and our responses either rational or otherwise.
Next up is Simo from Canada who asks why rape can be considered wrong across the past, present, and future in a subjective moral system. Isn’t it better to be able to present an evidence-based justification for why something is wrong rather than just assert “it is”?
Next is Tony from AK who is struggling to come to terms with the process of deconversion without feeling like they are betraying the church.
Up next is Your Truly from Canada who calls in to assert that the Bible doesn’t advocate for slavery when it very clearly does and has been covered ad nauseam.
Next is Eric from KS who wants advice on how to remain patient during conversations with dishonest theists. Take notes and call them out as they create new inconsistencies.
Our final caller is Sabien from TX who wants to know if it is fair to judge theists if free will does not exist?
Greetings Heathens! Happy Faithless Forum Weekend to all the folks who were able to go this past weekend. Hope you all had a grand time! (I’ll be able to attend next year!) In the meantime, today’s episode of Talk Heathen is hosted by Johnny P. Angel and Apostate Prophet.
Let’s get to calls! Max from Israel would like to address about how Islam has culturally appropriated ancient sites, particularly ones in Israel. Apostate Prophet gives his perspective and gives a fascinating quick look at the history of the region.
Rami in Massachusetts is up next, he has faced pushback from others on Islam. Most often being faced with “that’s racist” as a response when he attempts to talk about it and his thoughts on it. AP again explains beautifully how interwoven this is within a society and culture, and how they also attempt to be virtuous and impartial.
Araan in Germany would like to explain why he converted from Islam to Christianity. He goes on to talk about how horrible Islam is and how great Christianity is. Is it though? What about Christianity solved your material problems? Old books from the Iron Age (and before) aren’t really the best source to get ideas from though.
Zion in California would like to talk about the land that was taken by Muslims that was originally Ancient Jewish land. Why are we criticizing Israel for doing this? Again, Apostate Prophet provides an amazing look on what is happening and explains his view on it.
The Humble Servant in Canada is wondering what our best objections are to Christianity. Johnny starts by talking about magical thinking and how it is interspersed within it’s epistemology and how it interacts with the secular world. AP agrees with this and provides his own; simply no convincing reason he would believe, Christianity has disputed historicity with no ability to truthfully verify it’s claims, and he simply does not believe in the spiritual things and supernatural beings. The caller responds to this and goes back AGAIN to how the 7 day week is a miracle and inspired by God. Oh this guy again! He is very persistent!
That’s our show for this week, please continue to be safe in your area, wear your mask, and please please PLEASE get vaccinated if you can. The world is better with you in it. See you next week!
Welcome back to Truth Wanted! Tonight Puck’s special guest is Krafty Keelah.
First up is Walt, who has a Theory of Everything predicated on assumptions and conjecture. While this is a great conversation to have over a beer, Walt’s hourglass hypothesis is just that, a hypothesis. Speculation and curiosity are the parents of discovery, do some tests and get back to us!
Second we have Jason from Indiana, who’s had some tough conversations with fellow mental health professionals promoting pseudoscience and homeopathy. Krafty offers some great tips on how to maintain professional integrity in a field that doesn’t always have a yes or no answer.
Next up is Jon in Canada, who believes that vaccine mandates violate bodily autonomy, and wants to draw a comparison with abortion. Krafty wisely points out that a person’s choice to have an abortion does not put public health at risk, there’s a huge difference there. Jon equates regulation to communism, and our hosts take a few minutes slapping that argument around.
Spicoli in Florida offers an interesting perspective on how toxic nationalism contributes to vaccine hesitancy and other social issues. Krafty has some great commentary on how any myopic worldview is dangerous, and offers a uniquely Irish perspective on American exceptionalism.
Muhammed wants to ask our hosts about morality and legality, is it wrong to steal to feed your family? What values trump others? How do we decide what’s most important? This is a great conversation about how we as individuals and societies decide what matters to us.
Tony in Mexico thinks that pharmaceutical companies may be disguising side effects in the interests of profit. While our hosts agree that profit is huge to these corporations, they also point out that these companies are competing against each other to have the “best” vaccine, and if money is their big motivator, it’s in their best interest (and ours) to minimize harms from their product.
Finally, Steven is going to talk about Christian mental health services. Krafty, coming from a very religious nation, talks about how excluding any method in favour of one that espouses your favourite imaginary friend is unethical.
That’s our show tonight folks! Keep seeking veracity through tenacity and perspicacity!
Everyone’s got a story to tell and for all the troll-y haterade the internet offers us, the democratizing megaphone is in safe hands here. Phoebe J. Rose holds such a microphone for trans folx of all stripes as they document and declare their own history to a world short on trans stories. Join P*ck and Nate as they explore their own stories and the power of sharing and caring for ourselves and our community. Trans story time with Phoebe Rose, your calls and questions and what’s turning us on this week on tonight’s SecX!
Welcome back to another episode of The Atheist Experience. This week, Kenneth Leonard and JMike take AXP by force!
Today’s first caller is “Leopold” from Canada who demands that the Atheist Experience apologizes for the harsh statements it has made against the Catholic Church in the past. Either engage with the hosts you are talking to and justify your position or call again after you think it back over.
Next is Tim from TN who asks if someone who believes a God exists has the same burden of proof as someone who claims to know a God exists. It comes down to the much finer acceptances of claims. If they both accept that Jesus walked on water, superficial confidence levels aside, the implication itself requires an equal burden of proof from both parties.
Up next is Alvin from NC claims that it is probable that the Bible is true. The caller mentions a number of improbable improbabilities and asserts them as evidence for their claim. They then site their webpage, which apparently finds mathematic patterns in random bible verses, as a source of evidence that the bible was intelligently woven together by math.
Mr. Warlight returns from earlier to define spirituality and explain why it’s important to have more of it. Just because something can’t be disproven, especially something we have no track record for its existence, doesn’t mean that it would be justified to accept it as a possibility.
Next is Apollos from TX who claims that Atheists are inconsistent when evaluating arguments for the brain in a vat compared to arguments for Jesus’ resurrection.
Episode Title: When Money Masters and Ball Players Don’t Play Fair, The Non-Prophets 20.46
The Non-Prophets, Episode 20.46 airing Sunday, November 14th featuring Cynthia McDonald, Richard Gilliver and Arden Hart
This week on The Non-Prophets, Cynthia, Richard and Arden talk about Aaron Rodgers and his “homeopathic” vaccine substitute along with Kyrie Irving and his NBA anti-vaxxers. Following that discussion, news of Christian radio host Doc Gallagher’s 3 life prison terms for conning his listeners out of millions of dollars. The religious right is shamelessly crowing about how they won the Virginia governor’s race by sowing fear of trans people, and the dreaded scourge: CRT (which they can’t seem to define).
Articles Discussed
Segment 1 [4:27]: How the Anti-Vax Ball Bounces Main Article: “Packers’ QB Homeopathic Vaccine Solution” http://tiny.cc/vaxpaxQBFA Additional Reference: “Kyrie Irving and NBA Anti-Vaxxers” http://tiny.cc/nbavax “Prevea Health Drops Partnership with Rodgers” http://tiny.cc/preveadrop
Segment 2 [36:40]: Another Apologist Bites the Dust Main Article: “Christian Radio Host Goes to Prison” http://tiny.cc/xtianhostjail
Segment 3 [57:40]: Religious Right & Nasty Politics Main Articles: “Transphobia from Religious Right in Virginia” http://tiny.cc/transrightva “How ‘Dumb’ Our Politics Has Gotten” http://tiny.cc/politicintel Additional Reference: Opinion: The Pres. is Racist and Biblical https://baptistnews.com/article/the-president-is-racist-hes-also-biblical/?gclid=CjwKCAiA1aiMBhAUEiwACw25MQYb5DeotOgWOSeQZ4AIV9jJ-shDYTjFpKsj-aoFiAdHOIK-801lQhoC-T4QAvD_BwE#.YYsBrWDMI2w
Greetings Heathens! Wow, we are in the middle of November already! Whew, time flies. In today’s episode of Talk Heathen, baby faced Kenneth Leonard is joined by smooth talker Lloyd Evans. It’s going to be a great show!
Let’s get to calls! Ofir from Israel is a nihilist and would like to talk to us about it. Lloyd asks a couple questions about life having meaning. But if there is any personal meaning to life, then nihilism is a moot point. (There are different “flavors” of Nihilism, but most subscribe to the idea that life has no meaning.)
Aaron in Australia is up next, he is wondering what causes someone to convert to Atheism. He knows it’s a process and there is usually not one argument to make this happen, but is there something at the end that really pushes folks to deconvert. Lloyd puts a pin in it and explains it further.
Returning caller Setuf in Spain wants to talk about abortion and bodily autonomy. Sigh. Again. This has been the 3rd week of them talking about this topic. They keep turning it into a moral issue. Kenneth explains in a good and general way what bodily autonomy is and how it’s applied and he tries his best to further explain the situations that a person would look into terminating a pregnancy. Setuf just doesn’t want to listen because it doesn’t adhere nor fit their narrative. OH! They are a presup! They continue to talk past Lloyd and pretty much ignore everything said! Listen to Lloyd Setuf, he is fantastic.
Rick in Arizona’s family is voicing concern about his soul after coming out as an Atheist. Kenneth dives in and talks about how it opens the door for further conversation depending upon how questions are asked.
LeChef in Canada is wondering what our objection is to Christianity. They also changed their topic from the objection of Christianity to the 7 day cycle and lied to the call screener. Don’t do that. But anyway, he goes into his spiel and Lloyd gets to hear it for the first time. He devolves the conversation into condescension and his reliance on the claim that the 7 day cycle is exclusive to the Bible is laughable. “The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge.” -Stephen Hawking.
That’s our show for this week, please continue to be safe in your area, wear your mask, and please please PLEASE get vaccinated if you can. The world is better with you in it. See you next week!
Hello Truth-Seekers and welcome to another episode of Truth Wanted. This week ExXtian Erin is joined by a Talk Heathen favorite, welcome back JMike!
First up tonight is Kyle, he’s got ancient Sumer on the mind. The notion that aliens visited early Bronze Age humans is fascinating, but our hosts are unconvinced. Kyle suggests that the Drake Equation supports the likelihood that we’ve had visitors, but JMike illustrates that Drake’s conjecture is just that, and we can’t draw conclusions from speculation. Kyle is clear that he doesn’t subscribe to this belief, he’s just spitballing. Call again Kyle!
Next we have Liam in Louisiana, who met the Ancient Aliens guy! We chat about the burden of proof when it comes to potential explanations that employ unfounded claims, and land on the old axiom that it’s best to scale your belief with the available evidence. Thanks for providing the title for this clip Liam, this was an interesting conversation!
Alex in Colorado wants to drill down on how presupposition is necessary for any constructive conversation. We must move past the problem of hard solipsism and value what we experience to be true, otherwise any wacky unprovable explanation could have us bogged down for days. Gods, for example.
That’s our show tonight folks! Wear your masks, get your booster shots, and let’s get back to some kind of normal!
Nothing says ‘the holidays are here’ like your parents scratched up DVD of Christmas Vacation or awkwardly squirming in your seat during the more sexist parts of Miracle on 34th St. In hopes that we can offer an alternative this holiday season we’ve invited writer, researcher and friend of the show Dianna Anderson to join Christy in a conversation about sex positive and feminist film so that the only thing problematic about your tv viewing will be trying to convince your family and friends to start a new tradition. Our top picks plus your calls and questions and of course what’s turning us on this week on this pre-holiday SecX!
Dive deeper into the episode and find what’s turning us on this week at https://www.vcatx.com/media/sexpositivemovies Secular Sexuality show is LIVE every Thursday from 7:00 to 8:30pm Central Time.
Welcome back to The Atheist Experience! This week Matt is joined by Arden Hart.
Our first call today comes from Jake in Canada, who wants to ask about original sin, and how the Christian notion of substitutionary atonement is morally corrupt. We feel ya Jake.
Second up is Andrew in New York, offering his understanding of paganism. Matt would rather hear from paganism from a pagan, and Arden points out that not all folks who identify as “pagan” share the same set of beliefs. Moving on!
Mike from Texas stampedes out of the queue with a quick lecture about alternate theist views, before being lassoed in by Matt to talk about what HE believes. We hit on the problem of the source of consciousness, a bit of naturalism, and a touch of solipsism. Mike makes his case for the supernatural with a whole lot of five-dollar words, but Matt & Arden aren't impressed.
Robin from DC believes that if one rejects a claim, one assumes the contrary position. Our hosts explain that it’s possible to be unconvinced of both states. It’s okay to say “I don’t know” folks, in fact, it’s a big step on the way to knowledge.
Next we have Steven in WA who starts with an assertion that people have their own truths, Arden explains the difference between opinion and fact. Steven offers the example of people in his community offering career advice using their “true” assessments about his aptitudes, and Matt further clarifies that opinions and advice are not the same as truth. We wrap up by analyzing claims of a personal relationship with God, which Stephen concedes he cannot prove.
LaRue in Illinois has a question about whether a family member’s threats that he thinks were fulfilled by God qualify that person as sociopathic. Arden offers the caveat that she isn’t qualified to make psychiatric diagnoses, and suggests that trying to determine whether behaviour is positive or negative for LaRue is probably more valuable.
Tate asks our hosts what religious folks mean when they talk about subjective and objective morality. Matt offers a great explanation of how the product of a mind is the basis for subjective morality.
Charles in Canada is a big fan, who doesn’t like the statement that there isn’t evidence for gods. Matt clarifies the difference between good evidence and testimony, and agrees that there is (air quotes) “evidence”, it's just not very compelling and hasn’t convinced him.
Jake from the UK is looking for tips on how to set boundaries with family members while salvaging relationships. Arden and Matt offer a couple examples of how to frame conversations so that they can be constructive.
That’s our show this week folks, wear your masks, get your shots, and let’s get through this thing together!
This episode is truly LIT! Nate Smith leads the show, Mateo and Secular Rarity argue over best hair, and Puck returns to the Non-Prophets’ hosting seat. The panel opens up a talk on recent news out of Ghana where the Archbishop of Canterbury criticizes a proposed bill encouraging increased penalties against the LGBT community. Special NP Recap involving more instances of African Pastors performing resurrection acts and fatally losing their lives because of it. The conversation takes a deep dive into the continuing dysfunction surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Latest “St Internet Apologists Say” conspiracy theorist Rick Wiles claims the American government is using the COVID-19 vaccine to impregnate its’ citizens with parasitic eggs in order to amass an uncivil “evil cabal” … We wish we were making this st up.
Greetings heathens! Please welcome our host Jmike who transformed into Kenneth Leonard and is joined by Nate Smith!
First up is Artie from NC who perceives atheists as being wishy washy when challenged on various shows by not being able to address questions of morality. It seems to him that atheists are giving ground in this arena. It is easy to get a theist to agree on something that is amoral. When we ask questions that show the theist is a slave to what the book says, there is no losing ground.
Next we have Marlon from the Philippines that believes his prayer of financial assistance has been answered. He prayed right before going to bed, an earthquake happened, and there was a 1,000 peso bill under his bed when it was over. He has a video to prove this and will email us. Is it more likely that a god put money under your bed than you misplacing and finding this bill? He also claims to pick winning lottery tickets, and to never have lost a carnival game. Marlon, why are you struggling financially if that is the case? We will talk once we see the video.
Michael in CA is looking into having more effective conversations with theists about faith not being useful. First find your definitions and go from there. We can get them to agree on believing true things and this will become an opening to understanding skepticism. If there is no evidence of the earth’s shape, yet you have faith that the earth is round, you are hanging your hat on nothing. However ,you don’t have to be certain to know something.
Next is Charles in TX who proposes that morality evolved through natural selection thus putting pressure on altruism. If a person has greater altruism, then there is more morality. If people only took care of other people, and never did anything for themselves, things would fall apart quickly. When we define morality, the golden rule does not always apply. Be careful not to equate “what is” with “what ought to be”. Just because something is natural, does not make it good.
Setuf in Spain would like to know why abortion is moral. We can address this by running a test of the trolley problem. How would killing five people instead of killing one person have a higher moral outcome? If you have the ability to divert the trolley to killing only one person instead of five, and you chose not to do anything, you have still made a choice and are equally responsible for those five deaths. There are all kinds of situations in society where we recognize that terminating the life of a being, is the right thing to do. Why is it okay to be responsible for the termination of five beings in the trolley problem yet you are not cool with the termination of a fetus?
Jmike, our initial host in GA, wants to know what is objectively wrong about his ability to morph into Kenneth after using the bathroom.
That is it folks! Thank you for joining us today for this oasis of reason in the vast desert of non-sense. See you next week!
Hello everyone and welcome to another episode of Truth Wanted! This week, ObjectivelyDan is joined by Brently!
First up tonight is Robert from CA who wants to vent his frustration with the right wing’s use of “dog whistle” terms to rile up their base. The caller specifically dislikes their use of the word “indoctrination” with regard to education & science as it devalues the issues caused by actual religious indoctrination.
Next up is Monty from ID who wants to discuss his experience with sleep paralysis and how their plan to stay calm and not panic the next time it happened may have helped keep them from experiencing it again.
Next is Tony from Mexico who presents seemingly credible doctors who are against the mRNA vaccine as authorities to dispute the pro-vaccine position.
Kelly from CA is back in the queue and this time has his evidence for a God. Technically the caller believes in the Christian God but opts to justify a more general God using genetic “code” as evidence. Unfortunately, the caller doesn’t really understand the scientific consensus or the burden of proof.
Next is Brian from OR who tells our hosts a cool story regarding demons that could be heard on a cassette tape, but was really just radio interference.
Next up is John from TX who starts by asking how evolution can exist in a universe with entropy, and then follows up by quietly accusing our hosts of just regurgitating information without thinking just like theists do with religious texts.
You may love your pet, and you may pet your love, but have you ever asked your lover to be your pet? After all, we ain’t nothing but mammals (who do it like they do it on the discovery channel), so why not take a walk on the wild side and let out our animal instincts? Join the show as Shade Wolf of Pet-Play Pride TX takes Christy and P*ck to obedience school so we can bone-up on tails of animal lust and learn a few tricks ourselves. All that plus your calls and what’s turning us on this week on SecX!
First up tonight is Connell from FL who doesn’t want to break his dad’s heart with his Atheism and wants advice on what to say so as not to hurt him.
Next is Frank from IL who has a detailed sleep paralysis/lucid dream story and explains how they go about testing whether they are dreaming or if they are awake.
Next is Micha from WA who is a paranormal investigator who doesn’t believe in the supernatural or ghosts. Despite being unconvinced, they continue investigating in the hopes of uncovering something incredible, specifically regarding an afterlife.
Next is Zach from HI who explains his story of nearly hitting what he and others believed to be an evil demon pig. Now, after careful thought, the caller no longer believes that it is a spirit trying to kill him, but they still don’t have an explanation for what happened.
Next up is Queer Atheist from IL who wants advice on how to deal with presup apologists and their circular scripts.
Next is Joe from MI who has another story where they saw something spooky while they were riding a bike. Was it a Ghost or something sinister?
In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Matt Dillahunty is joined by Jim Barrows!
First is Joey from the UK who asks if following God’s commands, even if they are immoral, for the sake of self-preservation is justified. This brings us back to the mafia boss analogy as acting differently than you would if not under threat in no way justifies the immoral behavior of the one holding a position of power.
Next up is Carson from KS who worships and personifies nature. Other than because it seems appealing to do, why do this if as the caller claims, it's just atheism with some extra steps?
Next is John from IN who is struggling to grieve the loss of a loved one without the comfort provided by religion.
Next is Brandon from NJ who claims to have evidence of ghosts. Turns out the caller saw and heard a thing somewhere and determined that it was a Ghost. The caller also attempts to use the anomalies found in camera footage that could not be seen with the naked eye as support for the supernatural.
Up next is Juan from Mexico who is a recent Atheist who still has lingering fears regarding promises they made to God when they still believed. The caller, who acknowledges the illogic in their position, is afraid that the God they no longer believe in may come knocking sometime later demanding the promises be fulfilled. Deconversion takes time, just keep reminding yourself that you do not believe and over time you’ll be able to more easily push these nagging fears aside.
Next is Mike from TX who claims that physics proves that there is no objective reality and that therefore the universe has a mind. Next time don’t talk through Matt and you’ll be on the line longer.
Next is Guy from GA who asserts that the Universe needs to be revered and respected as if it’s conscious and sentient, even though we have no evidence that it is.
William from TX wants to know if Jesus understood what lust and adultery were? Thanks for the quick call.
Next is Rich from PA who has a paranormal story where after a terrifying dream they ended up with physical marks on their back. They are wondering if there are any natural explanations for what happened.
Greetings Heathens and Happiest of Halloweens to you all! In today’s spooky episode of Talk Heathen, the Ghoulish Kenneth Leonard is joined by Devilish Johnny P. Angel.
Let’s get to calls! Marlon from the Philippines claims that Dreams (and out of body experiences) are a bridge to the Afterlife. He goes on to provide a personal anecdote where he fell asleep, had a dream, and woke up with a Mountain Dew next to him. Cool story bro, prove it!
Paul in the UK is up next, he is having difficulty with spotting his own biases when meeting new people and interacting with them. He finds folks to be more approachable when they feel comfortable enough to swear around him.
Setuf in Spain is calling in wanting to know how abortion can be moral. Oh fun, an abortion call. Kenneth and Johnny both talk about the importance of bodily autonomy and how people with uteruses should be able to consent to pregnancy. Apparently, he speaks for the zygotes.
Kevin in New York is calling in claiming there is a book of spells (aka a grimoire) that proves the supernatural. Ooooooh, just in time for Halloween! This grimoire has 3 different authors and the book’s title is: The 72 Demons of the Ars Goetia. Ummmm…. Yeah, we aren’t going to take your calls anymore. (At least Kenneth won’t.)
Hugh in New Zealand is telling us we should take the next step and say that religion is imaginary and hold the line! He is rather forceful in the conversation, he must be real fun at get togethers and parties. But there is nuance to this Hugh. You are overstating things and shifting the burden and being rather condescending.
Alex in Texas says people with uteruses should take more personal responsibility when it comes to getting an abortion. Yes, another guy calling about abortion. Sigh. And again, does consent to sex mean consent to being pregnant? For those in the back, getting an abortion is NOT avoiding personal responsibility. It is making a life changing decision and shouldn’t be reduced to less complex thought experiments and “contracts.” UGH
Scott in Texas is an atheist who wants to talk about the Kalam Cosmological Argument. He goes on to say there aren’t any good points to it and is sorta ridiculous. Yes! We agree!
Greg in CA wants to talk about biblical reasons for getting vaccinated. Interesting. Unfortunately though, the Bible is hugely interpreted in vastly different ways and he may find trouble in convincing some Christians about this.
That’s our show for this week, please continue to be safe in your area, wear your mask, and please please PLEASE get vaccinated if you can. The world is better with you in it. See you next week! Now get out there and get some candy!
This week our NP crew talks about where the line is on inappropriate costumes, christian hell houses, Greg Locke has some strange ideas on the Druids and cultural appropriation of Halloween by Xians.
Hello Truth-Seekers and welcome to another episode of Truth Wanted. This week ExXtian Erin is joined by Trevor Poelman of the Belief it or Not podcast.
Liam is our first caller, and wants to talk about premonitions that he’s noticed since deconverting. Erin points out that coincidence and the human tendency to see patterns are more likely than clairvoyance. Pareidolia is a thing and Liam seems to agree. Stay curious, friend!
Next up is Queer Atheist from Illinois, who recently had his dirty, dirty chakra cleaned at work. He’s also been turned down for dates because of his astrological sign, and wants our hosts to opine about how to gently push back on such nonsense. Liam points out that promoting personal beliefs in the workplace is inappropriate, whether it be theology or astrology. No -ologies allowed folks! Erin offers tips on how to politely set boundaries, and our caller makes clear that a clean carpet is better than a clean chakra.
Keeping the woo theme going is Kennita, who’s been offered Reiki massage by someone close to her, and while she appreciates the massage, the magic crystals are a bridge too far. How best to be honest? Erin points out that touch therapy and human contact is valuable and doesn’t rely on discredited claims. Both hosts agree that the placebo effect of pseudoscience is harmless until folks prefer it to actual medical care!
David from WA wants to know whether our hosts think morality is subjective or objective. Erin thinks goals are key to determining what’s right and wrong, and like a typical Canadian, Trevor just likes being nice to people. Our spidey senses go off when anyone brings up Adolf Hitler and slavery in a conversation about morality, and our hosts quickly identify and deconstruct a weak apologist argument for why we ought to listen to an invisible sky daddy.
That’s our show this week! Join us this Sunday after The Atheist Experience for a very special episode of Truth Wanted, live from a haunted hotel room!
The modern polyamory movement can readily trace it’s ties back to the feminist and counter-cultural movements of the 60’s and 70’s. Fueled by a willingness to question convention and a mandate to empower women, it’s no wonder polyamory would eagerly distance itself from the historical (and not so historical) polygamy of The Church of Latter Day Saints. How different are these approaches, really, and how does the ghost of Mormon plural marriage hang over modern ideas of ethical non-monogamy? Find out as Dan Beecher of the Thank God I’m Atheist podcast joins P*ck and Christy in an exploration of consent, coercion and copious copulation, plus your calls and what’s turning us on this week!
In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Matt Dillahunty is joined by Dave Warnock!
First up today is Mark from OR who has a question about the difference between the scientific consensus and a fallacious appeal to authority.
Next is GB from CA who wants to argue that the bible argues for divine hiddenness. How can we differentiate between God’s desire to remain hidden, or whether they exist at all.
Up next is Andre from MI believes that there is something greater than us and claims they can prove it. The caller’s interpretation of how the universe around them functions, (i.e. the need to breath & and squirrels killing one another), indicates to them that there is a greater will/
Next up is DJ from Canada who claims to have made contact with a soul. How do we know that the electrical feeling experienced by the caller is actually dead people, let alone a specific soul. As of right now we have no evidence to support the idea that consciousness carries forward after death.
Drew in CA wants to correct Matt’s assertion that the Bible says that “life is like dirty rags” when it does not. The caller gets one win token and immediately starts preaching.
Charlie from TX believes that beliefs are supernatural because they don’t exist tangibly. Just because they cannot currently be tested individually by science does not mean that they won’t ever be, or that they are in any way unnatural.
Next up is Ronald from MO who claims to have found the fabled third possibility for the divine hiddenness argument. The caller did not find it.
Next is Josh from NJ who is struggling to come out as an atheist, for the wellbeing of both themselves and their family. The caller has noticed that anytime their lack of belief is referenced that their mother doubles down on their theism, and fears that this is indicative of what the future reaction will be if the caller fully comes out.
Last up is Peter from Australia who is wondering if there are any legal ramifications for people who spew false prophecies or similar predictions.
The Non-Prophets, Episode 20.43 airing Sunday, October 24th featuring Malty, Laura Magee, Richard Gilliver, and guest host Genevieve, co-host of “That GD Show.”
It’s been 1 year since the renewal of The Non-Prophets! On this Anniversary Show, Malty, Laura Magee and Richard Gilliver are joined by co-host of “That GD Show” Genevieve discussing new developments from the gun-loving Christian sect. The Southern Baptist church experiences a drop in their pulpit with the resignation of Ronnie Floyd. American school boards are being attacked by very angry right-wing crisis actors. In our final segment, “Looking Back,” our hosts discuss when the true end of the world date should have occurred.
Greetings heathens! Time to get down with our host Katy Montgomerie and special guest MD Aware.
First up is Logical Apostate in MO that wants to understand how trans rights are impacted by religion. People tend to react to trans people the same way they would react to gay people because they look to the closest language to trans mentioned in their scriptures that would be considered an abomination. They use that as justification for their bias. The actual law of the religion is often not the driving force of prejudices.
Ameet in NY is next and is asking about how the alkaline diet is purported to kill cancer cells. The pH of the body is extremely controlled. If the pH drops below 7 or rises up to 8, it is a sign of demise. Pushing these limits can be fatal. Whenever someone says “blank” kills cancer cells, remember that bullets do the same thing. Any normal alkaline diet can not significantly alter the body’s pH, and if it did, it would probably kill the person as well.
Mike from WA belligerently tries to argue with a real scientist that information contained in DNA must have come from somewhere and that there was no natural selection. Mike, ad hominem attacks do not change the fact that DNA are chemicals and are naturally selected according to physical and chemical laws. This is a physical process and is not the same as information nor is it a recipe. DNA is a chemical that self replicates under the correct conditions.
Ron in Canada believes the Bible is entirely true and contains an ancient wisdom that has revolutionized Western Civilization. When asked what makes the Bible true, his answer is the same that Muslims give about the Quran. And that is that he believes the Bible is so great that it could not have been written by man. This is a false dichotomy because there is no evidence that a supernatural entity exists to have written the Bible as opposed to human writings. The claims in the Bible can’t be used to prove itself; we need evidence. We are not convinced that what the people wrote in the Bible were inspired by a god.
Finally we have Allison in CA who grew up in a cult and now considers herself an atheist but wants to understand why we need to use the atheist label because it feels limiting. The label is there and roughly describes what is believed. An atheist just means we are not convinced of any god claims. Descriptions are interesting to humans and communicate topics. More importantly, we need to address the struggle against atheist rights, and using the label assists with this.
That is all for today folks! Thank you for tuning in to the show and we will see you soon!
Hello Truth-Seekers and welcome to another episode of Truth Wanted. This week Objectively Dan is joined by Genevieve!
Our first caller is Barrie from New Zealand, who’s asking how to talk to an otherwise brilliant family member who believes in wacky conspiracy theories. Dan points out that folks on both sides of the political spectrum are susceptible to delusions that feel empowering, and suggests Street Epistemology may be an effective approach. Genevieve concurs, which is exactly what we would expect from a lizard person in disguise.
Next we have Mark in Oregon, who saw a UAP and as one does, grabbed his eldest cell phone and got it on video. Sadly, our hosts can’t review the evidence live on the show, and remind Mark that unidentified doesn’t mean aliens.
Mark’s footage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCXN-WUGvrQ
Cassius in Virginia wants our hosts to offer advice on how to combat the Old Testament/New Testament, old covenant/new covenant apologist argument. Dan makes the point that objective morality shouldn’t magically change one day two thousand years ago, because “Jesus”. Genevieve thinks Christians just aren’t familiar enough with the OT to really grasp how awful it is, and reiterates that their god is allegedly eternal and unchanging. You can’t change the rules in the middle of the game Yahweh! The hosts wrap up by pointing out that the Christian notion of a deity seems to evolve with human culture. Seems sus…
Next up is Tony in Mexico is seeing conflicting COVID information on social media, and is seeking methods to vet this content. Dan reminds Tony that the Colgate College of Fresh Breath is not a reliable medical school, and that the vast majority of medical professionals are in agreement. Genevieve points out that social media is not the best place to get accurate medical advice, and directs Tony to consult accredited sources. Both hosts agree that no drug is without side effects, and the evidence agrees that being vaccinated is far less risky to your health than the alternative.
Finally we talk to Casey in Colorado, who’s bringing a follow up to last week’s conversation about cryonics. Casey doesn’t see the harm in a small chance to be thawed out sometime in the future, and is aware that the company could conceivably go out of business. Our hosts are proponents of bodily autonomy, and put this one on ice until the science is clear.
That’s our show tonight folx, stay safe, and get the jab if you haven’t already!
The world is opening back up and the internet’s hottest club has everything- sexy kinksters, a Montero aesthetic and a clunky graphic interface from circa 2007. At FetLife dot com you can explore new and exciting sexualities- meet cougars, bears, bunnies and possibly predators all while navigating a naked MySpace-inspired fever dream. This week web-hostess with the mostess Tanjil Wright joins Nate and Christy in navigating the dated digital landscape of one of the internet’s most perplexing pervy parties plus your calls and questions and what’s turning us on this week!
In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Matt Dillahunty is joined by Jim Barrows!
Our first caller today is Mark from GA. The caller claims that time robs the ability for information to be communicated, and that god will solve this by fulfilling the great commission through connecting our brains to computers.
Next is Holy Rebel Movement from FL who claims that he received a prophecy from God of Joe Biden’s inauguration, after we knew Joe Biden had won the election. The caller also states that they have 6 to 7 more of these mundane prophecies.
Next up, Arnie from WA is calling back to report the current status of his deconversion process, and how he has transitioned away from his mormon indoctrination. After their previous call to the show, Arnie has since come to the conclusion that they no longer have a good reason to believe.
Jim from Canada asks our hosts if the possibility of consciousness disappearing after death either disappoints or scares them.
Next up is Kim from the UK who wants to talk about the privilege needed to be a non-believer. While needing a community, specifically an atheist community, can require a certain degree of depending on their location and socio-economic status, being an Atheist on its own does not.
Next up is Mike from CA who claims to have personal experiences that can prove God, but I can’t prove it to you. The paranormal experience was, “an urge to go home.”
Our final call is Gilles from the UK who asks our hosts what an Atheist civilization would look like. What follows is a very pleasant call about the future of atheism and non-believers around the world.
Oh my not-a-god, people! I am so fired up for this week’s show! Did you know that we are a Christian nation?? Yeah, I didn’t either, but according to NC Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, we are. So...there you are. If you are as shocked as the rest of us Non’s were, join us on Sunday at 3pm Central as we discuss Mark Robinson’s revelations. We also get into the heavy discussions of the ethics of using primates for neurological research and the ongoing wrong-doings of the Catholic Church. We lighten is up with an amusing little bit about a man who is suing his… get this… psychic… for not being…psychic.
Greetings Heathens! In today’s episode of Talk Heathen, JMike is joined by Kenneth Leonard. Congratulations on your recent wedding Kenneth, glad you’re now not living in sin.
Let’s get to calls! Charlie in Texas would like to talk about how or why the scientific method is properly scientific and how it can be applied to accepted theories including natural selection and evolution. This should be an interesting call, though it sounds like he’s trying to dismantle established theories and pick holes in them. Maybe call upon some biologists next time?
RJM in Massachusetts is up next, he wants to address what our epistemologies are in regards to being atheists. He does try to insert a deity or designer into the discussion of evolution and natural selection though. This call is frustrating because RJM doesn’t want to listen and sounds eerily similar to other presups and their scripts. Why is he dodging and deflecting our questions and getting upset?
Meshulam in Jerusalem is wondering about if there can be moral facts in a purely Atheistic world. Can moral action and facts exist in this Atheistic Universe. Um, why not and why wouldn’t there be morality? He continues to beg the question throughout this call, it’s worth listening to though, because JMike.
Queer Atheist in Illinois is wondering what theistic arguments are the best out there. Can we extrapolate and discuss them? Oh, that’s a tough question, because most theistic arguments tend to bring up more questions than providing solutions. Theist arguments have a tendency to appeal to emotion and tend to bend the truth too much. As a skeptic, it is difficult at best to find “the best one.”
That’s our show for this week, please continue to be safe in your area, wear your mask, and please please PLEASE get vaccinated if you can. The world is better with you in it. See you next week!
Hello Truth-Seekers and welcome to another episode of Truth Wanted. This week Nate Smith is joined by MD Aware!
First up tonight is Richard from NY who claims that they made themselves time travel. Is there any way we can verify that this truly is time travel and not some other phenomenon?
Next is Kennita from CA who wants to ask our hosts about the subject of cryonics and its potential efficacy in the future.
Our final caller of the evening is Otangelo from Brazil who wants our hosts to explain the existence of life without a God.
Thank you all so much for tuning in! Until we see you next week, keep on wanting the truth!
If you grew up believing that you were inherently sinful and had fallen short of the glory of god or were told that your thoughts were disgustingly perverted you are, among many other things, the perfect SecX fan. Still no one could blame you for wanting to keep some of that in the dark no matter how sex positive you’ve worked to be. Learning to accept our shadow self is at the heart of Jungian psychology, but what can that seemingly mystical science of the last century offer us today? Andy Lane returns to the show to teach Christy about the mysteries of sex and shadow, plus your calls and what’s turning us on this week!
- Find what’s turning us on and more shownotes at https://www.vcatx.com/media/shadow
In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Shannon Q is joined by Johnny P. Angel!
First up is Writer from NY who perceives time as a measurement of the distance that a second-hand takes to move, and that this perception aligns with the attributes of their accepted God. The caller also claims to have spoken to and visited Heaven with this God.
Next is Joshua from Canada who wants to offer testimony on why they converted. If Revelation is a personal experience and not applicable to everyone, then by definition it’s not going to be convincing to those who haven’t experienced it. At this point, it’s just a claim.
Up next is Charlie from TX who is questioning the host’s acceptance of naturalism since the only way to falsify it would be to present something unnatural. The caller believes this creates a problem where naturalism is accepted without proper justification.
Mr. Batman, the “Dark Knight Of Logic” calls in with a misunderstanding of science and his script in hand to present a convoluted spiel for the existence of God.
Next up is Johan from FL who wants to know if a person should withhold belief without evidence for moral reasons, or something else. While there are certainly practical reasons for withholding belief, the moral implications of this are often addressed separately, (e.g. morality with regards to certain goals).
Last up is Jim from Canada who is questioning Christian doctrine, but can’t get past the concept of a soul, and why our hosts do not believe in them.
The Non-Prophets, Episode 20.41 airing Sunday, October 10th featuring Johnny P. Angel, Mateo “Teo El Ateo” Montero, NP Intimate: Richard Gilliver, and guest host Scott Dickie.
Covering the possible reduction of islamophobia in the UK by increasing Celebrity exposure. A leaked document about Top Republicans interactions with extremist groups. How Iceland likes Thor more than Luther and a Philly priest who skimms thousands gets probation as penance.
Greetings Heathens! We hope to be a sanctuary for you in this chaotic world. In today’s episode of Talk Heathen, the angelic and at the same time devilish, Johnny P. Angel is joined by the always incredibly knowledgeable and lovely Katy Montgomerie.
Let’s get to calls! Joseph from Ohio would like to talk about mythological gods and if we are 100% certain that they don’t exist as well. Johnny was very excited to talk about Anubis and Odin and whether we can be certain they don’t exist during this call.
Mike in California is up next, he believes if humanity as a whole would reject religion completely, that it would be anarchy and chaos in the world. He goes on to say that the fabric of society would be more fractured than it is now. Show us the evidence this would happen Mike. Hmmmm… Along with Katy, we just aren’t convinced of this.
Returning caller Kevin in New York, is calling yet again wanting to discuss how the Earth and the Solar System is made especially for humans. What about the oceans and other inhospitable areas like the top of Mt. Everest Kevin, or the vacuum of space? C’mon dude, think about it for a moment. Wonder what his next topic on his next call will be… perhaps the apocrypha?
David in North Carolina is calling about deplatforming evangelical extremists and charismatic Christian bigots in politics. What can we as atheists do to help with getting them out of office and maintaining momentum to continue.
That’s our show for this week, please continue to be safe in your area, wear your mask, and please please PLEASE get vaccinated if you can. The world is better with you in it. See you next week!
In today’s episode of Truth Wanted! Objectively Dan is joined by Dan Beecher from the “Thank God I’m An Atheist” Podcast. Welcome to the show, Dan!
First up in the calls is Cononthebarber in the UK to discuss sentientism, the belief that all sentient beings deserve moral consideration, not limited to aliens or-in some cases- even plants. But where do we draw the line? This is a much needed moral conversation, so thanks for the call!
Next we’ve got Mark in Oregon with a question for (not objectively) Dan; Do Mormons believe in aliens? They’ve got quite the interesting space theology, according to our co-host. Planets, gods and aliens, OH MY!
Colson in Texas has a brother who is hesitant about getting the vaccine. He wants to encourage him to get it but doesn’t know the best way to go about having the difficult conversation. This is such an important issue, and you have every right to bring it up with unvaccinated family members. Stay calm and ask a lot of questions along the way. Good luck, Colson!
Donny J in Canada is getting ready for a trip back to his homeland but is concerned about visiting his mother because she is unvaccinated, and doesn’t even want to have a conversation about it. Although this is an important topic, we can’t expect to change anyone’s mind. We just have to continue asking the hard questions and steering the conversation in a positive direction.
That wraps up tonight’s show. Thank you so much to our co-host, Dan Beecher for bringing your perspective to these important discussions. Remember to always keep wanting the truth. See you next week!
Contrary to message boards and drunk uncles everywhere trans identities have always been baked into our DNA and present in our society. Revisionist histories and burned books have often failed to highlight these stories which is why it is such a privilege to have the opportunity to host the ACA’s own Stephanie Helms.
Join Nate and Arden as we explore the personal and the passionate in Stephanie’s life as a preacher's kid, a sailor and an athlete while navigating a world of bigotry and confusion. Her story plus your calls and what’s turning us on this week!
The Non-Prophets, Episode 20.40 airing Sunday, October 3rd featuring Laura Magee, Jena Miyu, Nate Smith, and ExXtianErin.
Summary -
On this week’s episode ExXtianErin joins Laura, Jena and Nate for ninety minutes of impressions, laffs and outrage over Kenneth Copeland, One Angry Mom, more news over abortion in Texas and how being non-religious may be good for you!
Article Links Here -
Segment 1: [SHIT INTERNET APOLOGISTS SAY] Mom against birth control ad
Friendly Atheist, By Hemant Mehta 24 Sept. 2021
Angry Christian Mom Boycotts Phexxi Birth Control Ad Due To “Sexual Perversion” http://tiny.cc/MomsAgainstBC
VICE, By Jelisa Castrodale 18 Dec 2020
Everything 'One Million Moms' Wanted to Call the Manager About in 2020 http://tiny.cc/MillionMoms
Segment 2: Texas Abortion in the bible?
salon, By Nathaniel Manderson 18 Sept. 2021
Evangelical theology is what made the Texas abortion outrage possible http://tiny.cc/TexasAbortsBible
The Women’s, Abortion; the myths https://www.thewomens.org.au/health-information/unplanned-pregnancy-information/abortion-the-myths
Politico Magazine, By Randall Balmer 27 May 2014
The Real Origins of the Religious Right http://tiny.cc/RealReligiousRightOrigin
Segment 3:Kenneth Copeland needs a new plane
HuffPost, By Ed Mazza 23 Sept 2021
Right-Wing Preacher Cooks Up The Most Bonkers Plea Yet For A Private Jet http://tiny.cc/CopesNewPlane
CHURCH LEADERS, By Dale Chamberlain 24 Sept. 2021
Jesse Duplantis Claims Donations Can Speed the Return of Christ http://tiny.cc/DonateOrJesusWontCome
The Young Turks, 23 Sept. 2021
Televangelist: Jesus Hates Vaccines, Loves Private Jets http://tiny.cc/JesusHatesVaccines
Friendly Atheist, By Hemant Mehta 23 Sept. 2021
Your Favorite Scamvangelists Are Bragging About Their Private Jets Again http://tiny.cc/Scamvangelists
Segment 4:
Being ‘godless’ might be good for your health, new study finds http://tiny.cc/GodlesstoGoodHealth
In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Matt Dillahunty is joined by Jenna Belk. Welcome back to the co-host chair Jenna!
First up is Mohammad from NE who defines god as any conscious entity that is capable of influence celestial objects beyond our (modern humans) comprehension. Nothing presented by the caller contains anything relevant to a scientific argument.
Next up is Tommy from IL who wants to know if our hosts are still searching for an answer to a God question, or if they have gotten to where they have reached a point of certainty in their current position.
Robin from DC is calling in to tell us about some slick new labels for Atheism: Local & Global. Local Atheism refers to someone who doesn’t believe that a subset of Gods exist, but accepts others. Unfortunately, Robin asserts the only way that a person can determine whether one subset exists and the other doesn’t is through God’s revelation.
Up next is DJ from CO who is worried about leaving their child under the care of a religious family member. Exposure to new, different ideas, will likely help in the long run with the child’s development of critical thinking skills. However, making the violation of trust clear to the family members is important if you want to maintain a healthy relationship with them in the future.
Next up is Nikki from CA who believes that they have made contact with a deceased family member. The caller had requested prior to their death that they give her a sign that they are alright, and a year later she receives a notification that his social media account liked her photo. How do we know that this was anything more than a bug in the app?
Greetings Heathens! Hope you are all well! In today’s episode of Talk Heathen, smooth talking nutter squasher and master of metaphors Lloyd Evans is joined by the always wonderful and wondrous ObjectivelyDan.
Let’s get to calls! Robin from DC would like to talk about why atheists are critical if things can not be 100% defined or proven to be impossible. Yes, he’s a presup and yes gets aggressive if we don’t follow his “script.” There is talk about an egg on Lloyd’s desk and we don’t get an answer as to why Lloyd has an egg on his desk.
Michael in Colorado is up next, he is wondering how to get JWs to stop visiting, stop writing him letters, and stop calling him. Unfortunately, there isn’t really a way to fully stop them as they have changed their strategy due to the pandemic. Here we find out that Dan wants to engage and talk with JWs. You put it out there Dan!
Returning caller Kevin in New York, is calling yet again to discuss what he brings to the table when he calls and how his methods of debate are similar to a courtroom. Lloyd doesn’t quite agree with this premise, but it’s different from his normal call about the apocryphal texts… oh wait, spoke too soon.
DJ in Oregon has an observation and a question for Lloyd and Dan. He has observed how we speak in philosophical terms with presups and how they are there to obscure facts and try to get folks to say specific and ridiculous things. Matt Dillahunty (in chat) said it best, we shouldn’t assume or accuse what’s in people’s heads. So keep asking questions.
Michael in Florida is asking how anyone can prove the God of the Bible exists when it’s so contradictory. Good question, it’s something we constantly are up against and working on.
Sheri in Ohio is wondering about folks putting stickers on the Gideon bibles (or Book of Mormon) within motel/hotel rooms. What do we think about this practice? Erring on the side of caution, it might be best to place flyers or bookmarks in them instead of adhering stickers to them because this may do more harm to the movement than good.
That’s our show for this week, please continue to be safe in your area, wear your mask, and get vaccinated if you can. The world is better with you in it. See you next week!
In today’s episode of Truth Wanted! Objectively Dan is hosting with Apostate Prophet. Welcome to the show!
First up is Barrie in New Zealand who feels awkward criticizing beliefs within politically oppressed groups. While we think it is important to maintain respect for others, we also think it is worth speaking up when a certain ideology is harmful.
Next in the calls is Allen in California who has taken a revisionist approach to Christianity, believing that it is the religion of atheists. Although your theological take is interesting, we prefer evidence over interpretation.
Anthony from North Carolina is attempting to navigate conversations about the supernatural with friends in the most productive way. Try using street epistemology techniques and don’t expect to change anyone’s mind in one conversation.
Up next is James in the UK who thinks perhaps western culture has gone too far in encouraging a lack of religion when it often provides community and comfort. While it is true that religion has given comfort to many, we hope to see more communities embracing secular humanism and encouraging individualism.
Lauren in Arizona was once involved with a cult that made her believe that symptoms of her neurological illness were supernaturally related. She wonders how many other people are ignoring their mental health for the sake of religion. Great discussion, Lauren!
That wraps up tonight’s show. Thank you so much to our co-host, Apostate Prophet for bringing your perspective to these important discussions. Remember to always keep wanting the truth. See you next week!
If there’s a more pure pleasure then loving, touching and squeezing research scientists and ancient mystics have yet to find it. Such a foundational, basic human desire surely needs no introduction, and yet for something so truly important we lack even the most basic training or professional expertise. Maybe that’s why paid cuddle parties and professional cuddlists are popping up everywhere- but what can we really learn about our most primitive language? Sundeep Arole joins Christy and Nate to discuss the life and times of a professional cuddle artist, plus your calls and what’s turning us on this week!
SHOW NOTES Hello everyone! Welcome to our fun episode of The Atheist Experience with Matt Dillahunty and Jim Barrows.
First up is Ram from India who started to believe in god again six months ago because he met someone who says science does not explain everything, and that lots of people accept there are multiverses. Scientists are not saying god is the reason for this. God is not a valid, reasonable hypothesis for the universe. Can you name one thing that is demonstrably true and violates logic? Don’t give up on reality so you can have less pain and sadness.
Next we have Jordan in VA who is starting to have doubts of his faith, but does not want to give it up. He wants to raise children with the Christian foundation but has concerns with the Bible. If you raise kids this way, you are telling them they are broken and flawed. Teaching kids about hell is child abuse and so is following what the Bible says to do. It is difficult to teach kids to think for themselves in a Christian household.
Kevin in AZ thinks that Matt is asking the wrong thing about god because it should not be a binary question. Either you are convinced a god exists or you are not convinced a god exists, and this is binary.
Next is Paris in CA who argues that people's reasons for the earth not being flat are not better than the reasons they bring up for the historicity of Jesus. When the Greeks proved the earth is round, it was done with simple geometry. Everything we do with navigation proves the earth has to be an oblate spheroid.
Jesus in CA tries to use Exodus to prove that god exists because wheels were found in that region. Picking out verses that someone fed you does not prove that a god exists. He then goes on to say that many of us believe it to be true. The truth is not impacted in any way by the number of people who believe something.
Next we have Thea in NC that wants to know why whenever bad things happen like school shootings, Christians think it is the end times. It is because they read Revelations and are always ready. Christian Nationalists are actively trying to bring this to happen. People have been profiting off this for ages. When have there not been rumors of wars?
Next is Carlos in Puerto Rico whose friend described an example of no divine intervention that proves the non-existence of god. A particular god may be disproven, but without defined characteristics there is no way of doing this.
Our last caller is Paul in VA who has an idea that Christianity was intentionally created to feel superior, not take responsibility for their actions, and that once you are a Christian, you can’t lose salvation. How did you rule out that this was not true? We don’t have any way to know what the actual doctrine is because god has not arrived to truly tell us.
We will see you all next week. Lets try and focus on reality and not throw up our hands and think god has a plan.
Greetings Heathens! Hope you are all doing well and staying safe out there. In today’s episode of Talk Heathen, Katy Montgomerie is joined by JMike.
Let’s get to calls! Vinay from India would like to talk about how we don’t have the answers to where the universe came from and deconverting. ‘I don’t know’ is a valid response to a lot of these questions and does not show weakness.
Robert in Sweden is up next, he would like to discuss false religions and starts out by setting the claim that all religions are about life after death. Ummm, no, not all religions exist purely for the afterlife and quite a few serve a lot of different roles. That’s a pretty broad blanket claim.
Mark in Canada is calling about being able to talk to spirit guides and is calling in about it. Ok, prove it to us on the show, that would be awesome! Though how do we test for this and replicate it? Hmmm... It seems like he believes it enough to sell this pseudoscience to gullible people.
Paul in North Carolina is asking and talking about transcendence and Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, though the caller keeps calling it a pyramid and it is usually showcased as one. This is a theory in psychology consisting of a 5-tier model of human needs: physiological, safety, love and belonging, esteem, and self-awareness/actualization. How is this relevant though? Shannon Q where are you, we need you for this caller!
Stewart in the UK is calling in about teaching critical thinking and the scientific method to recovering mental health patients and their success with it. He also is calling about debunking mediums and folks who claim the channel the dead. They’re dead sadly, there’s nothing conscious to channel or communicate with.
Bonnie in Wisconsin is wondering about the resurrection and the afterlife and has something to say about Robert’s call earlier. Thanks for the feedback Bonnie!
That’s our show for this week folks! Please continue to be safe in your area, wear your mask, and get vaccinated if you can. The world is better with you in it. See you next week!
Hello everyone and welcome to another episode of Truth Wanted! This week, Exxtian Erin is joined by Prophet of Zod!
Our first caller tonight is Jeremiah from TX who is wondering if our hosts have any opinions regarding evangelical involvement in politics. As the hosts briefly touched on earlier, the evangelical narrative oftentimes revolves around a “good vs evil” dichotomy which has, over time, enflamed the opinions of and vocabulary used against the other non-evangelical side.
Next up is Eric from IA who recently discovered Dantes Infernoand Apocalypse of Peter, and wants to know the atheist opinion of them and potentially their context within Christianity. Those texts among many others have and continue to influence the way the bible is interpreted and imagined by its followers.
Up next is Andy from TX who wants to know how we can demonstrate that free will is just an illusion. If the societal, functional assumption is that we all have free will, why is that not the default position in philosophy?
Up next is Otangelo from Brazil who wants to know if our hosts would accept the Christian God if he were proven to exist. Just because a God claims that they want a loving relationship is completely separate from whether they actually do want one. The threat of eternal punishment for those that do not truly believe, worship out of fear not counting, isn’t the foundation of a loving relationship.
Last up is Sandra from OH whose boss is forcing her to stay in a haunted hotel for a work trip. Bring things that will help make you feel safer in the dark like a flashlight and avoid discussions of the paranormal leading up to your visit, especially of this exact site, to help keep your imagination at bay.
That’s it for this week Truth Seekers, thank you so much for watching. Until we see you next week, keep on hunting for the truth!
Brains are weird, even and especially the good ones. And while we learn more about them every day, perhaps the greatest insight of the last generation is the idea that there aren’t any bad ones, just different types of weird and good, typical and queer. Whether your brain is perfectly conventional or remarkably Abby Normal join us as Miss O Kissed takes us on a journey about neuroqueering and divergence from the pathology model- all that plus your calls and of course what’s turning us on this week!
Hey everyone and welcome to another episode of The Atheist Experience! This week Matt Dillahunty is joined by Mandisa Thomas from Black Nonbelievers!
First up is Sam from TX who says that he believes in a god for the same reason that our hosts don’t believe that there is a god.
Next up is Jaime from CO who claims to have photographic evidence for god. How do you know that what you captured in the photo is actually the face of God, or just a cloud?
Up next is GB from TX who is curious why Matt states that if a God exists, it is the most important fact that anyone could ever know due to the repercussions that the existence of one would have on our reality. However, until one is demonstrated to exist, acting as if one does and legislating laws that are asserted to align with it is dangerous and irresponsible.
Next Cathy from NM who believes that Matt’s approach is rude and unproductive, and that he sets up strawman with religious callers including those from this very show.
Next is Hamid from the (UK) who wants to share his experience of reconverting to Islam. Just because you understand the concept of God as depicted in the Bible and the Quran doesn’t make those descriptions true or the God real.
Next is Paul from NC who is wondering how true the claims of spirit mediums are and if it is possible to accept their claims or partake in the exercise yourself without engaging in “woo.” What you convince yourself of in private is up to you, but if you are trying to convince others that you can do these things and are charging them money, then you are preying on people who are struggling and coping with loss.
Up next is Luke from MN who is curious as to why skepticism is the best path to truth when evaluating truth claims. We don’t choose our beliefs, but we can choose to act as if something is true. Because of this, there are going to be consequences caused by those actions that can range from minuscule to dangerously significant.
Hollywood is attempting to rally its community to boycott Texas in protest of new abortion law and the Satanic Temple is following suit. Mexico steps in the right direction by finally decriminalizing abortion despite being the second largest catholic country in the world (maybe TX can learn from their example). And Candice Owens is served up a plate of poetic justice being denied a Covid test by Aspen Laboratories.
Greetings Heathens! Hope you all are having a very pleasant Sunday, it’s time for Talk Heathen! Today’s episode is hosted by the always respectful Lloyd Evans and joined by the ever effervescent Kenneth Leonard. It’s going to be a great show!
Let’s get to calls! Jason from Australia would like to talk about existential nihilism and what really is our objective purpose. Lloyd jumps into this deep dark pool first by saying, why not a subjective purpose? He goes on to say: I enjoy and take pleasure from my life and also like feeling love and being loved.
Kelly in Maryland is up next, she wonders how to stay sensitive to folks, family members, and friends who ask her to pray for them either at work (she’s in healthcare) or in other tough life situations.
Returning caller Kevin in New York is calling in to talk about yet another subject, this time being the soul. He claims it is the magnetic characteristic of the human body. He says he went through testing this claim and Lloyd takes him to task by asking him where he found this and on what website. Oh boy, here we go,
Nate in Canada is asking: What is the difference between a cult and the beginning of a religion. When does a religion become a cult and or when does a cult become a religion? Lloyd begins with the definition of cults and the definition of religion and where they are similar and where they differ. He goes on to speak about how to approach someone without using pejoratives when explaining how all religions are cults.
Cody in Texas is calling about his struggles with deconversion and how he is coming to grips with the delay and denial of the Christian and religious faiths in terms of mortality and death. “Life is punctuated by death and this makes our limited time on Earth so important, lucky, and special.”
That’s our show for this week, please continue to be safe in your area, wear your mask, and get vaccinated if you can. Thanks especially to the hard working healthcare workers out there. The world is better with you in it. See you next week!
In today’s episode of Truth Wanted! Puck is back in the host chair alongside Paulogia, best known for his atheistic response videos on YouTube. Tonight we get a peek at the Paulogia behind the avatar and learn about his walk from teaching theology to taking on the bigger names in apologetics.
First up! Molly in IN believed she would miss a sign god if she didn’t pay attention to her dreams, later realizing dreams aren’t important. All humans make attribution errors and place more importance on some things that maybe shouldn’t. Thanks for sharing Molly!
Erin in Canada asks if she should have disclosed her atheist activism with her family, as they just discovered it? Someone outed you before you were ready, it may hurt for a bit. You may have to set boundaries for religious conversations, ask them what they are comfortable in discussing.
Phil in TX recognizes there isn’t enough skeptic presence around conspiracy videos and thinks there should be more of a pushback there. It is worth addressing conspiracy theories, people CAN change their mind. We are all susceptible to confirmation bias. While it’s best to have someone in that community fight back, we can tackle some of that too!
Otangelo in Brazil is back. He asks Paulogia if using a recipe to make a cake is a mental process… uh oh here comes intelligent design. Yes, but you can stumble on a recipe by accident. We can demonstrate design in making a recipe, or blueprint, but not design of humans. How can you ascertain the purpose of design for humans? Once again, we don’t see the intentionality of design behind humans.
That wraps up tonight’s show. Make sure to check out more at youtube.com/c/paulogia Until next week, keep wanting the truth!
I mean, I get it. If there wasn’t something kind of magical about looking deeply into the eyes of someone you love or hearing them shout “oh GOD” at just the right moment, none of us would bother talking about love and sex and god for an hour and a half every week. For literally thousands of years people have insisted that there’s something not just profound, not just spiritual or even transcendent but actually divine about the love we make and share. Psychotherapist and writer Melissa Hargrave returns to the show to teach Christy about the history of these mystical practices and to join a skeptical conversation about the wonder and power of love, all that plus what’s turning us on this week and your calls!
In today’s episode of the The Atheist Experience, Matt Dillahunty is joined by Arden Of Eden.
Our first caller today is Andrew from PA. The caller is beginning to question their beliefs and is wondering how our hosts became comfortable with pushing back against their past indoctrination. Unless you have good reason to believe in a particular god, then worrying about any threats or boons derived from believing in that God isn’t justified.
Up next is Sam from NE who believes that because there are things about the universe that we cannot explain today, that it must be supernatural. Sam also had some “important” information he wanted to bless the audience with.
Next up is Aiden from FL who is looking for advice on how to manage their relationship with their family with regards to their opposing views of religion. There is probably no single argument that will help your family become accepting of your atheism, but this single disagreement isn’t the whole relationship with your family or how they feel about you as a person.
Next is Hank from TX who is claiming that our ownership of non-human animals indicates that we are superior to those animals, and if we are superior, then there is likely a being superior to us.
Up next is Robert from OR claims that a belief in a God is properly basic, that it is self-evident and doesn’t require a justification to be accepted as true.
Next is Rivalod from the Netherlands who wants to know how Atheists can be moral without God. The caller states that they believe morality is based on whatever God says is right. How do we know what God says?
Up next is Leo from Canada who has been pushed back theism because of Matt. The caller doesn’t understand Matt’s position against worshipping a deity, and somehow this has put them back on the fence?
Our final caller is Christ from CT is curious as to why Fundamentalist Christians are so against the separation of sex and gender when they themselves ascribe gender to their own God. Part of it is because their books don’t refer to sex or gender directly, as well as the fact that it offers a mechanism to control others.
This week, Arden, Nate and Special Guest Colson correct a mistake from last week when they said Texas Senate Bill 29 was passed into law (it wasn’t but Governor Abbott called a third special session of the TX Leg to correct that “error”) discuss vaccine passports, share their thoughts on Harvard’s new atheist chaplain, Greg Epstein, look back to Roger Williams and his early call for church state separation, and they round that episode off with “Chicken Little” preacherman Mat Staver who warns that the Covid-19 vaccine will make planes fall from the SKY!
Welcome and thank you for joining today's show with our very own ObjectivelyDan! We are fortunate to have the one and only Mandisa Thomas with us today who is the founder and president of Black Nonbelievers as our co-host!
First up is Michelle in OH who wants to discuss COVID in the black community and the problem with people believing that god will protect children against the virus. Christianity is at the roots of white supremacy which is behind the lack of health care in black communities. Thinking that god will protect us against the virus is like the new version of snake handlers. Historical racial injustice has been a source of mistrust for medical science and vaccines. We have access to world wide data and information so there is no excuse to not get the jab.
Next we have Dave in NC who is describing how religious coworkers at a “non religious” boys home would project the fictional ideal of demon possession on the residents. There are many organizations that claim they are non-religious to access the tax benefits. Resources are available and groups that can help such as FFRF and ACLU work on these issues so you do not have to go through these things alone.
Next up is Brad in VA talking about his journey to atheism and not feeling comfortable revealing this in a black community. Learning that Christianity was imposed on our ancestors helps to not hold on to the belief as tightly. Many black folks that challenge and come out of religion feel isolated. White people who listen to this show must realize their experience will be different from black nonbelievers who don’t have those cultural molds. Our experiences vary and are important when we come together as a community.
Next is Greg in TX who wants to learn more about the term igtheist and the benefits of being atheist when it comes to things like marriage. When god can take on many definitions, the ignostic label helps to mitigate these different definitions and describe the individual thoughts. People must be true to themselves and use the term that describes their own beliefs. This may mean using the term atheist even when there are stigmas attached. As this movement grows, you are likely to meet people who will use these words in slightly different ways. Growing up in Christian society conditions us to believe that the values held are superior in regards to labels and traditions such as marriage. Christian marriages in particular tend to violate human rights.
Allison in Canada would like to learn about getting involved with activism for indigenous people. Social media is one of the greatest tools that we have and a great way to generate interest for indigenous nonbelievers. Find out what your long term goals are and become part of groups after doing your homework. Connect with your local secular organizations and also national organizations. Research the guidelines and protocols for your area.
That sums it up heathens! We would like to give a special thank you to Mandisa for her insights! For those of you who believe, we don’t hate you. We are just not convinced.
In today’s episode of Truth Wanted! Objectively Dan is hosting with CeaseToKnow. Welcome to the show, we’re happy to have you!
First in queue is a super quick call from Jim in Canada who wonders if ethics are determined by context. Great question, Jim!
Alex in New York is dealing with religious gaslighting after leaving a Pentacostal cult and wants to know how to navigate it. We recommend sticking to your convictions and realizing that you cannot change what other people think of you.
Next up is Deborah in North Carolina who called to talk about morality from the Christian perspective. It can be difficult to take the Christian position on morality seriously when the bible has been used to defend so many atrocities. The truth is, religion has been used to defend power structures in place for a very long time. This is why we do what we do at the ACA!
Barrie in New Zealand is an atheist who had a personal experience with a late friend and a coke bottle that he cannot make sense of. Although we often want to believe that coincidences are rooted in the supernatural, our brains seek patterns so it’s best to go with the most simplistic explanation.
James in New York claims he was abducted by aliens during a seizure. Although we do not deny his experience, we cannot know for certain what actually happened because it isn’t falsifiable. Belief should be reserved until it can be tested and proven to be true.
That wraps up tonight’s show. Thank you so much to our co-host, CeaseToKnow for bringing your perspective to these important discussions. Remember to be kind and always keep wanting the truth. See you next week!
“Put your feet up and slide down the table” types and “turn your head and cough” people clearly have different medical needs. And since no matter how you experience or present your gender the basic biological hardware generally comes in two fashions, it stands to reason that a two check box system would have our medical forms covered. How well those boxes capture the beauty of human beings and the latest buzz in non-binary healthcare brings writer and researcher Dianna Anderson back to the show to take your calls and talk about what’s turning us on this week.
SHOW NOTES
In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Shannon Q is joined by Jenna Belk!
Our first caller is Narder from Australia who claims that there is physical evidence for God. Unfortunately, we are not presented with the physical evidence we were promised, but a philosophical argument.
Next is Nigel from New Zealand who is wondering if our hosts do not accept Christianity because of a lack of evidence or because of the inconsistencies within the religious doctrine. The answer obviously varies from atheist to atheist, but depending on someone’s background, it may end up being a combination of each.
Up next is Joe from Canada who wants to know how our hosts dealt with the fear of leaving religion after years of being indoctrinated to fear hell.
Next is Ryan from NY who presents a list of reasons why they aren’t an atheist. Presenting incohesive ideas in this format isn’t a conversation, especially when they don’t go anywhere.
Next is Phillip from OH wants to correct Shannon on a previous terminology mistake. Thank you so much for calling Phillip!
Our final caller is Clarence from OH has an issue with the term atheist because it’s a label that defines what they are not.
Greetings Heathens! Hope you are still safe during the ongoing pandemic (still, sigh.) We hope to be a sanctuary for you in this chaotic world. In today’s episode of Talk Heathen, Johnny P. Angel is joined today by Christy Powell.
Let’s get to calls! Marlon from the Philippines is calling to talk about how a dog “died” and came back to life because of his healing pastor and his parish. What a miracle! How does this prove a God though? Why has this not been documented and studied? Why weren’t there scientists there to figure this out? This is major!
Steven in Washington is up next, he would like to hear our perspective on Christian nationalism in the US. Our wonderful hosts weigh in and provide great observations and how believers can be allies to non-believers and atheists.
Le Chef in Canada has two infallible and unfalsifiable arguments that there is historical and natural evidence for God within a seven day cycle. He explains these arguments and we get to discuss them. Oh, and he dropped, sad!
Stan in Nevada is pondering if some Bible verses were meant to be a joke. Interesting thought exercise, what do we do with this? Where do we go with the idea that it shouldn’t be taken seriously?
Kevin in New York is calling back, this time wanting to talk about epistemology and the Bible. He was also wondering how people justify their beliefs and if these beliefs are true. Ok, here we go. (Waiting for the Johnny P. Angel smackdown/research hour.)
Dave in Georgia wants to provide a little bit of insight into the Christian nationalism he experienced and how this sort of movement has been building over the last couple decades. The conversation evolves in how his marriage is being affected by his non-belief and her Christian nationalism.
Up next, Gohan in Texas wants to talk about the horribly tired and contrived Violinist’s argument in terms of abortion. He keeps replacing the terms of zygotes and clumps of cells with a person’s autonomy, and this is completely dishonest and frustrating.
That’s our show for this week, please continue to be safe in your area, wear your mask, and get vaccinated if you can. The world is better with you in it. See you next week!
In today’s episode of Truth Wanted! Objectively Dan is hosting with a very animated Suris. Welcome to the show, Suris!
Jamie in England is first up in the calls to discuss dark lines he sees in the sky he suspects are magnetic fields used by birds for travel. As cool as this sounds, Suris offers up a more scientific explanation.
Next up is Chris in Canada who experienced a dream which has led him to believe he is God incarnate. Unfortunately, you cannot find the truth within a dream.
William in California finds himself getting frustrated when having conversations with believers. Try staying humble and compassionate, and enter these situations with a clear end goal. We don’t have to be arrogant when talking about the truth.
Another Chris called in from the UK wondering if we are experiencing a new wave of satanic panic in America. While we might find more media pushback today than in the last panic of the 90s, we are seeing the spread of misinformation on a larger scale than ever before. Perhaps the last wave never ended.
Mark calling from North Carolina comes from a strong Christian background but is trying to live a life without labels. We understand the desire to live in the grey, but labels help us communicate our thoughts and ideas more effectively.
Last up is Harley in Idaho to share some thoughts about abortion from the perspective of someone who grew up Catholic and pro-life, and the catholic position on purgatory for the unborn. Thanks for sharing, Harley!
That wraps up tonight’s show. Thank you so much to our co-host, Suris for bringing your perspective to these important discussions. Remember to always keep wanting the truth! See you next week.
If there’s anything the internet is good for it’s nuanced political discussions about which lives matter and responsibly teaching your children about sexuality. But since PewdiePie can’t do all the heavy lifting and we have no idea how to use TikTok we thought we’d go in a slightly less men’s rights direction for ways to talk to kids about birds, bees, bears, otters, twinks and the nature of sex. This week Christy Powell is joined by Laura Magee and Helen Greene for a conversation about parenting beyond belief and talking to your kids about (secular) sexuality, plus what’s turning us on this week and your calls!
In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Matt Dillahunty is joined once again by Shannon Q. Welcome back Shannon!
First up is Jeroen from the Caribbean who questions whether believers actually have a grieving process, or if they just use religion as a bandage. They are concerned with the consequences if said believer stops believing and is suddenly hit with that grief.
Next is Steven from Washington who has questions regarding how active religious organizations can be within political movements and what actions are acceptable within the bounds of church/state separation.
Next is Jamen from Germany who believes that Atheism has a burden of proof. Anyone who makes a positive claim has a burden of proof, whether they are an atheist or not.
Up next is Javier from Minnesota who is wondering if our hosts think it’s wrong to believe in a God if it makes someone feel good. Also using the host’s answer to shift the conversation to race and gender is dishonest and gross.
Next is Nick from California who has God-like knowledge of the creation of the universe.
Up next is Rob from Georgia who wonders why some Atheists are afraid of certain depictions of heaven.
Next is Jeffrey from Texas who is wondering where morality comes from if it is subjective to a specific culture.
Last up is Josh from the Netherlands who deconverted from Islam but is struggling due to the sudden loss of his spirituality. The problem is that spirituality doesn’t really mean anything and appears to vary from individual to individual.
The Non-Prophets, Episode 20.35 airing Sunday, August 29th featuring Malty, Cynthia McDonald, Johnny P. Angel and NP Intimate Neil the 604 Atheist.
This week on the Non-Prophets, friend of the show (not really) self-proclaimed Christian prophetess Kat Kerr defends her position on visiting heaven. According to her, god has extra kidneys in his heavenly warehouse just in case you need one. Given the recent events in Afghanistan, Christians demonstrate their support through unreliable “faith and prayer.” There is an NP Update involving bigotry in religious colleges where the Department of Education plans to rescind a Trump-era rule establishing continuation of funds to them. The hosts conclude this episode with a Step in the Right Direction as news out of Canada grants a polyamorous family better legal protections.
Greetings Heathens! Today’s episode of Talk Heathen is brought to you by get the dang vaccine you heathens, let’s put an end to this pandemic together! Oh but today, Talk Heathen is hosted by Jmike and the always lovely Katy Montgomerie.
Let’s get to calls! Eli in Oregon is wondering if it is possible to have something eternal. He gives the example of the never ending Universe. Even physicists and scientists don’t know for certain if there is an edge of the Universe and this question isn’t something we can answer with any amount of certainty.
Paul in North Carolina is up next, he asks why do theists like quantum consciousness theories? This call was a bit difficult to follow, perhaps you have a better understanding of it dear listener. If you do, let us know.
Mike in California is calling about the Kalam and also believes that actual Infinities don’t exist. Um...Oh joy, another quantum question/assertion. Ok Mike let’s have a conversation, show your work though. Tell us about the Kalam and how you believe infinities don't exist, which oddly isn’t very Christian, interesting.
Gabriel in the Caribbean is wanting to discuss his logical reasons for believing in the Abrahamic God. He would like to know if Katy and Jmike think these reasons are also logical. Spoiler alert, they don’t. And he starts to argue about abiogenesis… great.
Here we go, it’s Otangelo next. He has an argument he would like to discuss with Katy and Jmike. He’s really stuck on DNA and how it doesn’t depend on a designer. C’mon Otangelo, come up with something new. This conversation is old and tired.
That’s our show for this week, please continue to be safe in your area, wear your mask, and get vaccinated if you can. The world is better with you in it. See you next week!
Hey, all you Truth Seekers out there! Welcome to this week’s episode of Truth Wanted! This week our very own ObjectivelyDan is joined by Dr. Abby Hafer!
First up is Matt from MD who proposes a theist pro-choice argument and is wondering what our hosts think of it, as well as if they have any of their own.
David from CA wants to talk about the material collapse theory. Why David? Why are we doing this? Neither host is equipped to talk about this, and you are most certainly not.
Our final caller is Alex from NY who wants to talk about the harm that thought crimes in the Bible could pose.
Thank you all so much for watching, we hope you enjoyed today’s show! Until we see you next week, keep on hunting for the Truth!
Like VHS and the internet before it, Only Fans was pioneered by the hard working lunch-pail no-collar mentality of dedicated performers and artisans. Considering our politicians and culture struggle to understand the goods and services this under-studied industry sector entails, SecX decided to go a little deeper with one of our favorite sinners. P*ck and Christy celebrate adult studio owner and performer Sinn Sage’s return to the show to talk to fans and skeptics alike about the ins and outs of porn production, plus your calls!
In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Jim Barrows is joined by Johnny P. Angel!
Our first topic is coming from the car of Gohan in TX. The caller wants to ask us if Thanos’s snap is considered moral using a secular moral system. I’m not going to answer that question in this description, but my secular morality deems calling the show while driving as immoral.
Next up is Donna from NC who believes that the Bible has evidence for God in it. The Bible is the thing making the claims. It can’t also be the proof for those claims, that’s circular.
Up next is Malcolm from IL who claims that a mad scientist created white people by grafting the genes of early humans. How does the caller back this claim up? They don’t.
Derick from GA implies that plants are conscious because they react to environmental stimuli, and that therefore it is possible for a non-physical consciousness to exist.
Up next is Otangelo from Brazil who once again has a long, winding script to present us that apparently gets us to God.
Our next caller is Dave from TX who claims that Atheists are hurting Pagan culture because we allow Christians to get away with their “past crimes” against Paganism.
Next is Printer Repair from NEw England who agrees with the Bible’s flat-earth claims. I would be annoyed by the subject matter, but I’m more perturbed that your name took up 26 characters of my title.
Our final caller is Jesus from CA who says that Atheists don’t really understand the Bible. The caller then quickly moves past this inconvenient claim when confronted, and opts to bring up the Big Bang Model and The Theory of Evolution and how they are wrong.
The Non-Prophets, Episode 34 airing August 22, 2021 featuring Laura Magee, Nate Smith, and GUEST HOST Ro!
Laura and the lads talk about:
1) Catholic employment discrimination
2) the lessons learned from the Haitian Revolution
3) hope for talking to the scientifically illiterate
4) and a woman who sued McDonalds for tempting her during Lent.
Happy Heathen Sunday for all who are joining us for today’s episode of Talk Heathen starring Jmike with the koala and Johnny Angel!
First up we have Josh in AR whose position is that free will has to exist and if it does not exist, punishing criminals is amoral since they have no control over their actions. He believes that human thought is too complicated to be attributed to just brain cells interacting. This is not an argument for belief, but rather stating what you think. Defaulting to moral responsibility and calling when you are already angry is only clouding your judgement. Calm down bro, why are you so angry? We are not going to stop removing criminals from society if we can’t change their behavior.
Next is Andrew from Canada asking about god's grace. What good is god if we can do whatever we want? We have never met god nor do we believe in the existence of god so therefore we would not believe in the corresponding grace. Human beings can be nice or cruel to each other, and sometimes get away with being cruel. Suspiciously, god tells people to do what they already want to do, and sometimes that is cruelty. God’s grace is a cop out.
Roberto in Italy wants to learn about consciousness and what constitutes the beginning. We would like to know how you would apply this as a fundamental feature of consciousness and what utility this would have. This topic has not made a lot of progress in philosophy. This can be considered identity and is a fun thing to look at. Keep reading and thinking.
Jared in ID would like some opinions on how to talk with family about extremist groups and their symbolism. Anytime I try to bring up anything, one of my family members shuts it down. Try asking your family questions about what they think rather than stating what you believe; you will be putting them on the defensive. Open yourself up to a true conversation that takes place over a lifetime, not confrontations. Be aware of how your words are received. People will not be responsible for independent beliefs when they can’t even be responsible for their own beliefs. There are layers to it and you have to peel them and break down the walls until you get to the center.
Paul in NC would like to talk about the tale of Moses and how it lines up with the cycles of Osiris. You are preaching to the choir. Moses was most likely copy and pasted from other myths. The claims that surround the being itself do not fit. There is a substantial amount of research into the history of the Bible and the apocrypha. Thank you for the suggestions; we do read a lot of what is sent to us.
Quit complaining about the masks and get the vaccine already. Enough of this nonsense. Thank you for joining us today for these fascinating topics! Peace out and we love you.
In today’s episode of Truth Wanted! Objectively Dan is hosting with Secular Rarity.
First up in the calls is Ken, who believes he had an encounter with a flirty, Victorian era ghost over forty years ago. When considering the validity of experiences like this one, we have to wonder how much our perception of them changes over time. More often than not our memory will fail us. Thanks for sharing your story, and let’s hope you’re not haunted again any time soon.
Another caller out of Virginia, Joe, wants to discuss a familiar argument: Kalam Cosmological. More specifically, that everything which begins to exist has a cause. While we see this in the natural world, we’re not sure what happens outside of what we call time. Keep thinking on it, Joe.
Daniel In Canada wonders how alien findings might affect our society. Would it unite us or bring mass chaos? How much is the government hiding about alien encounters? If there is evidence for extraterrestrial life, would we want to know? Be careful what you wish for!
Kevin in Tennessee has some deep thoughts about existence and consciousness. Give us a moment while we process this abstract interpretation of reality involving various levels of fields representing multiple dimensions...or something like that! Are we simultaneously existing in both potential and kinetic states? We’ve definitely put our brains to work on this call, but we might not be any closer to concluding the truth. We’ll stay in the real world for now, Kevin.
That wraps up tonight’s show. Thank you so much to our co-host, Secular Rarity for bringing your perspective to these important discussions. Remember to always keep wanting the truth! See you next week.
It’s no small feat to stare down thousands of years of human culture and perhaps a lifetime of Sunday School before proudly declaring “There Is No GOD.” Whether you’ve taken that step or not it’s an entirely different thing to look at your marriage and accept “they are not my soulmate” or “no amount of sex is going to fundamentally change me as a human” or perhaps harder still “my relationship ended- and it still mattered.” The trappings of purity culture and a christian worldview don’t always die easy and that’s okay- healing is an aspiration, not a destination. Here to help us on our journey is Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist Emily Maynard, joining Christy in taking your calls and deconstructing the myths, assumptions and expectations of a dated worldview. Catch the episode live and be sure to call in for a purity culture deconstruction deep dive on August 19th’s SecX!
The Toyko 2020 Olympics has made major headlines, and they are certainly not all good. The hosts on this week’s episode kick it off with a discussion surrounding wellness and mental health at the Olympics stemming from the sudden drop (and later reentry) of top World Championship Medalist Simone Biles. This Olympic conversation continues on with news surrounding how the women are making major moves in stopping the over-sexualization in competition. In our special “Looking Back” segment, we reflect on a prior episode of the Non-Prophets as we re-visit rape culture taking place at Liberty University and the lawsuit that follows. To end on a high note, find out how your dead body can be buried in a way that’s eco-friendly for Mother Gaia! Segment 1: “A Case of the ‘Twisties’” Link to Main Article: “Simone Biles and ‘the Twisties’” http://tiny.cc/TheTwisties Additional References: “Mental Health at the Olympics” http://tiny.cc/OlympicMentalHealth
Segment 2: “Olympic Women Stand Up!” Link to Main Article: “Beach Handball Team Fined over Bikini Bottoms” http://tiny.cc/BikiniBottomFine Additional References: “Beach Handball: ‘Pay to Not Play’” http://tiny.cc/BeachHandball “Body-covering Unitards & Rejection of Sexualization” http://tiny.cc/BodyCovering “Soul Cap Banned from Olympics” http://tiny.cc/BannedCaps
Segment 3: [LOOKING BACK] - NP Episode 20.15 (Apr.11, 2021), Segment 4 - “Tax Dollars Shouldn’t be Spent on Bigotry” Link to Main Article: “On-campus Rape Lawsuit Against Liberty University” http://tiny.cc/LibertyRAPE Additional Reference: “Liberty University Being Sued by 12 Women” http://tiny.cc/LibertyLAWSUIT
Segment 4: “Tree Pod Burials” Link to Main Article: “How to be Buried as a Tree” http://tiny.cc/TreeBurial
So we talked about how White Evangelicals are still loud and wrong about the vaccines, masks, COVID - 19 and just about everything else. We learned breakthrough infections are definitely real but those who are unvaccinated are feeling the adverse effects of COVID infections worse. We also discussed how people still want to denote standing against racism as what those “woke”, secular people do but we know racism is real and should be fought against. And we learned Jesus is no longer stopping traffic but serving time instead.
Segment 1: Shit Internet Apologists Say - Bat Shit Pastors and the People Who Love Them. Link to Main Article: White evangelicals resist COVID-19 vaccine most among religious groups https://www.marketwatch.com/story/white-evangelicals-resist-covid-19-vaccine-most-among-religious-groups-11627489207
Rick Wiles: People Vaccinated with “Satanic Serum” Gave Me COVID https://friendlyatheist.patheos.com/2021/07/29/rick-wiles-people-vaccinated-with-satanic-serum-gave-me-covid/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
MAGA Cultist Pastor Screams at Church Members: “Do Not Get Vaccinated”This is wildly dangerous. https://friendlyatheist.patheos.com/2021/08/02/maga-cultist-pastor-screams-at-church-members-do-not-get-vaccinated/
Christian Hate-Preacher: I’m Banning Masks at My Church! “We Will Not Allow It!” https://friendlyatheist.patheos.com/2021/07/29/christian-hate-preacher-im-banning-masks-at-my-church-we-will-not-allow-it/
White Evangelical Pastors Hesitant to Preach Vaccines https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2021/may/white-evangelical-pastors-covid-vaccine-hesitancy-preach-ch.html
SEGMENT 2: Vacc Denial: Delta ain’t gonna help ya Link to Main Article: CDC: 74% infected in Massachusetts COVID-19 outbreak were vaccinated https://www.aha.org/news/headline/2021-07-30-cdc-74-infected-massachusetts-covid-19-outbreak-were-vaccinated
About 99.999% of fully vaccinated Americans have not had a deadly Covid-19 breakthrough case, CDC data shows https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/31/health/fully-vaccinated-people-breakthrough-hospitalization-death/index.html
U.S. COVID Deaths Are Rising Again. Experts Call It A 'Pandemic Of The Unvaccinated' https://www.npr.org/2021/07/16/1017002907/u-s-covid-deaths-are-rising-again-experts-call-it-a-pandemic-of-the-unvaccinated
Graham says he has COVID-19 'breakthrough' infection https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/565969-graham-says-he-has-covid-19-breakthrough-infection
This just in: Racism is STILL a thing! Structural Racism Isn’t Wokeness, It’s Reality https://frenchpress.thedispatch.com/p/structural-racism-isnt-wokeness-its
McLean Bible Church leaders & members confronted David Platt for bad management including ‘affirmative action’ promotions https://capstonereport.com/2021/07/21/david-platt-mbc-elders-rebuked-over-lack-of-transparency-lack-of-biblical-fidelity/36660/
Is the Bible racist? https://www.biblesociety.org.uk/latest/news/is-the-bible-racist/
SEGMENT 4: Strange But True: Jesus is Stopping Traffic ARTICLE LINK/TOPIC: Ex-Traffic Cop Says He's Jesus https://abcnews.go.com/Travel/FaithMatters/story?id=5225539&page=1
Cult leader who claims to be reincarnation of Jesus arrested in Russia https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/22/cult-leader-vissarion-reincarnation-jesus-arrested-siberia-russia
In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Matt Dillahunty is joined by Jenna Belk!
Our first caller this afternoon is Riyaz from the UK. The caller proposes a scenario where there exists a place where snakes don’t bite and scorpions don’t sting and claims that this example would indicate the presence of a supernatural force.
Next up is Paul from TX who claims that without a belief in God and that their existence in the universe is purposeful, society is diminishing.
Next is Kevin from GA who wants to talk about how a God’s morality is irrelevant to whether it exists or not. Blindly worshipping a God whether you approve of its moral code or not because you believe that they are above you, without justification of its existence, is both irrational and degrading to yourself.
Next up is Lisa from CO is wondering why they feel guilty or fearful whenever they see an image depicting Jesus. You are feeling guilty because you were indoctrinated to feel guilty by your religion, not because God is actively making you feel guilty.
Up next is Orin from OR who knows with 100% certainty that they have communicated with God via a mysterious sentient cloud. Honestly, I’ve got nothing at this point...absolutely nothing.
Greetings Heathens! Hope you are all well on this beautiful Sunday, today’s episode is hosted by Lloyd Evans and Johnny P. Angel. It should be a good show!
Let’s get to calls! David from California has indisputable evidence of a creator and a spirit realm. He starts by complaining about his previous experiences with different hosts. He keeps going back to the claim that the space created by the expanding universe is created by some sort of creator. But it’s not David. That’s not how physics works.
Chad in Michigan is up next, he claims that civilization cannot coexist without a set of religious rules. This would also include discipline and punishment and he likens it to disciplining a child for wrongdoing. Ooooh, this is within Lloyd’s wheelhouse as a parent and Chad keeps putting words in his mouth. The conversation devolves into non-consensual crime against another and the potential harm it can do. Hey Chad, stop being a dishonest idiotic jerk. Maybe we’ll let you call again.
Returning caller Kevin in New York, is calling this time about the Apocrypha and his belief in God. Johnny also has counted how many times he has called (24+ times!) summarized all his calls, and came to the conclusion that he latches onto new things and doesn’t have a good understanding of epistemology. Kevin’s response, but I wanted to talk about the Apocrypha. Sigh.
Shaw in Pakistan is wanting to talk about the progressive strategy in Western countries that young activists are privy to versus the privileged few young activists within such countries like Pakistan and how they should try to change or adapt their strategies in different countries.
That’s our show for this week, please continue to be safe in your area, get vaccinated if you can, and be a hero to all by wearing your mask. The world is better with you in it. See you next week!
In today’s episode of Truth Wanted! Objectively Dan is hosting alongside Cynthia McDonald, an infectious disease case manager and one of our fellow Non Prophets. Welcome to the show, Cynthia. We’re happy to hear your perspective. First up in the calls, a hypothetical scenario: Imagine you were born on a desert Island with nobody else around to teach you about language. How would that define your reality? Matthew In California calls to discuss this very question. Thanks for the discussion, Matthew! Alex in New York is trying to make sense of solipsism and wonders if we really are just brains in a jar. We appreciate the discussion, but is it actually possible to prove one way or another? We’re not sure, but it’s a fun thought to entertain. Keep thinking on it, Alex. William in Alaska called to talk about the gross misrepresentation of truth in modern day politics. The quick spread of misinformation is scary with everyday Americans choosing to trust non-experts for their political commentary. Unfortunately the internet makes it so easy to spread a false narrative these days. We just have to keep having one-on-one conversations to combat this very serious societal issue. Last is Joe in Virginia who’s a theist and wants to know why atheist activism is so important to us. Although many people try to misrepresent our intentions, we believe promoting critical thinking, preventing the spread of misinformation and shining light on problematic views can create positive change within our society.
Whew! We had some great discussion tonight. Thank you so much to our co-host and remember to stay funky, get your vaccine, wear your mask, be nice to others and always keep wanting the truth! See you next week.
This may not shock you but after 3 years of taking calls about sex from the internet, we’ve heard a thing or two. Is this okay? Is this normal? Is this weird, but like in a good way? In all that time our #1 question is usually some form of “I just found out I’m X… how do I tell Y?” Noah Garcia of the NextQuest Podcast is a psychotherapist and transition mentor with more than a little insight on the matter. Catch the episode as he joins Nate and Christy in cleaning out the closet and staying safe in a tangled world of complicated adjectives, public bathrooms and family prayers. All that plus your calls on tonight’s Secular Sexuality! Need more SecX on Coming Out? Unpacking Your Kinks (https://www.vcatx.com/media/unpackingkink) Dating (As) An Atheist Activist (https://www.vcatx.com/media/atheistdating)
In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Matt Dillahunty is joined by Dr. Darrel Ray!
The first caller is Aaron from TX who wants to accuse Matt of being a bully. If you are going to accuse somebody of something, please have clear examples ready to go.
Up next is Clifford from VA who has recently escaped from religion through applying skepticism, but is concerned about his mother’s religious religious beliefs and the impact they may have on the caller’s son. Here is the article like that Dr. Ray mentioned during the show: http://tiny.cc/rfrrecovery
Up next is Anthony from IL who wants to know how Atheists have disproven all gods as well as claims that they have scientific and personal evidence to support the existence of the Christian God.
Next is Alvin from NC who claims that a Pew Research study shows that Christians live seven years longer than Atheists. Assuming the finding in the study is true, the actual results do not necessarily explain the reasons why this is the case.
Next is Lexi from OK who recently became an Ex-JW, and has questions about how they should identify themselves given that they no longer accept the claims by the organization, but are still struggling to detach themselves from the indoctrination.
Up next is Marquis from NC who wants to talk about their motivations behind their decision to leave their religion. Thanks for calling Marquis!
Next is George from AZ who believes that they have evidence of Jesus being crucified. The caller’s understanding of biblical history and the Christian tradition are lacking and is very confused about the definition of the word “anonymous.”
Next is Brandon from AZ claims that Atheists look at science using rose colored glasses when it comes to evidence for Jesus. “Hey Ya’ll, Watch This” is not evidence for the truth of biblical claims.
Next is Oliver from Brazil who is looking for advice on how to break free of indoctrination, specifically with regards to human mortality. As Dr. Ray says, exposing yourself to other ideologies is a great way of teaching your brain that you don’t have to be bound to one belief system.
Our final caller is Honey from NC who wants to talk about their fear of leaving religion. Religion connects directly to our baser emotions and thrives on those. This is why religious belief doesn’t necessarily correlate to intellect or analytical abilities. It’s going to take time to break free, but there are resources out there to make the journey easier.
Please join us today by welcoming our very own Objectivity Dan and special guest host Gayle Jordan with Recovering from Religion(RFR) that provides support, resources, community, and hope.
First up we have Matt in MD that would like to discuss nationalist movements around the world that set a precedent for others to follow. These movements endorse one another and support each other financially. We can learn, observe, and see how these movements do not thrive. It helps to make the policy changes that are needed by allying with the folks who share our same objectives, regardless of their religion.
Next we have Danny in CA who has some points about religion’s attempt to solve mental health issues and are sometimes even anti-medication. You are not alone with this. Mental health problems will not go away by praying them away or ignoring them. RFR provides peer support on the help line, online communities, and sources for evidence based therapies.
Margaret from CO wants to know if RFR helps with being told as a child we are bad people that do things because of Satan.That is just the nature of what religion does and how it works. It is common and there are even folks who have discarded the religious beliefs, but still deal with the damage religion has caused. RFR is a good place to talk about this. It is not your fault that you were shown images of Jesus crucified.
David in CA loves Jesus. He wants us to start taking responsibility for our actions and stop blaming our parents or religion. He knows people go to hell after they die because the Bible is 100% true. First off, trauma can be a lifelong debilitating thing and it is accurate to identify the cause as religion. If you believe this after 40 years, you have not looked and searched hard enough because the Bible is full of numerous inaccuracies.
J.L.Y. from the UK wants to talk about God's relationship with man after creation. Christianity can’t be a religion because religions all require something. He claims this is all about redemption. If you have to do something to get somewhere, then that is a requirement. Christianity is not exempt from being a religion by pretending there is nothing that we must do.
Ahmad from OH would like to talk about what a designer is because this is the main issue between believers and atheists. Organic matter decays so there must be an origin. The problem with this, is there is nothing to contrast design within nature. There is no point of reference that can be used.
Terry from Canada claims that the seven day cycle proves Jesus is God. The religious account of world events is not necessarily true by what is demonstrated by scientific facts. There are groups of people on earth that do not use the seven day calendar and the seven this is not evidence for Jesus being god.
Thank you for tuning heathens and theists and please join us next week!
In today’s episode of the Truth Wanted! P*ck is hosting alongside Martin Robert, an ACA Volunteer. Kelley in Michigan attempted to test the devil to prove God’s existence. Did it work? The devil’s in the details and the details aren’t there. Next is James in Texas to discuss the misinformation surrounding vaccines. The unfortunate reality is that the facts are available but refusal to accept them is a symptom of a much larger problem. Spicoli in Florida continues the conversation on vaccines, feeling frustrated by his colleagues who are hesitant to get the jab. We just have to keep having these conversations and fighting the good fight. Deborah in Oregon is a former theist who realizes she never needed religion to find community. While we agree that churches can provide a good place to find friends, you shouldn’t have to hold religious values to develop genuine relationships. John in Virginia feels the frustration of having anti-vax parents. These situations can be sticky and the best you can do is vaccinate yourself and keep having productive conversations about the facts surrounding vaccines. Tapia in Minnesota has a loaded question: does Christianity have roots in racism? We have reason to believe that it does. This is one of the many problems surrounding America’s favorite religion. And last we’ve got Jordan in California who’s curious about the difference between religious and non-religious beliefs. If it relates to a deity, it’s religious! That wraps up tonight’s show. Thank you so much to our co-host and remember to always keep wanting the truth!
Tonight, we're going to turn our attention to some of our nearest relatives in the tree of life - primates. Our special guest, primatology student Erika aka Gutsick Gibbon, is here to share some insight on primate sexuality. What behaviors have been called 'unnatural' by conservatives, but we actually see running rampant in nature? What can we learn about human sexuality by studying primate sexuality? Find out the answers to all this and more on an episode that's more fun than a barrel of....nope. not gonna go there.
This week on the Non-Prophets, the hosts discuss a ruling involving The Satanic Temple suing the city of Boston. Rumors spread within a megachurch as a pastor reaps what he sows as the spread of disinformation campaigns take over his church. Non-Prophet’s Intimate Mateo leads a discussion on the President of Guatemala as we spotlight Latin America. Finally, in our “Strange But True” segment, Freedom Phones are standing up for your right to speak uncensored. Let Freedom Ring!
Segment 1 [08.30]: “Religious Equality in Boston?“
“Satanic Temple Lawsuit Against Boston”
http://tiny.cc/SatanicLawsuit
Additional References:
“The Satanic Temple, Inc. vs. City of Boston, MA”
http://tiny.cc/SatanicLawsuit2
“Church of Satan vs. Satanic Temple”
https://thesatanictemple.com/pages/ch...
Segment 2 [35.35]: “You Reap What You Sow”
“Megachurch Pastor David Platt Warns of a Disinformation Campaign”
http://tiny.cc/PastorPlatt
Segment 3 [1.04.17]: “Latin America in the Spotlight: Guatemala”
“Four Important Facts about the President of Guatemala”
http://tiny.cc/GuatamalanPresident
Additional References:
“President Says Religion Comes Before Politics” (Spanish only)
http://tiny.cc/ReligionBeforePolitics
“2020 Report on International Religious Freedom: Guatemala”
http://tiny.cc/ReligiousFreedomGuatamala
Segment 4 [1.21.58]: Strange But True: Let Freedom Ring
“The ‘Freedom Phone’”
http://tiny.cc/FreedomPhone
In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Matt Dillahunty is joined by Phil Ferguson. Welcome back Phil!
Our first caller today is Alexander from Chile who asserts that the Kalam Cosmological Argument proves god. The caller also claims that our feelings of awe towards spectacular moments in nature is proof of the supernatural.
Next is David from CA who takes issue with “Atheist’s” demand for physical evidence. David, you do not listen. Rather than build a strawman on what evidence you think Atheists want, maybe ask them.
Up next is Levi from FL who asks if our hosts accept the fine tuned universe argument as evidence of something before the big bang. You first have to show that the universe didn’t unfold the way it has through chance and that fine-tuning is even possible.
Next is Juan from Ecuador who is wondering how we can dismiss proposed supernatural explanations for detected, but unexplained events.
Up next is Fallon from Canada who believes that Matt gives Atheists a bad name by getting frustrated with callers and not answering their questions.
Next is Paulo from DC who is calling to prove God using the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Constitutional rights are not gifts from God while also being evidence for the existence of that same God. That is circular.
Up next is Hank from TX who has a question regarding Matt’s position on Life being preferable to Death. This is a very general position and there are always exceptions to that rule, and there are always personal justifications that one can make on an individual level, not always altruistic, for either choosing to live or to die.
Our final caller is Paul from the UK who wants to talk about the concept of belief in belief. Belief in belief is problematic because it's based on the fear of being cast out of a social group (i.e religion), and more importantly, it capitalizes on the fear that once you are out or are not part of religion you are socially dead.
Greetings Heathens! We hope to be a sanctuary for you in this chaotic world. In today’s episode of Talk Heathen, Kenneth Leonard is joined today by Matt Dillahunty. It should be a really great show!
Let’s get to calls! James in North Carolina, has thought up a very specific criteria that could prove God if it can actually be done. It is made up of 3 stanzas and he’d like to run them by us. 1. A conversation with God while in a completely lucid state. 2. Confirmation that it was God by external witnesses. 3. Something tangible that was provided outside of this experience that proves this did occur that could be scientifically tested. Matt and Kenneth break these down for him.
Samuel in Maine is next, he disagrees with churches' use of appeal to authority. Kenneth is a bit flummoxed by this interesting place to begin. It’s a great conversation.
David in California, he has definite proof of God and is calling in to set us all straight. He is a return caller, you may recognize him. After a long preamble and whining about how he is being perceived, he finally gives his proof. He claims the universe and matter expanding into unknown space is the proof of God because God created this unknown space. Oh boy.
Lord in California is wondering what to do with old Christian friends after deconverting and finding themselves in debates and conversations with them about religion. He is becoming frustrated with these talks and concerned about the impact on the relationships.
Adam in Romania wants to disprove the existence of a deistic God. Um, ok? He starts by listing out premises using a replacement word for God.
Kevin in New York is asking if anyone ever has asked about the contents of the ‘Ark of the Covenant.’ (Queue the Indiana Jones theme song.) How can we investigate the contents if the Ark doesn’t exist? Who can investigate the Ark and how can we know?
Joe in Canada wants to talk about how specific labels put on people can potentially end conversations. How can we avoid or unpack this? Ooooh, perhaps try some street epistemology!
Billy in Texas is calling about the need to prove that God doesn’t exist. But what if a God could exist? He brings up the quote by physicist Brian Cox: “Everything that can happen, would happen” and tries to apply it to proving the existence of God. Matt puts his feet to the fire asking if it’s possible for a God to not only exist but is capable of telling us it exists.
EJ in Georgia is wondering what our take is on the Council of Nicaea and Ephesus and how it formed the canon of the Bible. Matt explains his position on it and how it is interesting in a historical context.
That’s our show for this week, please continue to be safe in your area, wear your mask, and please get vaccinated. The world is better with you in it. See you next week!
In today’s episode of the Truth Wanted! Objectively Dan is joined by Nate Smith from our sister show, Secular Sexuality. We’re so happy to have you here this week, Nate!
Mark from Oregon is first up to discuss growing up gay and Pentecostal in the 70s. As an atheist, he realizes how sheltered his Christian faith kept him. He now lives his life free from religion and we’re happy to hear that. Thanks for sharing your story, Mark!
Brandon in Texas recently lost his Christian faith and now feels the frustrations of unpacking childhood indoctrination. Is it any different than brainwashing? We tend to think it’s just a distinction without a difference and promote freedom of thought for all.
Why do Christians often deny scientific facts? Vincent in England can’t wrap his head around the cognitive dissonance within religious communities- and we get it! Unfortunately, many scientific topics have become so politicized and threaten the core of most religious beliefs. Keep supporting scientific research.
Tymm in Washington is a long-time caller who also grew up in the Pentecostal church and had an interesting realization about his experiences being “slain in the spirit”. Is speaking in tongues just a theater exercise? It may be, and those speaking gibberish in church might not even realize it.
Another Mark In Oregon? What are the chances? Even wilder, Mark claims to have had telepathic experiences with UFOs! Unfortunately he’s never managed to capture any of these alien encounters on camera. Keep searching for answers and let us know when you gather some data.
That wraps up tonight’s show. Thank you so much to our co-host, Nate. Remember to always keep wanting the truth. See you next week!
Admittedly, shadowbanning and deplatforming sound a little like fake 21st century problems. Imagine explaining to your psychiatrist that models, politicians and ahem sexually educational talk shows may be secretly held back from their audience or selectively prevented from communicating in the digital world. But since truth is stranger than fiction and SecX just so happens to have an absolute data boss on hand we thought we’d poke behind the curtain and seek to understand why so many sex workers are being shut out of the modern marketplace. It’s digital conspiracies and sexy mysteries with Christy, Nate and Amberly plus your calls! ►Question everything and dive deeper into the episode at https://www.vcatx.com/media/shadowbanning
In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Matt Dillahunty is joined by Seth Andrews. Let’s do this thing! First up is Pratyush from Japan who can’t seem to get their story on the show to align with what they told the call screeners. See ya later dude! Next up is John from TX who asks how Atheists have ruled out a supernatural cause of the universe. The caller attempts to cite the laws of thermodynamics as the mechanism that caused the universe while claiming that the laws of the universe do not apply to their God. Up next is Lynn from PA who says that God should be love, but is unable to provide any other properties of this God. Love is great, but the definition of this God doesn’t go anywhere, kind of like this conversation. Next is Jackson from VA who attempts to box all Christians into a box with an improper understanding of what the Bible actually says. Next is Narock from Barbados who believes to know that Jesus actually wrote laws in the Bible because of his background. The reason the hosts are asking questions is because they want you to provide a justification of your beliefs before they accept your claims to be true. Next is Paolo from DC who wants to know why we think God created the universe. Before we can consider God’s purpose, we have to first determine whether belief in a God is warranted. Just because something seems obvious to one person, doesn’t make that person’s assessment true without further investigation and demonstration. Our final caller is Drew from CA who claims that Matt has made false claims about Christianity. The caller then cherry picks irrelevant verses that do not in any way rebut Matt’s previous claims.
Road rage Jesus is coming to kill your house. The Non-Prophets 20.30 Summary - At the top of the show, the hosts will discuss a pastor’s pleas for ‘mercy’ after 125 in his “masks optional” summer camp get Covid, along with the new “Pandemic Of The Unvaccinated.” Second, they discuss Ted Shuttlesworth, “The Great Reset,” and the dangers of health misinformation amid rise in coronavirus cases. Third, the lads will discuss an Ohio driver who “literally” let Jesus take the wheel to “test her faith” just before she crashed her car into a house. Finally, they get on about the George Wahington of South America, Simon “El Libertador” Bolivar. Segment 1 [02:35]: “What goes around comes around...again” ‘We didn’t want to be in the news’: Pastor pleas for ‘mercy’ after 125 in his ‘masks optional’ summer camp get Covid http://tiny.cc/COVIDCamp Major COVID Outbreak at Texas Church Camp Now Linked to 160 156 Infections (from the Galveston Health Dept) http://tiny.cc/COVIDCamp2 U.S. COVID Deaths Are Rising Again. Experts Call It A 'Pandemic Of The Unvaccinated' http://tiny.cc/UnvaxxPandemic
Segment 2 [17:31]: “Reset the reset” What is the Great Reset - and how did it get hijacked by conspiracy theories? http://tiny.cc/GreatResetBBC The coronavirus pandemic 'Great Reset' theory and a false vaccine claim debunked http://tiny.cc/GreatResetBBC2 Surgeon General Vivek Murthy issues advisory on dangers of health misinformation amid rise in coronavirus cases http://tiny.cc/SurgeonGeneralAdvisory
Segment 3 [39:33]: “Jesus is my car insurance” Driver who let Jesus take the wheel before crashing wanted to “test her faith” http://tiny.cc/DontTestFaith Woman accused of letting ‘God take the wheel’ before Ohio car crash http://tiny.cc/TookTheWheelAndLeft
Segment 4 [51:59]: Looking Back “Simón ‘El Libertador’ Bolívar” July 24: Simón Bolívar http://tiny.cc/SimonBolivar
Greetings Heathens! Hope you are still safe during the ongoing pandemic, please continue to be safe out there. We hope to be a sanctuary for you in this chaotic world. In today’s episode of Talk Heathen, JMike is joined today by Kenneth Leonard. Kenneth has not forgotten leg day was yesterday btw. #LiftingWeightsFTW
Let’s get to calls! Joe in Virginia would like to talk about JMike’s moral theory. JMike goes on to explain his position as a moral anti-realist. According to your moral theory Joe, what is right or wrong? Joe then starts to become disingenuous by claiming he became an atheist right now. Oh come on Joe, get outta here.
Brian in Michigan is up next, he asks about the arguments from fine-tuning and the arguments from miracles and whether or not they conflict with each other.
Jesus Loves You in the UK is calling about morality and if we think Christians hate us atheists. He does attempt to discount the Old Testament and is fairly evasive when questioned by JMike, especially when asked if it was right to slaughter infants.
Kevin in New York is calling back, this time wanting to talk about how God gave us free will. Um ok, but free will doesn’t exist? This was a pretty normal Kevin call, a long, meandering, and winding road going in all kinds of weird directions.
Charles in Florida is wondering why theists are so confident in believing in an omnipotent God and why do atheists upset theists so much? What is their motivation and rationality in following this if we unbelievers are so unimportant to them. Interesting question.
Up next, Gohan in Texas is wanting to give us the reasons behind why theists may call in to our show. He posits that a good reason why they talk to us is to give us the reasoning behind why they believe.
Dropkick in Indiana wants to talk about how to have a better understanding of the differences between atheists and theists. Well the short answer is, atheists aren’t convinced of any God existing within reality. Theists do believe.
That’s our show for this week, please continue to be safe in your area, wear your mask, and please get vaccinated if you can. The world is better with you in it. See you next week!
Bzzzt. Krrrrzztztz. static False start! Five yard penalty! On today’s exciting episode of Truth Wanted, Objectively Dan is joined by Derek Lambert, creator and host of the MythVision Podcast! Derek is a former Calvanist who used to upload sermons on YouTube. He shares his story with Dan to open up the show. Welcome, Derek! We can’t wait to see how you handle these truth claims. First up in the calls is Mauricio, who is also the first person to call Truth Wanted from Venezuela! Thanks for calling! Mauricio is wondering whether acupuncture is actually affecting a person’s medical health, or if it maybe just makes them feel better. Dan shares his views on acupuncture and they are quite similar to his views on chiropractors as well. Derek Next up is Alex in NY, who is calling to pitch his ghost hunting show idea! Instead of the normal format (where people already believe in ghosts and set out to prove their own conclusions), Alex thinks they should set out to prove whatever is true without assuming anything. We think that’s quite a concept, but unfortunately, discovering the cause of a supernatural claim is actually mundane is rather… mundane. Thanks for the idea, Alex! We’ll see what we can do. Matt in Maryland calls in next to talk about UAPs/UFOs! He is curious if Dan and Derek think that UAPs demonstrate advanced technology! This subject certainly needs more research, let us know what you think in the comments! Our next caller, Erik, wants to talk about how to prevent people from using fake medicine. Acupuncture, chiropractic adjustments, chakra manipulation, and tarot readings for medical advice… all of it is harmful! We think this is a very important topic, thank you for calling, Erik. Next up, Tony calls in from Mexico to discuss COVID conspiracy theories. This is a very tough topic, especially when it hits close to home. Hang in there, folks! Lastly, Oliver calls in from England to, well, make Dan’s day! This call is a must-listen. Well that wraps up tonight’s show. Thank you so much to our guest, Derek Lambert from the MythVision podcast. Remember to always keep wanting the truth. See you next week!
They say that happiness is like peeing on yourself- other people can see what’s going on but only you can feel the warmth. At the same time, here at SecX we’d like to think that we’re just happy you’re happy- gay/straight, mono/poly, ace or aro. If only there was a word for such a thing… join the conversation as Christy, Nate and P*ck examine the poly-centered concept of compersion and consider the art of happiness, jealousy, autonomy and control. All that, dumb jokes and your calls!
►Expand your vocabulary or dive deeper into the episode at https://www.vcatx.com/media/compersion
Secular Sexuality show is LIVE every Thursday from 7:00 to 8:30pm Central Time
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In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Matt Dillahunty is joined by Jmike. Let’s get this show rolling! Our first caller is Minh from CA who has a question regarding the usefulness of the burden of proof and if it also can be used as a tool for persuasion. Anyone making a claim has adopted a burden of proof that requires justification. Whether the reasons you provide satisfactory to justify the truth of the claim is a separate issue. Up next is Joel from AL who believes that we become aware in the womb, but that our consciousness also carries forward into future reincarnations once we’re annihilated. Side note, “I looked on the internet” isn’t evidence. Our next caller is Sain from TX who wants to know if Atheists, and more specifically our hosts, hate religion. While there isn’t a blanket sentiment held by the Atheist community towards religion in general, there may be specific statements, beliefs, or agendas that individual atheists may hate and find repugnant. Next is Anthony from FL who is a recent deconvert and is struggling with becoming an out atheist, and the feeling of betrayal rooted in the caller’s lack of acceptance and understanding by their family. Up next is Daniel from NJ who claims that God emanates the reality that creates the present. I have no idea how you’d demonstrate this, but the argument presented in this call certainly isn’t it. Next is Chris from LA who has evidence for God and also believes that Matt is angry with God. The demon he claimed to experience caused his friend to make a loud noise while he was sleeping. Was the demon Belphegor? Our next caller is Said from Morocco who wants to ask our hosts for advice on how to not be an angry atheist. Please don’t lie to the call screeners. Up next on a similar topic is Billy from CA who recognizes that since their deconversion they have become more anti-theistic. Theists are not dumb or smart based solely on their religious beliefs. There are smart theists and dumb atheists, and vice versa. Up next is Guy from GA who claims to have an argument for eternal life. Scientific discoveries happen all the time, but the fact that science discovers new things isn’t an argument for any old claim being true. Our final caller of the evening is Otangelo from Brazil who believes that human language is analogous to genetics and biology. It’s not.
The Non-Prophets, Episode 20.29 airing Sunday, July 18th featuring Arden of Eden, Cynthia McDonald, Malty, and Co-Host of Secular Sexuality Christy Powell.
At the top of the show, the hosts discuss how fraudulent single payer “Jesus Care'' is when a religious based company acts like insurance, but isn’t insurance. The Boy Scouts acquire the settlement badge for now being known for having one of the largest child abuse settlement claims in US history. The nuance of answering the question of “what is Atheism?” is explored as the hosts discover more and more Gen X and Millennials are letting go of their parents’ old-fashioned political and religious traditions.
Segment 1 [01.50]: “Single Payer Jesus” Link to Main Article: “Class-action Lawsuit Against HSMs” Link: http://tiny.cc/LawsuitAgainstHSMs Additional References: “John Oliver on Faith-based Healthcare Scam” Link: http://tiny.cc/JohnOliverHealthcare “Aliera Pays $1 Million for Illegal Sale of Health Insurance” Link: http://tiny.cc/IllegalSaleHealthcare “HSMs Fight for Legitimacy” Link: http://tiny.cc/HSMsFightForLegitimacy Example of HSM: Sharity Ministries Link: https://sharityministries.org/ “What is a Healthcare Sharing Ministry?” Link: http://tiny.cc/WhatIsAnHSM
Segment 2 [23.20]: “Boy Scouts Settlement” Link to Main Article: “Boy Scouts Reach $850 Million Settlement Amid Sexual Abuse Victims” Link: http://tiny.cc/BoyScoutsSettlement Additional References: “Boy Scouts Bankruptcy Plans” Link: http://tiny.cc/BoyScoutBankruptcy “Understanding the Boy Scouts’ Settlement” Link: http://tiny.cc/BSASettlement2 U.S. Center for Safe Sports https://uscenterforsafesport.org/
Segment 3 [39.50]: “Open Source News Trustworthy?” Link to Main Article: “Love thy Neighbour… but Not Atheist” Link: https://www.secularismandnonreligion.org/article/10.5334/snr.136/ Additional References: “10 Facts About Atheists” Link: http://tiny.cc/10FactsAboutAtheists
Segment 4 [1:01.45]: Step in the Right Direction: “Nones” Are Here to Stay Link to Main Article: “Younger Evangelicals are Losing Their Faith” Link: http://tiny.cc/EvangelicalsLosingFaith Additional References: “FFRF Survey on ‘Nones’” Link: http://tiny.cc/FFRFNones “Evangelical Christianity is Doomed” Link: http://tiny.cc/DoomOfEvangelism
Greetings Heathens! Hope you are still safe during the ongoing pandemic. We are so close to seeing the end of it, stay vigilant! We hope to be a sanctuary for you in this chaotic world. In today’s episode of Talk Heathen, Johnny P. Angel is joined today by Objectively Dan (and Pico!) #TeamPico Let’s get to calls! Zoroaster from Texas would like to talk about how homosexuality is objectively immoral. Oooh starting out hot. Except right off the bat he changes the subject to pedophiles and is using his unfounded logic of them being gay as a reason to imprison people. Dude, you’re being ridiculous and reprehensible. Don’t call back. Kelly in California is up next, he has some questions about removing God from the gaps in our knowledge. Mark in Canada is wondering what we think about spirit guides. Um, it’s not a thing in reality, but we have heard about it and it is a thing some folks believe. Ryan in Minnesota is asking about how to reason with the unreasonable. He finds himself in debates and is struggling with finding honest interlocutors. How do you engage with others where everyone feels comfortable. OH! Try Street Epistemology, it may work for you! David in Oregon is wanting to talk about how to stop oneself from speaking too much out of turn, being impatient with bad arguments, and also imposing your values onto others. Here’s an idea, perhaps be patient and use active listening, that may put others at ease and make you seem as though you truly want to have the conversation. Billy in Texas wants to explain why they believe in intelligent design within functional genomes and DNA. He would like to run an argument with us and see how we respond. He believes that something intelligent had to design the Universe and claims that science and philosophy supports this. Except it doesn’t, but go on. Your claim that complexity can’t come from simplicity doesn’t track man. Also, the code in DNA isn’t a literal code either. That’s our show for this week, please continue to be safe in your area, get vaccinated if you can, and continue to wear your mask. The world is better with you in it. See you next week!
In today’s episode of the Truth Wanted! Objectively Dan is joined by Kelley Laughlin, one of our discord volunteers. Welcome to the show, Kelley! We’re eager to talk about crystal woo with you.
First up in the calls is Kevin in Arizona, who wonders why psychedelic experiences tend to make people adopt theism. Although hallucinogenic encounters may feel powerful in the moment, it doesn’t make what happens in them rooted in reality. But this is a fascinating topic, indeed.
Another Arizona caller, Sarah, spent a long time dabbling in crystal woo and blames her Christian upbringing for making her susceptible to blind belief. We’re so happy you’ve decided to start examining your beliefs with more skepticism!
Does the devil’s lettuce make us stupid? Stephen in Michigan thinks the stoner stereotype isn’t an accurate representation of people who smoke and marijuana should just be legalized. We might have to agree with you there, Stephen!
Robert in South Carolina called to talk about the two things you’re never supposed to discuss in public: religion and politics. These two things are inherently intertwined, but we do hope to find more political representation in the future.
Karlyn is moving to her dream town, but there’s one problem- it’s highly religious. How do we navigate these difficult encounters with believers? It is important to know when to keep your thoughts to yourself, but you also have the right to assert yourself and answer honestly when questioned about what you believe.
Well that wraps up tonight’s show. Thank you so much to our co-host Kelley. Remember to always keep wanting the truth. And don’t use amethyst for migraines. See you next week!
Tribal drums don’t bring rain anymore than claps bring Tinkerbell back to life or diet coke keeps Matt Dillahunty from hanging up on your ass. Fake or not, it’s kind of amazing how many cultures and ultimately religions rely on music, dancing and rhythm to occasion the divine and the power of song to elicit a mystical experience shouldn’t be slept on. Recording artist and former Music Minister Ro joins Christy and Amberly this week to discuss the magic of music and the hustlers of Hamelin, walking us through the tricks of the trade, all that plus your calls!
The Non-Prophets, Episode 20.25 airing 6/20/2021 featuring Laura Magee, Johnny P Angel, Cynthia McDonald, and guest host Teo el Ateo!
On this week’s episode of The Non-Prophets we look at the decline of Catholicism in South and Latin America. Celebrate the recognition of Juneteenth by the US congress as a national holiday. Dive deep into the history of the Tulsa Race Massacre and how marginalized groups from all over are targeted and abused. Ending on a positive note remembering that June 12th is Loving Day. The 1958 Supreeme Court decision that made interracial marage legal across the U.S.
Article 1: “Catholics on the Decline in Latin America" LINK:http://tiny.cc/np_catholicsondecline Additional References: “The Global God Divide” http://tiny.cc/np_globalgoddivide “The Decline of Catholicism in Latin America” https://bit.ly/3cOJgbp “Ecuador Got Talent: Do you believe in God?” http://tiny.cc/np_ecuadorgottalent “Pope Shocks Chile by Accusing Sex Abuse Victims of Slander” http://tiny.cc/np_popeshockschile “Argentina Legalizes Abortion Despite Strong Catholic Opposition” http://tiny.cc/np_argentinaabortion “Amazon Indigenous Leaders Killed in Brazil Drive-by Shooting” http://tiny.cc/np_brazildriveby “Police Open Fire On Protesters In Bolivia” http://tiny.cc/np_boliviapolice
Article 2: “Juneteenth” LINK:http://tiny.cc/np_junteenth Additional References: “The Senate Voted Unanimously to Make Juneteenth a National Holiday” http://tiny.cc/np_juneteenthholiday “Harvard Writer Exposes How Louisiana Textbooks Center Slave Owners And Confederates” http://tiny.cc/np_louisianatextbooks
Article 3: "Tulsa Race Massacre" LINK: http://tiny.cc/np_tulsaracemassacre Additional References: Mass racial violence in the United States http://tiny.cc/np_massracialviolence Omaha race riot of 1919 http://tiny.cc/np_omaharaceriot1919
Article 4: Loving vs VA LINK:http://tiny.cc/np_omaharaceriot1919 NPR: June 12 Is Loving Day — When Interracial Marriage Finally Became Legal In The U.S.. http://tiny.cc/np_lovingdayjune12
We welcome your comments on the thread for this show. ► https://www.facebook.com/groups/nonpr... ► Contact us with questions or news stories at: nonprophets@atheist-community.org
The Non-Prophets, episode 20.28 airing July 11th 2021 featuring Cynthia McDonald, Non-Prophet Intimate Ragabash Dabbler and guest host Nate Smith. Summary So what did we learn today kiddos? Well on shit internet apologist say, we discussed how Fox News wines (inserts crickets) but this time they are wining about no one in the media having to say good things about religion or just ignoring it altogether (yes more of that please). We discussed the church vandalisms in Canada after the discovering of more unmarked graves from residential schools geared to the indoctrination of Indigenous children. We also spoke about how catholic bishops wanna take Joe’s wine and wafers away b/c of his support of abortion rights. And we came around the bend to finish this dog and pony show with looking back to Pope Clement VII excommunication of Jolly ole Henry VIII. Article Links Segment 1: Shit Internet Apologists Say Fox News: Experts sound off on the media's 'negative' or absent coverage of religion: 'Incomplete at best'. http://tiny.cc/MediaBiasForReligion
Segment 2: Digging Up Canada’s Dark Past Chris Selley: If politicians can't condemn Indigenous church burnings, 'reconciliation' is a pipe dream http://tiny.cc/ChrisSelleyOp Latest First Nations discovery reveals 182 unmarked graves at Canada school http://tiny.cc/TheGuardianUnmarkedGraves Trudeau denounces church burnings, vandalism in Canada http://tiny.cc/TrudeauDenouncesBurnings Feds break promise to eliminate all drinking water advisories in 2021, vow work will continue http://tiny.cc/DrinkingWaterAdvisory
Segment 3: Dirty Priests Done Joe Cheap Joe done dirty by American Bishops http://tiny.cc/JoeDoneDirty
Segment 4: Looking Back Free Thought Almanac July 11: Excommunication http://tiny.cc/June11Excommunication
We welcome your comments on the thread for this show. ► https://www.facebook.com/groups/nonpr... ► Contact us with questions or news stories at: nonprophets@atheist-community.org
In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Matt Dillahunty is joined by Jim Barrows. Let’s get it started!
Our first caller is Mercy from China who believes that the Holy Spirit is real based after they experienced passing out when a priest put their hand on the caller’s forehead.
Next up is Enoch from PA who recently became an Atheist and wanted to call back to thank the hosts for helping him through his deconversion.
Up next is Calvin from CA who is wondering why God didn’t do more to prove his own existence to the more adamant doubters if his goal was to save them. Thank you for calling Calvin, you're more than welcome to call back anytime.
Next is Jan from DE who states that the only explanation for a god’s powers is that the entity in question is utilizing advanced technology. The issue is that there could have been plenty of other explanations for the claimed powers found in stories, specifically plot devices. Claiming that you know the “only explanation” is adopting a burden of proof that you have yet to, and probably won’t satisfy.
Up next is Robert from TX who is wondering what led Matt to begin to question his beliefs and start searching for evidence. The caller also claims that God won’t provide evidence for his existence because people don’t really want to believe in him.
Next is Eric from CA who confronted his parents about his relatively recent deconversion after being a lifelong theist, and was then told that he “must not have ever been a true believer.” Thank you for your call today Eric. Best of luck!
Up next is David from OR who proposes that the resurrection was just a group of people playing along with the crowd, similarly to how we all vaguely remember stories from our past that may not have happened the way we recall them.
Next is Zeres from IL who believes the universe is demonstrably finite, but refuses to provide the premises that lead to that conclusion. Premises are not presented using questions.
Up next is Sohaib from Canada who claims that there is extra biblical evidence supporting the plagues God imposed on Egypt. The caller then makes the mistake of claiming that there is no other explanation for similar occurrences other than an act of God.
Our last caller today is Sam from CA who is wondering what the issues with the deist belief structure is if it doesn’t prevent a person from being a good person or accepting science. The issue is that a deist god is unknowable because it does not interact with the world, so no one could possibly justify it. Critical thinking and teaching a person to be good without the threat of some being watching their every move are much more important than trying to find some hole to stick a god in.
Greetings Heathens! Hope you are being safe during the ongoing pandemic (still, sigh.) We hope to be a sanctuary for you in this chaotic world. In today’s episode of Talk Heathen, JMike is joined by Matt Dillahunty. Let’s get to calls! Mike in Ohio would like to discuss polytheism with JMike and Matt. Specifically the creation myth from the perspective of a polytheist. Kevin in New York is up next, he asks if the hosts are well versed or have complete knowledge of the Bible and if we are prepared to speak upon it. Matt says that he does not and never will have complete knowledge of the Bible and that this complete knowledge doesn’t exist for anyone. He goes on to say that complete knowledge isn’t required to draw conclusions from it. Jeff in California claims that God is more than just the Bible. He’s calling in to tell us about it. But first though; what’s your definition of God, Jeff? Omar in California wants to talk about logical fallacies we’ve used in the past with theists. Has Matt been able to identify his own logical fallacies from previous debates and would he be willing to discuss them? (He is and does!) Later in the call, Omar ends up being a complete and utter disappointment when trying to say he has knowledge and confidence about the universe preceding the Big Bang and that we are perpetuating fallacies by saying ‘I don’t know.’ Hey Omar, here’s a protip, don’t be an angry and condescending dudebro while speaking to us, you’ll get more bees with honey. That’s our show for this week, please continue to be safe in your area, wear your mask, and get vaccinated if you can. The world is better with you in it. See you next week!
In today’s episode of the Truth Wanted, ExXtian Erin is back as host and joined by a very special guest, Dave Warnock, who is currently working on a memoir. We’re happy to have you on the show and excited to read your story! Brian from Michigan is a lifelong atheist that can’t fathom laughing at anyone else’s belief. While we do believe that bad beliefs should be scrutinized, we would never laugh at the people who hold those beliefs. James in Washington is trying to heal a relationship with his religious grandma after a Holiday dinner went awry. Now he’s left wondering how to navigate the resentment. Maintain boundaries and set aside conversations that ignite bitter feelings in the future. Kennita in California thinks atheists shouldn’t use god as an expression because it might give off the impression that they are believers. Flippant expression is a normal part of human language. Let’s pick our battles and leave this one alone. Marcus in Texas met a Christian this past week who believes in miracles and wants to plant seeds of doubt. Although you should never expect to change anyone else’s beliefs, you can utilize tools like street evangelism to encourage them to examine their ideas with skepticism. Autumn in California called to talk about a social media storm over the definition of atheism. According to some, atheism is the assertion that no god exists. Let’s keep working to de-stigmatize the term atheist so we can have more honest conversations. Sterling In SC wonders what it would convince us that aliens exist. We’ve got one word for you: Evidence. Show us the proof and we’ll start to believe. Jamie called all the way from Australia to play around with some street evangelism. How would Christians respond if god commanded them to murder? We’re not sure, but we hope it never happens. Great show tonight! Remember to always keep wanting the truth.
Finding a good therapist is hard- half the counselors on TV are weirdo crackpots, the other half are frauds and yet somehow I’d rather tell my secrets to most of them than half of the faces and blurbs I find on the internet. Dr. Crane? Dr. Jacoby? Dr. Lectur? Hold up- is my therapist supposed to be a doctor? With all the many ways religion, love and life can leave us nicked and cut it’s no wonder that many of us are looking for a healing professional, but which one? And why? This week SecX’s resident sex therapist Christy Powell is joined by counselors Dr. Darrel Ray and Andy Lane in a conversation about therapy, therapists and the hunt. It’s matchmaking for your brain plus your questions and calls on this week's Secular Sexuality!
In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Dave Warnock is joined by Jenna Belk!
Our first caller this afternoon is Chris from ID. They believe that the outcome events, like the creation of the universe, have a predetermined purpose behind it.
Next is Hank from TX who is struggling to take the last step towards atheism. They can’t reconcile how our consciousness is possible due to its seemingly non-physical characteristics.
Next is Jan from DE who claims that it is impossible to choose a god or philosophy. They also claim that we all believe the same things, and that we only have conflicts over beliefs because people aren’t defining their terms properly.
Up next is Chris from CA who claims to be a pure agnostic, but isn’t able to explain how their position on God differs from that of atheism.
Next up is once again David from CA who wants to talk about how God has stopped rapes while our hosts have not. You are not welcome back here David.
Up next is Eric from GA who shares their experience with AA and the program's claim that you can’t get sober without God. Thank you for calling!
Up next is Thomas from OH who claims that because humans carry the image of God, therefore we are gods. Beliefs are not interchangeable with knowledge, they are different terms with different levels of justification required before being used as a label.
Our final caller is Robert from TX who claims to have a convincing anecdote that proves God. The caller already held the belief that a god existed prior to the experience, so they credited it to the God despite not having a justifiable reason to believe that one exists.
Come one, come all, and witness the most dangerous church on earth. That's right, it's the Moonies! Join Malty, Jena, Jim, and Autumn as they discuss the heavily armed church of the Reverend King Moon. Next up, we take a more somber look at the newly discovered unmarked graves at former religious residential schools for Indigenous children in Canada. Thirdly, we look at the religious tests being given to candidates for public office in Tennessee, including looking at an opinion piece by Andrew Seidel. Lastly, our panel gives us their best takes on Lemon Laws and church-state separation.
Segment 1 [2:45]: "The Reverend King Moon "
LINKS
Gun Church That Worships With AR-15s Bought a 40-Acre Compound in Texas for Its ‘Patriots’ http://tiny.cc/GunChurchCompound
Segment 2 [27:20] : "Canadian Residential Schools"
LINKS
Canada discovers 751 unmarked graves at former residential school http://tiny.cc/SKUnmarkedGraves
The American church needs to reckon with its legacy in Indigenous boarding schools http://tiny.cc/AmericanBoardingSchools
Secretary Haaland Announces Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative http://tiny.cc/SecHaalandInitiative
Segment 3 [47:25] : "Religious tests for public office in TN"
LINKS
Tennessee should end religious tests for public office impartially | Opinion Andrew L. Seidel (Tennessean) June 8th 2021
http://tiny.cc/TNReligiousTests
Why it matters that 7 states still have bans on atheists holding office http://tiny.cc/StateOfficeAtheistBan
Segment 4 [1:02:00]: LOOKING BACK - "The Lemon Test"
LINKS
The “Lemon Test” (1971) and Church-State Separation (Freethought Almanac) http://tiny.cc/LemonTest
The American Legion v. American Humanist Association
http://tiny.cc/LegionVHumanists
Satanist Plant to Symbolically Take Over the Bladensburg Peace Cross in Maryland http://tiny.cc/SatanistPeaceCross
Bladensburg Satanic Peace Cross Ceremony
https://thesatanictemple.com/pages/bladensburg
Greetings Heathens! In today’s episode of the Talk Heathen, we have a special “Dependence Day” Special with Lloyd Evans and Katy Montgomerie. First up we have Brian in Illinois who is comparing court testimony to the Bible’s testimony, and this is the only reliable testimony for belief. Maybe someone else’s religion is more reliable. How do we decide which religion offers reliable testimony? Simply calling something testimony does not mean we have to listen to it. Gerald from Europe is being bullied by an internet online preacher that sounded nice and convincing at first, and used the Bible to back his arguments up, but turned out to be a bully. Some countries have harassment laws that cover online harassment. Sometimes if these types of people have a big enough platform, you will be able to call them out every time they say something ridiculous. Follow due process and see what options are available to record and report to authorities. Christopher in AZ has experimental evidence showing that religious people are better off and do less of things like steal and use drugs. Confirmation bias may be the explanation for these studies. Looking at different data sets will show just the opposite of what the caller is stating. If the caller is correct, there is no need to use a pre-existing religion. We can just make up a new one with a whole new set of lies, and it can increase well being. How many lies do we need to accept to be happy? Gregory in TN wants to look at the human brain when a person is convinced of something. Why would one person accept risk and another not? It may come down to brain chemistry. Different people will have different thresholds to acceptable propositions. Brain development and age will also be a factor in how a person is convinced. Ryan in MN has a sister who is struggling with miscarriages. Due to the beliefs of life starting at conception, each of these is viewed as a death in the family and causing her to become more indoctrinated. Now she is getting into Q-conspiracy theories. Try and help your sister find a support group or professional health care and remember she is not to blame for this. Street epistemology could be one avenue to use but keep in mind you can only do what you can in situations that you have little control over. Mike in OH is a Germanic Polytheist who states that the human body is too complex for random chance. Once you understand to a reasonable degree evolution, it is apparent how natural selection really works. The scale of time is so big that it can make a person think that design seems right. Chemicals can do so much more than what we may remember from science labs such as remembering information. Consult some of the science books on evolution to be better informed on how life can arise naturally. Thank you essential workers for saving lives! Heathens and believers have a safe week!
In today’s episode of the Truth Wanted! Objectivity Dan is joined by ExXtian Erin, glad to have you back!
First up! Joshua from LA is struggling with the need to “appease” a higher power and pray. That’s a pretty common struggle atheists have, remnants of religious rituals. It takes a bit to relearn some habits, try reminding yourself it’s nothing when they pop up.
Stair in Canada asks advice on addressing superstitions or irrational beliefs. It’s common for people to find patterns like this, just remember correlation doesn't equal causation. Glad you are thinking rationally about it!
Ulf in Norway found that chiropracty isn’t recognized as medical science in Norway. Yeah, it’s much bigger in the US and some can make some pretty dangerous claims. Some people find a little help but maybe stick to physical/massage therapists.
Jared in IN argues that we are moving to transhumanism. For sure, we have been modifying ourselves since a pirate donned a pegleg. Medical science and technology has been advancing in leaps and bounds. It’s exciting to look to the future!
Allison in Canada experienced white washing of her indigenous roots growing up. It’s such a heartbreaking story that is coming to light. White washing history is a travesty. Look into finding a community and learn more about your indigenous heritage. It seems lots have found healing in that. Thanks for sharing your story with us.
Congratulations Erin, welcome to Truth Wanted!! Remember to always keep wanting the truth.
Your charming smile, your graceful moves, your enormous pe-rsonality- totally natural to have a little performance anxiety from time to time. But what do you do when sex itself has you nervous or worse yet, your anxiety encroaches in on an already fragile sexuality? Writer and Hill Country Therapist Melissa Hargrave joins P*ck and Christy in exploring our un- sexiest fears and unlocking a world of erotic relaxation, all that plus your calls in this therapist led ‘very special episode’ of SecX!
►Relax, don’t do it, when you wanna go to it for more at https://www.vcatx.com/media/anxietyandsex
In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Matt Dillahunty is joined by Hemant Mehta. Our first caller today is Marlon from the Philippines who believes that a local baptist pastor has received divine powers from God because the pastor appeared to spontaneously set his hands on fire with a snap. The “miracles” described by the caller sound a lot like the result of store-bought magic tricks rather than powers derived from a God. Our next caller is Pete from TX who asks if our hosts believe that The Atheist Experience and other online atheist programming provides a measurable benefit to society. Let’s have a strawman party! Up next is David from CA who claims that God cannot be proven through science, but through history and anecdotes. Please answer the questions! Next is Danny from FL who believes he triggered the depression in his girlfriend by converting her to Atheism. It was the conversion to Atheism that caused the depression. It was the realization of the lie that her religion told to her throughout her life. The best thing to do is to show her support, and encourage her to interact with other non-believers so that she knows that she isn’t alone. Next up is Richard from CA who believes that water has a collective consciousness. The caller claims that water molecules react to certain words being placed nearby. Whataboutisming other known pseudosciences is seriously not helping your case, trust me. Next is Mark from CA who claims that anyone who isn’t saved, by having faith in God, is going to hell. How is it possible to demonstrate to another person that you are saved? Next is Sharon from IL who asks why atheists believe that consciousness is merely the product of a material brain. Until such time that it is shown that something other than the material is necessary for consciousness, it is not reasonable to conclude that the immaterial is involved at all. Up next is Leo from WI who believes that it is possible to sell your soul to the devil. How do we know whether someone has actually sold their soul to the devil versus someone who is merely claiming to. Next is Sohaib from Canada who asks our hosts what they think about the Islamic version of hell. If you found out that God didn’t exist, what would you do? Next up is Tanner from UT. They are a former mormon whose father admits that he doesn’t care whether his beliefs are true or not. Our next caller is Brian from NZ who has a question about freewill and God as a puppeteer. There is a difference between having the freedom to make certain choices, and the freedom of choice. Our final caller is William from OH who is asking for advice on how to raise their child while being surrounded by believers. The best thing to do is to encourage your daughter to ask questions about their beliefs and ask her probing questions.
The Non-Prophets, Episode 20.26 airing Sunday, June 27th featuring Cynthia McDonald, Phoenix, Malty, and Guest Host Jason Sherwood, Producer Extraordinaire of the Atheist Community of Austin
The NPs this week speak on the current backlash of CRT and how states are trying to ban it. It also seems like the Southern Baptist Church is losing members, some of which include the darlings, the Moores (no relation). Silly apologetics continues in the state of Ohio where a doctor makes unsubstantiated claims concerning the COVID-19 vaccines and the peril facing the replica of Noah’s arc wraps up this week’s show.
Segment 1 [00:02:35]: “States Want to Ban Critical Race Theory in Schools” Link:https://www.cbsnews.com/news/critical-race-theory-state-bans/ Additional References: “What Is Critical Race Theory, and Why Is It Under Attack?” Link:https://www.edweek.org/leadership/what-is-critical-race-theory-and-why-is-it-under-attack/2021/05 “States that have Passed Critical Race Theory Bills” Link:https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/map-see-which-states-have-passed-critical-race-theory-bills-n1271215 “Dear God Help me to hate White People” Link:https://www.newsweek.com/help-me-hate-white-people-entry-bestselling-prayer-book-stokes-controversy-1582043
Segment 2 [00:32:06]: “The Southern Baptist Church Is Going to Hell in a Handbasket” Link:https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2021/06/southern-baptist-convention-is-going-to-hell-in-a-handbasket.html Additional References: “Russell Moore’s May 31st letter to the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission” Link:https://baptistblog.files.wordpress.com/2021/06/rdm-final-letter.pdf
Segment 3 [00:54:90]: (Shit Internet Apologist Say): “Ohio Doctor Testifies God’s Disapproval of Christian Lawmakers Who Support Required Vaccinations” Link:https://www.newsweek.com/ohio-doctor-testifies-god-will-disapprove-christian-lawmakers-who-support-required-vaccinations-1599083
Segment 4 [01:13:06] (Strange But True): “Noah’s Ark Replica Faces Costly Dilemma” Link:https://www.foxnews.com/world/noahs-ark-replica-faces-costly-dilemma-of-biblical-proportions?cmpid=prn_newsstand Additional References: “Stuck Noah’s Ark Sparks Urge for Government Aid Rescue” Link:https://www.ipswichstar.co.uk/news/noahs-ark-in-ipswich-stuck-on-waterfront-8021138
Greetings Heathens! Hope you all are doing well out there! We hope to be a sanctuary for you in this chaotic world. In today’s episode of Talk Heathen, ObjectivelyDan is joined by Jimmy Snow. Let’s get to calls! Adam in North Carolina would like to talk about Christian Apologetics and how they rehash the same arguments over and over again. Nothing has changed in 2,000 years and it seems any arguments they do come up with are getting stale. David in South Carolina is up next, he asks about how atheists have certain viewpoints, how they tend to be activists, and usage of specific terms. Returning caller Moldred in New York, is wondering about how the quantum universe is made up of collective consciousness from living beings. So you’re saying biocentrism. He follows with “Reality is what you can get away with.” Um ok? Lots of word salad in this call, weeeee. Alfred in Florida has a couple claims they’d like to discuss with us. Basically saying that God is reality and all things are love. Jimmy goes on to say that what the caller is describing is the ‘God of Confirmation Bias’ and that this belief ONLY relates to them. Well put Jimmy! CJ in Michigan is calling about how we defend scientific texts as though they are religious texts. He seems very flippant about our response to him. Wow CJ, way to elevate the conversation. Christopher in Arizona is wondering about a fundamental problem he has encountered, what justification do we have to believe in our own beliefs. He follows with are we truly justified in believing in random cosmological events. Why does this matter and how does this prove any religion is true? Up next, Kevin in New York would like to talk about UFOs and aliens and how this may prove otherworldly and immaterial beings. Oh Kevin, you fascinate me with all your claims (and calls!) David in California would like to talk about the fundamental misinterpretation of science, specifically the Big Bang theory and the expansion of the cosmos. He seemed to enjoy saying that his life is better than any atheists’ life because of his faith. Ew David, NO! You don’t know me! That’s our show for this week, please continue to be safe in your area, wear your mask, and get vaccinated if you can. The world is better with you in it. See you next week!
In today’s episode of the Truth Wanted, Objectivity Dan is joined by a special guest who might be recognized by some. It is P*ck who is coming up on a year with the ACA now! Congress released the UFO report and there are NO new revelations. As we may have guessed, the conspiracy theorists are going to have fun with this! Stay tuned for the new species of human that of course people think are nephilim that proves the Bible to be true. First up we have Matt in AR who has seen a UFO while stationed in Iraq. This looked like the Phoenix Lights soaring across the sky. The lights did not descend like a meteor; they moved across the sky. This is the first time we ever had a caller that described seeing a UFO while on military duty. We tend to have a bad sense of distance and scope, especially at night. It was probably something experimental. A healthy sense of skepticism is appreciated! Okun in NV, a former radar tech in the Navy, reveals that the screen footage from the jet that was tracking the oblong thing is probably mostly BS. The little grain of truth can grow to a conspiracy theory quickly. We just don’t have enough information about this yet to conclude anything. Kennita in CA states there are probably aliens here because we have only had radio for a little over 100 years and it would have taken them longer than that to get here, even with the closest stars. They were probably AI because of their advanced technology and the entire civilization may have already disappeared. Check out the Magic Flute Opera for a related idea! Traditional Catholic in LA claims that crafts have no mass and do not behave the way they should if they were physical because they accelerate and vanish. They are really demonic illusions. How do we pick them up with physical apparatuses then? How do you know the source of this? A guy that drew a picture is not going to cut it. We can’t say that something is fake or real without doing research. We would love to know if we can summon demons as long as we don’t have to pay for it. Andrew in OH wants to talk about the absurdity of 911 conspiracies. These theories are not even rooted in physics. There is just enough light for the believers and just enough dark for people to doubt. An act of terror is still the most likely explanation. This was a wild episode! We went from UFOs to demons to 911! Thank you everyone and continue the conversation with us in a number of different ways. Remember to always keep wanting the truth.
Whether you are gently whispering those three little words into your lover’s ear or passionately yelling “TAKE IT ALL” our voice does more than set the mood, it lets people know who we are and what we have to say to the world. The tiniest muscles, bones and hairs help to make up this remarkably precise and diverse communication system empowering humans to not just communicate but co-regulate in ways we are just beginning to understand despite millions of years of practice. This week returning hero Serafina Smith introduces us to speech language pathologist Tallulah Breslin to better understand our voices and ourselves plus your calls!
In today’s episode of The Atheist Experience, our sincerely apologizing Canadian Shannon Q is joined by Jim Barrows!
Our first caller tonight is Patrick from FL is a pantheist who believes in a God defined as the universe. The issue here is that the attributes given to this God are so generic that we have no way of even beginning to investigate whether it actually exists or not. The character traits of the God being presented are essentially being used to assert a God into existence.
Next is Rafael from PA who lives in an area where many psychologists, psychiatrists, and neurologists are also practicing scientologists. The caller is concerned about how tied their living situation is to the indoctrinated beliefs and practices of those around them, including medical positions.
Up next is Jelmer from the Netherlands who claims that God is paradoxical so therefore God claims aren’t only true or false, but can also be both or neither at the same time.
Next up is David from CA who believes they can show that the Big Bang Theory demonstrates pantheism. A kindergarten understanding of physics, the beginning of the universe, and pantheism is just not going to produce a convincing argument.
Our final chapter of today’s journey is Kenny from OK. They state that everything that does exist must have an opposite. What is the opposite of sunglasses? What is the opposite of Panda? How does this lead to demonstrating the existence of a god?
Greetings Heathens! In today’s episode of Talk Heathen, Johnny P Angel is joined by Jmike. Johnny, keep growing that beard, it is the beard show you know. Just kidding,
Let’s get to calls! Michael from Canada asks if we think he is irrational for believing in a diety. He goes on to argue with Jmike about empirical evidence and the presup nonsense about being cut off when being held to task. Hey Michael don’t be passive aggressive, you are not being cut off or interrupted, Jmike is having an honest conversation with you.
Joe in Virginia is up next, he is curious about the design argument and how do we know if something is designed. Designed by what or who exactly? Jmike asks: Joe, have you ever seen a God design something?
Returning caller Otangelo in Brazil, wants to present his 4 premises that explain the fundamental forces of the universe (including the fine-tuning argument) and whether we accept them. Johnny responds with: Life, the universe, and everything. (The answer is 42!) Oooooh, fun with Otangelo. I look forward to hearing Jmike deconstruct these premises.
Laura in the UK is asking about how we get laws in place to avoid childhood indoctrination within religions and cults. A couple of the first things we can do is to educate ourselves, email and call political representatives, and contacting and volunteering with the Freedom from Religion Foundation. There is a grey area here though, as personal freedoms and limits can play a part in enacting a law if it is passed.
Micheal in California is wondering if religion provides a sound basis for people to overcome their shortcomings. Ok, how?? Please show your work with examples or evidence that this is the case.
CJ in California is wondering about the hosts’ beliefs, that there is a snake that surrounds the Earth, and how violence is increasing due to society’s turn from God. Interesting claim, can you back it up? And not from your personal video, we are not here to promote your channel dude.
That’s our show for this week, please continue to be safe in your area and please get vaccinated if you can. Things are starting to open up which is fantastic! The world is better with you in it. See you next week!
The Non-Prophets, Episode 20.24 airing Sunday, June 13th featuring Jena Miyu, Laura Magee, Martin Robert and Guest Host Ragabash Dabbler. What colors are you wearing this month? Are they colors that represent your helpfulness towards providing meals to sex workers? Do you feel your colors have brightened or changed since discovering your more sensual side since you’ve been at home for the past year? Or do your colors represent the pride you feel seeing the progressive changes most media, TV shows, and toys are making in an effort to promote inclusion. On this Sunday show, the hosts discuss and celebrate Pride Month. Because every fight deserves an “Ally.”
Today we have a special roast of Matt Dillahunty for his 500th episode! We are joined by Viced Rhino who deals with young earth creationism and apologetics on his various platforms.
Ulrich from Germany is our first caller who argues that disproving god is better than stating there is a lack of evidence. Claiming god does not exist will carry the burden of proof. There are countless gods to disprove, and nobody has the time for that. Some particular gods may not be disproven. You can’t appeal to a modern English definition to explain how the universe began when responding. Claiming to falsify something that is not falsifiable is a mistake.
Mohammad in CA believes in god as a default position. The god claim is not the kind of thing we can just accept as a default. Which god is supposed to be the real god as a default? For any given claim, the default position should be to accept it only when there is sufficient reason. It must first be proven there is a god before assuming a prophet of that god has true prophecies. Believing in things you don’t understand leads to suffering.
Jeremiah in AZ agrees that religion screwed up the world after visiting various churches but has also read the bible and as a result, believes god is love. The epiphany you had when reading the bible is flawed. The logical fallacy is when you conclude that your understanding is a correct understanding from god. You can not use an abstract concept such as honesty to define a god into existence. Do you have evidence that proves the existence of your god?
Mike in MI tried to prove god by asserting the impossibility of the contrary with a ton of word salad. He has still failed to demonstrate the existence of your god. He was actually able to get it all in before Matt hung up on him.
MJ in NY tries to make a case for Judaism by sending an email to the hosts. Go rewind and find the address we already gave you.
Daniel in NY is trying to be a good Christian and believes the gospels have been written much earlier than scholars have stated. Why would you call an atheist show to tell us that you disagree with Christians? What the hell are we supposed to do about it? The dates of which the gospels have been written do not prove any of it to be true.
Bill in CO used to be an atheist but has come back to Jesus because of claims that Abraham’s children would become numerous as the sand. His descendants are not as numerous as the sand and going with the majority is not a good reason to believe something. Either you believe or you don’t is not a defense to a claim.
Hello everyone, and welcome to another amazing episode of Talk Heathen. This week, please welcome our hosts Kenneth Leonard and Arden of Eden.
First up this afternoon is David from CA who wants to talk about evidence for an omniscient Jesus. The Bible isn’t evidence for the claims in the Bible. The Bible is made up of a series of claims, some of which can be demonstrated to be true, some of which have been demonstrated to be not true, and other claims we just don’t have sufficient evidence to support either position.
Our next caller is Justyn from Canada. They are an atheist and are concerned about the reactions from religious family members during their wedding. This is your day, and anyone else’s expectations for how the ceremony is performed do not matter in the long run.
Next is Chris from GA who wants advice for how to have conversations with religious family members. The hosts suggest DEAR MAN as a communication technique that will both help the caller understand what they want out of a conversation with their family, and in the long run will help find common ground with the aforementioned family members.
Up next is Joe from VA who wants to talk about the standard of evidence that atheists use for their own “atheist” beliefs. The caller attempts to pin the hosts with questions, but won’t get to the point.
Next is Kevin from NY. They are calling to draw a connection between dreams and the modal ontological argument.
Our next caller is Moldred from NY with a story about apparitions that appeared to them of the people who built the house they were in.
Well that’s it for this week everyone! Thank you all so much for watching today's episode! As always, the world is better with you in it, so please continue to follow the Covid guidelines relevant to your area. See you next week!
Hello everyone! Thank you for tuning into another fantastic episode of Truth Wanted. This week, ObjectivelyDan is joined by Jessica Bluemke Greiff!
First caller tonight is Levi in CA who asks advice on helping his mother care more about the truth. Dan was where you are now. These kinds of things come after a long time to deconstruct your beliefs, be patient with her. Usually it’s more important that they approach the world with kindness, rather than what they believe.
Uh oh. Otangelo in Brazil is trying to challenge Dan on his well known talking points. You know anti-evolution, intelligent design..the works. Otangelo tries to shift the burden of proof, apparently promoting atheism means we deny god or some crap. Otangelo, you need to come up with an argument rather than trying to call in with “gotchas”. We are happy to say “I don't know” because that gives us room to figure it out, rather than posit “god did it”.
Jason in ID asks what we know about the “third bucket”, referencing Otangelo’s 2 bucket comment. What the bleep is the third bucket? Oh it’s scientology crap. Jason says it’s a level to achieve AND a porthole to travel back in time. Yeah, uhhh. That was weird.
Uros in Siberia really believes we can’t be the only life in this universe, arguing the statistics are overwhelming. Yes, we want to talk about aliens!! If you want to believe in aliens, go for it. We are more comfortable saying it’s highly likely. It’s fun to think about possible alien life. Call back if you discover aliens.
Thank you all so much for watching. We hope you enjoyed today’s episode so go check out some of the other great shows that the ACA produces! Until next week, keep wanting the truth and watch out for the third bucket.
‘LESBIAN’ is perhaps the number one porn search term of all time (which, honestly, has to put it in the top 5 key words on the internet right?) and yet there is very little PRIDE to be found in our search results. Girl-on-girl content generally seems to be like most everything else online and off- straight, white and male centered. What’s a horny lesbian to do? Christy is joined by adult industry expert Amberly Rothfield in a conversation with the ACA’s newest favorite sinner- studio owner and 2 time AVN award winner Sinn Sage. Catch our conversation about strap-ons, the male gaze and the economics of porn plus your calls!
Welcome to The Atheist Experience! Matt is out sick today, Kenneth Leonard and Dave Warnock stepping up. All our thoughts and, no not that, goes out to Matt. We all hope you feel better. First up, Kameron in MD asks advice on finding a purpose in life after leaving her faith. We atheists have to find or make their own purpose. Atheists aren’t a monolith, we are just people despite our beliefs. Live your life, let people realize that atheists can be good people. Joe in VA asks if there is an objective right or wrong? If we make decisions on actions, we can likely arrive at objective morality. Let’s hear a good moral argument from a theist? We disagree that god is needed for anything moral, atheists can be moral without any god. If theists can’t agree on the character of god, how can that be THE moral grounding? Richard in NV argues that life can’t come from non-life and that if evolution is proven wrong, god is proven by default. Evolution is a mechanism from how we got from point A to B, abiogenesis is a separate field of study. You are shoehorning in god, if evolution is false you still have to prove god. Ahmed in Egypt claims that Allah is evident and the atheist position is untenable. The “look at the trees” argument you use to prove Allah is used by christians to prove their god, nature doesn’t prove god. If we can’t prove something, doesn’t mean you get to insert god there. David in CA argues that proof of Jesus is that he seems omniscient in the bible. You can’t use the bible to prove the bible, we need evidence that demonstrates the claim. If Jesus is an omni god, how can he allow rape and murder? We’re more moral than that god. Jeff in CA is upset that atheists don’t help more in social problems of the world? Some atheists do help, we aren’t a monolith. These examples are broad but there are atheists out there working on these issues. Kenny in OK asks how you quantify “extraordinary evidence”. Evidence just needs to meet the threshold of proving the claim, some claims are pretty extraordinary though. The majority of the people in the world are religious, so what? People believing is ordinary, but Jesus’ resurrection, and lots of other religious claims, is an extraordinary claim. You need to provide better proof than arguments from popularity. Lastly, Peter in TX asks what is the goal of our show? What is our ideal outcome? We promote positive atheism and the separation of religion and government. Atheists aren’t making a claim. We try to help people think critically because we’ve seen religious ideas damage people. Bring the evidence, we haven’t found it yet. Check out more from Dave Warnock at https://daveoutloud.com/ Please stay safe, wear masks, social distance, and get vaccinated.
Archbishop turns a blind eye to abuse of children in the church, yet gives a personal apology...from God? Also, perhaps faith leaders should stop being in charge of taking care of children, especially those coming out of the Bethany Church in Louisiana. The dark side of Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity order is revealed through a new podcast “The Turning: The Sisters Who Left.” The Mormon cult sets their bets in the stock trade by purchasing large shares in GameStop and Tesla.
Article 1 [10:45] : “Maybe God Should Apologize” “Archbishop of Canterbury Issues 'Personal Apology'” LINK:http://tiny.cc/np_archbishopapology Additional References: “Louisiana-Based Bethany Church Accused of Running Abusive Training Program” LINK:https://bit.ly/3uQPIVc “Church Program is Accused of Abusing Teens” LINK: hhttp://tiny.cc/np_churchabuseteens
Article 2 [45:10] : “The Order of Mother Teresa” “‘The Turning’: The Dark Side of Mother Teresa’s Order” LINK:http://tiny.cc/np_mothertheresadarkside Additional References:b “A New Podcast Explores Life Behind the Walls of Mother Teresa’s World-Famous Order” LINK:http://tiny.cc/np_motherteresaorder
Article 3 [1:09:30] : “The Mormons Going ‘To The Moon!’ with r/wallstreetbets & GameStop” “Church Got In On GameStop & Tesla Stock Craze” LINK:http://tiny.cc/np_ldsmoon
Greetings Heathens! In today’s episode of Talk Heathen, our absolutely fabulous Rudy Bee is joined by the very endearing Lloyd Evans. Let’s get to calls! Ashley from Colorado has a neighbor and friend who is studying with Jehovah’s Witnesses and is wondering how to best approach her and help her get away from them. She is also wondering how long she has before her friend is fully indoctrinated and ceases communicating with her. John in California is up next, he converted somewhat recently to theism from a non-theistic life and would like to talk about his beliefs. The reasons he converted were from profound experiences and he was convinced by them. But are these experiences demonstrable and prove a God exists? No? Ok, moving on... Paul in the UK is wondering about how when arguing for the Kalam Cosmological argument it requires a transcendent cause and an intelligent beginning. He goes on to talk about the actual authors of the Gospels. Oh really, please explain further and provide specific examples. Here’s an idea, call back when JMike is on. Joshua in Portugal is calling about how to explain atheism to a religious friend or family member. Perhaps explain that atheists don’t have a doctrine to follow and a lack of religion or religious beliefs. Jim in Canada would like to discuss an experience he had as a believer, he was praying and had a sense of calmness and euphoria. Lloyd and Rudy break it down for him, provide their perspectives, and how the brain reacts to possible experiences that are euphoric. Jessie in New York is wondering about what causes someone to turn to and are susceptible to extreme religious experiences. Lloyd says the fundamentalist and these extreme religions tend to be a little more pushy and claim to have all the answers. Laura in the UK is curious about what were the hosts' experiences with the JWs, their reasons for leaving, and the consequences surrounding their leaving that religion. Richard in the UK is calling in wondering the difference between a mainstream religion and cults. What is the difference between the two? First of all, not all religions are cults! Branding religions as cults also don’t advance the conversation and can put others on the defensive. That’s our show for this week, please continue to be safe in your area, wear your mask, and get vaccinated if you can. The world is better with you in it. See you next week!
Hello all you Truth Seekers and welcome to the first episode of Truth Wanted for this June! This week, P*ck is joined by the one, the only creepy crawly lover, BrainBug!
Our first caller tonight is Matt from Maryland who wants to talk about the recent reports of UFO/UAPs. They want to know if our hosts have a possible explanation for what we are seeing in the leaked footage. As we cannot explain what is in the various pieces of footage, it would be irresponsible to then apply an unfounded explanation.
Up next is Jason from Rhode Island. They want to talk about the use of possibility and impossibility in debates. To help address the caller’s question, our hosts differentiate between physical and logical possibility/impossibility, and explain the specifics of each.
Up next is P*ck’s new rival, Paul from England. The caller believes that they can present the kalam in a non-problematic way. Needless to say, they do not.
Our last call for the night is Duane from Florida who has a cousin who is a Young Earth Creationist. BrainBug provides excellent examples to show evolution (Do Not Attempt At Home!), from one species to another in “real-time.” However, family members may not be as openly receptive to direct mentions of the “confrontational” topic, but finding ways of dropping little seeds throughout conversations of shared interests can be very helpful overtime.
That was such an amazing episode wasn’t it! We hope you enjoyed it. Until we see you next week, stay safe out there! Goodnight!
Whether we attend therapy on a sofa, a zoom call, or if we are exploring sexual dimensions, sex and relationship counseling is for useful for everyone. While we disagree on more of the out there claims, we welcome an interesting conversation with our guest tonight. Lianna Walden is a sex and relationship coach and is joined by Nate and Rudy. Tonight we explore the depths of sex and relationships along with the more “spiritual” practices in some counseling sessions.
Find more from Lianna Walden at https://www.liannawaldencoaching.com/
► Jump-start your recovery at https://www.RecoveringFromReligion.org/
Nate’s Link Corner:
Is past-life regression ethical?
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/323025125_Is_past_life_regression_therapy_ethical
Past Life Regression: Secondary Identity enactments during hypnotic past-life regression
https://doi.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037%2F0022-3514.61.2.308.
Evidence-based Guideline: Treatment of painful diabetic neuropathy
https://n.neurology.org/content/neurology/76/20/1758.full.pdf
Effects of Reiki in clinical practice
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1742-1241.2008.01729.x
Welcome to The Atheist Experience! Today we have Dave Warnock and Matt Dillahunty teaming up to tackle today’s arguments. First up, Xeno in NC is back to present evidence for a deistic god, primarily using reductio ad absurdum argument. If your deistic god doesn’t interact with reality, that means it's not detectable. If we can’t detect that god, it might be true that it exists, but how can you provide evidence of an undetectable god? Lisa in CO finds it atrocious that the bible barely mentions dealing with slaves that are beaten and more for decorating your tabernacle. We agree, the all-wise creator of the universe seems to care more about curtains than owning/beating people. We are glad you are seeing those red flags as the best way to make an atheist is to have them read the bible. Arnie in WA thinks there are preconceived notions that atheists or theists can't seem to get over. We were believers and approached the issue seriously and skeptically. When you make a claim that god exists and is involved with us, you are going to have to present incredible evidence. Why is there any ambiguity regarding god, couldn’t he clear that up? Sarel from Israel is an atheist and asks our opinion on spirituality and fears of falling back into religion. What does spirituality even mean? If you are finding comfort or pleasure in it, enjoy until you are forced to buy into the pseudoscience or woo. There is real benefit in secular meditation and exercise. Jacob in CT argues that god never encouraged slavery. God could have said to not own humans as property but instead chose to give instructions to buy slaves, etc. Why are you defending the bible’s grossly immoral point on slavery? Owning a person as property is wrong in every way. Walter in WA argues that we can’t logically derive moral oughts but we can infer them in a transcendental/objective way. Inferring moral oughts? How is that not just your opinion? You are smuggling in the ought and assuming the goal. You can not derive an ought from an is. Yeah, we don’t need to do homework after proving you wrong. Kenny in OK claims that the miracle Elijah witnessed in the bible addresses the issue of divine hiddenness and that god directs him to passages in the bible. We don’t believe god exists or that he has performed miracles. The issue of divine hiddenness applies to everyone, not just someone in the bible. Go ask god for a passage that will change Matt’s mind. Lastly, Richard in NV wants to talk about what is logically possible and illogical concepts, for example light can’t travel a light year in 6 months. It is 100% correct that if we proved evolution wrong, it would not prove a god exists. All that preamble to say evolution is wrong, therefore god. We aren’t out of the pandemic just yet. Please stay safe, wear masks, social distance, and get vaccinated.
The Non-Prophets, Episode 20.22 airing Sunday, May 30th at 3PM CST featuring Cynthia McDonald, Jena Miyu, Kenneth Leonard and Guest Host Jack Parker (he/they), Moderator of the Atheist Community of Discord fan server.
Summary & Article Links
Alright my fellow homosapians, we talked about “Christian Tested. Lord Approved“ A Viral ‘Vaccinated by the Lord’ Card?” We explored: SHIT APOLOGIST’S SAY “‘What’s Your Favorite Bible Verse? That Backfired” We hit on a STRANGE BUT TRUE “Jesus Between the Cushions,“ or as I like to call it, Jesus’ murder weapon was hidden in furniture for every home has ‘a blessing of some kind.’ And finally we dived into some “Christian Counselling on Same-sex Attraction,” which was less counseling and more finger wagging at people who feel.
Article 1 [TIME STAMP HERE] : “Christian Tested. Lord Approved“ “What’s Up with this Viral ‘Vaccinated by the Lord’ Card?” LINK:http://tiny.cc/np_godvaccination
Segment 2 [TIME STAMP HERE] : SHIT APOLOGIST’S SAY - “‘What’s Your Favorite Bible Verse?’“ “A GOP Congresswoman Wanted to Know People’s Favorite Bible Verses. It Backfired” LINK: http://tiny.cc/np_biblebackfire
Segment 3 [TIME STAMP HERE] : STRANGE BUT TRUE - “Jesus Between the Cushions“ “Store owner hides crosses in furniture so every home has ‘a blessing of some kind’” LINK:http://tiny.cc/np_jesuscushions
Article 4 [TIME STAMP HERE] : “Christian Counselling on Same-sex Attraction” LINK:http://tiny.cc/np_christiancounseling Additional References: “Woman ordered to 'cough up demons' during twisted gay conversion therapy session” LINK:http://tiny.cc/np_coughingdemons “Letter from the Prime Minister” LINKhttps://bit.ly/3bZmaym
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WHAT IS THE NON-PROPHETS?
The Non-Prophets is a live internet radio show airing at 3:00pm Central time and focuses on current events and commentary from an atheist perspective.
The Atheist Community of Austin is organized as a nonprofit educational corporation to develop and support the atheist community, to provide opportunities for socializing and friendship, to promote secular viewpoints, to encourage positive atheist culture, to defend the first amendment principle of state-church separation, to oppose discrimination against atheists and to work with other organizations in pursuit of common goals.
We define atheism as the lack of belief in gods. This definition also encompasses what most people call agnosticism.
VISIT THE ACA'S OFFICIAL WEB SITES
► http://www.atheist-community.org (The Atheist Community of Austin) ► http://www.atheist-experience.com (The Atheist Experience TV Show)
NOTES
TheNonProphets is the official channel of The Non Prophets. "The Non Prophets" is a trademark of the ACA.
Copyright © 2021 Atheist Community of Austin. All rights reserved.
Greetings Heathens! Hope you all are continuing to be safe! Things are looking up though, to help us get out of the pandemic, please look into getting vaccinated if you can. In today’s episode of Talk Heathen, JMike is joined by the always wonderful Christy Powell. Let’s get to calls! Gaither from North Carolina would like to provide something and to help others like him. He was raised Evangelical Christian with the fear of Hell beaten into him at a young age. He is calling to give his deconversion story and give those on the fence some things to think about. Johnny in Texas is up next, he has a question for Christy, when you’ve got a client who is coming to you with religious trauma, but they haven’t recognized it as such, how do you broach that topic with them? Interesting question and Christy has the best answer for it. Returning caller Kevin in New York, yes THAT Kevin, is wondering about dire messages, predictions, and parables in the Bible and whether or not they hold any truth/water/what have you. Why use parables and poems that require interpretation and deciphering to provide messages to us. Why not be direct and to the point? I don’t get it Kevin! Moldred in New York is saying his path to philosophy is different than most others, having grown up in a household of secular Jews and the enjoyment of science fiction. He goes on to explain his epistemology and how it relates to his understanding of philosophy. Eddie in Illinois is a brand new atheist and wants to share a couple things that keeps him negating the idea of the supernatural. Is the supernatural falsifiable? If it is not, then you can’t prove it is true. It is not arrogant nor irrational to not accept something you don’t understand. Ignorance is not a valid excuse for accepting something as possible. That’s our show for this week, please continue to be safe in your area, wear your mask, get vaccinated if you can. The world is better with you in it. See you next week!
Hello everyone! Thank you for tuning into another fantastic episode of Truth Wanted. This week, ObjectivelyDan is joined by Ro! Our first caller tonight is Nathan from Australia. They are concerned that the “far left” is devaluing the goal of equality with its focus on social justice and identity politics. Next up is Dude from the USA who wants to share a ghost experience they had while working in a lighthouse, where the doors appeared to close on their own. The caller admits that they are skeptical about the feasibility of the supernatural being the cause of these experiences, but would like to believe that the causes are special even though they’re unconvinced. Our next call comes from James in New York. The caller is a deist/theist who believes because they are having trouble dealing with the concept of death. Believing in a god out of fear of death isn’t a good reason for believing in something because it doesn’t correlate to whether that god is real or not. Next is “Alien Noises” from Germany who is curious to know if the media (films, books, news etc) representation of the separation of racial and cultural in the US is true. Segregation is a thing, and the legacy of segregation, and its scars are definitely still present. Thank you all so much for watching. We hope you enjoyed today’s episode. If you did, why not check out some of the other great shows that the ACA produces! Just me, they’re worth a watch! Until next week, keep wanting the truth.
If this year has taught us anything, it’s that for better or for worse, the world we’ve created doesn’t look like the one we were born into. There is little in our evolutionary history that has prepared us for Zoom meetings and 4chan conspiracies and while the next big idea may be just around the corner it’s worth remembering that our culture isn’t necessarily in step with our biology. What this means for the way we understand gender is anybody’s guess but this week Kara Griffin from Recovering From Religion joins Arden and Christy in exploring enby identities through different cultural lenses, unpacking our assumptions and taking your calls!
The Non-Prophets, Episode 20.21 airing Sunday, May 23rd at 3PM CST featuring P*ck, Cynthia McDonald, Arden of Eden and Guest Host Jessica Bluemke, co-host of Friendly Atheist Podcast.
Summary & Article Links
SHIT APOLOGISTS SAY: ...and Where They Say It “The Rise of Christian TikTok” LINK:https://www.bustle.com/life/christian-tiktok-influencers-gen-z-evangelicalism
Segment 2 [23:30] - LOOKING BACK: Can You Believe This Was Only Six Years Ago?? “FFRF Wins Orange County Schools Lawsuit Over Literature Discrimination (May 4, 2015)” LINK:https://ffrf.org/legal/challenges/highlighted-court-successes/item/17970-ffrf-sues-orange-county-schools-over-literature-discrimination
Segment 3 [37:35] - STRANGE BUT TRUE: I Call Bulls**t “Indian Doctors Warn Against Cow Dung as COVID Cure” LINK:https://www.reuters.com/world/india/indian-doctors-warn-against-cow-dung-covid-cure-2021-05-11/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=Social
Segment 4 [51:30] - STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION: A Progressive Christian Boarding School?! “School Priest Fired After Opposing LGBTQ-Inclusive Education to Sue Former Employers” LINK:https://attitude.co.uk/article/school-priest-fired-after-opposing-lgbtq-inclusive-education-to-sue-former-employers/24963/
Segment 5 [1:05:30] - VIEWER EMAIL
Welcome to AXP! What’s that sound? Another Canadian invasion you say? Why yes it is, ShannonQ is back on tonight with Matt Dillahunty! First up, Joe in VA complains that Matt is the rudest person he has seen. If a caller refuses to ask a question, isn't that rude to the rest of the callers? Matt isn’t bullying anyone. Arnie in WA claims that claiming bible inerrancy is a form of idolatry because every interpretation is subjective. It’s not idolatry and we don’t care if something is idolatrous. How do you prove someone's interpretation of a passage is wrong? Sounds like you are coming from a place of assuming there is a correct interpretation. Jade in CO has come to realize religion is a placebo and since their cancer diagnosis and grapples with their mortality. You came to all this through a tremendous struggle, thank you for sharing. Knowing our lives are finite grounded us to be more responsible for one's actions. Xeno in NC asks if we are trying to prove god, what god are you rejecting? We’re atheists, we address the god claim the caller makes, our mantra is “what you believe, and why”. So you believe in a god that you can’t define, have fun with your irrationality. John in CT asks how the brain can see, taste, smell, etc. (Error dictating huge flow of science) Nothing about a soul has been proven to be anything other than functions of the brain. Consciousness is pure magic and has its own source?? You say the soul exists but you can damage a brain and change tons about how a person behaves. Samuel in ME argues that Christians are changing their doctrine to make the bible appear moral but slavery is wrong on all counts. We agree there are problems in the bible, this needs to be addressed to Christians though. George in Sweden asks if a god exists with infinite knowledge, wouldn't it have an infinite potential to know what is good and would we follow him? We can’t know if god has infinite knowledge. If the bible is accurate, we want nothing to do with him. Try a new question that doesn’t assume anything about god. Lastly, Penelope in OK updates us on their coming out atheist and their father claims he knows how they became atheist. Sounds like you are doing fine. Keep in mind that this interaction is not going to be like this forever, just be comfortable being you and set healthy boundaries. Please stay safe, wear masks, social distance & get vaccinated.
Greetings Heathens! In today’s episode of Truth Wanted… Oh wait, this is Talk Heathen! Today we welcome ObjectivelyDan and Jmike to the hosts chairs! This should be a great show!
Before we get to calls, we get to learn more about ObjectivelyDan and Jmike. As you know, Dan is the host for another ACA call in show called Truth Wanted (It’s one of the show notes writer’s favorites!) Jmike is joining the host roster and really “enjoys” talking to presups. Welcome Jmike!
Let’s get to calls! Kevin from New York (yes, that Kevin) would like to discuss the ‘Eternal Now’ philosophy and according to him, why a God is involved in it. Either Jmike scared him away with his fantastic questions or he just dropped, I’m going to say he got a bit scared. Bye Kevin!
Joe in Virginia is up next, he is wanting to challenge us on our disbelief by asking a series of questions. At one point asking about beliefs in God and Jmike asks for a definition of God based on the belief of this claim. Joe keeps repeating that the question didn’t go anywhere, maybe that’s because you got an answer you didn’t want. Asking for proof of a claim isn’t a bad thing and the burden of proof lies on the one making the claim.
Vincent in the UK is wondering about faith healing and watching evangelical religious shows on telly in the US. Dan breaks it down for him, the US is made up of a lot of conmen and cynical money grabbers, but seriously. There is an industry of this and quite a history of this here in the US.
Guy in Georgia is asking about life after death and seeing loved ones. He thinks this is what keeps people religious which is a tragedy and a huge disservice to everyone.
Alison in Canada is calling about folks with aphantasia which is the inability to voluntarily create mental images in one's mind and if they could see images eventually. She asks, if someone has this and then all of the sudden can see images within her mind, would this be a sign of a God?
Paul in the UK is calling in about the Kalam Cosmological argument and has a bit of an adjustment to it. He’d like to run through the premises with Jmike and Dan and see where we all end up with it.
That’s our show for this week, please continue to be safe in your area, get vaccinated if you can, and continue to wear your mask. The world is better with you in it. See you next week!
Hello everyone! It's Friday which means another episode of Truth Wanted is going to get sent to your eyeballs from the illuminated pixels on your screen. This week, ObjectivelyDan is joined by Rudy Bee. Our first caller of the evening is Shaun from the UK who wants our host’s take on the extent to which math correlates to reality and truth, or whether the subject falls under sophistry. Up next is Rahul from MD who claims to have precognitions of events. How do we separate precognition from a person unconsciously reading external stimuli and environmental changes? Next is Autumn from CA. The caller wants to talk about cult psychology and to better understand the differences between cults and religions. Our next caller is Omniskeptic from Canada. The caller proposes that if a person’s morality is based upon what will get themselves and others to heaven or utopia (with regards to a divinely established objective morality), then how does one account for a constantly changing morality without reaching an unstable version of heaven or utopia. Thank you all so much for watching this week's episode of Truth Wanted! We hope you enjoyed the show! Until we see you again, stay safe out there and keep wanting the truth.
What do you call a baker without an oven, a butcher who turns vegan or a plumber that doesn’t… plumb? How about someone who is alosexual and between relationships or a swinger who doesn’t swing? This week Helen Greene from Recovering From Religion joins Nate and Christy in understanding monogamous bisexuals, single poly people and dusty and rusty personal adjectives. Identity politics, unused labels and your calls on this week’s SecX! ► Jump-start your recovery at https://www.RecoveringFromReligion.org/ ► Dive deeper into the episode and find more information at https://www.vcatx.com/media/passing Sexual Intelligence: What We Really Want from Sex--and How to Get It by Marty Klein Come as You Are: The Surprising New Science that Will Transform Your Sex Life by Emily Nagoski
Welcome to AXP! Jenna Belk is back in the cohost chair alongside Matt Dillahunty to tackle all the calls.
First up, Peter in England argues that convincing people atheism is correct is futile because books like the Bible don’t convince anyone. The Bible does convince people, even today. Some people might not change their mind, but the ACA has absolutely helped people find their way out of religion.
Nicole in MD asks why we hate Jesus. We don’t hate something that there is no evidence it even existed, let alone was divine. We can’t tell if your experiences are from Jesus. Until there is evidence there is a god, we won’t believe.
Alejandro in CA says atheism is just an opinion. No this is foundational, disbelief is the default until you’re convinced otherwise. We don’t just assume atheism. Convince us of your god or go away.
Joe in WI asks how sound is the argument that Abraham made it all up, arguing there was not a monotheistic god until then. It seems it’s more henotheistic is the belief that there are other gods but ours is the greatest one.
Michael in MI claims the rich history of theism in the history of western philosophy has been largely ignored. What? DMT? Hallucinogens aren’t a path to truth. Space & time can’t exist outside of the mind? Email us, this isn’t for the show.
Sean in FL asks if we disagree there was a 50% chance the universe was created. Yes, but we are not saying it’s more likely than not anything. Why are you shifting the burden of proof? Defend how you can put a probability on god.
Manuela in Brazil is frustrated that people don’t question religion more given that religion causes lots of harm. We respect people's right to believe but it is the single most important question. Indoctrination is powerful, some people may not see the harm done and can’t even question it
Last caller, Lethe Water noticed recently that prayer never worked for him. The Bible says that 2 or more people gathered will get anything granted. So any 2 theists should get any wish granted. Prayer has done nothing except to make some people, in a study, do worse. If prayer works, why isn’t a god helping?
Please stay safe, wear masks, social distance & get vaccinated.
Bertrand Russell, Jim Bakker, Gov. Abbott and teaching the “good” of slavery.
The Non-Prophets, Episode 20.20 airing Sunday, May 16th at 3PM CST featuring Malty, Jena Miyu, Laura Magee and Guest Host Katie Stewart, Associate Producer of the ACA.
This week’s episode of The Non-Prophets welcomes Katie Stewart as the hosts cover recent news out of the state of Louisiana where State Representative Raymond E. Garofalo brings forth a bill attempting to enforce teachers to not discuss “divisive concepts” and instead pushing for them to emphasize “the good of slavery.” What?! Also, we give a mention to the FFRF for winning a recent court battle over a Nativity scene, and it looks like Jim Bakker was looking to return back to prison over a COVID cure scam. Lastly, we round out the episode with a “Looking Back” segment on the work of Bertrand Russell.
Article 1: Teaching the ‘good of slavery’ Forbes Louisiana Lawmaker Argues Schools Must Teach ‘Good’ Of Slavery By Nicholas Reimann Apr 28, 2021 http://tiny.cc/np_goodofslavery
Associated Press [AP] Bill targeting critical race theory divides La. lawmakers By MELINDA DESLATTE April 27, 2021 http://tiny.cc/np_racetheory 2021 Regular Session HOUSE BILL NO. 564 BY REPRESENTATIVE GAROFALO pursuant to ~~~ the Constitution of Louisiana. https://bit.ly/3hlF0mE
People in Alabama Insist Slaves Were Not Treated Badly in Viral Video BY SEREN MORRIS April 28, 2021 http://tiny.cc/np_alabamaslaves
Article 2: Texas Nativity May Finally Be Getting Some Competition FfRF FFRF wins major court victory against Gov. Abbott censorship http://tiny.cc/np_ffrfwin U.S. District Court Ruling and Order http://tiny.cc/np_courtruling
Article 3: Convicted Fraudster and Televangelist Jim Bakker Fears Bankruptcy After Selling Fake Coronavirus Cure http://tiny.cc/np_jimbakker
Jim Bakker Really Wants You to Think He Can Cure Coronavirus” Parody News Video from VICE News: http://tiny.cc/np_jimbakkervideo
“Looking Back” - May 18: Bertrand Russell http://tiny.cc/np_bertrandrussell Bertrand Russell - Stanford Encyclopedia -http://tiny.cc/np_bertrandrussell2
It’s Sunday folks, it’s time for some atheist church, and our favorite ACA show Talk Heathen! We start today with a brand new intro, neat! In today’s episode, Johnny P. Angel is joined by Kenneth Leonard. Let’s get to calls! Leo from Wisconsin would like to talk about how he moved to a more conservative area for work and is seeking advice on how to find like-minded people in his new city. He is also curious about how to speak to his new coworkers and new friends. Levi in Colorado is up next, he asks if there is a growing “othering” happening surrounding the acceptance of the COVID vaccine and the conversations surrounding why people get the vaccine. Specifically with vaccinated people creating social barriers to the unvaccinated and how people are hesitant to be social with those that are unvaccinated. Someone in livechat said this and it resonated with me: "I should have the autonomy to reject a vaccine, but you should not have the autonomy to not hang out with me"? EXACTLY! Guy in Georgia is wondering about letting go of heaven after death and coming to grips with there being nothing after we pass away. You’re a good guy Guy, call us back and regale us with stories about growing up with a Southern Baptist pastor for a dad. We are very interested to hear about you. Tineshe in New York is asking about how to find purpose in life after deconverting and how to let go of old theist beliefs. Good luck Tineshe, call us back and let us know how things are going. Jose in California believes that souls and spirits do exist and is very convinced of this. He has seen this for himself and is calling us to explain his experiences. Hmmmm…. Sounds like sleep paralysis hallucinations or lucid dreaming though. Jessica in New York is calling about Christians claiming “mysterious ways” when she asks about why an omnipotent God would allow abuse of children to occur. They dismiss the experiences of these children in favor of a “loving God.” She goes on to ask if she is being unreasonable when she gets upset and angry about this. You are NOT being unreasonable at all! We appreciate your work Jessica and we are glad to have you in our community. That’s our show for this week, please continue to be safe in your area, wear your mask, and get vaccinated when you can. The world is better with you in it. See you next week!
Hello all and welcome to Truth Wanted. On today’s episode, P*ck is joined by Arden of Eden!
The first caller of tonight is Lucas from Texas recognizes that they have prejudices towards trans people that stem from their upbringing and is wondering if Arden can help logic him out of these prejudices. Thank you for your call Lucas and for taking the time to learn more!
Next up is Paul from the UK who believes that atheists have a burden of proof when they reject arguments for the existence of a God or Gods. This is shifting the burden of proof away from the person making the claim. If you are making a claim, it is up to you to provide the sufficient evidence necessary to support the claim.
Third up is Stephanie from Maine who wants to share their experiences as a trans person pushing back against the stereotypes plaguing popular media. The caller also addresses the discomfort that a previous caller, Lucas felt, and indicated that from their own experience that the visibly trans person he saw in the grocery store probably felt just as or more uncomfortable than he did.
Last up for the night is Jesse- from New Jersey who is wondering what Arden’s position is about a trans person disclosing their trans status to a potential romantic partner. Arden believes that disclosure is morally virtuous, but not morally obligatory.
Thank you all for tuning in this Friday! As requirements regarding masks are changing, please check with your state governments for the exact rules in your area. See you all next week!
Love is love, whether you make it while looking into someone’s eyes or clean it up with a mop and bucket. That holds true no matter how many whips, chains or octopus dildos we involve but as we work to untangle the web of love and sex and god it’s natural to lose the thread. This week The Non-Prophets’ own P*ck joins Christy in sorting through the often tricky and always sticky strings that bind us together in caregiver-little relationships. Everything from mommydommes to playful puppys, loving relationships and silly sex plus your calls on this week’s episode of Secular Sexuality!
Welcome to AXP! Matt Dillahunty is joined by our special guest Ian Rowland. Ian is and expert on cold reading and has written several books on the topic. First up, Joey in The UK asks about the basics “building blocks” of reason and how to argue with presuppositionalists. Reason is the tool that we use to evaluate claims and thoughts. It’s tough, Presups tend not to change their mind, they presuppose a necessary thing that grounds all of reality. Xeno in NC argues for the existence of god and claims he gets signals that prove his god. Is there a way for anyone to detect these signals? It’s not the same thing as a blip on a radar, we can demonstrate that. You need to prove these claims rather than trash talk. Cristian in CO claims that the improbability that whatever universe does exist is a life permitting one speaks to design. Is this the reason you believe? Life is inevitable given unlimited attempts. We can think of a better version of this existence and write a better bible, backed by evidence, than this god. Herman in VA if there is no god, how can people not perceive it? It is possible for people to believe things that are not true. We can imagine a winged unicorn horse but it’s not real. Mini in Canada argues for god's existence by refuting darwinian evolution. Evolution is the cornerstone of biology and you could disprove evolution and it wont disprove god. Personal testimony isn’t evidence of God, resurrection, or the supernatural. Stop reading to us on air, we want a conversation. Jules in The UK has seen evidence for god and thinks Matt wouldn’t believe if god came down and revealed himself. No, we have said we would believe but not follow or worship that god. If there is evidence, we would believe. Bibliomancy does not prove god and we can’t believe this wasn’t impactful enough to remember the verse. Tom in MO concluded that something way beyond anything we can understand exists that created this. You can’t just declare something is an indisputable fact. Abiogenesis has been proven to be possible, molecules for life can arise from inorganic material. Please stay safe, wear masks, social distance & get vaccinated. Ian has challenged that next week's callers present arguments in rhyme.
Episode 20.19 of The Non Prophets, airing on May 9th 2021 featuring Johnny P Angel, Malty, Neil the 604 Atheist, and featuring the return of Jamie Boone. On this week’s episode we will be discussing how Evangelicals are searching google for “Male Enhancement”. How plastics are killing our sperm. The Supreme Court has a Shadow Docket and how the church is bigoted about anesthiesa. 1. Jesus, anti-science, irresponsibility and weiners New study links evangelical Christianity to phallic insecurity in the United States (PsyPost) http://tiny.cc/np_jesusweiners Evangelical Christians are more insecure about their penis size than other men http://tiny.cc/np_christianpenissize Why Are Evangelicals Googling About Penis Size? (GEN from Medium) http://tiny.cc/np_googlingpenissize Linking Evangelical Subculture and Phallically Insecure Masculinity Using Google Searches for Male Enhancement: Abstract (Samuel L. Perry, Andrew L. Whitehead) http://tiny.cc/np_maleenhancement Unbuckling the Bible Belt: A State-Level Analysis of Religious Factors and Google Searches for Porn: Abstract (Andrew L. Whitehead, Samuel L. Perry) http://tiny.cc/np_biblebeltporn Sperm count and plastics Plummeting sperm counts are threatening the future of human existence, and plastics could be to blame (Insider) http://tiny.cc/np_spermandplastics Dr. Shanna Swan (website) https://www.shannaswan.com/ Evidence For Decreasing Quality Of Semen During Past 50 Years (jstor) http://tiny.cc/np_decreasingsperm Chemical components of plastics as endocrine disruptors: Overview and commentary http://tiny.cc/np_endovrinedisruptors Why Penises Are Shrinking Across the World (asapSCIENCE) http://tiny.cc/np_shrinkingpenises 2. Yoga in schools, watch out for the rising tide of Hinduism in the 2020s (The Guardian) http://tiny.cc/np_yogainschools 3. Religious freedom double standard: (The Hill) http://tiny.cc/np_doublestandard vs. Opinion: The Supreme Court’s ‘peyote decision’ limited freedom of religion. Is it in trouble? http://tiny.cc/np_peyotedecision 4. Looking back: Churches v. Anesthesia (Freethought Almanac) http://tiny.cc/np_christiansvanestesia Sushruta: The father of surgery http://tiny.cc/np_fatherofsurgery
Greetings Heathens! Happy Mother’s day to all those moms out there, we hope you have a great Sunday. For all you kids out there, call your mom, she’d probably enjoy talking with you. In today’s episode of Talk Heathen, Jim Barrows is joined by Rudy Bee.
Let’s get to calls! Chad in Michigan has a few things to talk about. He was recently kicked out of his dad’s home over the weekend due to listening to an atheist podcast around his younger siblings. He is now wondering how to approach and repair his relationship with his dad.
Mike in Washington is up next, he is wondering about death and loss as a secular person. He offers some words of wisdom and provides a good deal of how he personally approaches these life events as a secular person.
Kevin in New York is calling about the debate about morality and suffering. Yes, it’s THE Kevin in NY and yes he is all over the place with his questions and responses. Rudy finally asks him, “What’s your point here?” And “What made Jesus the authority on morality and suffering?”
Gary in England is asking about what Christians and atheists can collaborate on as far as social and societal problems. Oh yes! We absolutely can and should work together to make a better world.
Olena in Arizona is calling about finding religion (Buddhism) after being an atheist. They are finding great comfort in Buddhism mentally. Can you be a Buddhist and an atheist at the same time?
Jose in California is wondering if it is really necessary to provide evidence for theism. If you’re trying to convince or explain your beliefs to others, yes. If you are keeping your beliefs to yourself, no.
Up next, Carpe Diem in Colorado what does redemption and forgiveness in the secular community look like and how does it look like when we make alliances with someone who later does something hurtful and toxic without knowing it. Interesting question, Rudy has an amazing take on this.
Schell in Arizona would like to talk about her brother’s evangelical Christian family and how she can help teach the kids to stay curious and use critical thinking when they are older. Despite your well intentions, sadly it is not up to you to teach them. There isn’t anything you can ethically and respectfully do to really teach them. Maybe purchase science books for them and do fun experiments with them when you can see them.
That’s our show for this week, please continue to be safe in your area, wear your mask, and get vaccinated. The world is better with you in it. See you next week!
Hello everyone. It’s Friday which means it’s time to welcome you all back to another episode of Truth Wanted. This week ObjectivelyDan is joined by the ACA’s very own Matt Dillahunty!
The first caller of the evening is Justin from AL. They want to talk about the light topic of coming out as an atheist to grieving and ill family members. The decision that the caller has to make is if making sure that their father knows who they are is more important than maintaining peace in the relationship.
Next up is Johnny from TX who is looking for advice on how to move forward with a frustrating debate about God. The definition of God, that God begins where our understanding ends,” is fallacious. If God is beyond our understanding, how can the one making the claim even begin to define it.
Next is Glenn from PA who believes that Matt does not promote the positive Atheism that he and the ACA claims it does. The term positive Atheism has multiple definitions: either promoting atheism in a positive light, or stating that a specific God doesn’t exist or a specific belief system is wrong. The issue with the latter definition is that if the goal is to put the burden of proof where it belongs, then you want to argue against the points that are actually being presented, and not make unsubstantiated generalized claims about god’s existence.
Up next is Rudy from OH who is curious to know what our host’s favorite cryptid story is. If anyone has proof of the “Deer Man,” please call in!
Next is Evan from CO who is wondering what our host’s think about Jungian Psychology. Jungian Psychology seems to be able to provide answers for unexplained psychological phenomena. It appears to presuppose (deeper) meaning in phenomena that may not actually be there.
Our last call for the night is Joao from TX and is wondering if the platypus’ weird combination of traits are an argument for evolution. Definitely, if you look back at its lineage, you can trace the changes over time that have led to its current, seemingly bizarre form.
What a fantastic show that was! Thank you so much for joining us tonight. Please, please, please get vaccinated, and continue to do your part to keep yourself and everyone around you safe until we finally overcome this virus.
Purity Culture. Homophobia. Organ music. There’s a lot to despise about religion and the trauma that it creates but in between dunking on theists and working to unplug minds from the religious Matrix there’s healing to be had. Janice Selby, a religious trauma therapist and Conference on Religious Trauma organizer joins the show to walk Christy and Nate through the therapeutic process, to talk about the future of religious trauma healing and to offer some advice on how we can all help, plus your calls! ►Find Janice on Twitter @Wise_Counsellor and CORT at https://pheedloop.com/CORT/site/home ► Dive deeper into the episode and find healing at https://www.vcatx.com/media/cort2021 Leaving the Fold: A Guide for Former Fundamentalists and Others Leaving Their Religion by Marlene Winell https://journeyfree.org/ https://www.godlessmom.com/podcast
Welcome to The Atheist Experience. Today’s show welcomes back the man, the myth, the legend...Dave Warnock!!! Oh and Matt Dillahunty is here too, I suppose. First up, Dean in CA presents the argument that people deserving to go to hell, eternal punishment, is incoherent. We don't subscribe to an afterlife, sounds like you need to bring it up with theists. Frank in Canada argues testimonials might make Jesus’ resurrection more reasonable. No amount of testimony is good enough for us. We have no good evidence to confirm ANY resurrection but we “need” to believe this 2000+ year old myth. Steven in CO claims we are “all creators” so that proves a creator. You can’t argue that all humans are creators of something, then there is a creator of everything. It’s a waste of time to argue with fallacious arguments. David in GA claims that atheists require evidence for claims but hold a claim we don't have evidence for. Our position is I don’t know. We don't spout a god claim, we simply reject your assertion on god. CJ from the US claims we are going to “outer darkness”, a giant snake that circles the earth. Oh, it's on the internet. Paul in the UK says there is a difference in implicit/explicit atheism. You might imply a baby is an atheist but we are explicit atheists. We are able to process a god claim and so far, every god claim has not met their burden or proof. Armond in GA asks us to explain why we aren’t absolutely certain about anything. We can’t be 100% sure about anything, even reason, so we couldn’t be sure about anything derived from reason. We are all as confident as possible that 1+1=2. Mr Delicieux in Canada claims the 7 day cycle proves Jesus is god. That only proves the popularity of the 7 day calendar, it doesn’t come close to proving Jesus is god. Regardless, you can’t use the bible to prove the bible. Ahmed in OH claims Matt causes him to believe in Islam more because Matt has disproved the Christian god to him. You don’t have to pick any god. There needs to be evidence of Allah, especially if he designed anything. Life makes more sense when you don’t attach a god to it. Helen in NC asks where is the proof that there is a common ancestor between apes and humans. The fusing of chromosome 2 is practically undeniable. Go study the science, this is not a controversy to atheists. Scientists simply follow the evidence rather than starting with a fixed position. Can’t you just take anything on faith? Joshua in ID asks about our stance about not being able to prove anything. On an earlier call, we were talking about the resurrection claim. However, some biblical claims we can accept, others we need evidence. Jason in TN asks if visibility is required for a god to exist. No. Air is not visible but it's detectable. Sorry I couldn’t document more of your Christian talking points, we’re out of characters… Stay safe, wear masks, & get vaxxed.
Episode 20.18 of The Non Prophets, airing on May 2nd 2021 featuring Laura Magee, Arden of Eden, Cynthia McDonald, and featuring Shannon Q.
[Summary of topics covered in this episode]
1. The Independent: Beth Moore apologises for her teachings on women after leaving evangelical church. http://tiny.cc/np_twitterchurch
- Psychology Today: Who Hears the Voice of God? http://tiny.cc/np_voiceofgod
Sensing the presence of gods and spirits across cultures and faiths http://tiny.cc/np_presenceofgods
- Dunning-Kruger Effect can cause overestimations during the intuitive decision-making process. https://bit.ly/3ntQzt0
Dunning-Kruger Effect: Intuitive Errors Predict Overconfidence on the Cognitive Reflection Test http://tiny.cc/np_dunningkruger
- The Florida Department of Education is moving forward with new curriculum standards that would indoctrinate students with a false Christian nationalist version of history. http://tiny.cc/np_floridadoe Christian nationalism should not be taught in public schools! http://tiny.cc/np_christiannationalism Arkansas and FFRF http://tiny.cc/np_arkansasffrf Here’s the Bill - [AR] HB1701 http://tiny.cc/np_arhb1701
Happy Sunday Heathens! In today's episode, Eric Murphy and Vi La Bianca are here to answer all of our caller’s burning questions. The first call this afternoon is Brenda from MN who believes that philosophy is objective and constant for everyone, and is not opinion based. They define opinions as beliefs, and truth as a subset of belief. The caller argues that subjective experiences of individuals and groups are irrelevant to the philosophical discussions. The next caller is Paul from England who wants to argue about the definition of Atheism, and has a cosmological argument for the existence of God. We do not know what we do not know, therefore, making indemonstrable assertions about a god’s characteristics doesn’t get us any closer to proving that God’s existence. Up next is Xeno from NC who wants to tell the hosts about how programming is what led them to belief in a god. When you create a program that makes use of time, you are not creating time. You are setting up rules that the program follows in conjunction with time. Next is Charismatic Catholic from Texas. They are wondering if the claim that Jesus rose from the dead after three days is unreasonable. As we cannot go back in time to evaluate what actually happened, and we have any other reliable experiences with a person rising from the dead, we don’t have any good reason to accept that claim. Alan from Mexico is arguing that the Bible was written by God through humans, and that the rules outlined in the Bible, like circumcision, are divinely intended. Our final call for today is Maya from GA who is wondering why prayer helps reduce their anxiety. Prayer can work very similarly to other mindfulness exercises such as meditation since it allows you to ground yourself and focus on what steps need to be taken to work through your anxiety. Thank you so much for calling! Thank you all so much for watching today's episode of Talk Heathen! Enjoying the show and looking for more, why not check out some of the ACA’s other shows! We guarantee you’ll find something you’ll like.
Hello all you truth seekers and welcome back to Truth Wanted! This week, our favorite vulcanized rubber disk, Pck, is joined by God is Grey! Pck us actually the only vulcanized bit of rubber that we own here at the ACA so he is our favorite by default.
Our first caller this evening is Justin from AL who is wondering if Brenda believes that the flood really occurred. The caller also wants to understand why his friend believes what is said by Jesus in the Bible without question.
Next up is Tralian from AZ who wants to tell us about a supernatural experience. Eyewitness testimony is demonstrably unreliable, especially testimony that is being given after 40 years. No one is suggesting that the caller’s mental faculties are degraded or that he was hallucinating, but we all perceive events differently and our perception may not align with what actually happened.
Next is Nate from Canada. The caller wants to ask how Brenda reconciles Jesus’ potentially bad advice. The issue is that you can create any kind of Jesus that you want when you read the Bible, and that the image of Jesus that you create is going to align with the lens that you had going into it.
Up next is Keith from FL had concerns with the use of the “God of the Gaps” fallacy and then ending the conversation there. It is good to point out logical fallacies because argument is fallacious and not worth directly responding to. However, rather than just ending the conversation right there, it would be beneficial to then explain why it is fallacious and try to work through the argument so that it's not just a one way shut-down.
Our next caller is Barbara from Wisconsin who is wondering if Brenda believes that God is omnipotent, and how she reconciles with problematic parts of the Bible that were never corrected.
The show’s final caller is Sven from WA who wants to know what keeps Brenda in her faith. The caller mentions that belief in the afterlife is important to him and his connection to his family, and is curious to know what specifically keeps Brenda attached to her own faith.
What a show! I mean what a show! If you agree, please give the episode a big like! As always, we at the ACA hope you continue to stay safe! See you next week!
After to much time beating around the bush and conversations with some of the most successful legal sex-workers of our era, it’s past time we discuss the decriminalization of sex work. Why is sex legal until it costs money? Why are sex workers adamant that legalization will lead to even greater injustice? What wind is the political wind blowing and please won’t anyone think of the children? Jack Parker joins the show to answer these questions, your questions and more!
Episode 20.17 of The Non Prophets, airing on April 26 2021 featuring P*ck, Laura Magee, and Arden of Eden.
This week, we talk about atheists and their place and perception in modern society, some misunderstood allegations about homeschooling, some global tendencies of those who are not religiously affiliated, and we’ll end by grading a top ten list that says who we are.
TOPICS LIST:
Topic 1: How can both of these be true? Atheism is declining, says report; what should Christians do? http://tiny.cc/np_atheismdeclining
Church membership is in a freefall, and the Christian right has only themselves to blame http://tiny.cc/np_churchdeclining
Topic 2: Home schooling in the time of COVID Newsweek: Atheists Hate Homeschooling Because Kids Spend Time with Their Parents http://tiny.cc/np_atheistshomeschooling
Topic 3: Not saying ‘correlation equals causation’, but… Religiously unaffiliated people more likely than those with a religion to lean left, accept homosexuality http://tiny.cc/np_nonreligiousleft
The Gender Puzzle http://tiny.cc/np_genderpuzzle
Topic 4: Let’s see how accurate this is 10 facts about atheists http://tiny.cc/np_atheist10facts
Welcome to The Atheist Experience. For today’s show, we have Mandisa Thomas joining Matt Dillahunty to field your calls. First up, Frank in Hong Kong asks advice about lying to family about his religion, he is ex-Muslim and has a strained relationship with his family. We encourage all atheists to come out, only if they are comfortable and safe. Jedidiah in WA argues god exists because concepts in your brain exist in reality. Have you heard of equivocation fallacies? There exists a concept of a unicorn in my mind, but unicorns don’t exist in reality. You are confusing the map for the place. Jake in TN argues that Christianity is a reasonable belief to hold. He goes on to claim the bible is “100% god breathed”. Uh oh, the “context” argument for slavery. Stop listening to apologists and read your bible, start at Exodus 21. Chris in OK asks if we believe the apostles were martyred. Someone dying for a belief has no bearing on the validity of that belief, just that someone was willing to die for that belief. We don’t have a way to assess their beliefs. It’s just a story from a book passed down through copies and translations. The story doesn’t make sense, why can’t god appear and clear all this up? Zander in OR wanted to talk about the Dawkins tweets. Matt has covered the topic, today’s not the day for that. Michael in FL argues the bible is a good educational tool mainly because it uses poetry, analogies, and metaphors to convey a topic. The perfect word of god should be clear, not full of parables and analogies? If man wrote the bible, how can you tell what is from god or from man? John in CA argues he could solve any “stumper” we have with Christianity. Why won't god reveal himself. Yeah...we’re not accepting that humanity has to end before that happens Evelyn in OR asks why we lack beliefs in any gods. Simply put, we haven't seen any good evidence for gods. We’ll believe once there is evidence. Jude in TX claims the bible doesn't condone slavery. We cover this topic a ton and we are past time, sorry. Lastly, Phee in GA asks if there are circumstances where tactful discrimination is warranted for people that are religious, anti-humanist, and/or detrimental to humanity? There are times where you may need to exclude people from groups but not to just discriminate out of hand. We would be open to conversing, arguing, or presenting evidence. However, there should be consequences if they are a danger to other humans. Continue to stay safe, get fully vaccinated, and wear those masks so we can see ya next week!
Greetings Heathens! Hope you are still being safe out there! We hope to be a sanctuary for you in this chaotic world. In today’s episode of Talk Heathen, Vi La Bianca is joined by Godless Engineer. We are glad you’re here with us today!
Let’s get to calls! Returning caller Scott from South Carolina would like to talk about the problem with evil. He called a couple weeks ago and is calling today to follow up with more discussion about it.
Joe in Kansas is up next, he would like to talk about biblical morality. He asks how do we know certain cultural practices are bad (such as slavery) while still participating in that cultural practice when we wouldn’t know any better. This has everything to do with cultural/social constructs and basing morality on an external being that also regulated it and did nothing against it.
Jude in Texas, is also calling about slavery in the bible and how Christians can’t be both a slavemaster and a redeemer. He goes on to try to prove that God doesn’t condone slavery, using Exodus 21:16 as his gotcha passage. But, he is wrong as that passage talks about taking/kidnapping fellow Isrealites and turning them into slaves, LOL and goodbye!
Billy in Texas is wanting to talk about his beliefs and how the natural world has hallmarks of being designed by a creator. He claims that the genome couldn’t possibly be natural. Billy, you’re willing to say we’ve barely scratched the surface on the science, but yet putting forth a claim about this science, that does not compute.
Kevin in New York is calling back, this time wanting to talk about his claim about there being science in the Bible and he specifically mentions black holes in the book of Enoch. He so much wants to find meaning in these poetic passages, but it’s just not there.
George in Oklahoma, was a previous caller who attended church service with a friend and this friend kept him isolated. In our experience, do we find it easy to maintain friendships with believers and how has it affected us?
Up next, Matt in Maryland is struggling with the origins of the universe (or “a universe from nothing.”) Is this the scientific nothing where there are charged particles (there is still something there,) or the creationist apologist’s version where there is literally absolutely nothing. You know what, there is no harm in saying ‘I don’t know.’
That’s our show for this week, please continue to be safe in your area and keep wearing your mask even if you’re vaccinated. The world is better with you in it. See you next week!
Hello everyone! It's Friday which means another episode of Truth Wanted is going to get sent to your eyeballs from the illuminated pixels on your screen. This week, ObjectivelyDan is joined by Matthew J. Distefano. First call of the night is Nick from California who is curious to why more Atheists and skeptics aren’t investigating the supernatural such as paranormal activity. Part of the reason is that these phenomena have been instigated by skeptics in the past and the results didn’t point to a supernatural cause. There is also the factor of cultural beliefs impacting a person’s interpretation of events to match their preexisting beliefs. Next up is Mohammad from California who wants to explain what caused them to become more religious, as well as the reason why they are becoming less convinced in their belief in a god. Our next caller is Adrian all the way from Jamaica. They are wondering how they can go about telling others that they are Atheist. Remember when coming out as an Atheist is to make sure that you are able to do so without impacting your physically safe. While it is nice to be able to have these discussions with others who may disagree with you, those conversations are not more important than your own personal well being. Our final caller is Nate from Canada who wants to talk about the haunted house they used to live in. The caller recounts the many experiences where their family heard footsteps leading up to the front door, but whenever they would check, there was no one there. Thanks for sharing your story with us Nate, it was a wild ride! Thank you all so much for watching this week's episode of Truth Wanted! We hope you enjoyed the show! Until we see you again, stay safe out there and keep wanting the truth.
On a scale of Marsha P. Johnson to Tyler Perry, just how is queer acceptance progressing in black communities? And does that change if you believe in heaven or ride Lil Nas X’s pole down to Montero? Black Nonbeliever, atheist and activist Kevon Cameron joins Rudy Bee and Christy in breaking down the double duty of racism and homophobia inside and outside of black churches, and to recommend a way away from hate across queer culture, plus your calls!
►Find Kevon and Black Nonbelievers, Inc. @BlackNonbelievers or at https://blacknonbelievers.org/
► Dive deeper into the episode and learn more about homophobia and black communities at https://www.vcatx.com/media/blackhomophobia
The Non-Prophets 20.16 2021-04-14 Martin Robert, Neil the 604 Atheist, Laura Magee, Phoenix
On this week’s episode of the Non-Prophets, we discuss some great topics. Phoenix opens up the floor with some history about Madalyn Murray O’Hair, the life and times of one of the most prominent atheists in America. Next, Laura and Martin discuss how religiosity influences a greater wage gap, as opposed to more secular workforces which tend to have a smaller gap. After that, our hosts go over the ins and outs of Scientology’s monetary habits, and how they may be losing their financial foothold as a non-profit. Our fourth article is about the Freedom From Religion Foundation and how they dropped a recent lawsuit after the state they were suing accommodated the FfRF’s request...or did they? Alabama sure is a tricky one. Lastly, we get into the issue of censorship in Italy and how the grasp of religiosity has been removed from their movie industry.
Looking Back... https://freethoughtalmanac.wordpress.com/2011/04/13/april-13-madalyn-murray-ohair/
Additional Articles https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madalyn_Murray_O%27Hair
https://www.britannica.com/topic/School-District-of-Abington-Township-v-Schempp#ref1203585 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abington_School_District_v._Schempp https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Atheists https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCA7B39A80C71F248 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yflQd2jyp7Y https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPrsitqV04g https://katv.com/news/local/creationism-bill-passed-in-house-headed-to-senate
Second Article: https://www.psypost.org/2021/04/religion-is-a-driving-force-behinHid-the-gender-wage-gap-study-finds-60278 https://www.psypost.org/2019/11/new-psychology-research-indicates-that-subtle-exposure-to-religious-words-can-increase-benevolent-sexism-54956 https://journals.aom.org/doi/abs/10.5465/amj.2019.1254 https://journals.aom.org/doi/10.5465/amj.2019.1254.summary
https://www.jstor.org/stable/43496468?seq=3#metadata_info_tab_contents https://www.jstor.org/stable/26303306?Search=yes&resultItemClick=true&searchText=religion+and+wage+gap&searchUri=%2Faction%2FdoBasicSearch%3FQuery%3Dreligion%2Band%2Bwage%2Bgap&ab_segments=0%2Fbasic_search_gsv2%2Fcontrol&refreqid=fastly-default%3A4cfb74c259f6801fb8e0ae28956295fa&seq=53#metadata_info_tab_contents
Third Article: https://www.smh.com.au/national/push-for-investigation-into-scientology-s-charity-status-20210401-p57fsj.html
https://www.ualberta.ca/folio/2018/01/once-thriving-church-of-scientology-faces-extinction-says-cult-tracker.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tax_status_of_Scientology_in_the_United_States https://www.theage.com.au/national/scientology-shifts-millions-to-safe-haven-australia-and-books-multi-million-dollar-profits-20210325-p57e18.html https://www.smh.com.au/national/scientology-is-shrinking-fast-and-getting-richer-how-is-this-possible-20210326-p57ea3.html
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9019027/Church-Scientology-received-30-PPP-loans-worth-4-million.html
Fourth Article: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/apr/06/italy-ends-censorship-of-films-on-moral-and-religious-grounds https://www.al.com/news/2020/10/freedom-from-religion-group-sues-alabama-over-so-help-me-god-voter-oath.html https://ffrf.org/news/action/item/38707-take-action-oppose-religious-takeover-of-public-schools-in-arkansas https://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/Bills/Detail?ddBienniumSession=2021%2F2021R&measureno=HB1701 https://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/Bills/FTPDocument?path=%2FBills%2F2021R%2FPublic%2FSB662.pdf
Ending on a High Note: https://www.al.com/news/2021/04/freedom-from-religion-foundation-drops-lawsuit-after-alabama-amends-so-help-me-god-voter-oath.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propaganda_and_censorship_in_Italy_during_the_First_World_War https://encyclopedia.1914-1918-online.net/article/pressjournalism_italy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Censorship_in_Italy
Welcome to The Atheist Experience. We had a last minute host changeup. Today we have Jenna Belk hosting and Kenneth Leonard’s first appearance on AXP! Welcome Kenneth, happy to have you as our guest! Up first, Arnie in WA asks if you want to believe something, are you choosing your beliefs? When some atheists leave their religion, they can WANT those beliefs to be true but not actually believe they are true anymore. Self deceit and brainwashing is a real thing, you may not realize you are “choosing” to believe without knowing why. Michael in OR is frustrated that biology is often left out of the conversation of if it's good to be alive, citing Matt and Jordan Peterson’s chat. Michael argues that there are biological drives to pass on our genes, so it's good to be alive. Some may not be well versed in biology, so they may not go there in a conversation. Kurt in OR had a falling out with a friend over his religion, citing an argument over proving god or slavery. Oof, we lost him...call back Kurt! Relationships can change over time, you may have to remind them your friendship isn’t affected by beliefs or argue and find some common ground. Martin in SC found Christianity to be negative and asked what atheists think of Buddhism. Well you can be an atheist and buddhist. However, it’s going to depend on the individual you ask. You might have to agree on definitions when talking to non believers. How do your beliefs/feelings reflect reality? Check out our facebook groups or discord! Joe in VA asks our takes on morality, claiming there is no right/wrong in atheism. We are very pro morality, you just have to define what is moral. We, the human race, define morality. We disagree there needs to be something “beyond us” for there to be moral actions. Sven in WA finds it hard to believe that atheists don’t comprehend what people mean by a soul (consciousness). It’s such a nebulous concept that people define it differently, we try to have them define what they believe. Fauna on Earth is super diverse, there are tons of driving forces behind evolution. How does skepticism lead to nihilism?? Wayne in OR can prove there is a god, claiming revealed prophecies. Prophecies are subjective and no, we don’t believe in miracles. How can you discern something you have no explanation for and a miracle. Uncommon events happen ALL the time, they are not miracles. David in WA argues there is some spiritual being because billions of people have been religious. Appealing to popularity is a fallacy, we can’t know something is true based on popular belief. We can’t jump to a being, god, or anything spiritual existing “outside ourselves”. Lastly, Harry in Canada claims Jesus is god because he has power over all humanity. You need to define your god before you can prove it. How can Genesis 1 prove a god, the Bible is the claim for the Bible. 7 day weeks do not prove god, you need to back up that claim with something other than the Bible. Stay safe, get vaccinated, and wear masks so we can see ya next week!
Greetings Heathens! In today’s episode of Talk Heathen Mandisa Thomas joins Eric Murphy in the co-host chair. Welcome back Mandisa, it’s great to see you!
Let’s get to calls! Hermer from New York would like to talk about how atheism is useless and how he respects individual atheists but not atheism. He goes on to say he doesn’t like atheist sorcerers, oh myyyy. And he’s gone. He hung up because he didn’t get to talk to Vi. What an interesting start to the show.
Jes in Louisiana is up next, he would like to talk about how to talk to his mom about his atheism when his mom constantly projects her views. This definitely sounds like a very one sided conversation and you have every right to set boundaries around the conversations with her.
Kathy in Pennsylvania is calling about how politicians and leaders use religion (specifically Christianity and politicians in the US) as a shield in the face of atrocities and inequality.
Mark in Canada is curious about spirit guides and he believes in spirits and spirit guides, life after death, and that mediums exist. Eric asks, is this all in your head? Pack it up folks, he claims he communicates with the other side!
Samuel in Maine wonders about hypocrisy in church. Such as pastors demonizing LGBTQ folk from the pulpit and then being caught in compromising situations. He sounds frustrated about it and wants to hear our take on it.
Sheva in Virginia would like to talk about his deconversion and how to talk to his wife about it. He is concerned about how to convince them it is ok. An added hurdle, this was an arranged marriage within the Hindu faith.
That’s our show for this week, please continue to be safe in your area, wear your mask, and sign up to get your vaccine. The world is better with you in it. See you next week!
Hello all and welcome to this week’s episode of Truth Wanted. Tonight, ObjectivelyDan is joined by Megan Lewis from Digital Hammurabi.
The first call for tonight is Lucas from Texas who is curious about what Megan’s concept of Hell and the afterlife in general are. Lucas also wants to talk about a recent conversation with their brother who claims that they survived cancer because of God.
Next up is Robert from New York who is convinced that there are “supernatural” type phenomena that exist that science will eventually one day be able to explain. While this is true, science is constantly advancing and developing new tools and techniques to investigate the unknown, that doesn’t mean that science can or will be able to explain everything.
Our next caller is David from Florida has a question regarding absurdism and the existence of God. The question boils down to how we find meaning and truth in this world if we do not accept the existence of a God, or we reject a God who fails to help us understand the truths in our universe.
Fourth up on the roster is Daryl from Virginia who wants to ask Dan’s opinion on the possibility of living forever and its consequences. Daryl’s “lore” so to speak offers the obvious advantages of living forever at a person’s preferred age range, but there are many factors to take into account and could lead to numerous disadvantages especially over the very long term.
Last up is Colson from Texas. The caller is wondering if Megan can provide clarification on her position that a God who chooses to save one person from something is condemning another if they choose not to. They are also curious about how active the God Megan believes in is in our world.
Thank you all so much for watching. We hope you enjoyed today’s show. As vaccines are continuing to roll out, please continue to remain courteous to those who are still waiting to get theirs and continue to wear your mask and social distance. To quote Megan, “Be Nice! Don’t Be A Dick!”
We’ve all got dirty laundry and while SecX viewers’ may be a bit uh, stickier, then most that’s nothing to be ashamed of. Sex is perfectly natural and while adult diapers and blackmail fantasies may be anything but, the impulses are and that’s kind of the point anyway, right? But how do you unpack all that baggage and lay out your kinks and quirks, whether in front of a partner or a professional? Amberly Rothfield, phone sex operator and adult industry consultant, has heard it all returns to the show to talk about boundaries, communication and dirty little secrets, not to mention your calls!
►Find Amberly on Twitter @AmberlyPSO and online at https://amberlyrothfield.com/
► Dive deeper into the episode and find more dirty laundry at https://www.vcatx.com/media/unpackingkink
‘The Business Of Sex’ https://www.vcatx.com/media/amberlyrothfield
Welcome to The Atheist Experience. Our special guest is Andrew Seidel with Matt Dillahunty hosting. Andrew is a constitutional and civil rights attorney, activist, and author. Make sure to visit andrewlseidel.com Up first, Chris in OK speculates that large developmental leaps/inspiration might be linked to divinity. It doesn’t seem that anything human is tied to anything divine, you are skipping lots of early human development. God should have created us with that knowledge. John in TX argues that Matt uses the argument for incredulity when talking about whether god reveals himself versus if he exists. God exists or not but talking about a god revealing himself is a different argument. If your god exists, why wont your god show himself? We aren’t going to believe first. Joel from AL argues that the US Navy confirms UFO crafts act in ways that can’t be explained, those creatures are practically a god. Unidentified means NOT identified. Don’t leap from UFO to aliens/beings. You aren’t justified in saying it’s aliens until proven wrong, you need to provide evidence of that claim. Marvin in WA asked god for a sign and an imprint of a cross appeared in the sky on a picture. Email a picture and try again.
Jules from The Netherlands claims Pangea drove human evolution on multiple continents. As far as we know, human ancestry is traced to Africa. Pangea was 175 million years ago and pre-human hominids were 2+ million years, how can Pangea play any role? Mary in FL asks if the IRS is afraid of going after religious figures that engage in promoting a political candidate? Doesn’t that give access for christian nationalists? Christian Nationalists in congress gutted the IRS’s ability to take on religious organizations. Religious orgs don’t have to open their books to the government. Peter in India has evidence for the biblical god, born again won’t die, spiritually or physically. How can you tell if someone is born again or even that Jesus said anything about people being born again christians? Regardless, history has proven every human will die eventually. Brian in OR wonders why christians feel so persecuted, citing christians being upset about lead prayer being removed from schools. They had an unconstitutional right and got mad when it was taken away. States ruled that bible passages weren’t acceptable to be read in schools. The Government should not meddle in religious affairs. Arnie in WA argues that people that say the bible inerrant are saying their interpretation of the bible is incorrect. Even biblical scholars agree that the bible we have now is not perfect, there have been scribe errors/etc. Lastly, Frank in Belgium wonders why it took us so long to disbelieve, he read the bible early on and realized it was nonsense. The simple answer is indoctrination. Some of us were raised in the church, sometimes forced, and taught not to question or challenge your beliefs. Everyone, continue to stay safe, get vaccinated, and wear masks. We’ll see ya next week!
This week we covered Lil Nas X, MSCHF and their ‘Satan Shoes’. How religious trauma is no longer a taboo subject for counselors. Gallup says that U.S. church membership has fallen below majority. And the Board of Edu. is getting schooled, I mean sued for complicity in student abuse. Links to referenced articles are below.
Lil Nas X’s Satan Shoes:
Nike Is Suing an Art Collective for Turning Its Air Max Sneakers Into ‘Satan Shoes’ Filled With Human Blood http://tiny.cc/np_satanshoes
Lil Nas X's $1,018 'Satan Nikes' Sell Out in Less Than a Minute http://tiny.cc/np_lilnasx
MSCHF ordered to halt fulfillment for 'Satan Shoes' in Nike lawsuit http://tiny.cc/np_nikelawsuit
The following is an official statement regarding the court case between MSCHF and Nike https://bit.ly/2OjUlbn
Why did Nike sue over the ‘Satan Shoes’ but not ‘Jesus Shoes’? https://bit.ly/2PYahAj
Lil Nas X - MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name) (Official Video) http://tiny.cc/np_lilnasxmontero
Lil Nas X's 'Satan Shoes' trolled some Christians. But 'Montero' is about more than that. http://tiny.cc/np_lilnasxtrolling
Lil Nas X’s evil gay Satanic agenda, explained http://tiny.cc/np_lilnasagenda
MSCHF http://tiny.cc/np_mschf
Religious Trauma is getting more attention:
Can Religion Give You PTSD? http://tiny.cc/np_religionptsd Journey Free https://journeyfree.org/rts/
Recovering from Religion https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org
The Health Effects of Leaving Religion http://tiny.cc/np_leavereligionhealth
The sad, twisted truth about conservative Christianity's effect on the mind http://tiny.cc/np_christianitymindeffect
“God, Sometimes You Don’t Come Through”: The Presentation of Religious Trauma Syndrome Through Rock Music https://bit.ly/2PnZZK9
We’re halfway there folks!
U.S. Church Membership Falls Below Majority for First Time http://tiny.cc/np_membershipfalls
US church membership falls below 50 percent for first time: poll http://tiny.cc/np_membershipfalls2
Most Teenagers Drop Out of Church as Young Adults https://bit.ly/3uxVtrt
Fewer Than Half Of U.S. Adults Belong To A Religious Congregation, New Poll Shows http://tiny.cc/np_lessthan50percent
Do you have faith? How COVID has affected religion and other beliefs http://tiny.cc/np_doyouhavefaith
LGBTQ+ students are suing the Board of Edu because tax dollars shouldn’t be spent on bigotry.
REAP Seeking safety and equality for LGBTQ students at religious colleges https://www.thereap.org/lawsuit
LGBTQ students at Christian colleges file class-action lawsuit to stop religious exemption http://tiny.cc/np_lgbtqlawsuit
Students Sue Department Of Education To Outlaw LGBTQ Discrimination At Christian Colleges http://tiny.cc/np_lgbtqlawsuit2
LGBTQ students file class-action lawsuit against Department of Education http://tiny.cc/np_lgbtqlawsuit3
Bob Jones University v. United States https://www.oyez.org/cases/1982/81-3
Greetings Heathens! In today’s episode of Talk Heathen the dynamic duo are back together again, Eric Murphy and Vi La Bianca. #LaMurph
Let’s get to calls! Scott from South Carolina would like to talk about evidence for God and the Problem with Evil. He goes on to explain 5 stanzas that he explains his Christian based beliefs and wonders what we think about evil. Literal alphabet soup (which confuses Scott) and if a jar of evil actually exists was mentioned. Scott call us back! This was a great conversation.
Terry in Oklahoma is up next, he wants to talk about the claim that there is physical evidence on Earth for the voracity of the Biblical narrative. Oh really, please explain how you’ve come to believe this. Oh no, he believes Ron Wyatt really discovered biblical archaeological relics and artifacts.
Andrew in Ohio is calling about his beliefs in the God of the Bible and also believes it is wholly accurate, inerrant, and historically true because of the authorship of the Bible. That’s like saying Harry Potter and wizards are real because it is set in London. Also Andrew, please don’t call back, you were being incredibly dishonest in your arguments.
David in Washington is asking about signs, miracles, and personal revelations and how they figure into beliefs. Vi also breaks down their perspective on personal revelation and how erroneous it can be. Oooh, if you do have photographic evidence, please do send it to us! Hmmm, maybe it’s pareidolia...
Krishan in New Jersey is curious about what merits reasonable belief. It can completely depend upon you and how you feel about that belief, how much it impacts you, and whether there is enough evidence to support this belief.
Kevin in New York (yes, THAT Kevin) is calling back to talk about how he has an update about the actual authors of the Bible. Ooooooh! Call back next week Kevin!
That’s our show for this week, please continue to be safe in your area, wear your mask, and sign up to get your vaccine. The world is better with you in it. See you next week!
Hello everyone! Welcome to another spectacular, astonishing, dramatic, magnificent, breathtaking episode of Truth Wanted: Theist Month Edition! Today, ObjectivelyDan is joined by Jo Luehmann.
Our first caller of the night is Lee from Canada who is wondering what Jo’s take is on Liberation Theology. While Jo disagrees with some of the theological parts of it, she agrees with the ideology’s fundamental concern for the most socio-economically oppressed groups, and its advocacy to actually work to help uplift them in this physical world.
Next up is Andrew from OH. The caller wants to talk about the consequences of Jehovah’s Witnesses banning blood transfusions. The issue is literally life threatening, and while as a person you cannot force a person to undergo a blood transfusion, the indoctrination of such harmful and abhorrent beliefs should be called out and protested.
Gabriel from the USA is next and is wondering what Jo’s take on salvation is? Jo doesn’t believe in Heaven or Hell, but instead defines salvation not in regards to an afterlife but in accordance to escaping systems of oppression.
Capt. Dad Pool is flying in to see what our hosts think about progressive christianity and whether it is just a stepping stone to Atheism. Everyone has different experiences with Christianity. There are many many cases where Christianity is a toxic, oppressive force while there are other examples where people’s experiences with it, both as believers or non-believers, are more positive.
The last caller of the night is Keith from FL. They are wondering if Jo believes in any form of God since she doesn’t believe in an entity God. Jo defines divinity as mystery and defines prayer coming to terms with one's subconscious and dealing with personal trauma. While she doesn’t believe in a supernatural version of Christianity, she continues to use the label as a method protesting the oppression and other harm that has been done in its name.
What an amazing show! Thank you for watching Truth Seekers! Stay safe out there and we hope to see you back here next week for another episode Truth Wanted!
In our ongoing quest to explore the spectrums of life and trick people into googling the phrase ‘bimodal distribution’ we return again this week to the spaces between. Author Dianna Anderson, enby writer of Damaged Goods: New Perspectives on Christian Purity and Problematic: How Toxic Callout Culture Is Destroying Feminism joins Rudy Bee and Christy in discussing their new work on the history of non-binary culture. Join us between the poles and connect with the past, plus your calls!
►Find Dianna’s books at http://diannaeanderson.net/ and their sick twitter burns @diannaeanderson
► Dive deeper into the episode and learn more at https://www.vcatx.com/media/enbynity
Stone Butch Blues
Novel by Leslie Feinberg
Transforming: The Bible and the Lives of Transgender Christians
Book by Austen Hartke
The Way We Never Were
Book by Stephanie Coontz
Happy Zombie Jesus Day!! Welcome to The Atheist Experience.
Today’s show features Jenna Belk and Jim Barrows. Sadly, we couldn’t talk Jim into a bunny costume for today... Up first, David in CA is hopeful for a time where our show is no longer needed. While the goal is to make this show unnecessary, we definitely aren’t there yet. Believers born into a religion is an example of indoctrination and our show tries to help them out of it. Xeno in NC argues there is scientific evidence of god, saying you have to understand empiricism before you can get to god. If your senses can be fooled, how can you get to the “truth” with a flawed system. We agree the color red exists so colorblindness is an example of your senses being flawed. Mohammed in FL has proof that Muhammed never existed, arguing he was not mentioned in contemporary history. How can you begin to prove anything never exists? It sounds like the Jesus mythicist position. We aren’t looking to debate history, checkout facebook and discord. Ulrich in Mexico claims that we are all satanists, the AXP logo shows a broken cross, and we like satanists more than christian. If you claim that atheists deny god/satan, how can we serve satan? The “satanists” you claim we like are from the satanic temple, which are atheists fighting for separation of religion/government. Robin in DC asks if we are hard, or soft, atheist? He defines god as that which is the fundamental, personal cause, and grounds for all reality. Until you prove your god, the only rational position to take is I don't know. You can’t just claim there is no neutrality… We don’t flat out deny there is a god, but atheists aren’t a monolith. Both sides of the claim need supporting evidence, so one more time for those in the back….I DON’T KNOW is an appropriate answer. Justin in AL argues that there may be creatures in the universe that are more evolved that we are and may appear as a god. Given that claim, why would we call them gods? Just because it's possible, doesn’t mean that it's probable. Jo in Canada is a theist and is pro-choice, arguing that pro-life should mean promoting the wellbeing of life of everyone. No matter what, it should always be the woman’s choice to continue pregnancy. Why follow a religion that is unclear on terminating a pregnancy but is absolute that you can’t drink alcohol? At least you are honest in saying you don’t know! Zord in Sweden argues that if a god exists, it's more reasonable to listen to it versus another human. The problem is that we don’t know if a god even exists. How can you get to a being, let alone a creator god. We don’t have the time for more “what if” scenarios, sorry. Lastly, Michael in CT calls to falsify darwinism. Darwinism is just evolution. The scientific theory of evolution is pretty much set in stone, to overturn it would be wor;d view altering. So tell us, how did you overcome all the evidence of evolution?? Hope you enjoyed today’s show. Everyone, continue to stay safe, get vaccinated, and wear masks. We’ll see ya next week!
Episode 20.14 of The Non-Prophets airing April 4th featuring Jena Miyu, Arden of Eden, Mikey Famine and guest host Christy Powell of Secular Sexuality.
This week’s episode starts with recent news from China and how the Chinese education system is pushing for teaching masculinity to young boys in school due to illegitimate fears of an effeminate take over. To no one’s surprise, the Catholic Church recently changed its stance on same-sex unions. Hear what the hosts have to say about the Vatican’s reasons of why Pope Francis’ original statements on same-sex unions have been taken out of context. In our “Shit Apologists Say” segment, the host comment on a recent interview from a former transgender woman, now transitioned man and Christian apologist Walt Heyer and how his faith and unfortunate experience is setting a bad precedent of misinformation regarding transgender people. In our final segment, the hosts positively reflect on the importance and meaning of March 31st, 2021, which marked the 12th annual International Transgender Day of Visibility.
1st Article: The “Masculinity Crisis” in China [ 15 min. ] Main Article https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/china-proposes-teaching-masculinity-boys-state-alarmed-changing-gender-roles-n1258939 Supplemental Links https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/05/world/asia/china-masculinity-schoolboys.html
2nd Article: (Un)Bless-ed Are the Same-Sex Unions [ 20 min. ] Main Article https://apnews.com/article/vatican-decree-same-sex-unions-cannot-bless-sin-077944750c975313ad253328e4cf7443 Supplemental Links https://www.francescofilm.com/ - Link to documentary referenced in main article that Pope Francis was quoted in https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2021/03/15/0157/00330.html#ing - Link to two-page response and negative vote from Pope Francis regarding the blessing of same-sex unions 3rd Segment: [ SHIT APOLOGISTS SAY ] - Walt Heyer: The Apologist Formerly Known as Laura Jensen [ 20 min. ] Main Article https://www.christiantoday.com/article/what.drives.people.to.reject.their.own.gender/136549.htm Link to Walt Heyer’s Website: https://sexchangeregret.com/ Supplemental Links https://issuu.com/lgbtagingcenter/docs/usts-full-report-final
4th Segment [ POSITIVE REFLECTION ] - March 31st, International Transgender Day of Visibility [ 20 min. ] Main Article https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2021/03/23/trans-day-of-visibility-2021-international-transgender-theme-events/ Links to groups/organizations/charities to support trans communities All About Tranks (UK) : https://www.allabouttrans.org.uk/about/support-organisations/ American Based Organizations : https://www.shondaland.com/act/a27789423/24-lgbtq-organizations-support-right-now/ Get out and vote. Contact Governor Hutchinson and urge him to veto HB 1570 @ https://governor.arkansas.gov/online-services/contact-us/ or call him @ (501) 682-2345 Contact Alabama Governor to do the same over SB-10 @ https://governor.alabama.gov/contact/
Greetings Heathens! Spring is in the air for the northern hemisphere, and apparently it’s also some Christian holiday of some sort today. Today’s episode of Talk Heathen is brought to you by chocolate bunnies, hidden easter eggs, and weekend zombies. Today, Eric Murphy is joined by Christy Powell from fellow ACA show, Secular Sexuality. Thanks for joining us Christy!
Let’s get to calls! Kale Chip from Kentucky is calling again, they called last week about setting boundaries with Christians surrounding a friend’s death. Today’s call is a bit of an update on their situation and what they were able to do.
Laura in Arizona is up next, she would like to talk about the problem with evil and how a good God could allow this evil to exist. Hmmm… sounds like an abusive relationship to me rife with gaslighting, abuse, and victim blaming.
Eric in Iowa is wondering why Christians are so troubled about abortions when babies and children under 12 go straight to heaven. Ooooh, this is an interesting question and there’s quite a bit to unpack here.
Tim in Florida is wanting to know what Christy thinks about how a therapist’s internal biases can result in someone being misdiagnosed. What should the average person do to avoid this and be looking for? Trust and Verify and bring it back to that therapist if it doesn’t pass your personal smell test!
Fernando in the UK asks if being LGBTQ is worthy of death by stoning because it is demanded by the Bible. Eric asks an important question about perpetuating violence against others without the Bible being a reason. Please don’t be a horrible person Fernando… crap.
Edmond in Israel is wondering if it is ethical to hold certain beliefs when they don't hold up to scrutiny and investigation.
Up next, Lucy in Florida wants to discuss if it’s possible that there are supernatural events (like the resurrection or ghosts) that are not tied to God.
Julian in Iowa is wondering if he is just going to be an angry atheist because of the maltreatment he experienced when he was religious and being gay as well. He is looking to channel this emotion in a more positive way. Your healing process is going to take as long as it takes and is absolutely valid in every way.
We end the episode on this weird holiday, if Jesus was a lich, what is his phylactery? That’s our show for this week, please continue to be safe in your area, get vaccinated, and wear your mask. The world is better with you in it. See you next week!
Hello and welcome back to Truth Wanted’s first episode of Theist Month! This week ObjectivelyDan is joined by Keith Giles!
First up is Robert from Texas who is wondering how well known Christian apologists determine what is considered mythology in the Bible, and what is considered History. Many of the stories and their modern interpretations are vastly different from the interpretations made in the past.
Lucas from Texas is our next call who wants to carry on his conversation from last week about confronting his religious family members. This past week he asked his brother why God can do whatever he wants without consequence, and his brother’s response was Isaiah 55:8-9 (Be quiet and just do what god says).
Next is Zeph from Illinois who is wondering how the soul correlates to salvation. In his example, he mentions that his dad was a different person after experiencing a stroke, and he is confused on which version of him is going to be judged. If the soul is what is being judged, and it can be affected by physical damage from the natural world, then what even is the soul and why would it be valuable to judge it.
Next is Milo from AZ proposes the fun idea that all gods exist, but instead of dying off as they become irrelevant, they instead move onto the next stage of their life cycle.
Last up for tonight is Erik from Texas who is concerned about how much Christianity and religion is embedded in the United State’s culture. He is also wondering how our hosts deal with it. Our hosts point out that there are cultural norms that even secular people are unaware derive from Christianity. It is also safe to assume that Christianity is probably never going to fully disappear in this country even if the current trends continue.
That’s it for this week’s episode of Truth Wanted! We hope you enjoyed the show. Until we see you next week, we hope you continue to stay safe out there!
Come one come all to see these April Fools! This week’s High-Flying High-Falutin Secular Sexuality Cross Over Sextacular combines the mild-mannered reporting of the ACA’s The Non-Prophets with the wild and bawdy bacchanal SecX delivers each and every week. See the gender queers and sexy freaks as they take on the challenges of the modern news cycle and calls from our salacious spectators with special guest Johnny P Angel! It’ll be a hoot and a half you won’t soon forget!
►Catch The Non-Prophets and Christy’s special guest appearance Sundays at 3p CT https://www.youtube.com/c/TheNonProphetsACA
► Dive deeper into the episode and these articles at https://www.vcatx.com/media/tnpsextacular
Porn IS LIKE GOLF https://youtu.be/DLZZXbphQhI
The Non-Prophets episode 20.13 airing 3/21/28 was hosted by Johnny P, Cynthia McDonald, Martin Robert, and the return of special guest host Kenneth Leonard!
This week’s episode covered the Georgia shooter, purity culture, Orientalism, Reparations, Anti-vaxxer update, and the tiniest bit of the awesomeness of of Marilla Marks Ricker
Thank you all for watching, please share your feedback in the comments!
ART - Georgia Shooter, Unhealthy Sexuality, and Racism Against Asian-Americans Don’t Discount Evangelism As A Factor In Racist Murder Of Asian Spa Workers In Georgia https://religiondispatches.org/dont-discount-evangelicalism-as-a-factor-in-racist-murder-of-asian-spa-workers-in-georgia/ The Alleged Atlanta Shooter’s Church Tried to Disappear From the Internet https://www.vice.com/en/article/qjpymm/the-alleged-atlanta-shooters-church-tried-to-disappear-from-the-internet Suspect in Atlanta spa killings ‘big into religion’ https://religionnews.com/2021/03/17/atlanta-massage-parlor-murder-suspect-big-into-religion/ Woodstock Man Faces Charges As Investigation Continues Into Worst U.S. Mass Killing In Almost 2 Years https://www.wabe.org/police-georgia-shooting-suspect-may-have-sexual-addiction/ Fever Dream: An Asian American Girlfriend’s Take on Yellow Fever https://asianamericansinmedia.wordpress.com/2012/12/06/fever-dream-an-asian-american-girlfriends-take-on-yellow-fever/ Asian American lawmakers decry violence following Atlanta spa shootings https://www.ajc.com/politics/georgia-state-legislature/asian-american-lawmakers-decry-violence/5DNZ62RHENFWRLM34RSJJHPS2Q/
ART - Reparations Axios: Catholic order commits to making $100 million in U.S. slavery reparations. https://www.axios.com/catholic-order-vows-100-million-slavery-reparations-bf572234-1a14-410b-82a1-0ca91b082a09.html Biden backs studying reparations as Congress considers bill https://apnews.com/article/biden-study-reparations-congress-e3c045ece4d0e0eae393a18a09a4a37e H.R.40 - Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African-Americans Act https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/40 The Impossibility of Reparations: Considering the single most important question about racial restitution: How would it work? https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2014/06/the-impossibility-of-reparations/372041/ Examining The Black White Wealth Gap https://www.brookings.edu/blog/up-front/2020/02/27/examining-the-black-white-wealth-gap/ Evanston Reparations: https://twitter.com/AtheistBlkChic/status/1374577418950733829?cn=ZmxleGlibGVfcmVjcw%3D%3D&refsrc=email
ART - Vaccination/Vaxxhole Update Facebook found that a vast amount of its anti-vaxx content comes from a hard core of only 111 accounts https://www.businessinsider.com/facebook-identifies-111-accounts-behind-most-anti-vaxx-posts-2021-3?r=US&IR=T. Black Protestants aren’t least likely to get a vaccine; white evangelicals are https://religionnews.com/2021/03/05/black-protestants-arent-least-likely-to-get-a-vaccine-white-evangelicals-are/ Growing Share of Americans Say They Plan To Get a COVID-19 Vaccine – or Already Have https://www.pewresearch.org/science/2021/03/05/growing-share-of-americans-say-they-plan-to-get-a-covid-19-vaccine--or-already-have/?utm_content=buffer20458&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer National Update on Measles Cases and Outbreaks — United States, January 1–October 1, 2019 https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/68/wr/mm6840e2.htm?s_cid=mm6840e2_w
Looking Back - March 18: Marilla Marks Ricker https://freethoughtalmanac.wordpress.com/2014/03/18/march-18-marilla-marks-ricker/
Welcome back to The Atheist Experience. Today’s show features Matt Dillahunty and ShannonQ. Both hosts are on point today!! Up first, Ivan in Croatia wants to talk about the many problems with secular humanism because it advocates using reason to solve moral problems but people aren't always rational. What other system eliminates people's irrationality? Religion’s “moral system” isn't remotely good and forcing people to adhere to it is horrible and just indoctrination. Jelmer in the Netherlands argues there is a 3rd option to a dichotomy. God exists/doesn’t exist is a true dichotomy, there is not a 3rd option. The true nature of reality is a separate issue. Peter in India argues the bible has a lot of evidence for the existence of god, claiming only god can speak “Jesus said, unless a man is born again, he can not reach the kingdom of god”. Saying words isn’t evidence of anything. The bible proves the bible doesn’t fly here. Michael in MA claims god has been saving mankind from conjuring nations, as said in the haggadah. This is confirmation bias. Why isn’t god doing anything about this persecution? Lots of groups of people are persecuted. Your heritage does not mean god is real, the plural of anecdote is not data. Anthony in PA thinks that agnosticism is more rational than atheism & theism. Knowledge is a subset of belief. Knowledge is something that is justified and true and discovering it is wrong is worldview altering. Saying no god exists has no moral value. Anthony goes on to argue if the universe is irrational then rationality can’t be used. Only concepts can be irrational, the universe is not a concept. Austin in TX asks if atheists pray. We don’t but some people do a “call out to the cosmos” or meditate. Praying is sending a request to something outside yourself, we don’t believe that. Austin says calling someone theist is offensive, it creates an outgroup scenario. We’re the minority, we didn’t create that system. David in UT wants to talk about biblical zombies and Lazarus’s resurrection makes him as special as jesus. Do you believe anyone has ever resurrected from the dead? No? Then why are we here? Billy in TX argues he found peer reviewed articles that the genome is a code. We mean it is not a code from one intelligent mind to another. Billy then says there is no way nature can’t sequence a genome. There is a difference in a simulation hypothesis failing and something being impossible. Listen back, why can’t you say science has not discovered its impossible that the genome can produce through natural means. Lastly, Rae in MI reports that her neighbor sent a letter saying “you said that you just believe in being good, that's good but not good enough. You need to have a relationship with a higher power”. It really set her off and made her cry. Matt’s mom sent letters/emails and he had to set a boundary to never send mail again, its 1 way communication. To quote Rae, “god ain't going to show up for us, we gotta show up for each other!” Well said. Stay safe, get vaccinated, continue to wear masks, and we’ll see ya next week!
Greetings & Salutations Heathens! In today’s episode of Talk Heathen, Eric Murphy is joined by Thomas Westbrook (aka Holy Koolaid.) Welcome back to the cohost chair Thomas, we are glad you could join us today. Also, Happy Birthday Thomas! Let’s get to calls! Barry from the UK would like to talk about how to effectively promote skepticism and critical thinking in US schools. We do have an uphill battle here, due to how ingrained religiosity is here, but there are baby steps we can take to get there. Gemma in the UK is up next, they are wondering about dealing with family members who don’t accept nor respect their coming out as trans as well as navigating their beliefs as a trans person. Love and hugs to you Gemma, we are here as your community if and when you need us. You are not alone. Kathy in Pennsylvania is calling about the rise of psychics and religious belief during the pandemic. She is struggling with losing religion, what is true, and her beliefs. Sam in Texas is asking the hosts to view the Bible in a different light. Going on to ask about what evidence can positively prove the God of the Bible. Sam, can you listen for a single God forsaken second? Have a conversation with Eric and Thomas, don’t preach at them. Ugh. Worst. Caller. Ever. Kale Chip in Kentucky is wondering about attending a memorial service/altar call for a friend and being surrounded by the religious. They took her memory hostage by saying “you’ll never see your friend again unless you repent.” That’s frustrating, Kale Chip. I’m sorry that you are having to go through that, especially now. Sean in Ohio is having trouble with wrapping his head around how libertarian free will isn’t a thing. The definition here being free will in the absence of or not determined by outside factors. Also known as random. He had a followup question, it was about philosophy wondering if it is just a bunch of navel gazing noise. This caller gets me. That’s our show for this week, please continue to be safe in your area, get vaccinated if you can, and wear your mask. The world is better with you in it. Happy Birthday Thomas! See you next week!
Hello all and welcome to this week's episode to Truth Wanted. Tonight, our hosts ObjectivelyDan and our favorite piece of vulcanized rubber P*uck are going to be fulfilling all your truth seeking needs.
First up on the docket is Lucas from Texas! The caller comes from a very religious family, they’re all preachers, and they are the only Atheist. Your safety and well being are the top priority, and we’re glad you have found other outlets to at least mentally escape from your situation. Thank you so much for calling Lucas!
Next up is Roberto from Texas who wants to get into activism, but is overwhelmed by the number of subjects they are passionate about and the ever expanding amount of misinformation out there. Don’t worry about whether people will listen to you, they will. Over time, you will find an audience who appreciates your goals as an activist. As for choosing a subject, focus on one that you are comfortable with and naturally branch out from there.
Third up is Michael from Germany who is wondering what theists are objecting to when they say something can’t come from nothing. We don’t need to assert that something can come from nothing to reject the claim that everything came from God. Many of the “gotcha” attempts made by apologists are one sided, over-simplified statements that can be confusing to outsiders and do not necessarily address the actual positions held by non-believers.
Next is Keith from Florida who wants to continue the conversation from earlier on religion and racism. The caller provides an example of a Pagan organization's explicit racism outlined on its website’s “values page.”
What a show! I mean what a show! If you agree, please give the episode a big like! As always, we at the ACA hope you continue to stay safe! See you next week!
Today we’re joined by two long-time viewers of Secular Sexuality, Dishonest Ape and Ragabash Dabbler. These two lovebirds found each other in the live chat and were able to find love in the time of COVID thanks to Christy and Vi. Let’s get to know them and share in their journey!
The Non-Prophets episode 20.12 airing 3/21/21 was hosted by P*ck, Malty, and special guest host Laura Magee!
This week’s episode covered new legislation in Kentucky, religious human trafficking in Pakistan, a problematic sermon in Missouri, and how many people are starting to volunteer.
Thank you all for watching, please share your feedback in the comments!
Kentucky bill would make it a crime to insult a police officer https://www.cbsnews.com/news/kentucky-bill-would-make-it-a-crime-to-insult-a-police-officer/?ftag=CNM-00-10aag7e
Link to the bill: https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/21rs/sb211.html
Abducted, shackled and forced to marry at 12 https://www.bbc.com/news/stories-56337182
How can you report human trafficking in your area? https://www.state.gov/domestic-trafficking-hotlines/
Fox News: Missouri pastor on leave after telling wives to 'lose weight,' strive to look like Melania Trump. https://www.foxnews.com/us/missouri-pastor-on-leave-after-telling-wives-to-lose-weight-and-make-themselves-sexually-available?cmpid=prn_newsstand
General Baptist Ministries: http://generalbaptist.com/
52% of Americans Surveyed Say They Volunteered for the First Time During the Pandemic https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/52-of-americans-volunteered-for-first-time-during-pandemic/
Linköping University, 581 83 Linköping, Sweden, 2020 Crisis Volunteerism and Digital Transformation By Maria Murphy maria.murphy@liu.se http://ceur-ws.org/Vol-2797/paper8.pdf
The Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine April 23,2020 Volunteering during the COVID-19 pandemic: What are the potential benefits to people’s well-being? https://www.cebm.net/covid-19/volunteering-during-the-covid-19-pandemic-what-are-the-potential-benefits-to-peoples-well-being/
Welcome back to The Atheist Experience. This Sunday we have Matt Dillahunty hosting with Katy Montgomerie’s debut on AXP. Check out her new show, The TransAtlantic Call-In Show hosted on The Line.
Up first, Mike in the Czech Republic asks if some people are more inclined to be believers. Everyone believes for different reasons. Try working on re-rationionalizing your way through when you have these feelings and check out books on skeptically thinking. Give yourself some time.
Shelby in ME encourages Matt to reread the bible because he feels the bible is true. Is 4 times enough? WAIT, you haven’t even finished it?
Steve in OH made a bet with Matt and claims to have paid up. However, Matt has no idea what you are talking about.
Don in CA is grieving the loss of his son and is struggling with the lack of resources for atheists. Religions have a privileged position in society but they often provide false comfort in platitudes like “God needs another angel”. That minimizes the one and only life we know we have. Check out secular therapy project and grief beyond belief.
John in CA asks about the fairness of trans women fighting in ciswomen’s events, like MMA. People say trans women just dominate cis women in sport but we don’t have this epidemic that is represented in media. There are a lot of performance factors, weight class, divisions, etc. It is fair that trans women compete in sports.
Seleste in FL argues that the fabric of reality is made out of a crystal that has memory and emotions. Something smaller than an atom is not a crystal and rainbows don't come from crystals. Now water is made of crystals? Atoms and quarks are made of crystals too?? Holy crap.
Buzz in WA thinks Matt was wrong in saying nothing exists out of time, arguing that photons exist out of time. Photons move at the speed of light, that denotes time. What difference does this make? Try calling a physics show.
Arnie in WA is an ex-mormon and asks if he is guilty of the no true scotsman fallacy when he gets upset that other “mormon” callers say they believe in hell. You can define what is a mormon but the fallacy is excluding someone from that label based on unrelated things. For example, no true Mormon lives in Canada or no real christian murders people.
Lastly, Scott in Mexico asks how to tell the difference if someone is mistaken or lying when they tell me they are a trans person. It’s akin to sexual preference or left handedness in that we can’t just outright tell if someone is lying. Most people don’t lie about these things but its’ pretty uncommon. We haven’t had examples of people lying about their gender identity in top level sports.
That’s all for this week. Check out more from Katy at youtube.com/c/KatyMontgomerie Stay safe, get vaccinated, continue to wear masks, and we’ll see ya next week!
Greetings Heathens! Hope you all are enjoying spring so far. There is light at the end of this tunnel, we just need to continue to be patient. Keep being safe out there. Today’s show is really special, our dear friend Viced Rhino is joining us in the cohost seat. Thanks for joining us today! Let’s get to calls! Jason from Pennsylvania would like to talk about how fossils are created, how they are found on mountaintops, and how they could prove a global flood. “But why couldn’t these animals just swim up to the mountains and be fossilized up there?” Sigh. Chelsea in North Carolina is up next, she is trying to convince family members about a specific relative who is being toxic towards them. This person isn't listening nor respecting them and is seeking advice in how to approach this especially at family gatherings. Marcus in Illinois is calling about free will and the difference between it and determinism. He is very confused and lost about a previous conversation about it. Cameron in Minnesota is asking about a coworker’s claim about there being a lot of science within the Quran. He is looking for help on how to counter these claims since he hasn’t much experience with Islam compared to Christianity. CJ in California is wondering about micro and macro evolution and how to approach a creationist with it. "Micro vs. Macroevolution" = "I believe in inches but I don't believe in feet" Thanks Vern! Nick in Tennessee is calling about how they can be more active and supportive of the FFRF (https://www.ffrf.org) and the steps he could take to help out more. Up next, Mike in Maryland is calling in about philosophy and religion and how to dismiss God claims through philosophy. This is Vi’s favorite subject and loves to talk about this! Matt in Georgia would like to talk about how to combat potential questions from his nephew about being an atheist. His nephew is being raised evangelical and Matt is concerned about this. Our last caller of the episode, Stuart in the UK is calling about using the scientific process to help with delusions in mentally ill folks. He also is encouraging how the scientific method and critical thinking can truly open up pathways to truth. That’s our show for this week, please continue to be safe in your area, get vaccinated, and continue wearing your mask afterwards. The world is better with you in it. See you next week!
Do you ever wish things could be just a little bit… gayer? I mean whether you’re gay, straight or anywhere else on the spectrum it feels like there should be a little bit more breathing room then what super-straight stoicism allows for, or atleast a La Bianca Loophole. With so many new adjectives and labels available (hello poly viking power bottoms) why are so many of us rushing to the extreme ends of the spectrum? Join Christy, Vi and Arden of Eden as we work to untangle some toxically black and white thinking around who we are and who and how we love, plus your calls!
►Find Arden of Eden on Twitter @Arden_of_Eden and catch Trans Atlantic at 5p CT on The Line at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIv3LvN_0CNzMpSrTF9naNA ► Dive deeper into the episode and find more research at https://www.vcatx.com/media/heteronormativity
Hello and welcome to another fantastic episode of Truth Wanted! This week, our in-house truth seeker ObjectivelyDan is joined by SMiles Lewis!
The first call of the evening is Phil from Texas who wants to talk about the possibility of other intelligent beings beyond this planet. While it is true that we only have our own species as a data point, we cannot draw conclusions about the limitations of other intelligent life if it does indeed exist. Great call Phil!
Next up is Phil from Ohio who asks, assuming we have been or are being contacted by aliens, how we can account for the massive technology gap between us and them. Like in the last call, since we have a sample size of one, us, when it comes to a civilization, and we don’t have evidence that we have encountered alien species, any assessments we make on the situation would be answering one unknown with another.
Next is Sven from Washington who is wondering if our attribution of the building of ancient structures to aliens is rooted in racism tropes, or mere semantics (gods being replaced by aliens in modern times). There are definitely racist themes in some if not many of the ancient alien analyses as they imply the inferiority of ancient cultures– specifically that these cultures or races wouldn’t have otherwise been able to accomplish what they did without the help of other, superior beings.
Our final call for the night is from Keith in Maine, I mean Florida! They want to know what the most compelling evidence SMiles has for the existence of the Loch Ness Monster. Sorry to disappoint you Keith, but we don’t have much! Thanks for calling!
That was an amazing show wasn’t it, we sure thought so. If you haven’t already, please consider giving the episode a like. Finally, while we are beginning to approach the end of this pandemic’s title, we’re not there yet. From everyone here at the ACA, please stay safe out there.
Welcome back to The Atheist Experience. This Sunday we have Dave Warnock back with us and Jim Barrows hosting. Such a pleasure to have Mr. Warnock back, check out more at www.daveoutloud.com! Up first, Joseph from NV asks why humans can’t interbreed with humans since we share 98% DNA, given that other animals that are similar can interbreed. We recommend doing some more scientific research, you haven’t come close to proving evolution wrong. You misunderstand genetics and evolution. Even if you disprove evolution today, which you can’t, how does that prove god? Alejandro in CA asks if there is a third state other than exists/does not exist, arguing you can’t say I don’t know. There are 3 positions you can take on any claim. Accept the claim, accept the claim as false, or say I don’t know. Atheism is a response to a claim of god/s, not a statement that there is no god. No one has presented sufficient evidence to believe in a god, so our position is we don’t know until the claim is proven. Paw in FL claims he witnessed an exorcist of a demon and he received a miraculous healing of his broken toe. You need to think more about your god’s selective healing, when we have people dying from disease or famine across the globe….but he is going to heal your toe. Even if we received a healing, you couldn’t conclude that god did it. Elizabeth in The UK joined a church and after her son died of covid 19, they were only concerned with his beliefs and said he was going to hell and that any good mother would make sure he made it to heaven. We are so sorry. God job telling them off, we wouldn’t want to be in heaven with those people either. Check out recovering from religion. Anton in MD asks if morality should be taught in school? We agree, they should teach more ethics and epistemology in schools as long as they don't attach religion to it. We have a lot more ethical questions today than we did. Paul in MI asks who decides what is moral given we don’t have an arbiter for morality. We base morality on empathy and happiness/wellbeing. You think hell is moral? It’s not justifiable to have an infinite punishment for a finite “crime”, not that disbelief is a crime. We reject the concept of sin, let alone infinite sin. If you would kill your own kid if a god told you, you are immoral. Lastly, Lee in CA doesn’t believe and was diagnosed with apraxia, he can’t shake that sense that he has earned this affliction. Sounds like you still have baggage from those beliefs. Dave quotes Maya Angelou “Do the best you can do until you know better, when you know better, do better.” Life happens and sometimes people get sick, live the best life you can and try not to look back. Carpe the f!?king diem! That’s all for this week. Stay safe, get vaccinated, continue to wear masks, and we’ll see ya next week!
A constructive panel discussion of episode 20.11 of The Non-Prophets airing March 14th with Jena Miyu, Cynthia McDonald, Neil The 604 Atheist and welcoming back our guest host X from Utah Outcast.
This episode focuses on various international issues starting with the “worth” of managing a home and addressing the problem of period poverty. In our “Strange But True” segment, a woman claims a miracle birth and a deeper dive into the issue with miracle claims. Since March is Women’s History Month, we end with highlighting contributions of women throughout our history.
A Woman’s “Worth” The Guardian, Feb 24, 2021: By Helen Davidson Woman awarded $7,700 for five years of housework in China divorce ruling https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/24/woman-awarded-7700-for-five-years-of-housework-in-china-divorce-ruling Hindustan Times, Feb 6,2021: By Soumya Kapoor Mehta and Sona Mitra Recognising housework: Is paying the only way? https://www.hindustantimes.com/opinion/recognising-housework-is-paying-the-only-way-101612532127348.html
Addressing Period Poverty NPR, Feb 18, 2021: By Rachel Treisman New Zealand Will Offer Free Sanitary Products At Schools To Fight Period Poverty https://www.npr.org/2021/02/18/969129496/new-zealand-will-offer-free-sanitary-products-at-schools-to-fight-period-poverty USA Today Feb 19, 2021: By Kaanita Lyer New Zealand schools will offer free menstrual products. Where is the US on period equity? Far behind, experts say. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2021/02/19/united-states-period-poverty-free-products-tampon-tax-new-zealand/6797036002/ United Nations Population Fund, May 2020: By UNFPA Menstruation and human rights - Frequently asked questions https://www.unfpa.org/menstruationfaq#Period%20Poverty NPR, Mar 25, 2018: By Ema Sagner More States Move To End 'Tampon Tax' That's Seen As Discriminating Against Women https://www.npr.org/2018/03/25/564580736/more-states-move-to-end-tampon-tax-that-s-seen-as-discriminating-against-women Blume.com 3 Reasons Why Period Products Should be Free and Accessible in Public Washrooms https://www.blume.com/blogs/blume-university/3-reasons-why-menstrual-products-should-be-free-and-accessible-in-public-washrooms
STRANGE BUT TRUE: Baby Born from Wind AIR APPARENT Woman makes bonkers claim she was made pregnant by a GUST OF WIND entering her as cops launch probe https://www.the-sun.com/news/2365000/woman-claims-pregnant-gust-of-wind-cops-probe/ -Youtube- Real Stories Jul 2, 2020 Holy Scam or Miracle? The Faith Healing Industry (Controversy Documentary) | Real Stories https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XmbHMSFUNA
POSITIVE REFLECTION: Women’s History Month Jena Henrietta Lacks - https://www.pharmaceutical-technology.com/features/hela-consent-henrietta-lacks/ Cynthia McDonald Phillis Wheatley (first African American and second woman (after Anne Bradstreet) to publish a book of poems.) https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/phillis-wheatley#:~:text=Although%20she%20supported%20the%20patriots,others%20on%20liberty%20and%20freedom. Phillis Wheatley Home https://blockclubchicago.org/2021/01/29/demolition-court-looms-for-chicagos-last-phyllis-wheatley-home-which-sheltered-black-women-during-the-great-migration/ Neil Nellie McClung - https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/nellie-letitia-mcclung Outcast X Sally Ride https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sally_Ride
Greetings Heathens! We’ve got a special episode for you today, Rasputin has escaped death once again and is joining Eric Murphy on the show! Wooooo! Joking, it’s JMike. Welcome to the co-host seat JMike, we are glad you are here! Let’s get to calls! Aegir from Iceland would like to talk about why we argue against intelligent design and are justified in calling it random. Pauly in Germany is up next, asking if you’ve deconverted from religious life, how does this impact your mental health? Interesting question! Bill, a presup in Missouri, is thinking too hard and has a question about setting up a debate with Darth Dawkins. Hey Bill, let’s not call on behalf of others, we are talking to YOU, not them. They can call in if they want to. He follows this up with: How does Atheism have a truth value in reality? Oooooh, our first presup question of today’s show! How exciting. Though Bill is being dishonest and only waiting for his turn to talk. Bye Bill, here’s a tip, learn how to actively listen and not just read from your script. Returning caller Randy in California is wondering about a hypothetical, what would the long term effects of sequestering religions into specific regions, including atheists. Hmmm, what a quandary. But I don’t want to live in Florida! Rick in Georgia is wondering about how when he looks around he sees intelligent design and believes this creator/creation is all around us. He also believes that everything is logical and has a purpose. We should look at the trees that bear fruit that we can eat! Oh boy. Michael in California is calling in asking about an argument for the existence of a God creator. He lists out at least 6-8 premises that revolve around that there are explanations for everything in the universe/cosmos and this must be due to God. Queue in the category of Cosmological arguments in 3, 2, 1. Up next, Dean in North Carolina is a professional presup and wants to discuss a recent debate about Christianity and science, and the strengths and weaknesses between both participants. Umm, nah. Let’s talk about something else. He then asked: Do you think all truth can only be discovered through the scientific method? That’s our show for this week, please continue to be safe in your area, get the vaccine if you can, and please wear your mask in public. The world is better with you in it. See you next week!
Hello all you truth seekers and welcome back to Truth Wanted! This week, ObjectivelyDan is joined by Dr. Josh. First call for the night is Ally from GA who recently stopped believing in the supernatural and spiritual phenomena (such as crystal healing and tarot card reading), and wants to come out to their friends about it. They don’t want to make their friends who aren’t as skeptical think that they are being betrayed. Next up is Jay from MO who is calling to share a personal experience with God through a dream he had. The issue with dreams is just how much they are affected by what is happening in our lives, so attributing naturalistic experiences to them can be potentially unjustified. The conversation also brings up the interesting perspective of how the pull to faith, and hope that our religious beliefs are true increases when we encounter tragedy. Next up is Ed from DC who wants to talk about his research into the wife of God, Asherah and the connections between the story he pieced together from the Bible and current day. Fourth up is a return caller from last week, Adam from IL. Adam wants to double down on his use of the “No True Scotsman Fallacy” from last week. The caller still doesn’t understand that people leave their faith for a wide variety of reasons, but that just because they stopped believing, that doesn’t mean that they never did believe or that their denomination is any less legitimate that another. Our last caller for the evening is Michael from OH. The caller wants to know how we as a society can combat the rapid spread of conspiracies. One of the biggest factors in this fight is how we as a society handle free-speech on social media. Since these platforms are run by private companies, the best way to combat these beliefs that don’t conform to reality is to have conversations and guide people to ask why they believe what they believe and what made them hold that belief so confidently. What a show! Thank you all so much for watching. Until we see you next week, stay safe out there!
The internet is huge, and weird, and ever changing. While that last bit is key two things seem to stay evergreen, religiously fueled homophobia and web forums for talking about it. Recovering From Religion, one of our favorite places on the internet, is helping to host and move these conversations forward through their broad collection of resources, chat rooms and forums and Nate Smith, RfR volunteer and forum moderator, joins SecX to tell us all about it. Catch him and Christy with fan favorite Serafina Smith as we log on and dial in to take your calls! ►Join Recovering from Religion and find their online forums at https://www.RecoveringFromReligion.org ► Dive deeper into the episode and find more links at https://www.vcatx.com/media/rfrforum Leaving the Fold: A Guide for Former Fundamentalists and Others Leaving Their Religion by Marlene Winell
Fact or Fiction: Does ‘cancel culture’ work in holding people accountable? https://globalnews.ca/news/7633799/fact-or-fiction-cancel-culture-accountability/ CNN.com Feb. 8, 2021 Analysis: The end of the road for Lou Dobbs by Brian Stelter, Chief Media Correspondent https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/06/media/lou-dobbs-fox-news-last-show/index.html VULTURE JAN. 18, 2021 Simon & Schuster Cancels Senator Josh Hawley’s Forthcoming Book After Capitol Riot By Chris Murphy@christress https://www.vulture.com/2021/01/simon-and-schuster-cancels-senator-josh-hawleys-book-riot.html The Magazine of the University of Central Florida Fall 2020 Is Cancel Culture Effective? (Opinion) By Nicole Dudenhoefer https://www.ucf.edu/pegasus/is-cancel-culture-effective/
LOOKING BACK: Michel de Montaigne Freethought Almanac https://freethoughtalmanac.wordpress.com/2011/02/28/february-28-michel-de-montaigne/ The New York Times Jun 28, 2020 Montaigne Fled the Plague, and Found Himself https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/28/opinion/montaigne-plague-essays.html Wikipedia Essays (Montaigne) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essays_(Montaigne) Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/montaigne/
- Step In the Right Direction: Daryl Davis Forbes Feb 29, 2020 How Daryl Davis Inspired More Than 200 White Supremacists To Change And How His New Platform Will Help Spark Meaningful Dialogue
Janice Gassam Asare, Senior Contributor
https://www.forbes.com/sites/janicegassam/2020/02/29/how-daryl-davis-inspired-more-than-200-white-supremacists-to-change-and-how-his-new-platform-will-help-spark-meaningful-dialogue/?sh=1bbe0403fab9
Take back control of your social media https://www.minds.com/
Link to documentary “Accidental Courtesy” where Daryl Davis meets and befriends KKK members: https://accidentalcourtesy.com/
NPR August 20, 2017
How One Man Convinced 200 Ku Klux Klan Members To Give Up Their Robes
Dwane Brown, Heard on All Things Considered
https://www.npr.org/2017/08/20/544861933/how-one-man-convinced-200-ku-klux-klan-members-to-give-up-their-robes
Welcome back to The Atheist Experience. This Sunday’s show features Matt Dillahunty and Jenna Belk tackling your calls and arguments! Up first, Chris in CA asks if something willed the universe into existence or if it was just random chance. Why assume god as a default? Try starting out with “I don't know” and go from there. There doesn’t seem to be a way that anything could exist out of time and space. There is nothing about god that necessitates creation of the universe. What if god simply does not exist? Jackson from LA asks if being an atheist means you hate lots of things? Nope, it simply means you don’t believe in any gods. Atheists aren’t necessarily bad nor are they primarily gay. You need to interact with more atheists, check out some online communities. Dane from Australia asks if we think there is order in the universe, asserting that god is the creator of order? There is evidence of some order but none for a god. Repeat caller, Michelle in UT claims beauty wouldn’t exist without god. Complain all you’d like, but you still haven’t proven beauty comes from god. Xeno in NC asks if we think it's irrational to believe in these deities with regards to how much we don't know about the universe. We don’t currently know if a god exists or could exist, the time to believe is after it has been demonstrated. How can you experience your god if you claim it chooses not to reveal itself? Jonathan in AZ asks if secular morality is objective. The foundation, well being, is a subjective decision. However, the assessments we make in comparing consequences of that action to that goal can be objective. We have no evidence of any gods existing, pointing to a god solves nothing. Intrinsic morality has not been demonstrated. God doesn't solve moral problems, isn’t rape/slavery in the bible? Kevin in MI argues that Jesus Christ is real using evidence of the holy spirit. Speaking in tongues is not evidence of the holy spirit. If the holy spirit told you what to tell us, it doesn’t understand evidence. Ask your god for a fallacy free, evidence based argument and call back. Lastly, Andrew in WA is doubting his christianity and wonders our take on christians saying atheists are controlled by satan. Some atheists don’t struggle when losing their faith, but a lot do. A fear of god's wrath or hell can be a tactic used by some religions, we recommend calling recovering from religion. That’s all for this week. Stay safe, wear masks, and we’ll see ya next week!
Greetings Heathens! In today’s episode of Talk Heathen, Eric Murphy and Vi La Bianca will be taking your calls on this wonderful Sunday! The first caller of today’s show is Robin from DC. Robin wants to know if atheism is rational. Unfortunately, the caller’s definition is entirely circular as in a world where a god necessarily exists, a necessary god exists. Before you can begin applying attributes to a god, you first have to demonstrate that the god exists and that it is necessary rather than just assert it. Next up is Jerry from NY who believes that some people are born believers and some are born non-believers. The caller claims that God knows everyone who will be born and pre-determines whether a person is a believer or not while they are still in the womb. Before reaching this conclusion, there are a lot of underlying assumptions being made without evidence backing them up. Jose from CA is calling to talk about a dream where he quoted Daniel 2-3 and believes that this was a sign from God. While the occurrence of the dream is interesting, we shouldn’t confuse what we dream with reality, nor should we assume that a particular dream is any more special than any other. Up next is Robert from MA who is wondering what positive Atheism is and how atheists can do a better job of promoting it. The goal of positive atheism is to create a diverse and welcoming community that works to make the world a better place while combating the assumption that atheists and non-believers can’t have said communities. Justin from NJ asks if the fact that all humans and animals share a common ancestor could be used as evidence of a common creator. While the caller is willing to accept that creation could have happened billions of years ago, it seems they are picking and choosing which parts of the book to take literally or which to take metaphorically. Tonloc from Texas wants to continue the call with Robin from earlier and make some clarifications on their point. The reason why we can attribute traits to a fictional character is that fiction exists and we can build upon it. We cannot begin to apply traits such as “necessary” onto a god until the god is first demonstrated to exist. Also, please consider updating your script so that when you are asked a clarifying question you don’t have to dodge five times. That’s our show for this week, thank you everyone for watching! Please continue to be safe in your area, wear your mask. The world is better with you in it. We love you all with our uncut hearts and are sending all the rainbow void bubbles we have in stock your way. See you next week!
It’s Friday which means another episode of Truth Wanted is hitting your screens right on schedule. This week, ObjectivelyDan is joined by Ross Blocher! First up for the night is Will from TX. As a former Catholic, the caller is struggling to have a conversation with their still believing sister who is having personal experiences in the form of visions and dreams. One of the ways to continue the conversation is to not outright deny their experiences, but to insert a bit of gentle nuance into the discussion to possibly get them to ask some questions about their beliefs. Next up is Joe from VA who wants to run some street epistemology on Dan. In the interview shown in the previous episode of Truth Wanted (Episode 04.01), Anthony Magnabosco is shown interviewing Dan back when he was still a believer. The caller wants to know what part of that conversation was most convincing to Dan. Entering onto the field now is number 3, Adam from IL. The caller wants to know more about Street Epistemology and if it is just a tool to create more Atheists. SE is less about convincing theists that a God isn’t real than it is guiding people to questions why they believe the things that they do (not limited to a God belief). Also sidenote, the caller should familiarize themselves with the “No True Scotsman Fallacy.” It isn’t cool to dismiss other people’s experiences as Christians just because they don’t believe anymore, or when they did, they weren’t a part of your specific denomination. Instead, please potentially consider why there are so many different denominations with so many conflicting views. That was a great show wasn’t it! We sure hope you thought so! If you want to see more why not check out some of the ACA’s other great shows? It’s still a crazy world out there right now so until next week, stay safe out there!
You’ve probably used the word ‘pandemic’ more in the last year then you ever expected- as a show built on Dr. Darrel Ray’s The God Virus we’ve definitely learned enough about viral transmission to last a lifetime. And while the current crisis may be showing only the earliest signs of abating, the last few years have brought some incredible strides in the ongoing battle with HIV/AIDS. 40 years into a global pandemic ‘the virus’ may be finally ready to give up it’s ominous title and Cynthia McDonald, an HIV case manager and advocate, is here to tell us all about it, plus take your calls!
►Find out more about Cynthia Here: https://linktr.ee/camglamming
► Dive deeper into the episode and find more research at https://www.vcatx.com/media/hiv2021
Cynthia’s Recommended Reading- https://fivebooks.com/best-books/arthur-ammann-aids-plague/
Victory: The Triumphant Gay Revolution by Linda Hirshman
Citing “Moral Failure,” Christian Apologist Sye Ten Bruggencate Leaves Ministry
BY HEMANT MEHTA https://friendlyatheist.patheos.com/2021/03/03/citing-moral-failure-christian-apologist-sye-ten-bruggencate-leaves-ministry/
Welcome back to The Atheist Experience. Today, we have Matt Dillahunty and ShannonQ teaming to answer your questions! Up first, Michelle in UT claims she saw god in creation even before she started reading the bible. We have evidence to explain how houses were created, we have no other universes for comparison. Appealing to creation as common sense is a fallacy called argument from incredulity. Have you heard of the Dunning-Kruger effect by chance? Alejandro in CA claims “I don’t know” or “I don't believe” does not correspond to reality. Asaf in Israel argues we perceive many things but actually there is only 1 thing in existence. Please define what the “one thing” that exists? Bad arguments for theism... Xeno in NC claims that there is scientific evidence for god. “Could be something” is not a definition of god. NEXT! Seth in OR claims religions all came from the same place, the first civilization, Atlantis. What evidence is there for Atlantis. Call Truth Wanted if you want to argue Atlantis. Charles in The UK claims there could be a god because of mass extinctions but doesn’t want to define god. Mike in Canada claims he believes in a creator, not a god. You have to prove that everything needs a creator. You don’t get to assert time and space were created by a creator, demonstrate it. You do not have a valid or sound argument. Khaled in Egypt argues that god is necessary based on the contingency argument. Sounds a little Canadian and/or Catholic. Ricky in UT argues the book of mormon is spot on and Jesus visited the Americas. Native Americans thought white people were gods...is this an argument that Jesus is white? Because the Book of Mormon says something is not a valid argument. Asaf in Israel calls back to tell us “me” is the one thing that exists and tries to argue that everything is everything. Why did you call back to tell us that?? Tristan in TX claims there is an intrinsic morality. Morality is not an emergent property, it’s all about actions and consequences. Is there intrinsic moral value for a can of soda? Please explain why you think there is an intrinsic good in the universe. Kyle in CA argues theism has better explanatory power than naturalism, saying there is something that necessarily exists. We reject the premise that perfection is necessary at all. The fact that naturalism may not offer an explanation does not give any credit to the supernatural. Lastly, David in TX says his church therapist tells him that he won’t have any peace or joy without god. Using a moment of weakness to proselytize religion is disgusting. Lots of red flags here, you need to find a new therapist. Check to see if he is registered with the state. What a wild show this week! Thanks for tuning in, see ya next week.
The Non-Prophets episode 20.09 airing on February 28, 2021 was hosted by Martin, P*ck and guest host Jenna Belk. We aim to discuss all of these topics with an open mind and to bring a skeptical and humanist perspective to the news of the day. We discuss the passing of conservative radio hate-spewer, Rush Limbaugh. We also talk about the crippling winter storm that wiped out the Texas power grid and public water system. We touch on the issue of school vouchers and discuss what they are and how they work. And lastly, for our looking back segment, we look at Pussy Riot and how they were arrested about 9 years ago for protesting in a church. Thank you all for watching, please share your feedback in the comments! Segment 1 - Rush Limbaugh Rush Limbaugh Leaves Behind a Conservative Movement No Longer Interested in Truth. That Alarms Me as a Conservative https://time.com/5915574/rush-limbaugh-dies-legacy/ Rush Limbaugh, Bigoted King Of Talk Radio, Dies At 70 https://www.huffpost.com/entry/rush-limbaugh-talk-radio-dies_n_5fe4e082c5b66809cb30ad57 Rush Limbaugh Did His Best to Ruin America https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/rush-limbaugh-dead-trump-ruined-america-1129222/ Let’s Briefly Praise Rush Limbaugh https://www.politico.com/news/2021/02/17/rush-limbaugh-death-469726 Segment 2 - Texas on Ice Texas power grid CEO explains what went wrong https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D84fl8UQAH0
Power comes back for most in Texas, but other problems pile up https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/power-comes-back-most-texas-other-problems-pile-n1258311 Many Texans have died because of the winter storm. Just how many won’t be known for weeks or months. https://www.khou.com/article/news/local/texas/many-texans-have-died-because-of-the-winter-storm-just-how-many-wont-be-known-for-weeks-or-months/269-0498f852-b006-4f62-81bc-3b90e4870fa8 Ted Cruz Is No Hypocrite. He’s Worse. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/opinion/ted-cruz-is-worse-than-a-hypocrite/ar-BB1dNUhQ AOC raises over $3M for Texas relief, heads to Houston after blasting Cruz for Mexico trip https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/aoc-raises-2m-texas-relief-heads-houston-after-blasting-cruz-n1258389 Segment 3 - School Vouchers Susan Johnson: Charter schools, vouchers will erode what unites us (Opinion) https://www.wvgazettemail.com/opinion/op_ed_commentaries/susan-johnson-charter-schools-vouchers-will-erode-what-unites-us-opinion/article_686136c2-9ebf-5789-ab1c-d434bc76bcab.html Segment 4 - Pussy Riot February 21: Pussy Riot Arrested for Protest Art in Church (2012) https://freethoughtalmanac.wordpress.com/2014/02/22/february-21-pussy-riot-arrested-for-protest-art-in-church-2012/ Pussy Riot - Wiki https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pussy_Riot#In_popular_culture
Thank you all so much for watching! We hope you take this information
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Greetings Heathens! In today’s episode of Talk Heathen, Vi La Bianca is joined by Johnny P. Angel. Welcome to the co-host seat Johnny, it’s great to see you again! Let’s get to calls! Gohan from Texas would like to talk about the rational justification for Theism and the rationality of Theism. Yes, Gohan was discouraged from calling in before, and this is an interesting topic. Does he change his tactics? You be the judge! Tom in Arizona is up next, he asks if we oppose religion and would we like to see them all abolished. Johnny explains his position and Vi continues the conversation asking Tom about ‘hope’ and ‘faith.’ Hiram in New York is calling about something Matt said about late term abortions on a different show, except Matt isn’t on the show today and this was awhile ago? Sigh, moving on... Kevin in New York (yes, THE Kevin in New York) wants to talk about his claim that the subconscious/unconscious mind (as well as the dreaming mind) is also tapping into the mind of God. Oh boy, Kevin that is such a deepity. So much woo. Steve in California wants to talk about aliens. (Does he know this is Talk Heathen and not Truth Wanted?) How do we think aliens exist and what do they look like? Johnny tries to tie this into the show, is believing they exist a tenet of faith? Priscilla in Washington is calling in asking about how religions tend to shame women for their menstrual cycle bar women from leadership roles. She is seeking validation in wanting to see women in leadership positions. Up next, Douglas in Canada is calling about how women in church leadership and in society can be just as aggressive as men. It’s all EnErGy folks and Vi is more emotional than Johnny and not logical or forceful because they were born female! You’re WRONG Douglas, goodbye and don’t call back. Tristan in Texas would like to talk about objective morality and how it exists. He believes he’s gotten close to a premise and would like to work it out with Vi and Johnny. Michael in Germany would like to discuss his approach with theistic arguments from his friend. His friend is now saying “Religion makes me feel good, so that’s what I’m going to believe in.” It does sound like they are on the verge of change, but it’s advisable to not try to push them. That’s our show for this week, please continue to be safe in your area, wear your mask. The world is better with you in it. See you next week!
Hey there truth seekers! We here at Truth Wanted hope you are all having a very happy Friday, or Saturday if you live in the future. Today, ObjectivelyDan is joined by Reid Nicewonder!
Our first caller of the evening is Adam from IL who was thrown off by Matt’s definition of Atheism. Atheism is a very broad term that encompasses many different confidence levels when it comes to disbelief in a god. Because definitions are descriptive, the very fact that a person can find one definition of Atheism that says its a positive claim that God does not exist and another that is merely an absence of belief shows the glaring flaw in building an entire argument over specific definitions.
Next up is Keith from FL who is curious about the ethics of street epistemology and if it can be considered manipulative. SE is all about asking questions and having thought provoking conversations while keeping your own beliefs separate from the discussion.
Tom from Ohio wants to know how we and other life can come to exist without God. As we do not have evidence for the supernatural, the null hypothesis for any questions that science asks is natural. The burden of proof is on those claiming the answer was caused by the supernatural or God to demonstrate that they both exist and are capable of accomplishing what is being claimed.
Fourth up is our first ever caller from France! Please give a warm welcome to Gus! The caller is wondering if Reid has advice on how to stay motivated to keep practicing SE especially when having seemingly unproductive conversations or conversations with people who are convinced for less than desirable reasons.
Thank you all so much for watching this week's episode of Truth Wanted! We hope you enjoyed it. Until we see you next time, keep on wanting the truth and questioning every TikTok you come across.
If SecX was looking for a soulmate, Rudy and Marie would be pretty close to the top of our list. Alas there are neither perfect partners nor podcasters, at least until Elliot Page starts a YouTube channel. Still this black and white expectation that god and destiny will bring us the perfect person is a persistent one. Host of Everyone’s Autonomous and relationship
► Find the many hats of Marie D’Elephant at https://mariedelephant.com/ ► Dive deeper into the episode and find more research at https://www.vcatx.com/media/soulmates
Struggling With Partner's Very Religious Family | Lilith-(FI) | Secular Sexuality 07.34 https://youtu.be/rULVMu3zTao VC Resources: Radical Acceptance https://www.vcatx.com/media/radicalacceptance WTF Is A Poly Viking Power Bottom? https://www.vcatx.com/media/poly-viking-power-bottom
The Non-Prophets 20.08 for February 21, 2021 with Puck, Rudy Bee, Cynthia McDonald and Malty.
Articles discussed:
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/abortion-law-protests-poland-put-civil-liberties-spotlight-n1256252 https://www.armytimes.com/news/your-army/2021/01/27/chaplains-facebook-post-denigrating-transgender-troops-under-investigation-by-army/ https://freethoughtalmanac.wordpress.com/2011/02/15/february-15-susan-b-anthony/ https://www.egyptindependent.com/middle-east-are-people-losing-their-religion/ https://www.readfrontier.org/stories/oklahoma-trying-to-return-its-2m-stockpile-of-hydroxychloroquine/
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We welcome your comments on the thread for this show. ► https://www.facebook.com/groups/nonprophetslive ► Contact us with questions or news stories at: radio@atheist-community.org
WHAT IS THE NON-PROPHETS?
The Non-Prophets is a live internet radio show airing at 3:00pm Central time and focuses on current events and commentary from an atheist perspective.
The Atheist Community of Austin is organized as a nonprofit educational corporation to develop and support the atheist community, to provide opportunities for socializing and friendship, to promote secular viewpoints, to encourage positive atheist culture, to defend the first amendment principle of state-church separation, to oppose discrimination against atheists and to work with other organizations in pursuit of common goals.
We define atheism as the lack of belief in gods. This definition also encompasses what most people call agnosticism.
VISIT THE ACA'S OFFICIAL WEB SITES
► http://www.atheist-community.org (The Atheist Community of Austin) ► http://www.atheist-experience.com (The Atheist Experience TV Show)
NOTES
TheNonProphets is the official channel of The Non Prophets. "The Non Prophets" is a trademark of the ACA.
Copyright © 2002 Atheist Community of Austin. All rights reserved.
Welcome back to The Atheist Experience. Today, we have Truth Wanted’s ObjectivelyDan joining Matt Dillahunty to tackle your calls! Up first, Travis in PA recounts a story of a paranormal experience of something flying around in his room. He now feels people can be justified in concluding the supernatural. Why couldn’t it just be a bat flying around? Right now, the best you can say is that you don’t know what it was. Alex in MO asks why Matt holds the “hard atheist” position, meaning believing there are no gods.. The world doesn't look like the world created by a god. As far as we can tell, people made up every god and only evidence will change our mind. If a god is “hiding” from view, from our perspective it's indistinguishable from a non-existent god. Heath in SC thinks there is good evidence for god, but not scientific evidence as he is supernatural. Since there is no way to prove the supernatural, how is there good evidence for a god? Faith and reason are not the same thing, faith is the excuse when you don’t have a good reason. Your misunderstanding of the infinite monkey theorem is not a good reason to believe in any god. Robin in DC claims that you won't have grounds to make any predications without being able to identify what is ultimate. We don't work in ultimates here. Robin claims god is the personal creator of all temporal states of affairs. How do you know that is the property of any god? You can’t prove direct revelation is from a god, tell god to speak to everyone… Adam in IL asks if there are logical reasons to be an atheist. No one has proved a god, so the default position is disbelief. There is no evidence the bible is the word of god. Hoo boy, the ol’ “building needs a builder so creation needs a creator” argument… Now onto “something from nothing” retort, you don’t understand big bang cosmology. Harmon in MI claims the concept of the third eye came from DMT released from the pineal gland and the pineal gland has been known since ancient times. Ancient people weren’t idiots, however the age of belief lends no credence to the belief itself. DMT is a natural process in our bodies, the body is a complex organism and we don’t fully understand every process. Olivia in TX asks why so many eye witnesses died for their religion if their religion is a lie. How do you know if there were any eye witnesses? What we have are stories designed to make you ask that question. The real question is DID it happen? Lastly, Russ in MO claims theists and atheists have misconceptions, claiming everything in the universe is in a perfect order. We didn't believe that before or after a god belief. Good luck telling us that we believe what we don't believe. I guess you have misconceptions about how to remain a guest on our show... That’s our show, thanks for tuning in!
In today’s episode of Truth Wanted, our very own ObjectivelyDan is joined by Outcast X! First up is a caller from last week, Al from Wisconsin! Welcome back! For clarification, Al identifies as an atheist, but still believes in some of the aspects of Scientology. Today, Al talks about his experiences using the famous e-meter. How can we determine whether what you are experiencing is actually a memory of a past life or a creation of your mind? Next up is RJ from Texas who is another former Scientologist. The caller recounts his experience growing up under Scientology and the effects that it had on him and his parents. He also goes into detail about the highly manipulative tactics the Church of Scientology employs to keep its members in line and disconnected from the outside world. Our final caller is Scott from Texas who wants to share a ghost encounter they believed they had, how this experience led to them becoming more skeptical. If you want to get involved in the skeptic community, don’t hesitate to put yourself out there or offer your services as a volunteer. There is always work to do! What a show that was! Thank you all so much for watching tonight’s episode! As always, especially with what has been happening this week, please stay safe out there!
Greetings Heathens! In today’s episode of Talk Heathen, Eric Murphy is joined by Denis Loubet. Denis is a longtime friend of the ACA and one of the original hosts of the Non-Prophets. Denis has one of the best voices out there. We are so glad you’re joining us today, it should be a good show! Let’s get to calls! Alejandro from California would like to talk about the definition of Atheism and how to discern if newer atheists think differently than older atheists. He goes on to say new atheism is less of an argument and more of a condition of thought and a movement. But atheism isn’t a new thing? (This guy is NOT CC btw.) “Bobby” (aka Charismatic Catholic) in Texas is up next, he wants to prove how Catholicism is true. Oh is it now? What exactly makes Catholicism more believable than all the other Christian religions? I have time, I can wait. What’s this about the fine tuned argument? Deborah in Oregon is having a bit of a crisis and would like to know our perspective on it. How can there be a God when children are abused on his watch? Eric responds, “We live in a universe and in a world that is naturally not just. Human hands solve human problems.” You are not an NPC in someone else’s story Deborah! Jonathan in Arizona is wanting to talk about if secular morality is objective or subjective. Short answer is: Yes it is. But is there an intrinsic morality to the universe? TRIGGER WARNING with this call, he asks if child abuse is moral or immoral. Ooof this guy, he is trying to use emotional appeal to try to also prove a deity. GA in Texas wants to talk about their God belief. They’ve had visions all their life and weren't raised religious. How do we know these visions are real though? GA, please go get professional help, two nerds on the internet aren’t equipped for this. Ed in Arizona wants to share his experience he has had, he’s been a lifelong believer and opposed to Atheism. His son helped convince him that Atheism isn’t so bad. Eric responds “We can work together (with believers) to build a better world.” That’s our show for this week, please continue to be safe in your area and wear your mask when you’re out and about. The world is better with you in it. See you next week!
Purity culture, frankly like most social ills, seems to work double time against women of color. Limitations on healthcare access, stiff social restrictions on dating choice and strongly enforced dependence on male providers are bad enough without having to contend with the jezebel stereotype at every turn. Non-prophet Jena Miyu is powerfully black, female and atheist and joins Rudy and P*ck in discussing the added challenges of purity culture on Black Americans. Our conversation and tons of your calls on this week's SecX! ► Find Jena and lift up the voice of a black female atheist at https://www.facebook.com/BlackFemaleAtheist/ ► Dive deeper into the episode and find more research at https://www.vcatx.com/media/blackpurity
Art 1 – Abortion law protests in Poland put civil liberties in the spotlight Abortion law protests in Poland put civil liberties in the spotlight (nbcnews.com) Also see: https://ffrf.org/component/k2/item/25602-abortion-rights https://www.guttmacher.org/sites/default/files/report_downloads/aww_appendix_table_1.pdf Art 2 - Chaplain’s Facebook post denigrating transgender troops under investigation by Army Chaplain's Facebook post denigrating transgender troops under investigation by Army (armytimes.com) Also see: https://theconversation.com/the-military-minorities-and-social-engineering-a-long-history-81796 Looking Back - Leontyne Price & February 12 founding of the NAACP NAACP: https://www.infoplease.com/encyclopedia/social-science/sociology/reform/naacp https://historicalnaacp.weebly.com/naacp-achievements.html https://naacp.org/naacp-legal-team/naacp-legal-history/#:~:text=Painter%20and%20McLaurin%20v.,the%20NAACP's%20greatest%20legal%20victories. Leontyne Price: https://www.thoughtco.com/leontyne-price-soprano-3529970 Art 3 - Middle East: Are people losing their religion? https://www.egyptindependent.com/middle-east-are-people-losing-their-religion/ Also See: https://www.arabbarometer.org/2019/12/arabs-are-losing-faith-in-religious-parties-and-leaders/ For the yuks – Oklahoma trying to return its $2m stockpile of hydroxychloroquine https://www.readfrontier.org/stories/oklahoma-trying-to-return-its-2m-stockpile-of-hydroxychloroquine/
Welcome back fellow Atheist Experience lovers. Today Matt Dillahunty is Jim Barrows, such a great duo! Our first caller, Sarah in OR is an atheist but believes in reincarnation and argues that e-meters work to show past lives. There is no scientific basis behind e-meters, it’s complete BS. Sarah has no other evidence than personal experience. We don’t believe in something without any evidence. Duke in IN claims to be a skeptic but retains belief in god, arguing peculiar experiences with a ouija board opened his mind. We wouldn’t know the cause of a ouija board getting every answer right, let alone less impressive examples. Being skeptical means refraining from belief until the claim is demonstrated. Manuel in OH asks why atheism is better than any other religion. It's not a religion, it's a label for people who do not accept the religious claim. If religions aren’t true and you believe it was a limitation on your life, all belief has a consequence. Noah in OR is a believer that became a skeptic but argues that the odds are astronomical against the big bang. If the only thing keeping you believing in god because no one has been able to prove god, thats a bad reason. Just because the odds are against something, doesn’t mean that thing didn’t happen. Michael in CA argues that god is a rational concept and has logical arguments. He goes on to define god as a mind like entity that has the ability to affect physics in a teleological direction. What is a mind-like entity?? If you can’t define your god, try again next time. Patrick in FL claims there is a problem claiming there is not scientific evidence of a supernatural god. Science is not able to investigate the supernatural, because no one knows what it is. If you advocate for a non supernatural god, that is something we can investigate. You defined the universe as a natural god, but the universe is not conscious. Cliff in MI asks advice about an attack against the kalam, arguing things coming into the universe are just reformulations given that the universe is the thing that came into existence. It could be a good rebuttal but they will try to claim there is something that did not begin to exist. Todd in CO argues science isn’t the only method to observe reality. There are plenty different methods to view facts of the world, science seeks to minimize the likelihood of being correct using rigorous investigation. “True for me” does not sound like a good method to view reality, sounds like a wild ass guess. Allan in NY asks why we won’t permit cherry picking in the bible. If the bible is the inerrant word of god, you don’t get to pick and choose. Cherry pickers are just basing it on their own preference. Last up, Chris in CA argues for the supernatural and there is something out there that reads our minds. He tells of a story of having lunch with coworkers, or thought they were coworkers. We were on a good call, or so we thought. That’s our show, thanks for tuning in!
Greetings Heathens! Happy Valentine’s day to all you Heathens out there. We love you! In today’s episode of Talk Heathen, Eric Murphy is joined by Vi La Bianca. #LaMurph Let’s get to calls! Charismatic Catholic from Texas asks, what is the best evidence for God that we have heard and what is wrong with it. Interesting question, and before you ask, this is NOT Canadian Catholic and this one sounds willing to listen and have a good conversation. Neil Spirits in Southeast Asia is up next, claiming the spiritual self is a part of the mind and body and it matters to him. Ok, what and where is the soul and where is Eric’s sense of humor? Good question Eric, we don’t know where your sense of humor is! Let us know if you find it! (Kidding, we love you!) Returning caller Kevin in New York, would like to explain religious circumcision, how it isn’t related to a medical practice, and is only of the heart. All of the what? The passage in the Bible that references circumcision of the heart is a metaphor. Vi asks the all important question, why should we care? Nick in Tennessee is wondering about anti-theism and atheism. The conversation evolves into being an angry atheist because of theism. Please don’t let your anger shut folks out Nick, because there are those that need your help to see the path out. Caller Quote of the day: “Anger is fine-tuned to inspire an action but it shouldn’t direct or guide the action.” Lisa in Colorado feels betrayed being raised religious in the Lutheran faith and also feels like she has lost something. God will do anything to promote himself and wouldn’t want to be on the receiving end of misery and suffering. She’s at a crossroads and is struggling. We are here for you Lisa! Ryan in Louisiana would like to find value in religion, but without the supernatural trappings that are associated with most religions. Great query, you should read the Skeptics Annotated Bible and the Jefferson Bible. But ultimately, why is a good question to ask. That’s our show for this week, please continue to be safe in your area, wear your mask. The world is better with you in it. We love you all with our uncut hearts. See you next week!
Happy Friday and welcome back to Truth Wanted! Today, Almost A Doctor: Matthew Rahme is joining ObjectivelyDan to carry out their weekly mission to take your calls and seek out the truth! First up tonight is Al from Wisconsin who tells us his story as a former member of Scientology. Despite leaving the church, he still holds onto some of the teachings such as people having past lives. How can we demonstrate that we have actually lived past lives rather than it just being a trick of the mind?
Next is Scott from California who is calling to see if our hosts can help clarify the concept of event ontology. While we can demonstrate that time is experienced differently depending on its location within space, GPS and Atomic Clocks play a big role in testing this, our hosts are unfortunately not equipped to fully help our caller. Thank you again for your call Scott!
Mike from Washington wants to know how we can hold individuals accountable for perpetuating unfounded claims and if we should. One way is to have conversations with these individuals and work through the claims. Unfortunately, because it is unlikely that people will change their minds after a single conversation, it can be difficult to maintain a continuous dialogue. Therefore it is much more effective to present peer reviewed evidence as refutation and get them to reach conclusions on their own, rather than levying consequences for their past claims.
Journey from North Carolina is calling to present evidence of chemtrails. He proposes that an experiment has been conducted that has detected harmful chemicals and materials in the trails left behind the jet. One of the biggest questions is how accurate these measurements were considering the already difficult task of testing single elements in a much slower and controlled environment than flying behind a jet.
Our final caller is Matt Dillahunty from Austin Texas! Catch Matt & Dan on The Atheist Experience on February 21st!!!
That was a great show wasn’t it! We sure hope you thought so! If you want to see more why not check out some of the ACA’s other great shows? It’s still a crazy world out there right now so until next week, stay safe out there!
Are you there god? It’s us, the Atheist Community of Austin. We know you’re not real but we still have some questions about menstruation. Until you get back to us, Dr. Anna, scientist, communicator and imaginarium curator joins the show to bring her biotechnical background and skepticism to bear on these socially stigmatized cycles of life, plus your calls.
The Non-Prophets 20.04 for January 24th, 2021 with Rudy Bee, Outcast X, Neil the 604 Atheist and Martin
Articles discussed on todays episode:
► Vox: "Most churches are losing members fast — but not the Mormons. Here’s why." https://www.vox.com/identities/2019/3/6/18252231/mormons-mormonism-church-of-latter-day-saints?fbclid=IwAR1EB086_kTU93EauyyFJyUDx8ChVdwvIXJv2gx1XlIo19U49ZBy0ZYuSpU
► The Guardian: "US set for flurry of ‘Christian nationalist’ bills advanced by religious right" https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/15/christian-nationalist-religious-right-legislation-bills
► Food & Wine: "Sleepytime Tea and the Little Known Religion Behind It" https://www.foodandwine.com/drinks/sleepytime-tea-and-little-known-religion-behind-it?fbclid=IwAR0jUtYe1jdp8EjOjXSBE3iayYA_cECUtWGMwoo5o1i72RrBhPj7Mz-jYTY
► NBC News: "Supreme Court allows government to enforce abortion pill rule" https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/supreme-court/supreme-court-allows-government-enforce-abortion-pill-rule-n1253987?cid=eml_nbn_20210112
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We welcome your comments on the thread for this show. ► https://www.facebook.com/groups/nonprophetslive ► Contact us with questions or news stories at: radio@atheist-community.org
WHAT IS THE NON-PROPHETS?
The Non-Prophets is a live internet radio show airing at 3:00pm Central time and focuses on current events and commentary from an atheist perspective.
The Atheist Community of Austin is organized as a nonprofit educational corporation to develop and support the atheist community, to provide opportunities for socializing and friendship, to promote secular viewpoints, to encourage positive atheist culture, to defend the first amendment principle of state-church separation, to oppose discrimination against atheists and to work with other organizations in pursuit of common goals.
We define atheism as the lack of belief in gods. This definition also encompasses what most people call agnosticism.
VISIT THE ACA'S OFFICIAL WEB SITES
► http://www.atheist-community.org (The Atheist Community of Austin) ► http://www.atheist-experience.com (The Atheist Experience TV Show)
NOTES
TheNonProphets is the official channel of The Non Prophets. "The Non Prophets" is a trademark of the ACA.
Copyright © 2002 Atheist Community of Austin. All rights reserved.
A constructive panel discussion of episode 20.06 of The Non-Prophets airing February 7th with Jena Miyu, Neil The 604 Atheist, Malty and Guest Host Mikey Famine.
This episode is focused on having a conversation about implicit racial bias, discrimination, and black social justice. In honor of Black History Month, while acknowledging the unrest of racial disparities, positive affirmation, interfaith dialogue, and hope is encouraged. In our “Looking Back” segment, Shirley Chisolm demonstrates proof of perseverance and leadership for current minority leaders that are making history today.
Links to the articles and resources discussed on this episode are below.
► Hair Discrimination & The CROWN Act
The Official Campaign of the CROWN Act www.thecrownact.com Is Hair Discrimination Race Discrimination? https://www.americanbar.org/groups/business_law/publications/blt/2020/05/hair-discrimination/
► Racial Injustice
Black Atlantans Say Response to DC Rioters Shows Double Standard http://www.hastingstribune.com/ap/national/black-atlantans-say-response-to-dc-rioters-shows-double-standard/article_a0164fb4-3f78-57f8-a66e-e8678d5f18da.html Everyone Must Watch ‘Time: The Kalief Browder Story’ https://themuse.jezebel.com/everyone-must-watch-time-the-kalief-browder-story-1792872886?rev=1488409123306
► LOOKING BACK - Shirley Chisholm
Goshay: Kamala Harris is Because Shirley Chisholm Was https://www.yourstephenvilletx.com/story/opinion/2021/01/27/kamala-harris-became-vice-president-thanks-shirley-chisholm/4246943001/ The Protege Experience: Shirley Chisholm Education Foundation Launches First-of-its-Kind Mentorship Program https://www.prweb.com/releases/the_protege_experience_shirley_chisholm_education_foundation_launches_first_of_its_kind_mentorship_program/prweb17683609.htm
► The Importance of Interfaith Dialogue
State of the Interfaith Nation, Mandisa Thomas, Founder & President of Black Nonbelievers https://www.ifyc.org/article/celebrating-nonbelievers-interfaith-america
► Positive Reflection - Black History in the Making
Bianca Smith Joins Boston Red Sox, Making Her the First Black Woman to Coach Professional Baseball https://www.becauseofthemwecan.com/blogs/botwc-firsts/bianca-smith-joins-boston-red-sox-making-her-the-first-black-woman-to-coach-professional-baseball
“I Am Not Your Negro” - James Baldwin (Netflix) https://www.netflix.com/title/80144402
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We welcome your comments on the thread for this show. ► https://www.facebook.com/groups/nonprophetslive ► Contact us with questions or news stories at: radio@atheist-community.org
WHAT IS THE NON-PROPHETS?
The Non-Prophets is a live internet radio show airing at 3:00pm Central time and focuses on current events and commentary from an atheist perspective.
The Atheist Community of Austin is organized as a nonprofit educational corporation to develop and support the atheist community, to provide opportunities for socializing and friendship, to promote secular viewpoints, to encourage positive atheist culture, to defend the first amendment principle of state-church separation, to oppose discrimination against atheists and to work with other organizations in pursuit of common goals.
We define atheism as the lack of belief in gods. This definition also encompasses what most people call agnosticism.
VISIT THE ACA'S OFFICIAL WEB SITES
► http://www.atheist-community.org (The Atheist Community of Austin) ► http://www.atheist-experience.com (The Atheist Experience TV Show)
NOTES
TheNonProphets is the official channel of The Non Prophets. "The Non Prophets" is a trademark of the ACA.
Copyright © 2002 Atheist Community of Austin. All rights reserved.
Welcome back fellow Atheist Experience lovers. Today Matt Dillahunty is joined by Dr. Josh, known as Digital Hammurabi. Check out more videos at https://www.youtube.com/c/DigitalHammurabi Our first caller, Ayham in Toronto grew up Jehovah Witness and was diagnosed with schizophrenia and asks our take on if Jehovah is god. Why would that god speak to you if it can be written off as a medical issue? We can’t prove one way or another if the voice you hear is god. If your medicine makes the god visions go away, is god less powerful than your meds? Michael in Germany asks if claims of religious experience is reason enough for atheists to look into it. It depends on the claim, it may make us look into it more but it's not evidence of their claim. Regarding “gods morality”, we can’t evaluate what the god says but we can evaluate what the bible says. Mickey in NY argues that theists are rationally justified in believing in god. Your 4 premise argument does not prove god and can be rejected out of hand. You are rushing to say your argument is sound, it is not. Try again another day. Pablo in AZ asks if we have completely ruled out god/s. We don’t know how one could completely rule out any deity, we are not absolutely certain about anything. The world doesn’t appear to support any deity. We have been doing this show since 1997, no evidence of gods yet… Wade in LA picks Dr. Josh’s brain about Shamhat in the Epic Of Gilgamesh, focusing on a scene of man on woman sex. What’s the point? As fun as this is, it's not relevant to our show. Elvis in CA argues that every moral a political belief is just intuition which is post hoc justified. That is not true of EVERY belief. We don’t just intuit something and try to justify it after the fact. Some people just distrust vaccines out of hand, but we can show the science behind it. The default position is disbelief until evidence is shown. Harry in England asks why we wouldn’t afford an unborn baby special rights? We don't give special rights to anyone. Harry goes on to ask about setting up a secular society. See if the secular student alliance has ties in the UK, let the group be what the people need and grow from there, make sure the president of the group is not a senior. Bob in VA makes the claim that atheism is a psychological issue. “That’s bullshit” is not an argument...good luck next time. Last up, Mike in CA is an atheist and gives his assertion of a creator. You don’t just assume the universe is created to prove a creator. “If there was no creator, there would be no creation”...Prove that assumption. “It exists therefore it’s created” Gee we’ve never heard that one. That’s our show, thanks for tuning in! Matt predicted the big game for Kansas City 31-20...let's see if he is correct.
Greetings Heathens! Hope you all are doing well today. In today’s episode of Talk Heathen, Vi La Bianca is joined by longtime friend Dave Warnock. It’s awesome to see you Dave, Carpe the F*cking Diem! Let’s get to calls! Isaiah from Hawaii would like to talk about how the legends of God are like the telephone game and that the original story has evolved over time. (HA!) Interesting take, but why do we need to attach God to origins? John in California is up next, he asks about becoming an atheist while his family continues to believe. He explains how his wife is frustrated with his change and says how she feels “catfished” with his newly skeptical life. David in California is wondering about keeping nostalgic icons and art of when they were religious after deconverting. Renee in California wants to talk about the spiritual realm and if we as Atheists believe in it. Is it bad to believe in it? She has some interesting “theories” on some things and may be more of a victim of her own religious biases. Arden in Canada is next up, wanting to talk about nihilism and it’s forms. Some of this philosophy goes over my head, but this is a great conversation. Jake in Texas is wondering what he can do to help his mom who has seemed to become very brainwashed due to Christian sources and Qanon. Dave recommends cutting off these fringe ideas. Our last caller, Noel in Michigan is wondering since Genesis is not accurate why doesn’t the entire thing fall apart. Great question! That’s our show for this week, please continue to be safe in your area, wear your mask. The world is better with you in it. See you next week!
Welcome back truth seekers to the first episode of Truth Wanted for the month of February! It's sunny outside and 70 degrees and don’t you dare question that! This week ObjectivelyDan is joined by Kenneth Leonard! First in our lineup tonight is Paul from MN who wanted to share his experiences and frustrations as a questioning Christian. Our hosts share their own experiences to show how widespread these experiences are for so many. If you are questioning your faith and feel like you are on this journey alone, know that there are others who have walked that same path who are ready to help guide you. Next is Allison from Canada who claims that her mother dreamed of drowning at the pool when after a near death encounter. She believes that this may have been a telepathic connection with her mother due to their closeness. We don’t have the technology to assess telepathic experiences, especially dreams, but we do have evidence that our brains react and form ideas based on a collection of information and biases. Third on the list is Phillip from Australia. If you call the show with the intent of making a formal argument for God, please make sure that the questions are organized and coherent rather than spending 20 minutes defining obtuse terminology. Next up is Carpe Diem from CO who is wondering about the correlation between belief and sacrifice. Sacrifice isn’t necessarily tied specifically to the religious as an Atheists can choose to make sacrifices for all sorts of causes, from pushing against societal prejudices of Atheism to any other personal causes that an individual finds important. Our final call of the night is Will from OK who is wondering why anything matters if people don’t have a common sense of morality. Moral systems that are from an authoritative source such as a god do not recognize nor account for the foundational goals that a community may share. Secular moral systems on the other hand are much more flexible in their ability to be shaped to fit the will of the community, and acknowledge that humans are going to be the ones who have to find ways of living together. That's it for this week; we hope you enjoyed today’s show! See you all again next Friday right here for another great episode of Truth Wanted!
TERF-y gender critical talking points and plain old transphobia have long since played an outsized role in public policy no matter what the science says. This week Cindy Plaza, host of The Path of Reason (La Voie de la Raison), joins Secular Sexuality to apply a little critical thinking to some of the most tired arguments against trans inclusion. With her help Vi and Christy take your calls and work to answer the question- where are we supposed to pee? ► Dive deeper into the episode and find more research and policy data at https://vcatx.com/media/gcthinking ► Find Cindy and The Path of Reason at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkS1apAgsxDhiSp5a2D3rtQ/ The work of Dr. Kristin Neff at https://self-compassion.org/
The Non-Prophets 20.03 for January 17th, 2020 with Puck, Neil the 604 Atheist and Malty.
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We welcome your comments on the thread for this show. ► https://www.facebook.com/groups/nonprophetslive ► Contact us with questions or news stories at: radio@atheist-community.org
WHAT IS THE NON-PROPHETS?
The Non-Prophets is a live internet radio show airing at 3:00pm Central time and focuses on current events and commentary from an atheist perspective.
The Atheist Community of Austin is organized as a nonprofit educational corporation to develop and support the atheist community, to provide opportunities for socializing and friendship, to promote secular viewpoints, to encourage positive atheist culture, to defend the first amendment principle of state-church separation, to oppose discrimination against atheists and to work with other organizations in pursuit of common goals.
We define atheism as the lack of belief in gods. This definition also encompasses what most people call agnosticism.
VISIT THE ACA'S OFFICIAL WEB SITES
► http://www.atheist-community.org (The Atheist Community of Austin) ► http://www.atheist-experience.com (The Atheist Experience TV Show)
NOTES
TheNonProphets is the official channel of The Non Prophets. "The Non Prophets" is a trademark of the ACA.
Copyright © 2002-2021 Atheist Community of Austin. All rights reserved.
The Non-Prophets 20.02 for January 10, 2020 with Kurt, Mandisa Thomas, Cynthia McDonald and Malty.
Articles discussed in this episode:
BN’s 10th Anniversary and ACA fundraiser (link below) ► https://blacknonbelievers.com/bns10th2021/
Christian nationalism's Covid vaccine doubt threatens America's herd immunity ► https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/christian-nationalism-s-covid-vaccine-doubt-threatens-america-s-herd-ncna1252515
History Of Medical Testing Has Left Many African Americans Hesitant About The New COVID-19 Vaccine ► https://www.capradio.org/articles/2020/12/17/history-of-medical-testing-has-left-many-african-americans-hesitant-about-the-new-covid-19-vaccine/
Looking Back: Ernestine Rose ► https://freethoughtalmanac.wordpress.com/2011/01/13/january-13-ernestine-rose/
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We welcome your comments on the thread for this show. ► https://www.facebook.com/groups/nonprophetslive ► Contact us with questions or news stories at: radio@atheist-community.org
WHAT IS THE NON-PROPHETS?
The Non-Prophets is a live internet radio show airing at 3:00pm Central time and focuses on current events and commentary from an atheist perspective.
The Atheist Community of Austin is organized as a nonprofit educational corporation to develop and support the atheist community, to provide opportunities for socializing and friendship, to promote secular viewpoints, to encourage positive atheist culture, to defend the first amendment principle of state-church separation, to oppose discrimination against atheists and to work with other organizations in pursuit of common goals.
We define atheism as the lack of belief in gods. This definition also encompasses what most people call agnosticism.
VISIT THE ACA'S OFFICIAL WEB SITES
► http://www.atheist-community.org (The Atheist Community of Austin) ► http://www.atheist-experience.com (The Atheist Experience TV Show)
NOTES
TheNonProphets is the official channel of The Non Prophets. "The Non Prophets" is a trademark of the ACA.
Copyright © 2002 Atheist Community of Austin. All rights reserved.
The Non-Prophets 20.01 for January 3, 2020 with Johnny P, Mindy (Sassy Heathen) and Malty.
Articles Discussed in this episode:
Conservative Christian Leader: A Man is “Responsible for How His Wife Votes” ► https://friendlyatheist.patheos.com/2020/10/30/conservative-christian-leader-a-man-is-responsible-for-how-his-wife-votes/
New psychological research links atheism to emotional suppression ► https://www.psypost.org/2020/07/new-psychological-research-links-atheism-to-emotional-suppression-57490
Looking Back - Jawaharlal Nehru ► https://freethoughtalmanac.wordpress.com/2011/11/14/november-14-jawaharlal-nehru/
Religious data platform 'targets mentally ill, vulnerable people' ► https://www.dw.com/en/us-religious-data-platform-targets-mentally-ill-vulnerable-people/a-55062013?maca=en-reddit-sharing
Jerry Falwell Jr. is Suing Liberty University for Ruining His Reputation ► https://friendlyatheist.patheos.com/2020/10/29/jerry-falwell-jr-is-suing-liberty-university-for-ruining-his-reputation/
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We welcome your comments on the thread for this show. ► https://www.facebook.com/groups/nonprophetslive ► Contact us with questions or news stories at: radio@atheist-community.org
WHAT IS THE NON-PROPHETS?
The Non-Prophets is a live internet radio show airing at 3:00pm Central time and focuses on current events and commentary from an atheist perspective.
The Atheist Community of Austin is organized as a nonprofit educational corporation to develop and support the atheist community, to provide opportunities for socializing and friendship, to promote secular viewpoints, to encourage positive atheist culture, to defend the first amendment principle of state-church separation, to oppose discrimination against atheists and to work with other organizations in pursuit of common goals.
We define atheism as the lack of belief in gods. This definition also encompasses what most people call agnosticism.
VISIT THE ACA'S OFFICIAL WEB SITES
► http://www.atheist-community.org (The Atheist Community of Austin) ► http://www.atheist-experience.com (The Atheist Experience TV Show)
NOTES
TheNonProphets is the official channel of The Non Prophets. "The Non Prophets" is a trademark of the ACA.
Copyright © 2002 Atheist Community of Austin. All rights reserved.
The magnanimous hosts of episode 20.05 of The Non-Prophets airing January 31st were P*ck, Jim, Barrows, and Phoenix Nightengale, with Guest Host Kenneth Leonard!
This episode focused on President Biden’s historically diverse Cabinet appointments, the fall of QAnon and the rise of the Patriot Party, Looking Back at an industrial chemist, Nobel Prize winner and namer of “the fourth state of matter” Irving Langmuir and his Symptoms of Pathological Science, and we finish up with the last minute pardons and clemencies by Former-President Trump.
Links to the articles and resources discussed on this episode are below.
► Biden’s historically diverse Cabinet
President-elect Joe Biden has the most historically diverse Cabinet… https://www.kctv5.com/president-elect-joe-biden-has-the-most-historically-diverse-cabinet-but-what-does-that-mean/article_8e861bec-79e5-5952-a4a4-95b56c54ebbc.html
Biden cabinet: Does this diverse team better reflect America? https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-55080344
There Are Now More Atheists in State and Federal Office Than Ever Before https://friendlyatheist.patheos.com/2020/11/21/there-are-now-more-atheists-in-state-and-federal-office-than-ever-before/
Atheist Candidates Project https://atheistcandidates.com/mission-method-motivation/
► Q and the Patriot Party
Inauguration sows doubt among QAnon conspiracy theorists https://apnews.com/article/biden-inauguration-qanon-79dd03a6dc497d6157304f8045f12cef
How a New Religion Could Rise From the Ashes of QAnon https://www.thedailybeast.com/how-a-new-religion-could-rise-from-the-ashes-of-qanon
QAnon 101: The Search for Q https://youtu.be/bsN96zE8FuE
► Looking Back - Irving Langmuir Born Jan 31th 1881
Irving Langmuir and pathological science: A warning for our times http://wavefunction.fieldofscience.com/2017/01/irving-langmuir-and-pathological.html
January 31: Irving Langmuir - Lighting a candle in toxic air https://freethoughtalmanac.com/2011/01/january-31-irving-langmuir/
Irving Langmuir - Nobel Laureate and Engineer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIbElKyg3yI&t=183s
► Former President Trump’s pardons Trump's last-minute pardons include Bannon, Lil Wayne and scores of others https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/20/politics/trump-pardons-commutations-list/index.html
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We welcome your comments on the thread for this show. ► https://www.facebook.com/groups/nonprophetslive ► Contact us with questions or news stories at: radio@atheist-community.org
WHAT IS THE NON-PROPHETS?
The Non-Prophets is a live internet radio show airing at 3:00pm Central time and focuses on current events and commentary from an atheist perspective.
The Atheist Community of Austin is organized as a nonprofit educational corporation to develop and support the atheist community, to provide opportunities for socializing and friendship, to promote secular viewpoints, to encourage positive atheist culture, to defend the first amendment principle of state-church separation, to oppose discrimination against atheists and to work with other organizations in pursuit of common goals.
We define atheism as the lack of belief in gods. This definition also encompasses what most people call agnosticism.
VISIT THE ACA'S OFFICIAL WEB SITES
► http://www.atheist-community.org (The Atheist Community of Austin) ► http://www.atheist-experience.com (The Atheist Experience TV Show)
NOTES
TheNonProphets is the official channel of The Non Prophets. "The Non Prophets" is a trademark of the ACA.
Copyright © 2002 Atheist Community of Austin. All rights reserved.
Welcome back, the ladies have taken over this episode of The Atheist Experience! We have Jenna Belk and ShannonQ talking to our callers, this is going to be good. Our first caller, Hugh in The USA asks the definitions of Theism/Atheism/Antitheism. Theism/Atheism deal with truth beliefs about a deity, whereas antitheism is a supplemental belief about religion and religious practice. Hugh believes deities are imaginary proclaims himself an antitheist. Kenny in CA want’s to tell us that he believes in the biblical god and why he believes it. He can’t seem to describe god but stating he is the self existing Yahweh. “All of history supports it” is not evidence, that is a ridiculous reason. Mike in Austria claims he can use mathematical logic to prove the unprovable, arguing if you have a set of axioms, arriving from those axioms you can never get all true statements. To what end are we having this conversation? How is asking for proof illogical? Solomon in WA argues that abortion should be illegal becuase it’s taking a life from another person, defining life starting with a heartbeat. You are placing life at the wrong stage of fetal development. There is a notable difference in a fetus and 4 month old baby. It boils down to bodily autonomy, no one has consent to use your body...inside of birth or out. Jack in AZ believes that god does provide evidence, saying “interesting” coincidences can point to bigger truths. Jack tells a story where the number 3435 resonated with his mother. How is that proof of god? Listen to Shannon on this one, there is no thinking with your heart and gut bacteria doesn’t make you believe different things. Defining god as everything means nothing to us, why use the label god then?. Christian in CA asks whether atheists have the duty to deconvert people. You have to pick your moments, family would be the last place to start. You can casually mention it and gauge their interest. You are the one that decides when beliefs are causing your harm. Don’t give anyone time in your life that uses your lack of belief as a cudgel to abuse you. Last up, David in CA claims that everyone operates on faith, because we just trust our parents from birth. You should not just blindly trust your parents. We require a higher burden of evidence of claims you may just trust. We use source methodology and logic to find the truth in a claim. We investigated the claims of religion and found it lacking sufficient evidence to believe. That’s our show, thanks for tuning in!
Greetings Heathens! In today’s episode of Talk Heathen, Eric Murphy is joined by Owen Morgan, aka Telltale. This is going to be a great show! Let’s get to calls! Stan in Nevada would like to talk about at one point do we blanket Christianity as a cult. Owen explains it well, saying the category isn’t necessarily a cult, but the smaller groups that make up the religion have the potential to be. Returning caller David in California is up next, he circles back to determinism from his first call from a couple weeks ago and wants to hear Eric and Owen’s thoughts on it. Chad in Nebraska, is wondering about having a conversation with a pastor in front of his congregation about the inaccurate thoughts believers have about nonbelievers. Douglas in Canada is asking the following question: “if we are Atheists, who or what created the world.” You know, I don’t know is an intellectually honest way of answering this question. Karen in California is wanting to talk about if there is a clear difference between Christian nationalism and Christian fundamentalism. Owen breaks it down for us. Brandon in California is concerned about the lack of evidence brought forth from his faith and is considering talking to his church leadership about what he is discovering. Good Luck Brandon, we are here for you! Up next, Kevin in New York (still) believes that prophecy is evidence and proof of God. Reason why he arrived at this is because of the research he has done since the last call. Unfortunately, the call isn’t quite the quality we need for the show, he’ll call next week hopefully. Jim in Canada would like to talk about the impact of religion on children and folks’ insensitive remarks about LGBTQ people. He also really wants to be a resource to others. Good luck Jim! Let us know how things go! Kell in Utah is wondering about the conversations he has had with his mother about truth in the Mormon church. She wouldn’t care if there was absolute proof of malfeasance, she wouldn’t want to know. Jason in Tennessee is updating us about his friend and how he can’t really do much more to help him. Thank you for letting us know, Jason. Best of luck to you. Sarel in Israel is wondering if there is a middle ground between atheist and theist. Owen explains, not really, it’s more of a binary, it’s either true or not true. That’s our show for this week, see you next week!
It’s that time of the week again truth seekers for another episode of Truth Wanted! This week, ObjectivelyDan is joined by Joey Krieger!
Our first caller of the evening is Laurie from OH who is calling to talk about the secular perspective of karma. While there isn’t evidence to support the claim that the supernatural is responsible for any acts of “karma,” there is evidence supporting that our actions have consequences. For example, if you generally treat people poorly, those same people may be less inclined to treat you well in the future. Next is Carpe Diem from CO calls in to finally give ObjectivelyDan what he has been wanting, a conversation about QAnon. The caller draws a parallels between the way people within the cult of Q and devout theists draw conclusions about reality, and is wondering how we can effectively push back against those beliefs to minimize the dangers they pose on society. Isaiah from HI calls in to talk about the events that possibly led to the creation of the prominent myths found in various religious texts around the world. How can we accurately determine which event influenced which story, or if a myth formed separately? Our last caller of the show is Mark from NC. He states that while we have the right to free speech, you do not necessarily have the right to be heard. One of the main issues with that statement is that those who have the power to enforce that right shifts over time. For example, when segregation was legal, a sign could be placed that discriminated against an entire group of people and those with power wouldn’t step in. Today a sign like that would be removed almost immediately in most places and those who made it would face legal ramifications.
Unfortunately that’s all we’ve got for this episode, but rest assured, we’ll be right back here again next week! Until next time, stay safe out there everyone!
The Non-Prophets 19.18 for December 27, 2020 with Malty, Jena Miyu and Kurt.
Articles discussed in this episode:
There Are Now More Atheists in State and Federal Office Than Ever Before-► https://friendlyatheist.patheos.com/2020/11/21/there-are-now-more-atheists-in-state-and-federal-office-than-ever-before/
Americans United Denounces Trump Administration Rule That Allows Federal Contractors To Use Religion To Discriminate Against Workers ► https://www.au.org/media/press-releases/Dept-Labor-Rule-Discrimination?fbclid=IwAR0BOJcvOpCOijCR_zjfbWkTlrEMxJRv9vBLn-RvqdV9aTNYS4YEKIY4yms
Looking Back - James George Frazer ► https://freethoughtalmanac.wordpress.com/2011/01/01/january-1-james-george-frazer/
Religious intolerance is 'bigger cause of prejudice than race', says report ► https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/nov/15/religious-intolerance-is-bigger-cause-of-prejudice-than-race-says-report
Don't like ads? Consider becoming a patron for commercial-free episodes: https://www.patreon.com/thenonprophets
We welcome your comments on the thread for this show. ► https://www.facebook.com/groups/nonprophetslive ► Contact us with questions or news stories at: nonprophets@atheist-community.org
WHAT IS THE NON-PROPHETS?
The Non-Prophets is a live internet radio show airing at 3:00pm Central time and focuses on current events and commentary from an atheist perspective.
The Atheist Community of Austin is organized as a nonprofit educational corporation to develop and support the atheist community, to provide opportunities for socializing and friendship, to promote secular viewpoints, to encourage positive atheist culture, to defend the first amendment principle of state-church separation, to oppose discrimination against atheists and to work with other organizations in pursuit of common goals.
We define atheism as the lack of belief in gods. This definition also encompasses what most people call agnosticism.
VISIT THE ACA'S OFFICIAL WEB SITES
► http://www.atheist-community.org (The Atheist Community of Austin) ► http://www.atheist-experience.com (The Atheist Experience TV Show)
NOTES
TheNonProphets is the official channel of The Non Prophets. "The Non Prophets" is a trademark of the ACA.
Copyright © 2002 Atheist Community of Austin. All rights reserved.
The Non-Prophets 19.17 for 12-20-2020 with Puck, Jim Barrows, Cynthia McDonald and Martin.
Articles discussed in this episode:
Justices rule Muslim men can sue FBI agents over no-fly list ► https://religionnews.com/2020/12/10/justices-rule-muslim-men-can-sue-fbi-agents-over-no-fly-list/?fbclid=IwAR1xQKCl14R0y7KQCsvY5lFSn0j_qNQkNyJ7FTlqckTI0Wu5jdHbBWZ-0f4
The U.S. Ranks 24th in Global Ranking of Nations Promoting Freedom of Thought ► https://friendlyatheist.patheos.com/2020/12/11/the-u-s-ranks-24th-in-global-ranking-of-nations-promoting-freedom-of-thought-2/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook&fbclid=IwAR1kCKofaQL4AEAaUog5dzEsoKhknQXWz1Y8LaBquhjmCrqjMACYdlJ_6Hk
Looking Back - Clara Barton ► https://freethoughtalmanac.wordpress.com/2010/12/25/december-25-clara-barton/
The Guardian: Former Eton students write letter backing under-fire headteacher. ► https://www.theguardian.com/education/2020/dec/08/former-eton-students-open-letter-support-under-fire-headmaster
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We welcome your comments on the thread for this show. ► https://www.facebook.com/groups/nonprophetslive ► Contact us with questions or news stories at: radio@atheist-community.org
Don't like ads? Consider becoming a patron for commercial-free episodes: https://www.patreon.com/thenonprophets
We welcome your comments on the thread for this show. ► https://www.facebook.com/groups/nonprophetslive ► Contact us with questions or news stories at: radio@atheist-community.org
WHAT IS THE NON-PROPHETS?
The Non-Prophets is a live internet radio show airing at 3:00pm Central time and focuses on current events and commentary from an atheist perspective.
The Atheist Community of Austin is organized as a nonprofit educational corporation to develop and support the atheist community, to provide opportunities for socializing and friendship, to promote secular viewpoints, to encourage positive atheist culture, to defend the first amendment principle of state-church separation, to oppose discrimination against atheists and to work with other organizations in pursuit of common goals.
We define atheism as the lack of belief in gods. This definition also encompasses what most people call agnosticism.
VISIT THE ACA'S OFFICIAL WEB SITES
► http://www.atheist-community.org (The Atheist Community of Austin) ► http://www.atheist-experience.com (The Atheist Experience TV Show)
NOTES
TheNonProphets is the official channel of The Non Prophets. "The Non Prophets" is a trademark of the ACA.
Copyright © 2002 Atheist Community of Austin. All rights reserved.
You know you’re not a crumpled flower or a chewed up piece of bubblegum, old ideas of your sexual identity no longer suit you. Congratulations from us, sincerely. And yet so many of those old ideas; rigid gender norms, toxic monogamy, patriarchy and heteronormativity all still live within us. Turns out, that’s by design. Author of The God Virus and SecX’s creator and producer emeritus Dr. Darrel Ray returns to the show to share with us some of the history of modern purity culture and how we can heal and grow beyond it. All that plus your calls on this week’s Secular Sexuality.
► Dive deeper into the episode and learn more about purity culture at https://www.vcatx.com/media/purityhx ► Take the Purity Culture Outcomes Survey at https://www.puritycultureoutcomes.com/
Learn more about Recovering from Religion and donate to their upcoming fundraiser at https://youtu.be/qvGoDjGr3w4
Betty Dodson, Women’s Guru of Self-Pleasure, Dies at 91 by Penelope Green for The New York Times (https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/03/style/betty-dodson-dead.html)
The Non-Prophets 19.16 for 12/13/2020 with Puck, Rudy Bee, Martin and Ethan Micheal.
This week's articles and links:
► The ‘Kraken’ Lawyer: How Veteran Litigator Sidney Powell Became a QAnon Heroine https://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/t...
► QAnon goes to Washington: two supporters win seats in Congress Believers in Deep State conspiracy enter halls of power https://www.rollcall.com/2020/11/05/q...
► Looking Back - Uri Geller (December 20, 1946) https://freethoughtalmanac.wordpress....
► Want to understand Trump’s die-hard fans? Look to alternative medicine. https://www.washingtonpost.com/outloo...
► Greek Orthodox Church rules yoga is 'incompatible' with Christianity https://web.ground.news/article/0e0b9...
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We welcome your comments on the thread for this show. ► https://www.facebook.com/groups/nonpr... ► Contact us with questions or news stories at: radio@atheist-community.org
The Non-Prophets 19.15 2020-12-02 with Johnny P. Angel, Cynthia McDonald and Neil the 604 Atheist. This week's articles and links: ► Donald Trump: The End-Times President https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/donald-trump-christians-fundamentalists-end-times-rapture-1083131/ ► In Covid-19 regulations case, Sotomayor dissent claps back at Supreme Court majority https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/covid-19-regulations-case-sotomayor-dissent-claps-back-supreme-court-n1249122 Also see the opinion itself: No. 20A87; Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn New York v. Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of New York https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/20pdf/20a87_4g15.pdf Also see the executive order itself: https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/no-2028-continuing-temporary-suspension-and-modification-laws-relating-disaster-emergency Also see Andrew Seidel's article: https://religiondispatches.org/with-this-thanksgiving-bombshell-scotus-began-implementation-of-an-ultraconservative-agenda/ ► Looking Back: December 5: Monty Python’s Flying Circus https://freethoughtalmanac.wordpress.com/2010/12/05/december-5-monty-pythons-flying-circus/ https://ffrf.org/news/day/dayitems/item/14374-eric-idle https://ffrf.org/news/day/dayitems/item/14181-terry-jones ► Many British Columbia Municipalities Open Meetings with Prayer, Breaking the Law https://friendlyatheist.patheos.com/2020/11/25/many-british-columbia-municipalities-open-meetings-with-prayer-breaking-the-law/ Also see: Four Models of Religion/State Relations http://www.davidanderson.ca/canadas-four-models-of-religion-state-relations/ Also see: pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/07/01/5-facts-about-religion-in-canada/ Also see: https://www.pewforum.org/2019/10/17/in-u-s-decline-of-christianity-continues-at-rapid-pace/ Also check out the book White Too Long: The Legacy of White Supremacy in American Christianity, by Robert P. Jones https://smile.amazon.com/s?k=White+Too+Long%3A+The+Legacy+of+White+Supremacy+in+American+Christianity%2C+by+Robert+P.+Jones&ref=nb_sb_noss Don't like ads? Consider becoming a patron for commercial-free episodes: https://www.patreon.com/thenonprophets We welcome your comments on the thread for this show. ► https://www.facebook.com/groups/nonprophetslive ► Contact us with questions or news stories at: radio@atheist-community.org
Welcome back to The Atheist Experience. Today Matt Dillahunty is joined by Jim Barrows! Today’s show is going to be a good one, get ready! Our first caller, Bo in MT is surprised we would respond that we wouldn’t worship god if proven real. We don’t have the baggage of “god is good” and, if real, has a lot to answer for. The god of the bible has acted atrociously toward humans and does not deserve reverence. Raphael in Sweden asks, hypothetically, if Hitler would have been correct in wiping out a race of humans if it did the world good? Was he correct though? Rafael asks who defines morality. It’s not a matter of who, it's a matter of maximizing happiness and wellbeing and applying that across society. Kaden in WA asks what is the value of morality if this world is all we’ll get? That’s like asking what good are the rules if we are only playing 1 game. Is it better to be polite to someone or punch them in the face upon first meeting them? Kaden thinks he is a psychopath without his god belief. Good luck, get some help, and keep believing. Aaron in VA thinks he would fall in line if the Christian god presented himself to be real, fearing damnation. Would It be more moral to kill your kid or burn in hell? The moral thing is to tell that god to go fuck themselves. We can see what happens when a dictator is worshiped as a god, people do what they can to survive. Mohammad in Australia claims a creator is the most logical explanation for consciousness. It’s true consciousness came from either something conscious or nonconscious. However, simply thinking the other option is not reasonable is not a good reason to believe anything. James in The UK argues that, secularly, abortion is wrong. Abortion is simply the termination of pregnancy. Do you agree we should allow people the autonomy to make their own decision? A born human doesn’t have a right to anyone’s body. We are not willing to grant special rights to a human in utero. Calvin in CA asks if time is the enemy in creating life in laboratory conditions, how can you come to the conclusion that evolution is correct? What we can/can’t do in a lab is irrelevant to what happened in the course of our history. Michael in FL has been listening to more atheist content and has been trying to address issues in his faith. Should we work towards the best heaven, or the worst hell? It’s best to say I don’t know, if the god is good then they shouldn’t fault you for living the best life you can. John in KY believes there is a god because of a near death experience but can’t even tell of his experience. Last up, Jeremy in CO finds his Aunt’s cured cancer as a miracle and thinks the best explanation is a god did it but agrees god has never been proved. Faith is not a good path to finding the truth. You can just say I don’t know, that is reserving judgement. That’s our show, thanks for tuning in!
Greetings Heathens! 2021 so far feels ever so slightly better, hopefully we are on our way to a better year. Also, happy birthday Greg! In today’s episode of Talk Heathen, Eric Murphy is joined by Vi La Bianca. #LaMurph Let’s get to calls! Calvin from California would like to talk about how Atheists' skepticism may be pushing away any “good work God can do.” Prove this Godly work exists, then we can have a conversation. Calvin seems to only be waiting for his turn to talk and is preaching at us a bit. Danny in Louisiana is up next, he asks about evidence in relation to God. He uses a hypothetical theory to try to prove Jesus and God exist. Essentially saying that God is unfalsifiable. So many fallacies and so much gibberish abound with this call. Michael in Germany is wondering about taking his children out of religious practice and questioning if this will be detrimental. There is some good teaching kids about religion, but not indoctrinating them. Kathy in Pennsylvania is calling in wanting to talk about the recent nationalist terrorist insurrection on the US Capitol. How it was partially due to shameful Christian nationalism and they used this as a shield to hide behind. Link in Washington is calling back, this time wanting to talk about his recent deconversion and building an epistemology from scratch. Congrats Link! We loved talking to you last time you called in, and are excited to chat with you again. Take your time with all this, it can be a lot to take in and it’s ok to utilize some already built epistemology and make it yours. John in D.C. is wondering about how religion influences psychology and society. Vi recommends that he also look into how psychology, society, and individuals can influence religion. Up next, Jason in Tennessee is calling about his friend who is having trouble with addiction, hallucinations, and thinking he is being harmed by Satan and demons. He doesn’t know how to deal with it and wants to know how to fix it. It may be worth finding a therapist to talk about it. Returning caller Skye from Colorado is calling back with an update and also needing some advice. They have fully deconverted and love their freedom, however she has been faced with an intervention from her sister and dad about her recent lack of belief and is very troubled about it. We are here for you, please join us, we will help you through this. That’s our show for this week, please continue to be safe in your area, wear your mask. The world is better with you in it. See you next week!
Happy Friday truth seekers and welcome to another episode of Truth Wanted! Today, ObjectivelyDan is joined by Bridget Bradshaw!
Our first caller is Carpe Diem from CO who asks why someone would investigate something they don’t believe in? He also asked whether Bridget actually believed in Ghosts or wanted to believe in Ghosts? While Bridget did believe that Ghosts were possible during her time, she wouldn’t assert certainty in either direction and was open to the possibility that they either did or did not exist. Our next caller is Will from AL who is wondering what Bridget thinks of claims of physical assaults from Ghosts at haunted properties. Our hosts bring up the point that many of these places profit from these anecdotes and reports and that they are a vital part of their business plan. Omniskeptic from Canada asks how Bridget’s team of paranormal investigators came to an explanation of events after an investigation? Was it organized? According to Bridget, there was a set procedure where the different members or smaller break-out groups would all individually come up with their own conclusions before sending them to a designated team leader who would then create the official report. Next is Marcia from AZ who calls to tell our hosts about her time in Sunday School. She explains how her teachers would threaten her and other students with the possibility of being haunted by demons if they stray from their faith. While she is an Atheist now and has moved on, she still notices habits stemming from that class. Keith from FL calls in to ask how a paranormal investigator can determine the real paranormal activity from the false positives as was seen in the video footage shown earlier in the show. You can’t, at the end of the day it’s always a personal anecdote that’s unfalsifiable.
Well that’s it for this week, we hope you enjoyed the show! If you did, why not check out some of the other great shows that the ACA produces! Also if you thought Bridget was fantastic, you can find her at Facebook & Twitter at the links below!
Bridget Bradshaw: Facebook - APOPHENIA666 Twitter - @APOPHENIA666
It’s bad enough that religious trauma can do such a number on our sexuality without the stigma of atheism impacting our dating life. It’s hard enough to find the perfect poly Viking power bottom or androgynous cat cyborg of our dreams without getting the automatic left swipe for our beliefs or miss out on a second date because our star signs don’t match expectations. Join Matt, Rudy and Christy as we discuss what it’s like being atheists, activists and actively seeking to share life and love, all that plus your calls this week on Secular Sexuality!
Welcome back to The Atheist Experience. Today Matt Dillahunty is joined by Johnny P. Angel! Strap in for a good show today! Our first caller, Murri in IN was diagnosed with Parkinson's and is tempted to go back to her faith. We are sorry to hear about your diagnosis. Religion/Church isn’t the sole source of comfort, support, or community. Give yourself some time to come to grips with how you feel about your diagnosis. Look into the secular therapist project Austin in WA asks if the scientific method is the best way to truth and how do we evaluate whether things are more or less true? We have yet to see any more reliable method to evaluate evidence. A consensus of opinion is a horrible method to ascertain capital T truth. Science deals with the natural world, not “spirits of the jungle”. Kaden in WA asks what is the value of morality if we are going to die anyway? Acting morally is beneficial to you and the people around you. Stealing a loaf of bread may be the most moral thing you could do, given certain scenarios. Morality impacts our life right now, even if we are going to die. Sam in TX asks how to deal with a friend that received a “prophetic reading” from a megachurch pastor given Sam doesn’t believe. Sounds like a trick or cold reading to us, we don’t buy it. Is it more likely god or some form of deception? We recommend showing them mind reading or James Randi videos, mentalists are way more impressive than any preacher. Matthew in MA argued last call that the Christian worldview was correct. After the last call, he is appreciative that we helped open his eyes. This never happens, thank you so much for sharing. Tom in MO is trying to determine a non supernatural explanation to Christianity. Have you looked for non-supernatural explanations to any other religion and do those explanations apply to Christianity? You should be looking for a reason that Christianity is true before believing it. Priest in The Bahamas doesn’t agree with anything we have to say and argues that god is an intelligent mind. Can you demonstrate that? The human mind IS capable of doing amazing things, but there is no evidence it came from an intelligence. Mark in FL thinks there is still hope for atheists in the upcoming rapture, believing in Jesus. Why should we believe in your god? Faith is not a pathway to truth, you can be wrong about things you have faith in. Last up, Ronaldo in Brazil asks our opinions of someone who thinks the burden of proof is on the atheist. The burden of proof is on the person making the claim. If an atheist claims there is no god, they have adopted a burden of proof. Not believing does not carry any such burden. Thanks for tuning in today! Wear your masks, stay at home and we’ll see you next Sunday for more rants and arguments.
Greetings Heathens! Hope all y’all are doing well out there, it’s Sunday, so that means it’s time for atheist church. In today’s episode of Talk Heathen, Vi La Bianca is joined by the absolutely amazing Katy Montgomerie. Welcome back to the co-host seat Katy, we are so glad you are here. Let’s get to calls! Paul in Texas would like to talk about how he has proof or evidence of an omnipotent being which leads from deism to theism. He has a step by step process in showing this evidence even! By proving this, he hopes to completely disprove atheism as well. Oooooh, this should be fun, if we can just get through his preamble/definitional stage! Tom in California is up next, they are seeking some advice on their recent deconversion. After deconverting, what is the next step? First of all, congratulations and welcome to the community! Secondly, it really depends on your needs and if you’re inclined to, continue researching. Katy and Vi really dig into this. Nick in California is also a recently deconverted atheist and is curious about our take on near death experiences. This is an interesting conversation and really good to talk about, especially for newly deconverted atheists struggling with understanding natural processes. David in California is calling in asking about determinism and how it relates to free will if that’s such a thing. Vi asks really important questions; can you control the motivations that cause you to make choices? Where does free will come into play? And further, how does this pertain to religion or god? Hunter in Illinois is neither an atheist nor a theist. Ok, how? But he wants to talk about morality and if it’s worth it or not. The conversation evolves into a pascal’s wager type discussion, with Hunter hedging his bets on whether a god exists or not. Michael in Alabama is wondering about morality as well. He proposes we use the word ethics instead of morality when discussing these themes with theists. Ah, interesting concept, but will it work though? Up next, Carpe Diem in Colorado is calling in with a question that is likely to cause some interesting conversation and debate. Should doctors be forced to perform abortions? This question is odd though, what situation would there ever be where a doctor is forced to perform this procedure? If one doesn’t want to do it, there is likely another that can. However, this may be troublesome in highly legislated areas that are trying to make it impossible or improbable to get (i.e. within abortion deserts.) That’s our show for this week, please continue to be safe in your area, wear your mask, socially distance, flatten the curve. The world is better with you in it. See you next week!
Happy Friday Truth Seekers and welcome to another episode of Truth Wanted! This week, ObjectivelyDan is joined by Jaime Woodhouse! Our first caller is Mark from Pennsylvania asks if there is any way that life can persist without causing suffering to other entities. While there is evidence that plants release pheromones when they are damaged, there isn’t evidence indicating that they are sentient or that they suffer the same way that a farm animal would. Next up is Tymm from Washington who is wondering about the sentientist position of euthanizing a suffering person or animal. This question is a tough one because while humans are in the unique position of giving consent, pets are not which puts the responsibility on their owner to do what they feel is best to minimize their companion’s suffering. Fantastic question Tymm! Up next is Louie from Florida. The caller asks if sentientism can help in answering the question if life, complex or otherwise, exists elsewhere in the universe. Our hosts bring up the similar genetic patterns that all known life within our own planet shares, and argue that if there is life elsewhere, that there is a strong possibility that it has followed a similar sequence of change that we have seen over time here on Earth. Joey from California calls in to discuss the ways that veganism is intersectional with other forms of injustice. The caller brings up the example of how the US government generally subsidizes meat and dairy rather than fruits and vegetables. Our hosts go on to discuss how we can oppose multiple forms of oppression at once, and how acknowledging and fighting injustice and suffering in one area doesn’t negate the injustice and suffering in another. Louis from New York calls in to tell us his UFO sighting story from back when he was in LA. Thanks for sharing the fun story with all of Louis! Our last caller is Malcolm from California who wants to talk about the reason for the commonality of various symbology across a multitude of various religions. The eels have ALL the answers you seek! That’s all for this week folks! Thank you for tuning in to today's episode of Truth Wanted. If you want to see more of Jaime, check out the links below!
Jaime Woodhouse: Twitter - @jaimewoodhouse
Ever hear a door close and catch a sudden feeling of dread? Or buy a new car and realize seemingly for the first time just how much stress that old transmission was causing? Don’t worry, you don’t have ESP, psychic premonitions or copy-righted spider based superpowers- instead you’re experiencing one of the most primitive and powerful pieces of human evolution! Justin Sunseri, polyvagal podcaster and host of Stuck Not Broken, joins the show to walk us through the spooky science of neuroception and how this self-defense radar system can derail life and love. All that and your calls and questions on episode 8.02 of Secular Sexuality!
► Find Justin and a wealth of polyvagal resources and podcasts at https://www.justinlmft.com/
► Dive deeper into the episode and explore neuroception at https://www.vcatx.com/media/justinlmft
Neuroception is Not the Spidey-Sense... but it's a good analogy by Justin Sunseri (https://www.justinlmft.com/post/spidey-sense)
The Error Of 'Biological Sex' (https://www.vcatx.com/media/2019/5/12/the-error-of-biological-sex)
Welcome back to another Atheist Experience. Today Matt Dillahunty is Joined by Mandisa Thomas! Mandisa is the founder and president of Black Nonbelievers and they are having their 10th Anniversary Celebration in New Orleans and online January 15-17. Make sure to attend! Our first caller, Enoch in PA asks if we would become christians if the bible was all proven true. That’s a hard no, there are too many horrible things in that book. Do you not see how abusive it is that you would rather serve an evil god than suffer in a hell? Your god should denounce the immoral crap in the bible. Neil in ID claims it’s morally repugnant that a god would allow someone to live apart from all goodness and there are supernatural things. Supernatural is not synonymous with unexplainable. If you imagined something under duress, how is that a supernatural vision? If there is a god, we wouldn’t have to argue the existence of the supernatural. Leeroy in MN claims to have been an atheist but experienced god and changed his mind. His experience was a conversation with god but can’t answer a simple question about it. Moving on… Kevin in OR asks if we were submerged underwater for 10 minutes would we be alive. That would depend on lots of variables. Think your question through next time before you try to “get us”. Paul in MI asks why truth matters from an atheist perspective, if we are just all compost in the end. It matters if a bus is coming at you when you are crossing the street. Just because something is going to cease to exist doesn't mean it doesn't have value. We have to deal with reality on reality’s terms. Austin in TX asks if either host has had a religious experience. Yes, they have, but that term is super broad. Our hosts share their “religious” experiences, explainable completely naturally or scientifically. Carl in NC asks why so many black people embrace christianity? Mandisa explains the history of forcing religion on slaves, oppression of black people, and the community services that the church provided. Research into those histories to delve into it more. Not everyone can be reasoned out of religious beliefs. Derek in NV argues that intentionality is built into the fabric of the universe, assuming that naturalism is false. Proof of something isn’t the denial of naturalism. Quit dodging the questions, you haven’t begun to demonstrate that intentionality is built into the structure of the universe. Lastly, Robert in the UK asked why do we allow theists to speculate about morality. We let anyone talk about anything! When they do talk about morality, you can point out where we have the moral high ground. Thanks for tuning in, we are so glad you joined us today. Donate to Black Nonbelievers and don’t forget to get tickets at https://blacknonbelievers.com/bns10th2021/
Greetings Heathens! Hope you all are having a pleasant new year so far, we are glad you are here! In today’s episode of Talk Heathen, Eric Murphy is joined by Ethan Micheal. Ethan is a friend of the show and we are really excited to have him here! Here’s his channel: https://www.youtube.com/yfnatheist Let’s get to calls! Joe from New York would like to talk about how he doesn’t think Atheists are choosing to use common sense when they analyze evidence for the existence of God. As requested, he gives the examples of how something can come from nothing and that personal miracles prove the existence of a deity. But how though? Jeff in Washington is up next, he is wondering about consciousness, integrated information theory, and the exchange of information within a conscious. Except he is anthropomorphizing this exchange that is basically chemical reactions. But how does this prove a deity? Macy in New York, is calling about mental health, religion, and existentialism. Eric is now very excited and looking forward to this conversation, it is totally his jam. How do we get over the fear of hell and the feeling of being all alone? Gage in Pennsylvania claims everything is ALIVE! He goes on to say that atoms are alive including the energy that powers atoms. But how can energy be alive? He is anthropomorphizing things as well. Oh my this guy! Sounds like deepity! Lucas in Brazil wants to chat about how to deal with arguments that use pseudoscience to justify the religious beliefs. He goes on to explain how within this belief, we attain a higher being status through a sort of evolution. It’s really weird. This is a good question, maybe using ‘Street Epistemology’ would be a great approach. Minh in California is wondering how we deal with hardships in life and suffering. How do we as secular folk deal with grief and grieving. It’s definitely a difficult process, but it’s unique to most of us. However, having others (or a community) to grieve with is incredibly helpful. That’s our show for this week, please continue to be safe in your area, wear your mask. The world is better with you in it. See you next week!
The Non-Prophets 19.14 2020-10-21 with Kurt, Jim Barrows, and Phoenix.mp3 ► Atheism: The “No-God” Religion https://www.christiancourier.com/articles/1533-atheism-the-no-god-religion
► Article 2: Can Artificial Intelligence Predict Religious Violence? https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2018/07/artificial-intelligence-religion-atheism/565076/
► John Dewey https://freethoughtalmanac.wordpress.com/2011/10/20/october-20-john-dewey/
► Article 3 (Funny): The first millennial saint? Italian teenager known as patron saint of the internet a step away from Catholic honor. https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nation-world/ct-nw-nyt-catholic-church-teen-saint-carlo-acutis-20201013-tr5wg5emivbufoyqhkv42lk72e-story.html
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Hello Truth Seekers and welcome to our very first episode of Truth Wanted in 2021! Tonight our host ObjectivelyDan is joined by Anthony Magnabosco and Ben G! First up is Keith from FL who is wondering how street epistemology can be applied to conversations beyond the religious. Our hosts act out an example conversation while also providing advice to the caller on how to gauge the usefulness of the conversation. Knowing when to apply SE is a give and take exchange that is subjective to the specific conversation. Carpe Diem from CO takes the position that while SE isn’t necessarily persuasion towards the interviewer’s position, but is persuasion away from the belief that was previously held. Our hosts push back and define the goal of SE is to help people come to a more reliable method of obtaining the truth. SE does not attack specifically held beliefs, but the reasons and methods that have been used to arrive at those beliefs. That’s a wrap for this week Truth Seekers! Hope to see you all back here next week for another episode of Truth Wanted. Did you like our guests this week? You can find them via the info below! Ben G: Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheAtheistRoundTable/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ben_g_se Twitter: www.twitter.com/Ben_G_SE Anthony Magnabosco: Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/AnthonyMagnabosco210/ Twitter: www.twitter.com/StEpistemology
Support Black Nonbelievers!!!: https://blacknonbelievers.com/
Hello and Welcome to 2021, the year where we’re definitely going to start exercising, heal our religious trauma and fix our political system, amiright!? Maybe not, but Alice Little rejoins the show to walk us through her efforts to fight the status quo and see sex workers enjoy the rights extended to everyone else. Join us as we discuss the ongoing pandemic and check-in on our favorite adult content creators, plus your calls and questions!
► Find Alice on YouTube by searching AliceLittleTv https://www.youtube.com/c/AliceLittletv/ ► Dive deeper into the episode and find Alice’s other links https://www.vcatx.com/media/alicevsnv
Sex and the Constitution: Sex, Religion, and Law from America's Origins to the Twenty-First Century Book by Geoffrey R. Stone A NYC Paramedic Was Doxxed For Being On OnlyFans. The Real Scandal Is Not Her Sex Work By Elly Belle for Refinery29 (https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2020/12/10227681/new-york-post-doxxed-paramedic-onlyfans) A new law intended to curb sex trafficking threatens the future of the internet as we know it by Aja Romano for VOX (https://www.vox.com/culture/2018/4/13/17172762/fosta-sesta-backpage-230-internet-freedom)
Happy New Year and welcome back! Get ready for today’s Atheist Experience: The Canadian Invasion! Today ShanonQ is joined by Paulogia to tackle a new year's set of arguments and apologetics. Find more Paulogia content at:
http://www.youtube.com/c/Paulogia
Our first caller, Tim in KS how does atheism better account for the world as we find it than his Christianity does? Atheism isn’t a worldview. Biblical interpretation is not a way to look at the real world. We can argue about morality all day but your personal experience does not hold any explanatory power for us.
Brian in MD is doubting everything and asks how can any human prove science is reliable? Science has predictive power and It’s the best model we have to investigate the world. So many of us go through a heavy doubt phase, it is completely normal. A god is not needed for a moral system. Good luck on your journey!
Enoch in PA asks our take on a story he heard in bible school. Is it probable that a story you were told was prophetic? We have our doubts. We attribute our beliefs to outlandish stories, it isn’t proof of a god. Yes, evidence would change our minds. We might believe in a proven god, but we wouldn’t necessarily worship it.
Kevin in NY asks if the universe has a nurturing or volatile aspect to it. The universe does not care about us. We don’t understand how you are making the connection to we need a god for anything, let alone consciousness. See if we can hone in on one of your topics when you call back.
Lastly, Jo in Canada asks why atheists are mocking other religions, like drawing Mohamad inappropriately? People are bringing light the injustice of others losing their freedoms or lives for blasphemy laws that we don’t face here. Mockery is a way to assert that freedom but not all atheists engage in this type of activism. There are people that don’t have that freedom, like Zara Kay, who is being held in Tanzania on trumped up blasphemy charges.
JusticeForZara
Thanks for tuning in, we are so glad you joined us today. Thanks for joining us to say goodbye to 2020. Welcome to 2021!
Happy New Year Heathens! We are cautiously optimistic about the upcoming year, hope it turns out wonderful for us all. In today’s episode of Talk Heathen, Eric Murphy is joined by Vi La Bianca. #LaMurph Let’s get to calls! Sigmund (aka Canadian Catholic) from Canada would like to talk about the positive viewpoints Eric and Vi hold as humanists and naturalists. They decide to have a quid pro quo type of conversation, which is a somewhat different format for the show. Unfortunately, CC isn’t the most honest interlocutor to have this type of conversation, is incredibly condescending, and constantly interrupts both hosts. And you’re done. Adam in Texas is up next, is wondering if there is any way to view the Bible as a moral book and how slavery back then is different. The call evolves into a fairly nice conversation as a way to get to know them. Come to find out, Adam is a presup. Weeeeee! Emmet in Texas is calling about how to deal with death after deconverting. There is no wrong way to grieve. It may also be worth letting mom grieve in her way, even if it is diametrically different than yours. Patrick in Florida thinks that pantheism may be a better option and the science behind consciousness. He would like to talk about it with Eric and Vi. Just because pantheism sounds like a better option, it doesn’t mean it’s the only other choice. Ooooh, boy. This call is a bit wild and all over the place, Patrick doesn’t really listen and Eric gets a bit heated. Scott in California is calling about naturalistic pantheism and how atheist isn’t the right term to define Eric and Vi’s viewpoint. But which is really better though? Emmanuel in Texas is wondering about how a near death experience and suicidal thoughts due to wanting to be in heaven formed his theistic beliefs. We are glad you are still here Emmanuel, please seek help if you need it, but we are here for you if you need us once more. That’s our show for this week, please continue to be safe in your area, wear your mask. The world is better with you in it. See you next week!
The Non-Prophets 19.12 for November 15th, 2020 with Puck, Rudy Bee and Phoenix.
Articles covered in this episode:
► Pope Francis Endorses Same-Sex Civil Unions For First Time In His Papacy https://www.wbur.org/radioboston/2020...
► New Texas rule lets social workers turn away clients who are LGBTQ or have a disability https://www.texastribune.org/2020/10/...
► Looking Back: Émile Combes https://freethoughtalmanac.wordpress....
► The Dunning-Kruger effect: Misunderstood, misrepresented, overused and … non-existent? https://skepchick.org/2020/10/the-dun...
► Trump’s spiritual advisor goes viral with Eminem-soundtracked clip https://www.nme.com/news/music/trumps...
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We welcome your comments on the thread for this show. ► https://www.facebook.com/groups/nonpr... ► Contact us with questions or news stories at: radio@atheist-community.org
The Non-Prophets 19.09 for October 25, 2020 with Johnny P, Jim Barrows, and Puck.
Article 1: Takeaways on Trump, Voter Fraud and the Election - https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/30/us...
Article 2: Donald Trump Jr. says dad’s ‘next move’ is to ‘break up’ FBI: ‘He has to get rid of these things’ - https://www.rawstory.com/2020/10/dona... Looking Back: Rebecca Watson (1980) - https://freethoughtalmanac.wordpress....
Article 3: Archbishop performs exorcism to cleanse protest site - https://apnews.com/article/san-franci...
We welcome your comments on the thread for this show.
► https://www.facebook.com/groups/nonpr...
► Contact us with questions or news stories at: radio@atheist-community.org
The Non-Prophets 19.10 for November 1, 2020 with Johnny P, Jena Miyu, and Kurt.
Articles discussed on this show:
Armed guards at Florida polling site say they were sent by the Trump campaign: https://www.rawstory.com/2020/10/arme...
Atheist advocacy group sues state over religious voter oath: https://apnews.com/article/alabama-la...
The Top 5 Most Irritating Things Theists Say to Atheists: https://medium.com/everything-atheist...
Violating IRS Rules, Texas Pastor Tells Entire Church to Vote for Trump: https://friendlyatheist.patheos.com/2...
Priest recorded having group sex on altar of Pearl River church, police say; 3 arrested: https://www.nola.com/news/crime_polic...
Also, here is the referenced video from Genetically Modified Skeptic, Christianity's Most Toxic Idea [and EXACTLY Where It Came From]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78NQt...
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We welcome your comments on the thread for this show. ► https://www.facebook.com/groups/nonpr... ► Contact us with questions or news stories at: radio@atheist-community.org
This week's referenced articles:
► Conservative Christian Leader: A Man is “Responsible for How His Wife Votes” https://friendlyatheist.patheos.com/2...
► New psychological research links atheism to emotional suppression https://www.psypost.org/2020/07/new-p...
► Looking Back – November 14: Jawaharlal Nehru https://freethoughtalmanac.wordpress....
► Religious data platform 'targets mentally ill, vulnerable people' https://www.dw.com/en/us-religious-da...
► Jerry Falwell Jr. is Suing Liberty University for Ruining His Reputation https://friendlyatheist.patheos.com/2...
We welcome your comments on the thread for this show. ► Contact us with questions or news stories at: radio@atheist-community.org
Hello all you atheists (and theists) out there! Strap in, today’s Atheist Experience features Matt Dillahunty and Jenna Belk! Happy holidays! Our first caller again is Enoch in PA asks our thoughts on why humans are different from other animals, given humans have morality/religion/philosophy. Humans' niche is intelligence but other great apes & pack animals have moral drives. We can’t communicate with other animals and we aren’t special...just different. Joey in IN asks if we have thought how Star Trek relates to Christianity on earth, given the crew dealt with skepticism and religions on other worlds? It didn’t necessarily teach skepticism and may have helped Matt understand humanism, but didn’t really help with religion. Babylon dealt with religion better. Kirby in IN believes in a god but thinks the Abrahamic religions are racist and controlling and feels that god is pure energy that evolved from a man. Population, not individuals, evolve. What makes you think this being exists at all? Evidence, not feelings, is the path to truth. Do you care if your beliefs are rational? If so, you shouldn't hold a belief without evidence. There is a difference in “I think there is a god” and “I think there might be a god”. Kevin in NY believes that a secret passed down by alchemists is that the soul is an emergent property within the magnetic field of the human aura. Aura? There is no evidence of souls or aura. Try again next time. Mohammed in Pakistan no longer believes in Islam but believes in a god, likely due to indoctrination. Why keep believing it then? We get how insidious indoctrination can be, you need to figure out what is keeping you in that fear. Sounds like you might be suffering from religious trauma syndrome, check out recovering from religion and the secular therapy project. Talking about this is the only thing that can help. Radu in WA never believed in a god but has started thinking more about it after researching game theory. His basis started with humans being a neural network, however we aren’t a neural network. You are arguing by analogy, where is the god in what you are seeing? The time to believe something is when there is evidence for it. Tim in ND asks why an atheist values rationality so intensely? Is there anything more valuable than rationality? We would like to be as right as possible, faith is gullibility. It’s important that others are rational because what they do has an impact on our lives. Rationality lends to survivability. Lastly, Erica in MT is an atheist that sides with Christians on social issues, for example the right to assembly in this pandemic. Do you not think we have a duty to protect the health of others? It’s conspiratorial to think that governments would create emergencies to keep take away rights. Thanks for tuning in, we are so glad you joined us today. Wear a damn mask and have safe and wonderful holidays, we’ll see ya next year!
Welcome Truth Seekers! Tonight, ObjectivelyDan is joined by Lauren (aka SkepticShe)! Lauren makes videos on everything from Atheism to Scientology! Cast your vote on The Golden Pico Awards!!!: tiny.cc/thegoldenpicos Our first caller Mark from PA is shocked at how much money Scientology manages to take in despite its comparatively young age compared to the more established religions. Should Atheist groups try to take them on in a legal battle? Brian from OR asks our hosts if they have investigated the other side’s evidence of the 9/11 conversation. It’s important to form a reasonable conclusion based on the current set of evidence, rather than extrapolate down rabbit holes that go beyond the data. Next is Tymm from WA who shares his deconversion story from ex-gay minister to coming out gay. If a god exists, they are definitely not a kind one who loves you for who you are. Thank you for calling Tymm, you are amazing! Jo from IN is concerned about the speed that the Covid vaccine was developed and asks our hosts for their thoughts. We should believe experts because they are the ones who are most informed on the subject and qualified to draw conclusions from the available data. Our final caller of the year is Lawson from MN! He expresses concern over trusting anything from the establishment. Technology allows us to create and access information faster than ever before, so it is more important than ever to do your due diligence and actually read any article of interest fully before sharing. With this in mind, there is no such thing as a completely unbiased source or article so it is important to look at a variety of sources to get a clearer picture. That’s all for this episode! Thank you all so much for watching and hunting the truth with us during this crazy year! From all of us at Truth Wanted, we wish you a very safe and happy New Year! You can find Lauren at https://www.youtube.com/skepticshe
Like a tree that just needs a little love, 2020 is the Christmas season nobody asked for but yippee ki yay you filthy animals, Secular Sexuality is here to ring bells and shoot eyes out no matter how nipply it gets. Join Christy, Vi and Hanna as we block out the world and sink into the Holiday Boob-Tube, discussing the secular and the sexuality of your favorite and not so classic holiday Holiday movies. Catch the conversation and your calls on the Holiday Movie episode of Secular Sexuality!
Find great resources for talking to your kids about sex at https://sexpositivefamilies.com/
Hello all you atheists (and theists) out there! In today’s Atheist Experience, Matt Dillahunty is joined by ACA’s own Jim Barrows. Welcome back Jim! Our first caller, Enoch in PA argues that it makes more sense to believe that god created everything rather than it happened by chance. That is a false dichotomy, those aren't the only 2 options. There hasn’t been sufficient evidence that there even is a god, let alone that god is more likely the explanation. I don’t know a perfectly acceptable answer. Connor in TX argues that he can debunk atheism and atheism is making a blind assumption about a material world. Atheists aren’t making a blind assumption about reality, that’s an everyone assumption. An atheist is someone not convinced a god exists, there are no assumptions made. Jim in the Faroe Islands asks if there is a duty to countering unfounded beliefs at social events, saying he struggles with not speaking up. There may be a duty, as a humanist, but that is mitigated by the impact it’s going to have on your life. It kind of depends on how egregious the claim is, for example if it was pandemic related and harming others. Avishai in MD claims Exodus 21 is not talking about slavery, saying the catholic church added that. It doesn't matter how you define it, the bible allows you to own people as property and pass them down. That is slavery. Have you ever read Leviticus 25:44-46? Phillip in Australia claims the evidence of God is all around us. Define your god, “god in general” and “eternal prime mover” are useless definitions. Do we know what matter is...Try again next time. Wade in SC asks why we should care about the wellbeing of others. There is no imperative, it is in fact in your best interest. In the example of slavery, a slave could be the one to cure the slave owners cancer. Paul in MI asks why slavery is wrong without a moral arbiter. So you believe the bible is moral, does god oppose slavery? The world is better off without slavery. Ugh, now we're onto Jesus existing. The gospel’s authors are anonymous, we don't have originals, nor would any of it prove the supernatural claims of Jesus. Could your god prove his existence right now, if so why doesn't he? Veria in the UK asks our opinion on the argument of believing A equals A is a form of faith. Generally, theists use faith as confidence in the absence of certainty. For your afterlife example, the soul is the most dead concept in philosophy. It’s just speculative. It's reasonable to believe a=a but not a soul or afterlife. Sammy in England has experience with fiery supernatural beings. We can’t verify personal experience, how did you rule out natural explanations? It’s irrational to just jump to the supernatural. Lastly, Mark in CA claims we can see the evidence of a creator, saying a painting requires a painter. We have evidence that a painter created a painting, you have no evidence that the universe was created. Thanks for tuning in, we are so glad you joined us today. Please be safe on these upcoming holidays.
Greetings Heathens! This is the last live episode of Talk Heathen for 2020, and Eric Murphy and Vi La Bianca are here and ready to hear from you! Let’s get to calls! Jonathan from Georgia has a friend who is questioning whether or not he believes. His unbelieving friend was experiencing chronic chest pains when a woman came into his place of work, prayed in Hebrew, and his chest pain went away. Eric explains that the placebo effect is a real means of pain reduction. Jonathan agrees with Eric and Vi that we should align our beliefs with the evidence presented to us, but doesn’t think all evidence is tangible. Fran in Colorado is up next. They’re an amputee and had a woman approach them in the store and offer to pray for them. This woman laid hands on them and started praying very loudly. When Fran explained their leg wasn’t going to grow back, she said “God can do anything.” While they were able to laugh it off, some people may be dealing with religious trauma and can’t shrug it off so easily. It is always unethical for evangelists to prey on people in vulnerable situations. Michael in Florida wants to know Eric and Vi’s take on people's supernatural claims in the present like demon possession or miracles. We need to first establish that god or another entity are possible causes. We know that mental disorders exist, epilepsy exists, and symptoms of these conditions may be attributed to demons. While “I don’t know” can be an uncomfortable answer, we have to examine possible answers from the types of causes that we know to be real before making any other conclusions. Next is John in Texas who says that if you are unable to understand the evidence, that is not the fault of the person explaining it to you, it is your fault for not comprehending the evidence. He says we choose to believe whatever we think best explains reality. The thing is, we cannot choose our beliefs. Our beliefs come about as a result of the evidence presented to us and how we evaluate that evidence. Sadly, John doesn’t want to engage honestly, but prefers to gaslight the hosts. Our last call for today is from Rande in California asked for a sign that wouldn’t be open to interpretation and had a dream that an old friend called him and Rande berated this friend for not being there for him.The next day, that same friend called him and the call went the same as the dream. Rande is disappointed that this might mean the biblical god is real because he thinks that god is immoral. But if this sign wasn’t open to interpretation, Rande wouldn’t have called in! That’s our show for this week, please continue to be safe in your area, wear your mask. The world is better with you in it. See you next week!
Good evening, Truth Seekers! Tonight, ObjectivelyDan is joined by our special guest, Jmike. Jmike is a co-host on The Atheist Roundtable and has a new channel, Axioms On Trial! First caller tonight, John in the USA asks what our objections are to libertarian free will. If you affect our physical brain it will change how we act. Free will, even if we had it, wouldn’t be good evidence for god, or even a soul. Is the soul not something we can observe? Sven in WA asks if skepticism would lead to conformity the way religion doctrine does? We do see a culture that develops when one is around a group of like minded people, it’s true for any social group. Skeptics seem to be more open to addressing failures in how we think as a social species. Ceafe in the USA argues that claiming a soul is supernatural is an evasion, since we can’t demonstrate the supernatural. You can’t say the soul exists and does something in the natural world by claiming it's supernatural, supernatural has no explanatory power. Edward in Canada asks how we know god isn’t deceiving us to make us not believe. One couldn’t know, we are stuck in the confines of our reality. Give us the evidence a god is deceiving us, Neo didn’t know he was in the matrix until he was provided evidence. Doug in ID asks why people are more concerned about freedoms than protecting people during this pandemic. It’s sad how “pro-life” people don’t seem to care about the life of living people. People do change their minds, it’s not the end...yet. Kevin in CA asks if it’s probable that highly technological life is out there? It’s possible... Jmike takes a more agnostic view of alien life. Alien stories starting with drugs are hard to take on face value, sorry. Lastly, Denis in AZ wasted our time with a prank about UFOs and a tool he brought back from an abduction. Ugh, we were interested in this call...too bad it was a prank caller. That's all the Truth for this week! Stay safe and make sure to check out more from Jmike at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxRu_TVAR6nWE9pRSJJR-sw/
Master Wrath Daddy James White joins Secular Sexuality to introduce us to the world of leather- exploring the history, culture and misconceptions of this incredible community. As a horror and erotica author, former heavyweight kickboxing champion, former MMA trainer, dungeon owner, and BDSM educator who teaches about leather and kink Wrath invites us to better understand this charitable and charming society through personal stories and a life in the community, plus your calls!
00:00 Intro 1:33 Wrath James White - Kinky Renaissance Man 2:54 Leather History And Traditions 30:11 Sam-(UK) | Reliable Leather Resources Please! 35:33 Stitics-CO | Vegan Leather? 39:07 "Is Leather Just A Kink?" And Other Misconceptions 50:26 Fran-CO | Racism In Leather? 52:55 JB-(CA) | You Don't Need To Justify Your Gender 1:06:48 How Do I Get Involved In Leather Culture? 1:19:51 Outro
Check out- 400 Days of Oppression by Wrath James White (https://www.amazon.com/Days-Oppression-Wrath-James-White/dp/1940250021)
Fight For Me by Wrath James White (https://www.amazon.com/Fight-Me-Wrath-James-White/dp/B0851MGXMX/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1607654378&sr=1-1)
Our Guest Recommended-
Victory: The Triumphant Gay Revolution by Linda Hirshman Leatherman: The Legend of Chuck Renslow by Tracy Baim JOURNEY IN LEATHER by Thomas Smith
https://leatherarchives.org/ http://carterjohnsonlibrary.com/
Hello all you atheists (and theists) out there! Today’s AXP Matt Dillahunty is joined by Shannon Q. Glad to have Shannon back in the co-host chair! Our first caller, Stephen in OR asks if there are any aspects of religion that we miss? There isn't much of anything we miss, we have been building a community. If anything, we miss the relationships with believing family/friends. It was nice to not have those religious arguments. We are appreciative in everything we gained since, looking at the universe without the lens of religion is amazing. Ahmad in Syria says that slavery in Islam is perfectly logical. Arguing that you can’t start a war, and if someone does then you can take them as your slave. There is no justification to own people, full stop. Keeping a slave as a deterrent to war/battle is not moral, they started it is not a justification to keep slaves. Daniel in NY asks if god didn't create everything, then what did? I don’t know, is a perfectly acceptable answer. Claiming to know takes away the motivation to keep looking for the answer. Daniel goes on to ask if consciousness exists after death, there is no good evidence for that. There isn’t even consciousness that exists outside of our brains. Penelope in OK asks how “spiritual health” translates over to atheists, she read that overall health is affected by this “spiritual” health. We would know how it's defined and what metrics they use, spirituality is a useless term. Hunter in NC doesn’t believe but is a soon to be father with religious family and a Muslim girlfriend. He worries his child will fall in these religious trappings. You need to have discussions on how you are going to raise your child. Teaching them critical thinking is a good way to stave off indoctrination. Keep the conversation on raising the child, not your religious differences. Moldred in NY argues that owing people is morally correct if they volunteer. BDSM slave relationships are not about owning people as property, that’s just kink. William in MA says that Matt is getting god’s morality wrong, he is too focused on the smaller picture. The god of the bible sanctions slavery... God’s wrath is abated by Jesus??? Aren’t they the same and never changing? Jesus didn’t come to fix things, he never changed the rules about slavery or changed views on the worth of women. Jacob in The UK was disowned by his Jehovah Witness family for talking to an apostate. Shunning is a way to force people into adherence through fear. We agree, an all loving god wouldn’t do that. Check into www.recoveringfromreligion.org they help with religious harm, not deconversion. Also look into ex JW communities. Lastly, Zaman in India asks why we don’t believe. We don't see good evidence for anything supernatural, including gods. Personal revelation doesn’t equal truth. We can’t have the experience you had, you need to demonstrate you are correct. Thanks for tuning in, we are so glad you joined us today. Please follow safety guidelines and wear your mask!
Greetings Heathens! In today’s episode of Talk Heathen, we’ve got the dream team back #LaMurph! Eric Murphy and Vi La Bianca are here today and ready to hear from you! Let’s get to calls! Fran from Pennsylvania saw demons in the woods in their 20s. Their friends also described seeing a similar creature. Eric and Vi think it may be the result of pareidolia. Memories are also very malleable things, so the collection of stories in this friend group may have grown over time. Father John from Canada is up next, he’s called in before but this time he has brought us an argument! He wants to talk about the peripatetic axiom which says “nothing is in the intellect which was not first in the senses.” He rejects the axiom and wants to know if Eric and Vi accept it, but doesn’t want to discuss what he believes and why. He thinks he is justified in not using empirical evidence to justify his beliefs. Chrys in Pennsylvania wants to discuss the old earth and young earth creationist groups within the Orthodox Church. Chrys is not a young earther, nor does he believe in theistic evolution. Vi and Eric want to know how Chrys is helping to educate his fellow believers and support science. Skye from Colorado, a self described “struggling Christian” is hanging on to faith because of the Immanuel prayer and fear of the rapture. Eric explains that an argument from fear, while viscerally impactful, is not a good reason to believe in something. This sort of “stay with me or you’ll be punished” rhetoric is very similar to how abusive partners talk. The Immanuel Prayer appears to be a means of self-indoctrination. Both of these last threads are forms of emotional manipulation, forming a carrot and stick combo. Wanting to learn about your religion is not a crisis! Asking questions is a good thing. Jessica in New York wants progressive theists to recognize how their silence enables right-wing fundamentalists in the U.S. As someone who works with abused children, Jessica finds that theists who are personally opposed to abuses by the church are not willing to accept that they are culpable in supporting those abuses by supporting those organizations. We appreciate Jessica for all the work she does! Phil in Germany wants to point out that our ability to discuss things beyond our senses is limited by our language since languages rely on sensory experiences to explain things. His friend says that all religions are looking at the same god from different angles, but that ignores the mutually exclusive claims of different religions. That’s our show for this week, please continue to be safe in your area, wear your mask. The world is better with you in it. See you next week!
Happy Thanksgiving! We decided to give the hosts and crew the day off to rest and celebrate with their families this week, but that doesn't mean you can't have some hot, fresh video to watch today! Vi La Bianca is joined by Rudy Bee and Hanna Vaughn in her debut on the show, and they'll be digging into the ol' mailbag to answer your questions.
Good evening, Truth Seekers! Tonight’s episode of Truth Wanted, ObjectivelyDan is joined by our special guest, Bryce Cornell. Bryce is a former believer turned atheist and co-hosts on The Empathetic Atheist. He left his faith after realizing believing first is not a good pathway to truth. First caller tonight, Geo in AZ experienced a burned in hand print on the floor that moved around his old house. This only happened 3 times in ~20 years. How would you explain this? This is just an odd story and no way to substantiate or even investigate it any longer. We can’t jump to the supernatural on this, I don’t know is the perfect answer. Carpe Diem in CO asks our opinions on the morality of bringing kids into this world. Dan is an antinatalist, there are kids in the foster system that need help if one chooses to bring up kids. It sounds like Carpe’s wife is leaning toward wanting to have a baby and you aren’t, you need to have these discussions together and see if there is a middle ground. Yo in TX asks how can a vegan diet give you enough energy to make it through the day. Most of what we get our energy from is carbohydrates/sugars, not meat. You can get all your protein from a vegan diet, make sure you get all your nutritional requirements. Take small steps for yourself if you want to move toward veganism. Glenn in PA says that vegans aren’t saving animal lives, arguing it's better to live a short time than not exist. We don’t agree. In your hypothetical, we would rather not live than die in childhood, one couldn’t care if they didn’t exist. This argument doesn’t make sense, would a farmed animal agree with you? Our last caller tonight, Scott in PA asks how our views changed on LGBT issues from when you were a christian. Dan thought it wasn’t the equivalent of a straight relationship so there was something wrong. It took a little empathy to challenge that belief. Luckily, it's more acceptable now to be LGBT. That's all the Truth for this week! Stay safe and make sure to check out more from Bryce at www.youtube.com/c/TheEmpatheticAtheist/
Good evening, Truth Seekers! ObjectivelyDan is joined tonight by our intrepid co-host Puck. Tonight is a pre-recorded show due to Thanksgiving week in the US. First caller tonight, Malty in WA asks how we can address friends/family on their unsubstantiated beliefs. It can be a task to be patient but if someone is saying something insulting, that is a time you can push back. Keep in mind, you don’t owe anyone a conversation. Stitics in CO asks what is the one topic we would want someone to call in about. Puck looks for claims he has not heard, like out there paranormal claims. Any kind of extraterrestrial claims, hollow earth, etc claims interest Dan. Richard in England asks if veganism is a moral obligation. You could make the argument that is an obligation if you want to stick to your practices to lessen harm and suffering. Typically, people have more food options but not everyone has access to stick to a strictly vegan diet. Richard finds the position morally superior but not an obligation. Dustin in WV asks for advice on how to shift online arguments from a debate to a conversation. The longer form you can get your ideas across the better, twitter is not a good option if you want to change peoples mind. Try to understand why they are convinced by their reasoning and point out why it doesn't convince you. Katie in OH what advice do you have for new atheist activists? Don’t wait until you have the best equipment, put yourself out there, people will find you! Listen to people and see what they have to say. Be willing to adjust the nature of your content. Martin in FL asks Dan about his experience with the Boy Scouts. Dan is an eagle scout and learned lots about the outdoors but is upset at the report of allegations of abuse. We would like to see a more secular Boy Scouts. Patricia in NY asks if there are any conspiracy theories we somewhat believe or wish were true. Some conspiracies do happen, most of them are just too outlandish. We don’t just believe the claims, we need GOOD evidence. Our last caller tonight, Tanjil in Australia asks how much time per week we research. Dan listens to podcasts/books 5 days a week. Puck gets in about 30-40 learning hours a week with podcasts, books, news, and research for Non Prophets. That's all the Truth for this week! We hope you enjoyed our “Friendsgiving” episode, stay safe out there and we’ll see you live next week.
Living in a religious world it can be easy to forget that we’re all just talking primates with fancy computers. Our feelings, our beliefs and our relationships can all be confounded by the idea that there’s a way we were meant to be, should be or are supposed to behave. Annette James returns to the show this week to share with us fascinating evolutionary psychology and interpersonal neurobiology to help us reinterpret our mood and better understand our role on earth, not as fallen angels but as risen apes. We’ll use polyvagal theory and the latest research on our hearts and minds to learn how to communicate with our partners and with ourselves, plus your calls on the Atheist Community of Austin’s Secular Sexuality!
►Find Annette and her work at https://www.eclipselifecoach.com/ ►Dive deeper into the episode and learn more at https://www.vcatx.com/media/eclipsepvt
The Polyvagal Theory: Neurophysiological Foundations of Emotions, Attachment, Communication, and Self-regulation by Stephen Porges Dr. Deb Dana’s work can be found at https://www.rhythmofregulation.com/Polyvagal-Resources.php The Error Of 'Biological Sex'- https://www.vcatx.com/media/2019/5/12/the-error-of-biological-sex
Hello all you atheists (and theists) out there! For today’s Atheist Experience, Jenna Belk is joined by Anthony Magnabosco. Anthony is best known for Street Epistemology, a method for addressing beliefs/claims. Learn more at https://streetepistemology.com/
Our first caller, Mark says that prophesies are keeping him tied to his religion, saying several predictions/claims are real. Try not to jump to conclusions about these claims, a more natural explanation tends to be best. Allow yourself to question and doubt the things you thought were true.
Amber in SC can’t shake her belief that souls are real. What makes you think a soul exists? It sounds like you are afraid of letting go of aspects of your religion. It can be hard to let go of those beliefs, it takes time and it's a slow process. Give yourself credit for assessing these beliefs.
Chase in TX asks about Anthony’s recent video regarding Caleb, an animated street preacher whose behavior seemed to change and Chase was wondering the cause of such a dramatic change. Check out that video here, https://youtu.be/IXzCdauGc_8 Anthony quickly breaks down aspects of those interviews.
Sid in NV asks how we process grief as a non believer. We keep people alive in the memories and stories we share, it keeps them alive in your head.. Try to take a few moments to remember them when you come across pictures or keepsakes. Don’t forget to check out http://griefbeyondbelief.org/
Sam in PA finds it difficult to use techniques of Street Epidemiology to address political beliefs. Focus on the claims made, there is a factual truth on these political beliefs you can address. Anthony recommends Cordial Curiosity’s channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiWKxPMKUBFjN3Ny_VxpkYw)
Steven in GA asks if we believe Jesus forced humans into existence, based on scripture and prophecy. There is no way to verify that, especially using the bible. Steven was placed back on hold so he could clarify the claim.
Andrea in CA asks what we can do about people getting defensive about their beliefs. Jenna was conditioned to be guarded if someone tried to change her mind, believing it was the devil tempting you. Explore safer topics to indicate you aren’t just attacking and just let them be exposed to other worldviews.
Skye in CO sticks to their beliefs based on fear of being left behind during the rapture. These are legacy fears that come with the belief. Access communities to talk with atheists who overcame that same fear. Look into www.recoveringfromreligion.org they have resources to address this.
Lastly, Joe in VA doesn’t think we can have an infinite regress without there being an eternal being behind that. The honest response here is “I don’t know". There are lots of things that seem intuitive that aren’t once we learn more.
Thanks for tuning in, we are so glad you joined us today. Please continue to follow safety guidelines and wear your damn mask!
Greetings Heathens! Settle in heathens, grab that cup of velvety smooth hot chocolate or coffee, Seth Andrews and his dulcet tones joins us today. I don’t know about you, but I love his voice and I love Eric’s voice, this episode should go down as our most ASMR show ever. Combined together with Eric, this should be a fantastic show! Let’s get to calls! Gerard from Connecticut would like to talk about to what degree can we reasonably believe and justify metaphysical claims. Unfortunately, we aren’t able to reasonably test these claims to prove them true without evidence. Using mathematics to prove this isn’t helpful, math is a language used to describe symbols, is also a scientific process, and isn’t a way to prove metaphysics. ALERT! We interrupt this episode for a prophecy about how God exists! Just kidding, we wanted to show a clip from an episode from August about how the UN will be taking over the US in November and Trump is nowhere to be found… except this prophecy hasn’t happened. NEXT! Sophie in Texas is up next, after experiencing a lot of loss over the years, they are seeing their mom succumbing to scams by “mediums” and isn’t sure what to do to help. Please don’t feel this is only your burden, it is not your mantle to carry, please reach out to our discord if you need any additional help working through this. Kathy in Pennsylvania is wondering about folks calling themselves Christian and acting contrary to that. She starts talking towards the ‘No True Scotsman’ territory but stops herself. She knows all the lingo! Seth summarizes her thoughts in the amazing storyteller way that he does. Jonathan in London is asking about how to support his theist believing wife when she says she is being punished for some spiritual infraction. He is seeking advice on how to best help her through this. Seth is able to hop in and provides some great advice. Kevin in New York is calling back, says he doesn’t want to go down any rabbit holes. Sure you don’t… I’m a teeny bit skeptical about that. This time he would like to focus on the topic of skepticism and spiritual testimonies that people claim. Oh boy. Tim in the Czech Republic deconverted and left his cult and is nervous about talking about how he is shunned by his family to his friends around the holiday season. Seth is able to really provide some great steps in creating your family made of friends. Family isn’t always a blood relation, the family you choose is sometimes the best. That’s our show for this week, please continue to be safe in your area, wear your mask. The world is better with you in it. See you next week!
Hello all you atheists (and theists) out there! Today Matt Dillahunty is joined by DB Ramsey, author of “Speaking of God We Don't Know Sh*t”. Mr. Ramsey’s book takes a look at religious practices and god beliefs, learn more at https://www.dbramsey.com/ Our first caller, Michael in CO is engaged to a Christian who wants to baptize his daughter and make him go to classes about it first. No one should be forced to participate in religion. Making you go to classes seems more like she is trying to change you. Decide what you are comfortable with and have those discussions with your wife. Paul in England argues that atheists are straw-manning prayer, citing atheists equating prayer to wish granting from a genie. We don’t espouse that position. Paul agrees that the Bible supports answered prayers but says people skip the thanks part. The notion that someone’s prayers aren’t answered because they aren’t thankful or positive enough is abhorrent. Enoch in PA asks how we address morality with someone who says they care about only themselves. Does that person want food, healthcare, transportation? If they are not willing to contribute, they are disenfranchising themselves from society. We have never met anyone that really didn’t care. Danny in LA thinks that God is the best explanation for the supernatural/non-natural. You first need to define supernatural AND God. We agree that you can’t verify the supernatural, at least. The mind is not supernatural...oof. The mind is a label we put on what the brain does. How can you show something is non-natural? Beth in MN why does the catholic church shuffle criminal priests around? We are aware of the systematic child abuse and the coverup, how anyone can still support the catholic church is beyond us. Sadly this happens in protestant churches as well. Greg in FL wants to have a logical conversation about why slavery is immoral. Do you feel it should be legal to own you as a slave? Greg wants to move the slavery discussion away from humans. That is what slavery is about, owning humans as property. We are stewards of our pets/animals that we own, you can’t just beat your pets. Mac in CA asks about the necessity of religion and how it relates to a belief in god. Religion is not necessary. People don’t necessarily end up religious, some look for more scientific answers to life. Morality is NOT inherently tied to religion, there is such a thing as secular morality. Secular Morality does not lean on religion, it started in opposition to religion after religion. Lastly, Julian in FL if compatibilism or determinism is true, how do you know anything was true if you were determined to believe it. Because you were determined to believe, doesn't mean one can’t be determined to not believe. The assessment of truth is that which comports with reality. Thanks for tuning in, we are so glad you joined us today. Please continue to follow safety guidelines for COVID-19 and stay safe out there.
Greetings Heathens!
We are switching it up a bit today, our wonderful Vi La Bianca is hosting, but please welcome Jon Steingard as our co-host today. Jon was the frontman of a Christian band and he is here to tell us his story and help others in their journey by listening to their calls and having conversations. Welcome Jon, we are glad you are here today!
Let’s get to calls! Nick in Virginia would like to get some advice when dealing with immediate family after deconverting and leaving his cult. He wants to be able to be a positive role model for his brothers and is having a tough time reconciling how they are being raised.
Ryan in Arizona is up next, he is wondering about his evolution from atheism into pantheism and back to atheism. He is also having an argument with a friend about this and keeping spiritual elements to his life and if that is ok as an atheist.
John in Texas is curious about objectivity from a subjective point of view. Jon brings it around and talks about Descartes and how he approached this. The caller’s journey with us ends with him claiming we are in the end times. Whoa, what a turn!
Big Country in Arizona is struggling with their faith because of the historical inaccuracy of the Bible and if there is real evidence of God/prophets/etc. Did Jesus/Yeshua truly exist during the Bronze Age? You’re so close BC, keep on asking questions!
Jace in Minnesota is a Norse polytheist and would like to talk about his beliefs. Vi really digs into this and asks a lot of really fantastic questions. Such as, how do you determine these beings exist, how do you show this evidence to others, or convince others they are real? This should be interesting.
Robert in Massachusetts is wondering about using “spiritual rituals” like tarot or readings in a skeptical way about it. As long as you are upfront about your intent and educational about these methods. “You don’t so much predict the future, but give them food for thought.”
That’s our show for this week, please continue to be safe in your area, wear your mask, and continue to social distance. Please stay home on Thanksgiving (for you Americans out there). It is incredibly selfish to host a large gathering with COVID spiking and overwhelming hospitals countrywide. See you next week!
Good evening, Truth Seekers! ObjectivelyDan is joined tonight by Ian Jaydid! Tonight’s episode is about all things paranormal. Ian is an artist first and foremost but he is also an author. Check out his latest book “Migration”. Ian starts us off today talking about his experiences with lucid dreaming and the astral realm. First caller tonight, Pierre in Canada argues that the bible is not talking about gods, but extraterrestrials that created the world. How could you know that? Pierre tells the testimony of a prominent Raelian. Neither testimony or books on the subject will convince us. Mark in PA believes that lucid dreaming isn’t magic, it’s just dreaming, you can’t see things that aren’t there. Ian doesn’t believe in a soul and would agree if he hasn’t had his personal experiences. We definitely aren’t talking about an immortal soul saved by Jesus. Jordan in CA asks how we define truth. It is not as straightforward as we think. We work more with a pragmatic idea of truth, assuming a shared reality. Even that starts with a bunch of assumptions, like terms we use to describe reality. Ian goes super deep, talking about empty space and the physics behind empty space. Our last caller tonight, Vern in MI asks how often we interact with presuppositionalists? They do call in from time to time. Ian hasn’t had the pleasure yet. We quickly break down the argument and all the traps and pitfalls that come. There is no reason to insert a god in any argument. The logical absolutes don’t point to a god either. That's all the Truth for this week! Find more from Ian at https://ianjaydid.com/ Stay safe out there, wear your masks!
Secular Sexuality 07.46 2020-11-19 with Christy Powell, Vi La Bianca and Billie Beard
One of the most interesting challenges of doing a YouTube show as a podcast with live callers is the challenge of keeping everyone’s voices clear for the audience. As fans of the show no doubt know, names like Sera, Rudy or Christy don’t necessarily ‘sound’ the way we’ve been raised to expect they should. Where do those expectations come from? What should we be doing to dismantle them? Is it okay to explore who we are, with our voices? Billie Beard comes back to the show to lend her voice to a discussion on voice therapy and trans culture, plus to hear your voice and take your calls!
►Find Billie and her work at https://www.texasqueercounseling.com/ ►Dive deeper into the episode and learn more at https://www.vcatx.com/media/voicetherapy
One Weird Trick: A User's Guide to Transgender Voice by Liz Jackson Hearns https://www.thevoicelabinc.com/resources-transgender-voice-chicago.html Understanding Aces with Miss O Kissed- https://www.vcatx.com/media/missokissed
Hello all you atheists (and theists) out there! The hosts of Atheist Experience today are Matt Dillahunty and Jim Barrows. Yay, another Jim week! Our first caller, Enoch in PA wants to know why man would evolve and think up a god concept? We imagine beings with more capabilities to one with maximal capabilities, it's a natural progression. Enoch fails to prove god using his hypothetical scenarios. It’s no surprise that man made up the god concept. Charles in TX starts out spouting bible verses, even on hold. We aim to have a conversation, not just be preached at. Matt addressed some verses after the call, make sure to listen! Jason in TN asks if secular humanism comports with the reality of human nature that exists today or is at a utopian idea? Humanism is an ideal. In the absence of supernatural health, we recognize we need to work together to make this world a better place. The hosts break down secular humanism. We need to be more altruistic. Patrick in NH doesn’t believe but finds value in eastern religions, he feels they help him moderate his disorders. If it is benefiting you and not doing identifiable harm, go for it. Sam in Egypt asks how we explain free will and determinism and asks our thoughts on how consciousness comes from a brain. While we don’t have good answers right now, we are working on it. There is no reason to jump to a god as a conclusion. We don’t have a full explanation of consciousness, no one else does either. Marcus in Ghana claims black magic is real. Matt covers this well, real magic is fake and fake magic is real! What “magic” do you see in Ghana that makes you think atheism is false. You are seeing a trick and jumping to the conclusion that magic is real. Nick in CA doesn’t think that Christian god needs, or can, be proven. For most definitions of god, we think you are correct. You are acknowledging that your god can’t be proven, that means you can’t have a good reason to believe. Why do you believe? Mustafa in MI asks if god doesn’t exist, is there an objective morality? We can’t measure an objective morality, but we can come up with a subjective foundation in wellbeing. We don’t accept that any god is the arbiter of right or wrong. Jay in VA asks our thoughts of the government closing churches during this pandemic. It is not a church/state issue, religion is not an essential service that should remain open during this pandemic. Jay is against it as a personal freedom issue, you don't have freedom to violate quarantine during a pandemic. Lastly, Tyler in CA doesn’t see much on male reproductive rights in the secular community. The rights are equal but the situation is not equal. No one can tell anyone else what to do with their body. If the sex creates a pregnancy and the person carries it to term, you will become a parent. Thanks for tuning in, we are so glad you joined us today. Please continue to follow safety guidelines for COVID-19 and stay safe out there.
Greetings Heathens! Are you ready for another episode of Talk Heathen? Prepare yourself, here it comes! In today’s episode of Talk Heathen, Eric Murphy is joined by Vi La Bianca. #LaMurph Let’s get to calls! Nick in Wisconsin would like to talk about how folks in lockdown are able to survive a lockdown financially. He keeps repeating the same question and doesn’t sound willing to go outside his echo chamber for an answer. Jordan in California is up next, he wonders what epistemic grounding to start with and what position would be most consistent to have. Vi asks a very important question: Are you expecting to have absolute certainty about what is true in the world? Chrys in Pennsylvania, is curious if we think Lazarus and the Bishop of Cyprus were the same person and has a thesis/script written down he would like to read. Why should we care? Why is this relevant? He uses circular logic from the Bible to justify this was a historical supernatural event. Charles in Pennsylvania would like to share why he still believes in God. He goes into a very long story about the internet, highly unlikely things, and probability. He was thinking of his grandfather and saw a picture of him on Ebay. There was also a car… a Ford Fairlane in this post? I am so lost, but these highly unlikely things don’t mean a God is real in any way. Brian in Georgia is curious about how to get past folks who tie their beliefs to their emotions. Eric and Vi respond how they understand the question: I am what I believe. They also equate their ideas with who they are and their identity. Bryana in Indiana would like to talk about how her family makes fun of her religious trauma behind her back and how she is struggling with being alone during the holidays. I am so sorry, Bryana. That is definitely not ok. Good luck with what you decide to do, we are here for you. Up next, Dizzy in California is an Atheist and can’t decide if it is ethical to attend church to challenge the other members with skepticism and questions. Ooooh, good question! Sandra in Texas has recently disconnected from her family because of her beliefs, or lack of beliefs. She has a couple reservations about experiences in her life she would like to discuss as well. You’re awesome Sandra! Keep on keeping on! That’s our show for this week, please continue to be safe in your area, wear your mask, social distance, and stay healthy. The world is better with you in it. See you next week!
Good evening Truth Seekers. ObjectivelyDan is back in the host chair with our special guest, Abdullah Sameer. Abdullah is an ex-muslim activist and and hosts a website of all his appearances on podcasts, shows, or his blogs. Check it out at https://abdullahsameer.com/ First caller tonight, Autumn in CA is a new atheist activist and asks how to differentiate Islamaphobia or valid criticisms of Islam. Keep in mind that Islam is not a race and when you criticize Islam, you are addressing an ideaology. Feel free to step outside the focus of your YouTube channel and criticize Islam. Maya from the Caribbean asks how Abdullah has experienced how islamic families treat their deaf children. She works with deaf people and has seen that hindu and islam families tend to hide away their deaf children and won’t communicate with them. Abdullah has not experienced that, sadly humans do stuff like that. Adrian in TX argues for the existence of a deistic god. Dan starts off accepting the 1st premise but can’t accept the fine tuning argument for god. Nature may have the APPEARANCE of fine tuning, we don’t agree that things ARE finely tuned. Doesn’t a deistic god not interfere with nature? Scott in PA was prompted to call after listening to Adrian’s call. Scott thinks the fine tuning argument is bunk and goes on to talk about how we evolved along with our ecosystem. There are many examples of places just on this planet that are uninhabitable by humans, let alone the entire universe. Our last caller tonight, Catholic Traditionalist in LA asks if the hosts are hard or soft atheists. Adbullah identifies as a weak atheist, we are open to evidence to change our minds. CT fails to trap Dan in a weird semantics definition of logic, trying to poke holes in logic. That's all the Truth for this week! Remember to keep wanting the truth. Stay safe out there, wear your masks!
Relationships are hard, or at least important enough to spend an hour and a half each week talking about, right? We talk a lot about how relationships can get much harder when they don’t follow the typical patterns of our culture- polyamorous lesbians in a d/s dynamic don’t experience quite the same social support or mindful accommodations afforded a more typical relationship. But what to do if your relationship or your mind itself is atypical, on a neurological level? Miss O Kissed returns to the show to share more with us about her journey, walking us through her ASD diagnosis and life and love on the spectrum, plus your questions!
►Find autism resources and support- https://autisticadvocacy.org/ https://neuroclastic.com/ https://awnnetwork.org/ https://aspietests.org/
►Dive deeper into the episode and learn more about dating and ASD at https://www.vcatx.com/media/asddating
Virginia governor pardons Black man with autism serving 10-years for nonfatal car crash By Wilson Wong for NBC News (https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/virginia-governor-pardons-black-man-autism-serving-10-years-nonfatal-n1247544)
Hello all you atheists (and theists) out there! The hosts of Atheist Experience today are Matt Dillahunty and Shannon Q! Glad to have you back Shannon. Our first caller, Bonnie in WI read some horrible passages in bible and that is what sparked her journey to non-belief, specifically child sacrifice and slavery. We agree the bible is whacky and full of horribleness. Alvin in NC argues for his 100 patterns in Genesis 1:1. Matt sits back on this one while Shannon breaks down the math for statistical analysis. If you can’t answer Shannon’s questions, you need to take your claim to mathematicians or statisticians. David in PA feels his theistic beliefs are not rooted in reality. He has a history of psychological issues, Shannon talks with him about how religion can affect those mental states and drives home that no one deserves abuse. We are glad you are doing better and that ACA shows have helped you! Lord Methane from CA continues our first call, comparing blood atonement and sacrifices. We think the old testament is about God's failures and people not living up to God's standard. We don't care about the bible. Try again when you can make a point. Lee in GA is a member of the clergy project and gives us a brief history of his beliefs and went to Asia to save people and ended up leaving his religion. We are glad you are doing better! Lester in NC asks why people who believe morality is founded on wellbeing are pro-choice. Matt discusses bodily autonomy with Lester, mainly pointing out someone doesn’t have the right to use someone else’s body without their consent. Anything to the contrary points to fetuses getting special rights. Mike in OH believes that god is a transcendent mathematical object and that god’s existence was proven in 2014. We are interested in a god people believe in and pray to, not a hypothetical god. “Racking up losses,” grow up. Andrew in NC asks if he should give thought to predictions in the Bible, like the 3rd temple ushering in the end of the world. Knowing that people are actively working toward the goals of a biblical prediction, kind of makes it less impressive. Lastly, Rick in GA thinks the bible proves Jesus existed. It’s all speculation, you have to assume the accuracy of the bible to accept it as proof. What could the Bible prove? There is no reason to assume Jesus existed, we don’t take the Bible at face value. Thanks for tuning in, we are so glad you joined us today. Thanks to everyone that voted! Please continue to follow safety guidelines for COVID-19 and stay safe out there.
Greetings Heathens! What an interesting and stressful week it’s been, thankfully it’s time for some heathens who talk. In today’s episode of Talk Heathen, Eric Murphy is joined by Vi La Bianca. #LaMurph First, a message from Richard Carrier in response to a previous caller on a recent episode and how there is still work to be done in the atheist community. Let’s get to calls! Jim in Canada would like to talk about how atheists can actually know that God is not actively deceiving us into nonbelief. How do we really and truly KNOW? (this guy sounds VERY familiar…) Jamie in Wisconsin is up next, would like to talk about the justification for abortion and whether tax is theft. But where does this intersect with atheism though? Hmmm… he seems to be a walking contradiction about some of this stuff. John in Connecticut, is wondering about dualism, if souls exist, and materialism. Is consciousness supernatural under the dualism and supernatural definitions? Fallacies and poor arguments abound with this call. Weeee! Elli in Germany is asking about family reactions to her personal journey to atheism. She is still struggling with how to fully understand this and how to justify her nonbelief to her family. David in Mexico is curious about how to best fulfill a family member’s last wishes if they are atheist and their family is theist. He is also dealing with the religiosity of funerals in general. It is definitely a worthy topic of conversation and you have the right to completely lay out these last wishes that you would like to be respected. Edgar in California would like to talk about Hitchen’s Razor and how we should approach others in conversation about religion and atheism, especially while being Hispanic. ¡Buena Suerte Edgar! Up next, Larry in Texas is struggling with the concept (or word) atheist due to it’s somewhat negative connotation or perception. Yeah, we are actively working on this, positive atheism for the win! That’s our show for this week. Also, WINTER IS COMING and the pandemic is still ongoing! Please continue to be safe in your area, wear your mask, continue to be socially distanced, and wash your hands! The world is better with you in it. See you next week!
Good evening Truth Seekers. Sit back and relax tonight, Puck is hosting Truth Wanted this week and joining him is Your Friendly Neighborhood Atheist, Ethan Michael! Ethan is a new to YouTube atheist but now has several YouTube shows now! Puck starts us out tonight talking with Ethan about everything Atheist YouTube. First caller tonight, James in Australia asks about the religiosity in America versus Australia. This call dropped, please call back James. Robyn in AZ tells a story of where she was laying in bed and felt something jump up on her waterbed but nothing was there. She later learned that her cat died and thinks that was a last visit. Even if this was true, what can we do with this information now? Yo in TX conducted a seance and asked for any supernatural experience and claims the lights turned off, darkness enveloped a candle, the candle came back on and they saw a shadowy figure. Candles can relight and cast ominous shadows, again this is just a story. James in Australia is back to talk about how religiosity has permeated in all American society. Ethan thinks we aren’t aware how much religion affects our daily lives and talks more on history and religion. America is not a christian founded country. Puck talks how much more religious America appears on the world stage. David in CA argues that “in the beginning, let there be light” is confirmed by the consistent nature of cosmic microwave background radiation. The bible is vague and open to interpretation, how do we know that's what the bible meant? Why not talk with a physicist about this? Last caller tonight! Anthony in CA argues there is more evidence for bigfoot than the tooth fairy, etc There might be MORE evidence, but we don’t find it credible. Anthony feels bigfoot is a claim to be researched, not ridiculed. Anthony is going to share some evidence he has, we ran out of time. That's all the Truth for this week! Thanks for voting! Find all of Ethan’s links here: linktr.ee/YFNAtheist
Art 1 - Black skeptics uplift their community through social justice
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/black-skeptics-uplift-their-community-through-social-justice-christianity-power-people-people-community-b1056562.html
Also discussed: 5 Great Humanist Groups Promoting Progressive Values
https://wiki.ezvid.com/v/5-great-humanist-groups-promoting-progressive-values-8be1fb8d?fbclid=IwAR2psZtMiX_vKF7qXWEtiQoCCOCQPmCgJLuonjqe9_1J62LN5qeb_mdTq9Y]
Art 2 - Science & Religion Aren’t Compatible (But Only in America) https://skepchick.org/2020/10/science-religion-arent-compatible-but-only-in-america/
Also discussed: Antiscience Beliefs Jeopardize US Democracy
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/antiscience-beliefs-jeopardize-us-democracy/
Also discussed: Science education - US National Library of Medicine - National Institutes of Health
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7141687/
Looking Back - November 6: Cesare Lombroso https://freethoughtalmanac.wordpress.com/2010/11/06/november-6-cesare-lombroso/
Also Discussed: Predictive policing algorithms are racist. They need to be dismantled.
https://www.technologyreview.com/2020/07/17/1005396/predictive-policing-algorithms-racist-dismantled-machine-learning-bias-criminal-justice/
Art 3 - Michigan Catholic church doesn't want to maskup because god's image shouldn't be masked
https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/news/local/2020/10/28/michigan-ingham-mask-mandate-lawsuit-resurrection-school/6051937002/
You’ll hear it in any hypnotherapist’s office- all hypnosis is self-hypnosis. And since SecX is the type of show that wraps each week with an entreatment for the self-treatment, we decided to do a little more digging into the dreamy world of erotic hypnosis. Eve of Eve’s Garden joins Christy and Vi in one of our favorite pre-taped interviews to discuss the mysterious and affirming power of fantasy and the human mind, mixed with your live calls and questions on this Guy Fawkes Day episode of Secular Sexuality!
►Find Eve’s Garden, hypnosis research and resources and plenty of other links YouTube wouldn’t like at https://www.vcatx.com/media/evesgarden
►Dip a toe into comforting and encouraging audio roleplay at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLllQXpwLQsCIovnURhEXoTNcIvoIp6vH6
►Take a 7 minute crash course in hypnosis with Christy at https://youtu.be/PrxsprkNFsU
Find Eve on Twitter or around the web by searching @eves__garden
Hello all you atheists (and theists) out there! The hosts of Atheist Experience today are our very own Matt Dillahunty and Jenna Belk. Tune in to see Jenna’s big announcement!!
Our first caller, Eddie in Canada objects to Matt’s use of a moral/slavery argument. Matt’s position is slavery in the bible is immoral but Eddie thinks if a god commands it, it is moral. How can you tell the difference between someone thinking god told them versus god actually commanding it?
Ulrich in Mexico says that phrases akin to “oh my god” proves god’s existence. We are not calling on a literal god, just using a phrase found commonly in society’s lexicon.
Lester in NC asks about objective morality, asking if certain situations are objectively bad. What does it matter if something is objectively immoral? Christians can not demonstrate morality comes from a god, let along prove that god.
Anne in Turkey worries thinking about skepticism triggers mental health issues. Skepticism is just not believing something without good evidence. Check into resources in your area and look into Recovering From Religion.
Jesus in CA argues God is a personal being outside of time, space, and matter. Does God interact with reality at all? Design is not interaction and DNA is neither a code or evidence for design. Oh no, now we're talking about the big bang theory…
Anthony in FL tells us that atheists are hypocritical because we would vote for a believer. He rambled on about inane “what-if” scenarios but couldn’t point out why atheists are hypocritical.
Dmitriy in CA argues that fine tuning is the best argument for the existence of a god. We can not show that physics could work another way, the argument fails that it was fine tuned. We look for explanations supported by scientific evidence, it is impossible to define the supernatural in science.
Cindy in Belgium asks about inductive and deductive reasoning. There is no requirement that logic address true premises, it is possible in an inductive argument for the conclusion to not be true. What a fun call on logic and syllogisms!
John in GA asks if we are predetermined to believe in god if you believe in predeterminism? We believe that the universe is deterministic. We believe that people can choose to change their minds on their beliefs.
Lastly, Preston in UT asks how life was created given the laws of entropy. We don't know, those that claim knowledge has the burden of proof. There are scientists working on abiogenesis. If you say that life arising on earth violates the law of entropy, write a paper and get a Nobel prize.
Thanks for tuning in, we are so glad you joined us today. Keep wearing your masks and please go vote!
Greetings Heathens, and Happy late Halloween! Can you believe it’s already November? While 2020 has pretty much sucked in all sorts of ways, I’m glad to see the year end. Hopefully next year will bring in new and positive changes… Make sure to vote on Tuesday! In today’s episode of Talk Heathen, Eric Murphy is joined by Vi La Bianca. #LaMurph Let’s get to calls! Valentin from Romania would like to talk about his concept of how God physically affects biology and evolution. He gets a little confused about concepts and ontological statements though. Eric finally asks, how does God affect your biology? He definitely sounds incredibly confused. Vi figures it out, it’s equivocation fallacies! Kirk in Wisconsin is up next, he is calling back asking about this statement: ‘I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ.’ What do we as atheists think about this statement? Implication and choice of words within this statement is a bit problematic. Mohammed in Jordan is posing the idea that since Islam is the “youngest” or most recent religion of the Abrahamic religions, it is the best one and most likely true. He goes on to say that Muslims are the most happy, healthier, and live longer because of their faith. Oh boy. Luk Vance in Canada is asking about the prime mover argument and how he is convinced by it. He would like to know what the Atheist viewpoint is on this argument. This was slightly painful and confusing to listen to. I don’t really know what was discussed. It hurts thinking about it! Hunter in Illinois is curious about morality and where it comes from. Is it from God and is it good because it comes from God? The problem with this is it can turn into a circular argument pretty quickly. Eric breaks it down for him. That’s our show for this week, please continue to be safe in your area, wear your mask, keep social distancing and be safe out there! The world is better with you in it. See you next week!
Good evening Truth Seekers! ObjectivelyDan is joined this week by Dave Farina, aka Professor Dave on YouTube. Dave is a science communicator on YouTube with over 1 million subscribers!
First caller tonight, Lars in Norway wants to address obtaining absolute certainty. Let's start with some definitions. Absolute certainty is only obtainable through maths, but it’s used a bit more colloquially in other sciences. We have to operate under some assumptions.
Larry in PA asks if our hosts believed a soul leaves your body and lives forever. There isn’t a consensus in Christianity on an afterlife, but Dan did believe in a soul and afterlife. Dan agrees with the caller that there doesn’t seem to be evidence of any afterlife. We wish more people viewed this as the one and only life and lived it to the fullest.
Derek in MI theorizes Donald Trump may be the antichrist. He gives us a few examples, possibly prophesying 2020 being a terrible year. The antichrist in the bible is not what people think. As fun as this call was, we don’t put much stock in Christian mythology.
Tymm in WA is fearful of the conservative nature of SCOTUS given the 6-3 majority, specifically losing marriage rights and blurring the lines between religion and government. It is a really big problem and it’s going to be an uphill fight. Tymm talks abortion rights with our hosts for the remainder of the call.
Last caller tonight! Julie in ID continues the conversation on the recent SCOTUS nomination and how it could affect women’s reproductive rights. We get that people need to talk about politics right now, it's horrible how much it affects our rights. It would be a grave social ill if women’s reproductive rights are taken away.
That's all the Truth for this week! You can find more from Dave at https://www.youtube.com/c/professordaveexplains
Join Dr. Frank-N-Furter, an Androgynous Cat Cyborg and Death herself as the SecX hosts answer your emails and calls on this holiday mailbag episode of Secular Sexuality!
How to Understand Your Gender: A Practical Guide for Exploring Who You Are by Alex Lantaffi and Meg-John Barker
Sex Positive Talks to Have With Kids is your guide to creating an open, shame-free connection with the young people in your world- https://sexpositivefamilies.com/
Everything You Need To Know About Aegosexuality from Live Love LGBTQ+ - https://livelovelgbtq.wordpress.com/2017/10/27/aegosexual/
Hello all you atheists (and theists) out there! The hosts of Atheist Experience today are our very own Matt Dillahunty and Johnny Angel. Not only is Johnny a co-host but he co-produces the Non-Prophets reboot! Nice hats Johnny, very clever. Our first caller, Heath in TX asks how you can tell if a claim is extraordinary or not? Does it comport to our human experiences? All claims warrant as much evidence as is needed to believe that claim. You need different levels of evidence for the sky is blue versus there is a god. Adam in Romania asks advice on how to deal with an irrational fear of death and dealing with grief? These fears hit Adam mainly right before he goes to sleep. Johnny has had these kinds of episodes and gives his advice. Contact the secular therapy project and see if they have resources in Romania. They talked about what an atheist funeral should look like. Meerkat in UT asks why he should bother convincing an atheist that god exists if that atheist doesn't want to convert to Christianity. The answer to your question in your Bible, according to your own beliefs. Do you know what an atheist wants to believe? Ray in Colorado argues that GDP is higher in Christian nations than others. It is higher than all other nations, so what? The USA is a secular, not Christian, nation with a secular constitution. Ray disagrees but fails to make a valid point that the USA is Christian. Out of the 10 commandments, only 2 are part of any laws here. Catholic Traditionalist claims he can prove God by asking a few questions. Matt tries to answer his questions but the caller only wants to troll on behalf of a previous caller. Be an honest interlocutor if you call back. Joe in MO claims 2 of the first 5 claims in the Skeptic’s Annotated Bible are disproven by reading the Bible. Matt addressed this in a recent video he posted and we don’t accept the claims in the Bible. Joe fails to show how he knows his Bible code or interpretation is correct. Cool story bro. Last caller, David in Canada asks why we do not feel the call to Jesus Christ. Matt thought he did feel a calling toward Jesus, he was going to be a pastor after all. David talks about God healing his cancer but fails to prove how it could be god. Why can’t a god just heal you of cancer without making you go through treatments and surgeries? Thanks for tuning in, we are so glad you joined us today. Keep wearing your masks and please go vote!
Greetings Heathens! Hope you all are doing well, please continue to be safe out there. In today’s episode of Talk Heathen, Vi La Bianca is joined today by Dr. Darrel Ray. It’s going to be a great show!
Let’s get to calls! Caitlin in Nebraska is studying psychology and has some specific questions for Dr. Ray regarding happiness. Who as a group are the most happy, is it the religious, is it the spiritual? Dr. Ray responds, folks within a community seem to be the most happy.
RJ in Colorado is up next, claims that if you look at manmade structures, the oldest tree, and human demographics, all point to a young earth and not evolution. Why do we care and how does this prove theism is real? And he doesn’t think carbon dating is an acceptable way to gauge age. And doesn’t think it's necessary to cite sources. This is a fun call.
Jamie in Wisconsin, is curious about DNA and how it can be encoded or programs our brain development. Dr. Ray attempts to set him straight with facts!
Jacob in California wants to clear up a couple things from his previous call and wanted to call about the Atheist confirmation bias. He is just as condescending as before… but take a listen and make your own conclusions.
Amanda in the Netherlands, is wondering about the fear of hell after deconverting and experiencing some NDEs. She is hopeful we can help her with this fear and how to work through it.
Michael in Maryland would like to talk about being an anti-theist and how he is trying to not incite anger with his stance on religion. Vi breaks it down for him on how to proceed and be an ally in secular humanism to folks within religion.
That’s our show for this week, please continue to be safe in your area, wear your mask, and VOTE! The world is better with you in it. See you next week!
Good evening Truth Seekers! ObjectivelyDan is joined this week by Puck! Puck has been a volunteer with the ACA for several months and streams on twitch! Puck is a newer skeptic and is chomping at the bit to talk to some callers.
First caller tonight, Johnny in CA asks our hosts of any favorite paranormal claims they have, or any that make you go, “Hmmm.” The deep sea freaks out Puck, aliens for Dan. Interesting. Johnny wants there to be aliens but still remains skeptical.
Mark in PA asks if evangelicals would believe in creationism if the creator was Hindu, not Abrahamic. Some people will remain skeptical of whatever claim you tell them, hell some even believe the earth is flat. If Brahma were real, we would need some corroboration and ask if this was the best they could do.
Jay in IN asks if we know about Falun Dafa, or Falun Gong, a practice similar to Tai Chi. We know if it, but don’t attribute the health benefits to the supernatural. Be wary of newer organizations that claim to be ancient, especially if that group has a dubious at best news site.
Will in SC asks our advice about an upcoming speech project on using epistemology to examine their beliefs. Thank you for learning how to give a speech. Talk about the Socratic method and examples of Socrates’ use of questions, street epistemology, and introspective questioning.
Last caller tonight! Bridget in NJ was a ghost hunter that realized it was not real. She realized the people believed first and filled in the unknown gaps with ghosts and noticed the reactions when asking the “wrong” questions. Bridget agreed to post some ghost hunting reports to our TW Facebook fan group!
That's all the Truth for this week! Thanks for watching and make sure to check out Puck on Truth Wanted’s November 6th episode.
What do you call an exotic dancer, pastry chef, and atheist author all rolled into one? Here on Secular Sexuality, we call that the Trifecta. Erin Louis chats with Christy Powell and Vi La Bianca about deconstructing harmful ideas and discarding dilapidated belief systems on this week’s episode. Join us as we dive into a groundbreaking conversation with the author of Expose Yourself, the Fifty Shades of Gray meets The God Delusion self-help book.
►Find more about Erin Louis and buy her books at https://erinlouis.com/
Explore how geek culture makes us more human with friend of the show Jessie Gender- https://www.youtube.com/lostrekkie
Freedom From Religion Foundation- https://ffrf.org/
God, No! -Signs You May Already Be An Atheist and Other Magical Tales by Penn Jillette
Stop Walking on Eggshells: Taking Your Life Back When Someone You Care About Has Borderline Personality Disorder by Paul T. T. Mason & Randi Kreger
Hello all you atheists (and theists) out there! The hosts of Atheist Experience today are our very own Matt Dillahunty and Jim Barrows. Glad to have you have on Jim! Our first caller, Kel in UT asks for advice on talking to his brother about going on a mission trip, after regretting his own. Have a sit down talk with him about how you felt on your mission and leaving the religion. Let him know you are someone that cares but also respect his boundaries. Al in Poland easily left the faith and wonders why it is difficult for others and thinks AXP is helpful for leaving one’s faith. It can be difficult to leave your faith and that is why we do this show, thanks for thinking highly of our production! Alvin in NC offers his theory on a biblical code, that there are over 100 numeral patterns in genesis 1:1. How can there be 100 patterns in 7 words? All the arguments just sound like numerology. Genesis 1:1 shows pi? Granting this theory, it still doesn’t prove a divine author. Rj in CO doesn’t think Christianity spreading globally wasn’t a coincidence. We agree, it mostly spread through coercion, conquest, convincing people, and at the point of a sword. Sorry you don’t agree with facts. Kim in OR believes in the bible but dismisses 80% of Christianity. Kim gives a case for his god belief, inherent design of nature and poking holes in evolution. Kim puts forth the 2nd law of thermodynamics argument, it doesn’t prove god and the earth is not a closed system. Study the 2nd law of thermodynamics, don’t just read answers in genesis. Last caller, David in CA tries to prove the bible is correct in its order and science verifies genesis 1 is correct. Genesis does not match the scientific order of how the earth formed. Science gives us the best models based on the current evidence available. David threw in the towel himself by mentioning Hitler… Jeez Thanks for tuning in, we are so glad you joined us today. Keep wearing your masks and please go vote!
Grab that beverage Heathen fans, it’s time for another episode of Talk Heathen! In today’s episode of Talk Heathen, Eric Murphy is joined by Vi La Bianca. #LaMurph “Jimmy” from Canada would like to talk about the dishonest use of the term Atheist. First let’s talk about the definitions of dishonesty and Atheist. Eric puts it bluntly, it seems like Jimmy is gatekeeping a word. Hmm…. His voice sounds familiar, what do you all think? Chris in California is up next, he asks about spirituality and how the brain actually works within reality. For example deja vu, which is a purely a “misfile of information into long term memory instead of short term memory and we think it’s an experience from long ago.” Richard in California is wondering about the Atheist position on a few topics including the existence of God or Gods. First let’s talk about definitions... Geno in California is asking about free will (and eventually racism and thought crime.) Eric responds, Free will in regards to what and then goes on to say that it doesn’t really make sense within reality. It’s a really interesting thought experiment if anything. Catanin in Romania believes that the bible exemplifies empathy, compassion, and love and is calling in to talk about it and it’s usefulness. But does it really prove a God exists? Does being religious benefit society? Kirk in Wisconsin would like to talk about what Lutherans believe and how different it is from other sects of Christianity. He’ll be calling back next week to really dig into it. Up next, Laura in Arizona is wondering what we know about Tulpas. A Tulpa is a concept in mysticism/the paranormal of a being which is created through spiritual or mental powers. How is this different from an imaginary friend? Can they be beneficial to mental health? This is a tough one and approaches the realm of therapy and psychology. John in Colorado, the sacrifice of Jesus doesn’t qualify as atonement for sins according to Jewish law. For example, He wasn’t blemish free, he was a he and not a she... Interesting! Sending to discord! Frank in Belgium would like to know how to talk about how religion can be toxic to children. While we would love to help, there are factors at play that may be important to be aware of. Definitely reaching out to the community would be a good first step. That’s our show for this week, please continue to be safe in your area, wear your mask. The world is better with you in it. See you next week!
Good evening Truth Seekers! ObjectivelyDan is joined this week by our special guest, Dallas Wade! Dallas is an atheist YouTuber focusing right now on paranormal myths. They start us off talking about paranormal beliefs and ghost stories.
First caller tonight, Richard from Toronto tells us a ghost story, a friend’s friend found a ready to eat meal while fleeing a conflict in Africa. Maybe it's manna from heaven! What’s to say it wasn't a meal of another person that was fleeing that conflict? Sorry we can’t just jump to the miraculous.
Harper in Belgium asks for advice on how to deal with this girlfriend that seems to have dissociative identity disorder. We are not doctors, this would best be addressed with professional help.
Katie in PA asks if repeat-style behavior in ghosts is just a stain on time, causing said repeat actions. Dallas thinks the stories and tales told affect what people say they experience. Katie then tells a story of an attempted exorcism someone tried to perform on her.
Dani in LA died clinically 6 times after an attempted murder, no pearly gates, but she isn’t sure she was 1000% dead. We aren’t medical experts but there are different types of clinical death. We are glad you are with us today!
Zoey in NY claims to have seen a ghost wearing a velour tracksuit walking around outside an abandoned mental institution. How do you know there wasn’t someone living there that knew the ins and outs? We believe you saw something but we would want to investigate this claim before believing it.
Last Caller tonight! Sarah in The UK tells us about an impromptu séance she had 40 years ago. There was a makeshift question/answer board, everyone touched a glove and it started moving, sounds ouija-esque. Look into the ideomotor phenomenon. There is a lot of fakery in these types of things.
That's all the Truth for this week! Check out more from Dallas Wade at https://www.youtube.com/c/dallaswade Thanks for watching! Continue to wear a mask and make sure to vote!
The Atheist Community prides itself on a reliance on science so in true SecX tradition we made sure our scientist guest was also a pod scratch that porncaster. We’re joined by Scibabe and science journalist Yvette d'Entremont from Two Girls One Mic and anywhere junk science jumps onto the scene to sell you a supplement. Yvette writes and speaks on everything from genes and GMOs to sex and splenda and now joines the show to take your calls on the October 15th episode of Secular Sexuality.
►Find a Yvette’s science journalism and writing around the web at https://scibabe.com/ ►Get your sci-on and dive deeper into the episode at https://www.vcatx.com/media/scibabe
The Error Of 'Biological Sex' -https://www.vcatx.com/media/2019/5/12/the-error-of-biological-sex
Talking To Parents About Transitioning | Dani-NM | Secular Sexuality 07.37 https://youtu.be/G4qIW5lilkw
The Myth of Sex Addiction by David J. Ley
Hello all you atheists (and theists) out there! The hosts of today’s Atheist Experience are Matt Dillahunty and Paulogia! Paulogia is a recent atheist and has a popular YouTube channel addressing Christianity.
Our first caller, Jelmer in The Netherlands argues that god exists and god doesn't exist is a false dilemma. Matt explains it is a direct logical negation and the laws of logic holds up, even in a black hole. Jelmer confuses laws of science and logic.
Marius in AL argues that Matt’s interpretation on Exodus 21, great another slavery argument. The bible explicitly endorses owning a human. Marius argues that it permits indentured servitude. Even if we grant that, it still outlines some horrific actions, like beating their property. People are not property.
Omniskeptic in Canada claims most atheists activists misunderstand the no true Scotsman fallacy and feels Christians are just amending their definitions. A good practice is to let people give their label and what they mean by it. Atheists catch a lot of flack claiming we were never true Christians.
Jacob in the UK argues in favor of the resurrection of Jesus. Paulogia tells us that we can only be confident about the martyrdom of 2 of the 12 apostles of Jesus. We can’t be certain anything in the bible occurred but we acknowledge people truly believe, but we can’t link it to anything factual.
Shannon in TX thinks that atheism is wrong by definition, defining atheists as “god or gods don't exist”. That's not the definition we use. One needs to agree on definitions to have meaningful conversations, gods don’t exist just by naming an existent person a god.
Nadir in FL can prove the Koran is from god, using science even! There is not a way to prove any text is from the mind of a god. Was this merely a call to challenge Matt to a debate?
Last caller, Jeff in FL asks if there is no free will how do we hold people responsible. We don’t think people are overall evil, but we can hold people responsible for the actions they take independent the reason they took the action.
Thanks for tuning in, we are so glad you joined us today. Check out more from Paulogia at https://www.youtube.com/c/paulogia Keep wearing your masks and please go vote!
Greetings Heathens! It’s another Sunday, time for more talking with heathens. In today’s episode of Talk Heathen, Eric Murphy is joined by The Holiest of Koolaids, Thomas Westbrook.
Let’s get to calls! Itto from Arkansas would like to talk about how suffering is not good evidence for one’s faith or evidence for a god. Yep, we agree!
Christian in Wisconsin is up next, he would like to talk about Thomas’ video about the perception from Theists that Atheism will be the downfall of nations and society. Thomas really gets into summarizing his research and how interesting it is. Go check it out!
Chris in California, is wondering about how to label himself and claims he is an agnostic theist. Relies upon his “gut” feelings to rationalize a God belief and is also claiming he is convinced that a God exists.
Kevin in New York, is wondering about prophecy and the book of Enoch. Luckily Thomas loves this sort of conversation and jumps right in. Eric finally asks, are there physical giants in the world today and were they around historically. Kevin keeps talking about and pointing to the Bible to justify his faulty claims. Except we don’t accept the Bible as an authority for this claim though. This is a really interesting conversation, it gets a little heated.
Sven in Washington would like to talk about how he is also an agnostic theist and how morality is defined from a humanist perspective.
Dayana in Lebanon is curious about experiences she has had that seemed supernatural. How can we explain these occurrences? Thomas talks about science and how these minor hallucinations can happen because of our flawed biology. Interesting!
Kelly in California would like to talk about logic as a construct. Here we go… Eric loves this sort of conversation and really excels at talking about it. Check it out if you’re interested in a more philosophical talk about the laws of logic.
That’s our show for this week, please continue to be safe in your area, wear your mask. The world is better with you in it. See you next week!
Good evening Truth Seekers! After all this time Jesus Christ makes an appearance tonight on our show, apparently ObjectivelyDan needs a good ol’ talking-to. Jesus has over 1 million followers on YouTube.
First caller tonight, Alexiel from Canada claims to be able to channel the goddess Isis, even saying she may channel Isis talking with us today. If anyone can do this, how do we know this isn’t a feeling we have? She claims to be able to channel Isis over the air, Dan wants her to call back when ready.
Oriax in PA asks if blasphemy laws are too strict in a monotheistic religion. Dan thinks cultures use blasphemy differently. You should be wary of who you can’t criticize in any culture, for example authoritarian regimes. Jesus sees blasphemy as a control mechanism.
Aegir in Iceland asks how people justify seizing land using religious texts. Ooh, tough question. It is not a justified reason to take land on religious grounds. Jesus talks about the ludicrous amounts of land the LDS church owns, it can be seen as modern colonization.
Corey in SC said the claim of Jesus is more absurd than the claim of bigfoot, despite Jesus on the show tonight. The Jesus claim is less than anecdotal and there is more biology in a bigfoot blame, but Jesus admits bigfoot is more likely than Jesus.
Chris in MO wonders why his political views shifted with losing his beliefs and asks if he has good reasons. Sure social media algorithms do play a role but it’s just mainly exposure to other viewpoints, just be wary not to fall into an echo chamber.
Last Caller tonight! Bob in OR thinks it’s not in our ability to own things, claiming we can’t have relationships to objects. Ownership does seem kind of arbitrary but we have evidence of humans and other animals demonstrating connection to objects, a type of relationship.
That's all the Truth for this week! Check out more from Jesus Christ at www.youtube.com/c/thejesuschrist Thanks for watching! Continue to wear a mask and make sure to vote!
Whoa momma has it become trendy to call your boyfriend Daddy, and no judgement we’re happy to see you being you. Caregiving and caretaking are important emotional needs and a little bit of roleplay may be just what the doctor ordered. Curious? Confused? Concerned? Brett Turner joins Christy and fan favorite Serafina Smith to help clear up the questions and introduce us to the big big world of little relationships. All your ageplay questions answered plus your calls on the October 4th episode of Secular Sexuality.
►Find a collection of resources and connect with Austin Age Play at http://linktr.ee/atxageplay
►Go on a big little adventure and dive deeper into the episode at https://www.vcatx.com/media/ageplay
Hello all you atheists (and theists) out there! The hosts of today’s Atheist Experience are Matt Dillahunty and our own Jenna Belk.
Our first caller, Hunter asks our experience coming out to religious family members now that he is embracing atheism. It went badly but not the worst thing in the world, don’t make it a huge sit down event. Also look into resources like books, forums, recovering from religion, etc.
Nat in Mexico thinks there is no way to justify an ethical point of view as an atheist and argues theism provides grounding to ethics. There is no objection to secular morals by appealing to a deity. At least we agree well being is the only rational grounding to morals, too bad we can’t agree on the definition of atheism.
Ricky in Columbia thinks people need Christianity to form the basis of a society. Actually society remains intact despite religion. Ricky can’t seem to point to a Christian value that couldn’t be secular and implies LGBT people are dangerous.
Alvin in NC wrote a book about 100 provable patterns in genesis 1:1 that are way beyond chance or mortal capabilities. He then goes on to explain his proof in numerology. How do you know the rules of how to do math on the verses? This sounds like bad methodology and confirmation bias.
Robert in CA asks advice on how to talk about atheism on a college application. There shouldn't be much of a problem if it's not a religious college. Matt finds it easier to make a pro/con list and Jenna advises that if they had that kind of bias, she is not sure if she would want to attend.
Mars argues that the Christian god supports freedom, not slavery. Matt points out the bible doesn’t support freedom and does endorse owning another human. Mars asks to not be taken seriously, happy to oblige.
Brent in CA asks how to get over using the atheist label when holding onto some other beliefs. Jenna points out you don't have to use any terms, you can just say you don’t believe in any gods. It takes time to work through your beliefs. Don’t beat yourself up!
John in NJ asks how to reason his thoughts of what he feels should happen to the murderer of his brother. It is understandable to have mixed thoughts about that and while we can empathize, don't let it consume your life. Looks into grief beyond belief.
G in NC asks tips for how to find out if we are using epistemology correctly. Know that you hold irrational beliefs. Skepticism is not an on/off switch and be open to changing your mind in the face of new evidence.
Last caller, Sam in NV argues there has to be an afterlife. It may seem like there should be one but where is your evidence? A gut feeling isn’t evidence and life is not fair. Thanks for tuning in, we are so glad you joined us today. Stay safe and continue wearing masks out there.
Greetings Heathens! It’s another Sunday, we are glad you are here joining us. In today’s episode of Talk Heathen, a young Aron Ra (No Wait! It’s Eric Murphy with flat-ironed hair!) is joined by Vi La Bianca. #LaMurph Let’s get to calls! Jonathan from Arizona would like to talk about Pascal’s Wager. Could we be wrong? Can it be rationally justified? Eric breaks it down for him. Kevin in New York is up next, don’t worry, this is a different Kevin in New York. He is wondering about morality and his conversation with Matt. Ok…Now he has a list of questions and ends the call with: No no no I’m NOT DONE… Oops! Returning caller Kevin in New York, yes that Kevin, is wondering about the tools to use to determine whether or not God is real. He wants to talk about Math again. Here we go! Tony in Canada is asking about “before time” in the universe, “before time” doesn’t really exist nor make any sense. Claims that something that can’t be measured can’t exist and how can we measure time? Is he actually questioning if time exists? Eric would love to dive into this, but we don’t have TIME. LOL! Shad in Connecticut is wondering about if it is worth having debates with theists and whether it matters in the long run. Should we just let people believe what they want? All this seems so fruitless. Definitely take time off if you need to, but your voice is valuable. Up next, Alphonse in New Zealand is calling about what the definition of Atheism is and follows up with asking about being alone when questioning faith. Eric and Vi also give their take on their definitions. Derek in the UK would like to talk about how he believes ghosts are real but he is an atheist. Is he a skeptic? He continues and tells a riveting and spooky ghost story from 1966. Even though this was a great story, it’s likely to have been something explainable and is purely anecdotal. Simon in Australia wants to talk about how life is what it is and doesn’t need to be complicated. We are in total agreement with you! This sort of discussion is best left for the discord server. See you there Simon! George in Virginia is up next, as a pluralist theist is wondering how to approach really bad apologist arguments. Eric and Vi discuss this and guide him to a great conclusion. That’s our show for this week, please continue to be safe out there, wear your mask. The world is better with you in it. See you next week!
Good evening Truth Seekers! ObjectivelyDan is joined tonight by ACA’s own Christy Powell, host of Secular Sexuality. Christy is a licensed therapist and talks with us tonight about mental health and the stigmas that come with it.
First caller tonight, Brutus in MN has wanted to started a male positive feminist movement to help keep men from sliding to right wing groups. There are some sites to help educate men. You want to include some female voices in your movement.
Sven in WA asks our opinion of gender specific dress codes in the work environment. Dan wonders if equal protection laws actually protect or how to enforce those laws. You are likely more protected at a larger company but there are systemic issues affecting the world. Being a part of the world changing takes some pioneering.
Harry in WA asks Christy’s advice about exploring their gender when their partner has come out as transgender. Just because you experience someone else transitioning doesn’t devalue your own thoughts or exploration, there is nothing wrong with that. Find some people that will support you and be happy!
David in NE talks with us about his past sexual abuse experience that affects how he thinks about his bisexuality, specifically that it caused his same sex attraction. We can’t speak to your experience but research is inconclusive and may have limited your sexuality. We recommend talking to a sex positive therapist.
Mira in Germany grew up with a mother into alternative medicine and asks our advice for remaining skeptical about those faux cures. Finding a shared community to talk to others and keep yourself informed, be your own advocate.
Last Caller tonight! Noel in CO wants to create LGBT inclusive spaces and asks for advice about educating their grandparents. There are affirming grandparents and being old is not an excuse to not change your mind. Conversations with family can be very tricky, give them a chance to hear what you really think.
That's all the Truth for this week! Check out more from Christy at www.vcatx.com or Thursday’s at 7 on Secular Sexuality. Thanks for watching and keep wearing those masks out there!
We throw a lot of new words around (it’s all poly-viking-power-bottom this and demisexual compersion that) but when these words really define a piece of who you are it becomes all the more important that your therapist speaks your language. Talk therapy loses a lot of momentum when you have to pause your explanation of your self to constantly explain yourself and yet most therapists make it through their many years of training without any special understanding of queer culture or human sexuality. This summer Grace Stephenson launched Glimmer, a safe & empowering online space for womxn, QTBIPOC, and LGBTQIA+ communities to find sexual and mental health professionals. Grace joins the show to explain the need for culturally competent and sex positive therapy and to take your calls on the October 1st episode of Secular Sexuality.
Hello all you atheists (and theists) out there! The hosts of today’s Atheist Experience are Matt Dillahunty and ObjectivelyDan. Dan joins us from ACA’s own Truth Wanted (airs every Friday), and we're glad to see him on AXP!
Our first caller, Jake in CA shares his beliefs with us. For instance, the devil is walking around and only has power through god. How could you know that? … oh the bible, of course.
Jose in GA feels Matt is dismissive of peoples stories about experiences with the holy spirit. How can we tell if someone had a genuine experience with the holy spirit? We don’t just shut people down, we care about what beliefs are true. Matt demonstrates to Jose that feelings don’t justify beliefs.
Lauren in NY has logical proof for god, arguing if the universe is a closed system then consciousness would extend to the universe itself. We’re not sure how consciousness would extend to the universe. Lauren goes on to talk about astrology and predicts Matt’s friends will have air/fire signs and Dan’s would have earth/water.
Lisa in FL asks how much knowledge of all religions comes into play when talking about atheism. You don’t need to research any or all religions to talk about your atheism. Atheists don’t need to disprove any god, let along all gods.
Jacob in CA thinks lots of laws in the old testament would fix some societal problems we see today. We don’t need a theological understanding of problems in the bible to solve current problems. We don't have to justify the bible, we can just get rid of it.
Joe in IL tries to prove the inspired word of god comes through him. He got a premonition to buy medical supplies at a hobby lobby...for a self surgery? Yeah, this one went off the rails.
Dan in NY claims to be able to prove the devil. Too bad he lied to get on the air, NEXT! Enoch in PA, asks why we want to convince people they are wrong. We are just trying to have conversations about what people believe. If they figure out they don't have a good reason to believe something, all the better. We care about true beliefs.
Jeremy in NV claims to have a good defense of christianity and finds it best to defend one true god, not just a god. Matt asks what evidence demonstrates a god exists but Jeremy can’t seem to answer.
Last caller, Anthony in VA argues that god used to exist but doesn’t any longer, claiming that god is nothing but a title and ancient people put those ideals onto those names. There is no way to prove that.
Thanks for tuning in, we are so glad you joined us today. You can find more from ObjectivelyDan at https://www.youtube.com/c/TruthWanted Stay safe and continue wearing masks out there.
Greetings Heathens! Grab that beverage and get ready, it’s another episode of Talk Heathen! In today’s episode of Talk Heathen, Eric Murphy is joined by Vi La Bianca. #LaMurph
Let’s get to calls! Jordan from North Carolina is struggling with residual belief that the Christian God is real. She is also wondering if while questioning her belief, if it is the right time to enter into a relationship with someone else.
Todd in Alabama is up next, he would like to talk about alien technology from the future. It says so in the Bible. Oh it does?? Please prove it! He moves on to so many non sequiturs it was hard to follow, but includes Thoth wrote the Bible, the Koran, and other ancient religious texts … There was an attempt.
Johan in Sweden is trying to defend his understanding and definition of theism. Eric asks about his inner monologue, and if he believes that it is intricately tied to his definition of God.
Tony in Oklahoma is responding to AG Barr’s false statement that Atheists can’t be moral. She would like to rewrite his bait statement that Atheists and secular people want religion out of public life. Hmmm… sounds like Tony may be questioning some things while she works this out.
Jacob in California is wondering if we believe that rape victims were forced to marry their rapists and was it outlined in the Bible. Eric responds yes and explains why. Vi also agrees and adds that the culture of the time views women as property. But it seems like Jacob isn’t willing to listen, misunderstands the culture of the time, and is incredibly condescending. Being a rape apologist is a really bad look dude.
Minh in California is wondering about what best tool to use while interpreting the Bible and how to determine what is a good tool and what is a bad one.
Up next, Chris in California would like to talk about definitions, and claims to be neither atheist nor theist (it doesn’t really work that way… but ok.) He would then like to talk about faith and hope.
Kildigs in Virginia would like to talk about a hypothetical, if God revealed themselves today, would we feel obligated to praise them. Eric says maybe, Vi says no. What an interesting question!
Our last caller of the day is Victor in Florida, his parents believe that people with tattoos are children of Satan and he would like advice on how to approach them. Vi really helps him go through the thought process on how to protect himself.
That’s our show for this week, please continue to be safe in your area, wear your mask. The world is better with you in it. See you next week!
Good evening Truth Seekers! ObjectivelyDan is joined tonight by Seth Andrews. Seth is no stranger to the ACA, he is an author, podcaster and YouTuber! Check out his new book, Confessions of a Former Fox News Christian. Sorry for the technical difficulties on today’s stream.
First caller tonight, Trina from IL claims to be able to feel physical pain without touching the person by hovering her hands over their body. Wish we could test this remotely. It makes a great story but we can’t just take someone's word for this kind of ability. Jacob in TX asks what humanism means to the hosts. Only humans can solve the problems of humanity. Humanism is rooting ourselves in the best parts of humanity to better the world. No deity is going to help.
Terri in SD asks how do you explain ghosts to a child that has never grown up knowing about ghosts. We are creatures of imagination and kids don’t have the tools to figure out what scared them. It would be a good time to explore critical thinking. Pat in AL struggles with believers hearing her telling them their wrong when she is talking about her non belief. There isn’t a lot you can do about their insecurities, try to use “I” statements and be true to yourself.
Andrew in MI feels jaded with religion but still feels there is something out there, like a conscious source. While it seems the brain and mind are separate things, the mind is a product of the brain. We don’t fully understand consciousness.
Last Caller tonight! Andrew in CO asks how to talk to conspiracy theorists or is it best not to talk to them. Seth has faced this as well and finds it’s best to counter the claims but not try to change their minds, more often than not you won’t be heard.
That's all the Truth for this week! Check out more from Seth Andrews at www.sethandrews.com Thanks for watching and keep wearing those masks out there!
Vi and Christy are continuing their conversation about the world of sex work with a luxury escort, internationally recognized sex educator, and 4’8” redhead, Alice Little. Tonight, they’ll be discussing how Alice got started, her many specialties (from flirting and foreplay to lectures on the science of sex), and the state of sex work during COVID. A bonus: they will also have some practical advice for anyone thinking about hiring a luxury escort, in case you wanted to try it yourself!
►Find Alice’s YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMl6gE-PPKdjIWgJaNlvK3w ►Enjoying Secular Sexuality’s Sex Work September series? Check out our past episodes: Amberly Rothfield: https://youtu.be/YUXPnhxfUo8 Rudy Bee: https://youtu.be/DPff8cgL-SQ ►Find Alice’s social media and more by diving deeper into the episode at https://www.vcatx.com/media/littlealice
Christy’s Intro Guide to Non-monogamy- https://www.vcatx.com/media/openingupislike Non-binary Basics and Myth-busting- https://www.vcatx.com/media/excultbabyenby
EARN IT’s State-law Exemption Would Create Bewildering Set of Conflicting Standards for Online Speech by Ben Horton for Center for Democracy and Technology https://cdt.org/insights/earn-its-state-law-exemption-would-create-bewildering-set-of-conflicting-standards-for-online-speech/
The Origin Of Love from Hedwig And The Angry Inch- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zU3U7E1Odc
Hello all you atheists (and theists) out there! The hosts of today’s Atheist Experience are Matt Dillahunty and Dr. Hector Garcia! Hector is an author, podcaster, and youtuber. Heh has been spending his Covid time making a new YouTube channel, shout out to Genetically Modified Skeptic.
Our first caller, Jonathan in the UK wants to know how to help his believer wife without challenging her beliefs. Tough request Jonathan. Is the belief of a punishing god damaging to begin with? Be honest, come at with concern and let her know this is you and you are not taking away her beliefs. Reach out to Recovering From Religion.
Shawna in NY asks what to say to people that say consciousness is proof of god. There needs to be more to the argument, a statement is not enough to conclude a god exists. The brain is malleable, it can be altered and fundamentally change the person affected.
Dean in CA argues that wellbeing is not robust enough to base morality on. Dean argues coronavirus harms our wellbeing. We agree but there are forms of wellbeing, like societal wellbeing. In discussions of coronavirus we are always talking about wellbeing, not personal preference.
Brian in CA asks about Pascal’s Mugging, a thought experiment on probability of return on investment and risk versus reward. We would want more evidence to believe someone would return any money given. Way too many factors to consider.
Rick in MI thinks Matt is wrong that slavery is in the bible. Rick agrees with Matt that slavery is outlined in the bible but its immoral to own people. Matt points out the bible advocates for something we agree is immoral.
Ron in FL asks how to combat the argument that his brother needs to power through mental health problems. You can research barriers to mental health and help direct him. It’s not a failing on his part and one can’t necessarily pull themselves up by their bootstraps.
Mark in NM asks if atheism creates a contentious point for people arguing new theological ideas. Atheism is merely a response to a claim. We are unsure of what you are asking.
Nathan in LA feels people are agnostic because we don’t know where people came from and feels there has to be a force controlling evolution. Look at the trees… Abiogenesis deals with where life came from, not evolution. No creator required.
Michael in AZ thinks god is a paradox. A paradox implies that something doesn’t exist, a god can’t both exist and not.
Last caller, Vernaz in the UK asks why does god have to be connected to religion and feels god has nothing to do with religion. Some religions don't have a god belief. Email tv@atheist-community.org, we would love to hear more.
Thanks for tuning in, we are so glad you joined us today. You can find more from Hector at www.hector-garcia.com. Stay safe and continue wearing masks out there.
Greetings Heathens! Hope you are still being safe during the ongoing pandemic (still, sigh.) We hope to be a sanctuary for you in this chaotic world. In today’s episode of Talk Heathen, Eric Murphy is joined by Vi La Bianca. #LaMurph
Let’s get to calls! Theo from the Czech Republic would like to talk about if we have hopes for the future of mankind. Interesting question, but is it relevant to atheism? What does a God add to this question? It feels good to be kind to others there doesn’t need to be a God involved.
Simon in England is up next, he asks if you can still be an atheist if you believe in ghosts. Actually yes, you can still be an atheist and believe you’ve experienced ghosts or spirits. Though as a skeptic, there is likely an explanation for the experience (such as sleep paralysis, hallucinations, embellished thoughts, shared experiences, cultural priming … etc.) Returning caller Mark in Washington DC, is wondering about having different theories of knowledge, what do we subscribe to, and are these justifiable true beliefs. He brings up a couple premises and continues the discussion about the Kalam Cosmological argument.
Penelope in Oklahoma is asking in what way does usefulness (example: using chakras) outweigh truthfulness. What a great question, and Vi breaks it down for her.
Kevin in New York is calling back, this time wanting to talk about math. But math is descriptive like a language and doesn’t necessarily prove a God exists… and he dropped. Guess he realized why he doesn’t call in anymore. NEXT!
Chris in Canada is wondering what is next for the atheist movement because Richard Carrier said the work is done. But the work is not done yet. This guy sounds familiar and his line of questions are really suspect... You be the judge, does he sound familiar to you?
Up next, Becky in Florida is struggling with wanting the easy answer for illness and explaining death to her child. Unfortunately, easy answers are comforting and we want it because it’s easy. Parenting beyond belief may be helpful in getting through this. Love to you Becky!
Manik in Bangladesh would like to talk about how the arguments, empirical knowledge, and scientific explanations from the Quran are true. Goes on to say that we must take it on faith and that some things in the book are true and some are metaphorical. But we should believe… Yeah, no.
That’s our show for this week, please continue to be safe in your area, wear your mask. The world is better with you in it. See you next week!
Good evening Truth Seekers! ObjectivelyDan is joined tonight by Oz, from The Atheist Round Table! TART is a YouTube show giving believers a one on one conversation with a round table of non believers. They create a welcoming atmosphere over at TART, check them out at https://www.youtube.com/c/TheAtheistRoundTable/
First caller tonight, G in NC asks for tips on how to avoid magical thinking in day to day life. How to figure out if your beliefs are true or not. Check sources of what others are researching into about that belief and challenge your own beliefs.
Julie in ID talks about a weird experience she had in a cabin in Alaska where she thinks she astral projected back to her home. This sounds more like a crazy dream. The hosts relate stories of weird things happening when asleep. Dreams are fascinating but completely natural.
Sven in WA thinks the concept of morality keeps him believing in souls. Defining souls as a 3rd party between our brains and body. How can one find their soul? How do we know our good intentions aren’t natural? Measuring people by their humanitarian actions doesn’t indicate a soul.
Last Caller tonight! Jaime in Australia thinks the brain has a lot to answer for and relays a story of driving and watching trees turn into buildings and wildlife coming at him. The brain does all kinds of wacky things and it’s a fascinating field of study. There is no evidence of the supernatural regarding the brain.
That's all the Truth for this week! Check out more from OZ or TART at tart.live Thanks for watching and keep those CO monitors out when camping...
Despite what you may read in our YouTube comments sex work is real work and real business. With the growth of OnlyFans and others creators can have more and more industry access with differing results. Enter Amberly Rothfield, business consultant and erotic content creator with 15 years in an always changing industry. Join Christy and Vi as we talk shop and take your calls on the business of sex.
►Find Amberly on Twitter @AmberlyPSO and online at https://amberlyrothfield.com/ ►Learn more about modern sex work and dive deeper into the episode at https://www.vcatx.com/media/amberlyrothfield
Some of tonight’s links and recommendations-
3 Months to No.1 by Will Coombe
https://pineapplesupport.org/ https://apagunion.com/ https://www.domain.com/domains/whoisprivacy
Hello all you atheists (and theists) out there! The hosts of today’s Atheist Experience are Matt Dillahunty and Jim Barrows, welcome back Jim!
Our first caller, Isaac in OH thinks differences in DMT experience is evidence that one could be transported to another dimension. The hosts talk hypotheticals and testing methodologies with safeguards using DMT. We would need evidence to be on board here.
Alexander in Norway defines spirituality as wise thoughts that deepen the understanding of existence. Wouldn’t that then make philosophy spiritual? This is just giving spirituality a new definition but we need to find common ground on nebulous concepts.
Patrick in WA has simple scientific evidence from the bible that modern science has confirmed, for example mountains and valleys in the ocean. That sounds like something one could discover skin diving or diving for food.
Jose in GA gives evidence of people experiencing the holy spirit. How can we tell if someone has actually had an experience with a real holy spirit? We don’t assume people are lying about their experiences, we don't just assume a supernatural explanation.
Kendall in OR asks what evidence would change the mind of a lifelong believer versus a non believer. A god would know what would change our minds but seemingly chooses not to. Our minds aren’t closed, we just haven’t been presented with sufficient evidence.
Kay in NH thinks freedom should be the foundation of morality, not well being. The reason you care about freedom is it is conducive to well-being. Matt pointed out the flaw in using freedom as a basis for morality.
Danny in London says if there is a cause of the universe, it rules out every god but an Abrahamic god. There is a beginning to our universe but there is no evidence of a creator. Danny fails to provide evidence for this claim.
Mark in IL finds Matt’s hard atheism surprising and believes in a god via skepticism. Matt doesn’t believe in a god but also believes that man has made up god stories. Suspicions of the way things are is not a skeptical approach, the trees aren’t proof of creation.
Last caller, George in TX, finds Romans to be evidence of the death and resurrection of Jesus. The verse is the claim, not evidence, of a resurrection. Quoting the bible doesn’t provide any evidence.
Thanks for tuning in, we are so glad you joined us today. Stay safe and continue wearing masks out there.
Greetings Heathens! Hope you all are staying safe, to our West Coast friends, please know we hope you are staying as safe as possible. In today’s episode, Eric Murphy is joined by Vi La Bianca, the dynamic duo is together again. #LaMurph! Our first caller is RAO in Wyoming, claims to have an understanding of omnipotence and it’s not God. Is it Math or something else? He is confused about the argument, math can certainly be descriptive, and is also very similar to language to describe things. And, you’ve lost me. Next up, Lewis in Michigan, wants to talk about how he has determined that most Atheists aren’t well read on evidence proving God. Then he tries to shift the burden of proof from the claimant to the respondent as well. He tries to dance around the ad populum fallacy. Ooooh, this should be fun! Louis in the Philippines can prove God exists. He jumps to arguments against evolution using fallacies to explain why. It definitely sounds like he is only pausing long enough to allow Vi and Eric to talk and goes right back to his script. Next, Meercat in Utah enjoys talking to Atheists and tries to convert them during his conversations. He is wondering why Atheists say no to his condescending arguments of “why don’t they want to see the truth that God exists.” Hmmm… I wonder. Chris in Texas would like to talk about how the Jews and Romans testimony are reliable, but not when it comes to the “miracles documented” in the Bible. Why isn’t the Bible enough? Vi breaks it down for him. Lovely Judy in Indiana is slowly deconverting and has a couple questions about free will in heaven and other end of life questions that her pastor would never answer. This keeps pulling her back into Christianity. She’s a real sweetheart and is absolutely delightful! Keep asking questions and thinking through these, it’s definitely worth it! Welcome to the other side Judy, it’s really nice here. Mark in Washington DC believes the Kalam Cosmological argument is a good first step to a theist’s case for God and the beginning of the Universe as we know it. But it’s not a great way to explain where and how the Universe actually began. Philosophy isn’t always the best tool to explain everything all the time. Thanks for joining us today! Please be safe out there, especially all of you on the West Coast. If you’d like to donate to help battle the West Coast’s apocalyptic wildfires, here’s a comprehensive link that lists a couple great ways to help: https://traveloregon.com/things-to-do/ways-to-help-during-oregon-wildfires/ and https://www.calfund.org/wildfire-relief-fund/
Good evening Truth Seekers! ObjectivelyDan is joined tonight by Hematnt Mehta, The Friendly Atheist. He is an online activist with YouTube shows, podcasts, blogs, and more! He is mainly working on a YouTube series breaking down the book of genesis! You can check that out on Hemant’s YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/c/FriendlyAtheist1
First caller tonight, Tymm in WA, views the bible as a book of fables and asks about the mythicality of Moses and the patriarch. Hemant points out that knowing they were real wouldn’t affect their day to day life.
Katherine in AR noticed the connection of flat earthers and fundamental Christianity and finds it disturbing. Hemant finds the flat earth to be unbelievable but acknowledges the appeal of people finding a community of like minded believers. Be wary of people that “feel” something is true, stick to facts!
Last Caller tonight! Jacob in TX talks asks how you can install some doubt into hardcore believers. Street Epistemology is a method that reflects others beliefs. If you want to install doubt, figure out what they believe and why. Dan and Hemant talk about Street Epistemology and veganism, since that was Jacob’s example.
That's all the Truth for this week! Check out more from Hemant Mehta at friendlyatheist.com Thanks for watching, stay safe out there, and keep wearing your masks!
Ahh, homemade artisanal soft genderfluid cutiepie nudes, just like Grandma used to make. We’ve dabbled before in the discussion of amature porn but ExCultBaby Rudy Bee returns to the show to get a little extra up close and personal about their OnlyFans. We’re talking online sex work in a pre-gender equality, post-Bella Thorne COVID present, plus taking your calls on the September 10th episode of Secular Sexuality.
►Find Rudy on Twitter @ExCultBaby and YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0MAi67khv-LcaAepPQCsDg
Hello all you atheists (and theists) out there! The hosts of today’s Atheist Experience are Matt Dillahunty and Jenna Belk! Happy Birthday to our audio engineer Vern, the Lord of Levels!
Our first caller, John in FL, asks if christianity negatively affects people? We don’t even know if it's actually true. Is it good for people to believe something that isn't true? John holds onto belief because of Pascal's Wager and may call Recovering From Religion. Good idea John!
Ralph in FL asks what makes values valuable? The person making the assessment imbues it with value, morality is rooted in well being after all. We can’t access god’s thoughts on morality or well being. It seems the biblical god doesn’t care about the quality of human life, just who gets to what afterlife.
Syngyn in PA thinks we should follow god’s word and asks why it is hard for people to put faith in something they don’t know of? Do you have any evidence? At least we agree the bible isn't the word of god. If you won’t find out what god wants until you are dead, god is irrelevant to living life. We hope you look more into your beliefs and callback. Jack in Canada believes Matt and Jenna are part of a group of organized secularists. That is true but concepts matter, not the labels. Jack thinks religions are persecuted and atheists are not. Quite the opposite is true.
Keyon in CA argues discernment to a previous call about the bible then brings up arguments about evolution. We live in the best of times Keyon. There are so many erroneous claims in this call and human babies not being able to care for themselves out of the womb does not disprove evolution.
Last caller today, Kendall in WA cites Exodus and 1 Timothy to disprove Matt's position that the bible condones slavery. Exodus 21:16 is about kidnapping but exodus 21 tells you who you can enslave. Matt challenges Kendall to be his slave outlined in Exodus 21. Yikes Kendall...
Thanks for tuning in, we are so glad you joined us today. Stay safe and please continue to wear your masks. The world is better with you in it. See you next week!
Greetings Heathens! Hope you all are having a wonderful weekend folks. Today’s episode is brought to you by, when wearing a mask, make sure it covers both your mouth AND NOSE! Talk Heathen today is hosted by Vi La Bianca and Eric Murphy, LaMurph is together once again! Brandon in Arizona is calling once again, this time asking about irreducible complexity and our view of prophecy (yet again.) Eric breaks down evolution for him in extremely general steps and Vi backs Eric up with facts. Unfortunately, this conversation goes nowhere because Brandon isn’t really listening and continues to use the argument of incredulity to prove his claim. Sam in England is wondering what Eric and Vi think about if a God can manifest itself in our world and what that would look like. This is due to an experience they had at one point in their life. Vi gets right to the point, and explains how God could be science or advanced technology, or really anything that appears to be beyond our current understanding. Once the “supernatural” is observed in the natural world and explained, does it cease to be “supernatural?” Next up, Andrew in Malaysia would like to talk about objective standards of evidence. What would it take for us (atheists) to believe in a God, and how many medical miracles does it take for us to believe. Eric and Vi both pose a lot of questions in response to Andrew and continue to press him on truth, evidence, and proof of his claims. The old adage rings true here: Faith is an unreliable pathway to truth. Michael in California queries whether we can be more than agnostic (either atheist or theist.) But what does that all mean though? We need to include the gnostics in this and there are folks who are strong and nuanced in denial of God concepts. And the argument of incredulity appears again (even though Michael denies it!) Returning caller Kathy in Pennsylvania would like to talk about the supernatural, exorcism, and some scary movie watching. She also wonders why a demon/evil spirit is religious and fearful of said religion. Even though she rambles a bit, Kathy brings up a really interesting question about exorcism and its effectiveness. This is a great call! Jason in Pennsylvania claims he is agnostic but has trouble with evolution in terms and comparison to creation. Except it sounds like he is very confused with abiogenesis, speciation, and evolution. I would definitely recommend doing a little more research and you will find some pretty interesting museum exhibits showing the available fossil record. That’s our show for this week! Thank you to all essential workers! See you next week!
Good evening Truth Seekers! ObjectivelyDan is joined tonight by Taylor, also known as The Antibot on Youtube. Taylor focuses her channel on debunking multi-level marketing schemes. MLMs are a business model that looks similar to a pyramid and focuses on recruiting people to sell their products. First caller tonight is Eric from The Netherlands! Eric witnessed “miracle” healing, like back pain removed or legs lengthened, while a member of the pentacostal church. These are staged tricks done by all kinds of people, nothing magical there. Please research these types of parlor tricks. Virus in the UK is calling in about déjà vu type experiences, for example remembering an exact conversion with someone that he dreamed about. While we can’t speak to personal experiences, we have limited knowledge of how dreams function. Debbie in the USA questions the effectiveness of spiritual coaching and asks our take on energy healing and other “supernatural” coaching. Be wary of anyone that mentions energy, stick to evidence based therapy and life coaches. Please check out the secular therapy project! Nick in AR argues there is no way for voters to reject the null hypothesis, one can’t vote not to vote. We all have criticism of our voting and/or election system and don’t have a solution to offer. Jesse in NJ got the full pitch to join a MLM and the person stopped talking to him when he didn’t sign up. We are thankful you didn’t fall into any of these schemes. The last caller tonight, Jaime in Australia, relates a story of being pitched Amway while in the states. Jaime offered advice on providing your time to practice but not join the MLM. Taylor recommends not buying any products from MLMs. That's all the Truth for this week! Check out Taylor on YoutTube at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9LIQ1_csOAXTHOjQ_G11SA Thanks for watching, stay safe out there, and be weary of multi-level marketing schemes.
Whether you blame it on a glitch in the Matrix or just a bad headache, our senses often throw us curve balls. Ghosts? ESP? An undigested bit of beef, a blot of mustard, a crumb of cheese… hard to say exactly what it is that trips up our senses but for many of us it’s not an occasional deja vu but a life that seems to be turned up to 11.
By exploring new neuroscience and classical psychology Courtney Keiser joins Vi and Christy in a skeptical and intriguing look at the phenomena of highly sensitive people plus your calls on the September 3rd episode of Secular Sexuality.
►Find Courtney and learn more about her work at https://www.discoveringyour.life/ ►Connect a little deeper with the episode and learn more at
https://www.vcatx.com/media/hsp
Find the HSP test, more resources and Elaine Aron’s original research at https://hsperson.com/
Hello all you atheists (and theists) out there! The hosts of today’s Atheist Experience are Matt Dillahunty and Shannon Q, so happy to have Shannon Q on today! Our first caller, Jack in Canada, says that he thinks religious groups “walk on eggshells” more than atheist groups. The bible does not preach religious tolerance and we oppose beliefs not religious people. Matt points out Deuteronomy 13 commands you to kill other believers. Ryan in NY asks what proof there is of atheism. What is your definition of a god? Atheism just means disbelief in god/s, the burden of proof is on the claimant. Ryan gives us his personal experience and talks about morality and once again we find another caller cool with slavery… Linguistie in the Ukraine asks if god appearing in believers dreams are a style of lucid dreaming? Your brain functions while you sleep, as well as parses memories, and can affect your waking perceptions. People can use this to solidify their beliefs. Sain in TX asks about divine command theory. The problem is whatever god dictates would be moral, that can lead to some horrible commands. Not to mention the lack of evidence of any god. The biblical god is immoral and in the event of his return, the only recourse is rebellion. Last caller today, Jonathan in AZ asks the reasons for believing one doesn’t go “anywhere” upon dying. There is no evidence anything happens after you die, you just stay dead. A soul is the most dead concept in theology. Shannon expertly breaks down the neurology that makes someone a person, doesn’t lend any credence to a soul or an afterlife. Thanks for tuning in, we are so glad you joined us today. Stay safe and please continue to wear your masks. The world is better with you in it. See you next week!
Hello everyone and welcome back to Talk Heathen! We are joined again by our hosts Eric Murphy and Vi La Bianca. Thanks for tuning in! Up first, Patricia in NM, asks Vi about their secular witchcraft practices. Vi explains how secular rituals can “hijack” one’s brain to affect your mindset. “Spiritual” experiences can be secular, rituals do not need to invoke the supernatural to be meaningful. Logan in CA asks how Christians can rationalize the nature of hell.. Vi reaches back to their Christian roots explaining the theology and why they no longer believe those teachings. Thanks for calling and we’ll see you in Discord at tiny.cc/ACADiscord! Elli in Germany discusses moving past Christian behaviors. The hosts discuss religion “programming” these behaviors and how to break down automatic reactions and rewire better thought patterns. Bridget in TX asks how to deal with her mother’s religious beliefs that conflict with reality. The hosts share how to pick your battles and show empathy for a loved one with whom they disagree. Jay in VA is no longer a theist, but suspects there is a supernatural component to our existence. Eric breaks down the concept of consciousness and how it relates to our existence. This call takes a turn and ends up in Deep Space Nine. Rande in CA asks about faith, reason, logic, and indoctrination.... This call has it all. Rande shares how declaring his atheism has led to all sorts of conversations. Our condolences for your loss.. Moldred in NY talks about pantheism and how god is the Big Bang. Our hosts are not convinced of that claim. Convince us of your convictions, Moldred! Better luck next time! Mike in CO discusses his conversion to Judaism, and how he appreciates more of the culture and history than the theology. Doug in AZ talks about living a deconverted adult life with religious family members. Our hosts have some conversational methods to soothe over those tensions while also realizing that we can’t deconvert others. Jason in PA talks about beliefs, agnosticism, and responding to christians who want to know the truth. Vi explains how biblical “knowledge” is often intersected by myths and exaggerations, and how to convey that to Christians. Thanks for watching everyone, thank you to our crew and supporters that keep this ship afloat! We’ll see you next week!!
Good evening Truth Seekers! ObjectivelyDan is joined tonight by a special guest, Scott Crow! Scott is an author, activist, musician, and anarchist! Scott has worked to create power from below to create individual autonomy and freedom for ourselves. Right on! First caller tonight is Sally from Australia, she wants to rant about church based charities. Sally is fed up with churches making people believe first or sit through a sermon to qualify for something as simple as food for the hungry. Scott points out that it’s the same for governments and corporations too, and informs us about solidarity over charity. Jamie from Australia talks about the link between conspiracy theories and theism. Specifically Jamie notices theists tend to think conspiratorial. Theists are self important, have sources others don't have access to, and if we just thought like them we would finally know the truth. Zealots of any kind tend to think this way too. Tymm in WA talks about the victim blaming he noticed in Kenosha, WI after protest turned violent. Tymm noticed that people were painting victims in a bad light after the events in Kenosha. This has been a problem in all cities that had victims of violence from recent event protesting. News coverage hasn’t been very positive lately... The last caller tonight, Jason in PA, talks about his conversion to Jehovah Witnesses, which he calls most definitely a cult. Jason feels that roughly 30-40% of Americans are involved in a cult, religious or otherwise. Dan and Jason commiserate how religious cults do harm in the name of good. That's all the Truth for this week! You can learn more about Scott Crow at https://www.scottcrow.org. Thanks for watching, stay safe out there, and wear a damn mask.
This month The Wachowskis confirmed that their sci-fi blockbuster The Matrix was in part an allegory for the trans experience- a splinter in the mind telling you that your reality, enforced through violent agents, is really just a performance. That hasn’t stopped The Red Pill and other online groups on Reddit and elsewhere from using the film as a jumping off point for warmed over social Darwinism and misogyny. Bigfoot De-Bunker and Truth Wanted Objectively Dan joins Vi and Christy to take your calls and see how far down the rabbit hole goes.
► Check out the ACA’s Truth Wanted https://www.youtube.com/TruthWanted and join the TW Fan Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/TruthFG/
► Go further down the rabbit hole find even more resources at https://www.vcatx.com/media/redpill
Find Dan on Twitter: @ObjectivelyDan
Former Red Pillers: Discussion Forum- https://www.reddit.com/r/exredpill/
Be the men's issues conversation you want to see in the world- https://www.reddit.com/r/MensLib/
Hello all you atheists (and theists) out there! The hosts of today’s Atheist Experience are Matt Dillahunty and David McRaney. David is an author and got into podcasting as a way to promote his book. You can check out his work at https://www.youarenotsosmart.com and the You Are Not So Smart podcast! Let’s get to calls! Our first caller, Jacob in IL, tells a story of a man who went into a coma and saw many-eyed animals next to god and that made Jacob think it was true. Just because people have an experience regarding a religion, doesn’t mean we should leap to believe the experience or the religion. Arthur in Europe asks if we think it's wrong that someone believes in something with zero evidence. There may be bad evidence, but we can't see people believing based on no evidence. It’s best not to believe anything without sufficient evidence. Josiah in CA asks how we are interpreting evidence of paranormal or religion correctly to poke holes in evolution. He then tells us of a dream where he foresaw a man and the details matched up with reality after he had the dream. How can you rule out other explanations? Dreams are fun and all, but aren’t evidence of anything supernatural, godly, or magical. Dan in Romania asks why we wouldn’t believe Paul the Apostle? You can’t just accept claims about an experience with the risen savior on a damascus road with no evidence. Dan doesn’t see a reason they would make that up, but their claims alone aren't sufficient evidence to believe. Otherwise, you would have to believe every other would-be prophet out there. God (Sirha) in CT claims there are no paradigms are real and claims to have transcended reason. Matt tried to ask some questions but lets say he didn’t make it far. Last caller! Marie in VA doesn’t think that the big bang theory conflicts with major religions creation stories. The order of events in genesis doesn’t match with the order we know from science. For instance, the earth was not created before light. Marie believes the bible anyway. Thanks for tuning in, we are so glad you joined us today. Stay safe and please continue to wear your masks. The world is better with you in it. See you next week!
Greetings Heathens! Today’s episode is very special, it’s Vi’s Birthday! Happiest of Birthdays, Vi! We love and adore you! In today’s episode of Talk Heathen, the dynamic duo are together again, Eric Murphy and Vi La Bianca. Let’s get to calls, our first caller is Robert in New York. He is calling about the religious and “repeatable” proof of a paradigm shift with the use of DMT. Now he claims he can achieve this same effect through yoga. Everything is connected, man! Jeff in Pennsylvania wants us to play Stevie Wonder’s “I Just Called to Say I Love You” on the show! ...but not really. He is really calling again to tell us God and Christ loves us and this love doesn’t come from him. What is Love? Baby don’t hurt me! Eric again breaks it down for him. Next up, Chuck in Michigan has gotten over his first time caller jitters and has called again claiming he has an argument against natural selection and evolution. Oh good! As usual, Eric and Vi help him through these arguments and make their case for evolution. Brandon in Arizona calls in talking about original sin and the goodness of God. Also claims that our DNA changed in the garden of Eden. But how did it change and who changed it though? Oh, it was sin? So an apple changed our DNA way back when…and we are born with Satan’s DNA. Oh, that’s delicious. Brandon, is doubt a problem and why? After that wild call, Jonathan calls about conversing with his family after leaving Jehovah’s Witnesses. Walk into any conversation with family members still in that cult, make sure to set boundaries and terms and leave if they cross the line. Kenneth is also an Ex-JW and calls in to say that the fact there is no afterlife paradise sucks. Religion definitely does a disservice here because it doesn’t equip us with how to deal with death. That’s our show for today, thanks for tuning in! Essential workers, we appreciate you! Please keep being safe everyone! See you next week!
Good evening, Truth Seekers! ObjectivelyDan is joined tonight by @notesfromautumn! She is a fellow atheist YouTuber merging human development with atheism. Check her channel out here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9cfudGyOm2GiFEg4jf5uDA First caller tonight is Johnnie from TX, calling because he notices he is not able to stick to the questioning part of Street Epistemology (SE) and is asking advice. ObjectivelyDan explains that the creator of SE struggled early on and to keep practicing and stick to the method. Dan in AR met a previous caller, Itto, after hearing her call on Truth Wanted. He called in to further the conversation about atheism and disabilities. He planned to have Itto on the call with him, but unfortunately she couldn’t make it...one day, Itto! Micahel in CO asks the hosts about Christology and Jesus mysticism. ObjectivelyDan notices there is a good credibility for the mythicist position, but that he isn’t 100% on board. He acknowledges this is worth looking into. Autumn takes a great position: “I don’t know.” Jake in WA has a concern regarding Street Epistemology. Jake heard that SE is a script to get people to lose faith in their belief or get people to doubt themselves. SE is a modified version of the Socratic method, to examine why someone holds that belief, and has been used for beliefs other than god beliefs. Our last caller is Shannon Q in Canada! While Shannon wasn’t necessarily an angry atheist, she felt foolish that she didn’t investigate into her previous religious belief system. The hosts recognized some anger they felt early on but it’s a result of the indoctrination and realization that so many others have fallen for beliefs that you just gave up. That's all the Truth for this week! You can check out Notes From Autumn on her Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notesfromautumn/ and ObjectivelyDan on Twitter at, get ready for it… @ObjectivelyDan. That’s all folks! Seeya next week!
Nothing says first kiss on a hot date quite like August 20th, 2020 does it? Between the social unrest, political division and stumbling economy, it’s almost possible to forget about the virus you specifically get...from spit. At a time where we all have way too much time to swipe, many of us are struggling to look for new love in the time of corona. Returning to the show is relationship therapist Grace Wood to answer your calls and walk us through dating in 2020. ►Find Grace and her Dating In 2020 at https://www.gracewoodtherapy.com/blog/2020/7/27/dating-in-2020 ►Dive deeper into the episode and find even more resources at https://www.vcatx.com/media/coviddating Grace is on Facebook and IG: https://www.facebook.com/gracewoodlpcintern @https://www.instagram.com/gracewood_therapy/ How to Be an Adult in Relationships: The Five Keys to Mindful Loving Paperback by David Richo Attached: The New Science of Adult Attachment and How It Can Help YouFind - and Keep - Love by Amir Levine
Hello all you atheists (and theists) out there! The hosts of today’s Atheist Experience are Matt Dillahunty and Jim Barrows! Glad to see Jim back! As an update, our show will remain remote throughout the year and into next year. Let’s get to calls! The first caller, Rick in CA, has a quick question on the efficacy of prayer. Who knows how many times our hosts prayed and nothing happens. The hosts don’t see any evidence that prayer works. Aaron in WI calls to talk about morality as it pertains to atheists vs theists for an argument for god. Neither theism nor atheism takes a position on morality inherently. Aaron feels we would agree with most of the morality in the Bible, but Aaron has more in common morally with the hosts than what's in the Bible. Carl in Ontario calls to tell a story about saving a kid from a car wreck. While reflecting back he has a purpose to protect people and needs no gods. One would hope any decent person would do the same in that situation, with or without a god belief. Mark in FL asks what is the standard of proof before one begins to believe something? There are multiple standards of evidence. Believing means you accept something likely true. Why would you be convinced of something without evidence? Gene in PA, a science teacher, would feel bad if a student left the class believing that the earth is flat but recognizes a right to one's beliefs. You can lead a horse to water but you can't make them drink. You can only do your best to educate people, teach them how to think and not what to think. Joe in Lebanon is on the road to atheism and points out that most religions are started by eccentric men and asks if St. Paul was honest. We don’t, and maybe can’t, know. Adrian in TX is calling to argue for a designer god but confuses purpose and design. One can use a rock as a hammer but the rock is not designed. When you can't differentiate between purpose and designed, there isn't much of a conversation to be had. David in Mexico calls to challenge something Jim said at the start of the show, the hypothesis of god can be scientific if you look at it as a non incomprehensible object. Throw in some metaphysics and quantum mechanics and you have some word salad. This is speculative at best. Last up is Jim and NV, calling in about the possibility of a god and that god would want people to be rational...and suggests Matt is god. We aren’t convinced that there is a god and feelings aren’t a pathway to truth. Thanks for tuning in, we are so glad you joined us today. Stay safe and please continue to wear your masks. The world is better with you in it. See you next week!
Greetings, Heathens! Hope your week is off to a grand start. We have a very special guest in the co-host seat today, comedian and activist, Trae Crowder! Welcome to the show Trae, we are glad you are here! Here’s his Youtube channel, check it out:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTHsQd-vRXK1bp4vpifl6yA
Let’s get to calls! Returning caller Phil in North Carolina has issues with our choice of thumbnails and the term “cafeteria Christians”. He continues to talk about the problems with ad populum and “people want their God.” Eric moves on to ask, is it true and pragmatic, though? Next up, Chuck in Michigan calls in to talk about speciation, evolution, and how Aristotle’s unmoved mover fits into it all. He also starts to set up his argument by basically giving us the history of life on Earth and how the Cambrian explosion of life happened too quickly (it didn’t, it took MILLIONS of years) and doesn’t fall in line with Darwinian evolution. “I don’t know, therefore God,” doesn’t work in this example (or any example). Will Chuck get to the explanation of the Aristotle’s unmoved mover argument without help from Eric? (Nope.)
PJ in North Carolina is wondering about the cherry picking that Christians use to justify their behavior, and how to basically accept their beliefs after a childhood of religious trauma and abuse. Eric speaks from experience about this specific issue and how to better approach this problem. Eric then asks: “Why is your recovery (from religious trauma) requiring other people?” PJ, perhaps contacting Recovering from Religion may be helpful to you: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org or the Secular Therapy Project: https://www.seculartherapy.org/
Ivi in Florida is next, she recently deconverted from a Pentacostal church where they “spoke in tongues” and still has a fear of Hell. The call drops, but Trae and Eric talk a bit about this fear of hell and how many new atheists handle it. Next in the queue is Kathy in Pennsylvania is calling about moral relativism, she starts out talking about being worried about going to Hell and moves onto the topic of moral relativism. She finally gets to the question: Do we believe there is an absolute morality or can morals be relative?
Dak in California said he was cursed on July 27th! He was supposed to be afflicted with illness and it hasn’t happened! Wow, and Eric’s curse is going on 5 months and nothing has happened. At the end of the day, this call is about someone’s random internet fight...and maybe not that useful.
Thanks for joining us today, Trae! Thanks to you viewers, mods, and crew as well, this was a fantastic show. Please continue to be safe out there, this world is only better with you in it! See you next week!
Good evening, Truth Seekers! ObjectivelyDan is joined tonight by our special guest, John de Lancie!!! You may know him best as Q on Star Trek but John is no stranger to secular activism, most recently speaking with the Secular Student Alliance.
First caller tonight is Skyler in AR asks if we should have more secular people in government, given that we are a growing minority and have little to no representation. John is optimistic that we will have representation soon, it's definitely needed...
Zac in London sees atheists ask for evidence after he makes a statement on his beliefs and asks whether a belief is a claim? The burden of proof rests on the person making the claim.
Zac thinks there is a difference in making a claim versus a statement of belief. Sounds like shirking the burden of proof.
Deec in SC asks if John would consider a role in a faith promoting production? John says he would not be in a show that is proselytizing. John has played roles as believers but says he isn’t interested in roles on proselytizing shows.
Ransom in CA believes that there is evidence of advanced ancient civilizations. His evidence is from paintings and petroglyphs depicting aliens. How can one discount human creativity?
Ben in TX is calling in about project blitz, a christian push to get people of faith in places of political power. The best way to deal with it and call it out for what it is, an abuse of power. John gives
Last caller is Rob in NJ, asking about John’s secular projects. John updates us on a couple projects he has been working on. One he was able to complete is a play on the Dover intelligent design trial.
That's all the Truth for this week! You can check out John de Lanice on his website https://www.johndelancie.com/
Last week we discussed the power of finding your own sexual identity, throwing out every sort of adjective, orientation, kink and descriptor we could find! If it felt like we left on a bit of a cliffhanger, the SecX Patron Saint Eve is here to dust off the darker corners of the research library and walk us through the dos, don'ts and don’t evens of exploring a new kink. We’re safe, sane, consensual and learning how to kink, plus your calls on tonight’s Secular Sexuality!
Topics and calls on today's episode: -How Do I Research Sex Stuff?! -Partners Trying Kink, Consent Boundaries, & Safe Words! -Julie-ID | Trauma from Sexual Abuse Effects On Perceptions of Sex -Mira-(GE) | Having a Hard Enjoying Kinks a Second Time & Finding Partners -Roan-NC | I Might Be Agender or Nonbinary...but I Don't "Feel" the Identity -How Do You Enter Into New & Different Sexual Communities? -Warning Signs You're Not Reeeally Into or Ready for a Particular Kink -Marcus-CA | Religion Shamed Me "Out of" Homosexuality...Help? -Resources for Trying New Forms of Sex & Kink! (Plus Our Own Class!)
Catch Saint Eve on Twitter @TransSaintEve
►Get started on your kink journey with these links https://www.vcatx.com/media/howtokink
Greetings heathens! It’s Sunday, so that means it’s time for ‘Coffee Topic Sunday Show.’ Otherwise known as Talk Heathen! We’re glad you’re here!
Let’s get to calls. The first caller is Bashar from the Middle East, who has a personal dilemma that he would like to discuss: How does he help with others’ deconversion and beginning stages of atheism? Great query Bashar, but hopefully you don’t feel as though you are taking on their burden.
Next up, Nick in Tennessee calls about how amazing nature is and is wondering about Pagan practices. Practicing these rituals can be beneficial, just be careful you’re not propping them up to being anything other than fiction and fun.
Derek is wondering about courtroom witnesses and how different they are to personal testimony of the bible. He counters and asks, “How did the story of the Bible get told?” Because stories are fun and we like to gather and tell fantastical tales?
Hayden calls in saying that comments on atheist channels are vindictive and horrible. Here’s a protip Hayden: DON’T READ THE COMMENTS. It’s not helpful at all at further conversations.
Alex claims God is as real and tangible as a coffee mug or speaking in tongues. Eric moves on to say that anonymous and unknown authors don’t make for compelling evidence of claims. Alex doesn’t really like to listen, he rambles, and only waits for his turn to talk…
Phil in North Carolina calls in asking about “theological pretzels” and diving into the ad populum argument. He also claims that people by and large will always believe in something.
Kendall in Washington calls back! This time he asks what evidence helped make the hosts atheists. He also says at the end of the call he wants to talk to Matt about slavery. (Hey folks: Talk to the hosts of the show you’re calling, not other show hosts.)
Merissa is next, and she feels behind educationally after deconverting. Oh Merissa! We all felt that way, the best way forward is to find some really great and communicative channels here on YouTube and have fun on your new adventure! That’s our show today! We’ll see you next week!
Hello all you atheists (and theists) out there! In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Matt Dillahunty is joined by Jenna Belk, who we’re all happy to see return! Welcome back to the co-host chair, Jenna! This episode (and all episodes hereafter) is dedicated to Ed Breyton. Ed has been an integral part of the ACA over the years and while he isn’t as active as he once was, he will always be remembered. Thank you, Ed! Let’s get to calls. The first caller is Dennis in New York. He was in the hospital for a time (due to illness) and his Christian friends say his condition improved due to God. Thankfully he knows his improvement was due to doctors’ diligence and treatment. Are rocks atheist? Oh no, not this question. Steve in Virginia switched up his original question from ‘What is the lack of belief?’ to the weird rock question...sigh. To answer the original question: for explicit atheism, it requires a conscious being who is able to determine and evaluate this. There’s plenty of philosophical ground to be covered here! Hold up! We have a theist on the line who would like to start out defining God buuut, he segways and pivots to questioning the Big Bang cosmological event. What does this have to do with the definition of God? And we don’t have time for you, goodbye! William in Australia claims to have seen his grandfather in a vision after he passed. We are sorry for your loss William. It can be a comfort to have these unexplained events occur and feel a connection to your lost family member. Instead of feeling as though it’s a message from them, think of it as a good remembrance of them. Guillermo in California asks why we believe in history, but not biblical history. Jenna asks the all important question, “Why should we believe the Bible?” Also, history books don’t generally use metaphors within the texts. Mike in Washington is wondering how to show other Christians the hypocrisy in the Bible and also how to reconcile it. This caller is a theist and this turns out to be a really interesting call. Austin in Wisconsin says it’s ok to believe or not believe. Uh, sure?. He also thinks there is a war between atheists and theists. Is there really? He also thinks that we are wasting our time and it isn’t worth spending time on the truth. But we aren’t wasting our time, nice try. Thanks for tuning in and not wasting your time! We are so glad you joined us today. Please continue to wear your masks. The world is better with you in it. See you next week!
Good evening, Truth Seekers! ObjectivelyDan is joined tonight by Exxtian Erin. This week is her 1 year anniversary of deconversion! Erin tells her fascinating story of youth groups, bible camps, introductions to atheist YouTube, and ultimately her deconversion from Christianity. First caller tonight is Kevin in NY who calls to talk about Charles Darwin’s racial biases and challenges evolution. The truth of evolution doesn’t hinge on Darwin or his books. Science has come a long way on this subject! Kevin says that genetic mutations seem to result in only bad traits, which is a creationist talking point. Mike in Germany, a lifelong atheist, calls to ask what it feels like to believe in a god. Good question! The hosts relate that you feel a personal relationship with the creator of the universe and you just know it’s true. Believing is all about controlling your actions. Mun in Australia calls to ask why some people are quick to dismiss Christianity without looking too deeply into the faith. The hosts have been believers and researched Christianity but did not find a reason to believe any longer. Mikey in Finland calls to ask the hosts; view on antinatalism. Dan considers it more ethical to adopt than to give birth. Erin does have kids but thinks it's good to have the arguments out there for people to make more informed decisions about their life. Sam from NC calls to discuss his argument against the idea of Satan, pointing out he thinks the lore around Satan is ridiculous. From a biblical standpoint, the idea of Satan isn’t coherent and our current understanding of Satan relies heavily on the book of revelation. The rest is pop culture and information from other sources.
Our last caller tonight is Skyler in AR whose mother has some spiritual/supernatural beliefs and asks how to respond to that while being respectful. These beliefs can be positive or harmful, keep in mind beliefs influence your actions. Dan asks a great question, do you care if your beliefs are true? With loved ones, sometimes you have to pick your battles. That's all the Truth for this week! You can find Exxtian Erin on twitter at @ExxtianEri
What on earth is a poly Viking power bottom? How about a soft dom femboy switch kitten? Are they spy code names? Super obscure indie bands? Character descriptions for the world’s best sci-fi film? No, these are descriptions of our kinks, and we want to walk you through creating your own epic kink title! Join Vi La Bianca, Christy Powell, and photographer and kinkster Julian Oakes Norman as we discuss the benefits of kink identities and practices on Secular Sexuality.
► Read ENM Magazine’s article on discovering polyamory and kink featuring Julian: https://enmmagazine.com/magazine/2020July/index.html ►Find even more Secular Sexuality links, deets and resources: https://www.vcatx.com/media/poly-viking-power-bottom
Follow Julian on social media:
Instagram: @cameracoffeeguy Website: www.cameracoffeeguy.com
Recommended Reading-
Explore your own adjectives and find community at https://fetlife.com/glossary Take the BDSM test at https://bdsmtest.org/select-mode Learn to build your own DIY sex-toys with Megan, & Andy of Forbidden Fruit https://youtu.be/FAwulNKxwEE Dating in 2020- A 5 Step Guide by Grace Wood https://www.gracewoodtherapy.com/blog/2020/7/27/dating-in-2020
In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Shannon Q is joined by our longtime friend and co-host, Matt Dillahunty. Welcome back to the co-host chair Matt, we’re glad you are here to join us! (Shannon is taking the reins this week!) Let’s get to calls. Our first caller is Jenna from California. She’d like to discuss how her current boyfriend is freaking out about COVID and thinks they would be better off believing in his previous religion (JW) because we are clearly in the “end times.” Next up, Ricky from Georgia says Matt, theologians, and philosophers are all wrong about morality. He also talks about social cohesion and how it relates to morality. But, he seems to agree with Matt for most of the call...so, how again is Matt wrong? Pack it up folks, AXP is done. The next caller says Matt already believes in God. James is saying this in a roundabout way by intentionally manipulating words and trying to pull a “Gotcha!” Boring, NEXT! Next up, Mike in California misinterprets some of Matt’s previous videos. Ooh, and he wants to talk about slavery and the context in which the Bible (specifically Exodus 21) was written. This should be fun! Chandu in Canada calls asking if it is righteous to practice a worldview where everyone is equal. Dualism, non-dualism, and how is this an atheist vs. theist problem? James in California suggests that God is an aspirational archetype and Shannon has a great retort! Whose God? What definitions? Would these definitions be able to change for the good of all? Ultimately God as an aspirational archetype isn’t always a benefit to society and Shannon explains why. WHOA! Greg in Ohio asks if we know who Jesus really was. His actual question was if we know who Jesus was historically. We can’t reasonably demonstrate that he actually existed, but he may have been 1 of 7 people back then, or a rabbi during this time. Shrug? Journey in North Carolina is a returning caller who was hung up upon before who would like to make definitions and defend God. Not an actual god, mind you, but the word “god”...yawn. Alex in New Jersey needs help with fully distancing themselves from spirituality. He is really struggling because of being raised in the church and feeling as though his mental illnesses are holding him back. We feel for you Alex, it’s a tough road, but credit where credit is due, YOU’RE doing the hard work. We are glad to be here for you. That’s our episode for today, please be safe and healthy out there!
Greetings, Heathens! Please continue to be safe, wear your mask, and social distance when possible. We are not out of the woods yet! In today’s episode, it’s the dynamic duo once again, Vi La Bianca and Eric Murphy! Let’s get to calls. The first caller is returning caller Hadi from North Carolina. Continuing the conversation from previous calls, where we spoke and asked questions about the nature of truth; this time we question the afterlife and religious promises. The answer is 42, btw. Next up, Vera from Colorado calls about her 2 cents on theism. She definitely seems to be close to the edge of deconversion! Eric gives Vera a challenge, try to see if you can find a purpose for yourself and your life without pinning it on God. Hermer is up next, calling about prophecy and how it relates in today’s world. He also incorrectly stattes Revelation was written before Christ…except it wasn’t. Hermer is fascinating, and he lets us know that Vi is an atheist sorcerer! Kendall calls back, continuing a conversation about objective morality and personal preference. He moves on to ask if God was true, would we repent? Kendall goes on to say, all that needs to be proven that God is omnipresent, is to prove God. Kendall, well, we are waiting for this proof…will it come in hula hoop form? We have a first time caller, and he is a theist! He also claims to have a copyright on the Bible. Um, ok… Joe from Oklahoma also seems to be a presup (aka: presuppositional apologist). Whew, this one is a live one! Next up, Aaron in Texas wonders when we figured out morality in our evolutionary timeline, how and when did we figure out that individual suffering was bad for our species. WEAR A MASK! Thanks for tuning in! Please be safe and healthy out there, we appreciate you and when the pandemic/quarantine is lifted, we love to see you all in person at the library!
Good evening, Truth Seekers! Objectively Dan is joined tonight by a former funadmentalist, pastor, and evangelical musician, Dan Barker! He is now a co-president of Freedom From Religion Foundation with over 100 debates under his belt! First up for callers tonight is Mitch in OH, who is calling to ask why people don’t take the COVID-19 pandemic seriously. There’s a decent amount of mistrust of the media and government. Mr. Barker shared a story of picketing a coffee shop which violated mask orders. Christian in WI calls in to ask Mr. Barker for some good local secular resources near Madison, WI, where FFRF has an office downtown with events for members. He also points out Universal Unitarians are great for personal connections and answers questions about starting local groups After Christian’s call, we get to learn a bit more about Dan Barker’s career and history in atheist activism! Ben in TX asks if Mr. Barker felt guilt from his long years of preaching and converting others to Christianity. Anyone would feel guilt, but you have to keep in mind it was never malicious or intentionally misleading. Brian in OR was a Christian for 35 years and is calling to talk about Christian privilege and James 4:17. The hosts don’t have much to disagree with. Linda in OH called to ask Mr. Barker his opinion about Project Faith Initiative, a juvenile court program to mentor at-risk kids. FFRF has filed some lawsuits on this initiative and talks on his experience dealing with these types of programs.
Our last caller tonight is Autumn in CA who is a new atheist activist (Yay!) and asks what advice you would have for your younger self. Mr. Barker recommends complaining...about church state violations. Dan points out if someone gives an interpretation, that’s a discussion. To paraphrase ObjectivelyDan, that wraps it up for another DAN-TASTIC episode of Truth Wanted. See you next week, folks!
Secular Sexuality | 07.30 | July 30th | Madison Hollis
What could be more important than family? Turns out things like party loyalty, which lives matter, facial skin sensitivity, and ancient homophobic poetry have been dividing familes at alarming rates. Ours is not the first generation to face excommunication or family shunning, but in a divided world with uncertain economics and portentous protests, cast-outs are facing ever-increasing challenges. Family Systems Therapist Madison Hollis joins Vi and Christy in wrapping our heads around this growing epidemic and to take your calls on this July 30th episode of Secular Sexuality!
- Family Separation, Sex, Religion, and Social Norm Violation
- Matthew-NY | My Friend Has an Abusive Father, How Can I Help?
- Geo-FL | Living with Challenges of an Immigrant Family
- Shame, Disappointment, and Loss from Family Separation
- Steve-AZ | I Want to Learn About Non-Binary and Other Sexualities!
- Johnathan-AL | My Family Doesn't Like That I Cut My Father Off
- Linda-(UK) | Update: My Husband Didn't Accept my Trans Daughter
- Resources to Deal with Family Separation
► Read Madison’s blog on family of origin trauma on her website: https://www.sunandmooncounseling.com/blog/fooissuesjune2020-s3zp8 ► Find more links or dive deeper into the show: https://www.vcatx.com/media/foo
Recommended Reading- ►Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents: How to Heal from Distant, Rejecting, or Self-Involved Parents by Lindsay C. Gibson
►Codependent No More: How to Stop Controlling Others and Start Caring for Yourself by Melody Beattie
►Whole Again: Healing Your Heart and Rediscovering Your True Self After Toxic Relationships and Emotional Abuse by Jackson Mckenzie
In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Matt Dillahunty is joined by Hemant Mehta of The Friendly Atheist! https://friendlyatheist.patheos.com/ Welcome, Hemant, we’re so glad you’re here!
Time for calls! The first caller is a returning caller, Keith from Nebraska. He poses a question about hauntings and the supernatural...in a graveyard?! This story sounds very true and legitimate.
Next up, Steve in Ohio. He is claiming his prediction about Trump is coming true, except that small part where it’s not even possible for it to be true or untrue yet...
Nicolas asks: What if we devise a way to test or measure the supernatural? Will that prove the supernatural and God? The supernatural just means science may not have a way to understand it yet. Once it is understood, then it ceases to be supernatural. Craig in Texas wonders if people have the right to be stupid. Willful ignorance can be harmful to others, so in that sense, no, but this definitely seems to be a grey area.
Julian asks a brand new question: how can Atheists have morality without God? He claims that God is the only foundation for morality and there is a right way and a wrong way to act. Siri: Define “circular.”
Eryn asks about the value of personal religious experiences. Well, we are social beings and being in a crowd can be a wonderful experience. This call moves on to cathartic personal experiences and the Satanic Temple’s “pink mass.”
Jelmar in the Netherlands wonders about the law of excluded middle. It’s either A or NOT A, which logically excludes the middle. There is no other choice! (This is a huge hit with the Sith.)
Lloyd in Washington had a supernatural experience and is now a believer. After a long, drawn-out story about removing porn from his life and a commitment to his wife (porn was his second wife, also?), he finally shows us how real the supernatural realm is. It’s… I feel like I’m waiting for a climax that will never come. Sigh. Ba-dum tss.
Our last caller of the day, James in Maine has problems with Matt’s logic and stance on LGBTQ+ issues. Religious people have claims and believe in something outside of themselves, LGBTQ+ folk don’t claim the same, they speak their truth from what is inside themselves. We are also not denying their Christian identity, James. Unlike some
Christian denominations. It seems some Christians are ok with denying LGBTQ+ identities and people.
That’s all folks, please be safe and wear your masks in public!
Greetings Heathens, welcome to a brand new week! It’s the 117th day of March… (Anyone else having weird time dilation this year?) Today’s episode of Talk Heathen is brought to you by keeping your mask over your nose and mouth. It’s totally pointless if it’s not over your nose, peeps, get it together! Today’s hosts are Vi La Bianca and Eric Murphy (aka: LaMurph or MurphVi! OUr first caller is returning caller Jeff from Pennsylvania. He wants to talk about how we use faith as a figure of speech and that everyone believes in or has faith in something. I for one am working to use confidence or truth instead of using “I have faith...”. Unfortunately, Jeff attempts to only use his definition of faith and force this definition on the hosts. Come on Jeff, don’t be dishonest! Next up, Daniel in Tennessee wants to prove that since objective moral values exist hence a God exists. He’s a Theist On the EDGE! Dawit in Washington is up next, asking how science can help transition theists into atheists and how to continue scientific research on your own. Further discussion moves into how this informed research can be political. Make every effort to utilize the scientific method into researching these concepts, look into articles that utilize peer review, and be skeptical of what you do find. That’s a good beginning. Oh and Vi’s “How to Skeptic” project! https://bit.ly/3f97Thm Link in Washington would like to talk about lingering beliefs, hell, and Pascal’s Wager. He would not like to burn eternally for no reason. Eric asks, “How many different hells are you afraid of?” All this fear is due to religious trauma and we’re sold faulty information through religion. Link gives us some gold: “If God created Hell, then the only person/one who deserves to go to Hell is him because that’s the only infinite crime.” MIC DROP! Next up, Kendall in Washington wonders if Christianity is proven true, would we repent?
Ulf from Norway was raised religious (fundamentalist Baptist) and realized he suffered from PTSD due to it. Nothing in religion made sense to him and he was ostracized because of it as a child. We are happy you are with us Ulf! Keep on working through this, it gets better! Robert in Canada wants everyone to know that everything in your head doesn’t necessarily match reality all the time. Nice! That’s our episode for today! Please note, 2020 is a gap year from life, it doesn’t count! Please continue to be safe and healthy out there!
Good evening, Truth Seekers! Today ObjectivelyDan is joined by Aron Ra, the man in black, the maestro of stout beer! Aron Ra is well known on YouTube for tackling evolution and young earth creationism. If you haven’t, definitely check him out. First up for callers tonight, Christian in WI. He is grappling with explaining how to trace back the human genome step by step to its origin. Aron has a 49 part series on this, of course, called The Systematic Classification of Life. Give that a look see. Mark in TX is up next. He is calling to report that he has seen UFOs and asks if the hosts have seen anything unexplained up in the sky. The hosts can’t see the connection from it being explained to it being a UFO. Dolly Llama in Canada is next. He called in to tell a story of UFO he debunked. He saw something floating in the sky so he shot at it. Turns out, it was a mylar birthday balloon. Such a fun story! Vade Mann, from NM, is calling about the origins of god in mythology. Vade theorizes that ancient peoples saw petroglyphs in aurora borealis and assumed they were gods. The hosts remain skeptical about this claim. Next up, Kevin in NY is calling regarding simulation theory. He proposes the simplest elements had to come together with intention. The hosts don't agree and Aron goes on to say simulation theory is his pet peeve. Both hosts chime in with great arguments here.
Matthew in FL is calling working about fundamentalism christianity and worried about people working to a theocracy. This is right up Aron’s alley, he and Dan have fun on this call. Mr Batman in IN is the last caller this week. He is calling to continue an argument with Aron Ra about natural laws not changing over time. Dan ended this call early, take your beef with our guests elsewhere. That’s all for this week! Check out AronRa’s channel! https://www.youtube.com/aronra
Joining us on Secular Sexuality tonight is Katy Montgomerie, an LGBTQ rights activist who has been holding court on Medium on behalf of trans folks. Her topic? By far the worst installment of the Harry Potter series: JK Rowling and the UK TERFS.
► Find Katy’s piece about JKRTERF and other work at https://medium.com/@completelykaty ► Find more links or dive deeper into the show at https://www.vcatx.com/media/jkrterf
►Read more about JK Rowling’s recent transphobic content here: https://www.forbes.com/sites/dawnstaceyennis/2019/12/19/jk-rowling-comes-out-as-a-terf/#19b7a6a45d70
►What is a TERF? https://www.insider.com/jk-rowling-what-is-a-terf-trans-exclusionary-radical-feminist-2020-6
►Read the Letter on Justice and Open Debate here: https://harpers.org/a-letter-on-justice-and-open-debate/
► Learn more about the so called TRANS AGENDA- watch Secular Sexuality 07.27 with Christy Powell, Serafina Smith, and Rachel Watson •Streamed live on July 9, 2020 https://youtu.be/PCwd4uwr_Ek
►Consider donating to the Trevor Project: https://www.thetrevorproject.org
The Atheist Experience is hosted today by Matt Dillahunty and Scott Clifton! Scott is an actor who’s well-known for his award-winning soap opera roles in shows such as “The Bold and the Beautiful”, but he’s also a secular activist! (Check him out at https://www.youtube.com/user/TheoreticalBullshit, or on Twitter @TheoreticalBullshit.) After sharing some sweet stories of Scott sending Matt’s grandmother Christmas headshots, we jump into calls!
Josh in Tennessee was asked by his atheist wife to call in. Judging by his “evidence” for god, it seems as though he maybe hasn’t questioned his belief, but he’s friendly and open to conversation. This is awesome! (Be like Josh.)
Russell in Georgia calls in to talk about how alien encounters are consistent with the Bible, then offers an analogy between himself as a parent using “tough love” to what God does to us as “his children.” He ends up saying morality is fickle because our perception as humans changes overtime, It’s yet another misunderstanding the difference between actual facts changing and our human understanding of facts changing. Then...then aliens. Aliens and Jesus.
Kendall in Seattle wants to ask Scott if he’d become a Christian if Christianity were “proven true.” The answer might not be what some would expect.
Mo in Canada called in about advantages to prayer, but instead asks the hosts about people leaving religion due to bullying, which, as far as we can tell, is a pretty small group. Then we get to the prayer bit, and eventually get to Islamophobia and the concept of drawing Mohammad.
Lance in Ohio insults the previous caller, starts to ask how atheism is a net positive to society, but decides to stop and get annoyed with a host for sighing at this question we’ve heard a million times. He doesn’t seem interested in a real discussion, but that’s on him. If you’re reading this, consider being less of an asshole.
That’s our show this week! Remember, being careless during a pandemic infects babies with viruses, so USE YOUR BRAIN! Thanks, we’ll see ya next week!
Greetings, Heathens! Today’s episode of Talk Heathen is brought to you by WEAR YOUR DAMN MASK! It’s very important, still. The dynamic duo are back together in today’s episode, and they have an announcement for us all. #LaMurph! It should be a great show! Also: Happy First Anniversary on the show Vi. We’re all so glad you’re here! Let’s get to calls! The first caller is Nav from New Zealand, who recently deconverted and is wondering how to talk to his religious family. Next up, returning caller Hadi from North Carolina would like to talk about how truth corresponds with reality. A belief being beneficial doesn’t always make it true. The following caller named Shawn from Colorado wonders about subjectivity that we are born into and the conception of objectivity. This reminds one a bit of hard solipsism and so much navel-gazing bullshit, just trying to use cool words to prove faith is a sound epistemology.. Eric and Vi dig in and work through some of this philosophy. Down the rabbit hole we go! Link in Washington wants to discuss his discomfort with his own cognitive dissonance and is curious about using epistemological tools to get to the truth. He also feels as though cherry picking and being a “cafeteria Christian” can hook you and provide tools that aren’t helpful in finding truth in the world. Next up, our last caller is Ruby in Germany, who would like to know why the Western countries see the hijab as a symbol of protest or freedom, and worries this perception may further oppression in Muslim dominant countries. She goes on to say it is an illusion of choice in these countries. The problem here is that in Western countries, we are free to decide how we dress and how we wear our hair. Once it becomes a requirement, that is when it is closer to oppression. That’s our episode for today! Thanks to all the essential workers out there, we appreciate you! Thank you to the peaceful protesters still making noise, you are also appreciated! Wear your masks and stay healthy! See you next time! And always remember, #LaMurph
Good evening, Truth Seekers! Today ObjectivelyDan is joined by Prophet of Zod! His YouTube channel focuses on helping people find their footing while coming out of their faith. Check him out: https://www.youtube.com/c/prophetofzod or on Twitter @ProphetOfZod! Let's move on to callers! First up tonight, Matt in MD. He mentions a paranormal show that suggests bigfoot is an interdimensional or underground being, but a question arose: Is it ethical to watch these shows, which helps keep them on air and further encourage incredulity? Hm... Itto in Morocco calls in to inquire on how to help disabled people leave their faith. She has seen atheists who are disabled who can’t come out due to stigma of both atheism and disability. Itto is a new atheist content creator, too! Check her out: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUrrZw5htdCxTVUDLInzF2Q Cory in SC called into AXP and is now an atheist! Cory wants to keep some culturally Christian things and wants to find a balance (shouts out to other new atheists navigating this!) Dan gives good advice: Keep what you want, avoid giving money to the church! Chaz in TX calls in about social media and how it affects society with such easy access to bad information. Should social media be a public utility? While that might sound good, there are some real problems with the idea. More regulation could be nice, but how might that be accomplished? Unholymole in IL is an atheist whose 8 year old son asked why he doesn’t go to church. He’s unsure how to approach this. The hosts’ advice? Be a positive model of atheism!
Stephen in AU feels belief in god is a desperate attempt to sublimate fear of death, meaninglessness, and suffering; and that people tiptoe around what it means to live. Is that true? Hassan in CA is the last caller this week. He is calling in to ask how to recognize cognitive dissonance in an interlocutor. Dan advises to frame their beliefs in a context of how you could believe something. Zod recommends understanding your own cognitive dissonance. That’s all for this week! Check out Zod’s channel! We put it up top, remember? ;D
Femme fatale and fashioner designer Miss O Kissed first came to our attention when she shared with us all about the wonderful world of burlesque. Now she joins Vi and Christy to share another part of her identity- her asexuality. What’s it like navigating the world of fetish wear and burlesque as an ace? That question, your calls and a whole lot more on this week’s Secular Sexuality.
► Find more links or dive deeper into the show at https://www.vcatx.com/media/missokissed ► Learn more about this self-professed pint sized pervert at https://www.missokissed.com/
►Find your community at AVEN https://www.asexuality.org/
►Emotional Blackmail: When the People in Your Life Use Fear, Obligation, and Guilt to Manipulate You by Susan Forward (https://www.amazon.com/Emotional-Blackmail-People-Obligation-Manipulate/dp/0060928972)
► Secular Sexuality 06.02 with Megan Bonner, Christy Powell, & Black Widow Burlesque •Streamed live on Jan 10, 2019 https://youtu.be/DEk8w0q1lRw
In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Matt Dillahunty is joined by Seth Andrews. Seth is a long time friend of Matt and a friend of the show. Welcome back! First up, we have Jonathan in MI, who claims to have solid evidence for god. For example, he takes it on faith that they found Jesus’ tomb and his cross still stands in Jerusalem. Faith is not a good pathway to truth. Work on your Google-fu, Jonathan. Stephen in IL is up next. He was raised reform Jewish and is questioning if Jewish history and Hebrew school is right for his son, more for the culture of it. Our hosts are for religious history classes, just not the advocacy for a god. Matthew from NC is next up. His dad had cancer and Matthew believes his father's faith gave him strength to make it through the ordeal and into experimental treatments. We shouldn't have to lie to ourselves to push through. Great topic caller! RJ in CO is calling to argue that evolution is false and the Judeo-Christian theory is correct. He goes on to argue the origin of humans was in Sumeria. We end with an in-depth conversation about the tower of babel. Fascinating! Jessica from VT has parents who think the world is ending and Jesus is coming back. Her parents have been trying to indoctrinate their grandchildren. Now Jessica is grappling with restricting access to her kids. Give yourself permission to set boundaries. Great advice, Seth! The last call of the show, Mary in MN. She is terminally ill and finds people don't want to talk about death, yet she isn’t afraid to die. She has been living her best life the last 6 months. Matt looks forward to Mary calling back with updates. Great example of a rational mind facing death! Thanks for tuning in today! Check out Seth on the Thinking Atheist YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/user/TheThinkingAtheist
Good Morning Heathens! Today’s episode of Talk Heathen is brought to you by: Keep wearing your masks, keep social distancing, angrily stare at those who don’t follow directions… but don’t confront them, they should know better by now. In today’s episode of Talk Heathen, Eric Murphy is joined by Prophet of Zod. Should be a good show! Let’s get to calls. The first caller is Malcolm from California. He claims HIS interpretation of the Bible is the most correct and accurate. Ok, Malcolm… show your work, prove it! Next up, Adi from Indonesia would like to talk about how when he was addicted to drugs and sent to prison, he found God through prayer. Zod cuts to the quick and suggests that while it was good he found a way out of drugs, it doesn’t necessarily prove a God exists. Adi, take credit for the hard work you put in to get rid of your addiction, you deserve it more than any God or Jesus. Hadi in North Carolina is calling back, having done some additional research and he wanted to call with his findings. He’d also like to talk about maximals and the problems with a maximally powerful God. Except we need to be able to prove this God within our physical universe and there also needs to be sufficient evidence to prove this God. Sadly, there isn’t a God-ometer to sniff out a God or Gods. Oh, you’ll love this… It’s Marlon in the Philippines again! This time he is calling in about how ancient nephilim are real! Eric stops him before he can get too far about how he gets this “truth” and evidence he has found. Spoiler alert, it’s all on the internet! Next up, Malachi in Ohio is wondering if Zod has heard of any prophecies about COVID and the protests. Zod responds, and Eric also says if there were prophecies, why weren’t they shared? And if they were shared, it’s likely they were a response to what everyone already knew. Afterwards we have Eli from Oklahoma. He called in February about the phases he experienced while leaving religion. This is a really great update call, he also finished his interviews and training with RFR! http://www.RecoveringFromReligion.org Congrats dude! Anjur in Germany is up next calling in to ask does evolution disprove God? He poses the idea that a “day” in God’s terms were different and could be even a million years. The conversation moves on to life coming from water. Seems like stretching or bending the truth to fit the narrative to me. Our last caller of the day, Mark in Canada wonders, how do you explain the concept of morality without God and where it doesn’t become social darwinism? Sadly, his connection is really REALLY bad and we do our best to get to the synopsis of his call. Zod hones in on it and gives a fantastic reply to this. That’s our episode today folks, please be safe out there!
Good evening Truth Seekers! Today is ObjectivelyDan joined by two guests, Divine Disbelief (Susan and Nathaniel). They have a YouTube channel regarding secular news, politics, and global issues and how it affects the community as a whole.
Let's move on to the callers for tonight! First up, Nick in NY. He asks what is your rational basis for atheism. Atheism is just the lack of belief in god/gods. Nick seems to assert god is required to be able to verify evidence.
Next up we have repeat caller Malcom, in CA. He is calling about languages being influenced by an eel or snake species. Uhhh… Dan pipes up to indicate this is a topic they’ve talked about before and languages are just signifiers to something else. It doesn’t prove anything.
Next we have Steph, from TX. She is calling to talk about solipsism, virtual god-hood and consent. Steph defines virtual god as a thinking agent with complete control over your reality. How does virtual godhood tie into solipsism? If we are in the matrix, how can we prove it? Who knows.
Justin from VA is our next caller. He is calling to talk about this path out of christianity. He found the origin story of christianity not quite right and looked into other religions. Maybe the bible was started as a self help book. Dan recommends anyone look more into their religion.
Kevin in NY is our last caller tonight. He is calling in as a christian that believes christian denominations are wrong. He goes on to say theological framework is based on an incorrect assumption that apocryphal books are inferior to the canonical books, specifically the book of Enoch. Great conversation on the bible and the church on this one!
That is all for this week’s Truth Wanted. Check out Divine Disbelief’s work at https://www.youtube.com/divinedisbelief and DivineDisbelief on the rest of social medias.
The TRANS AGENDA. Maybe you’ve heard about it on Twitter, where the massive following of Dolores Umbridge, er um, Rita Skeeter , er- a well-known Young Adult author have been recently addressing the subject. Here on Secular Sexuality, we will be talking with two actual trans women. What DO they want? What is their experience? All this and more, including your own calls and questions, on the July 9 episode of Secular Sexuality, on the Atheist Experience Network!
► Find more links or dive deeper into the show at https://www.vcatx.com/media/transagenda
► We the Mudbloods: J. K. Rowling and the Trans-Exterminationists by Zinnia Jones for Gender Analysis (https://genderanalysis.net/2020/06/we-the-mudbloods-j-k-rowling-and-the-trans-exterminationists-book-1/?fbclid=IwAR0iJoctGU-_iypvzxVgh8hBDv6wTjulxkqWBOz_6EFJX1fKpK8A8KcxbHg)
► Mastercard to allow transgender people to use chosen names on credit and debit cards by the Associated Press (https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2019/06/17/transgender-people-can-use-chosen-names-cards-mastercard-says/1478201001/)
► Halle Berry Pulls Out of Transgender Film Role After Backlash By Jordan Moreau for Variety (https://variety.com/2020/film/news/halle-berry-trans-role-apology-transgender-film-1234699605/)
In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Matt Dillahunty is joined by Jim Barrows. Jim is one of ACA’s own hosts and we are happy to have him today! Welcome back Jim! First up we have Emyn in OH, who is calling in about the Monty Hall problem. Pick a door Jim! Matt is not sure how this ties to atheism and thinks the analogy is untenable. Maybe compose your thoughts in an email? Jeury in NY is up next. He is calling to ask how to deal with conversations when there is no point. Our hosts explain that you need patience and may have to know when to walk away and regroup. Oscar from IN is asking why Matt is an atheist and not agnostic. Matt was a southern baptist and was trying to demonstrate the belief in god and found his way out. There didn’t seem to be a point so on to more callers. Gerard in CT is calling in to challenge Matt on believing as many true things and as few false things as possible. The caller goes on to demonstrate he wants to believe as many true things as possible. Daniel from CA is saying that Christians don’t investigate the bible and points out the bible is a historical text. The hosts flex their Bible knowledge chops to point out it’s not historically accurate. Check out this call for a fun conversation about the Bible and Christians. Alex in VA is up next. His father is dying and although Alex isn't a believer he asks if it's ethical to let his father think he is still a believer. The hosts relate stories of their loved ones and give some great advice in this call. Who is chopping onions in here... Angel in NC has moved in with some atheists and has questions for us today. Angel is questioning her faith and uses a form of Pascal's Wager to stay a believer. A great call destructing Pascal's Wager and "Christianinanity" ensues. Justin in MN says the study of comets disproves evolution. Oh, boy, 12,000 year old comets prove a young earth? The hosts point out Justin is cherry picking data and short period comets aren’t the only types of comets. Mark in RI says you can be justified in believing that a miracle is an explanation for an event. Matt points out that you can’t appeal to the supernatural until it's been found to exist and could have explanatory power. Luke in GA wants to tell us that some people haven't received the holy ghost but anyone can. Apparently you just have to “die unto yourself” and take up a cross. Ugh. And moving on. The last call of the episode, Michael in San Diego, wants to know why they don’t believe in Spinoza's god. Matt points out there is no evidence for it and he doesn't care what Spinoza or Einstein believed. Thanks for tuning in folks! Check out Jim in other ACA shows. See ya next week and wear a dang mask!
Greetings Heathens! Today’s episode is brought to you by, please for all that is holy and unholy, listen to Dr. Fauci and wear your damned mask in public! The life you could save is a loved one or somebody’s mother. Let’s get to calls. The first caller is a returning caller, Marlon from the Philippines. He would like to talk about how God has shown himself to him through miracles. Claims to have experienced the same increase of food that Jesus did during the sermon on the mount/loaves and fishes story. Shannon breaks it down for him. It could be hallucinations! Next up, Itto from Arkansas would like to talk about their experiences as not only a blind person and an atheist from a very religious country. She wants to provide information about how religions negatively use disabled people and the psychological damage that is the result. The following caller named Jonathan from Arizona would like to talk about Hell. He has a problem about the quote from Matt about how is it fair for God to enact eternal punishment for finite crimes. Shannon moves in to ask about how we are finite beings and only has a certain amount of time to ask for “forgiveness for sins from God.” The clock is ticking sinners! Steve from Arizona called in specifically to talk to Shannon. His question is about how to safeguard his son in going to a camp that is overwhelmingly religious. He ponders if this will be harmful and dangerous to his son’s interest with critical thinking and science. Evan in Ohio is up next, wanting to talk about the brain and the soul. He is also terrified of Hell due to previous drug use and doesn’t seem to want to let go of the idea of the eternal soul. Shannon takes the reins on this call and helps guide him hopefully to a good solution. Best of Luck on your journey Evan. Michael in Denver our last caller of the day, he would like to talk about mysticism and the Jesus myth. He also is looking into the historical Jesus/Yeshua and whether he truly existed or not. Shannon and Vi really dig into this call and provide the knowledge and resources from an academic standpoint. That’s it for today’s episode folks! Stay safe and healthy out there. Thank you to all the essential workers, you are here for us and we are here for you.
Good evening truth seekers! Today is ObjectivelyDan joined by guest Shannon Q. Shannon has an amazing YouTube channel where she meets faith with a psychology background.
Check out her YouTube and catch her on upcoming shows on The Atheist Experience. Let's move on to the callers for tonight! First up, Ransom in CA. He is proposing that we live in a simulation and has evidence regarding Planck time and smallest measurable units. Dan doesn't see how this can be evidence for a sim. Shannon doesn’t see the leap to show we are in a sim. This was one amazing call!
Next up we have repeat caller Craig, in CA. He is asking how Truth Wanted is patient but other atheist channels aren't, wonder who he means? Shannon explains that not everyone has the same goals and atheists aren't a monolith. Dan adds that he has recognized some of those problems and forms his channel as such.
Next we have Doc, from TX. They ask how to know what battles to pick. Dan tells a story of not speaking up and explains that you just have to stand up. Shannon explains that it's contextual and you have to assess each battle.
Rick from CA is our next caller. He has recently turned agnostic after reading the bible and finding a contradiction in exodus. Dan explains that it's not even the best example. Shannon gives her example of bible atrocities, the test for an unfaithful wife. They have a great conversation about problems in Christianity.
Dragnauct in TX is our last caller tonight. He is calling to discuss a scenario regarding his cousin relating divine intervention regarding a car accident. Dan points out that feelings aren't a reliable way of knowing. Shannon points out you can take mundane parts of an event and relate them to god, if you already have that worldview.
That is all for this week’s Truth Wanted. Check out Shannon’s work at https://www.youtube.com/shannonq
You may only know of cam girls because of internet pop-ups (we won’t tell) or bad jokes. Maybe you’ve always been curious but have held back because of money, exploitation or religious moralizing.
Well it’s 2020, working from home has become the usual and our sex worker friends are way ahead of us. Enter Saint Eve, our friendly neighborhood atheist cam girl. While she walks Christy and Vi through cam customer etiquette we’ll be getting ready to take your calls. This is the Atheist Experience Network’s Secular Sexuality on July 2nd.
► Find our beloved Saint at https://saint_eve.cammodels.com/ ► Learn more by diving deeper into the episode at https://www.vcatx.com/media/sainteve
Recommended reading from tonight’s episode-
Transgender History (Seal Studies) by Susan Stryke (https://www.amazon.com/Transgender-History-Studies-Susan-Stryker/dp/158005224X)
Redefining Realness: My Path to Womanhood, Identity, Love & So Much More by Janet Mock (https://www.amazon.com/Redefining-Realness-Path-Womanhood-Identity/dp/1476709130)
Gender Outlaw: On Men, Women, and the Rest of Us by Kate Bornstein (https://www.amazon.com/Gender-Outlaw-Men-Women-Rest/dp/1101973242)
Ethical Porn for Dicks: A Man's Guide to Responsible Viewing Pleasure by David J. Ley (https://www.amazon.com/Ethical-Porn-Dicks-Responsible-Pleasure/dp/0996485236)
Greetings Heathens! Today’s episode of Talk Heathen is brought to you by, keep wearing your masks in public, stop being selfish and wear it! You could save a loved one. Our hosts today are the dynamic duo, Eric Murphy and Vi La Bianca.
Let’s get to calls. The “first” caller is a returning caller, Father John from Canada. He wants to talk about some loopholes in the Roman Catholic doctrine surrounding the sacrament of confirmation and that Roman Catholic theology was inaccurate and Eastern Orthodox is the One True Church, um ok. The No True Scotsman fallacy and circular arguments abound!
Next up, Brad from Virginia would like to talk about how his friend has very opposing views about LGBTQ marriage/legal rights and uses whataboutism to push a dialogue and agenda. He wonders how society makes these opinions and what to do about it.
Arthur in Poland would like to hear some recommendations on how to navigate relationships with his children and family about his atheism, deconversion. He wonders how to object to baptism in a faith. Don’t wait on it Arthur, we definitely recommend possibly speaking to a secular therapist/marriage counselor about your concerns.
Evan in Ohio is calling in as a deist and a recovering Baptist. He is calling in about his sister, who is struggling with her religion and self hate in regards to LGBTQ rights. It almost sounds like she may be projecting. Evan, you can’t push her along her journey, she must come to the conclusions herself. Be there for her, listen to her, and be available to her.
Next in the queue is Tom from Missouri. He wants to talk about the historical evidence of Jesus’ resurrection. This is a great call, definitely give it a listen, there are a lot of pearls of wisdom that I didn’t capture.
Billy in North Carolina would like to talk about how atheists need to figure out how to come together, mobilize, and become activists to highlight oppression against the non-religious. We must remain intersectional and accepting of others while doing this work.
That’s our show today folks, thanks all! Be safe and healthy out there!
Today we’re joined by Justin Looney, who helps the ACA by answering the e-mails you, the fans, send us! After some regular announcements, he offers some tips about e-mailing (or voice mailing) the ACA, its shows, or members. Then off to calls!
Our first caller, Michael in Pennsylvania calls in to say he doesn't want to publicly label himself an atheist "because atheism is too close to communism." He won't budge from the position that America is inherently tied to theism due to particular words in its founding documents.
David in Mexico City wants to call nature "God" for what he claims are pragmatic reasons when talking to theists. (AKA: It's easier to talk to theists about stuff if you just say you believe in God.)
Next up, Steve in Ohio wants to bet $1,000 the following prediction is accurate: Trump will lose the election in November, refuse to give his position over in January, and become a military-backed King of the U.S...We'll see you in January, Steve.
Questions...and agreements?! Josh in Israel doesn't buy Matt's claim that Judaism wasn't originally monotheistic, and has to have it explained...and accepts the explanation, seemingly! Yay!
Comin' in hot! Chris in Tennessee assumes Matt wants Bibles removed from schools by law, not even realizing Matt actually wants Bibles and comparative religion courses in schools. The hosts also explain to Chris what the separation of church and state issues inside schools are, and what "secularists" want in that regard.
Kevin in Oregon calls in to ask about specific comments from Matt about free will. He's quickly hung up on after seemingly refusing to listen.
Here's an interesting one: Paulo in Boston has some ideas about why it is that moralities rooted in God belief are so incredibly appealing to people...and the truth is that it removes the thinking and makes morality seem easier to deal with.
Our next caller, Cory in New York supposedly has a real reason to call, but immediately shows himself to be dishonest and uninterested in listening. Through that, Matt and Justin STILL try to help him understand...and he just doesn't want to understand.
Seemingly questioning believer, Elijah in New Mexico seems to be thinking Christians don't have any hope if the resurrection myth turns up false, or if they stop believing it is true. The answer is a little more complicated than replacing faith with something else, because de-conversion is a hard, complicated process.
Our last caller, Tory in Illinois is an "ex-JW" (ex-Jehovah's Witness) who disassociated, which inside of the JW organization means his family is intended to consider him dead. This means Tory may have to accept never speaking to his family again, and the hosts go over some useful resources for Tory and ex-JWs like him.
Good evening truth seekers! Hosting today is ObjectivelyDan joined by guest Jenna H. She is a childhood friend of Dan and the artist making thumbnails for the show! How cool! They start the show catching up about growing up as christian in Waco and how they became atheist. Let's move on to the callers for tonight! First up, Katie from TX. They have been deconstructing their faith after some bad experiences in the church and a course in the old testament. While they don’t identify as christian, they are leaning toward witchcraft. Such a great call! Next up we have Brian, in TX. He is calling in to talk about an argument for god. Dan calls them definitional arguments for the existence of god. Dan points out that even though there is a possibility that there is a god, doesn’t make it true. To make arguments for god, it seems you have to strip Next we have Steph, from TX. They are calling to ask about granting moral considerations to non humans. Dan has been considering a veg/vegan path and points the lines we draw about harm are arbitrary. Jenna points out examples in nature of carnivores and a bear eating her wouldn’t be immoral. Now we have Chris from OH, he is calling in because his daughter made remarks about past lives and finds it odd that a doctor said lots of kids say that. Dan makes a point that it is mostly just stories and kids tend to have bigger imaginations than adults. Jenna thinks kids parrot adults sometimes. Next up we have Kevin, in NY. He is calling to express the validity of the bible and the curious relationship of 2nd Peter and the new testament. Dan is more interested in how to demonstrate the truth of the bible and struggles to find a point. Omniskeptic in Ontario is our last caller tonight. He mainly called in talking about ethical responsibilities of mass genocide of certain species, to reduce harm. Jenna points out that we should stay in our own lane. This was a interesting call, give it a listen! That is all for this week’s Truth Wanted. Check out Jenna’s work at https://www.instagram.com/princepsed/
It is so ordered. 5 years ago the Supreme Court ended its decision to guarantee equal marital rights to all U.S. citizens with those words. But how much really changed? In a summer where we realize the gains of 50 years ago have fallen short of true equal rights, what should our next steps be? Is it even possible to outlaw bigotry and is there anything the trans rights movement can take away from these decades long legal battles? The Atheist Experience Network’s Johnny makes a return visit, joining Vi and Christy in taking your calls and peering again at the age old question, can you legislate morality?
► Learn more and dive deeper into the episode at https://www.vcatx.com/media/obergefell
► After Bostock, We’re All Textualists Now by Ilya Shapiro https://www.cato.org/publications/commentary/after-bostock-were-all-textualists-now)
► How to Understand Your Gender by Alex Iantaffi (https://smile.amazon.com/How-Understand-Your-Gender-Practical/dp/1785927469)
► Supreme Court Delivers Major Victory To LGBTQ Employees by Nina Totenberg for NPR (https://www.npr.org/2020/06/15/863498848/supreme-court-delivers-major-victo)
► 5 Years after landmark gay marriage ruling by SCOTUS. lawyer in the case says it’s ‘gone swimmingly well’ by Randy Maniloff for American Bar Association Journal (https://www.abajournal.com/web/article/5-years-after-landmark-gay-marriage-case-mary-bonauto-says-its-gone-swimmingly-well)
Demigender is a gender identity that involves feeling a partial, but not a full, connection to a particular gender identity or just to the concept of gender. Demigender people often identify as non-binary. -Gender.Wikia.org
In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Matt Dillahunty is joined by Shannon Q. Shannon is a longtime friend of the ACA and we are glad she is joining us today! Welcome Shannon! First up we have Earl in New York, who has proof of the nephilim (aka giants.) He claims his “evidence” comes from the bible. It could be confirmation bias and very likely internet hoaxes or conspiracy theories. Shannon puts it best: “Advocate for your own understanding. Go and find your sources, seek out the information, do the research.” Will in Washington is up next, claims the ability to perceive beauty is proof and evidence of God. Will sounds a little confused about his thoughts and comes off a bit hostile. Dude, chill and maybe email us! Or not. Victor from New Mexico claims to have had a demon inside him and the only remedy was Jesus. Goes on to say that a lot of this could very well rooted in anger and hatred of others. Shannon gets to the core of his issues. And he hasn’t listened to a word Shannon has said. Sigh. Ivan in Russia is calling in to tell us that he has a message from God. The message is that God loves us, very very very much and God is Love. Also thinks God wanted him to call in to express himself and provide us this message. Shannon breaks it down for him. Joseph from Nova Scotia is wondering if both hosts are materialists. There is some philosophy in this call, listen in and watch Matt flex those amazing philosophical muscles. It’s something to behold, definitely. The last call of the episode, Sy Garte in Maryland, wants to talk about how DNA is a code (aka pseudoscience) and this is the atheist view. He goes on to say that Atheist activists/influencers should use their clout to downplay memes and pseudoscience. Ok, cool, lets add that to their already busy schedules. Thanks for tuning in folks, Shannon Q will be back, yay! Stay safe out there folks, we’ll see you all next week!
Good morning Heathens and Happy Father’s day to all you dads out there. I hope you all are having a great day so far. Vi and Eric are back and ready to take your calls. Let’s get to calls. The first caller is Nindo from New York. Eric calls him a “Fan Favorite,” yikes LOL. This time Nindo thinks atheism is a worldview and has nothing to do with the truth. He’s coming in hot and Eric consistently tells him to calm down and answer his questions. He consistently doesn’t. Next up, Hadi from North Carolina would like to continue to talk about faith and truth from the Muslim perspective. He called last week and it was a nice and refreshing conversation. Wonder how this time will go? Michael in New York is next, wanting to talk about the definitions of faith and uses the analogy of fishing. Is this a gish/fish gallop? Martin in Ecuador is confused. He wonders if Jesus really existed or if it was the Romans that created him. Eric breaks it down for him and provides a small history lesson. Kevin in New York is up next, he is a returning caller usually calling with a plethora of different topics. Vi pins him down to staying on the topic that has been discussed before. He agrees to talk about Angels, Planet X/Wormwood, and Black Holes. Dean in North Carolina has a question. How skeptical is too skeptical in regards to epistemology. Interesting question… That’s our episode today folks, please continue to be safe out there. The world is definitely a better place with you in it. We are happy to be here for you and be a positive part of your world. See you all next week!
Good evening truth seekers! Hosting today is ObjectivelyDan joined by guest Neil the 604 Atheist! Neil is a return guest, last time we had some technical difficulties so we wanted him back. Neil is rocking a Truth Wanted shirt, such a cool cat. Check out Talk Heathen Let's move on to the callers for tonight!
First up, Steph from TX. They are calling in about Gender Abolitionism, where some people advocate that gender roles are harmful. Dan doesn't want to take away Transgender folks gender identity and Neil points out that we should accept whatever gender identity.
Next up we have Emry, in VA. Welcome to Truth Wanted. They call to ask if Canada should be a republic. He says that if so, Neil could run for Prime Minister. Neil graciously says no. Dan points out Canadian politics aren't his thing.
Uh oh look out, our own Derek Hawke! Is he calling to troll or does he have a topic on deconversion stories? There is no way to sum up this call, just listen to its entirety.
Next up, we have Jimmy from TX, he is calling in about how Truth Wanted interprets evidence of god. Neil points out we are empirical when it comes to the evidence. The conversation moves into meditation from there. Neil has had a conversation with Jimmy before, this must be round 2.
Next up we have Sara from Idaho. She called in saying after some therapy she isn't fully convinced anything is real or a part of her mental illness. Dan asks if this is more like solipsism. While we can’t convince you that we aren't brains in a vat, there is something to reality..
Andrew in OH is our last caller tonight. He thinks The New England Dark Day was from god because of the book of Matthew and ...thallus? Neil points out it was a natural event. Dan shows that since the bible said a day would be dark, doesn't mean this was from god.
That is all for this week’s Truth Wanted. Check out Neil the 604 Atheist at https://www.youtube.com/Neilthe604atheist
Trystan Reese damn near broke the internet when he chose to speak publicly with CNN, VICE and The Washington Post (among dozens of others) about his pregnancy. As a gay trans man and a public figure Trystan’s Collaborative Consulting provides training and support on trans inclusion, racial justice and other issues plaguing our workplaces, marketplaces and forums. Join Vi, Sera and Christy as we watch last week’s interview with Trystan and try to make sense of trans safety and acceptance during this summer of change.
00:05:30 - Interview With Trystan Reese 00:39:07 - Johnathan - AL - Confused About Sexuality 00:53:32 - Godless - NY - Supreme Court Decision On Equal Rights Amendment 01:00:37 - Leigh NJ - Discussing Gay Couples Vs Straight Couples 01:12:11 - Brutus - MN - Toxic Masculinity And Role Confusion
►Find even more resources and dive deeper into the episode at https://www.vcatx.com/media/trystanreese
►Learn more about Trystan and Collaborative Consulting (https://trystanreese.com/)
►Hear more of Trystan’s story from The Moth (https://themoth.org/stories/pregnant-man)
►Contact the TransLifeline at 877 565-8860 (https://www.translifeline.org/)
In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Matt Dillahunty is joined by Lloyd Evans. Welcome back to the co-host chair Lloyd, I quite enjoyed your last appearance on the show and have since added ‘an onslaught of nutters’ to my lexicon.
Let’s get to calls. The first caller is Dave in Austria. He would like to invite us to question slavery in a different way, one that shifts the question. Matt has OPINIONS about this. Next up, Sawyer from Australia would like to talk about becoming an atheist activist after leaving Jehovah’s Witnesses. Lloyd has a fantastic perspective and whether this is the right path for him.
Kevin in Arizona claims Matt has a flaw in reasoning on whether it was rational to believe in god. He also says essentially god exists beyond our reality. “I have a cognitive bias and I don’t care if it’s flawed or an argument for personal experience.” Sigh.
Douglas in Georgia is up next wanting to prove the existence of a soul. He talks about the argument for the existence of a soul and that a soul is possible in a logical sense. Lets see how this plays out...
Malcolm is calling from California. He has NEW evidence for the existence of god. Lloyd is skeptical. Malcolm claims: a species that at one time that looked like a snake or eel carries the proof and meaning of god. Oh and pronunciation, linguistics, and patterns!
Nathan in Idaho is seeking help, he ran away from his religious home and is concerned about his brother. Lloyd recommends being very cautious about this and to tread lightly with this situation.
Next up, condescending Kevin in Oregon has questions about infinity and it sounds like he wants to catch Matt in a conundrum. Good luck with that Kevin.
Justin in Minnesota, has the evidence for Demons. It was in Time Magazine! There was a study measuring brain waves and prints. Every individual has a unique brain print under normal circumstances. EXCEPT when they think are possessed. Um, how does this prove the supernatural?
Chris in Idaho, there are derivatives of god’s nature all around us, in us, and proves his existence. The problem is that this depends on a belief in god. But we don’t, so how does this work? Why should we believe it?
Andy in New Mexico used to be an atheist, did some drugs, and is now a hard solipsist. He also claims to be a deist and possibly believes in all gods because of his experiences on drugs.
Carlos in Peru would like to talk about a specific argument they saw in a video. The argument they are wanting to talk about is the argument from contingency.
Up next, Sebastian in Belgium. Has noticed himself being more and more of an angry atheist and would like to figure out how to be more calm.
Greg in Ohio doesn’t agree with Matt on the general goal of life. What reason do we have that there is any life goal generally?
Kim in California would like our opinion on a couple verses talking about the creation of Israel being formed is a prophecy and Damascus is a pile of ruin. Except Israel is not a prophecy and Damascus is a thriving city.
That’s our show folks! See you next week!
Good Morning Heathens, in today’s episode of Talk Heathen, Vi La Bianca is joined by the wonderful and gracious Neil the 604 Atheist. Neil hosts his own YouTube show (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOkKPs3juZb9iwFn7Z29-Lw/) and has had a plethora of fantastic guests talking about their own deconversion stories there. Check them out!
Let’s get to calls. The first caller is Rachel from Australia. How do atheists respond to the “No True Scotsman fallacy” when it’s used referring to us when/if we were christians? To them, a "real christian” is possibly just someone who hasn't stopped believing. If you stop believing, you never believed in the first place.
Next up, Hadisoufi from North Carolina would like to talk about how a functional “day-to-day” god could possibly exist and it works for him. Vi asks this question very pointedly: Why would you value a conception of god if you don’t necessarily believe in a true existing god?
Kevin in New York is calling again, this time with a hypothesis about scriptures of the bible, Jesus’ life, and the Peter principle. However, Vi would like to refresh us all on his progress on the pineal gland, wormwood, and Ouija boards, topics from previous calls with him. Vi also wonders about how Kevin comes up with these quite out of the ordinary hypotheses and questions. They give him a choice, talk about previous topics or the slew of new ones. Given the choice, Kevin decides to talk about the Peter Principle and Jesus’ life. Next time Peter, we will want to talk about your progress and will hold you to it. No ifs, ands, or buts allowed.
Michael in New York would like to discuss how DMT can “show” you the metaphysical world and can prove evidence for god. Claims it is repeatable and testable because of how the drug works and it’s mind altering properties. Neil jumps in to say it’s irrelevant due to societal imprints and hallucinations can not be truth. Ooooh, this call is fantastic.
Rick in Tennessee would like to talk about the ultimate self. He describes the ultimate self being “the us that we really are, our perception/essence in being, and not what is perceived of us.” He goes on to say: “This is sooo deep it’s shallow.” and “What I am at any given moment, at the moment of being, is essentially the ultimate self.”
Chad in Nebraska recently deconverted and wonders how to give up religious prayer. That’s a great question, you can absolutely continue to internally meditate and talk through things. It can continue to be helpful. Vi says it wonderfully: Deconstructing your religion can take time. There are things that linger, and that is ok.
That’s our show for today! Thanks to all essential workers and protesters fighting the good fight! See you all next week!
I can’t tell if we’re behind on answering our emails or if time is a flat circle that no longer corresponds to common sense or basic human decency. In any case Vi and Christy answer your questions as we all look to get our bearings during these turbulent times. If you’ve written in, wanna give us a call or just need help remembering what day of the week it is the Secular Sexuality team has got you covered.
“No union is more profound than marriage, for it embodies the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice, and family. In forming a marital union, two people become something greater than once they were. As some of the petitioners in these cases demonstrate, marriage embodies a love that may endure even past death. It would misunderstand these men and women to say they disrespect the idea of marriage. Their plea is that they do respect it, respect it so deeply that they seek to find its fulfillment for themselves. Their hope is not to be condemned to live in loneliness, excluded from one of civilization’s oldest institutions. They ask for equal dignity in the eyes of the law. The Constitution grants them that right.
— Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy
►Find even more resources and dive deeper into the episode at https://www.vcatx.com/media/junemailbag
► Call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800 656-HOPE https://www.rainn.org/
► Learn more about Socratic questioning by visiting: https://streetepistemology.com/
00:??:?? – Vi & Christy On Gay Pride Month 00:06:20 – 1st Voicemail Caller – How To Talk To Loved Ones About Racism 00:11:41 – Vi & Christy On A Conversation With Johnny P About Rape 00:20:44 – Valerie – TX – Experiencing Genital Dysphoria 00:32:52 – Rachel – Australia – Any Negative Impacts Of Soft Porn 00:40:23 – Johnny – Will Same Sex Marriage Lead To Multiple Persons Marriage 00:51:48 – Tim – PA – How To come Out To Family As A Poly-amorous Gay Person 01:05:30 – Mark – Dallas – When To Tell Person You Dating About Your Atheism 01:13:50 – Eli – Canada – Partner Having Issues With His Porn Performances
Resources we mentioned:
Sex and the Constitution: Sex, Religion, and Law from America's Origins to the Twenty-First Century by Geoffrey R. Stone
The Myth of Sex Addiction by David Ley Ph.D
Sexual Intelligence: What We Really Want from Sex--and How to Get It by Marty Klein
In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Matt Dillahunty is joined by Phil Ferguson. Phil has been a long time and recurring co-host on the show. Welcome back to the co-host chair Phil! Also happy birthday Phil! Let’s get to calls. The first caller is David from Georgia. He claims that 100,000 years ago, the magnetic field was decaying and caused the Earth to… all of the what? I am not following this caller at all. Phil puts it succinctly: “Wow, that was… profound.” Next up, a different David, this time from New York would like to talk about prostitution and has reasons for believing it is morally wrong. He provides these reasons and doesn’t provide evidence or provide justification for these reasons: 1. Self value (“selling oneself”) 2. Harmful/damaging to one’s self/spiritually/psyche. It sounds more like he has a personal problem with it and seems to be projecting. Paul wants to know why atheism is a better default position than theism. It’s real simple, Paul. We have no evidence for the existence of a god (any god), much like we also have no evidence for the existence of Thor, Odin, Zeus, et cetera. Oh… here comes the argument from experience and god of the gaps. And here comes the intelligent design argument. Todd is an atheist and is wondering how to approach the argument of intelligent design provided by friends and family. ‘I don’t know’ is a legitimate answer to this sort of argument and saying so shouldn’t be seen as a weak position. Tom in Ohio, is hearing voices and claims they are mystical/natural in origin. He has heard these voices since the 70s and have increased in intensity lately. Oh, I feel for you Tom. Please seek and find the professional help you so desperately need. Pack it up folks, we are done being atheists! Miner is up next. He says the story he has is very powerful and says once people hear this story, we won’t be atheists anymore. Are you ready? His story: Some helicopters scared some bobcats off while he was playing guitar on a mountain with a friend. That’s it... Just checking, I’m still an atheist. Mallory from Oregon is up next. Recently deconverted after most of her life passionate about religion. She is having trouble finding joy or interest at the same intensity as religion anymore. Matt provides some really great advice on this. You definitely don’t have to figure this out today, best of luck! RJ claims he can prove god with the mathematical progression argument and statistics. No it won’t. He claims that static growth models and population science gives more relevance to the bible. Claims the current count of human population is impossible. You didn’t do the math right RJ. Stop Googling and go talk to anthropologists and scientists. Jesse from California claims that the brain has a high level of consciousness… then changes the subject when he is actually on air. Dude, that’s really dishonest. Next! Steve has facts and evidence to back up his opinion about god and prayer. Um, ok. How did god lead you to Daniel 8? And you’re done! That’s our show for today folks, stay safe out there! Even though it looks like the shelter-in-place orders are being lifted, please try to continue to keep yourself safe and healthy out there.
Hello Heathens! Today’s episode of Talk Heathen is brought to you by just stay safe out there friends. Eric Murphy is joined by a dear friend, Rudy Bee (aka: EXCultBaby) Welcome Rudy! The first caller is a returning caller, Nindo from New York. He is calling in to complain about his call and how he was perceived last week (and this week it seems.) He is refusing to recognize how his ideas and the way he provided them contributed to the way he was and is treated. Aw, poor baby. Next up, Joseph from Nevada would like to talk about atheist forums and how he is seen as a troll on these forums. He claims he enjoys challenging atheist worldviews and also claims “all atheists are evolutionists.” He then attempts to discredit the scientific method, evolution, and take the Richard Dawkins quote about aliens out of context. This quote again. Sigh. Rudy said it best: “Your personal incredulity does not invalidate centuries of scientific research.” Jesse would like to talk about answered prayer and miracles. Is there evidence for answered prayers? At what rate is it answered and can it be testable for evidence? Does it matter what or who one is praying to? Oh, it only works for Christians? Oof. Ray is wondering if atheists and Christians can find common ground. I would love it if that were to happen, but I’d also love it if Christians didn’t use their personal beliefs to infringe on others’ rights. Will in California would like to talk about the Unmoved Mover cosmological argument and Thomas Aquinas. There can't be an infinite regress: therefore God. Um, no. Here we go with the long-winded philosophy. Toni is calling in talking about rough times and how to get through them once you leave faith. Seek out support groups, make friends, go to conferences, find your community online, and if you can’t find a community, start one! Iif you have the time, volunteer for Recovering from Religion’s hotline project. You are not alone. https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org & https://www.seculartherapy.org/ Andy is wondering how you can falsify nonbelief. What? Is there any basis or legitimacy to belief or nonbelief? It sounds like he is trying to falsify a negative and I’m not sure if that’s how it works. The conversation moves on to solipsism. BOY! Kaitlyn is calling in about her journey and struggle getting out of religion. She is so close and Rudy recommends she read the bible without any preconceived notions and see how it really is. Kaitlyn, it takes time, you will stumble a bit and relearn some things, but it’s a journey. Best of luck to you! And that’s our show today folks!
Good evening truth seekers! Hosting today is ObjectivelyDan joined by guest Desh Amila! He has a new movie out called, Islam & The Future of Tolerance. It is about 2 people who fundamentally disagree about a very tough subject. It’s a story of how they met, where they are at now, and how to talk about difficult topics. A trailer was played on the show, you can see it at amazon, https://amzn.to/2Mvd5jw
Let's move on to the callers for tonight! First up we have Sierra from the USA. They are calling in because they feel the image of god is a snake or eel. and that saying snake in chinese is just syllables away from god. Desh points out that tonality is important in mandarin and that we know that language is manmade.
Next up we have Jen, in SC. Welcome to Truth Wanted. She is calling because her brother passed away at 5 years old. She was told it was an accident and she learned that it was a suicide. Dan points out that it's never a bad idea to see a therapist.
Jumping on over to Jeremiah in TX. He says he watches tons of debates on YouTube and puts theists on the level of flat earthers. Claims they don’t have evidence for belief and only keep it because it makes them feel well. Desh doesn't have interactions with flat earthers, lucky for him!
Last up we have Jay from UT. He calls to talk about atheists and their political leanings. From experience, he notices atheists were conservative as religious people then moved to leaning left after being an atheist.
Desh has a special announcement, his movie is included with Amazon Prime Also Desh’s next project is about politics, it's called Better Left Unsaid!
That is all for this week’s Truth Wanted. Check out Desh Amil’s Islam & The Future of Tolerance @ islammovie.org and https://amzn.to/2Mvd5jw
Vi La Bianca is joined by ACA host and co-host Johnny P. Johnny has worked behind the scenes and in front of the camera to make our shows even that much more amazing! Vi started the show off summarizing that Black Lives Matter. Tonight's topic is about Allyship and how best to educate ourselves on that topic. Johnny asks himself what can he do, what has he done lately?
The first caller we have is Laurie in Texas. She is calling to give her take on Secular Sexuality. She was working in the church up until about a month ago. WOW. She is now an atheist.They had a great conversation about past relationships and VI and Johnny had some amazing responses.
Next Vi took a chat question about consent in sex and what constitutes rape. They felt their wife used them for sex until a plan hatched. Vi gave some great advice and empathized with the person that chatted. Johnny recommended consulting an attorney in this case.
Our last caller tonight is Lisa in Alberta Canada, she is wanting to discuss the concept of white knighting and true allyship. She was in an uncomfortable situation and wonders if she has the right to be offended when someone negatively comments on homosexuality. Yes, yes, yes, yes, you have the right to be offended. Vi and Johnny responded with some great advice.
If you want to check out more videos with Johnny, check out other ACA productions such as Non Prophets, Atheist Vanguard, and Atheist Experience!!
In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Matt Dillahunty is joined by the wonderfully amazing Don Baker. Before we get to calls, we have a topic to discuss from Don: ‘Are Christians Lazy?’
Let’s get to calls. Andrew from California wants to discuss something that has never EVER been discussed on the show… Are you ready for it?
Julian from Canada would like to break down (in a nonreligious way) that a god or deity or higher power exists. Are we ready to get dizzy? When pressed on the definition of god, he responds with “god created himself and creation.”
Keyon from Utah is wondering how we had the first babies and how they came about. Ummm… they came from their moms? He also tries to argue against evolution, talk about divine human intervention through “visions” at church, and we are just denying god. Wait. what!? O.o
Caller Dave is next wanting to talk about Christian laziness with Don. This will be great! Don asks for examples he would like to talk about and Dave claims it’s the atheists’ burden to bring those examples to the table. Hmmmm… how about no, you called us... right?
Next up, David wants to convince us that the god particle actually proves god. Oh yeah David also says he's an atheist. That's a bold move, Cotton. Let's see how it plays out..
Miner in Arizona claims to have an argument against atheism. Um, ok. Go on... He claims that because there are so many people on the Earth, there has to be a god. Correlation does not equal causation and I’m not following Miner’s line of thinking. Is this an argumentum ad populum?
Oscar in Mexico would like to discuss the spiritual meaning of life if you’re an atheist. Is there a drive to do anything if there isn’t anything spiritual to inspire you? Matt tried to speak Spanish during this call!
Ben in California asks about Jesus’ existence and is wondering why Matt doesn’t claim he doesn’t exist. How will Matt handle this one?
Our last call, Cory in South Carolina believes in a god but is worried this god is an evil god. He claims he did some research and is calling back to talk to Matt and Don about what he has discovered. That’s our episode for today, please be safe and healthy out there folks. The world is way better with you in it. See you next week!
Greetings all you Heathens! Today’s Talk Heathen is brought to you by, keep wearing masks and wash your damned hands. We are hosted today by Eric Murphy and Vi La Bianca, or as I like to call them, the dynamic duo.
Let’s get to calls. The first caller is Nindo from New York. He would like to discuss the possibility of a designer god. Sorry Eric, not a designer like Chanel or Louis Vuitton. But this call has all the fallacies: Appeals from authority, fine tuning, and solipsism oh my! Next up, Joe from New York would like to talk about how he had been treated poorly by the atheist community online either in the comments for the shows (ooooof!) or by other internet show hosts. The call evolves into him asking about free will and also turns to the ‘no true Scotsman’ fallacy.
Father John from Canada is up next, he is an Eastern Orthodox Catholic and is calling in without a topic. Eric is excited and has a lot of questions about it. Starting with communal spoons in the time of COVID. “The transmission of COVID cannot happen in church…” Yikes, Father John affirmed that it can’t through the taking of communion and says it is against the faith to test the veracity of this claim.
The next caller in the queue is Caleb from Pennsylvania wanting to discuss what a good and healthy faith community looks like to atheists. As long as you don’t infringe upon others’ rights and are motivated by positive and not requiring folks to be manipulated into getting help or have prerequisite or conditional entry.
Thanks for tuning in and thank you to our essential workers, we are here for you. Please be safe and healthy out there, we as a community are better because you are in it. See you all next week.
Good evening truth seekers! Hosting today is ObjectivelyDan joined by guest Ian Harris, a skeptic, comedian and much more. He has incorporated skepticism into comedy and has noticed more people getting on board with that style of comedy! Lets get on to some callers tonight! First up we have Sierra from Michigan. She would like some advice on how to approach conversations with her step-dad regarding his conspiracy theory beliefs. For example, moon landing being faked. Dan gives some great advice! He recommends taking it slowly and looking at the specific claims in microscopic levels. What is spirit science???
Next up we have Minh, in CA. Talking about intuition in the martial arts and how it affects your epistemology of skepticism. Ian points out intuition is a learned response based on hours of practicing, trust your instincts not necessarily intuition. Jumping on over to Dylan in New Mexico. He wants to talk about the morality of adoption and how he can't see that it causes harm to humanity. He mentioned a podcast he heard about anti-natalism. Dan explained he cant speak to what the podcaster said but is willing to call into that show to talk about it!
Next up we have Kal from Arizona! He is an atheist but seems to be struggling with a theist mindset, like expecting the rapture when there is a loud sound outside. Kal recalls a story from his pastor where they were going to worship jesus for 10,000 years, take a breath, and worship for another 10,000 years. Sounds like hell to me!
Last up we have John in Oregon! John is calling to talk about the soul. Claims it is like identity with history and it's a process of our consciousness moving moment to moment. Ian makes the point that definitions matter and recommends coming up with a new word for that, not soul, would be a better idea.
That is all for this week’s Truth Wanted. Make sure to check us out on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKzYd1mJ8M1pUZ7cM1nwyPA and don’t forget to like, subscribe, and enable notifications.
ExCultBaby joins Vi and Christy to offer a public service so your non-binary and agender friends, children and co-workers don’t have to. We’re busting all the myths, breaking down the mysteries and answering all of your questions- serious, silly and sexy, all in equal measure. It’s an enby exploration of gender, culture and community on AEN’s Secular Sexuality.
Find ExCultBaby’s YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/excultbaby), twitter, instagram, tumblr and more as @ExCultBaby
Learn more about non-binary allyship and culture or dive deeper into the episode at https://www.vcatx.com/media/excultbabyenby
Items from tonight’s show-
Sissy A COMING-OF-GENDER STORY By JACOB TOBIA https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/566884/sissy-by-jacob-tobia/
In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Matt Dillahunty is joined by Johnny Angel. Welcome back to the co-host chair Johnny! We loved having you on with us a couple weeks back, glad to see you again! Let’s get to calls. The first caller in the queue is a returning caller, Javier from Florida. He would like to discuss how he had a street discussion with a preacher against theism and it had him in a bit of a fluster. It sounds like he is almost on his way out and clinging to religion it seems. Good luck to you Javier! Next up, Dormand from New Jersey claims that he can prove a god and this god is all powerful. He’s called before and we’ve gone over this before with him. But this time he claims he can prove it with mathematics and philosophy! Show your work then, I’m waiting for the equations and eventual fallacies. Nathan is up next, claiming he has good reasons to believe in god, and it’s FAITH. It’s our problem we don’t believe because we are atheists, man. C’mon dude, give us something to work with here. You’re not providing us with anything to discuss here. FYI, faith is NOT a good enough reason. David had a vision in 1994! The room turned a hue of pink and was visited by someone (maybe Jesus) who was 10 feet tall. This person spoke and he provided instructions to not cut their hair and to meet them on a mountain in 2011. Hmmm… Was it drugs and alcohol? Why didn’t he explore this further? Sounds like an argument from personal experience… What the heck is in the water in Colorado??? Next up, Zachary in Alabama wants to talk about how incorrectly atheists assess evidence and have an inherent presupposition against believing that Christianity is true. He continues to say that it is “totally true.” It isn’t true until it is proven to be true and faith on it’s own is not a reliable path to truth. Oh boy and we end on the morality of slavery, Matt’s (so not) favorite topic. Our last caller of the day, Raul from Texas. He claims he can prove intelligent design. Look at the stars, especially the constellation Orion, The Big Dipper/Ursa Major, and Scorpio! We are blind to these constellations being figures that were constructed by god. Wow! Humans time over time look for patterns and this is definitely one of those times. Sigh. Have a great week folks, we’ll see you next week!
Greetings Heathens! In today’s episode of Talk Heathen, the dynamic duo are back together again, Eric Murphy and Vi La Bianca. Like a breath of fresh air, they bring to you another wonderful episode. Let’s do this! Let’s get to calls. The first caller is Joe from Kansas. Joe is currently in a period of transition from theist to atheist, and has some lingering questions about belief in hell. Vi and Eric provide some gold standard advice in getting through this. Tom in the UK is next, calling about how he as a theist can’t understand that life as we know it is the result of something random. Sounds like the watchmaker fallacy… Hmm. Minh is calling once again, this time asking if we are ok with religion being viewed in a holistic way. Vi asks: Are there pragmatic reasons for being religious, like if it’s a good thing for one’s mental health and well being? Ooooh, Rykis is calling in after being reincarnated a few times and says his soul is 3,000 years old. Also claims to be an indigo child, a past time traveler, and is here to change the world. This one is interesting. Ends the call wanting to promote his book, NOPE! Weee! Next up, Dave in Toronto has an argument he’d like to share. He claims that using our overused and possibly bad linguistic habits can attribute agency and characteristics to current definitions. Basically redefining words such as saying the old word of nature is god. It’s an interesting concept, but not really utilized in the traditional sense of god. It doesn’t really compute. And I just wrote some word salad. Marisa is needing advice about how she has been having an argument with their therapist about her deconversion. Her therapist is continually saying their deconversion is a choice. This bias (from a possible Christian worldview) could be clouding their counseling. This seems to me to be a red flag, I’d move onto a different therapist if possible. Definitely reach out to RFR and find a new therapist who will actually listen to you: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org Andrew is calling in, claims to stir up trouble in the churches he has attended. Likes to talk to atheists about science and factual events in the bible. He is looking to start a movement, is on a “monotheistic high,” and wants to unite people. He is all over the place and it’s tough to follow, but he is entertaining. Our last caller of the day, Nick asks where do we draw the line at bad thoughts and protecting people from religion? Eric responds: “People are different from their beliefs, respect the person, dismantle or challenge the idea.” Thanks for tuning in folks, please be safe and healthy. We need you around! See you all next week!
Good evening truth seekers! Our host today is ObjectivelyDan joined by guest Gutsick Gibbon (aka Erika!). Erika kicks off the show with a fascinating summary of what she does, she studies anthropology and goes on to talk about human evolution, the depth of the other hominids, consciousness, and much more! Jumping into calls, first up we have Jeff from California, wanting to know if we should pose challenges to meditation or buddhist “woo”? Next up we have Zac, from London! Zac is wondering how people who don’t have a belief in god have morals. Erika makes a great point about how our primary ideas of “morality” are consistent amongst other cultures, other religious beliefs, and even other primates! Jumping to AZ, from Texas! From San Antonio, wondering if the stereotype of Texas being extremely conservative and Christian is starting to go away. Are people becoming more secular? Next up we have Jacob from New York! He wants to talk about how we got here, but now why. They dive into quantum mechanics, laws of physics, and big bang. Last up we have Ben from Texas! Ben wants to ask about how veganism ties into anthropology and evolution. While this is a difficult question, morals certainly play a role. They hosts tackle this question from a number of different angles. Find Gutsick Gibbon at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJNcAH2yzV3VAMYIGxCZ8_w/about
The voice of Secular Sexuality, Eric Murphy, brings back the sultry tones of an Atheist Experience Network mainstay. He, Vi and Christy come together to tackle the topic of toxicity in American masculinity, talking out the do’s, don’ts and don’t even’s of the modern man. Join us as we work towards understanding how to be better men, how to better root out toxic influences and build a better world.
Find Eric and Vi on Talk Heathen every Sunday at 1p CT (https://www.youtube.com/talkheathen)
Eric’s many links include- 📺 http://www.Youtube.com/ericdmurphy 💰 http://www.Paypal.me/ericdmurphy 📖 http://www.Facebook.com/Thedirtyheathen 🔥 http://www.Twitter.com/DirtyHeathen 🎮 http://www.Twitch.tv/erictheheathen http://www.Youtube.com/TalkHeathen 📸 http://www.Instagram.com/erictheheathen 🎙 http://www.Theatheistpodcast.com
Learn more about safety cues and toxic masculinity by diving deeper into the episode at https://www.vcatx.com/media/trolling
In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Jenna Belk is joined by Anthony Magnabosco. Here’s his channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/magnabosco210/ and here is his website: https://streetepistemologyinternational.org/ Ready for round two Anthony? We are so glad you are here. It should be a good show! Let’s get to calls. The first caller is Trudy from Texas. She is all over the place on this call and super difficult to follow; babies are miracles, she has an Atheist best friend, she experienced an NDE. Listen in and challenge yourself to figuring out what her point is because I’m totally lost. Next up, Debbie in New England is calling in with her son Eric who was on a mission trip in Australia and is now home. He was encouraged to call in with his mom as an update from their last call. He talks about his reconversion and his experience within the LDS church. He was convinced of these two things: The LDS church and their message/teachings made sense and was appealing to him. Ooooh boy. Adam calls in saying he is about to be kicked out of his home due to watching the ACA shows. Our hearts go out to you Adam, please stay safe and take care of yourself first, then work on coming out. Also, please reach out to the Recovering from Religion, they may have some great resources for you. Jack is coming in hot with a huge amount of claims about the Bible, Jesus is real, Evolution is false and we Atheists are wrong. Dodging and deflecting left and right. We first try to establish who is an expert and Anthony tries to figure out his confidence level on his “studies.” We dropped the call because Jack refused to listen and have a dialogue. Call back (or don’t) when you’ve calmed down. And NO, we aren’t scared, you didn’t “own” us, and you didn’t provide anything close to a good argument. Next up, Jack in London claims that truth is something we experience first hand, and belief is something we don’t but we think it to be true without evidence. Umm… I’m a bit lost here. That doesn’t sound quite right. Dean in North Carolina ponders the strengths and weaknesses of street epistemology. The strength that Anthony could see is that it is something that everyone can use. A weakness in this method is two willing participants. If one isn’t willing to interact in this way, it can become a difficult conversation. That’s all folks for today! Thanks for tuning in, stay safe and healthy out there!
Greetings Heathens! In today’s episode of Talk Heathen, Vi La Bianca is joined by Anthony Magnabosco. Welcome Anthony! It’s great to have you with us today. You can find Anthony on his channel here: https://www.youtube.com/user/magnabosco210/ Let’s get to calls. The first caller is Nicholas. His wife recently passed and is wondering how to keep the memory of his wife alive for their daughter. He is also trying to figure out how best to mourn her passing and what is acceptable for him and his daughter. We are so sorry Nicholas, please definitely reach out to the Secular Therapy Project and Grief Beyond Belief if you need help https://www.seculartherapy.org/ and http://griefbeyondbelief.org/ Next up, Shawn from Minnesota would like to talk about how religion is a social construct and what is wrong with understanding that? He goes on to talk about instead of battling for his position, he’d like to approach it more of a reasonable and rational person would. That can be helpful, but I’d also ask this: Why are you getting value out of this belief rather than other places. The following caller Kevin from New York wants to claim that the pineal gland in the brain proves a soul. For those interested, from Wikipedia, the pineal gland produces melatonin, a serotonin-derived hormone which modulates sleep patterns in both circadian and seasonal cycles. Vi asks the all important question, where is the evidence the pineal gland also produces a soul? And how do eyes play a part in this proof? HUH? I got lost completely. The next caller in the queue is Adrian in Texas wanting to discuss how science proves a designer God and lists off a couple scientific facts and discoveries that prove this, except they don’t. He includes in this list, the axial tilt of the Earth, the Moon, and evidence of design all around us. Oh boy. Next up, Clear as Crystal is a theist after being an atheist for a time. Claims that they have trouble with evolution and humans just can’t seem to get it together without a looming and helicopter parent/God. Evolution without God isn’t good enough for me, so there must have been an authority figure of some sort. She also had a tough time and claims it was God that got her through it. Actually, Crystal, that was you getting through it and you are stronger than you give yourself credit for. That’s the episode for today! Stay safe and healthy folks! See you next week!
Hello Seekers of Truth! Our cohost for tonight is Katy Montgomerie. Katy is a trans rights activist with incredible musical talent. You can find her on Twitter: https://twitter.com/KatyMontgomerie/media or on her YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3CVggxIzAo7xxq5oeQ4vZg/featured
Our first caller is Daniel from Canada, who wants to talk about alien abductions. Could alien technology be so advanced that it appears to be magic, making experience with extraterrestrials unprovable by our current means?
Next up is Zack from the UK, who wants to talk about the difference between knowing things to be true and believing things to be true. What even is the definition of truth? Next, we have Tim from Arizona, who wants discuss legal discrimination against LGBT+ people in America. How many problematic laws and institutions are currently being overlooked?
Then we have Nick from Wisconsin, whose family believes in pseudoscience. How should you discuss sensitive opinions with others? Last but not least, we have Kyle from Virginia, who wants to know how best to approach a conversation with someone who holds religion-related transphobic views. What do you say to someone who considers transgenderism to be a mental illness?
We have a great show in store tonight, so be sure to tune in!
ACA standout and Atheistasis Jenna Belk comes back to the show in order to embrace life’s one constant- Change. Jenna will be walking us through some of the changes in her own life regarding all things secular and sexual, as well as discuss some tips on how to navigate change in relationship.
Join us as our guests, callers and hosts discuss communication, growth and acceptance as we embrace life, love and a smattering of romance.
If you are interested in learning more about Jenna’s work, watch her on YouTube by visiting for Atheist Experience (https://www.youtube.com/TheAtheistExperience) and Atheistasis (https://www.youtube.com/jennabelk).
Welcome back to The Atheist Experience! Today’s show is hosted by Matt Dillahunty & Shane Isgrig. We have a little pre-show chatter, but most important is we have Secular Survey results! https://www.secularsurvey.org/executive-summary
Charles is curious whether our hosts accept any sort of supernatural phenomenon, then explains that God is as clear as the cause of a scraped knee!
David wants to talk about Aristotle’s reason for believing in God, assuming we care specifically about Aristotle’s opinion.
Andre has an argument from quantum mechanics. The call ends quickly and Matt and Shane discuss these odd “proofs for God” from quantum mechanics.
What an interesting follow up from quantum gods. Michael says God exists, doesn’t exist, is mathematics, and is reality. Uh...what?!
Brian believes Matt’s position on how likely a god is to exist changed, and Matt clarifies this misunderstanding of his own positions.
Glenn says the whole show is pointless, because God doesn’t exist and no one will ever call in with evidence of God!
Vladimir has proven God: a creation needs a creator. He’s got us. Pack it up.
Matt in Indiana has an equation that MAY prove god, he thinks. I have an idea on which side of “MAY” the answer will end up.
Kanyon is saying she’s had a lot of unexplained things happen to her, and for that reason she thinks “something” must be behind it.
Daniel in Toronto insists that, since there are so many alien abduction stories, some of them must be true! He also says that there is evidence of alien technology on earth. Ooh, aah!
That’s our show today! If you want to support the show you can check out https://www.patreon.com/theatheistexperience for a monthly subscription to podcasts with NO ADS, or https://tiny.cc/aenmerch for ACA merch! Matt is on Twitter @Matt_Dillahunty and Shane is on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/user/shanemysterio).
Greetings Heathens and happy mom’s day to all those mothers out there. Today Eric Murphy is joined by our dear friend Dragnauct Sylvas! Welcome back Drag, it’s good to see you!
Let’s get to calls. The first caller is Gullapalli from Illinois. He is curious about whether or not the idea of a God is important. The conversation evolves whether religion is motivated by money and the economy. He then begins to argue for the usefulness of religion.
Next up, Paster Cole from North Carolina would like to talk about a previous episdode’s call about abortion and how he has problems with the idea that we should defer the conversation about abortion to folks with uteruses. Ooooof, this is a horrible call to make on Mother’s Day, I definitely think that was on purpose and definitely tone deaf. This is a live one folks, listen in for the rambling and a lot of gish gallops from Cole. The following caller named Ellen from Michigan has some questions about human evolution and blood types for Drag. I understand some of the science explained, and this is fascinating. Tune in for some quick science talk!
The next caller in the queue is Adam from Florida who is wondering how to approach his wife’s more fervent belief after reading the Bible. He isn’t sure how to proceed. We definitely think going to couples’ counseling would be helpful in your situation. Next up, Kathy in Pennsylvania would like to talk about sins, the afterlife, and punishment for those sins committed in this life. Her connection wasn’t great, hopefully she calls back!
Afterwards we have David from Israel. He would like to talk about the tri-omni Abrahamic God and how it’s preposterous. He sounds angry and possibly trying to look at this logically and rationally, maybe he needs a cookie.
Kathy in Pennsylvania would like to discuss hellfire and damnation for finite sins during this life. Anxiety, fear, and rumination of this also isn’t fair to the life you’re living now. Kathy would benefit from reaching out to folks at Secular Therapy Project: https://www.seculartherapy.org/ and the Recovering from Religion: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/ to deal with her religious trauma. Our last caller of the day, Jesse in New Jersey has a question for Drag. He is wondering if the Ashkenazi Jews became a genetic trait or disposition for the Jewish faith due to their isolation and location. It’s an interesting topic, and Drag explains the science debunking it really well!
That’s the show today folks, please continue being safe, healthy, and we’ll see you all next time. Love to you all!
Call the show Fridays 7-8:30pm CT at 1-512-991-9242
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WHAT IS TRUTH WANTED?
Truth Wanted is a show about getting to the bottom of beliefs, whether it’s karma or Christ, Bigfoot or crystals. Truth Wanted would like to know how you know it’s true. Hosted by ObjectivelyDan, Truth Wanted takes calls from the community (that means YOU!) and features new guests every week, emphasizing thorough conversations over name-calling and scoffing (most of the time). Truth Wanted focuses on how and why people believe what they believe, and how you can talk about beliefs in more effective ways. Join us for truth investigations and lively conversations every Friday at 7:00pm CT!
The Atheist Community of Austin is organized as a nonprofit educational corporation to develop and support the atheist community, to provide opportunities for socializing and friendship, to promote secular viewpoints, to encourage positive atheist culture, to defend the first amendment principle of state-church separation, to oppose discrimination against atheists and to work with other organizations in pursuit of common goals.
We define atheism as the lack of belief in gods. This definition also encompasses what most people call agnosticism.
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Thumbnail artwork by: https://www.instagram.com/princepsed
Intro Music: Cold Funk - Funkorama by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0) Artist: http://incompetech.com/
Copyright © 2020 Atheist Community of Austin. All rights reserved.
Tonight's episode features Christy, Serafina and the mysterious Mr. F exploring the dangers and damages of the Church of Latter Day Saints. Mr. F, a volunteer with Dr. Ray’s Recovering From Religion foundation, shares his story of leaving Mormonism behind while guiding others along the path to freedom.
If you are interested in learning more about recovering from religion you can find them at https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/
Learn more about the struggle out of Mormonism and find support or dive deeper into the episode at https://www.vcatx.com/media/mrf
Read the CES Letter at https://cesletter.org/CES-Letter.pdf
Find the Naked Mormon Podcast at https://nakedmormonismpodcast.com/
Secular Sexuality show is LIVE every Thursday from 7:00 to 8:30pm Central Time
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► A very helpful Sex-Positive Glossary to help understand the show topics is available here: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/living-single/201704/60-sex-relevant-terms-you-may-not-know-and-why-you-should
WHAT IS SECULAR SEXUALITY?
Secular Sexuality is a weekly call-in television show in Austin, Texas talking about sex from a secular perspective. Sex and sexuality are natural to all living creatures but religion takes this and twists it into something awful and to be ashamed of.
Acceptance, education, and fun is what we strive for. We lay the intersection of sex and religion (and occasionally ourselves) bare, openly and honestly. We discuss a wide range of topics each week, removing the shame and reclaiming what has been natural to us all along.
Secular Sexuality was founded by sex coach Dr. Darrel Ray, author of “Sex & God”. He is a founder and active contributor to the Secular Therapist Project and the Recovering From Religion Foundation.
“Secular Sexuality” is produced by, and is a trademark of, the Atheist Community of Austin.
The Atheist Community of Austin is organized as a nonprofit educational corporation to develop and support the atheist community, to provide opportunities for socializing and friendship, to promote secular viewpoints, to encourage positive atheist culture, to defend the first amendment principle of state-church separation, to oppose discrimination against atheists and to work with other organizations in pursuit of common goals.
We define atheism as the lack of belief in gods. This definition also encompasses what some people may call agnosticism.
VISIT THE ACA'S OFFICIAL WEB SITES
► http://www.atheist-community.org (The Atheist Community of Austin)
The views and opinions expressed by hosts, guests, or callers are their own and not necessarily representative of the Atheist Community of Austin.
Copyright © 2018-2020 Atheist Community of Austin. All rights reserved
Hosts: Denis Loubet, Jim Barrow, & Johnny P Angel
Email: radio@atheist-community.org Facebook: facebook.com/groups/ACAProductions Patreon: patreon.com/TheNonProphets
News: Are Church Shutdowns Legal Or Gross Infringements On Religious Freedom? By William Duncan, in The Federalist - April 23, 2020 Link: https://thefederalist.com/2020/04/23/are-church-shutdowns-legal-or-gross-infringements-on-religious-freedom/
"...authorities are shutting down churches, and pastors are being arrested. What does the law say about all of this? ...religious freedom is being tossed around... Some defiant pastors have held large gatherings, while some government officials have threatened to permanently close churches that won’t comply with stay-at-home orders."
News: Anti-vaxxers will fight the eventual coronavirus vaccine. Here’s how to stop them. By Jennifer Reich and Alan Levinovitz, in Washington Post - April 29, 2020 Link: https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2020/04/29/anti-vaxxers-will-fight-eventual-coronavirus-vaccine-heres-how-stop-them/
"Central to our hope of returning to life as normal is the possibility of a vaccine against SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that is causing covid-19...It seems as if everyone would be on board...Yet the race for a vaccine and the techniques being used to manufacture it are bound to activate some familiar fears."
VANGUARD VIDEO AND DISCUSSION
"David" with The Last Reformation, "casting out demons", protecting people from coronavirus
Email: From T.Radecki of Atheistisch Verbond ("Atheist Covenant"), The Netherlands
"The subject (of metaphysics) mainly keeps popping up in conversations with my catholic uncle...Asking him if he considers paranormal or supernatural things as part of metaphysics...It looks like he claims victory over 'materialism' because he can point to things like feelings and platonic concepts and the sorts."
"Prolegomena to Any Future Metaphysics" by Immanuel Kant, published 1783 Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prolegomena_to_Any_Future_Metaphysics
Email: From Chuck, AZ
"When theists are asked, 'who made God?', an often used response is 'God is a necessary being.' Why does no one ever ask, 'who designed necessity?' If God is the designer of all things, he must have designed the need for himself. This seems like circular reasoning. Or is he just lucky that necessity works as it does?"
======== Topics cut for time ========
News: From "flat Earth" to climate change denial, kids are deluged with fake science. Now teachers are fighting back. By Ines Novacic / CBS News - March 5, 2020 Link: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/flat-earth-climate-change-conspiracies-students-teachers-war-on-science-cbsn-originals/
"To combat misinformation online and help teachers who don't have easy access to professional development for teaching climate change and evolution, the National Center for Science Education launched a program designed to promote effective science communication skills."
News: The Untold Truth: Control or Destroy?, part 1 of 3 By Joy Kuo, www.cultscults.com ( Education on Cults and Undue Influence Sponsored by Thinking Agenda, LLC) Link: https://cultscults.com/2019/03/12/the-untold-truth-control-or-destroy%ef%bb%bf/
"Several years ago I...joined Kosmic Fusion...and (I went) from being a caring and innocent individual...to be this beat-down girl that is scared of everything...share my story here."
Greetings Heathens! We hope you are doing well while still in lock-down, today we have a dear friend on the show, Dave Warnock! He has truly inspired a great number of us, including me, the show writer/archivist. We love Dave and we are so glad to have him on the show again today! Let’s get to calls. The first one is a returning caller, Corey from South Carolina. He called in last week talking about how prayer works and is evidence of God and returns this week to ask a poignant question about how to live together (Atheists and Theists) in harmony. (He also lets us know that he is doing some research on his call from last week. Great job Corey!) Next up, Michael from Florida would like to talk about how he is questioning his faith as a Seventh Day Adventist. He goes on to ask what the Atheist view on prophecy is. Eric responds: “If we look at prophecy after the fact, how do we know it wasn’t just made up?” Kevin has called us back and he has more proof of demons! He is saying an ancient text convinced him that demons absolutely exist. Kevin goes on to say that our times show that demons exist, it’s a cop out though and externalizes the blame that should be on us. We are responsible for our own behavior and we should be held accountable for it. After Kevin, we have Adrian. He believes in a designer God because of evidence that was left behind. Evidence is a singular point of data that proves one thing vs. another. So PROVE IT Adrian! Bring your best evidence to the table, he also does try to prove the hollow moon hypothesis. Spoiler alert, he doesn’t prove anything. This is a crazy call… the goalposts keep moving, I’m getting dizzy. Our last caller of the show, Paige in Indiana is wondering if having belief is ok if you receive positive reinforcement from said belief. They are a scientologist and claims they have gotten positive benefit from these beliefs. Dave responds “Me thinking it’s true and beneficial, doesn’t make it true, and beliefs can potentially become devastating.” Wow, this one is interesting. Stay safe, stay healthy and we’ll see you next time heathens!
Welcome back to The Atheist Experience! Today’s show is hosted by Matt Dillahunty with guest Dave Warnock. Dave is an ex-pastor turned atheist who was recently diagnosed with ALS, a terminal illness. He now travels the world talking to interested groups about dying as an atheist, embracing life’s “moments,” all wrapped up in one statement: Dying Out Loud. (https://www.daveoutloud.com/) Dave also advocates death with dignity, which allows those with conditions like his to choose when they’re ready to go, when they have had enough pain.
Javier wants to know what Dave and Matt think about the concept that religious leaders often are the catalysts of religious followers losing their faith.
Marcus claims to have a syllogism that proves theists and atheists are just as rational as one another. He then explains that a bad argument isn’t necessarily one that leads to a wrong answer, as if we didn’t already know and say that on this show...constantly.
David calls in to ask Dave a specialised question: What should I do to prepare my religious family for my death? Dave gives a recommendation toward the Final Exit Network (https://finalexitnetwork.org/).
Amanda was adopted, and her biological older brother recently found her. Since then, that part of her family has been seemingly trying to convert and question her, and she’s wondering how to have these conversations without “scaring them off.”
Will in Florida calls to ask if it makes sense to be a theist who believes in evolution...then asks if he should believe in god. What answer was he expecting?
Richard starts off by asking what counts as “you?” He then stretches this out to mean that somehow one human is humanity.
That’s our show today! If you want to support the show you can check out https://www.patreon.com/theatheistexperience for a monthly subscription to podcasts with NO ADS and other fun goodies, or https://tiny.cc/aenmerch for merch from all of the ACA’s shows! Matt is on Twitter @Matt_Dillahunty, and Dave is there @dwwarnock. Thanks for watching/listening!
Welcome back to Truth Wanted! Today’s guest hosts are David Amsel and Nicole Seeley! David and Nicole are Soka Gakkai Buddhists and are here to discuss those beliefs!
Our first caller, David, draws on his memories of learning comparative religions, and asks if Buddhism is just a belief in reincarnation. This leads to a broader discussion that gives you an even better idea of David and Nicole’s flavor of Buddhism than the intro!
Dolly Llama calls to return to a throwback...Tooth Wanted! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwk4P5P9PFo See, we recently had a caller explaining what his dad did to him when he was younger to cause him to believe in the tooth fairy. Well, Dolly did a few experiments and has some ideas for us!
After some further discussion of Buddhism and light technical issues, Josh in Reno, home of the world’s best police force, asks our guest hosts why their religion’s chanting is any different from simple repeated mantras into a mirror, and they respond with some thoughts about religion as an individual experience. Do you agree with them?
“Apatheism” is the attitude of not caring if a god exists or not. It isn’t necessarily attached to whether you believe in a god...but a theist apatheist would certainly be interesting. Joseph in Maryland wants to discuss apatheism, and Buddhism’s relation to god claims.
The show continues to be about definitions of Buddhism! Adam in Canada asks if Buddhism counts as a religion, or if the idea of it being a religion attaches too much baggage.
That’s our show today! If you want to support the show you can check out https://www.patreon.com/truthwanted for a monthly subscription to podcasts with NO ADS and other fun goodies, or https://tiny.cc/aenmerch for merch from all of the ACA’s shows! Hosts and guests can be found on Twitter @ObjectivelyDan and @OfficialSGIUSA. Thanks for watching/listening!
Today we’re going to be talking about respecting other people’s sexual choices, and how to embody sex positivity. Join Vi, Christy, and returning special guest Marie D’Elephant of the Everyone’s Autonomous podcast to discuss celebrating each other’s right to boink.
If you are interested in learning more about Marie’s work, follow her at:
www.everyonesautonomous.com www.Mariedelephant.com
Find some of our favorite sex positive media or a dive deeper into the episode at www.vcatx.com/media/positivemarie
Greetings Heathens! So much has happened since we were last together. Giving us all structure and a good start to our week, Eric and Vi are back again this week! Our dynamic duo remotely comes together every Sunday though to bring you more Talk Heathen, and we love them for it! First up, we have Corey from South Carolina. He posits that coincidences, fate, and historical events that repeat themselves prove God. Claims that 9-11 and cancer are related in some way. Careful Corey, you’re getting into conspiracy theory and anecdotal evidence territory... Next up, Tom in California is wondering how to offer condolences to Atheists who have lost loved ones. Eric and Vi both say “What can I do, what do you need from me, and how can I help you through this?” Please avoid saying “They are in a better place or you will be reunited when you pass.” John in Georgia called in to talk about how babies in the bible were killed, that it was ok because God, and they were sent immediately to Hell. Ooooof. This call might be a bit wild… Seth is calling from Texas asking about and wanting to discuss bodily autonomy and a possible counter argument. Also wondering about the morality of abortion. Vi asks all the important questions and puts it into perspective for him. Chewy in Tennessee is next up asking about how secular and non-religious communities can have the same togetherness as theist communities. He is surprised to find out there are a lot of communities that come together to help each other. It’s not just a religious thing, it’s a human thing. Perry and Holly are calling in to let us know how grateful they are for Talk Heathen and the ACA community. Our community is amazing because folks like you are in it! Kevin in New York claims the undiscovered Planet X is proof of God. Science Fiction be damned! It has a very large orbit, therefore God. WHAT?? He goes on to say that “every time it swings by, it causes strange natural things to occur here on Earth.” Again WHAT??? Our next caller, Devon in Nebraska, is questioning faith and is wondering about the best methods to letting go of religious teaching. They’ve called into AXP before and are looking to continue the conversation. Joshua from Canada is concerned about the indoctrination experienced by being a Jehovah’s Witness. He is completely despondent and very regretful of his past. There are a lot of resources out there, especially for ex-JWs. Lloyd Evans: https://www.youtube.com/user/johncedars1929 and Telltale: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgIi12EA6BQ8HKL8QUccsOQ We are here for you Joshua. Thanks for tuning in folks, that’s all we have for today! We’ll see you next week. Stay healthy, stay home, and thanks to all the essential workers out there!
Greetings folks! Today’s episode of the Atheist Experience is brought to you by, I can’t think of anything clever to say, so it’s brought to you by virtual hugs. Virtual Hugs to all! Today’s episode of the Atheist Experience is, Matt Dillahunty and Jenna Belk. It’s going to be a great show! Let’s get to calls. Our first caller is Bug from Texas. He wants to discuss how he is convinced there is no deity helping us make our decisions. He also rambles a bit and it was difficult to really follow what the topic was, but he seems very sincere. Good luck to you Bug! Next up, Phillip from Florida would like to speak about “the Absence of God Paradox”, claiming if there are no divine laws, God doesn’t exist, and religion is wrong. That’s not a paradox though? The following caller is Javier from Florida. What is going on in Florida?… don’t answer that! He posits that the foundation for morality is subjective. Matt then says “There is no objective reason to care about well-being, nor what you think your God wants.” Pretty quick call, but good. The next caller in the queue is Ernesto from Georgia wanting to discuss his questioning of his faith. He is trying to understand and how to better communicate with his significant other about how he feels about where he is. Next up, Amene in Texas advocates for the God of the Old Testament. Ok, and... What’s your point? Having a bunch of people believe it isn’t enough of a reason to believe in a God. Afterwards we have Hunter from Texas. He wonders about having to give a religious eulogy. He is expected to give one for family. It’s up to him to decide on how open he is with his Atheism to his family. Perhaps Recovering from Religion would be most helpful. https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/ Our last caller of the day, Wilbur in New York would like to discuss how people experience the Holy Spirit and possibly how folks in crowds may feel a certain way due to collective delusion. But there can be euphoria with all sorts of things that aren’t religious. Jenna, you are wonderful! Matt you are fantastic! The crew is amazing! The ACA is here to give you structure by producing our shows remotely for you to enjoy, and we appreciate all of you! Stay healthy, stay home, and wash your hands.
Good evening Seekers of Truth! Our guest for today is Reverend Raul Antony from the Church of Satan. Raul is a director at Radio Free Satan and host of Chaos Sedated, a podcast which delves into post-industrial music. Additionally, Raul is an editor and journalist at Heathen Harvest, a periodical focused on post-industrial underground and relative philosophy, history, spirituality, politics and culture. You can find Raul at his website https://invisible-war.net/ or on Twitter: https://twitter.com/InvisibleWar Our first caller of the night is Phoenix from Texas. He wants to discuss “chaos magic,” as was discussed last week when a self-proclaimed practitioner called in. Our next caller is Tom from Tennessee, who wants to find accurate sources about Satanism as opposed to common media portrayals. What is it that Satanists really believe – do they actually worship the Devil? How about magic? Next on the line is Tymm from Washington. He wants to discuss the parallels of Satanic principles with humanist and Christian sentiments. Can a Christian still personally identify with aspects of Satanic philosophy? Finally, Jason from Montana calls in to discuss electric vehicles, climate change, and potential solutions to environmental concerns. Tonight’s episode is a blast, so be sure to tune in!
Todays Topic: Sci-Fi & The Cis Gaze Hello and welcome to Secular Sexuality, the ACA show that goes where no one has gone before. Joining me as always is our resident sexpert Christy Powell, and this week I’m incredibly excited to be guest hosting with Jessie Gender. Jessie’s YouTube channel uses geek and pop culture to talk about social, political, and topical issues, and is part of my steady diet, especially when it comes to two of my favorite topics: gender and Star Trek. She also has been recently published in an anthology of essays called Navigating Trans and Complex Gender Identities which she wrote with Ashleigh Yule and Rhea Ashley Hoskins.
Happy Quarantining Heathens! Today’s episode of Talk Heathen is brought to you by, washing your damn hands and staying home! Eric and Vi are here to make your quarantine life a little bit better in today’s episode of Talk Heathen. It’s going to be a fun episode, let’s get to it! David in Australia is calling in again claiming that God is fair, moral, and accountable. Is He fair? Is He moral? If we say He is unfair, what happens then? I’m waiting for an answer here God... Are you there God, it’s me, one of the ACA show notes writers. Next up, Adrian wants to talk about how there is ABSOLUTELY a designer God because of evidence of Him left behind. Including but not limited to DNA and Eric’s favorite topic: the Moon. Wooooo, where to start… I have trouble following as the goalposts keep moving on this call. The cognitive dissonance and the dishonesty is strong within this call. Kevin is coming in with definitions and anthropomorphizing things. This time defining the Occult (which he says means hidden.) He also claims every brain has a magnetic field around it and that the Ouija Boards are haunted by evil spirits and demons. Eric asks the all important question, how do you summon a demon. Inquiring minds want to know! Our last caller of the episode is Jordan, they are on their journey out of religion and are currently questioning the validity and physicality of God. They are concerned and still stuck on there being a literal Hell. We’ve all been there Jordan, you’re so close! Pascal’s Wager is a tough one to get beyond. Definitely continue asking questions, we are here for you, and you’re not alone! That’s all for today folks, stay safe, wash your hands, and stay home!
Welcome back to The Atheist Experience! Today’s show is hosted by Matt Dillahunty and Jim Barrows! We start the show with a little more COVID-19 talk, as has become an unfortunate tradition in recent days. Jim addresses an earlier comment he made about suicide as a sin in the Catholic church.
Our first caller, Tony in South Africa, thinks that atheists (he uses the strong definition of believing there is no god) and theists can both be correct about God. There is a god, but also...there isn’t. Maybe.
Aligaz in San Antonio claims to have undeniable scientific proof of god, but things get squirrely when Matt asks for a definition of god. We get to all-powerful, and Aligaz’s response to whether or not God can create a rock so big he can’t lift it is surprising.
In what immediately sounds like a strange re-definition of “god,” Tony in Illinois (who claims to be neither atheist nor theist) says that men are gods, but have to earn the title. Turns out he means people will figure out how to overcome the end of the earth and “choose to exist” to become gods.
Juan in Colombia tells us that basic axioms get us to god, but doesn’t quite flesh out those axioms or their relation to God.
Wes in the Middle East calls to talk about infinity, but seems to have a pretty severe misunderstanding of infinity as a concept.
Our final caller, Kevin in Mississippi, seems to have come across a few basic arguments for God and found them quite compelling. He goes down a list of different arguments, from, “The universe is complex,” to, “A lot of people believe it.” It turns out Kevin has been interested in some of our videos and is essentially hanging by the thread of Pascal’s wager...he may be calling in as a de-convert soon.
That’s our show today! If you want to support the show you can check out https://www.patreon.com/theatheistexperience for a monthly subscription to podcasts with NO ADS and other fun goodies, or https://tiny.cc/aenmerch for merch from all of the ACA’s shows! Hosts can be found on Twitter @Matt_Dillahunty and @JimBarrows. Thanks for watching/listening!
TNP 19.07 Hosts: Denis Loubet, Phoenix, Johnny P. Fillintheblank
[News] Marco Rubio Says Coronavirus Stimulus Legislation Will Provide Government Grants to Churches Link => https://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/marco-rubio-says-coronavirus-stimulus-legislation-will-provide-government-grants-to-churches/
[News] Group Behind Central Park Coronavirus Tent Hospital Asks Volunteers To Support Anti-Gay Agenda Link => https://gothamist.com/news/samaritans-purse-franklin-graham-anti-gay-evangelical-central-park
[News] Sacramento health alert: One-third of county coronavirus cases are connected to churches Link => https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/sacramento-health-alert-one-third-of-county-coronavirus-cases-are-connected-to-churches/ar-BB122QSD
[News] Member of defiant Central church dies from coronavirus illness, but pastor says it's a lie Link => https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/coronavirus/article_e6cb0b16-8024-11ea-8565-ab701ea43306.html
[News] Hundreds swarm Florida beaches following reopening amid pandemic Link => https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/493510-florida-beaches-swarm-with-people-following-reopening-amid-pandemic
[News] With isolation, abuse activists fear an ‘explosive cocktail’ Link => https://apnews.com/7b9b15a1215611f69f02f4388100266d
[News] Far-right and radical Islamist groups exploiting coronavirus turmoil to further propaganda Link => https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/coronavirus-islamist-far-right-radical-propaganda-a9460581.html
[Resource] Logical fallacies Link => https://yourlogicalfallacyis.com/
[News] A Twitch Streamer Is Exposing Coronavirus Scams Live Link => https://www.wired.com/story/kitboga-twitch-streams-coronavirus-scams/
[Email: T. Radecki, Secretary for the Atheist Community of The Netherlands] "I came up with the following sentence, 'religion is about prophecies, science is about processes'... [also] could you spend some time on the show on the topic of metaphysics?"
[News] Despite warnings, churchgoers explain why they're still going to services Link => https://www.cnn.com/videos/us/2020/04/04/ohio-church-service-covid-19-pandemic-tuchman-pkg-ac360-vpx.cnn "...bathed in the blood of Jesus!"
Truth Wanted is hosted by ObjectivelyDan and today and he is joined by Jordan Holmes. and they get right into the discussion- Is the Corona virus is a conspiracy? Is Carry Cassidy a quack? How serious is Alex Jones - really? There's much nonsense out there. Lets talk about conspiracies and frauds! Then- on to the callers! Malachi grew up in a sect. How do people fall for nonsense like Alex Jones? Puck is just beginning as an 'out' atheist. What's the difference between a charismatic leader and a cult. Jordan: escalation. Dan: BITE model for academic criteria. Yo is a repeat caller. Heard that some studies claim intercessory prayer to work for ill people. Do they? Josh has a friend in the military who believes all conspiracy theories, so how should he talk about that? Christine wonders what the hosts think about Covid-19 and anti-vaxxers. David is 3rd time caller and studied history of religion and Christianity. What's the origin of monotheism? Dan from WA serves word salad on chaos magic v. ceremonial magic. Does it work!?
Mailbag episode! We have several friends on to help us answer emails, and field a few calls in between. Our hair is getting wild and wooly. Which breaks first- the quarantine or will we finally give in and cut our own hair?
First up, we have an email about sapiosexuality. Is not even a thing right? If we start letting all these made up identifiers in, won’t it allow the heterosexuals to sneak into queer spaces? (I doubt it.) Shannon Q clarifies and expands on her answer from a previous episode.
Next, Serafina Smith responds to an email from a listener who has always identified as male and is now questioning their gender. Can you really be nonbinary or female if you have masculine hobbies, a beard, or even a deep voice?
Caller Sean’s friend is both gay and religious. He knows that he’s going to heaven, but is awfully quick to tell others that they’re going to hell. How do you deal with such double mindedness?
Jordan calls in to ask questions about Transexuality. Why do people want to identify as something else? Is it all in their heads? Does it even matter? Is gender a spectrum?
Rachel from Atheist Vanguard answers email - I’m going to meet my friend’s significant other who’s in the middle of transitioning- what can I do to be welcoming to her? Rachel recommends to Ask Transgender on Reddit!
Bob calls in- he’s a non offending pedophile, talking about it for the first time. He’s in the heart of the bible belt, and it’s hard to find a good therapist. Self Care is hard when you’re taking care of everyone else.
Last caller Drew is trans and “low-key disowned” by their God fearing Baptist parents. They want to transition medically , but may get cut off from their family entirely if they do. To complicate matters, they have a younger sibling they want to stay in contact with.
Finally, the last email is read by Objectively Dan. Emailee is a bi woman dating a man. She’s interested in dating women, he’s brought up having a threesome. Also, her parents are Catholic. No easy answers here!
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Greetings and Happy Zombie Day heathens. The dynamic duo of Eric and Vi are back again hosting the show, woo! It’s so great to see them both. Hopefully they provide us all a little bit of comfort in these trying times. Let’s get to calls. The first caller is Greg. He seemed nervous about calling and made every effort to talk about near death experiences and how they don’t prove God. Greg, it’s ok! It’s nerve-wracking to call the show, take a breath, collect your thoughts and call us again. We are here for you! Next up, Kris in the lower 3rd would like to talk about how he has gotten better with his debate skills, his grandmother is now less eager to talk to him, turning to apologetics and the Bible to justify their stance. Nikki in Pennsylvania calls in asking if we have seen Cosmos with Carl Sagan, further explaining we can’t prove more than 3 dimensions because we are trapped in the 3rd dimension. Moving on to say that we have no evidence of extraterrestrial life. The time to believe a thing is when there is evidence for it. This is an interesting call, it has appeals to mysteries and everything, even cryptid creatures! Totally not an apologist Christian who constantly moves goalposts to also ensure the validity of his stance on a god creating the universe, Gabriel from Barbados calls in wanting to discuss abiogenesis and the definition and beginning of life. “Did it pop (snap!) into existence? Oh! It did? That is very silly.” - Eric D. Murphy. Mohammed in Jordan tries to prove the Quran is the most correct book, the last written book inspired by god, and the Book of Mormon was written by a liar and trickster. We are off to a great start on this one. Here’s some highlights: English speakers at a disadvantage at understanding the Quran because the translation from Arabic to English loses some of the message. This call turns out to be really great and Mohammed is seeking to understand where we atheists stand on things. David in Australia follows up with how god is fair to humans. Putting aside the WHOLE argument about whether or not god exists… He is NOT fair to humans at all. Eternal punishment for a finite crime being the reason the Christian god is a monster. Have a wonderful Spring Zombie Day Heathens! Be safe, healthy, and 6 feet apart! Thanks go out to all the essential workers out there, we see you and appreciate the work you do! We’ll see you all next week.
In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Matt Dillahunty is joined by two very distinguished guests and friends of the ACA, Nick Fish and Debbie Goddard of American Atheists. They definitely have some experience being atheists and we are happy to have them join us today! Also, happy zombie day to all, keep your brain safe by staying inside and away from everyone. Let’s get to calls. The first caller is Guardy from Canada. He believes that some people need God because they also need defined rules given to them. And he’s an atheist? This is interesting and may potentially melt your mind. Good for zombie day I guess? And we are done, we have our Sundays back folks. Dewitt has historical proof of Jesus. Though, his name was Yeshua, and oh he probably didn’t exist... nevermind. hmmm… how historic is this claim because I have serious doubts? I’ve noticed lately that we get this kind of call quite a bit. But because we get this sort of argument frequently doesn’t make it true. Even though we are done here and have our Sundays back, Amene has called in saying God through the Holy Spirit has encouraged him to call us. Yeah, no. Murray is conflicted because they are fearful about how to get through the current situation we are all in without God. Having religion there is definitely a source of comfort, and without it can be troubling. It’s not easy to let go and it is very legitimate to feel this way. “Draw strength from the relationships and community you have.” - Debbie Goddard Next up, Marquel in Georgia is calling again (he called during Talk Heathen when Andrew was on: Clip! https://youtu.be/g1dftovY7CY ) talking about how he is the ONLY person who has experienced pre-existence, spoke life into existence before time began, and had a race with god. Yeah, sure you are. He claims to have met god during this pre-existence. Yeah, um… ok. Afterwards we have Amin from New Jersey. He thinks the things that protect us from the COVID-19 outbreak may usher in the beast in his mind. He continues to give a laundry list of events and he’s lost me in the conspiracy. Wow this one… are we having fun yet? Greg in Florida ends the show with the eternal question about why we are here. He claims we are here to Worship! He also claims that King James did a great job writing the King James Bible. (facepalm.) The bible makes no sense when explaining why we are here, it’s a horrible miss-mash of stories that really have no bearing on why we are here. What is our intended purpose of being here? And that’s all folks. Have a wonderful zombie day! Stay Safe, Stay Home, Stay Healthy. Wash your damned hands and wear a mask if you go out for quarantine supplies!
What a decade it’s been huh? We hope this finds you sheltered in place, surrounded by at least 6 feet of free space which is then surrounded by your loved ones. Even in this time of isolation and loneliness many of us are still dealing with close quarters and stressful relationships. Eclipse Life Coach Annette James joins us this week to help us cope and keep ourselves grounded during this wild ride.
Find more grounding exercises or dive deeper into the episode at https://www.vcatx.com/media/grounded
Learn more about Annette’s work at www.eclipselifecoach.com
Find How To Understand Your Gender by Alex Iantaffi & Meg John Barker at https://www.rewriting-the-rules.com/books/
Welcome back to The Atheist Experience! Today’s show is hosted by Matt Dillahunty and friend of the show Dragnauct Sylvas. We start the show with discussion about the coronavirus and its effects on daily life, from isolation depression to grocery store gross-outs. Then, we get to caller numero uno!
Dragnauct picks an interesting topic from Gavin, who says he wants to check in on his own rationale. Gavin says he believes in a soul, or at least something like it, based on some experiences he’s had in life, but he’s pretty sure something about that rationale is faulty. Is he right?
Brian in Washington, DC calls in to convert Matt by asking, “What’s wrong with being a saint?” and using a version of Pascal’s Wager. When Matt and Dragnauct bring up the fact of Catholic cover-ups of child molestation, Brian starts to get a little squirrely.
We have a few frequent callers, and one is coming back: Kamal in Alabama was brought into a Facebook intervention by his family, who tried to bring him back to Jesus. We’ve all had this experience, unfortunately, and it’s nice to relate to each other sometimes. We love you, Kamal.
Carlos is another newly frequent caller, and his argument today is...well, it’s a little confusing. He says that God as described in the Bible gives life so he can determine how long it is for you. Then there’s an analogy from Batman. Essentially, Carlos thinks we shouldn’t see God’s action as distasteful if we read the Bible as fiction, because you’re not allowed to think fictional characters are bad guys, I guess?
Can somebody say Clergy Project? https://clergyproject.org/ Well, not quite, but our caller is in that sort of predicament. Cade went to a Christian high school where he lost his faith, but he’s stuck in the church. No one knows about his non-belief, and he’s not sure what to do. Matt ends up turning this caller into a co-host for a moment!
Laura in Michigan has personal access to God, and Matt attempts to use this access to have Laura ask God what she should say to convert Matt. Turns out, you just have to study the Bible and be open to love! We should have known.
Our last call is an important one. Justin has a wife, and the two are currently awaiting a child’s birth. His wife has started to express concern about her child “being told there is no God,” or something along those lines. Dragnauct takes over most of this call, as his wife is also a believer, so he has some experience here. The key: communication between spouses, education for the child!
That’s our show today! If you want to support the show you can check out https://www.patreon.com/theatheistexperience for a monthly subscription to podcasts with NO ADS and other fun goodies, or https://tiny.cc/aenmerch for merch from all of the ACA’s shows! Hosts can be found on Twitter @Matt_Dillahunty and @Dragnauct. Thanks for watching/listening!
Happy Sunday Heathens, for some of you out there today begins the 4th week of sheltering in place (it has been for me,) we hope you all are doing well and staying healthy. In today’s episode, Andrew Torrez is here in the co-host seat lawyering it up in this place. He hosts the Opening Arguments podcast (https://www.openargs.com) and is incredibly knowledgeable about how constitutional law works, especially with the 1st amendment and the founding fathers. It’s going to be a wonderful show, Let’s get to calls. The first caller is Carlos from Texas. He claims we don’t know nor understand the Bible because we aren’t Jewish. Soooooo, does he know the Bible and if so how does he know we don’t know it and if only Jews know the Bible, how does a self-professed non-religious person know the Bible? Ooooof, the mental gymnastics is making me tired already. And... Talk Heathen is done forever folks, Marquel from Georgia has called and claims God exists, there is only one God (He is not Allah btw,) plus we are pre-existent to the physical world. That’s it, we’re done! We have our Sundays back now! What do we do now that we are all reconverted? Go back to church? (nah.) Oh, you’ll love this… The next caller in the queue is TE (aka the presup named True Empiricism or Ron) from Illinois is wanting to continue the conversation about the separation of church and state. Are you ready TE, Andrew is a constitutional lawyer and can run circles around your dishonest arguments and fallacies. Ooooooh, intrigue! Next up, Steven in Ohio wonders how we stay true to our beliefs and avoid being swayed by others. His is a very refreshing call and quite a nice palette cleanser compared to the others we’ve gotten today. Patrick in Canada follows up with the claim that the Bible is true historically and giants are real. Are we broadcasting Truth Wanted and not Talk Heathen? If giants were real and we had fossils of them, they would be part of the scientific record. They aren’t a part of the record and we have no evidence of them, sooooo… not convinced they are real. Our last caller of the day, Dean from North Carolina calls in wondering what sort of evidence we need to believe a God is real. It’s hard to believe in a God who has set up an eternal place of torture and torment for finite transgressions. I also agree with the Sagan Standard: "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." That’s our show today folks, thanks for tuning in! Stay Safe! Stay Healthy! Practice Social Distancing! Thanks to our crew for working hard to keep us online and broadcasting. See you all next week!
Greetings Truth Wanted fans! In our home edition of Truth Wanted, we are joined by Unholy Sara. It’s going to be a great show! Let’s get to calls. The first caller is David from New Jersey. He wants to talk about COVID-19 from the UK government’s website. He claims to have found some shady statements that have changed their declassification and status of the virus from a High consequence infectious disease (HCID) to a lower classification, he attempts to make this fit into his hoax narrative. From the gov.uk website he so much wanted to talk about: “the designation cleared the way for broader treatment options, as COVID-19 cases could now be treated at ordinary hospitals and not just at the few specialty infectious disease centers.” The website goes on to say that the UK government still regards it as highly transmissible and recommends social distancing and other precautions. He additionally talks about our first amendment right of the freedom of assembly. Does the order to not gather more than ten people a violation of our first amendment right? Does it make sense to close down the economy for a virus that supposedly is safer than the flu? Next up, Julie, in opposition of our first caller, has evidence for COVID-19! Wanting to protect our public, especially the vulnerable, she’s willing to advocate for our medical experts. When lives are at risk, we have to be safe. The following caller Matt Dillahunty from Austin! A question for our hosts, related to Netflix’s “Tiger King.” Based on a documentary, how do we rationally draw conclusions from what the documentary implies? The next caller in the queue is Lynne from Michigan who has a neighbor sick with Covid-19. Unfortunately, her call dropped due to technical issues. Next up, Nick in Massachusetts believes that deism is rational. They discuss the simulation hypothesis, and how much of that hypothesis that informs Nick’s belief? Are there other things that lead Nick to a creator? We can create simulation (ie videogames), is there reason to think we are also in a simulation? Afterwards we have Gary in Colorado. How do we evaluate claims? Can you portray the same story accurately in more that one way? Gary wishes to discuss how different perspectives and narratives will lead people different directions. Rather than just looking at one side or another, Gary suggests looking for some middle ground. Our final call! We have Dean in North Carolina, wanting to talk about the many varying degrees of confidence held in beliefs. Is the method of street epistemology completely arbitrary? If it is arbitrary, could you say that the scale really has more to do with a psychological commitment? Final question from Dean, what is the point of identifying that scale?
What does it mean to be invisibly queer? This week Vi and Christy are talking about passing and stealth with Shannon Q. All three of our hosts have stories about the benefits and challenges of invisible queerness, how passing is a privilege, and how erasure is harmful and leaves lasting impact on the GRSM community at large.
If you’re interested in sharing your story or asking for advice on sex, relationships, or gender, get in touch by emailing sex@atheist-community.org or calling us at our voice mailbox: 512-666-0-ASK (0275). We will answer your questions on air!
Learn more about Shannon Q at https://twitter.com/Shann_Q0
SUMMARY
We look funny today, but it’s because our awesome crew figured out a way for us to continue the show from individual hosts’ and crew members’ homes! Thanks, guys! We start off with a bang: What do we do about church gatherings that could spread the corona virus more? If God isn’t real, why is religion influential? Can you even test science, and do the same forces that “created” the universe still exist? Isn’t there something “higher” that’s apparent? Why is Matt inconsistent with standards of evidence for others’ beliefs vs. his own? Ending the night with a beautiful summary of so much of this show’s history: Why don’t we believe in Jesus and his resurrection? But then technical issues cause us not to end the night, so we talk to Lana about her family’s gross treatment of her transgender daughter. And that ends our show.
SHOW NOTES
Today’s show looks different, because we’re all at home right now! Hosts, crew, all of us! Even me, writing these notes (although that’s no technical feat). Thank you to our wonderful Vern and Mark for making it possible for us to continue doing shows throughout the corona virus pandemic and Austin’s shelter-in-place ordinance.
In relation to the pandemic, Dave in Austria asks a question of alarming importance: What do we do about all of these churches and religious groups having massive gatherings in tight spaces when the way to prevent this pandemic’s spread is staying home and social distancing? What can we do?
Anthony in Florida has a kind of “gotcha” question: If God isn’t real, how is religion so influential? Checkmate, atheists!
In what seems to be another attempt at a wording gotcha, Alex in Saskatchewan asks a couple things: Can we test science? Are the forces that created the universe still in the world? (He lists a few things that aren’t necessarily their own types of forces...there seems to be a misunderstanding here of what a force is.)
A wild(ly confused) agnostic (atheist) appeared! (It’s okay to be confused. It happens.) Shawn in Minneapolis says he’s “between” believing and not believing to our call screener. He seems unable to let go of a concept of something “higher” as his first reason for not being an atheist is along the lines of, “Don’t you channel something higher when you play music?” Hm...I don’t think I do…
You know what’s fun? Being accused of having different standards of evidence for beliefs you disagree with! Omar in California wants Matt to know that that’s exactly what he does! He provides awesome examples and Matt is forced to turn in his Atheist card and walk away in shame.
Our final caller, Aaron in Arizona, wants to know why Matt and Jenna don’t accept Jesus and his resurrection.
HAHA, we lied, that wasn’t the final call. Our show has to run long today...what a strange tech issue! Caller Lana is having issues with her family’s poor treatment of her transgender daughter, and she’s looking for advice.
That’s our show today! If you want to support the show you can check out https://www.patreon.com/theatheistexperience for a monthly subscription to podcasts with NO ADS and other fun goodies, or https://tiny.cc/aenmerch for merch from all of the ACA’s shows! Hosts can be found on Twitter @Matt_Dillahunty and @Belk_Jenna. Thanks for watching/listening!
SHOW SUMMARY Good morning Heathens! Our hosts today are Eric Murphy and Jim Barrows, he is an all around awesome dude who has been on many ACA shows. You can find him on AXP, Atheist Vanguard, and many more. And now introducing the callers… Carlos from California claims he has proof of god, are you ready for it? It’s in the BIBLE! He’s also super defensive from the get-go. Dishonesty will get you nowhere Carlos, try again. After Carlos, we have Mark who says we as atheists can be absolutely 100% certain about experiences and perceptions… except we can’t. Am I really here? Next up, Zach who is concerned about his younger brother being raised with belief. Uh Oh, we have a new presup on the scene, TE called in to talk about the secular “agenda” and whether the separation of church and state is sound. Debbie in Nebraska provides a nice respite and good conversation about her beliefs. Kevin knows he has soul dude (and not a Kia Soul,) and wants to prove it. While Randy is struggling with raising children to think critically and skeptically. The last caller of the day, Brandon wonders about the burden of proof of an omnipotent god. It’s a good one folks, be sure to tune in! SHOW NOTES Good morning Heathens, today’s episode of Talk Heathen is technologically advanced! After some testing (yesterday), we were able to completely remote all ACA shows due to quarantines/shelter-in-place orders. Being completely remote is good news for everyone, we can continue to be your sanctuary online and provide the content you rely on daily and weekly. It definitely helps me stay sane. On with the show! Today Eric Murphy is joined by the wonderful Jim Barrows. Let’s get to calls. The first caller is Carlos from California. He has proof of god, it’s in the bible. Right away he is quite defensive about his claim, asking that we refrain from swearing at him and getting upset about perceived slights against him at the very beginning of the call. Except neither Eric nor Jim swore at him, yet. Hmmm…. Selective listening and no willingness to have an honest conversation is at play here. Mark calls in from North Carolina (no not Mark our wonderful producer!) Claims we can be absolutely certain about experiences and perceptions. How though? How would we prove this? The following caller named Zach from Ohio is concerned about how he may be a problematic influence on his younger brother. Take your time and teach him gently about your stance on how you see the world along with the tools for skepticism and questioning. TE from Illinois would like to discuss teaching the bible in public schools, the secular “agenda,” and our take on the separation of church and state. They believe that teaching it is true is ideal but only the abrahamic bible and no other. Also claims that the US was founded on Christian ideals and by Christian founding fathers… mmmm. No it wasn’t. Uh oh, this guy may be a presup… weeee! Next up, Debbie in Nebraska wanting to talk about atheists she has met are jealous of Christians because they have something to look forward to after death (aka wishful thinking.) She seems to be clinging to the idea of life after death and a heaven. Is there justification for heaven? Is there free will in heaven? Call us back Debbie, we love talking to you! Kevin has a soul and wants to prove it to us over the phone. He can prove it due to personal experiences and testimonies. We are all ears Kevin! Is there a “ghost in the machine?” How have you determined there is a soul or something like it? Randy in Texas calls in talking about the beliefs of his children. Be gentle, be patient, seek to understand and gently question their beliefs and belief structure. Be a positive guide in their understanding, it will be a good thing as they grow up. Our last caller of the day, Brandon in Japan would like to discuss the burden of proof of an omnipotent God. It’s a quick call, I didn’t catch all of it. Everyone, please be safe and healthy out there. I’ve said this to friends lately, the world is a better place with you in it. Love Rings to ALL!
SHOW SUMMARY Welcome to the Atheist Experience where we experience life as atheists. Today’s episode we have our wonderful host Matt Dillahunty being joined by Shane Isgrig. Welcome to the show Shane! We begin the show with Dean claiming ancient oral tradition like the Dead Sea Scrolls are more accurate than modern human communication. Brent the pantheist calls in saying the universe is conscious and alive. We have an update call, Traci calls to update us on how she’s doing. Damon “thinks” he can prove reincarnation due to the universe expansion and contraction (LOL ok.) Anna Marie is seeking to understand coincidences and un-explainable events. And lastly Brian doesn’t think it’s fair that atheists can cherry pick the bible (sounds like projection!)
CALL NOTES In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Matt Dillahunty is joined by Shane Isgrig. Shane is a host on Atheist Vanguard and he is Welcome to the co-host chair Shane! Let’s get to calls. The first caller is Dean from North Carolina. Why are the transmission of the stories of the bible not historically accurate? He gives an example of the Dead Sea Scrolls and oral tradition because the new testament was written 50 years after the ‘fact.’ Dean, have you played the game telephone right? Are ancient humans and their communication style more accurate than modern humans? Sigh, he said they were than us. Brent the pantheist calls in saying the universe is conscious and alive. Hmmm… parts are, but as a whole this is a problematic claim. If anything, the universe has been created for black holes, hates living things, and his argument in favor that the universe is conscious and alive is arrogant and biased. Traci the ex-christian is next, she is struggling with completely letting go of god. Congratulations on moving on from religion. Unpacking the religious suitcase and baggage is tough, but you’ll get through it. Shane also brings up a good point: If someone specifically made COVID-19, would you trust them to come up with the vaccine and cure? Why is god more comfortable then if he made this virus? Oooooh, Damon thinks he can prove reincarnation due to the expansion and contraction of the universe over and over. Ummmm…. He claims he has reasonable justification of this using a TON of assumptions. Next up, Anna Marie, a recently deconverted atheist in Indiana seeking understanding of un-explainable events. Saying ‘I don’t know’ isn’t providing the solace she is looking for. But it is the best answer in some of these situations. Our last caller of the day, Brian in South Carolina would like to discuss language semantics and translation due to a previous call. He moves on to talk about how atheists cherry pick the bible, ah, that sounds like projection to me! And that’s the show for today! We end the show with a word from Matt and Shane about staying safe, stay home, and if things escalate, please keep an eye for announcements as things are always changing. Send your prayer postcards for Matt to answer on the show to 1507 W. Koenig Lane, Austin, TX, 78741. Otherwise...goodbye!
SHOW NOTES
Good morning Heathens! Hope you all are safe and healthy at home this fine Sunday. Today’s episode of Talk Heathen is brought to you by Social Distancing and Pajamas. Who wants to guess the hosts will be wearing pajama pants! Our hosts today are Eric Murphy and Vi La Bianca, the dynamic duo bringing thoughtfulness and hope to your new quarantine life.
Let’s get to calls. The first caller is a returning caller, Marlon from the Philippines. He claims that there is proof of David the giant slayer thus proving the bible. Sorry Marlon, correlation does not imply causation. If that were the case, Spiderman would exist in New York… Spiderman, Spiderman… Look out, here comes the Spiderman!
Carlos is next, calling from a wind tunnel. Saying intelligence is a great gift from god and the best at combating evil. Ooooh, call back Carlos when you aren’t in a wind tunnel, we are having trouble hearing what you are saying...
The following caller is Ethan from Illinois is concerned about an upcoming discussion where he will be sitting down with a previous caller and their close minded family. Ethan is seeking understanding and if we have any tips on how to approach this.
Carlos is back, in a less windy wind tunnel. Claiming intelligence is a great gift from god. He also claims that intelligence as a gift is the best tool against evil. The background noise doesn’t help, but it is an interesting conversation.
Next up, Sam in the UK would like to talk about how slavery in the bible is justified. Oh boy. Is the bible written for believers or atheists? Vi also brings up a good point, if the bible is written for believers, why should we atheists know it? This call gets a little heated, tune in to see both Eric and Vi get passionate on this call.
Afterwards we have Tyler from Mississippi. He claims the end is nigh because of the coronavirus/COVID-19. He also claims the black plague wasn’t global. Oh boy Tyler. You should REALLY read some history. Also, you are causing fear about the current pandemic, stop it, you aren’t helping anyone.
We need a palate cleanser, Michael from Florida is calling in talking about surviving his old cult. It’s great to hear from you and your journey away from religion. Keep on learning and investigating!
Our last caller of the day, Kevin in New York would like to discuss how god exists within systems upon systems upon systems. Say what now? Ooooooh, it’s the fine tuning argument. I think I need more coffee.
ACA Speaker Series for March 21, 2020 with Matt Dillahunty, Mandisa Thomas, Darrel Ray, Mr. Atheist, Jen Aldrich, Thomas Westbrook, David Oliverio, Charlee Vance, ObjectivelyDan, Aron Ra, Christy Powell, Vi La Bianca, Eric Murphy, and Seth Andrews.
Matt Dillahunty - https://www.youtube.com/TheAtheistExperience 00:02:57 Mandisa Thomas - https://blacknonbelievers.com/ 00:17:58 Darrel Ray - https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/ 00:21:35 Mr. Atheist - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgeV3tFiU2Xg0PD1dAQbBHA 00:32:54 Jen Aldrich - https://www.youtube.com/GodlessBitches 00:37:17 Thomas Westbrook - https://www.youtube.com/holykoolaid 00:48:07 David Oliverio - https://www.youtube.com/ThePreachingHumanist 00:57:14 Eric Murphy - https://www.youtube.com/TalkHeathen 01:02:22 Charlee Vance - https://secularstudents.org/ 01:03:18 ObjectivelyDan - https://www.youtube.com/TruthWanted 01:08:10 Aron Ra - https://www.youtube.com/AronRa 01:09:59 Christy Powell - https://www.youtube.com/SecularSexuality 01:25:00 Matt Dillahunty - https://www.youtube.com/TheAtheistExperience 01:35:47 Vi La Bianca - https://www.youtube.com/TalkHeathen 01:42:38 Seth Andrews - https://www.thethinkingatheist.com/
The Atheist Experience 24.11 2020-03-15 with Matt Dillahunty & Don Baker
SHOW TIME-STAMPS 00:01:33 Announcements Regarding Coronavirus & the ACA 00:08:58 The Coronavirus & the People Taking Advantage of It for Money 00:12:11 Failures of Christianity: Why Won't God Just TALK? 00:29:08 Tom - MO - Struggling Out of My Lutheran Faith (Doubting God) 00:53:01 CJ - NC - How Are You Feeling About Debating David Wood? 00:06:15 Hassan - CA - God is to the Universe as Zero is to Math 01:16:12 Luke - AZ - Why Aren't You Nihilists? 00:00:00 Caller - PL: Topic 00:00:00 Caller - PL: Topic
SUMMARY In today’s show, Matt takes us through the steps the ACA is taking to prevent the spread of coronavirus locally, Don and Matt chat about coronavirus charlatans, and Don has a new Failure of Christianity! We have questioning believers from Matt’s old stomping grounds (near his old church, even!), discussion of debate tactics, God being analogous to zero somehow, and Matt turning an empty truck of gotcha around with a whole trailer full of GOTCHA! And that’s our show!
SHOW NOTES Hi, folks! We’re in weird times with a pandemic turning its ugly head at us, so Matt starts the show by explaining what the ACA is doing. The tl;dr version: The ACA has issued Defcon levels regarding how many and which people we allow into the Freethought Library, and International Atheist Day events have been moved to online-only, as the Austin capitol has officially closed to the public.
Before we get into Don’s failures, we highlight people taking advantage of fear around the coronavirus. Jim Baker has weird silver supplements, Alex Jones has...anti-coronavirus toothpaste? What? And Matt Dillahunty has F BOMBS!
What’s this week’s failure of Christianity? Well, God keeps hiding from us! He won’t answer our calls, he seems to be answering a bunch of people’s calls with different information, and he won’t heal amputees! WHY?! https://whywontgodhealamputees.com/ (Also Matt puts his Christian hat on...and an atheist hat...and another hat.)
Our first caller shares some ground with Matt, as he lives near Matt’s old church! Tom has some questions, as he feels he’s struggling out of his faith, so he runs some thoughts by our hosts about how he’s deconverted so far (and whether the reasons are good), and what his current questions are. (He does something fun at the end of his call.
Greetings Heathens! We are here to give you the 411 about the show today. Eric Murphy and Vi La Bianca (the dynamic duo,) are hosting this episode of Talk Heathen. Sadly we have a limited live studio audience due to the corona-virus, this is because we care about you and your health heathens, please stay home. Stay safe out there! Don’t Panic and always make sure you know where your towel is. Let’s get to calls. The first caller is Joel from New York. He ponders about the properties of God and Vi asks the all important question: How many feet does God have? The conversation continues to include time, reality, and mathematics. I think Joel is grossly misinformed. Next up, Marlon from Philippines would like to talk about the immortal jellyfish that was just discovered and how it proves the creationist view of the beginning of life and debunks evolution. Elizabeth is calling in from Texas is concerned about how theists define her deconversion due to emotional reasons. It’s totally OK to have an emotional reaction to the trauma experienced at the hands of religion. Tyler B from the live chat is up next. He claims the triune (Time, Space, and Matter) exists because of God. Eric brings up the argument that the trinity defies the laws of logic. Vi follows up with inaccuracy of not including energy in that equation. Whoops! Next up, Jelmer in Holland claims to have rational justification for irrational beliefs. It’s another philosophy call and I get so lost with these specific topics. Tune in and watch, you may find some truth in what Eric and Vi talk about with him. And that’s the show for today, stay safe everyone! See you next week online!
Hosts: Denis Loubet & Kevin Stein Guest Host: Johnny Angel
[Video] "Trump-loving pastor attacks ‘sissy’ churches that cancel events to protect people from coronavirus" => https://www.rawstory.com/2020/03/trump-loving-pastor-attacks-sissy-churches-that-cancel-events-to-protect-people-from-coronavirus/
[Video] "Televangelist: Touch My Oily Hand Through the TV and I’ll Cure Your Coronavirus" => https://friendlyatheist.patheos.com/2020/03/12/televangelist-touch-my-oily-hand-through-the-tv-and-ill-cure-your-coronavirus/
[News] "Creationist: Churches Should Hoard Toilet Paper and Preach to Those Who Want It" => https://friendlyatheist.patheos.com/2020/03/12/creationist-churches-should-hoard-toilet-paper-and-preach-to-those-who-want-it/ (source) => https://answersingenesis.org/culture/coronavirus/
[News] "[Governor Ralph] Northam signs bill to ban gay conversion therapy on minors in Virginia" => https://www.wtvr.com/news/virginia-politics/northam-signs-bill-to-ban-gay-conversion-therapy-on-minors-in-virginia => https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/virginia-becomes-20th-state-ban-conversion-therapy-minors-n1148421
[Mail:Chuck AZ] Mormon Shunning "Is shunning necessarily a bad thing? If the family member who lost his faith happened to be the one with a job, he'd suddenly have a lot more spending money and some spare rooms in his house. And a Mormon who suddenly got rich could immediately get his clinging relatives off his back. The shunning promise seems like a selling point in favor of Mormonism."
[News] "All 16 of the Museum of the Bible’s 'Dead Sea Scrolls' Fragments Are Forgeries" => https://friendlyatheist.patheos.com/2020/03/13/all-16-of-the-museum-of-the-bibles-dead-sea-scrolls-fragments-are-forgeries/ => https://www.christianpost.com/news/all-16-dead-sea-scroll-fragments-at-museum-of-the-bible-are-forgeries.html => https://www.timesofisrael.com/dead-sea-scroll-fragments-at-dc-museum-revealed-as-fake/
[Question] "Are you an atheist if you believe there was a god, but it died?"
Between Lavarne Cox, Jill Soloway and, um, Ryan Seacrest, trans exposure has made remarkable jumps in the past 5 years. But if trans gender is just as genetic as cis gender, why are most Americans only now seeing it? Trans therapist and educator Billie Beard joins us in the studio to fill in some of the gaps in our memory by discussing trans heroes from American history and to help us understand why these stories are so rarely told. Jackie Shane - Walking The Dog - 1965 R&B- https://youtu.be/yUYW2iwimBw Jackie Shane "Any Other Way" (official audio)- https://youtu.be/wiDVfi5dVp0 See pics from the episode or dive deeper at www.vcatx.com/media/transhx Learn more about Billie at https://www.luminarycounseling.com/clinical-interns/billie-beard-lpc-intern/ Check out our new Secular Sexuality Merch at https://teespring.com/stores/secularsexuality Join Secular Sexuality on Twitter @SecularSex And find Christy and Vi on Facebook @ValenceCounseling and @ViRoseLaBianca
SHOW NOTES In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Matt Dillahunty is joined by Denis Loubet. We are borrowing Denis from the long standing Non-Prophets show also produced by the ACA. Glad to have you Denis, welcome to the co-host chair!
Let’s get to calls. The first caller is Sam from the UK. Oooooh boy, he wants to talk about why there is slavery in the Bible and why it’s misunderstood. Ready for some fireworks? Here we go!
Next up, Minh from California would like to talk about when you deconvert from religion, what do you replace it with? (and Denis’ reply, “when you cure cancer what you replace it with… um health”)
The following caller is Christopher from Pennsylvania is concerned about how to help mend a relationship with his family after avoiding them after deconverting. He is struggling with how to proceed. Christopher, you may find some solace in contacting the folks at Recovering from Religion. https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org
James in Canada is next, calling in about having discussions with a Catholic friend who is questioning their faith. He is expressing some discomfort in helping this friend deconverting. He is troubled with feeling as though he is pushing him towards atheism and is concerned with the repercussions.
Next up, David in New Jersey attempts to argue that he can apply the rules of logic to presuppositional arguments, I think. Some if not all of this word salad makes my head spin… Whoa, do not tell Matt he doesn’t understand the laws of logic. We have a live one here.
Afterwards we have Jeremy from Louisiana. He ponders about Pascal’s Wager and asks Matt about it. “Which creator is the right one?” Matt did say at the beginning of the episode he has talked about Pascal’s Wager at least every episode the past 15 years he’s been on the show.
And that’s it folks! Send your prayer postcards for Matt to answer on the show to 1507 W. Koenig Lane, Austin, TX, 78741 and check out the amazing artwork of Denis Loubet at http://www.denisloubet.com ! :)
Greetings Heathens and fans! Welcome to the show! Eric is hosting today and Vi is back in the co-host chair! It’s been a month since this dynamic duo had a show together, it’s going to be a fantastic show! Let’s get to calls.
Owen from Ireland is calling in wanting to talk about shamanism and how different it is from mainstream religion. He goes on to talk about theoretical frameworks, empirical evidence to prove it, and processes and and and… I got lost.
Jeffery from Pennsylvania is calling in to testify to the grandness and truth of the bible… That’s it folks, I’ve reconverted because of this call. Just kidding, he is calling in to attempt to not only have a conversation but to proselytize. Why is the Bible important? Why should we care? How do you know the words in the Bible are true?
The following caller is Raquel from Florida who is concerned about their lingering beliefs from Christianity including those surrounding one’s sexuality. This is truly a great call, I recommend listening to it just to hear Eric say ‘naughty bits’!
We have a returning caller, Kevin in New York is calling back about why he believes in God. The conversation moves on to talk about how the Bible is divinely inspired but “missing parts.” Where’s the director’s cut? Is there a more accurate version? How do you know there were parts left out of the canonical bible? We aren’t talking about the apocrypha?
Next up, Bill in Florida believes Eric is Spider-Man and Vi is amazing and is smarter than anyone else. C’mon dude.
Afterwards we have JJ from Pennsylvania. He wonders about whether it’s reasonable to believe in superstitions but not religious superstition. Eric and Vi really get into this call and it’s very refreshing after Bill being a bit of a Luddite.
Our last caller of the day, Nadine in South Africa has recently come out as Atheist to her family and their reactions to this have been less than stellar. Her family sends her religious things and are passive aggressive about her life. Eric comes in with the recommendation of setting boundaries and try to find a therapist to help her through this.
That’s it for this episode, have a great week folks! See ya next time!
SHOW NOTES Today’s episode is hosted by ObjectivelyDan and Jim Barrows, co-host of NonProphets and The Atheist Experience! Jim is a local member of the ACA, so Dan and Phil mention something people may forget: the ACA is a local community with events and people who hang out in Austin!
Our first caller, Sean in Oklahoma, seems to have a surprisingly common confusion about what the word “homeopathy” means, so Dan and Jim clarify that homeopathy is not the whole category of natural remedies to illnesses and ailments: rather, homeopathy is super-diluted “medication” based on a “like cures like” idea that only came shortly before we understood how vaccines actually work.
Malachi in Ohio presents some potential risks of eating meat and dairy. He brings up a common thought that milk is actually too nutrient rich for humans to reasonably consume, since it’s basically growth food for baby cows, amongst other things.
Joshua in Virginia calls in to talk about the coronavirus, but gets quickly side tracked down a conversation about whether a scientific study is propaganda if it’s true...but misleading.
Friend of the show Neil the 604 Atheist calls in after a short discussion on research and sources to ask about Jim’s de-conversion story! (Hint: The Price Is Right is involved.)
We’ve talked a bit about sources and information on today’s show, and Amanda has a specific question: How do I deal with family and friends who only trust one source of information because the number of sources in the modern age is so overwhelming?
That’s our show! If you’d like to donate monthly, you can visit us over at https://www.patreon.com/truthwanted, chat with other fans at https://tiny.cc/acadiscord, and check out our merch at https://bit.ly/aenmerch!
A few weeks ago Christy got a chance to do his first ever boudoir photography shoot! Jenna Avery of Creatrix Photography does body positive, queer affirming photography so after working together on his headshots, they were the au-natural choice. Jenna joines Vi and Christy in studio on this week’s Secular Sexuality to discuss the ahem ins and outs of professional nudity, boudoir photography and American judeo-christian modesty.
Book Jenna at https://mybadassphotographer.com/ or follow @CreatrixPhotography on Instragram or Facebook.
See pics from Christy’s shoot or learn more about the episode at https://www.vcatx.com/media/creatrix
Guest Host: Phil Ferguson Business => http://polarisfinancialplanning.com Podcast => http://polarisfinancialplanning.com/the-phil-ferguson-show
[News] Francis: Evangelize by Example, not Pushing Your Faith on Others => https://www.patheos.com/blogs/throughcatholiclenses/2019/12/francis-evangelize-by-example-not-pushing-your-faith-on-others/
[News] Four NYC infants contract herpes from circumcision rite in past 6 months => https://www.jpost.com/OMG/4-NYC-infants-contract-herpes-from-circumcision-rite-in-past-6-months-618690
[News] Delhi Riots: How A Sikh Hero Transported Dozens Of Muslim Neighbours To Safety => https://www.sikhnet.com/news/delhi-riots-how-sikh-hero-transported-dozens-muslim-neighbours-safety
[Mail: Griffin] The Palestine Conflict "I just want to suggest coverage on the recent events with the Palestinian conflict and our election. It's sad and scary how all of this ties in. We are voting for leaders who are funding the conflict!...The whole movement, for the Evangelicals, is just some way to fulfill prophecy? It's insane... Many of then don't even care about the Jewish state. They just care about making their Biblical prophecy come true..."
[Mail: Edward, NC] Why worship god? "Let's say that one day you finally receive proof of god and you now believe that some particular entity is indeed god. Would you then feel compelled to worship this god? Love him/her?... My thoughts are that I would experience awe and respect, but would have no reason to worship the 'god'. Hence, STILL no reason for religion."
[Mail: Chuck, AZ] God should give me belief "Why doesn't God just make me believe in him? He wants me to believe in him and I want to believe in him if he exists. I can't freely choose what I believe so he wouldn't be violating my free will. Why would an all good God not make things better for both of us when there are no drawbacks to doing so?"
TIME-STAMPS
00:03:21 Arthur - (CA): Seeing My Family For First Time Since Coming Out Atheist 00:17:06 Thomas - GA: Evidence Jesus Exists (I Know Too Much, I HAVE to Tell You) 00:28:04 Mark - ME: What's the Point of Looking at the Bad Parts of Holy Books? 00:45:44 Arturo - TX: Let's Build a Strawman Ep. 666: SATANISTS! 01:01:11 Akeem - PA: I Have Scientific Proof Homosexuality is Wrong! (He Doesn't) 01:10:44 Hallie - CA: Hallie - CA - I'm a Questioning Fundamentalist Christian, I Have Questions 01:21:21 Danny - UK: What Caused God? Why Can't We See Him? 01:26:15 Jason - SC: I'm a Theist That Leans Atheist (Moral Argument for God) SUMMARY
Today’s episode is hosted by Jenna Belk, with guest host Phil Ferguson of The Phil Ferguson Show! How do you deal with seeing your religious family after coming out as an atheist...in a different COUNTRY?! A guy who knows Jesus exists, a guy who doesn’t understand why we’re just so darn hard on the worst part of “holy” books, a guy who has actually encountered baby-eating Satanists (supposedly), scientific proof that homosexuality is wrong (not so much), a formerly fundamentalist Christian who’s honestly questioning her religious beliefs, a guy telling us that god is just whatever caused the universe, and a theist who is merely convinced by a moral argument for god, because it would be really sad if we didn’t have some ultimate arbiter!
That’s our show! If you’d like to donate monthly, you can visit us over at https://www.patreon.com/theatheistexperience. Chat with other fans at https://tiny.cc/acadiscord. Check out our merch at https://bit.ly/aenmerch.
SHOW NOTES
Today’s show is hosted by the powerful Jenna Belk and Phil Ferguson of The Phil Ferguson Show, where Phil talks religion, politics, and money (the 3 things you shouldn’t talk about with your family!).
Our first caller today is Arthur, who is concerned that his Nigerian family will try to re-convert him when he goes back to see them for the first time since he has publicly identified as an atheist.
Thomas in Georgia doesn’t seem to have ever had this conversation before, and we seem to be able to offer him new questions. We’re hoping he calls back if he finds some answers for us.
Our next caller, Mark in Montenegro, asks why we “throw out” the Koran “just because it had bad things in it.” He seems to miss the part where people base their entire morality on these books… He then tells Jenna her argument comes from ego. Fun!
Let’s talk about Satan, ba-by, let’s talk about you and me! Arturo came to the show to straw man Satanists, or something! Apparently he found some real Satanists who eat babies, or something?
Akeem in Philadelphia thinks he has a good secular reason why homosexuality is wrong by quoting a debunked article:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/jonentine/2014/03/10/did-the-new-yorker-botch-puff-piece-on-frog-scientist-tyrone-hayes-turning-rogue-into-beleaguered-hero/#1bcbf81147f6
..we don’t end up agreeing with Akeen. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Next up- Hallie in California is a fundamentalist Christian...or was until recently. She’s starting to back away from that, and has questions about her faith in general. Hallie may be in the midst of a skeptically motivated de-conversion!
Caller Danny from London presents us with a version of the Kalam which includes a definition of God as “whatever caused the universe.”
Jason in South Carolina says he’s a theist who leans atheist. Apparently he’s so compelled by a perceived lack of moral arbitration “beyond human beings” without god that he believes in a god. Hmm.
That’s our show! If you’d like to donate monthly, you can visit us over at https://www.patreon.com/theatheistexperience. Chat with other fans at https://tiny.cc/acadiscord. Check out our merch at https://bit.ly/aenmerch.
SHOW TIME-STAMPS -00:07:01 Khalil - VA - Scientific evidence supports the bible. -00:22:11 Danielle - LA - Is a Christian Anti-Vaxx Flat Earther, ooooh! -00:52:47 Jonathan - AZ - Concerns about previous callers and the ad hominem Eric uses about the bible -01:18:05 - Thanks to our Patreons! -01:20:57 Caleb - Canada - Heard his name in a song from Jesus Christ Superstar -01:30:15 Jesse - NJ - Family is forcing religion on him -01:36:57 Eli - OR - Heaven isn’t a safe place
SHOW NOTES
Greetings Heathens! In today’s very special episode, we have financial guru Phil Ferguson joining Eric Murphy in the co-host seat. Are you ready for retirement heathens? Do you have buckets to squirrel away funds for vacations and other things (cough, medical, cough)? Are you ready for the impending apocalypse? Contact Phil for more info, hope you have a lot of assets though: http://polarisfinancialplanning.com/
Let’s get to calls. Khalil from Virginia is claiming there is scientific evidence that supports the bible. He also claims that because of Adam and Eve, we are all sinners. Is there a sinful gene? (No, there isn’t and we don’t believe your assertion.) Try again Khalil!
Next up, Danielle from Louisiana would like to talk about her belief in the bible and how it supports the flat earth due to being under a dome. She is also an anti-vaxxer. This should be an interesting call. You definitely will want to listen in, she is FASCINATING!
The following caller named Jonathan from Arizona would like to talk about the previous callers and their stances. He also has trouble with the ad hominem on ‘Bronze Age Goat Herders’ who wrote the bible.
The next caller in the queue is Caleb from Vancouver, Canada (did you know there is a Vancouver, Washington? He’s not from there…) Anyway, Caleb is calling in about hearing his name in a song from ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’. Is it authentic or not? Is it audio pareidolia?
Jesse in New Jersey is seeking help on how to handle family who are forcing their religion on him. If you are financially dependent upon your family, please tread carefully and purposefully. It can get better though. We hope things work out for you!
Afterwards we have Eli from Oregon. He claims that heaven isn’t a safe place because it is not perfect anymore (after kicking Lucifer out of it.) I had trouble following this call. Maybe you’ll have a better time understanding. Tune in!
Our last caller of the day, Javier… Oooooops! Sorry Javier, we dropped your call. Sigh. Not worth even writing about.
And that’s it folks! Thanks for tuning in! See you all next week!
Truth Wanted 03.06 2020-02-28 with ObjectivelyDan & Phil Ferguson
SHOW TIME-STAMPS 00:00:00 Introduction 00:10:09 Is the Coronavirus Causing a Stock Market Crash? 00:21:49 William - AUS: I’m Christian because I Don’t Know Any Other Religion 00:33:34 Lin - MI: I Thought I Saw a UFO 00:40:48 Julie - ID: Differences Between Jehovah's Witness & Buddhist Afterlife Ideas 00:54:57 Ed - OH: Should My Daughter Get a Bond or a CD? Also UFOs and Quartz 01:00:09 Stan - PA: The Danger of Religion When Dealing with Crisis Situations 01:08:29 Fred - BE: Similarities Between Religion & Love of...Gas Cars? 01:15:22 Sean - TX: Simulation Theory and the Bostrom Argument 01:29:44 Outro!
SHOW NOTES Today’s co-host is a rare occurrence here at Truth Wanted: a repeat guest! Phil Ferguson is host of the cleverly titled “Phil Ferguson Show” (a title only to be rivaled by an atheist show called, like, The Atheist Experience).
Phil’s area of expertise involves economics. The coronavirus has caused quite a stir the world over in the past month, and some are saying it’s causing a stock market crash. Dan asks Phil if it’s true that the virus is affecting the stock market, and Phil explains some of the thought behind this.
Caller William in Australia asks what we do on this show and elaborates on what his Christian beliefs look like. Things get interesting when William says he uses science to validate his beliefs, but doesn’t think Christianity and science fit together. Then we talk about the coronavirus again inexplicably!
Lin in Michigan has called before, and today she brings us her memory of an experience where she thought she saw a UFO! (She later learned what the source of the lights was. No aliens, unfortunately.)
We get an interesting call from Julie in Idaho who asks a seemingly odd question of two atheist skeptics: What are your thoughts on the afterlife? Julie is an ex-JW who is now exploring other religions, especially Buddhism. Dan and Phil offer some advice about ex-JW resources and give a perspective on the afterlife Julie probably hasn’t heard.
We get a caller (Ed) who asks a question that’s specifically in Phil’s wheelhouse: should his daughter who has $10k get a CD or a bond? What follows are words I only slightly understand. Then Ed gives us a cool potential explanation for UFOs or spiritual orbs, which I’m...also unsure how to explain. Thanks for confusing me, Ed!
Why is it that religions cause issues when we’re dealing with huge crises? Stan wants to know the same thing. (He didn’t say he’s our biggest fan, but his name is Stan.)
Our Belgian caller Fred asks if Dan and Phil feel that there is anything nearing a religious adoration of clinging to their gas cars over electric vehicles. He offers a few of the arguments he’s heard about this topic as well.
To end the night, we go to the incredibly simple topic of...simulation theory! (The Matrix 3 sucked!) Sean gives us something called “the Bostrom argument” with just a dash of Elon Musk’s ideas...did someone say electric cars?
That’s the show today! Find Phil’s “The Phil Ferguson Show” on your favorite podcast app! Find Dan at @ObjectivelyDan on Instagram and Twitter, Truth Wanted is on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/truthwanted , and ACA merch is available at https://bit.ly/aenmerch!
This week Vi was in Portland, and got the chance to bond with returning show guest Chrissy Stroop over sushi. As they ate, they wondered: What significance do clothing choices have socially and religiously, and how does what we wear impact us and those around us?
So that’s what we’ll be discussing in today’s episode of Secular Sexuality: fashion! Christy, Vi, and Chrissy will be wearing their hearts on their sleeves as they discuss everything from sexist school dress codes to shopping while trans/nonbinary to purity culture and how it burdens women’s bodies.
Resources:
Get in touch with this week’s guest at www.cstroop.com
Want to read more about what is discussed in the episode? Start here:
What is Purity Culture? https://sojo.net/interactive/their-generation-was-shamed-purity-culture-heres-what-theyre-building-its-place Sexist Dress Codes in Schools: https://pudding.cool/2019/02/dress-code-sexualization/ The Three-Article Rule and Masquerade Laws: https://www.history.com/news/stonewall-riots-lgbtq-drag-three-article-rule Lewdness Law Discriminates Against Utah Woman: https://www.npr.org/2019/11/21/781703956/utah-woman-charged-with-lewdness-after-being-topless-in-her-own-home National Breastfeeding Laws: https://www.ncsl.org/research/health/breastfeeding-state-laws.aspx
SHOW TIME-STAMPS
00:00:00 Introduction (to Darrel Ray & Recovering From Religion) 00:21:21 Mary - MN: My Relatives Fear Me Going to Hell (Atheist w/ Pancreatic Cancer) 00:32:32 David - MEX: Demons & Sinful Behavior Cause Paranormal Events 00:38:12 Rami - FR: The Scientific Method Proves God (Over-Simplifying Science) 00:43:40 Alex - MD: I Know What Unites All Religions/Ideologies 00:54:58 Shannon Q - NS: How do we combat "Christian counseling?" 01:05:47 Matt Dillahunty Answers Prayers Again! 01:12:03 Tom - (CA): Can you explain Our Lady of Guadalupe? (Real Miracles! ...not) 01:22:00 Mike - VT: Rude Caller Hung Up On (Bible & Masturbation) 01:24:56 David - LA: Fictional Science Diabetics Book...and other word salad. 01:32:51 Alex - AUS: How Do I Get My Wife to Raise My Kids Secular? 01:39:50 David - AZ: Disproving God Via Math...not so much.
SHOW NOTES
Dr. Darrel Ray is back on the show to talk to us about the mission of Recovering From Religion (1-84-I-DOUBT-IT, 1-844-368-2848, https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/). Matt and Darrel discuss how religious beliefs impact therapy when therapists bring religion into their practice, and go over Religious Trauma Syndrome.
Mary in Minnesota asks what to do about the fact that her friends and family seem to be afraid of hell for her as she faces imminent death from pancreatic cancer. Matt & Darrel offer some useful advice, but the best thing to know from this call is that Mary will be meeting friend of the show Dave Warnock. If you’re interested in a perspective on actively dying as an atheist, please check out Dave Warnock and Dying Out Loud. (Website: https://daveoutloud.com/, Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DaveWarnock.DyingOutLoud/, Twitter: @dwwarnock, Instagram: @warnockpa, YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZpN57H2-9Nv2u5rqIMLZwg?fbclid=IwAR2ygIagoXdW7yxQ-geZbazPrvghM6ZBLV_AUttjb8TdQxjv57ZTY5ouPOs, e-mail: daveoutloud@gmail.com.)
We have some unfortunate issues hearing what caller David says, but he starts to imply that “our sin” has caused some sort of physical change in the universe. He eventually gets to dark energy, at which point Matt drops the call because it’s unfortunately likely that this caller is severely misunderstanding dark energy.
Rami in France seems to offer a similar sort of proof of God, but his is mathematic rather than scientific. He is hung up on after not allowing hosts to address points of disagreement. Womp, womp.
Deepities! Deepities abound! Caller Alex in Maryland uses a LOT of language fluffing to explain the fairly basic concept that a lot of people want good things. He uses this to justify what he calls “meta-theism.”
Speaking of friends of the show, Shannon Q is here! We announce as she calls in that she’ll be here to host the show during Faithless Forum, but her question for Dr. Darrel Ray is this: How do we deal with so-called “Christian counseling?” Shannon takes a look at this on her own YouTube channel in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6vDhtBWFtc. (It’s a long one, grab some popcorn! But if you’re into it, subscribe.) Matt hangs up on Shannon with a soundboard button of his own voice. She asked for it. Literally.
Matt answers more postcard prayers!
We’ve been having calls pop up every now and then recently about Catholic miracles. Tom in Canada wants to ask if the hosts have a natural explanation for Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Mike in Vermont gets hung up on pretty quickly. Don’t come on the show to complain about how long you were on hold… It’s quite rude, and you’re not owed our platform. Next.
Alex in Australia asks what to do about the fact that he and his wife share different religious views, and how to make sure his wife helps him raise their children secularly. Dr. Darrel Ray provides great answers about honest communication and setting of boundaries.
Our final caller, David in Arizona, thinks he can prove God doesn’t exist...with math! He doesn’t. But he really tries!
Please check out The Atheist Experience at https://www.patreon.com/TheAtheistExperience, subscribe on YouTube and your favorite podcast app, and check out our merch at https://www.tiny.cc/aenmerch! Please check out Recovering From Religion at https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org, or call their hotline at 1-84-I-DOUBT-IT (1-844-368-2848). Thanks for checking out our show! Join other fans at Discord at https://www.tiny.cc/acadiscord.
SHOW TIME-STAMPS
00:20:38 Maddie - Germany - Religious trauma and how it affects everyone 00:28:11 Jerry - MO - Believes Atheists don’t know the real story of the Bible 00:57:20 Conner - TX - How can therapists not turn their sessions into deconversions 01:06:45 Michael - NY - It’s in our nature to believe in something 01:23:56 Bri - CA - Working through her religious trauma and how it’s affected her socially 01:37:55 Jeff - Canada - Might be dealing with religious trauma from when he was a JW
SHOW NOTES Hey folks, it’s time for some Talk Heathen! Today’s host, Eric Murphy is joined by Dr. Darrel Ray. We begin the show talking about Dr. Ray’s amazing credentials and his upcoming conference in Vancouver, BC: http://www.cort2020.com It’s going to be an awesome show! Let’s get this party started! The first caller is Maddie from Germany. She would like to talk about past religious trauma, how it severely affected her siblings, and how it affects everyone around them. Next up, Jerry from Missouri would like to talk about how atheists don’t know the real story of the Bible. Called in to confront us about being wrong about faith. Ooooh, boy. Lots of goalposts are moved in this one. It’s frustrating and interesting to listen to this all at the same time! The following caller named Conner from Texas is concerned about how therapists can conduct their sessions and not deconvert religious folks. People should NOT go into therapy thinking they will be deconverted. The next caller in the queue is Michael from New York wanting to discuss how we have always had a belief in something greater than ourselves. He is on his way to questioning and growing out of his God belief. Congrats Michael! We are here for you if you need to bounce ideas off of us. Bri in California is calling us back with an update! She is going through the deconversion process and called in to discuss her own religious trauma. She is also struggling with how her deconversion has affected her social life. Congrats Bri! We are here for you if you need us! Afterwards we have Jeff from Canada. He wonders about how his time as a Jehovah’s Witness could be religious trauma. Feels a bit at a loss about how it is all connected. Is also autistic and also is concerned if he is viewing the past within the appropriate internal filters. Definitely contact https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org and https://www.seculartherapy.org/, they are ready to help! And that’s the show for today! See you all next week!
Guest Hosts: Jen Aldrich & Rachel Watson
[NEWS] Catholic Priest Says 'Pedophilia doesn't kill anyone' After Barring Abortion-Rights Lawmakers From Communion URL => https://www.newsweek.com/rhode-island-priest-abortion-ban-communion-1486470 Denis: "Catholic Church, fuck you!"
[NEWS] Trump taps new director of grants office that gave awards to Hookers for Jesus URL => https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-grants/trump-taps-new-director-of-grants-office-that-gave-awards-to-hookers-for-jesus-idUSKBN2072VV
[NEWS] Fishing For Love: Advice For Daughters URL => https://www.worldreligionnews.com/religion-news/fishing-love-advice-daughters
[NEWS] Gallup: 60% Of Americans Say They Could Vote For An Atheist President URL => https://www.richarddawkins.net/2020/02/gallup-60-of-americans-say-they-could-vote-for-an-atheist-president/ Original Poll => https://news.gallup.com/poll/254120/less-half-vote-socialist-president.aspx
[Denis Has A Question] If you're going to test people to see how "good or bad" they are, would you give them a test where they can choose A or B without consequences? Or would you say they would be rewarded if they choose A and punished if they choose B? Rat Park => https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rat_Park What Does “Rat Park” Teach Us About Addiction? => https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/substance-use-disorder/what-does-rat-park-teach-us-about-addiction
[MAIL: Chuck] God's Prediction Ability "Since God is all-knowing, he must know what I'll decide to eat for supper tomorrow. But can he tell me today what that will be? I'm told that his foreknowledge doesn't limit my free will, so if he tells me what I'll choose to eat, I'm going to choose something else just to make him be wrong. So will God be wrong and is not omniscient or be unable to tell me and is not omnipotent?"
[MAIL: Chuck] Religion vs Atheism While atheists point out barbarity committed in the name of religion and the religious blame atheism for secular atrocities, both sides should notice what they have in common which is people in positions of excessive power.
[MAIL: Chuck] Genetic Fallacy Abuse "When atheists point out the origin of a religion as a reason for disbelief, the religious like to call it the 'genetic fallacy' and claim that the origin of a belief is not evidence that the belief isn't true. But that's not what's going on. The atheists are pointing out that the originators of a religion don't offer good reasons to believe it, so it's not a fallacy to withhold belief. The claim isn't that the ancient goat herders were wrong but just that there's no reason to agree with them. When scientists publish their findings, they also publish their work so that others can check it for accuracy. They do give reasons for belief."
[MAIL: Joe] Is atheism a kind of religion? "It has been said that atheism is a religion in the same way that not playing golf is a sport...It's also been suggested that human beings are hardwired through evolution to be religious...We all have our quasi-religions... be it a political persuasion, a cultural or ethnic identity, ...the military. .. "I would argue that atheism...actually fulfills a behavioral imperative that aligns us closer to the faithful masses of theistic religions than we might like to admit."
SHOW TIME-STAMPS
00:00:00 Introduction 00:13:41 River - MI: How do we know logic is true? (Doubting Skepticism & Laws of Logic) 00:28:33 Doug - FL: Was the Bible Made Up to Discourage People from Human Sacrifice? 00:37:30 Woo is Me (A Brief Discussion on Woo-ey Beliefs) 00:42:25 Tom - UK: My Country Isn't Religious, but We Have a Lot of Woo Beliefs 00:48:44 Fred - ID: Weird Mormon Stories Derived from Their Mythology 00:57:31 Bobby - CA: Life Extension Research 01:11:49 Nathan - TX: Spirituality, Conspiracy Theories, & Schizo-Effective Disorders 01:21:07 Jeremy - IA: Is/Ought Gap...Why is it an issue? 01:40:10 Outro
SHOW NOTES You know what’s fun about Truth Wanted? We always have new and different guests! Today, we have Rebecca Fox. She’s an illustrator, animator, podcaster, and all around awesome human being. Rebecca recently worked with a few atheist content creators, including our young Dan (or Yung Dan as he’s known in the “rap game”) and his grandmaster Anthony Magnabosco, to create a Twitter survey about atheists and their deconversions, then making a video about the responses. (That video can be found here at Anthony Magnabosco’s channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EMyPABdCHc.)
River in Michigan shares an issue that’s bound to sound familiar to a lot of skeptically-minded people: He’s doubting the very foundations of knowledge, including the Laws of Logic. It’s an interesting question precisely because we have no answer. What do?
Doug in Florida has a potentially interesting thought about why stories like Abraham sacrificing his son and the entire sacrifice motif of Jesus might exist: The stories are intended to show human sacrifice as reprehensible to discourage a society of people who were already sacrificing humans. (The society is made of people doing human sacrifice, why do any of them care? Why would a story about human sacrifice bother people engaging in human sacrifice?) Dan has some interesting counter-points to this based on Jewish ideas about the Old Testament.
Following Doug’s calls, Rebecca & Dan get into a short discussion about woo and “spirituality” from acupuncture to tarot cards!
Tom in the UK continues a bit of the conversation about woo by chiming in to agree with Rebecca: the UK has lost a lot of standard religions, but has become infested with woo. Then after Dan & Rebecca discuss further, we realize Tom seems to have dropped. You win some, you lose some. Moving on!
Fred in Idaho has a decent interest and knowledge of Mormon mythology, and tells us some of the hilarious tales people spin about how some of these strange Mormon stories fit with their real lives-like 3 men in white suits magically fixing a car with no tools! This gets into the more interesting side of why people tell these tales-is it because they believe these stories or that they like telling the tale?
Bobby in California calls in to ask what we think of Life Extension Research. Bobby claims to be attaining a Masters degree in fields related to Life Extension Research, and offers some information about the research he’s aware of.
Nathan in Texas (Hey! We’ve been there before!) describes his own schizo-effective disorder, saying that he started to become more susceptible to spirituality and conspiracy theories after he developed the schizo-effective disorders.
Jeremy in Iowa follows up on a previous call about secular moral frameworks to talk about the is/ought gap, and why he thinks it’s actually not an issue.
That’s our show, folks! Follow Dan on Twitter (@ObjectivelyDan), e-mail the show (truth@atheist-community.org), and check out our merch at bit.ly/aenmerch! Rebecca Fox’s Instagram and Twitter are @rebeccaonpaper, and her podcast is The Seeker & The Skeptic.
SHOW TIME-STAMPS 00:00:00 Introduction 00:03:03 Daniel - MN: I Want to Believe in An Afterlife, but I'm an Atheist 00:10:40 Alex - CO: A Rational Person Can Use Faith, & Faith Can Be Rational 00:24:09 Mark - ME: The Koran/Quran is More Accurate than the Bible 00:35:47 Dalton - NJ - Used to Be Christian, Now Hindu but Doubting...What Do I Do? 00:44:35 Joshua - NY: How Do I Come Out as an Atheist to My Family? 00:54:37 Joseph - NY: People Misunderstand the Zodiac Signs (Astrology is Real) 01:01:05 Shattered - OR: Personal Experiences Are Reliable for Personal Beliefs 01:10:43 Samuel - GM: Star Wars is a Religion 01:19:53 Mark - FL: What is the ATHEIST AGENDA? (Guy tells US what WE believe.) 01:33:05 Julian - WA - Are Atheists Willing to Abandon Christian Morality? 01:47:17 Outro SHOW NOTES Today we’re hosted by Don Baker & Jenna Belk, who spare no time in getting straight to calls! Our first caller, Daniel, is an atheist who wants to believe in an afterlife. He describes his discovery of Carlin as his first steps toward being an atheist, but seems confused about gods and related topics.
Alex in Colombia thinks that a rational person can use faith, and that faith can be part of a rational worldview. Jenna and Don explain that rational people can use non-rational tools, and get a little into epistemology with Alex. We get a rare sort of call with Mark in Montenegro, who wants to defend the Koran/Quran is more accurate than the Bible because we’re closer to it in time, know that it hasn’t been changed as much, and is written in a living language rather than a dead language. Don & Jenna explain some of their issues with the book, and the caller continues attempting a defense of the book. Dalton in New Jersey is an interesting case. He started years ago as a Christian, is currently a Hindu, but is doubting his beliefs. He seems to be headed down a road of skepticism, and Jenna gets to throw him Street Epistemology as a recommendation for his topic.
Joshua in New Jersey is a deconvert of only 4-5 years ago, and calls to ask the question so many of us have dealt with in the past: how do I come out to my family as an atheist? Specifically, Joshua is concerned about coming off as an “angry atheist” and “without being flashy.” We get to go over that with him, and also get a little into death and grieving as an atheist. Joseph in New York explains to us that zodiac signs and astrology are actually reliable, but people mis-apply them by using the sun sign...which is correct in its own way? Uh, vaguery is fun, I guess.
Shattered in Portland, OR is a pantheist. He doesn’t offer up a defense or justification for his belief, but instead tells us that personal experience is reliable for personal beliefs, but can’t be used to convince people. The question is, why is such reasoning reliable for oneself but not for others?
Samuel in Germany thinks that Star Wars has a cult-like following and fascination because people dress up and get upset when movies “violate canon” and similar issues. Does this guy know about the actual Jedi religion? Someone should tell him.
Mark in Florida tells us that all the atheists he’s encountered are aggressive anti-theists to point out that we’re more than “just” agnostic atheists...people telling us what we believe is always the best. Here comes a Pordan B. Jeterson fan to ask if “atheists are willing to abandon a Christian morality.” Apparently we’re actually Christians. At least he didn’t call us murderers...actually, never mind, he does say something about Pol Pot.
Now, it’s meatloaf time. Goodbye! Join us at tiny.cc/acadiscord, and support us at patreon.com/theatheistexperience. Check out our merch at bit.ly/aenmerch.
SHOW TIME-STAMPS 00:04:26 Ronique - TN - Recently deconverted, is in a weird spot with spiritual/new age folks 00:21:14 Hayden - DE - Would like to talk about their beliefs 00:33:43 Jeron - TX - Is a believer, and is challenged with understanding the concept of God. 00:45:40 Mika - Sweden - What is the definition of God from an atheist’s perspective. 01:10:12 Sebastian - Chile - How prayer can help everyone, even non-believers. 01:18:58 Erin - Eastern US - Their partner is getting into woo. Uh oh.
SHOW NOTES In today’s episode of Talk Heathen, Vi La Bianca is joined by fellow Godless Bitches 3.0 host Jen Aldrich. Welcome back Jen.
Let’s get to calls. The first caller is Ronique from Tennessee. She is struggling and is challenged by the “new age” folks in her life. Listen in to hear Jen and Vi talk about how to create boundaries and also how to navigate this within her community.
Next up, Hayden from Delaware would like to talk about theistic belief and how it relates to atheism. Would like to also talk about how atheists tend to be condescending towards theists. Vi talks about understanding the process of deconverting and that the angry atheist can be part of that process. Like within any group, there’s almost always some bad apples.
The following caller named Jeron from Texas claims to be a believer, but doesn’t think God exists. Is he a theist? Is he a Mormon? Does he truly believe in a deity? Tune in to hear Vi try to walk and talk through this.
The next caller in the queue is Mika from Sweden wanting to discuss the definition of God from an atheist’s perspective. He provides a ton of fallacies and gish gallops a ton. Listen to all of it. It’s fascinating! The goalpost looks good here, oh wait I need to move them over there...
Next up, Sebastian in Chile claims that prayer can help everyone, even non-believers. After a long story about traveling to Peru, and taking DMT in the Amazon jungle, he continues to claim how prayer helped remove “dark energy and heaviness.” Hmmmm.
Our last caller of the day, Erin in the Eastern US would like to discuss how their partner is getting into woo and is concerned about them turning away from looking at the world skeptically and rationally. Vi and Jen help them looking at this and figuring out a way that strengthens their relationship.
And that’s the end of the show! See you all next week for continued Adventures with Heathens…
14:11 Stan in Philadeplphia Defending gold-diggers. It's behaviors between two consenting adults. "Money is more important than muscles." What about if the relationship becomes a dependency? Is it exploitation? It can introduce various forms of abuse, like financial abuse. One of the examples is getting one's education paid for by gold-digging. What happens in a gold-digging relationship when the power dynamic shifts? What happens when the financier loses access to money? Stan says, "No one can consent to abuse." Being lonely and getting into gold-digging relationships should be allowed without judgment. But, money is inherently coercive, which is a risk. There are different types of relationships, not everything is about love. Historically, marriages were about property. Don't go into gold-digging if you really need the money, because the power dynamic may be skewed. 32:16
32:40 Harry in Yakima, Washington. Transition from new age to atheism Wife lost her faith and began to look into new age stuff. Dr. Daryl Ray suggested giving her time to grieve her faith. And it worked. She began to learn about atheism and ask questions. And they wanted to share about how they've grown together. The transition from new age to atheism.(36:24). There are many people who lose their friends and family when their faith changes or is lost. How long did the transition take? 10 years. She left the church in 2018 and took over a year. How has their family reacted? The family rejected her, but they are geographically far away. So, they've created a small community of atheists. 41:33
42:01 Derick from Alabama. Cults. Teaches a class about conspiracy theories and uses Truth Wanted clips. Will be talking about cults and how people are drawn in. Visit Telltales channel. Being born into one is a cause. Being targeted by good liars. Multi-Level-Marketing schemes are a good example of a persuasive cult. Lies by omission. Love bombing by a cult community who make you feel loved and special. The cult will isolate the new member from their friends and family. Doctrine is fed to the new member in very small doses. If outsiders say that you're in a cult, believe it. 55:06
Start time ? Paul in Georgia. Life changing heart attacks. Transitioning to Atheism because of his heart troubles. He prayed to God for help and his prayers were not answered. End time ?
1:15:22 Truth Wanted 03.04 with ObjectivelyDan & Nervardia-Oriax in Pennsylvania-Occult Chaos Magick Oriax in Pennsylvania. The Occult. Chaos Magick. Practitioners try various techniques and then they share the results with the community. ObjectivelyDan asks for talismans to see if he can practice Chaos Magick. Oriax used the Occult to get him out of a cult. End time ?
1:24:54 Aaron from Seattle, Washington. Tolpas. Aaron in Seattle, WA. Talks about Tolpas. He feels they are psychological rather than physical manifestations. Making a Tolpa is the act of role-playing, similar to playing Dungeons and Dragons. Novelists who write the same character has created a type of accidental Tolpa. 1:36:25
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SHOW TIME-STAMPS
00:00:00 Matt - TX - Epic postcard reading by Matt 00:16:55 Jonathan - KY - Is there a moral question about slavery? 00:27:07 Walter - MI - Proof of God because of a NDE 00:38:07 Jonathyn - AZ - Can believe in something and not know it/be aware of it. 00:50:58 Jonathan - AL - How to create a secular community when in a hostile area. 01:05:39 Kevin - TN - Agnostic theist, believes in emanation 01:25:03 Keith - OK - People in prison are better off with religious belief. 01:27:20 John - TX - Evolution points to theism
SHOW NOTES Woooot! Your normal notes writer is back in the writer’s chair. Just kidding, there is no writer’s chair, it doesn’t exist. In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Matt Dillahunty is joined by Jim Barrows. Does Matt have more postcards to read? (Oh yes he does and it is EPIC!) Who is this Jim Barrows character? Does God exist? Stay tuned to find out all this and more!
Let’s get to calls. The first caller is Jonathan from Kentucky. He is wondering if there has always been a moral question regarding slavery. What about prisoners of war? He claims that in history, it was more moral to have slaves than now because of tribal warfare. That’s not an excuse.
Walter is next up calling in from Michigan, claims to have met God after a very violent car wreck. He experienced a near death experience and saw the light! People convinced him that it was all God’s doing. Sadly, he doesn’t provide any evidence though, except “look at the trees.” Oh and science isn’t real.
The following caller named Jonathyn from Arizona is wondering about the argument that folks can believe in something and not know it. He queries Matt on it and Matt responds in kind. Tune in to watch the salad spin!
Jonathan from Alabama is next, he is calling in about how to create a community when in a hostile and possibly violent area to secular/atheists.
Next up, Kevin in Tennessee has an argument he’d like to share. He believes and is an agnostic theist and that this reality we deem as real is only a small part of something greater.
Afterwards we have Steve from Canada. He is an Atheist turned Catholic and is wondering if there is purpose or point in life if you don’t believe. Why does it matter if anyone benefits he asks. It absolutely matters to those around us. C’mon dude, a scribe?!
Keith in Oklahoma would like to discuss how prisoners are better off religious. This was a speedy call and Matt definitely disputed that. Might want to watch it to capture more than I did.
Our last caller of the day, John in Texas claims that evolution is linked or tied to theism. Um, nah. Natural selection is random and is all about time. Thank you very much, Goodbye!
Whew! And that’s it! See you all next week!
Send your prayer postcards for Matt to answer on the show to 1507 W. Koenig Lane, Austin, TX, 78741. Otherwise...goodbye!
TALK HEATHEN 04.06 for 2020-02-09 with Eric Murphy & Kevin Stein
SHOW TIME-STAMPS 00:06:08 Hermer - NY - He’s BAAAAACK! Still on the salt thing. 00:10:36 Arthur - TX - Would like to discuss belief due to personal experiences. 00:33:07 Kyran - FL - Why is it moral that Lucifer was cast out of heaven? 00:42:00 Tyler - MI - God must exist because abiogenesis was debunked. 01:01:49 Hayden - DE - Former “Atheist”, was introduced to theism. Recoverted! 01:22:09 Ethan - IL - Will be participating in a debate, would like to figure out goals. 01:29:55 Tam - Vietnam - Has the definite source of morality: It’s… 01:40:23 Daniel - CA - Which is more honest, The Book of Eric or the Bible?
SHOW NOTES Greetings heathens! Today’s Talk Heathen is going to be awesome! Eric Murphy is joined by Kevin Stein in taking calls. Let’s get to calls. Hermer calls us (again!) from a cavern deep inside the Earth, he hasn’t fixed his phone or it could be a voice changer, hmmm. He proceeds to justify Lot’s wife turning into salt because sweat tastes like salt (again, sigh.) Eric asks if he has ever seen anyone turn to salt or watched someone fly. He resorts to talking like a “demon”. Oh, you’re a poe. BYE! Arthur from Fort Worth, Texas calls in to talk about some personal experiences he thinks were supernatural. Kevin gets straight to the point: How do you confirm and verify these experiences? The following caller named Kyran from Florida would like to talk about JW and a hypothetical about their beliefs in the devil. Was it moral that Lucifer was cast out of heaven by God? Interesting hypothetical question, not sure why he’s asking atheists, but it’s an interesting story. Oh, you’ll love this… The next caller in the queue is Tyler B. Tyler from Mississippi who was riling up the live-chat during the show. We kept a line open for him specifically. He is wanting to discuss abiogenesis and how there is no evidence for it and there is only a living god that created everything. Pot, Kettle, God of the Gaps and Special Pleading fallacies, what? Next up, Hayden in Delaware was a former “Atheist” turned Theist. Claims as an atheist he was (like all atheists) close-minded so he became a theist again. Hmmm, interesting. Coming in like a wrecking-ball, we have Ethan up next. He’s in Illinois. Sorry, there’s no correlation there. Chicago is cold this time of year. Anyway, Ethan is wondering how to approach his next debate about making goals within a debate. Good Luck Ethan! Hope your debate on tuesday goes well! Tam in Vietnam has the definite source of morality. It’s.... the behavior of a species that encourages reproduction and the balance of those being born and those dying. I am not sure how human survival is moral, have you seen what we are doing to our home planet? Our last caller of the day, Daniel in California wants to talk about which book is more honest, the Book of Eric or the Bible. (We all agree, the Book of Eric is more honest.) Being pushed to a point, he asks about the “God Particle.” Google is a wonderful place, Daniel. I think you’ll find a wealth of information there. And that’s it folks, see you all next week!
SHOW TIME-STAMPS
00:04:11 Jonathan - MA - Claims scholars agree on the events of the bible. 00:41:00 David - Ottowa - How does one deal with presuppositionalists? 00:44:05 Oriax - PA - Polytheist, thinks his beliefs are true because of personal experience 01:00:35 Tracy - NC - Has had shared experiences and struggling with not pinning it on the supernatural 01:09:23 John - MI - The separation of church and state was not adhered to when the Ark Encounter was built. 01:21:42 Dean - NC - Often hears about the anonymity of the Gospels, does that mean it’s not historical? 01:32:43 Jeff - PA - Would like to talk about Abiogenesis SHOW NOTES Greetings Heathens, it’s Palindrome day! The only day in the current century that’s a palindrome in both date formats (Day-Month-Year or Month-Day-Year.) In today’s episode of Talk Heathen, Eric Murphy is joined by Vi La Bianca. By the way, Eric and Vi are not palindromes.
Let’s get to calls. The first caller is Jonathan from Massachusetts. He posits that Jesus existed and scholars agree the events of the Bible actually historically occurred. Oooooh, this is a fun one, tune in to hear Vi and Eric unpack this suitcase.
Next up, David from Ottowa would like to learn how to deal with presuppositionalists. He is being faced with some online and isn’t sure how to approach them. You can talk to people and be respectful. We were put on hold, that’s a first!
The following caller named Oriax from Pennsylvania is a polytheist and believes due to personal experiences. Listen in to hear Eric and Vi try to get to the truth and help them through it..
The next caller in the queue is Tracy from North Carolina wanting to discuss how she and others experienced unexplainable events and is struggling with not pinning it onto the supernatural. Listen in to hear Eric and Vi help her
Next up, John in Michigan called in to talk about the fleecing of the US through the misuse of funding and uses the Ark Encounter as an example. He’s a theist and agrees with us. You’re good John! We like you! Call back anytime!
Afterwards we have Dean from North Carolina. He wonders about the anonymity of the Gospels and whether they are considered anonymous historical documents when other anonymous writers are given more credit to their writing. Listen in to hear Vi expand on this beautifully.
Our last caller of the day, Jeff in Pennsylvania would like to discuss abiogenesis and how it hasn’t been scientifically proven. Listen in to hear Eric and Vi talk about their understanding of abiogenesis and debunk some of the caller’s interesting ideas.
SHOW TIME-STAMPS 00:00:00 Introduction 00:07:50 Hermer-NY: The Bible Supports Science 00:18:01 Yoel-NY: I Can Convert Everyone! 00:43:39 Brant-CA: Native American Church Member’s Peyote Path to God 01:00:34 William-NE: Deductive Proof of NO God 01:12:36 End of Show Announcements
SHOW NOTES Matt and Jenna are back to experience being atheists, and we’re starting off today with some shenanigans! Matt Dillahunty answers prayers sent in on postcards, including a miracle healing of a hen! Jenna has some Christian music looping in her brain today, and has a thought about why this music is such an effective indoctrination tool.
Hermer calls us from a cavern deep inside the Earth, approximately 5 meters from its core, and explains to us how the Bible says, “Avoid opposition to science.” He somehow completely misses the fact that the Bible is loaded with scientific inaccuracies. He proceeds to justify Lot’s wife turning into salt because sweat tastes like salt. (“I Tasted Lot’s Wife and It Tastes Like Sweat | Hermer - NY | Talk Heathen 03.51” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tE5RxZzVKHw) Also, everyone who has ever seen Hermer’s face believes in God! Wow! How does he know this?
Yoel from Brooklyn calls in to give us PROOF of God that will turn all of us into believers! Pack it in, folks, the Atheist Experience is over. What will I do with my Sundays now? At the end of the call, it appears that Yoel has some trouble constructing proper syllogisms...while discussing this, Matt demonstrates a concept by eating crickets with Jenna. Ew.
Brant presents a case for his Native American Church beliefs, which involve a peyote path to God, because we all know altered brain states are the way to truth! After all this life-altering proof God DOES exist, William is able to provide us with deductive proof that NO god exists. Matt expects to disagree with him just as much as the “proof of god” callers...let’s see if he’s right.
Send your prayer postcards for Matt to answer on the show to 1507 W. Koenig Lane, Austin, TX, 78741. Otherwise...goodbye!
Guest host: Jim Barrows
[News] Trump Spiritual Adviser Wants 'All Satanic Pregnancies To Miscarry' Article => https://www.ibtimes.com/trump-spiritual-adviser-wants-all-satanic-pregnancies-miscarry-2910372 Video => https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hvc7TDJhksA
Dispensationalism(noun): "Belief in a system of historical progression, as revealed in the Bible, consisting of a series of stages in God's self-revelation and plan of salvation."
[Email: Chuck from AZ] Magic for Atheists "If theists... can declare infinite magic at any time, why can't atheists do the same? The Big Bang was a supernatural bang so it didn't need a designer..."
[Email: Chuck] Justice or Revenge? "...why do people seem to feel that the punishment is desirable even if no one gains from it? Isn't that just revenge? So who benefits from Hell? ..."
[Email: Theodore] Death and Consciousness "I believe that our consciousness ends when our brain dies. But because there will be brains born after you've ceased to exist, it follows that one of those new brain's consciousness is what will follow..."
[Email: SwampAtheist] Episode 19.02 "...the story regarding legal threats against librarians in Missouri...for [lending] certain books out to minors... How does the Library know who is or isn't a minor? Do we now have to provide ID to check out a book? ..."
[News] Mike Huckabee: Trump and religious liberty -- Militant atheists have met their match with our president => https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/trump-religious-liberty-atheists-mike-huckabee
[News] Supreme Court won't hear case of HS football coach fired for on-field prayer => https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/supreme-court/supreme-court-won-t-hear-case-hs-football-coach-fired-n961216
Hitchens' Razor: "That which can be asserted without evidence can be dismissed without evidence."
Hanlon's Razor: "Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity." (Or ignorance.)
SHOW TIME-STAMPS
00:00:00 Introduction 00:06:27 Dan’s Weird Job Interview Discussion 00:14:29 What are Christian Apologetics? 00:16:53 Caller: Matt - MD 00:35:43 Merch & Hosts Struggle with Clothes 00:37:33 Caller: Ian - AL 00:56:51 Caller: Dean Meadows - NC 01:17:04 Caller: Jeremy - IA SHOW NOTES
Jen Aldrich joins us, replacing planned guest Sci-Man Dan who will appear in a later show. Jen hosts the new ACA reboot show Godless Bitches 3.0! (It’s a lot of fun.) Jen reveals an upcoming personal project where she’ll cover a range of non-atheist topics with other atheists, which sounds pretty neat to me.
Dan tells a story of a weird encounter before a job interview wherein someone asks if he’s a Christian...spoiler: the conversation partner isn’t very polite. Also, Jen is verbally assaulted for wearing a symbol someone doesn’t like. How reasonable! She also ends up on a date where the guy tells her he’s afraid she’ll go to hell. Wonderful first date talk, this is bound to go well for him.
Dan and Jen get into a discussion on Christian apologetics history and get into a few apologetic arguments.
Our first caller, Matt, explains that he thinks the left/right political spectrum isn’t valid and is mostly arbitrary. He may have a point to some extent, but there is a utility to be found here! Matt asks what makes something left or right fundamentally, or are we applying these labels arbitrarily after the fact? Jen gives an explanation of where this comes from, and we get into a conversation about how parties can change their left/right alliance, which happens more frequently than you might think. We cover a lot of ground on this call, including false narratives and the general tone of today’s politics being quite divided.
Dan and Jen have a quick talk about NEW TRUTH WANTED MERCH available at bit.ly/aenmerch, and how they struggle with clothes. Adulting is hard sometimes.
Caller Ian hooks us in with an “out there” topic: he believes that humans (later clarified to be all living things) all share the same consciousness, because, “How could we not share the same consciousness?” Or, is it the same nature of consciousness? Definitions seem to be an immediate issue...this will be a fun call! After the call, Jen and Dan get into their pasts with Eastern philosophies and “woo.”
The amazing Dean Meadows returns to ask how we can navigate consciousness without a belief in the supernatural, as there seems to be something strange about the connection between minds and bodies. Dan explains consciousness having clear physical roots, and we have a springboard for an interesting call. (Dean Meadows is a friend of our shows who studies apologetics and calls into Truth Wanted and Talk Heathen frequently. Check those calls out if you liked this one.)
After some brief discussion on telecommunication infrastructure, Jeremy presents a case for an “objective filter for measuring morality from a secular perspective.” Dan sees it as possible to build an objective moral framework, but is interested in what should compel him to follow that (philosophically, of course...Dan won’t be out doing horrible things tomorrow, we promise!). Jeremy thinks religions remove people’s bodily autonomy and sovereignty, but what if someone doesn’t want bodily sovereignty? Hm… This is getting deep.
Dan ends the show with a bad joke that leads to fun sound effects with new tech stuff! YAY!
Faithless Forum is upcoming, with dates TBA (likely in June). We have merch at bit.ly/aenmerch, and you can support the show at patreon.com/truthwanted, where you can pay for access to the show ad free! Dan is on Twitter @ObjectivelyDan, and Jen is on Twitter @JenDragonQueen.
SHOW TIME-STAMPS 00:06:15 Alex - Hungary - What epistemological tools should I use to change belief? 00:19:29 Anthony - TX - Runs a freethought group, wants to include Satanists in their outreach. 00:27:09 Patrick - Liverpool - Has an easy way to debunk the argument against abiogenesis. 00:34:05 Matt - ND - Looking for advice about leaving the cult he is in. 00:45:36 Noah - AZ - Former Mormon, members are trying to bring him back socially 00:51:40 James - HI - How do the hosts on our shows stay so patient? 00:57:59 Billy - LA - Looking for a good solid definition of hard solipsism 01:02:45 David - AR - How do you know when you’ve fully transitioned from theism 01:12:15 King Kong - Namibia - Atheists are the only real gods 01:22:28 Mark - London - Recently lost his mother, is finding difficulty in comforting his daughter 01:39:58 Almog - Israel - Living as an atheist in a theocratic country SHOW NOTES Uh oh, it’s 404! Episode not found. Just kidding, in today’s episode of Talk Heathen, Eric Murphy is joined by co-host Vi La Bianca! Let’s get to calls. The first caller is Alex from Hungary. He is wondering how to change other’s beliefs, does it really work? Listen in to hear Vi and Eric work through this. Next up, Anthony from Texas would like to talk about including Satanists (and specifically The Satanic Temple) in their outreach and is wondering if that is a good way to encourage inclusion. Listen in to hear some amazing wisdom from Vi. The following caller named Patrick from Liverpool has an easy way to debunk the argument how nothing can’t come from nothing. He explains that nothing doesn’t exist and there was always something there. Tune in to hear more! The next caller in the queue is Matt from North Dakota wanting to discuss how he can leave the cult he is in. He was a Jehovah’s Witness and has recently become atheist. Isn’t sure what to do. We feel for you Matt, please reach out to Lloyd Evans and Telltale along with Recovering from Religion. http://www.RecoveringFromReligion.org Next up, Noah in Arizona has recently left the Mormon church and is seeing how current members are trying to bring him back socially. Is seeking advice on breaking away from them and setting boundaries. Listen to Eric unpack this, it’s gold! Afterwards we have James from Hawaii. He wonders about how we are so patient with those who are so angry and vitriolic about faith. Listen in to hear Eric show compassion and patience and briefly talk about the awesome movie Coco. Billy in LA is next and is seeking to understand the definition of hard solipsism. Vi uses their vast knowledge to expand on this topic: basically you are a brain in a vat. David in Arkansas is wondering if you know when you fully have transitioned from theist to atheist. Welcome to being free David, we are glad you are a part of our community. Wow, King Kong is calling from Namibia is calling in about how atheists are above nature and therefore gods. Claiming “True knowledge can only come from the lord.” Listen in to Eric explain the definition of knowledge and gaining knowledge. Circular arguments and appeals to authority incoming! Mark in London is trying to figure out how to comfort his daughter after losing grandparents in a short amount of time. Kids are very resilient and will be a great source of comfort and can handle a lot of things far better than we understand. Just be truthful and kind, they will reciprocate. Our last caller of the episode, Almog in Israel calls in saying he feels very alone as an atheist in a very theocratic country. Is wondering how to move forward with his atheism. Perhaps it is time to pack up and find a place where you can feel a part of something.
Hi friends. I'm not your regular audio editor for today's show, but I am the guy who agreed to do show notes and then got caught up in modding the live chat and grabbing live clips and neglected to do show notes. Get out your flogging equipment, I'll wait here.
Also, sorry about that...
TRUTH WANTED 03.01 for 2020-01-24 with Objectively Dan & Eric Murphy
SHOW TIME-STAMPS
00:00:00 Introduction 00:04:24 Curtis - CO: Astral projection & ceiling fan communion 00:20:15 Update on December 15th “Prophecy” 00:21:52 Laura - AZ: Update on Tulpas! 00:44:45 Dylan - NM: Conspiracy theories abound! 01:07:50 Tim - WA: Paganistic Atheism 01:23:00 Brock - MS: Religious Levels of Political Interest
SHOW NOTES On today’s show, the internet screwed everything up so we’re pre-recorded! (Also Objectively Dan is joined by Eric Murphy of Talk Heathen, which is cool.) Our long holiday break is over and we’re ready to find some truth!
Curtis kicks things off with his thoughts on astral projection as a reality. In a shocking turn of events, we quickly find that this person and Eric share a hobby of communing with ceiling fans after using “shamanic substances.”
On episode 02.36 of Truth Wanted, a prophecy was offered by caller John in Missouri, that on December 15th something was supposed to happen. We never figured out what was supposed to happen, because nothing happened. Huge flop. NEXT!
Laura calls back to update us on the status of her tulpa, and Eric is entranced by tulpas. Laura draws comparison between talking to her (admittedly imagined) tulpa and religious prayer, which moves into a discussion about how the “feeling of god” can often be found in secular experiences. Eric falls in love with the word “tulpamancy.”
Dylan seems to think that “theory” isn’t an accurate word for what “conspiracy theories” really are. Dylan offers evidence of a 9/11 conspiracy theory--not a kooky conspiracy theory, actually, a kind of unremarkable one. He does a similar thing with JFK conspiracy theories. Eric somehow turns the last piece on JFK into a motivational speech.
Timm expresses love for D&D, Eric shares in that love, and Dan calls Eric a nerd. He discusses his journey as an ex-Mormon who once preached as an “ex-gay” minister, who came out as gay around 38 after he left his faith. Now, Timm talks about being a druid pagan atheist with a tulpa-like belief about nature...it’s mostly metaphor.
Brock in Mississippi follows up on D&D talk by saying he started questioning religion when people around him told him D&D was “demonic.” Brock seems concerned about people taking their political affiliations, party or individual figure, to such levels that they seem to be religiously devoted.
Aaand that’s our show! Join us for after shows over at https://tiny.cc/acadiscord after every live stream of Truth Wanted, which starts Friday nights at 7 PM CST!
ATHEIST EXPERIENCE 23.03 for 2020-01-19 with Matt Dillahunty & Jenna Belk
SHOW TIME-STAMPS 00:06:57 Christian - Denmark - Further discussion about antinatalism 00:34:39 Kayla - CT - Caller update: Has deconverted and hiring a humanist celebrant for her wedding. 00:51:23 Alan - CA - Afraid of not having a “guide” that would intervene at the last moment 01:00:28 Cory - NY - Would like to talk about biblical slavery, oh he gets mad. 01:03:55 David - KY - Clarity on the position of what is life and if it is precious 01:20:38 Michael - AZ - Is both a believer and a non-believer, but how though? 01:21:50 Mike - Toronto - Is struggling with helping as many animals as possible and there is still suffering.
SHOW NOTES In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Matt Dillahunty is joined by Jenna Belk. It’s going to be a great show!
Let’s get to calls. The first caller is a returning caller, Christian from Denmark. He is still struggling with antinatalism (arguing it’s morally wrong to have children because they would possibly suffer in life and the afterlife) and would like to continue to talk about it.
Next up, Kayla from Connecticut has an update on her deconversion and her wedding. They have decided to have a humanist celebrant. Congratulations Kayla! We are so happy for you! (Love Rings!) Keep being your awesome sassy self!
The following caller named Alan from California is afraid of not having a “guide” that would intervene. Jenna provides some amazing advice, surround yourself with others where they can help if you stumble. Listen in to hear more!
The next caller in the queue is Cory from New York wonders if God has the moral right to endorse slavery. Oooooh, one of Matt’s “favorite” topics. Listen in to hear Matt show how immoral slavery is.
Next up, David in Kentucky is seeking clarity on what value we assign to life and if that life is precious. Tune in to hear Matt and Jenna talk through this topic.
Afterwards we have Michael from Arizona. Claims to be a believer and non-believer. HOW THOUGH? We don’t get to find out… goodbye Michael. Don’t call back.
Our last caller of the day, Mike from Toronto is calling about how he and his family are struggling with how to help animals and others who are suffering in the world. What can we do to help? Yes there are bad things that happen, a good response is how can we prioritize how we help out. Keep saving those older and elderly kitties Mike, they need all the help they can get.
SHOW TIME-STAMPS 00:05:48 Moldred - NY - Why is discordianism important and why should we care? 00:14:51 Zoe - NY - Would like to create an atheist club at his school, how? 00:19:14 Jim - MI - Works at a large company who hosts religious based events 00:26:57 John - GA - Do y’all believe in free will, why or why not? 00:37:56 Eli - OK - Is it worth salvaging friendships that have floundered during deconversion? 00:45:44 JL - TX - What are the best tactics when debating theists 00:56:39 Charlie - WA - Was in a cult run by her mother, has questions about the BITE model. 01:10:25 Timothy - CA - Has some issues with skepticism, how do you work around them? 01:26:07 Isis - IN - Is having trouble deconverting 01:45:35 Tony - TX - Would like to talk about some personal experiences SHOW NOTES In today’s episode of Talk Heathen, Eric Murphy is joined by Vi La Bianca. Today’s episode is brought to you by ... water. The hosts drink water while on set to stay hydrated, so should you! Let’s get to calls. The first caller is a returning caller, Moldred from New York. He would like to talk about the book he sent, discordianism, and why both are important. Get your salad dressing ready for some word salad. Tune in to hear Eric spin this salad to try to find the truth. Next up, Zoe from New York would like to know how to start an atheist club at his school and is wondering how to create one that shows secular students being happy and not angry. There are so many great ideas we’d like to share! Listen in to find out! The following caller named Jim from Michigan is concerned about his large company hosting religious groups and is wondering if it is worth “raising a stink” about it. Has been told by supervisors to “take a chill pill.” Definitely speak up about it and possibly contact the FFRF for help: https://ffrf.org/ The next caller in the queue is John from Georgia wanting to discuss free will and whether or not it exists. Listen in to hear Eric and Vi explain how they don’t believe in free will and navigate John’s wonderful questions. He’s so close folks! Next up, Eli in Oklahoma is wondering if it’s worth salvaging friendships who may have floundered as he deconverted. Absolutely! Reach out to them and see where they are and possibly forge new ones. Afterwards we have JL from Texas. He is exploring tactics to bring to the table when debating theists. Do we have any recommendations for him? Listen in to hear Vi and Eric dig into this topic. The next caller is super interesting! Charlie from Washington would like to talk about the cult she was a part of and the BITE model. Eric gets excited to talk about this and Vi takes the time to really get to the meat of this topic. It’s a really good call. Next up, Timothy in California would like to discuss how he is struggling with skepticism and is it really worth fighting for. Eric uses the mistake he made in a previous episode (the Moon) and how he was able to learn and owning mistakes. Owning one’s mistakes is a part of growth. Afterwards, Isis from Indiana is struggling with deconverting after a long history with and within religion. Tune in to hear Vi and Eric navigate this topic and help her go through this part of the process. Your quote: “You once knew me how I was. I am not that any more.” is so perfect. You are not alone and you have community with us here. Our last caller of the day, Tony from Texas would like to talk about a personal experience a friend had while on drugs and how to explain how his experience wasn’t truly accurate. Listen in to hear Eric explain how blue tastes… And how personal perceptions can cloud reality.
The Non-Prophets 19.01 2020-01-11 with Denis Loubet, Kevin Stein, & Jim Barrows
Guest Host: Jim Barrows (co-host of Atheist Vanguard)
[Discussion] * Gish Gallop, intellectual honesty when debating with theists. * Determinism, quantum states, clones for spare parts * prophecy and free will
[News] "Some fear lawsuit against LDS Church could change how houses of worship report abuse" -> https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2020/01/10/some-fear-lawsuit-against/
[News] "Mormon church stockpiled 100 billion intended charities misled LDS members, whistleblower says" -> https://www.newsweek.com/mormon-church-stockpiled-100-billion-intended-charities-misled-lds-members-whistleblower-says-1477809 * "Mormonism is christian fan fic"
[News] "Jim Bakker To Christians: You Must Love Trump To Prove You're 'Saved'" -> https://www.yahoo.com/news/jim-bakker-trump-saved-054130880.html * Non-profit status?
ATHEIST EXPERIENCE 24.02 for 2020-01-12 with Matt Dillahunty & Don Baker
SHOW TIME-STAMPS
00:15:25 Joe - NY - Would like to talk about how bad behavior is caused by atheism. 00:24:02 Matt - MI - No true believer would knowingly lie to create Bible stories. 00:47:40 Ralph - FL - What is our criteria for evidence of claims for the existence of God. 01:01:51 Ryan - FL - We can come to God through skepticism 01:30:48 Ken - PA - Incredibly freeing to become an atheist, is becoming despondent
SHOW NOTES
In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Matt Dillahunty is joined by Don Baker. Great to see you Don! We start the show with Don’s list of Failures. Today's topic is “God’s Anointed Leaders.” Ooooh, fun.
Let’s get to calls. The first caller is Joe from New York. He would like to talk about how bad behavior is caused by atheism and lists off a couple bad actors/leaders from humanity’s past. People doing bad things who happen to also be atheists does not mean all atheists are bad. Matt moves in to dismantle his arguments quickly.
Next up, Matt from Michigan would like to talk about how extraordinary resurrection claims could have happened and continued to talk about how religious people did not knowingly lie to tell a story. Tune in and watch Matt walk through his claim and show how it is untestable and logically unacceptable.
The following caller named Ralph from Florida would like to discuss the criteria for evidence of claims for the existence of God. Also is it absurd to believe the Universe is God? Ummm, yes it is and this is broaching the topic of some sort of designer in creator of the Universe. Watch Matt and Don dispute these claims.
The next caller in the queue is Ryan from Florida wanting to discuss how we can come to God through skepticism. Claims to have been an atheist until 3 years ago. Turned to a church because of their willingness to say “I don’t know” and became a believer again. Listen in to hear Matt unpack this.
Our last caller of the day, Ken in Pennsylvania would like to talk about how freeing it is to become an atheist, and has started to lose the drive and ambition to continue his activism. How do we continue doing what we do? Knowing we make an impact on their journey, we are convinced that not doing it will lead to a worse life. Plus be satisfied with planting seeds of doubt in others and not seeing it fruit. People can change their minds and these seeds can potentially help.
SHOW TIME-STAMPS 00:03:26 Brian - OR - How to discover answers to the ultimate question(s) using hypnosis. 00:18:22 Moldred - NY - There are differences between religion and spirituality 00:37:37 Owen - OR - Is questioning faith, sees the Catholic church as very convincing. 00:59:26 Ameet - NY - Would like to discuss a personal event that occurred during the holidays 01:16:01 Josh - TX - Is there a theist whose views you came to respect? 01:25:40 Brandon - AZ - Has a justification for Hell 01:34:19 Patricia - NY - Needs advice about indoctrination of young children 01:43:14 Nick - Wi - Thinks it’s wrong to not bow your head during prayer over dinner.
SHOW NOTES In today’s episode of Talk Heathen, Vi La Bianca is joined by Thomas Westbrook (aka Holy Koolaid.) Welcome back to the show Thomas, did you bring tacos?! Let’s get to calls.
The first caller is Brian from Oregon. The answer is 42. Just kidding, Brian brings up a couple scenarios of how to use hypnosis when talking with believers and experiences. Listen in to hear Thomas and Vi talk through this call.
Next up, Moldred from New York would like to talk about how there are differences between religion (which is a top down hierarchy) and spirituality (which is a bottom up). Listen in to hear Vi and Thomas break this down.
The following caller named Owen from Oregon is concerned about how there is a lot of biased evidence provided by the Catholic church and is making him wondering what is true. Vi and Thomas have a great conversation about this.
The next caller in the queue is Ameet from New York wanting to discuss an event that occurred during the holidays with his parents. His parents are concerned with his marriage prospects due to his atheism. Is it wrong to be loud about one’s atheism? NO it’s not wrong! Ameet, it does get better, keep staying true to yourself.
Next up is a returning caller, Josh in Texas would like to know if there were theists whose views we came to respect. Absolutely, as long as there is honesty going both ways, there can be common ground reached.
Afterwards we have Brandon from Arizona. He has justification for Hell. Claims every single sin is punishable by eternal torture and torment in Hell and Jesus died for our sins to save us from Hell. But why though? Yeah, let’s eternally punish people for finite crimes, that sounds fair. /s
We finally are able to talk to Patricia from New York, she is concerned about her brother raising children within a religious faith and is wondering how she can help lessen the chance of indoctrination. Vi provides the best answer and a quote: “The best way to bridge this gap is to have them learn about all the religions.” — Darrel Ray.
Our last caller of the day is Nick in Wisconsin. Discussing how he disagrees with Vi not bowing their head during holiday dinner prayers. He says he would have handled it differently, and sees it as being slightly disrespectful to their family. It truly comes down to a point of respect (like in a place of worship) but in a family home, it’s different and you should be allowed to be yourself.
ATHEIST EXPERIENCE 24.01 for 2020-01-05 with Matt Dillahunty & Jen Aldrich
SHOW TIME-STAMPS 00:06:55 Adam - MN - How can atheists be moral and have a system of morality? 00:19:49 Elaine - IL - Shot 9 times, only wanted to speak to Matt, Nah. Goodbye. 00:23:42 Nick - OR - Recently out, struggling with family and pastor friend knowing. 00:43:32 John - TN - Using science and logic to prove a creator exists. 00:57:53 Alonzo - VA - Tries to make the argument that the supernatural exists 01:18:01 Theo - IL - Believes God communicates through feelings and emotions. 01:31:25 Joseph - NY - Reacting to his previous call and to discuss near death experiences.
SHOW NOTES Happy New Year everyone, it’s the 24th Season of the Atheist Experience! Time flies when you’re debunking theists. In today’s episode, Matt Dillahunty is joined by Jen Aldrich. Jen Aldrich is one of the new hosts of Godless Bitches 3.0, together with Vi La Bianca & Jenna Belk. She's had her own atheist podcast before, called Not Another Atheist Podcast. Google it and enjoy! Welcome to the co-host chair Jen, are you ready for round 2? This is different from Talk Heathen a bit!
Let’s get to calls. The first caller is Adam from Minnesota. He would like to talk about the atheist morality system and how there can be one. He claims that atheists don’t have morals and only have likes and dislikes. Um, that’s wrong. Tune in and see Matt try to show him the truth.
Next up, Elaine from Illinois earns the title of quickest hangup ever of 2020 (so far). Calls in to dictate how we run our show after emailing a couple times. Um no, you don’t get to dictate who speaks during the shows. Goodbye!
The following caller named Nick from Oregon is concerned about how to come out as an atheist to his fundamentalist family and close friend. We can definitely relate, approach them gradually and respectfully, you’ll be ok.
The next caller in the queue is John from Tennessee wanting to discuss how science and logic point to a creator. Uses a laundry list of scientific discoveries and tech to “prove” a blueprint. No no no, that’s not how science works! Bring in Dragnauct, we need his expertise!
Next up, Alonzo in Virginia tries to make the argument that a supernatural god exists. Presupposes that powerful being could exist because of lack of understanding. Tune in to hear Matt break it all down.
Afterwards we have Theo from Illinois. He believes God communicates only through feelings and emotions. How do you know and why do you believe that? Watch and see Matt and Jen work through this with him.
Our last caller of the day, Joseph in New York would like to discuss how atheists can’t understand him correctly and he also would like to talk about believing in near death experiences. Listen in to hear Matt and Jen explore this topic.
TALK HEATHEN 04.01 for 2020-01-05 with Eric Murphy & Jen Aldrich
SHOW TIME-STAMPS -00:05:31 Josh - TX - Ancient ALIENS existed and the Moon is hollow because reasons! -00:30:22 Jeffery - MD - Believes in God because he is living it every day. -01:15:47 Rudy - IN - What are the pros and cons in believing? -01:38:36 Fred - FL - Wants to talk about prophecies and the authors of the bible.
SHOW NOTES
Happiest of New Years Heathens and Happy 4th Season of Talk Heathen! Wow, we made it to our 4th season! In today’s episode of Talk Heathen, Eric Murphy is joined by Jen Aldrich. Jen Aldrich is one of the new hosts of Godless Bitches 3.0, together with Vi La Bianca & Jenna Belk. She's had her own atheist podcast before, called Not Another Atheist Podcast. Google it and enjoy! Welcome to the co-host chair Jen!
Let’s get to calls. The first caller is Josh from Texas. He is curious about religions before the Abrahamic. Also believes in the ancient aliens hypothesis. Tune in to see Eric be excited about this call and break it down for him.
Next up, Jeffery from Maryland would like to talk about why he believes the way he believes. Eric talks about how he may be celebrating the hits and ignoring the misses by continuing to believe. This is a long conversation and Jeffery is so close to understanding the truth. Watch to see the “magic” happen.
The following caller named Rudy from Indiana is curious about the pros and cons of believing and uses Pascal’s wager to justify belief. Eric and Jen go over Pascal’s Wager to debunk this, listen in to hear them unpack this suitcase and put away the fallacies.
The last caller in the queue is a returning caller named Fred from Florida. He is wanting to continue to discuss prophecies and the unknown authors of the bible. Fred also tries to debunk the contradictions of the bible… how’s that working out Fred? We should really give him homework...
CALLERS
Conner - TX - Personal unexplainable experiences can prove God. Josh - TX - What was your journey in and out of Christianity? Antonio - Panama - Continuing the previous conversation, definitions and spirituality.
SHOW NOTES In today’s very special (and extra long!) episode of Talk Heathen, Eric Murphy is joined once again by Vi La Bianca. Vi is amazing as co-host, they have so many golden nuggets of wisdom, I should be better at writing them down...
Let’s get to calls. The first caller is Conner from Texas, had personal unexplainable experiences that can possibly prove God. Listen in to hear Eric and Vi unpack these assertions.
Next up, Josh from Texas. Asked both the hosts about their individual journeys into and out of Christianity. Both provide amazing stories and journeys, please listen in to hear them both.
The following caller is a returning caller named Antonio from Panama. Would like to continue the conversation about spirituality and the definitions. Tune in to hear Eric talk him down.
SHOW TIME-STAMPS
00:07:30 Matt - MI - Investigating miracles and claiming they are supernatural 00:30:10 Gregory - MA - Would like some helpful clarity on his desire to return to religious life. 00:44:37 James - NC - Wonders how we feel about scientists who are banned by the community for their social gaffs. 00:52:07 Valued Customer - Raising kids in religion as atheists, is struggling with being outed by their kids. 01:06:41 A. Radical - Believes there is a mind/conscious creator behind the creation of the universe. 01:29:06 Otangelo - Brazil - Happy holidays, it’s Otangelo. Goodbye 01:31:50 Brett - WA - Claims the Earth cannot be here by natural means. 01:33:45 Jon - Arguing about the laws of logic and using reason to justify worldviews.
SHOW NOTES
In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Matt Dillahunty is joined by Dragnauct Sylvas. Welcome to the co-host chair Dragnauct! We are glad you are here to join us! Let’s get to calls. The first caller is Matt from Michigan. He would like to explore the validity of miracles and backing up their claim of being supernatural in origin. Listen in to hear Matt refute these claims. Our first hangup in a while, tune in and see Matt use the magic button!
Next up, Gregory from Massachusetts would like to talk about how he is feeling the need to return to a religious life. He is feeling challenged and uncertain about his lack of belief and needs some help and clarity on it all.
The following caller named James from North Carolina would like to talk about scientists who have been banned by the scientific community due to their inaccurate opinions on social constructs. And... he dropped the call, Dragnauct says James should go back to biology class!
The next caller in the queue is “Valued Customer” wanting to discuss raising their kids in religion and is concerned about them outing them while within a hostile and religious area. At some point, they will need to explain to their kids why they have lied and move forward.
Next up, “A. Radical” believes there is a mind behind the creation of the universe and claims there is empirical evidence there is a conscious creator. Has a list of premises to back up his claims. Listen in to hear Matt and Dragnauct rebuke these premises and claims.
Oh boy, Otangelo in Brazil would like to discuss a previous closed conversation between himself and Dragnauct… The conversation was closed, so it’s done. GOODBYE! (Good to have you back in the host’s seat Matt!)
Matt’s on a roll, next up, Brett from Washington would like to discuss his paper that the Earth could not have formed due to random chance/natural means because the probability is way too high!
Our last caller, Jon would like to talk about the laws of logic and how to use them to justify a specific worldview. He also claims you couldn’t have the laws of logic without God. Nope, wrong goodbye!
TALK HEATHEN 03.51 for 2019-12-22 with Eric Murphy & Vi La Bianca
SHOW TIME-STAMPS
00:04:07 Adam - OH - Is it possible to disprove the existence of God and the supernatural? 00:11:28 Hermer - NY - Tasted Lot’s wife, it’s sweaty salt! 00:23:57 Teddy - CA - Would like to talk about the Prime Mover Argument. 00:51:44 Nimclow - Norway - Has a question about absolute certainty, would like to talk about it. 01:00:33 Rob - Toronto - Has a question about the burden of proof. 01:07:28 Kevin - NY - Would like to talk about near death experiences. 01:12:21 Ash - NV - Is in the process of transitioning, is worried about losing a friend or family member due to this. 01:20:13 Cam - WI - In a weird limbo between theist and atheist, has questions. 01:30:10 Andrew - OH - If Jesus was real and came to Earth, what would he say?
SHOW NOTES
Happy Holidays all you Heathens! In today’s episode of Talk Heathen, Eric Murphy is joined by Vi La Bianca. It’s going to be a great show!
Let’s get to calls. The first caller is Adam from Ohio. He ponders if it is possible to disprove the existence of God and the supernatural. We must explore and critically look at each claim, including personal testimony.
Next up, Hermer from New York would like to talk about his beliefs. He isn’t a Christian but has a “relationship” with God. Also believes the reason our sweat tastes like salt is because of Lot’s wife (who turned into a pillar of salt.) Just because sweat tastes like salt, doesn’t prove there is a God. Wow.
The following caller named Teddy from California would like to discuss the prime mover argument. Claims an omnipresent and omnipotent entity is the emergent cause of everything. Tune in to hear Eric discuss this argument and a couple others that come up.
The next caller up is Nimclow from Norway would like to discuss absolute certainty. Eric is able to get to the point very quickly, tune in to hear him explain it clearly and succinctly.
Next up, Rob in Toronto (not that Rob), has a couple questions about the burden of proof. Listen in to hear Vi explain the logic behind who has the burden of proof and why. Afterwards we have Kevin from New York. Kevin would like to discuss near death experiences and a litany and variety of other shotgun thoughts. Watch how Eric and Vi navigate and bring him back to his original question: NDEs.
The next caller, Ash in Nevada would like to discuss how their transition will affect their relationship with a friend or family member whose parents don’t agree with their lifestyle (as if that’s a choice, sigh.) Love to you Ash, please reach out to https://www.seculartherapy.org/ and get the help you need and deserve.
Cam in Wisconsin is up next, he is in that weird “limbo” between theist and atheist and is struggling with completely letting go of theistic thought. He brings up Pascal’s Wager and using fear is keeping him a theist. Eric and Vi break it all down for him.
Our last caller is Andrew in Ohio. If Jesus arrived on Earth today (and was really real, a real person) what would he say to us? Tune in to hear Eric try to lead Andrew to the truth.
TALK HEATHEN 03.50 for 2019-12-15 with Vi La Bianca & Eric Wells
SHOW TIME-STAMPS 00:09:44 Mike - Germany - How to respond to someone who is fearful of their God. 00:20:54 Rob - LA - Has irrefutable proof of the existence of God. 00:37:40 Richard - USA - Struggling with letting go of prayer after de-converting 00:50:09 Gabriel - MO - Has a syllogism he would like to share 00:58:50 Chris - CA - Paranormal experiences might be real! 01:16:53 Matthew - MI - How do you get over paranormal/supernatural events 01:29:41 Joe - WA - Recently de-converted atheist, trying to protect their 5 yr old 01:39:27 Charles - Canada - Visiting parents as an atheist, asked to pray and not sure how to handle that.
SHOW NOTES
In today’s episode of Talk Heathen, we have Vi La Bianca as host and they are joined by Eric Wells. Eric is visiting us from Recovering from Religion where he is a Support Group Director. Welcome Eric, we are glad to have you join us today!
Let’s get to calls. The first caller is Mike from Germany. He is concerned about a friend who is fearful of the afterlife and personal punishment at the hands of her God. He isn’t sure how to approach this and is wondering if he is helping at all. Listen in to hear Vi figure out next steps.
Next up, Rob from Louisiana would like to talk about how he has irrefutable proof and explanation for the existence of God. He claims that God exists because we created him and is speaking as though he is an expert on how a theist thinks. Vi has a couple concerns and is ready to refute these claims, tune in and find out!
The following caller named Richard from the USA wants to talk about how to completely let go of prayer after recently de-converting. It’s totally OK to continue to pray to yourself can be helpful. Just as long as you don’t expect a supernatural result or solution.
The next caller in the queue is Gabriel from Missouri wanting to share a syllogism to prove God is imaginary. We really should apply the same skepticism and laws of logic to all claims, including the claims that take on the burden of proof by claiming God is imaginary. Listen in to find out where this conversation leads.
Next up, Chris in California claims that paranormal activity and experiences with the paranormal is real. Would like to talk about this with Vi and Eric. Listen in to find out what they discover.
Afterwards we have Matthew from Michigan. He is wondering how to completely get over the paranormal/supernatural events that haunt him. Vi has some great words of wisdom and is able to deconstruct this in a positive way.
Then we have Joe from Washington. He is challenged with raising his 5 year old with secular ideals in a religious household and region. Listen in to hear Eric help him with navigating these murky waters. You are not alone Joe!
Our last caller of the day, Charles in Canada would like to discuss how he visiting his parents as an atheist. He is concerned about how to handle their requests that he pray with them. Vi and Eric have really great ideas to continue to keep the peace with religious family.
SHOW TIME-STAMPS
00:14:33 Ray - MI - Struggling with family, longing for acceptance for her son 00:29:19 Charlotte - CA - Questioning their faith, is wondering if it’s difficult to not believe. 00:55:49 Danny - London, UK - Mocked for beliefs? Is persecution justified? 01:15:40 Joseph - NY - It’s story time!: Turning to God after traumatic encounter at the gym.
SHOW NOTES Hi everyone! In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, we have the dynamic duo as host and co-host today, Matt Dillahunty and Jenna Belk. Before we get to calls, Jenna has a couple things she’d like to talk about from previous calls in previous episodes. Let’s get to calls. The first caller is Rae from Michigan. She is struggling with family and longs for acceptance for her son. Her son is also living with Asperger’s and she is trying her best to shield him from fundamental ideologies.
Next up, Charlotte from California would like to know if it is difficult to not believe. She is also slightly fearful of accepting the ‘Atheist’ label and the consequences of doing so. Listen in to hear Jenna and Matt help her out.
The following returning caller named Danny from London, UK is concerned about being mocked and persecuted for their beliefs. Some discussion about a variety of topics occurred, including prophecies and proof of God. Sorry Danny, your word salad isn’t very palpable and is quite bitter. We’re moving on.
It’s story time! Our last caller of the live show is Joseph from New York. He has a story! He begins to tell a convoluted tale about going to the gym with his brother at the age of 22, a strange character who may have assaulted him, and then going swimming… Jenna and Matt get to the lesson/morale of this story and recommend a few resources.
SHOW TIME-STAMPS 00:06:11 Ed - PA - While in prison, was introduced to a racist religion. 00:17:56 David - AR - Is there a transition phase between theist and atheist? 00:31:012 Fred - FL - What is our definition of a Christian 00:53:25 CC - Canada - Former Atheist discusses definitions this week. 01:17:09 Randy - OH - Why not use religion as a placebo? 01:23:31 Kevin - NY - Would like to talk about the Book of Enoch 01:41:36 MurdermanTX - TX - Created the amazing flowchart! 01:45:14 Matthew - VA - Son is coming home with some fundamentalist ideas. 01:51:15 David - Ottowa - Faith in 12-step programs SHOW NOTES Happy December Heathens! In this episode of Talk Heathen, Eric Murphy is joined by Vi La Bianca. Prepare yourselves for an awesome show! The first caller is Ed from Pennsylvania. He was introduced to a racist white supremacist religion while in prison. He called in to talk about it and in looking back at how horrible it was. We are glad you’re out man, thanks for calling! Next up, David from Arkansas. He is a repeat caller and is on the journey of deconversion. Is there a process in leaving religion? Oh yeah there is, and it awhile to get through it. We are all different in how long and which path it takes. Tune in and watch Eric and Vi talk about this process. The following caller named Fred from Florida is curious about our description of what a Christian is. He follows up his question with the biblical definition and how it relates to how Eric and Vi answered this question. Tune in to see what happens next, it’s fascinating. He’s back… The next caller in the queue is “Clearly Canadian Catholic” (again) from Canada wanting to discuss how his view changed from “inner circle atheist” to deeply devoted Roman Catholic. He has called multiple times in the last couple weeks, you may recognize his speech patterns. Listen in to hear both hosts try to pin down his “reconversion” story. Next up, Randy in Ohio is questioning whether religion is a placebo and do we suffer under a placebo effect. Watch and see how Eric and Vi break this down. Afterwards we have Kevin from New York. Believes there is science within the ancient Book of Enoch and that it also describes black holes. Discussion ensues about this, a quick highlight: today I found out Eric is Spiderman. Tune in to find out if this is true. Up next is MurdermanTX from TX. He created the flowchart to help figure out where the arguments CC brings up go and where they are likely to head. An easy way to track especially for us visual folk. Thanks dude! Next in the queue is Matthew in Virginia, who questions how to deal with his son who has been coming home from school with some very disturbing ideas about hell and fundamentalist ideologies due to a friend at school. Listen in to hear how Eric and Vi help him understand where to go with this. Our last caller of the day, David in Ottawa would like to discuss faith in 12-step programs. There are a lot of good secular programs out there to help. Here’s some great resources: https://www.seculartherapy.org/ and https://www.smartrecovery.org/
SHOW TIME-STAMPS 00:02:55 Vanessa - MA - Wondering about compromising with Santa. 00:06:10 Ryan - IN - Would like to talk about why atheists don’t believe. 00:25:38 Michael - TX - Has the BEST argument for the existence of God. 00:33:08 Bree - WA - Attended grandpa’s funeral and received the fire & brimstone talk. 00:39:02 Dean - NC - Using ancient documents, why can’t we use them as historical evidence. 01:02:19 Nick - NY - Has the greatest evidence that Catholicism is the truest religion. 01:13:11 Danny - London, UK - Would like to talk about Exodus 01:24:45 Levi - WA - Living as an atheist in a religious household.
SHOW NOTES
In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Don Baker is joined by Jenna Belk. Are you all ready for Don’s laugh? I am! Let’s get to calls.
The first caller is Vanessa from Massachusetts. Wonders if it is ruining the magic of Christmas if they tell their young children about the myth of Santa Claus. Jenna and Don help her through this. It’s ok to pretend for a little while, but keep an eye on it.
Next up, Ryan from Indiana would like to talk about why atheists don’t believe in a God. Jenna explains her history and her journey from Catholicism to being an atheist. Ryan also claims atheists are miserable. Oh that’s a stretch, we are all pretty happy at the Freethought Library. Listen in to find out how Don and Jenna unpack his arguments.
The following caller named Michael from Texas has the BEST argument for the existence of God. First he defines the God he believes in, which is good, and his argument is fine-tuning and the multiverse hypothesis. Listen in to hear Don and Jenna break it all down. The next caller in the queue is Bree from Washington wanting to talk about her experience at a very religious funeral as an out atheist. I’m sorry you experienced that Bree, you have community with us here!
Next up, Dean in North Carolina would like to propose that because the documents that make up the Bible are ancient due to when they were written, we should be able to use these documents as historical evidence. Sorry, confirming historical documents as evidence doesn’t work that way.
Afterwards we have Nick from New York. He has the greatest evidence that Roman Catholicism is the one true religion. He also wants to fix the Church’s problems by writing and visiting Pope Francis in the Vatican. Also claiming that by believing in something it makes it true. Jenna provides some great resources for him.
Wooo, after that interesting caller, we have Danny in London, UK. He would like to chat about Exodus and its historicity. What does it mean if it is true? Why should we care? He should talk to an Egyptologist about this. This one was interesting as well.
Our last caller of the day, Levi in Washington. He is questioning his family’s religiosity and how to best approach them. Listen in to hear amazing Jenna’s advice.
SHOW TIME-STAMPS
00:05:36 Antonio - Panama - Has a reasonable argument/hypothesis for the existence of God. 00:24:07 Nicolas - Bahamas - What gives us purpose? 00:30:31 Khuzam - London, UK - Feels lost between being a deist and an atheist. 00:42:05 David - TX - Is belief a choice? Don’t we all believe in something? 00:58:11 Dave - GA - Would like to talk about the Great Commission 01:07:22 John - GA - What sort of evidence are we looking for? 01:21:41 Jai - NC - How do you reconcile new age beliefs with atheism? 01:39:07 Freiby - NJ - There is a way to have absolute certainty
SHOW NOTES In today’s episode of Talk Heathen, Eric Murphy is joined by Vi La Bianca. It’s already December folks, the year is almost up. We are thankful for you and we are glad you are a part of this community! After a couple of announcements, the calls begin. The first caller is Antonio from Panama. Through the use of psychedelics, he claims visions, extra-ordinary consciousness, and personal experiences during a drug trip prove God. The only proof we received during this call was a very smart kitty, meow meow meow!
Next up, Nicolas from the Bahamas would like to talk about purpose. What drives us to do what we do? We give ourselves purpose and we are influenced by our experiences in life. Listen in to hear Eric and Vi break this all down for him.
The following caller named Khuzam from London, UK is concerned about making the plunge into being an atheist. He knows he is using the special pleading fallacy in still being a deist. It’s incredibly freeing to being an atheist. Come on in Khuzam, the water is fine.
The next caller in the queue is David from Texas wanting to discuss whether belief is a choice. He may also be projecting his experiences and trying to use them as evidence. See Vi and Eric explain how belief isn’t a choice and that everyone isn’t born with an inherent faith.
Next up, Dave in Georgia would like to discuss how the “Great Commission” destroys cultures. He has first hand experience in missionary work and is trying to live that down as a current atheist. It still haunts him to this day. Listen in to how Eric provides great insight on how to get through this.
Afterwards we have a return caller, John from Georgia. He wonders about atheists and the evidence needed to prove God. Also wonders if the answers we are searching for will be answered in the future due to better understanding. It is very possible, that is a great question!
Next in the queue, Jai in North Carolina would like to discuss how to reconcile new age beliefs with atheism. It’s totally ok to have some vestiges of your ritual religions, as long as it doesn’t interfere too much. It’s ok to have this placebo in your secular life.
Our last caller of the day, Freiby in New Jersey would like to talk about absolute certainty and how can we be 100% certain of things. There are variables at play within our reality that make 100% capital ‘T’ truth difficult and we cannot presuppose anything. You can though, operate through degrees of certainty and give yourself permission to live that way.
[Mail] Thomas H: "It is 'ET-cetera', not 'Eck-cetera'."
[Audio] Church excuses practice of not reporting confessed pedophiles to police.
[News] 'Demonic power': Franklin Graham claims supernatural element behind attacks on Trump => https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/franklin-graham-claims-demonic-power-behind-attacks-on-trump
[Mail] Chuck in AZ: "Ninth Commandment"
"Since 'Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor' seems to forbid lying only about others, I assume that God is fine with me misrepresenting myself. This seems to be supported by the 'Be fruitful and multiply...' instruction since the human race would go extinct if men couldn't lie about themselves." [News] New psychology research indicates that subtle exposure to religious words can increase benevolent sexism
=> https://www.psypost.org/2019/11/new-psychology-research-indicates-that-subtle-exposure-to-religious-words-can-increase-benevolent-sexism-54956
SHOW TIME-STAMPS 00:04:26 Gohan - TX - Invited call from Talk Heathen, would like to discuss pro-life/abortion. 00:19:15 Richard - Malaysia - Would like to discuss intuition and how that figures into belief. 00:36:19 Caleb - PA - Recently deconverted, wife is religious, how to approach this with her. 00:47:35 “Canadian Catholic” - Canada - How his view on religion changed after being an atheist. 01:08:26 Richard - AZ - Makes the argument that God/Gods will exist 01:15:00 Guillermo - CA - Do you believe in faith? 01:19:20 Tony - NY - Doesn’t believe in traditional religion, but believes God communicates through Math. SHOW NOTES In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Matt Dillahunty is joined by Jenna Belk. Welcome back to the co-host chair Jenna! Let’s get to calls. The first caller is a returning caller, Gohan from Texas. He was invited to call in during Talk Heathen to discuss abortion, pro-life, and body autonomy. He uses a conjoined twins analogy that is rife with flaws and inaccuracies. If using flawed analogies doesn’t get to solutions, don’t use them! Next up, Richard from Malaysia would like to talk about intuition and how it figures into belief. Tune in and watch Jenna and Matt walk Richard through using logic to reach conclusions. The following caller named Caleb from Pennsylvania is concerned about his life as an atheist married to someone religious. Jenna offers some great recommendations to moving his relationship forward. Oh, you’ll love this… The next caller in the queue is “Canadian Catholic” from Canada wanting to discuss how his view changed from “inner circle atheist” to deeply devoted Roman Catholic. He also presents a hypothesis on consciousness. He called last week, you may recognize his voice. Next up, Richard in Arizona has an argument he’d like to share. He provides a science fiction argument that through current trends, AI will become “god-like”. Um, sure… no. Afterwards we have Guillermo from California. He wonders about atheists and their use of the word faith. Atheists tend to use the word faith as way to describe the trust they have or the confidence they have in certain things. Faith to believers is definitely used differently. I think he learned something. Yay! Our last caller of the day, Tony in New York would like to discuss how God communicates to humans through math. The equations in this argument and formulas are just not adding up here. (Math is not God btw.) Matt goes on to recommend watching Donald in Mathmagicland: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_ZHsk0-eF0 Which ends with this quote by Galileo: “Mathematics is the alphabet/language with which “god” has written the universe.” As a metaphor, that is a beautiful concept.
Talk Heathen 03.47 for 2019-11-24 with Eric Murphy & Vi La Bianca
SHOW TIME-STAMPS 00:04:51 Brandon - AZ - Origins + divinity of the bible = the bible code. Is that still a thing? 00:34:03 Anna - Jerusalem - Her father is dying, wonders how to explain death to her child. 00:51:013 Kamal - AL - Troubled by what his sister has said to him after deconverting. 00:59:13 Gohan - TX - Has some questions about the pro-life standpoint on abortion. 01:19:37 Satan - OR (Hell?) - Wants to talk about the cognitive processes of believers 01:29:40 Michael - FL - Was in a cult, having trouble getting out of the religious mindset. SHOW NOTES Welcome to Talk Heathen! In today’s episode, Eric Murphy is joined by Vi La Bianca. Sorry about your “squeaky” jacket Vi, I’m sure it is fabulous. The first caller is a repeat caller, Brandon from Arizona. He would like to talk about the origins and divinity of the bible. Uses the no true scotsman fallacy to explain away both Vi’s and Eric’s history as previous born-again Christians. He also completely disregarded the homework we asked of him last time he called. Eric and Vi investigate his claims and attempt to get to the truth. The next caller, Anna from Jerusalem would like to talk about how to explain death to her child. She is concerned he will hear of Gan Eden (Heaven) and wonders how best to approach this. Listen in on how Eric honestly delves into this topic. The next caller is our good friend Kamal from Alabama. He is troubled and concerned with how his sister has been unaccepting of his deconversion. She claims he doesn’t understand love. Kamal definitely knows love and we love and adore him. Good luck Kamal! We will see you soon at the freethought library! The next caller in the queue is Gohan from Texas would like to discuss the pro-life stance. He posits a couple questions that are well outside and beyond the scope of this topic. He receives an open invitation to call during AXP to discuss this with Matt. Next up, Satan in Oregon (Hell?) wants to talk about the cognitive processes of believers. After talking tangentially about nothing and both Eric and Vi having a tough time following his train of thought, he finally gets to the point of his call. Tune in to help us understand where his train is going. Our last caller, Michael from Florida is troubled with letting go of the religious mindset. Is also concerned with finding a partner to share in his newfound agnosticism. He would definitely find some help from the recovering from religion folks: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/
The Atheist Experience 23.48 for 2019-11-17 with Matt Dillahunty & Don Baker
SHOW TIME-STAMPS 00:23:32 Brian - OH - Has proof god exists, it’s Tim Tebow. 00:27:04 Charles - TX - Historical events caused by Jesuits? No. 00:27:53 Joel - AL - Claims to have proof of reincarnation 00:31:23 Patrick - FL - What is sufficient evidence for the existence of god. 00:37:52 Paul - UK - Has definite proof that all the gods don’t exist 00:47:12 Jonathan - AZ - Claims to have found a false argument by Matt 00:58:46 Jeroen - Curaçao - Invited a missionary in to discuss miracles, they deconverted. 01:11:31 CC - Canada - Has evidence for god and he reconverted to Catholicism 01:21:08 Eddie - NY - Believer who has doubts, needs help with understanding. 01:32:20 Rick - Canada - Proof the Big Bang is in the bible and science is in the bible too.
SHOW NOTES
In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Matt Dillahunty is joined by one of our favorite co-hosts, Don Baker. Don is back with his list of Christian Failures. This week, Don continues to talk about souls for the 3rd time. He talks about where the soul goes when you die, spoiler alert: the soul doesn’t exist and it doesn’t go anywhere. If you’re following along and keeping track, this is topic #69.
Let’s get to calls!
The first caller is Brian from Ohio. He claims Tim Tebow is miraculous, it’s also a miracle that he wore 3:16, and everything lined up for a win 7 years ago. Ummmm… No. How do you determine it’s a miracle and how does it translate into proving a god. Oooh, this one is quick. Charles from Texas lists off historical events and claims it was all caused by the Jesuits. Nope, goodbye!
The following caller named Joel from Alabama has a bald assertion that the soul is reincarnated through universal awareness. Instincts do not relate at ALL to reincarnation. There is also no evidence for this.
The next caller in the queue is Patrick from Florida wanting to discuss why atheists don’t believe that god is the universe. We aren’t trying to redefine the universe as god. What attributes or properties justify putting a god label on the universe? (Answer: it’s not worth it and makes you seem ridiculous.)
Next up, Paul in London, UK has proof that no gods exist. This assertation needs to be under the same scrutiny as the claim that there is a god. The burden of proof is on Paul here due to his claim.
Afterwards we have Jonathan from Arizona. He called in to talk about Matt’s argument that alien abduction is more plausible than god and how that argument is false. It actually is plausible and could happen because it wouldn’t be a supernatural event. You do not get to assert that it is supernatural.
Subsequently, Jeroen in Curaçao feels guilt about deconverting someone who he invited into his home where they discussed and dismantled miracles and other religious ideology. Next up, Catholic “Clearly” Canadian in Canada definitely has evidence for god. It’s why he reconverted to Catholicism. Where and what is your evidence, eh?
Next caller, Eddie from New York is disgusted with immoral believers and is troubled by what he used to believe. He is having a really tough time, hang in there Eddie, you have community with us here. Please contact the kind folks at Recovering from Religion. They can help: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/
Finally, we have Rick from Canada. Claims the big bang is in the bible along with scientific facts. Sorry, science doesn’t work that way.
SHOW TIME-STAMPS
00:03:42 Nicolas - Bahamas - Would the world be a safe place without religion? 00:09:21 Shane - UT - Knows there is a god due to love. What is love? Baby don’t hurt me... 00:26:52 Bree - IA - Troubled about the rapture and how it traumatized her as a child 00:33:41 Fred - FL - Claims near death experiences proves there is an afterlife 00:56:31 Aiden - MA - Would like some tips on how to approach apologetics respectfully 01:03:21 Michael - KS - Experienced some rough times and struggling with Christian platitudes. 01:15:17 Troy - TX - Struggled with coming out as an atheist and his wife’s response. 01:21:50 Connor - NV - How to deal with folks who don’t want to hear our point of view. SHOW NOTES
Welcome to Talk Heathen! In today’s episode, Eric Murphy is joined by Vi La Bianca. Welcome back to the co-host seat Vi, we love your insight!
The first caller is Nicolas from the Bahamas. He would like to talk about if the world would be a utopia or safe place if there was no religion. Tune in to hear about how Eric and Vi parse this idea.
The next caller, Shane from Utah would like to talk about how love means there is a god. Claims that emotion means energy in motion and therefore god. Listen in and find out how Eric and Vi break it all down.
After a little bit of discussion about love and the previous caller, the next caller is Bree from Iowa. She wants to talk about how the rapture completely troubled her as a child. Leaving religion isn’t easy, it takes time to unpack that baggage when you’re out. It’s worth giving yourself time to process.
The next caller in the queue is Fred from Florida would like to discuss that there is evidence of an afterlife because of near death experiences. Watch to hear how Eric explains how this is a false equivalency.
Next up, Aiden in Massachusetts will be reading a book by Lee Strobel and would love to hear some tips on how to approach the subject matter (Christian apologetics.) Eric and Vi both love this topic and gave him some great recommendations.
Afterward, Michael from Kansas is troubled with people providing horrible Christian platitudes in the face of him dealing with loss. Michael we love you and you have community with us. Your grandmother would be proud of you for speaking up.
Subsequently, Troy in Texas is seeking recommendations for going through a divorce as a secular/atheist person. His wife responded poorly to him coming out and he is looking for resources to getting help.
Our last caller, Connor from Nevada is calling about how to deal with folks who don’t want to hear his point of view. It’s totally ok to walk away from a conversation if you find the reasoning is fallacious or if you need to follow up later. ‘I don’t know’ is definitely ok to use!
SHOW TIME-STAMPS
00:16:35 Jim - CA - How to shield his child from JW propaganda 00:24:09 Alexander - Germany - Knowingly deceiving self into believing due to fear of death 00:37:44 Tyler - MO - Shunned by JW community for 3 years, should he fade or disassociate. 00:45:47 John - GA - Believes atheists all have faith and why we have a negative view on it. 01:05:20 Kenny - OK - Why must Christians provide extraordinary evidence for their god 01:17:00 Steve - WA - Concerned with believing science can explain everything. 01:23:49 Kevin - AK - Why is the Damascus road experience good enough for Saul but not us? 01:37:50 Anonymous - TX - God definitely definitely definitely exists and has the proof. 01:39:19 Rob - Quebec - Noah existed and so did the ark, it’s in Turkey
SHOW NOTES Welcome to The Atheist Experience! In today’s episode, Matt Dillahunty is joined by Lloyd Evans. (Matt’s back, we missed you!) Lloyd runs a YouTube channel (John Cedars), wrote an amazing book (The Reluctant Apostate), and a website for ex-Jehovah’s Witnesses (www.jwsurvey.org) providing resources to those JWs who are seeking help getting out.
After a couple announcements and some chat about yesterday’s talk in Arizona, they begin taking calls. The first caller is Jim from California. He would like to talk about how best to approach and shield his child from JW propaganda. Lloyd explains how to best go about handling this, tune in to see his response.
The next caller, Alexander from Germany would like to discuss how he is afraid of death, and is deceiving himself into believing so he may enjoy an afterlife. The following caller named Tyler from Missouri is an ex-JW and wants to talk about whether to fade (aka slip off the radar) or disassociate (aka be excommunicated). Lloyd has a couple recommendations and resources for him.
The next caller in the queue is John from Georgia wanting to discuss why atheists have negative views on religious faith and genuinely believes that all atheists have faith. Et Tu quoque?
Next up, Kenny in Oklahoma is wondering about extraordinary claims requiring extraordinary evidence. The fact that religion is common and people believe in a god isn’t extraordinary, it’s the claim there IS a god, that is extraordinary and requires evidence. Matt is back!
Afterward, Steve from Washington talks about how he is concerned about using science to explain things and is it credible enough. Uh oh, he doesn’t believe in outer space, whoa we might have a flat-earther. Goodbye, you’re done.
Subsequently, Kevin in Alaska would like to discuss why atheists don’t believe in god revealing himself to Saul. Matt explains how if god was wise and real, he would reveal himself to everyone. Kevin responds by saying he saw god in his cereal.
One of our super quick calls, Anonymous in Texas definitely has evidence for god. It’s the 10 commandments… Lloyd’s first hangup! Congrats Lloyd! You’re a pro now!
Finally, Rob from Quebec has proof that Noah and his ark existed and they used steel cables to construct it. It’s in Turkey. (Sure it is.)
The Atheist Experience 23.45 for 2019-10-27 with Eric Murphy & Lloyd Evans
SHOW TIME-STAMPS
00:06:11 Connor - TX - Feeling anger due to the lies told by religion 00:17:36 Brandon - AZ - Prophecy proves god is real 00:36:21 Lane - UT - Do outsiders view certain religions as ridiculous 00:44:25 John - GA - What sort of evidence do atheists need for the existence of god? 00:55:44 Mark - Italy - Is not a Christian any longer, can we talk about the trinity? 01:05:57 Jessica - MI - Troubled and scared of completely leaving religious life 01:15:38 Dean - NC - Wondering if we look at a brain, can we visualize thoughts? 01:24:03 Cal - MO - Growing up financially supported by religion, worth thinking about it? 01:31:35 Shalev - WA - Seeking ideas to approach conversations with theistic relatives
SHOW NOTES
Welcome to Talk Heathen! In today’s episode, Eric Murphy is joined by Lloyd Evans. Lloyd runs a youtube channel (John Cedars), wrote an amazing book (The Reluctant Apostate), and a website for ex-Jehovah’s Witnesses (www.jwsurvey.org) providing resources to those JWs who are seeking help getting out.
The first caller is Connor from Texas. He would like to talk about how to approach how religions tend to lie to their congregation. He is feeling some anger about this. Listen in to hear how Lloyd explains this and finding perspective.
The next caller, Brandon from Arizona would like to continue to discuss his position that prophecy proves god is real. He has called in before and you may recognize his voice. Listen in and find out how Eric and Lloyd break down his argument.
The following caller named Lane from Utah wants to talk about how the view of certain religions can be seen as ridiculous, specifically Mormonism.
The next caller in the queue is John from Georgia wanting to discuss the evidence needed by atheists to prove the existence of god. Tune in to hear how Eric processes this.
Next up, Mark in Italy is no longer a Christian (possibly an ex-JW,) but would like to discuss Christian apologetics and whether or not the bible proves the trinity.
Afterward, Jessica from Mississippi talks about how scared they are of completely extricating themselves from religion and feeling free from indoctrination. This is something worth listening to as well as visiting Recovering from Religion: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/
Subsequently, Dean in North Carolina ponders if we look at a brain, are we able to see and access thoughts as they occur.
The next caller, Cal from Missouri is struggling with having been financially supported by religion growing up, and wondering if it is worth caring about it now he is an atheist. Lloyd does his magic and unpacks this with care. Tune in to see!
Our last caller, Shalev from Washington would like to discuss how to have conversations with their religious relatives.
The Atheist Experience 23.45 for 2019-10-27 with Jenna Belk & ObjectivelyDan
SHOW TIME-STAMPS 00:03:45 Kenny - OK - Doesn’t believe that it is an extraordinary claim that a god exists. 00:32:08 Chris - TN - Is there something greater than us that created the Universe? 00:50:45 John - TN - Losing religion was like losing a horrible part-time job. 01:04:55 Jarrod - FL - Possibility of a creator based on science. 01:09:42 Dean - NC - Accepting the Big Bang model as beginning of the known universe.
SHOW NOTES Welcome to Truth Wanted, the show were we explore and debunk myths and try to get to the truth! In today’s episode, ObjectivelyDan talks about... No, wait. It’s Sunday, not Friday. Did the crew mix it up? VERN OR MARK, HELP, YOU’RE MY ONLY HOPE! Jenna to the rescue, it IS the Atheist Experience with Jenna Belk and ObjectivelyDan!
Let’s jump right into calls! The first caller is Kenny from Oklahoma. He would like to talk about how Christianity or a monotheistic god shouldn’t require extraordinary evidence. Tune in to see Jenna and Dan work through this ad-hoc rationalization.
After some discussion, we take the next caller, Chris from Tennessee. He would like to discuss the idea of intelligent design. Listen in and find out how Jenna and ObjectivelyDan offer a different perspective on this.
The following caller named John also from Tennessee wants to talk about how losing one’s religion is like losing a horrible part-time job. Listen in to hear ObjectivelyDan help him through this conundrum.
The next caller in the queue is Jarrod from Florida who believes we could be code within a quantum computer or mainframe. Why would he believe this? He may be a solipsist… this is an interesting call, tune in to find out what happens.
Our last caller of the day, Dean in North Carolina is asking about using the Big Bang model as a way to explain the beginning of the known universe and if it relates to a god. Tune in and find out how ObjectivelyDan and Jenna expand and unpack this question.
Be sure to check out Truth Wanted with ObjectivelyDan Fridays at 7:00pm central time
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/truthwanted
Audio Podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/show/truthwanted
Talk Heathen 03.44 for 2019-11-03 with Eric Murphy & Vi La Bianca
SHOW TIME-STAMPS 00:05:25 Ethan - CT - Questioning how long it takes to remove rituals from his life. 00:19:30 Fred - FL - How do atheists write off all the religious testimony throughout history. 00:42:40 Ha-Satan - CA - Has proof God is real and is happy to share! 01:02:05 Jeff - PN - What is the difference between confirmation and confirmation bias. 01:14:50 Dylan - TX - Struggling with possibly becoming a believer again. 01:28:52 Becky - KY - Dealing with the upcoming holidays and theist relatives. SHOW NOTES In this episode of Talk Heathen, Eric Murphy is joined by Vi La Bianca! Wow it’s already November! We are all ready for the cooler weather and cocoa! Eric, definitely enjoy the salted caramel flavored cocoa, it sounds decadent!
After some announcements, they begin taking calls. The first caller is Ethan from Connecticut. He would like to talk about his recent deconversion and is wondering about how long it takes to get rid of personal religious rituals. Vi has really great ideas on how to transition from religious ritual to something more helpful in secular life.
The next caller, Fred from Florida would like to discuss how Atheists can write off the thousands and thousands of religious testimony throughout history. Listen in and find out how Eric and Vi unpack and process this question and more.
The following caller named Ha-Satan from California has proof that God is real and is willing to share through illogical allegory, incorrect reasons to dismiss others & their struggles, and claims atheists are condescending towards theists.
The next caller in the queue is Jeff from Pennsylvania wanting to discuss how to determine the difference between confirmation bias and confirmation. Tune in to hear Eric’s explanation and many examples illustrating his point.
Next up, Dylan in Texas is troubled with the possibility of going back to Christianity because what if we are wrong as atheists. Pascal’s wager can really cause a lot of problems in life and recovering from religion can help: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/
Our last caller, Becky from Kentucky talks about how to deal with her theistic relatives and in-laws during the upcoming holidays. Needs resources to help her not only being an atheist but also getting out of the bible belt. We have resources for you Becky!
As a last note, if you need to talk to someone and are an atheist or non-religious person, please do visit https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/ or call 1-844-368-2848. They have trained agents at the ready to assist! https://www.seculartherapy.org/ is another wonderful resource ready for you if you need them.
Guest Host: Jenna Belk
~~~~~
[Commentary] Cognitive Dissonance The Podcast https://dissonancepod.com/
[News] Nothing Will Persuade White Evangelicals to Support Impeachment * (article) https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2019/10/trump-white-evangelical-impeachment/600376/ * (data) https://www.prri.org/research/fractured-nation-widening-partisan-polarization-and-key-issues-in-2020-presidential-elections/
[Topic] Alcoholism Jenna Belk personal experience
[News] Televangelist Paula White joins White House staff * https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/468437-televangelist-paula-white-joins-white-house-staff
Quote: "When you honor this principle it provides the foundation and structure for God’s blessings and promises in your life, it unlocks deep dimensions of spiritual truths that literally transform your life! When you apply this everything comes in divine alignment for His plan and promises for you. When you don’t honor it, whether through ignorance or direct disobedience there are consequences."
Quote(from White's website): "The reason is God lays claim to all firsts...So when you keep for yourself something that belongs to God you are desecrating what is to be consecrated to God."
Quote (CBN interview): "I think so many people have taken Biblical Scriptures out of context on this, to say stuff like, ‘Well, Jesus was a refugee.’...Yes, he did live in Egypt for three-and-a-half years. But it was not illegal. If he had broken the law, then he would have been sinful and he would not have been our Messiah"
~~~~~
[News] State Department's promotion of 'Being a Christian Leader' on website criticized for potential violation of Constitution * https://www.newsweek.com/mike-pompeo-christian-leader-speech-trump-secretary-state-separation-church-1465143
Denis Loubet resources:
http://denisloubet.com/
https://mainqueststudios.com/
https://www.patreon.com/denisloubet
The Atheist Experience 23.45 for 2019-10-27 with Matt Dillahunty & Don Baker
SHOW TIME-STAMPS
00:09:00 Jerry - MN - Questioning the end of life of a religious relative 00:19:00 Christian - Denmark - Is it immoral to have children if you believe they’ll end up in Hell? 00:36:00 Nick - OK - How to encourage a thriving atheist community in your area 00:52:00 John - GA - Could the universe really have happened by random chance? 01:07:00 Maurice - TX - Is death really and truly the end? 01:20:27 Jamie - AR - Troubled with honoring her atheist daughter’s last wishes. 01:37:22 Mike - AZ - Why did you choose Atheism over Agnosticism 01:40:12 Gman - NJ - Has proof that god exists, and no he doesn’t really.
SHOW NOTES In this episode of the Atheist Experience, Matt Dillahunty is joined by the most fabulous Don Baker! We begin this episode with Don’s failures. This week’s topic is: Soul scams used by religions. For those following along, this is topic #68.
Afterwards, they begin taking calls. The first caller is Jerry from Minnesota. He would like to talk about how to approach a religious relative’s end of life beliefs. As someone close to death, she may be embracing religion out of fear, perhaps a gentle touch is a good idea.
The next caller, Christian from Denmark would like to discuss the idea that it is immoral to have children and believe they might end up in Hell. Listen in and find out how Matt and Don approach this idea!
The following caller named Nick from Oklahoma wants to talk about his atheist group and best practices to encouraging and revitalizing a thriving atheist community. The next caller in the queue is John from Georgia wanting to discuss if the universe really could have happened by random chance and probability. Tune in to hear Matt’s explanation and debunking yet another ad-hoc rationalization.
Next up, Maurice in Texas is asking about using circumstantial evidence to prove the existence of the afterlife and therefore God. Tune in and find out if the evidence provided is good enough for Matt and Don!
Afterward, Jamie from Arkansas talks about how to truly honor her daughter’s wishes in death, Jamie is a Christian and her dying daughter is an atheist. This is something worth listening to as well as visiting Grief beyond Belief: http://griefbeyondbelief.org/
Subsequently, Mike in Arizona discusses why we chose atheism over agnosticism. Guess what Mike, they are not mutually exclusive nor are they absolute as you claim. One is about belief and the other is about knowledge. That was a short call.
Finally, Gman from Arizona has proof a god exists. Go ahead and prove it and don’t use circular arguments or rationalizations. We're still waiting… annnnddd.. you’re done!
Talk Heathen 03.43 for 2019-10-27 with Eric Murphy & Vi La Bianca
SHOW TIME-STAMPS 00:05 Landon - Atlanta, GA - Ad Hominem alert! Our first hangup in this episode! 00:06 Hiram - NY - Was Jesus a historically real person? 00:11 Tessa - South Korea - Her mom is terrified of being non-spiritual. 00:17 Patrick - MO - Update on his deconversion from earlier this year. 00:29 Richard - VA - Wonders about using the scientific method on the bible. 00:42 Ethan - TN - How to talk about controversial topics with the religious without “outing” oneself. 00:49 Wounded Fox - MA - Repeat caller, continuing to ponder about nihilism. 1:00:01 William - OK - It’s easy to let go of belief, but struggling with fundamentalist sibling. 1:00:13 Dean - NC - What evidence do we need to believe there is a creator? 1:00:43 Dwane - TN - What would humanity be like if…
SHOW NOTES In this special Halloween week episode of Talk Heathen, Jon Snow is joined by the Mad Hatter. (Their alter egos being Eric Murphy and Vi La Bianca respectively.) Happy fall/Halloween/Samhain everyone!
First up, announcements and show and tell. Talk Heathen regularly gets gifts from fans and we love showing these amazing gifts from our creative fans! The first caller of the show is Landon from Georgia. First hangup of the show, caller decides to be a troll and uses ad hominem attacks. Goodbye!
The next caller, Hiram from NY wants to discuss whether Jesus/Jeshua actually existed. Listen in and find out how Eric unpacks this and talks about what actually matters! The following caller named Tessa from South Korea. Her mom is terrified of not being spiritual and is aghast about her daughter being an atheist. Can Eric help Tessa with talking with her mom sincerely and gently.
The next caller in the queue is Patrick from Missouri, a repeat caller. He is a pub owner who had a patron come in asking about his call on the show. He recently joined a like-minded group and seems to be doing well. Congrats Patrick!
Next up is Richard in Virginia steps up to the plate to discuss using the scientific method on the passages within the bible. Tune in and find out if Eric and Vi can figure out if this works. (It doesn’t.)
Afterward, Ethan from Tennessee wants to talks about how to talk about controversial topics with religious people without outing himself as an atheist. This can be tricky and difficult to navigate. Be sure to listen in!
Next, Wounded Fox from Massachusetts calls us back, would like to continue to discuss nihilism. “You’re not special,” but we are glad you are here. The next caller, William from Oklahoma is struggling with continuing a relationship with his fundamentalist Christian brother. Can Eric and Vi help him? Be better than your Voldemort! William, if you find this later, here’s a link to a group in your area: https://oklahomaatheists.com/
Afterwards, Dean from North Carolina asks what evidence is needed to believe in a creator and what gives us pause about our atheism. “Interesting” apologist questions, listen in to hear how Eric and Vi explain their positions.
Our last caller, Duane from Tennessee. Wonders about an interesting thought experiment about human achievements throughout history and how better to debate theists.
Hosts: Jamie Boone, Denis Loubet, Derek Hawke
Denis Loubet website => https://mainqueststudios.com
[Mail] Chuck(AZ): Why do presuppositionalists talk to atheists?
[Mail] Chuck(AZ): Burden of proof "It's said that the person making a claim has a burden of proof, but is that necessarily true? I think the one who wants others to agree with a claim is the one who should have the burden of proof."
[News] Turkish bombing damages 3,000-year-old temple in northern Syria Link => https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/01/29/turkish-bombing-damages-3000-year-old-temple-northern-syria/
[Mail] Julian Hayes: Unforgivable Sin "I was taught that Jesus' death and resurrection forgave us from all of our sins, and [the idea of unforgivable sin] flies in the face of that."
[News] Bishop of Waterford warns against yoga and mindfulness in schools Link => https://www.thejournal.ie/waterford-bishop-alphonsus-cullinan-yoga-mindfulness-4857160-Oct2019/
[News] Vatican announces wearable 'eRosary' smart device and app for guided prayer Link => https://www.nbcnews.com/news/religion/vatican-announces-wearable-erosary-smart-device-app-guided-prayer-n1067806
[SHIT] Proposed bill would make Bible courses a requirement in Florida public schools Link => https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/proposed-bill-would-make-bible-courses-a-requirement-in-florida-public-schools
[News] In U.S., Decline of Christianity Continues at Rapid Pace Link => https://www.pewforum.org/2019/10/17/in-u-s-decline-of-christianity-continues-at-rapid-pace/
[News] Atheists Blast A.G. Barr’s Fact-Free Attack on Secularism Link => https://www.atheists.org/2019/10/barr-blaming-secularism/
[Video] Ron Reagan ad for Freedom From Religion Foundation airs during Democrat presidential debate. Network that did not air it faced secular backlash!
13 OCTOBER 2019 / 4:30-6:00 PM / HOSTS: Eric Murphy, Christy Powell
SHOW ITINERARY 0:00 Announcements & Updates. 0:04 Richard from Malaysia, 0:19 Joel from Alabama, 0:24 John from NY, 0:54 James from LA, 1:14 Ian from UK, 1:22 Marcus from Germany, 1:33 Lucas from South Dakota, 1:44 Alex from Hawaii,
SHOW NOTES In this episode of the Atheist Experience and continuing the day of Eric Murphy, we have as hosts Eric Murphy and Christy Powell. Christy is a host from Secular Sexuality and we are stoked to have him co-host AXP today. Should be a great show! After a few announcements, the first caller of the day is Richard from Malaysia. He claims that everyone experiences god and this god can be proven to exist. We now wait for Richard to prove it… We are still waiting Richard. Can Eric and Christy finally get him to prove it?
The next caller, Joel calls in pondering about the soul/awareness and recurrent reincarnation. He claims the soul/awareness can be passed on and incorrectly asserts that evolved instincts are proof of this reincarnation. You know, badgering the hosts isn’t always a good tactic. Eric’s first hangup as host! Congrats!
The call following is John from NY. He wants to talk about uniformity in nature, the laws of logic, and using the Christian worldview as a way to determine morality, logic, and intelligence. Will Eric and Christy find the right approach in dealing with this pre-sup? After some followup conversation because pre-sups can make your mind melt with their word salad, the next caller is James, a Catholic who wants to further the conversation about the laws of logic and how they can prove a god exists. He continues to talk about the miracle of Fátima and how this also proves god. Watch Eric and Christy debunk these assertions!
Next up we have Ian from the UK, he humorously tries show the insanity of deathbed conversions. He posits that by using Pascal’s Wager and beating someone with grandma’s bible, the atheist on their deathbed will go to heaven due to being a martyr. Is this a joke? How does Eric respond? Afterward, Marcus from Germany calls in to talk about proving god through the Kalam cosmological argument. Can Eric and Christy unpack this to reach the truth? Tune in to find out!
Next in the queue we have Lucas from South Dakota. He’s calling about how a cult he left is threatening him for standing up to them. It sounds like he needs some support and resources outside of the show. The hotline project through Recovering from Religion (https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org) is there for him. Calling 184-I-DOUBT-IT, Freedom from Religion https://ffrf.org, and the legal team at American Atheists https://www.atheists.org/legal/ can also help.
Our last caller of the day is Alex from Hawaii wants to know our thoughts on religion in public school, forcing religious based education on children, and the legality of that. As always, if you need to, please do reach out to Freedom from Religion, American Atheists, and Recovering from Religion for help if you need them!
13 OCTOBER 2019 / 1:00-2:00 PM / HOSTS: Eric Murphy, Vi La Bianca
SHOW ITINERARY 0:00 Announcements & Updates. 0:03 John from Alabama, 0:28 Steve from Alabama, 0:58 Tawana from Florida, 1:11 Jan from West Virginia, 1:19 Fox from Massachusetts, 1:32 Charlie from Illinois, 1:46 Michelle from California,
SHOW NOTES In this episode of Talk Heathen, Eric Murphy is joined by Vi La Bianca, continuing on a journey to help others find the truth and making friends along the way.
After some announcements, they begin taking calls. The first caller is John from Alabama. He claims to have experienced something supernatural and has some questions about it. Was this a demon, a dream, or a hallucination? Did using Jesus’ name help cast it out? Can Eric and Vi help him investigate this claim?
The next caller, Steve from Alabama calls in asking about the soul and even questioning if life is real. Is there a way for Eric and Vi to help him understand life is a process and see the holes in his logic? Listen in and find out!
The following caller named Tawana in Florida wants to answer the question on why they still believe. Eric would love to see tangible evidence on the air and asks them to put a spell or curse on him. Tune in and find out what will happen to Eric (by January!)
Next in the queue is Jan from West Virginia. Jan would like to talk about how the religious must submit to their god, how it is designed to make you feel worthless, and how horrible that is. Eric contributes to the conversation by helping her see there is a better way to debate theists rather than being an “angry atheist.”
Following that call is Fox from Massachusetts. He would “love” to talk about nihilism, discuss a previous call, and talk about the idea of the multiverse in quantum theory. Can Eric help him avoid possible logical fallacies and pitfalls?
The next caller is Charlie from Illinois. He is curious about destiny (or a predetermined force), deja vu, and the laws of the universe. Eric says NO! There is no hard determinism and there isn’t free will. Watch him explain this and more!
Our last caller today is Michelle from California. She is struggling with finally letting go of her theism. It’s really scary to question faith during the process of deconversion, it’s also very normal. Watch Eric and Vi help her through this part of the process. Michelle could also benefit from talking to a counselor:
https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org https://www.seculartherapy.org/
SHOW NOTES In this episode of the Atheist Experience, we have Matt Dillahunty and Don Baker as co-hosts. While this episode is not a milestone show like Talk Heathen’s 100th episode, this episode should prove to be just as memorable. Why? Because Don is co-hosting, we love Don! Also Happy Birthday to Matt’s dad! Before we jump into calls, a couple announcements and Don’s list of failures. Today’s topic: Ensoulment. Ensoulment and when the soul gets a body, it is nonsensical at best says Don. Theists and Christians say the soul is intentionally imperfect and created by God. But when do they get put into a body? Does it happen at conception or at first cell division? There are a lot of problems with ensoulment at conception, one being that 50% of fertilized eggs fail or don’t implant. Other problems include but are not limited to, science, chimeras, and developing identical twins! Does one twin go to hell without a soul? Do Chimeras have two souls? Our first caller of the show today is Sean in Nebraska. Sean wonders why we atheists don’t believe in god? Why or why not? He continues to ask about how the Bible claims to be the work of god, how do we demonstrate or prove that it is true? Interestingly he agrees at the ancient age of the Earth, but the “testimonies” of the people in the Bronze age should be accepted. Matt questions his belief in this line of thinking.
Our next caller is Chloe from Maryland, She is beginning to have doubts about her faith after coming out LGBTQ. She also questions if it is normal to be angry after being challenged on belief? She is also struggling with the idea that after death there is nothing. Matt attempts to help her understand it’s important to live the one life we all have. (Carpe Diem Chloe!) https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org May help anyone who is struggling with similar issues like Chloe.
Next in the queue we have Nate in Alabama. He asks about the laws of logic & science and how would an atheist explain their existence? Matt explains they are non-physical and descriptive. Don chimes in and says it sounds like there is a false equivalency happening due to a lack of context. Our next caller is Greg in Colorado. Whispers they can provide evidence for the existence of god and claims that 0 theists are arguing that god is physical and non-physical. Matt counters saying: Arguing for a conceptual god doesn’t mean that a god exists and the concept of a thing is not the thing. There seems to be a major conflict though, Greg is saying they’re an atheist, but is also claiming to be able to prove a god exists. Greg may be a bit confused, Matt recommends they collecting their thoughts and call back during another show. Next up, Vik in Indiana. Family claims to have experienced a supernatural event and he wants advice on how to approach this story when he visits them. Can Matt and Don provide best practices on how to debunk this and explore the available resources on being a skeptic? The caller following Vik is Stevie in NY. His questions were philosophical in nature. There are things we disagree about, but if there is an observable answer that we agree on, we should all get along. It’s not the topics we agree on that are troublesome, it’s the topics we disagree on where there are potential conflicts and pitfalls. Reminder to all though, don’t tell us what we believe, we will react negatively. AT-HEIST, phooey. Next up, William in Arizona. Has questions about intelligent design, may be approaching the blind watchmaker fallacy. Having one watchmaker make you a watch can be inferred that a watch you happen upon may have been intelligently designed and created, yes we agree on that. William continues, What happens when humans guide the evolution of things or artificial selection? Does it rule out intelligent design or a creator? Matt and Don answers: Nobody made a species in the same way we make a watch. Arguing by analogy isn’t a great way to explain things. Ready for some fireworks? Next we had Otangelo from Brazil. Oh boy. Questions why we answer “I don’t know.” Says “I don’t know” isn’t a justified answer due to the evidence provided. If you can demonstrate the truth of theism, then we can have a conversation. When Otangelo calls in, he claims god instead of “I don’t know” and says we lie about god when we say it. If we don’t know something, then I don’t know is the right answer and we don’t lie nor are we dishonest about it. Afterwards the next caller is Jeff in Florida. Has a 6 year old child and she mentioned her non-belief to a friend. Needs advice on how to encourage his young daughter to talk with him about her friend’s theism and negative reaction to his daughter’s exclamation of atheism. Matt responded People believe different things, and some believe so strongly they could be construed as being mean. But at no point should the desire for friendship override her happiness as a person. Dale McGowan’s book “Parenting beyond belief” may help him traverse this prickly situation. On deck, is Anonymous in Colorado. If I don’t believe in any theology, does that make me an atheist? Does the negation of theology make me an atheist? For some reason didn’t want to hear any answer from Matt and basically didn’t listen to Don. Quite a quick call… Shortest in AXP history? Our final caller is Nicolas in Norway. Has a question about morality. Matt explains how the rules of chess can be fairly similar objectively to the rules of morality. There are objective rules we can make in reference to morality. EXTERNAL LINKS (If needed or discussed during the show) https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org https://ffrf.org http://clergyproject.org https://www.seculartherapy.org/
In this very special 100th episode of Talk Heathen, Jamie and Eric celebrate the 100th of things. The boys talk about creating videos, they get cgi glitter bombed, and super hyped about the 100th episode. Jamie has 100 things to do and has 100 extra energy. “Put your Peter 3:15 where your faith is punk.” Jamie is still hyped and this is what happens when he is hyped. Jamie has gone full Jamie. Happy 100th. Jamie makes a grand introduction of Vi and Vi joins Eric as co-host. After the dust settles, they take their first call. Adam in Ontario, (Save them Adam, you’re our only hope.) He first talks about how awesome Eric was on Hammered Out with Suris. He goes on to ask about how to approach his very religious parents about being gender fluid. Can Vi help him approach his family? The next caller, Phil from Oregon talks about a couple observations about Christianity. Saying Christ paid for our sins and how death is because of sin. If Christ paid for our sins, why is there still death? Can Eric help him come to grips with these observations? Eric also offers resources to help Phil continue his journey. The following caller, Jonathan in our home state of Texas. He asks about resources for a newly deconverted atheist. Vi asks what pulled him away from faith and by knowing this will help him find the appropriate resources to continue his lifelong journey. Eric follows that up with “I took a long detour into woo.” Could philosophy courses help Jonathan as well? Jonathan also asks if “coming out” would be a good idea given his current situation. If you experience trouble or financial difficulty when “coming out,” then don’t until you are in a more stable situation. The next caller, our first theist caller, Sain from Austin. (Why aren’t you at the library?) How do atheists have an objective for best/good or evil? Eric asks very pointed questions about standards of morality and what/who is evil. Is God evil? Is God moral? Can Sain provide a standard of well-being? Does God give reasons for genocide? How can you rationalize the answer to good/evil when you have justified genocide? Next in queue, we have Jonathan from Arizona. Following up on an email conversation between himself and Vi. Do we have consistency with what we consider as historical? Are we being objective and sincere with regards to the truth? If theists can’t come to the table on that, there’s no good reason to try to reason with them. Did historical Yeshua/Jesus exist? Should we care if he did? Eric responds to this line of questioning: “Prove to me that miracles are possible, then I will care.” Can Jonathan prove and explain this? Our last caller, Chad in Connecticut. Growing up Catholic, Chad never really was indoctrinated within the faith. Later in life, he decided to do research, discovered Aron Ra, and began to have conversations with theists in his area. He is being encountered with “oh you don’t know the facts” when he presents the facts he has discovered. Can Eric help him navigate this? Does God need me to have a degree of scholarship to believe in him? If someone wants to continue to move the goalposts during a discussion, get them to answer your questions, use active listening, and they will feel heard. By doing so, you give them tools to understand your position and possibly question their beliefs. An awesome image is then shown on screen. Love rings! Thanks to the production team!
EXTERNAL LINKS (If needed or discussed during the show) https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org https://ffrf.org http://clergyproject.org https://www.seculartherapy.org/
2019-10-05
American Atheists open Arlington City Council meeting with secular words of inspiration from Wiccan writer [Link] https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/tarrant-county/american-atheists-arlington-wiccan/287-aa47d8c8-4b02-4e81-8bdb-86f1c0e55db2
Pope names 13 new cardinals, cements majority vote and the power to reshape the Church [Link] https://religionnews.com/2019/10/05/pope-names-13-new-cardinals-cementing-a-majority-vote-and-the-power-to-reshape-the-church/ "Darth Vader was a christian at heart"
InterVarsity can require its leaders to be Christian, judge rules [Link] https://religionnews.com/2019/10/02/intervarsity-can-require-its-leaders-to-be-christian-judge-rules/
The Supreme Court Considers Mandatory Government Funding of Religious Education [Link] https://www.aclu.org/blog/religious-liberty/religion-and-public-schools/supreme-court-considers-mandatory-government
[Mail] Chuck in Arizona: "Some states have laws that prevent atheists from holding office"
Paster Robert Jeffress says Trump is christian "warrior" and democrats worship pagan god Moloch "who allowed for child sacrifice" [Link] https://www.newsweek.com/robert-jeffress-donald-trump-defends-christians-todd-starnes-show-1462525
In this episode of the Atheist Experience, Matt Dillahunty has a special guest, Gayle Jordan, on the show. Gayle is an Executive Director on the Recovering From Religion. In addition, she ran two-times as a Democratic candidate for a State Senate seat in a very red part of Tennessee but did not win. Not to mention, she won the American Atheist's Atheist of the Year Award this year! At the beginning of the show, Gayle discusses what she does at Recovering From Religion and building communities for nonreligious people.
Afterwards, they begin taking calls. The first caller is John from Connecticut. He discusses the difficulty of leaving religion because he still believes in God at the back of his mind and asks Matt to help him out with that. Can Matt help him? The next caller, Aaron from Pennsylvania discusses his difficulties with the AA and its method. Is there another method to deal with alcoholism without turning to a higher power? Listen in and find out!
The following caller named AC from Illinois claims to have a simple proof that shows that atheism is not possible by logic. Carl Sagan once said that extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. Let's see if AC meets this requirement.
Following a lengthy conversation, the next caller Ron from San Antonio, Texas discusses how the human body complexity is evidence for God. The classic Watchmaker Argument brought up again but debunked by Matt Dillahunty.
Next on the list, Dale in Ohio steps up to the plate to discuss his "discovery" of the Garden of Eden? Is this discovery worthy of a Nobel Prize? Tune in and find out! Afterward, Mojo from the UK talks about how Intelligent Design is a scientific theory. Or is it? This is something worth listening to.
Subsequently, Oliver in Washington discusses the difference between belief and knowledge. Do you know something or merely suspect something? Word choice is very important. Finally, Guillermo from California discusses if Atheists can use phrases such as OMG or Holy Cow. This is probably the shortest call you will ever see at the Atheist Experience.
On Today's show we have Gayle Jordan from The Recovering From Religion organization. Learn more about RFR here: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/#rfr-welcome
Callers on today's show:
A- Preston, Florida: Recovered addict, been in 12 step for 8 years, how can I go about setting up a secular recovery group? T- Len, Arizona: In transition "a terrible catholic"; how are morals part of Darwinian evolution? A- Gabe, Missouri: Application of Pascal's Wager; is it ever valid or is it completely a fallacy? T- Michael, UK: How can we discount the existence of a creator? T- Brian, California: Has a hypothesis as to how God(s) exist, but they don't care about you and why! T- Kathy, Pennsylvania: Barely a believer. How do you overcome your fear of hellfire and damnation? A- Louis, North Carolina: Atheism in Hispanic culture; how do I find support when there is so much social pressure towards religion. A- Sue, Washington: Undecided theist/atheist; How can we have objective morality without a higher power
In this episode of the Atheist Experience with Matt Dillahunty and Don Barker, Don first discusses the Do No Harm Act. The Do No Harm Act clarifies that the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) is intended to protect religious freedom without allowing the infliction of harm on other people. However, how far should religious freedom go? Afterwards, Matt and Don begin taking calls. The first caller is Michael from Maryland. Michael discusses how churches have the wrong description of Lucifer (the devil), and that he knows what the correct description is. Is Lucifer really Satan or is he actually Tom Ellis? Will the real Lucifer please stand up? The next caller is Karen from California. She discusses if sight and feelings are the necessary and sufficient criterion for believing in something or if there are other things necessary. In addition, Matt and Karen get into a heated debate about what it means to be a professional. A clip definitely worth listening to! The following caller is Justin from New Jersey. He claims that he knows the truth about how the universe works through observing purposes and designs. Is his argument worthy of a Nobel Prize? Listen in and find out! The next caller, Tasha from Nevada, claims that Jehovah's Witnesses have the correct doctrine of the Bible due to revelations by them. Maybe all that door-to-door business is not in vain. Or is it? Despite appearing exhausted at this point, Matt and Don continue the calls with Ellen from Michigan. Matt jokes at the start of call by talking about a commenter who said that the microphones were in the wrong place, because they wanted to see the hands of the hosts when they talk. Truthfully, they wanted the microphones moved down so they could see the cleavage from the female hosts. Afterwards, Ellen discusses with Matt how to plan a funeral with religious family members. Following the previous difficult conversation, a new caller, Doug from Ohio, discusses how people make ridiculous claims made about natural disasters being the result of unrelated things such as slavery. Another caller from Ohio, Mike brings up the Do No Harm Act that Don discussed earlier and how important it should be to protect individuals who are victims of religious exemptions such as children who are denied blood transfusions and those who are sent to conversion therapies. Afterwards, Mike discusses how Secular Charities are better than Religious Charities. One of the reasons is because religious charities don't have to reveal how much their income is whereas all other nonprofit charities have to. Scary right? Finally, the we wrap up the calls with Michelle from California. She discusses the difficulties that she went through during her deconversion process such as anxiety, PTSD, and even an attempted suicide attempt. Afterwards, she asks Matt how to deal with leaving religion.
Premise one: The Non-Prophets broadcasts on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of every month. Derek is releasing a short story. 05:39 - Fox News: Society has been broken by atheists. Pastor decries atheist who claim to be good without god. Unravalling moral fabric of America. Christians scared that atheists can be good without god. A carrot of heaven and a stick of hell. https://news.yahoo.com/democrats-target-non-religious-voters-101559338.html Derek's mom is not important enough for god to blow up a star for. Democrats anti-god? https://news.yahoo.com/democrats-target-non-religious-voters-101559338.html 35:56 - Federal Appeals court rules that theists have more rights than atheists and greenlights descrimination against non-believers. https://www.au.org/blogs/pennsylvania-legislative-prayer 46:00 - Listener mail: Chuck in Arizona - If I order god to do something, and it is done, does that mean that god can be commanded? 50:11 - Listener mail: Chuck in Arizona - Does god have maximal contentment? 53:01 - Listener mail: Chuck again - No government monuments. Only those who want a monument should build it privately. 57:31 - Tennessee school removes Harry Potter books because they think spells are real. Oh, the children! Derek tries to cast spells, but fails. Are atheist invocations magic? https://www.msn.com/en-nz/news/world/harry-potter-books-removed-from-school-library-because-they-contain-real-curses-and-spells/ar-AAGHaOO 01:16:00 - Shit Internet Apologists Saaaaaaay - On the Jim Bakker show, Hank Kunneman channels god who is apparently upset people want to impeach Trump. https://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/hank-kunneman-prophetic-thumb-drive/
Show Host: Christy Powell - Valence Counseling http://www.vcatx.com
Details about this show can be found here: https://www.vcatx.com/thinking-allowed
WHAT IS SECULAR SEXUALITY?
Secular Sexuality is a weekly call-in television show in Austin, Texas talking about sex from a secular perspective. Sex and sexuality are natural to all living creatures but religion takes this and twists it into something awful and to be ashamed of.
Acceptance, education, and fun is what we strive for. We lay the intersection of sex and religion (and occasionally ourselves) bare, openly and honestly. We discuss a wide range of topics each week, removing the shame and reclaiming what has been natural to us all along. Secular Sexuality is produced by the Atheist Community of Austin.
The Atheist Community of Austin is organized as a nonprofit educational corporation to develop and support the atheist community, to provide opportunities for socializing and friendship, to promote secular viewpoints, to encourage positive atheist culture, to defend the first amendment principle of state-church separation, to oppose discrimination against atheists and to work with other organizations in pursuit of common goals.
We define atheism as the lack of belief in gods. This definition also encompasses what most people call agnosticism.
VISIT THE ACA'S OFFICIAL WEB SITE
► http://www.atheist-community.org (The Atheist Community of Austin)
NOTES Secular Sexuality was founded by sex coach Dr. Darrel Ray, author of “Sex & God”. He is a founder and active contributor the Secular Therapist Project and the Recovering From Religion Foundation. "Secular Sexuality" is a trademark of the ACA.
NOTE: The views and opinions expressed by hosts, guests, or callers are their own and not necessarily representative of the Atheist Community of Austin.
Copyright © 2019 Atheist Community of Austin. All rights reserved.
Guest: Vi La Bianca - @AuthorConfusion - www.authorofconfusion.com
[News] Deliberations postponed on law stating that catholic church employees do not have the same right to confidentiality as priests in the confessional booth
[News] Republic of Ireland census removes question "Which religion are you?" from census and instead asks simply "Do you practice religion?" Clergy are outraged. Rest of the country gives a collective "Meh".
[Shit] In India, men transporting cows were stopped by a group of hindu vigilantes and forced to make hindu cow worshipping chants. The vigilantes alleged the men were taking the cows to be slaughtered.
[News] Andrew Yang (US presidential candidate) thinks it is ridiculous how some people believe atheists are less moral.
[News] Democrats new faith outreach director launches "listening sessions" with faith leaders in leadup to 2020 election.
[Email] More on Chuck and determinism
NOTE: This episode has audio issues with the guest audio due to Internet bandwidth problems. We apologize for the lack of clarity and plan to have Alex back again soon with better sound.
0:10:33 Anthony: TX: Atheist: Co-Parenting with Theist
0:16:29 Bill: RFR Volunteer: Atheist: Involvement in Darrel Ray’s Crazy Organization
0:22:14 Religious Warlord: United Kingdom: Theist: The God Virus vs. Atheism is a Sickness
0:25:04 Jake: IL: Theist: Atheism Is Not an Ideology
0:58:33 Andrew: RFR Volunteer: Atheist: Faith Is a Bad Tool
1:07:52 Bri: CA: Theist: What Is Religious Trauma Syndrome?
1:15:37 John: TX: Theist: Atheists Are Biased
0:01:58 Josh: MO: Atheist: Black Holes Are Real But Crocoduck Is Cool
0:10:36 Juan: Los Angeles. CA: Theist: Finding Faith
0:37:50 Anthony: FL: Theist: Atheist and Theist Marriages, and Morals
1:02:15 Steve: AR: Atheist: The Relevant Story and a Weak Ass Pathetic God
1:20:05 Otangelo: Brazil: 6th-time caller: Theist: Onto the Path of Self-Deception
1:37:20 Nat: Houston, TX: Theist: He Wants Evidence That There is No God
1:50:56 Dave: PA: 2nd-time caller: Theist: To Be Less Courteous to Repeat Callers
2:03:36 Jeremiah: TX: Atheist: A Theory to Explain Belief in God/s
0:06:22 Chad: CA: Theist: Why Do You Believe That Gods Exist? 0:22:44 Alex: IA: Theist: The Theory of Coexisting is a Nice Xtian Propaganda 0:35:05 Slim: CA: Theist: Evolution is Both a Fact and a Theory 0:42:48 Dave: MO: Theist: Are There Transitional BONE_S? 1:09:04 Adrian: TX: Theist: The (Un) Intelligent Design 1:19:21 Tracy: Canada: 2nd-time caller: Theist: Apostolic Succession of RC Church 1:29:00 Michael: TX: Deist: Where Did the Sons of Adam and Eve Find Their Wives? 1:43:10 Charmaine: AL: Atheist: Coming Out as an Atheist to My Husband 1:53:48 Mark: Germany: Atheist: How to Deal with Jehovah’s Witnesses
This week on Truth Wanted we discussed the free market of ideas with Hayk from California. Tackled misconceptions around sexual attraction, with Sassy from New Hampshire. Talked to Tymm in Washington about his time in the X-Gay christian ministries. Rachael in Ohio brought up the lack of mental health services for pedophiles who don’t want to become pederasts. Arguments against veganism as speciesism with Sam from Ohio. And to end the show Dan and Christy discussed how free-speech is good but hate-speech has been linked a rise in violence against marginalized groups with Stan from Pennsylvania.
0:03:18 Mark: Tupelo, MS: 2nd-time caller: Theist: What?!? Theistic Design Mutation?
0:32:04 Anna: FL: Atheist: Beneficial Mutations
0:43:05 Kal: Wales, UK: 2nd-time caller: Theist: Crazy Concept of God
1:09:34 Grayson: AR: Atheist: Non-Belief Is a Good Thing
1:20:20 Sam: CA: Theist: Benevolent Creator That Allows Suffering
Episode 18.12 - 06/05/2019 On the show today Denis Loubet, Kevin Stein and Jamie Boone
https://religionnews.com/2019/05/31/california-lawmakers-threaten-to-break-confidentiality-of-confession-to-find-abusers/ https://religionnews.com/2019/05/29/evangelical-financial-watchdog-faces-scrutiny-over-backing-of-errant-megachurch/ https://religionnews.com/2019/05/24/southern-baptists-see-12th-year-of-declining-membership/ https://religionnews.com/2019/05/24/judge-freezes-accounts-of-florida-church-caught-up-in-alleged-ponzi-scheme/ https://friendlyatheist.patheos.com/2019/06/04/tn-christian-prosecutor-gay-people-dont-deserve-domestic-violence-protections/ https://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/cwn/2019/june/pope-francis-officially-approves-change-to-lords-prayer
0:02:03 R.A.O.: Wyoming: 2nd-time caller: Agnostic Theist: Parenting Teens 0:07:11 Dave: PA: Satanist: The Best Meatloaf is an Evil-Satanist Meatloaf 0:16:24 Dave: Point Beach, FL: Atheist: Rehabilitation Used for Deceptive Proselytization 0:22:30 Kahuzan: London: Theist: The Happiness of Credulity 0:41:47 Adrian: TX: Deist: Is DNA an Evidence of Creator God? 1:03:00 Andrew: OH: 2nd-time caller: Theist: The Argument from Design 1:12:02 Bonnie: WI: The Adversary, Anti-God, Satan, and the Devil 1:13:29 Craig: Sacramento, CA: Autocratic Secularism? 1:21:32 Tracy: Canada: Theist: Was It a Sign? 1:32:22 Caleb: ME: Atheist: Human Rights Are For All Humanity to Thrive
0:03:59 Eric: Provo, UT: Atheist: Religious Family and Influencing Members 0:15:11 Sergio: Tampa, FL: Atheist: Religion Distorts Love 0:31:28 Andrew: Twinsburg, OH: Theist: Evidence of Biblical Wise Men 1:22:45 Brenda: Minneapolis, MN: Conversation About Difficult Issues 1:57:14 Clay: Euless, TX: Atheist: Religion Can Lead to Bad Thinking
0:02:20 Alice: UK: Theist: Priming Effect: “It was the Demon” Excuse 0:27:01 Kal: Wales, UK: Theist: Cheeseburgers vs Vegan Sun Worshipper 0:56:41 RAO: WY: Theist: True Omnipotent? 1:01:17 Steven: PA: Theist: Nothing 1:08:10 Jeffrey: Bryn Athyn, PA: 2nd-time caller: Theist: Truth vs “truth” 1:26:42 Steffan: Godfrey, IL: Atheist: Dear Future in-Laws
Guest host: Jenna Bulk
[News] Students at a catholic university succeeds in getting top 200 porn sites blocked from campus wifi
[News] Ken Hamm and CBN react to same-sex marriage/wedding on the cartoon "Arthur"
[News] Pastor who raped daughter, 14, gets light prison sentence because he is a man of God https://metro.co.uk/2019/05/13/pastor-raped-daughter-14-gets-light-prison-sentence-man-god-9515582/
[News] American professor teaches course on comparative religion in Egypt. Loses post because teaching about religions other than islam, because Saudi billionaire complained.
[Chatroom Questions] 1) "Will you finally admit that the true god is coffee?" No, it's caffeine. 2) "Jenna, what was the moment you realized you don't believe?" Christopher Hitchens debate on YouTube. 3) "Do you have an opinion on the Alabama abortion law that was signed today?" Fuck you, Alabama. 4) "Doctors put mother's lives in danger by refusing to perform abortions due to religious objections. What are your thoughts on secular medicine?" Yes.
0:05:09 Mark: Tupelo, MS: Evolutionary Theist: A Version of Pascal’s Wager 0:41:00 Otangelo: Brazil: 4th-time caller: Theist Change My Beliefs 1:07:14 Kenny: PA: 2nd-time caller: Theist: Cruel Atheist Stereotype 1:10:59 Saad: Pakistan: 4th-time caller: Theist: Muhammad as the Manifestation of Quran 1:22:33 Jeffrey: Bryn Athyn, PA: Theist: Being Uncharitable Leads to Misunderstanding
Truth Wanted 2.14 – Bionic Dance Intro Faithless forum Kate: Arguments from theists don’t change much Definition of faith and how people use it Atheist activism- Kate didn’t grow up religious; Most people in the movement came from a religious background; LGBT+ rights, women’s rights What’s going on on Kate’s channel?? – working on a narrative fiction space-opera animation project Calls • Charles – Fort Worth – Goddess Columbia – paganism, important founding fathers (Ben Franklin, etc) were part of an occult; was America founded on paganism? Dan mentions Greek principles. Charles says Columbia is everywhere. Charles doesn’t believe in Columbia as a real being but as a symbol. Dan talks about rituals for symbols (burning the US flag if it touches the ground). Columbia is a powerful, inspirational symbol that Charles draws motivation from. Illuminati next time! • Brenda – Minnesota – trans woman, asking about Kate’s experiences as a lesbian woman out as an atheist on YouTube; what is it like and how do you deal with hate? Kate says she is not usually targeted, doesn’t get much hate. “Most people think [lesbianism] is hot.” Brenda mentions special targeting of trans people from the GOP; transphobia in the community – conservatives need someone to hate. Kate, Brenda, Dan talk about what conservatives will hate after the trans community is normalized. Speculate Artificial Intelligence and its possibilities in the future. Are AI’s capable of beliefs? Kate – What makes me “me?” – I am what my brain does. If a person turned into a machine, is the self still there? What stops a computer from being a person? • Alex – Rhode Island – conversations with people: should I push people to use more precise language? Dan references his video with Anthony Magnabosco, where Christian Dan claimed to have been an atheist at one time, but his definition of atheism was different from how most atheists define the word. Dan says asking about definitions is important, start off that way. Kate- we should be more pedantic about words because it helps us describe ourselves better. Dan mentions the Sapir Whorf Hypothesis. Dan says words matter. People use the language that they think they know but don’t or try to express ideas they don’t know how to express. Patience is a virtue. Dan talks about having an attitude of open-mindedness. Kate says that changing people’s mind is a good feeling, but we must be willing to check our own sources. • Jesse – NJ – Talking about religion in recovery communities - What about yourself? What about the doctors? God gave you this affliction. Dan mentions karmic influence in Christianity – it’s because you did this. Jesse speculates that people who reference Christianity in healing circles do so because they need to find something good to look towards, so they point to god. Dan talks about his pastor visiting him in the hospital when he had appendicitis. Kate asks if god is all-loving, why does this happen? • Adam – North Carolina – Wants to talk about why science can’t prove anything. Kate clarifies that science has tentatively shown things to be the most likely, and that “science proved it” is shorthand for that. Adam views science as a dartboard metaphor. He believes the biggest problem with science is that we don’t re-test things. Some of science might be due to random chance. Dan says science has changed over time, and there is a sense of progress. • Elijah- what kinds of games does Kate play for game night? Kate mentions Gizmos, Secret Hitler, Cards Against Humanity, among others. The call was literally all about board games.
Eric Murphy and Rachel Oates
0:07:23 Joel: Canada: Atheist: Atheist Parents vs. Theist Grandparents
Jaime Boone and Rationality Rules
0:19:27 Adam: NC: 2nd-time caller: Agnostic-Deist: A God Is Possible but Not So Probable
Eric Murphy and Rachel Oates
0:31:01 Vince: Nashville, TN: Poe-Theist: The Existence of God is an Opinion
Jaime Boone and Rationality Rules
0:54:11 Otangelo: Brazil: 3rd-time caller: Theist: A Version of Teleological Argument
1:09:27 Greg: Redwood City, CA: Atheist: Difference of Lifelong Non-believers and Disbelievers
Eric Murphy and Rachel Oates
1:14:20 Mr. ID: Japan: 4th-time caller: Theist: Placed on-hold
1:16:07 Tom: UK: Theist: Morality Without God
Carisa Lopez - Texas Freedom Network
"Born Alive" anti-abortion bills
HB896 Capital Murder for abortion
SB 22 / HB 1929 Planned Parenthood Preemption
SB17 / HB 2827 - Occupational License religious exemption bills
Project Blitz "playbook" for far right / religious groups to advance restrictive legislation
[NEWS] US Appeals Court rules that US House of Reps chaplain cannot be ordered to allow atheist (Dan Barker) to deliver invocation.
[NEWS] Uganda govt has proposed legislation requiring religious ministers must have training from recognized institutions, and report their source of income. Ministers heads' explode.
[SIAS] Rep Steve King after facing months of criticism about his comments advocating white supremacy and nationalism, he now "better understands" the sufferings of Jesus. Being publicly shamed for making openly racist statements is basically the same as being tortured and nailed to a piece of wood until you're dead. Practically identical.
[NEWS] Missouri bill proposed that would force adult plaintiffs in church/state separation cases to use their real names, and only in cases involving church/state separation
[NEWS] Some countries still levying "church tax" on church goers (aka government-managed tithing), which goes to the churches.
Jaime Boone and Shannon Q
0:11:40 River: IN: Deist: Accepting Concepts without Knowing
Eric Murphy and Cosmic Skeptic
0:25:56 Arthur: Poland: Almost Atheist: Catholics Burning Books and Stuffs
0:29:25 Saad: Pakistan: 3rd-time caller: Theist: Scientific Information in the Quran?
Jaime Boone and Kyle Curtis
0:43:20 Jimmy: TX: Theist: “Mystical” Experience with Mind-Altering Substances
Eric Murphy and Paulogia
0:58:29 Benjamin: FL: Theist: Best Evidence for Theism
Jaime Boone and Cosmic Skeptic
1:15:25 Josh: TX: Theist: There is NO Nothing in the Universe
Eric Murphy and Shannon Q
1:28:19 Josh: TX: Theist: The Amateur Atheists Show
Jaime Boone, Paulogia and Aron Ra
1:41:30 Mr. ID: Japan: 3rd-time caller: Theist: Where is the Question? Lost in Translation?
2019-04-07
0:04:56 Robert: NY: Atheist: Militants Atheists Promote Secular-Humanism 0:33:05 Adam: NC: Deist: KALAM-ity Has No Value as a Philosophical Argument 0:42:19 Jonathan: Casa Grande. AZ: 9th-time caller: Theist: Why People Still in Religion? 1:18:58 Raven: CA: Religion is a Human Construct 1:23:00 Ben: Vero Beach, FL: Atheist: Clever Ways to Get Kids Out of Religion 1:29:10 Kenny: PA: Theist: Religious Sanitation 1:34:23 D’Artagnan, Dallas, TX: Atheist: Existential Crisis, Fear of Non-Existing
Guest host: Phil Ferguson Host of "The Phil Ferguson Show" (podcast) Owner: Polaris Financial Planning ( polarisfinancialplanning.com )
[News] Anti-vaxxer kid banned from school/basketball sued health department over banning and lost
[News] New proposal in Boston, MA ending child marriage laws (under 16 with parental consent)
[News] Christian nationalism
[News] Laurie Lightfoot first gay person to be elected mayor of Chicago with 74% of the vote
[News] Christian lobbying group in AZ seeking to block hotline to abortion referrals
[Hope from Jamie] None of the democratic nominees are theocrats! Candidates outspoken in including atheists/nones.
2019-03-31
0:09:23 Mark: Austin, TX: Atheist: What Atheists Deal with Insensitive Theists in Our Final Days 0:22:49 Stephen: Reston, LA: Theist: Skepticism and Theism, a Contradiction 0:47:19 Mathew: Spokane, WA: Atheist: In Defense of Conservative Atheist 1:04:00 Billy: Austin, TX: 2nd-time caller: Deist/Theist: Science Can’t Affirm Supernatural 1:15:38 Saad: Karachi, Pakistan: 2nd-time caller: Theist: Quran and Doyle’s Fallacy 1:35:45 Steven: Hutchinson, KS: 2nd-time caller: Atheist: Death, Grief, and Negative Thoughts 1:46:58 Alex: Kingston, RI: Atheist: Terroristic Acts Stemmed from Perceived Threats Archived by: Wyn Owen
2019-03-24
0:05:25 Rob: Long Island, NY: 8th-time caller: Theist: Rob’s Flight of Ideas and Poor Content 0:37:31 Grant: MS: Atheist: Theocracy and Justification of Hate in a Christian Statement 0:42:02 Mr. I.D. aka Edgar: Japan: 2nd-time caller: Theist: Definition of Intelligence 1:05:48 George: Toronto, Canada: Atheist: The Level of Engagement 1:12:10 David: AR: 2nd-time caller: Theist: A Journey to Find One’s Theological Stand 1:26:24 John: OH: Atheist: Is There an Atheist’s Juggernaut? 1:36:21 J: MT: Atheist: Vetting Therapists to Fit Your Need 1:50:51 Steven: KS: Atheist: Coming Out as an Atheist Archived by: Wyn Owen
On today's show:
Julie- Alaska 3 kids, 12 year old questioning gender, new to LGBTQ community
Ecil- San Diego, CA Girlfriend on Acutain and Prozac, she's got low libido and boyfriend needs advice to handle feeling rejected
Frodo- Godfrey, IL Atheist dating Christian trying to explore sexuality, difficult conversations about sex
Astrid- Colorado Wanted to bring into light representation of LGBTQ as an asexual
[News] High school senior who is anti-vax has been banned from Kentucky school due to chicken pox outbreak. All un-vaccinated children are banned. Says it is illegal, immoral, and blah-blah-blah.
[News] Alabama judge rules in favor of man suing woman who had an abortion of fetus he inseminated. Dead fetus is named as "co-plaintiff".
[News] Catholic diocese sued by West Virginia (republican) Attorney General for protecting pedophiles
[News] More catholics considering abandoning the church. 37% considering leaving the church, up from 22% the previous year. The child molestation scandal was frequently cited
[News] Lifeway christian book stores are going out of business
[SHIT] "Trump of the Tropics" Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro on the 700 Club. May move Israel embassy to Jerusalem and considering withdrawing from Paris Climate Agreement.
[News] Georgia lawmaker proposes law: * requires men to get permission from sexual partner before getting Viagra * criminalizes vasectomies * defines sex without a condom as "aggravated assault" * and much more!
On Todays show: Support the show https://www.patreon.com/theatheistexperience The March issue of the Thinking Aloud magazine is out! http://aca.activehosted.com/f/1 FAITHLESS FORUM-THE ATHEIST YOUTUBE CONFERENCE, April 27, 2019 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM CST 5938 Skillman St. Dallas, TX 75231
https://faithlessforum.com American Atheists convention April 19-21 in Cincinnati Ohio
Failures in the News: -United Methodist split -Catholic Church abuse investigation -Southern Baptist sex scandal
Caller: Kenny - What is your opinion on Ephesians 5:22 and 5:23 and free speech? Caller: Traci - Indoctrination and shared experiences. Caller: RAO- Double Slit experiment proves the existence of god. Caller: Mitch- Sleep paralysis and people tell him it's a sign from god. Caller: Thomas- How to get through to apologetics, is it even possible? Caller: Jeff- What is the best way to "come out", and should I even do it? Caller: Terri- How do you know there is not a higher power?
If you would like to continue the conversation, join the ACA DISCORD and hang out with other fans! https://discord.gg/TWyskr
Talk Heathen 3.11 3/17/2019 show notes
Support the show https://www.patreon.com/talkheathentome
The March issue of the Thinking Aloud magazine is out! http://aca.activehosted.com/f/1
FAITHLESS FORUM-THE ATHEIST YOUTUBE CONFERENCE, April 27, 2019 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM CST https://faithlessforum.com 5938 Skillman St. Dallas, TX 75231
American Atheists convention April 19-21 in Cininnatti Ohio
Eric at rogers univeristy for first debate
Caller: Ryan, in Des Moines "Is it immoral to hold a belief without evidence?"
Talkheathen reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/talkheathen
Caller: George in Chicago "New atheist. How can I deal with backlash from Christian family?" which morphed into "is 911 a religious or government attack"? wow- hard left turn there!
Caller: Wes in San Diego "Why not believe that this world was designed? Atheism is odd"
Caller: Colton in Connecticut "A secular afterlife could exist, even without a god."
Caller: Saad - "Quaron has scientific knowledge before it was discovered therefore that shows the Quaron is true"
Caller: Edmund in MA "Do you have sufficient evidence to know a god exists..? Should we try as a group of people to minimize propostions that lead to the suspense of reason?"
Caller: Ron in FL "Soon to be atheist. How do you feel about UU churches? Thinking about going as a stopgap"
NOTE: When the show is over this CHAT will CLOSE! If you would like to continue the conversation, join the ACA DISCORD and hang out with other fans! https://discord.gg/TWyskr
0:12:07 Winston: Tokyo, Japan: Atheist: Mental Support, Recovery, and Advocacy 0:21:16 Jonathan: AZ: 8th-time caller: Theist: Truth and Morality 0:47:32 Edgar: Japan: Theist: Intelligence: Problem, Solution, Solution?!? 0:58:58 Nick WI: 3rd-time caller: Theist: Secular Argument against Abortion? 1:14:48 Patrick: MO: Atheist: Atheist, Proprietorship and Community Involvement 1:27:17 Jenny: OH: Atheist: Scary Religious Stories and Setting Boundaries 1:39:06 Gregory: KA: Atheist: Oh no! The Call was Cut Off, Technical Issues
[News] Conflict heating up between Pakistan/India
[News] Texas judge disciplined after claiming "God" told him defendant was innocent
[News] Massachusetts considering conversion therapy ban making it illegal to counsel children about unwanted same-sex attraction or gender confusion. Massachusetts bill categorizes it as child abuse and parents who allow it can lose custody. Christian outrage.
[News] In Iowa, bills target Iowa Supreme Court that affirmed marriage equality. Would change nomination process from a non-partisan, merit-based process into a political party-selected and politically-motivated process. Also would specifically shorten the term of the chief justice by 4 years.
[News] New Zealand repeals its blasphemy laws WOOOT!!!
[SHIT] Christian pastor: The rise of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is a sign of "the judgement of God"
[And In Other News] AOC has an asteroid named after her
[News] Cardinal George Pell attorney: clemency because it was just "plain vanilla sex" (with children)
[News] Juror's 'passion' over Hindu doctor not placing hand on bible during swearing-in gets verdict tossed
2019-03-03
17:40 Sam: Bahamas: What Would a World Without Religion Look Like? 29:30 Cody: Louisville, KY: Emotional Side of Transitioning Out of Theism 51:45 Larry: Pensacola, FL: Deist says God is Life, Love, Truth, Mind, Soul, Spirit, and Principle 1:07:30 Alonso: Garland, TX: Importance of Renaissance/Enlightenment in Rise of Secularism 1:21:05 Eric: TX: How to Respond to “The Bible is Literally True” 1:42:15 Ben: Philadelphia, PA: How Useful Is Debating with Theists?
0:07:35 Grey: AL: Atheist: Conversation with Friend about Religion 0:13:09 Andre: South Africa: Atheist: Disagreement with Parents 0:25:01 Billy: Austin, TX: Theist: Flawless Syllogism, Its Premises, and Fallacies 0:55:08 Kevin: CA: 2nd-time caller: Atheist/semi-theist: Cult of Personality or Not Skeptical? 1:19:01 Minh: Oakland, CA: 2nd-time caller: Theist: Lessons Drawn from Fictional Literature 1:34:17 Jason: Outer Banks, NC: Atheist: Gnostic Atheist on a Specific God 1:38:18 Claire: Gold Coast, Australia: Atheist: An Atheist Volunteer in a Religious Organization
0:08:56 Nick: Madison, WI: 2nd-time caller: Theist: Learning About Skepticism 0:32:48 Dennis: Germany: The Notion of Presupposition 0:47:58 Rob: Long Island, NY: 7th-time caller: Confusing Debate Opponents is Deceitful 1:18:32 Jason: OR: Theist: The Problem of Evil 1:41:36 Shane: CA: Atheist: How Do We Normalize Atheism? 1:50:03 Kevin: CA: Atheist/Semi-Theist: “Spiritual” Feelings When Able to Do Impossible Things
Guest host: Ethan Gregory Dodge (aka The Notorious E.G.D.) Ex-mormon and co-founder of the Truth and Transparency Foundation (TTF) URL: www.truthandtransparency.org
[News] Bladensburg Peace Cross case will be heard by SCOTUS this week.
[News] Pro gay conversion therapy movie in Belfast, Northern Ireland: "Once Gay - Matthew and Friends"
[News] Invocation by atheist AZ state representative, Athena Salman "corrected" (disparaged) by christian colleague, John Kavanaugh, who introduced his "friend", god, in the gallery. Salman filed protest with the Speaker, but otherwise ignored.
[News] Director of Mormon Temple Videos and Sundance Festival Co-Founder Admits to Child Molestation in Early 90s
[Mail] Uncontacted indigenous people are threatened by introduction of disease and preserve the nearby natural environment
[News] TTF Receives Four Take down Notices From Jehovah's Witnesses re article: Leaked 'Branch' and 'Elders' Manuals Pull Back the Curtain of Inner Workings of Jehovah's Witnesses' Top Leaders
[News] California State Senator Proposes to Remove State's Clergy Exemption from Mandatory Reporting Laws
[SHIT] Ken Hamm: Schools violate the law by not taking field trips to the Ark Encounter
0:03:26 Andreu: Spain: 3rd time caller: Theist?: Are All Societal Woes Caused by Religion? 0:14:05 Nic: Madison, WI: Theist: Theist on the Fence 0:34:35 Otengelo: Brazil: 3rd time caller: Theist: Human Beings Invented Photosynthesis? 1:12:05 Shelley Segal: Atheist: I Made This Song from Nothing XD ~ Shelley Segal 1:20:47 Scott: San Jose, CA: 2nd time caller: Atheist: To Talk to or Talk about EF? 1:46:13 Thomas: VA: Atheist: Islam Steals Friendship and Music
Our Valentine's Day show with Shelley Segal, live from Chateau Bellevue in downtown Austin.
In this episode: Hosts: Denis Loubet, Jamie Boone, Kevin Stein, Matt Dillahunty
[News] Indigenous tribes threatened by christian missionaries
[News] 7-year-old dies while being punished for not memorizing bible verses
[News] Kim Davis must pay her own legal bills; Gov. says she failed to execute her duties as county clerk in refusing to issue marriage licenses for legally valid applications from same-sex couples.
[Mail] Relates story about David Wood, a psychopath, who learned morals from the bible/christian moral code because fear of eternal damnation.
[News] 286 catholic priests who have abused children named by catholic leaders in Texas
[SHIT] Anti-Muslim activists with IFAA attacked 2 Muslim women during prayer call, accusing CAIR of being terrorist-linked organization because sharia law in America. And greatness.
0:07:40 Aleah: SD: Atheist: Sowing Seeds of Hope 0:23:10 Will: PA: Atheist: Do We Need Faith? 0:46:07 Frode: Norway: 9th time caller: Atheist: Mormonism: Christianity with Extra Bullshit 1:00:32 Sima: Japan: Atheist: Politics and Religion 1:08:50 EF aka Rude Dude: N/A: 3rd time caller: Theist: Sugar Cake Smashed Sugar Muffin 2:18:36 James: Victoria, TX: Atheist: Does Prayer Help Atheist? 2:42:18 Jarred: Houston: TX: Atheist: How to Build an Atheist Community?
0:05:49 Masha: Brooklyn, NY: Theist: Legitimacy of Outdated Writings
0:12:27 Otangelo: Brazil: Theist: False Dichotomy and Universe-Farting Pixies
0:58:39 Sarah: NY: Deist: Polarization of Political Discord
1:13:27 Scott: San Jose, CA: Atheist: Awareness of Mortality
1:45:41 Deron: St. George. UT: Atheist: God Force? Space Force?
1:51:08 The Rude Dude: Nowhere near Logic: 2nd time caller: Theist: The Angry Filibuster
2019-01-20
0:10:08 Rob: Long Island, NY: 7th time caller: Theist: Rob Continues Down the Rabbit Hole 0:55:44 Frode: Norway: 8th time caller: Atheist: Substitutes for God 1:17:07 A Rude Person: Nowhere near Logic: Theist: The Definition Trap Guy 1:38:50 Matt: Rawlins, WY: Atheist: Lending His Atheist Voice to the Community 1:49:06 Shalev: Seattle, WA: Atheist: Abusive Family the Prime Mover for My Atheism 2:06:35 Jason: NY: Atheist: Let Us Stop and Check Definitions, with Intellectual Honesty
On Today's Show: [News] Creation Science bill in Indiana [Listener Mail] Like the new hosts. Updates on Jeff? What happened to Russell? Also, Russell's departure was not one of those "creep" stories. :) Whole different deal and quite mundane. [News] Liberty Council (evangelical non-profit) wants LGBTQ removed from US Congress Anti-Lynching bill. It would be a "camel's nose", apparently. Some members of Liberty Council have received death threats [News] Ken Hamm offers free admission to school/"educational" group tours [News] Conservatives fearful that feminists are using black magic to hex the Trump administration [News] 18-yr-old Saudi girl given asylum in Canada. Wants to leave Islam. [Listener Mail] "Can we really replace belief in god(s) with humanism? An invisible sky-god is necessary for some people." Kevin: "...mental masturbation..." Denis: Pertinent question is, what do you replace religious community with? (Atheist community?) [News] Pastor Robert Jeffress: "Heaven is gonna have a wall..., so if walls are immoral, then god is immoral." Megan: "Why can't god get off is motherfucking ass?" Denis: "Used to part oceans. Now he just appears on toast." [Listener Mail] Jehovah's Witnesses: On judgment day, earth will be remade into a paradise and the 144,000 will be middle management. [Note] The Spanish smiling devil statue story was a hoax [News] Muslim member of the Texas republican party survived a vote by party members to remove him from his party position, because of his religious (Muslim) beliefs. Accused of supporting terrorist organizations. "...stealth jihad and leftist 'Zuckerberg-ization' of our nation"
0:06:04 Frode: Norway: 7th time caller: Atheist: Grieving for an Imaginary Relationship 0:27:34 Maki: WA: Theist: What is Faith? 0:39:47 Mark: IN: Atheist: A Different Perspective on Faith: The Emotion Appeal 0:50:30 Gabe: MS: Atheist: What is your Star Sign? Taurus-Poo (Bullshit!) 0:59:06 Dean: NC: Theist: Noah Lugeons has Gone Super Saiyan! 1:28:53 Olu: Washington, DC: Theist on the way out: The Bible is a Fictional Literature
The Preaching Humanist 05.01 Atheist Interviews with Jen Stemmer of The Secular Student Alliance
0:03:35 Frode: Norway: 6th time caller: Atheist: An Upcoming Love Story From Norway 0:18:50 Jordan: CA: Atheist: God Gets All the Credit 0:33:10 David: Houston, TX: Atheist: Planning to Come Out to My Religious Father 0:50:45 Demi: NJ: 2nd time caller, Patreon call: Atheist: Hurtful Things Theists Do to Atheists 1:09:20 Charles: Fort Worth, TX: Polytheist: Bad Decisions Derived from Fallacious Beliefs 1:52:37 Caroline: Las Vegas, NV: Basically an Atheist: Embrace Correction to Learn and Grow
0:07:56 Kat: Milwaukee, WI: Atheist: Dating Advice, Religious Sexual Shame and Guilt 0:23:25 Mike aka Michael: Long Island, NY: 2nd time caller: Atheist: Wanted to Believe 0:29:45 Steve: AR: 2nd time caller: Atheist: It Feels Good to Say, I am a Freaking Atheist 0:47:09 Caroline: Las Vegas, NV: Theist: Reality of Death and Morality of Lying 1:06:26 Uie: Austin, TX: Deist: What is the Purpose of Human Life? 1:21:05 David: AR: Theist: Learning to Respect People with Different Ideas
0:03:11 Simon: Bulgaria: Atheist: Dating Advice, Between Atheist and Theist
0:10:33 Leeman: South Korea: Atheist: When Religious Beliefs Are Challenged
0:22:02 Rob: Long Island, NY: 5th time caller: Theist: Determine if a Holy Book Is Reliable
1:06:27 Steve: AR: Atheist: Where Do Our Talents Come From?
1:21:42 Ann: Honolulu, HI: Theist: How Do Atheists Deal with Death?
The Preaching Humanist 04.44 Atheist Interviews with Eric Murphy
Eric Murphy is Communications Director of the Atheist Community of Austin & host of Talk Heathen. He joins David to talk about his deconversion story.
[From CBN] Masterpiece Cake shop back in court, this time re transgender customer "Help, I'm being oppressed!"
Canada's Supreme Court rules LGBT rights trump religious freedom
The Non-Prophets 17.23 2018-12-19 with Denis Loubet, Jamie Boone, Kevin Stein, & Eric Murphy
[From CBN] Attacks on (Bladensburg, MA) Peace Cross would unleash "a bulldozer which would run from coast to coast" American Humanist Association are plaintiffs in the case.
Call for fan art submissions for "not-peace" crosses: * Anger cross * Passive aggressive cross * Silent judgment cross * ...?
First Presbyterian Church in Miami, FL hit with $7 million tax bill. Court ruled that the profits the church made from renting out property to school and food trucks is not tax exempt.
"Slave Bible" at Museum of the Bible
[SHIT] Dennis Prager: "Happy Holidays" is the end of civilization Denis: Does it have to be "Merry"? Can I wish someone a Scurrilous Christmas? Jamie: Happy Fucking Christmas!
[Denis has an observation] Christians love to pull out Pascal's Wager. It casts suspicion on the motives of all Christians that they are terrified that they will be found out that they only say they believe because they are under duress from the threat of going to hell.
Ontario (Canada) woman charged with pretending to practice witchcraft. (Days before law was scrapped.)
Jesus was a lich. Not a witch, zombie, ghoul, wight, vampire, ghost, or wraith.
The Atheist Experience is a weekly Internet television show based in Austin, Texas geared at a non-atheist audience. Every week we field live calls from atheists and believers alike, and you never know what you're going to get! Sometimes it can get quite feisty indeed! You don't want to miss it.
The Atheist Experience is produced by the Atheist Community of Austin. The Atheist Community of Austin is organized as a nonprofit educational corporation to develop and support the atheist community, to provide opportunities for socializing and friendship, to promote secular viewpoints, to encourage positive atheist culture, to defend the first amendment principle of state-church separation, to oppose discrimination against atheists and to work with other organizations in pursuit of common goals.
0:07:12 Jonathan: AZ: 6th time caller: Theist: There is a Universe. 0:46:07 Mo: South America: Atheist: How Religion Affects people with Disability 0:59:56 Mohammed: Middle East: 3rd time caller: Theist: Everything is Either One or not One 1:34:17 Rashaad: MS: Atheist: Cracks on the Wall that Separate Church and State
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Truth Wanted 01.09 for December 7, 2018 with ObjectivelyDan & Reid Nicewonder of
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WHAT IS TRUTH WANTED?
Truth Wanted is a show about getting to the bottom of beliefs, whether it’s karma or Christ, Bigfoot or crystals. Truth Wanted would like to know how you know it’s true. Hosted by ObjectivelyDan, Truth Wanted takes calls from the community (that means YOU!) and features new guests every week, emphasizing thorough conversations over name-calling and scoffing (most of the time). Truth Wanted focuses on how and why people believe what they believe, and how you can talk about beliefs in more effective ways. Join us for truth investigations and lively conversations every Friday at 6:00pm CT!
On this four-way face palm episode:
[From CBN] (About a month ago) APU, an evangelical university on west coast, abolishes ban on LGBTQ+ relationships on campus
[Also from CBN] (Yesterday) Two resign from APU because administration is drifting from core principles, including removing the ban on LGBTQ+ relationships on campus. Administration then says they never officially approved the removal of the ban and re-instituted the policy.
Einstein did not believe in a personal god! (For fucks sake!)
Conservative christian pastor, Steven Anderson, calls for executing all gay people by Christmas day.
Poll shows more than half of British people believe religion does more harm than good.
More Americans losing respect for religion after series of scandals, esp. sexual predators in clergy.
Jamie: "Spend hours on your knees."
Greek Orthodox bishop claims Earth is the only planet in the galaxy.
Several states trying to put "In god we trust" displays in public schools.
[From CBN] Satanist display next to nativity scene in Illinois state capital. "Snake-tivity Scene" Lex Manticore (Voted most likely to own a volcanic island.)
[SHIT] Canadian mom battles school board saying that yoga is against her family's religion. They are Roman Catholic and "don't do yoga because it is rooted in Hinduism".
First ever TNP 4-way facepalm
0:06:13 Rob aka Robert: Long Island, NY: 4th time caller: Theist: The Book of Eric vs The Bible 0:46:55 Frode: Norway: 4th time caller: Atheist: How to Overcome Irrational Behaviors 1:17:32 Jonathan: AZ: 5th time caller: Theist: Basis of Morals and Morality 2:07:08 Ike: Colorado Springs, CO: Agnostic: General Discussion of Morality 2:17:05 Alex: RI: Atheist: Reasons Why People Do Dumb Things
Geoff Blackwell is an attorney for American Atheists: https://www.atheists.org/about/staff/
The Atheist Experience is a weekly call-in show from Austin, Texas intended for a theist and atheist audience. We debate religious claims and help fellow atheists with questions and concerns. AXP streams live every Sunday at 4:30pm CDT.
The Godless Bitches podcast was created by Beth Presswood to focus on feminist issues from a secular perspective and to help increase the presence of women's voices in the secular community. It is a media production of the Atheist Community of Austin and features regular contributions from Jen Peeples, Tracie Harris, Clare Wuellner and others.
Godless Bitches streams live on Youtube every first Saturday of the month at 11am CDT. Past episodes are downloadable from our archive. If you're enjoying the program, help get the word out to others that they can listen live or via podcast.
The Godless Bitches podcast is available as a free Podcast subscription from the Apple iTunes Music Store.To subscribe, first install iTunes, then click this link. Subscribers to the feed will have new episodes automatically downloaded. (If you have a Godless Bitches podcast feed from PodBean, you should remove it and use this one instead.)
On Today's show: "Tarot Card reading from a psychological perspective" "Spiritual Orgasm with the Rev! "Linology- Lin made her own religion"
And MORE! :) Truth Wanted is a show about getting to the bottom of beliefs, whether it’s karma or Christ, Bigfoot or crystals, Truth Wanted would like to know how you know it’s true. Hosted by ObjectivelyDan, Truth Wanted takes calls from the community (that means YOU!) and features new guests every week, emphasizing thorough conversations over name-calling and scoffing (most of the time). Truth Wanted focuses on how and why people believe what they believe, and how you can talk about beliefs in more effective ways. Join us for truth investigations and lively conversations every Friday at 6:00 CT!
After praying, parents think God saved their baby. Guess what, doctors saved your child! 47 humanist or non-religious candidates elected at federal or state legislature. Straight men reject astrology. Star season, bitches! Eric almost married a girl in to astrology. Gender differences in horoscope vs conspiracy theories. Are You for Real? New segment where Jamie reads a blogpost or article and the host guess if it is real or written by Jamie. The proper way to send a message to leave an arrow riddled body on the Beach. Kevin is a low-rent Bradly Cooper.
The Atheist Experience is a weekly Internet television show based in Austin, Texas geared at a non-atheist audience. Every week we field live calls from atheists and believers alike, and you never know what you're going to get! Sometimes it can get quite feisty indeed! You don't want to miss it.
The Atheist Experience is produced by the Atheist Community of Austin. The Atheist Community of Austin is organized as a nonprofit educational corporation to develop and support the atheist community, to provide opportunities for socializing and friendship, to promote secular viewpoints, to encourage positive atheist culture, to defend the first amendment principle of state-church separation, to oppose discrimination against atheists and to work with other organizations in pursuit of common goals.
The Godless Bitches podcast was created by Beth Presswood to focus on feminist issues from a secular perspective and to help increase the presence of women's voices in the secular community. It is a media production of the Atheist Community of Austin and features regular contributions from Jen Peeples, Tracie Harris, Clare Wuellner and others.
Godless Bitches streams live on Youtube every first Saturday of the month at 11am CDT. Past episodes are downloadable from our archive. If you're enjoying the program, help get the word out to others that they can listen live or via podcast.
The Godless Bitches podcast is available as a free Podcast subscription from the Apple iTunes Music Store.To subscribe, first install iTunes, then click this link. Subscribers to the feed will have new episodes automatically downloaded. (If you have a Godless Bitches podcast feed from PodBean, you should remove it and use this one instead.)
ObjectivelyDan & Thomas Westbrook (a.k.a Holy Koolaide) take calls on 9/11 truth, flat earth, NASA lies, Crystal Healing, Chakra Energy and Philosophical underpinnings of secular society! Buckle up! :)
The Atheist Experience is a weekly call-in television show in Austin, Texas geared at a non-atheist audience. The Atheist Experience is produced by the Atheist Community of Austin. The Atheist Community of Austin is organized as a nonprofit educational corporation to develop and support the atheist community, to provide opportunities for socializing and friendship, to promote secular viewpoints, to encourage positive atheist culture, to defend the first amendment principle of state-church separation, to oppose discrimination against atheists and to work with other organizations in pursuit of common goals. We define atheism as the lack of belief in gods. This definition also encompasses what most people call agnosticism.
0:07:52 Kate: Ontario, Canada: 2nd time caller: Ex-polytheist: Believe as Many True Things as Possible 0:29:39 Frode: Norway: 3rd time caller: Ex-theist: I AM FREE. 0:42:20 George: TX: Theist: Jaime’s Therapeutic Communication 0:59:00 Josh: VA: Atheist: Brave Interaction with his Local Churches 1:16:46 John: TX: Atheist: A Rocky Marriage between an Atheist and a Theist
Talk Heathen is a weekly call-in television show in Austin, Texas geared toward long-form and on-going dialogue with theists & atheists about religion, theism, & secularism. Talk Heathen is produced by the Atheist Community of Austin.
The Atheist Community of Austin is organized as a nonprofit educational corporation to develop & support the atheist community, to provide opportunities for socializing & friendship, to promote secular viewpoints, to encourage positive atheist culture, to defend the first amendment principle of government-religion separation, to oppose discrimination against atheists & to work with other organizations in pursuit of common goals.
We define atheism as the lack of belief in gods. This definition also encompasses what most people call agnosticism.
"American means white christian"
Quiverfull movement
www.modestneeds.org
Putting Jesus in state constitutions
Jamie: "Alabama is less fundamentalist than I thought"
[NEWS] "The migrant caravan is against the plan of god!"
33% of US citizens do not believe in the biblical god, but do believe in some form of "higher power"
"Cult just stands for culture" (Ptthhhhttt)
[NEWS] Group of pastors wants to ban books from library "Banned Books" display in Rumford, ME
[NEWS] Coach Dave Daubenmire refuses to believe the fact that dems won enough elections to take control of the House of Representatives
[NEWS] Saudi Arabia to "inoculate" students against Westernization, atheism, and liberalism (article from Dec 2016)
[NEWS] Rick Wiles: "If democrats win Congress, they'll slaughter thousands of christians"
[NEWS] Matt Shea christian manifesto - kill all the men who are non-believers
[Denis has a question] Why are christians so afraid of (and want to avoid) perfect justice? If god determines they deserve to go to hell, why don't they accept that, instead of going "the Jesus route"?
[NEWS] Matt Powell, a 22-year-old preacher, clarifies that he wants to execute homosexuals "humanely"
[SHIT] John Gray: Why Science Can't Replace Religion
Denis: "You don't like the 'tone' of new atheists? Well, fuck you!"
Kevin: (Paraphrasing Matt D.) "Religion will break your leg to sell you a crutch"
Denis: "This guy (John Gray) is just masturbating all over the place!"
►Don't like ads? Consider becoming a patron for commercial-free episodes: https://www.patreon.com/truthwanted
►Podcasts of Truth Wanted may be found by visiting: https://www.spreaker.com/show/truthwanted
We welcome your comments on the thread for this show. ► https://www.facebook.com/groups/Truthwanted ► Contact us with questions or news stories at: truth@atheist-community.org
WHAT IS TRUTH WANTED?
Truth Wanted is a show about getting to the bottom of beliefs, whether it’s karma or Christ, Bigfoot or crystals. Truth Wanted would like to know how you know it’s true. Hosted by ObjectivelyDan, Truth Wanted takes calls from the community (that means YOU!) and features new guests every week, emphasizing thorough conversations over name-calling and scoffing (most of the time). Truth Wanted focuses on how and why people believe what they believe, and how you can talk about beliefs in more effective ways. Join us for truth investigations and lively conversations every Friday at 6:00pm CT!
The Atheist Community of Austin is organized as a nonprofit educational corporation to develop and support the atheist community, to provide opportunities for socializing and friendship, to promote secular viewpoints, to encourage positive atheist culture, to defend the first amendment principle of state-church separation, to oppose discrimination against atheists and to work with other organizations in pursuit of common goals.
We define atheism as the lack of belief in gods. This definition also encompasses what most people call agnosticism.
► http://www.atheist-community.org (The Atheist Community of Austin) ► Check out Dan's other channel @ https://www.youtube.com/objectivelydan
NOTES
TruthWanted is the official channel of Truth Wanted. "Truth Wanted" is a trademark of the ACA.
Copyright © 2018 Atheist Community of Austin. All rights reserved.
Call the show every Thursday 7:00-8:30pm Central: 1-512-686-0279
► Don't like commercials? Become a Patron and enjoy ad-free content: https://www.patreon.com/secularsexuality
► Join the conversation on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/221414371842261/
WHAT IS THE SECULAR SEXUALITY?
Secular Sexuality is a weekly call-in show live from Austin, Texas every Thursday at 7pm CT. We talk about sex from a secular perspective. Sex and sexuality are natural to all living creatures, but religion takes this and twists it into something awful and to be ashamed of.
Acceptance, education, and fun is what we strive for. We lay the intersection of sex and religion (and occasionally ourselves) bare, openly and honestly. We discuss a wide range of topics each week, removing the shame and reclaiming what has been natural to us all along. Secular Sexuality is produced by the Atheist Community of Austin.
The Atheist Community of Austin is organized as a nonprofit educational corporation to develop and support the atheist community, to provide opportunities for socializing and friendship, to promote secular viewpoints, to encourage positive atheist culture, to defend the first amendment principle of state-church separation, to oppose discrimination against atheists and to work with other organizations in pursuit of common goals.
We define atheism as the lack of belief in gods. This definition also encompasses what most people call agnosticism.
VISIT THE ACA'S OFFICIAL WEB SITES
► http://www.atheist-community.org (The Atheist Community of Austin)
NOTES
Secular Sexuality was created by sex coach Dr. Darrel Ray, author of “Sex & God”. He is a founder and active contributor the Secular Therapist Project and the Recovering From Religion Foundation.
"Secular Sexuality" is a trademark of the ACA.
The views and opinions expressed by hosts, guests, or callers are their own and not necessarily representative of the Atheist Community of Austin.
Copyright © 2018 Atheist Community of Austin. All rights reserved.
Call the show every Thursday 7:00-8:30pm Central: 1-512-686-0279
► Don't like commercials? Become a Patron and enjoy ad-free content: https://www.patreon.com/secularsexuality
► Join the conversation on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/221414371842261/
WHAT IS THE SECULAR SEXUALITY?
Secular Sexuality is a weekly call-in show live from Austin, Texas every Thursday at 7pm CT. We talk about sex from a secular perspective. Sex and sexuality are natural to all living creatures, but religion takes this and twists it into something awful and to be ashamed of.
Acceptance, education, and fun is what we strive for. We lay the intersection of sex and religion (and occasionally ourselves) bare, openly and honestly. We discuss a wide range of topics each week, removing the shame and reclaiming what has been natural to us all along. Secular Sexuality is produced by the Atheist Community of Austin.
The Atheist Community of Austin is organized as a nonprofit educational corporation to develop and support the atheist community, to provide opportunities for socializing and friendship, to promote secular viewpoints, to encourage positive atheist culture, to defend the first amendment principle of state-church separation, to oppose discrimination against atheists and to work with other organizations in pursuit of common goals.
We define atheism as the lack of belief in gods. This definition also encompasses what most people call agnosticism.
VISIT THE ACA'S OFFICIAL WEB SITES
► http://www.atheist-community.org (The Atheist Community of Austin)
NOTES
Secular Sexuality was created by sex coach Dr. Darrel Ray, author of “Sex & God”. He is a founder and active contributor the Secular Therapist Project and the Recovering From Religion Foundation.
"Secular Sexuality" is a trademark of the ACA.
The views and opinions expressed by hosts, guests, or callers are their own and not necessarily representative of the Atheist Community of Austin.
Copyright © 2018 Atheist Community of Austin. All rights reserved.
The Godless Bitches podcast was created by Beth Presswood to focus on feminist issues from a secular perspective and to help increase the presence of women's voices in the secular community. It is a media production of the Atheist Community of Austin and features regular contributions from Jen Peeples, Tracie Harris, Clare Wuellner and others.
Godless Bitches streams live on Youtube every first Saturday of the month at 11am CDT. Past episodes are downloadable from our archive. If you're enjoying the program, help get the word out to others that they can listen live or via podcast.
The Godless Bitches podcast is available as a free Podcast subscription from the Apple iTunes Music Store. To subscribe, first install iTunes, then click this link. Subscribers to the feed will have new episodes automatically downloaded. (If you have a Godless Bitches podcast feed from PodBean, you should remove it and use this one instead.)
Parenting Beyond Belief is a live internet show airing every Saturday at 1 PM Central hosted by Clare Wuellner, Mandisa Thomas, Dale McGowan, Jan Heimlich, and Kendall Hopkins, focusing on raising children from a secular perspective. Parenting Beyond Belief is a production of the Atheist Community of Austin.
The Atheist Community of Austin is organized as a nonprofit educational corporation to develop and support the atheist community, to provide opportunities for socializing and friendship, to promote secular viewpoints, to encourage positive atheist culture, to defend the first amendment principle of state-church separation, to oppose discrimination against atheists and to work with other organizations in pursuit of common goals.
2018-10-28
What is the Atheist Experience?
The Atheist Experience is a weekly Internet television show based in Austin, Texas geared toward a non-atheist audience. Every week we field live calls from atheists and believers alike- you never know what you're going to get! Sometimes it can get quite feisty indeed so you don't want to miss it.
The Atheist Experience is produced by the Atheist Community of Austin. The Atheist Community of Austin is organized as a nonprofit educational corporation to develop and support the atheist community, to provide opportunities for socializing and friendship, to promote secular viewpoints, to encourage positive atheist culture, to defend the first amendment principle of state-church separation, to oppose discrimination against atheists and to work with other organizations in pursuit of common goals.
The Godless Bitches podcast was created by Beth Presswood to focus on feminist issues from a secular perspective and to help increase the presence of women's voices in the secular community. It is a media production of the Atheist Community of Austin and features regular contributions from Jen Peeples, Tracie Harris, Clare Wuellner and others.
►Don't like ads? Consider becoming a patron for commercial-free episodes: https://www.patreon.com/truthwanted
►Podcasts of Truth Wanted may be found by visiting: https://www.spreaker.com/show/truthwanted
We welcome your comments on the thread for this show. ► https://www.facebook.com/groups/TruthWanted ► Contact us with questions or news stories at: truth@atheist-community.org
WHAT IS TRUTH WANTED?
Truth Wanted is a show about getting to the bottom of beliefs, whether it’s karma or Christ, Bigfoot or crystals. Truth Wanted would like to know how you know it’s true. Hosted by ObjectivelyDan, Truth Wanted takes calls from the community (that means YOU!) and features new guests every week, emphasizing thorough conversations over name-calling and scoffing (most of the time). Truth Wanted focuses on how and why people believe what they believe, and how you can talk about beliefs in more effective ways. Join us for truth investigations and lively conversations every Friday at 6:00pm CT!
The Atheist Community of Austin is organized as a nonprofit educational corporation to develop and support the atheist community, to provide opportunities for socializing and friendship, to promote secular viewpoints, to encourage positive atheist culture, to defend the first amendment principle of state-church separation, to oppose discrimination against atheists and to work with other organizations in pursuit of common goals.
We define atheism as the lack of belief in gods. This definition also encompasses what most people call agnosticism.
► http://www.atheist-community.org (The Atheist Community of Austin) ► Check out Dan's other channel @ https://www.youtube.com/objectivelydan
NOTES
TruthWanted is the official channel of Truth Wanted. "Truth Wanted" is a trademark of the ACA.
Copyright © 2018 Atheist Community of Austin. All rights reserved.
Call the show every Thursday 7:00-8:30pm Central: 1-512-686-0279
► Don't like commercials? Become a Patron and enjoy ad-free content: https://www.patreon.com/secularsexuality
► Join the conversation on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/221414371842261/
WHAT IS THE SECULAR SEXUALITY?
Secular Sexuality is a weekly call-in show live from Austin, Texas every Thursday at 7pm CT. We talk about sex from a secular perspective. Sex and sexuality are natural to all living creatures, but religion takes this and twists it into something awful and to be ashamed of.
Acceptance, education, and fun is what we strive for. We lay the intersection of sex and religion (and occasionally ourselves) bare, openly and honestly. We discuss a wide range of topics each week, removing the shame and reclaiming what has been natural to us all along. Secular Sexuality is produced by the Atheist Community of Austin.
The Atheist Community of Austin is organized as a nonprofit educational corporation to develop and support the atheist community, to provide opportunities for socializing and friendship, to promote secular viewpoints, to encourage positive atheist culture, to defend the first amendment principle of state-church separation, to oppose discrimination against atheists and to work with other organizations in pursuit of common goals.
We define atheism as the lack of belief in gods. This definition also encompasses what most people call agnosticism.
VISIT THE ACA'S OFFICIAL WEB SITES
► http://www.atheist-community.org (The Atheist Community of Austin)
NOTES
Secular Sexuality was created by sex coach Dr. Darrel Ray, author of “Sex & God”. He is a founder and active contributor the Secular Therapist Project and the Recovering From Religion Foundation.
"Secular Sexuality" is a trademark of the ACA.
The views and opinions expressed by hosts, guests, or callers are their own and not necessarily representative of the Atheist Community of Austin.
Copyright © 2018 Atheist Community of Austin. All rights reserved.
The Atheist Experience is a weekly Internet television show based in Austin, Texas geared at a non-atheist audience. Every week we field live calls from atheists and believers alike, and you never know what you're going to get! Sometimes it can get quite feisty indeed! You don't want to miss it.
The Atheist Experience is produced by the Atheist Community of Austin. The Atheist Community of Austin is organized as a nonprofit educational corporation to develop and support the atheist community, to provide opportunities for socializing and friendship, to promote secular viewpoints, to encourage positive atheist culture, to defend the first amendment principle of state-church separation, to oppose discrimination against atheists and to work with other organizations in pursuit of common goals.
Truth Wanted 01.05 for November 2, 2018 with ObjectivelyDan & Jamie Boone.
►Don't like ads? Consider becoming a patron for commercial-free episodes: https://www.patreon.com/truthwanted
►Podcasts of Truth Wanted may be found by visiting: https://www.spreaker.com/show/truthwanted
We welcome your comments on the thread for this show. ► https://www.facebook.com/groups/TruthWanted ► Contact us with questions or news stories at: truth@atheist-community.org
WHAT IS TRUTH WANTED?
Truth Wanted is a show about getting to the bottom of beliefs, whether it’s karma or Christ, Bigfoot or crystals. Truth Wanted would like to know how you know it’s true. Hosted by ObjectivelyDan, Truth Wanted takes calls from the community (that means YOU!) and features new guests every week, emphasizing thorough conversations over name-calling and scoffing (most of the time). Truth Wanted focuses on how and why people believe what they believe, and how you can talk about beliefs in more effective ways. Join us for truth investigations and lively conversations every Friday at 6:00pm CT!
The Atheist Community of Austin is organized as a nonprofit educational corporation to develop and support the atheist community, to provide opportunities for socializing and friendship, to promote secular viewpoints, to encourage positive atheist culture, to defend the first amendment principle of state-church separation, to oppose discrimination against atheists and to work with other organizations in pursuit of common goals.
We define atheism as the lack of belief in gods. This definition also encompasses what most people call agnosticism.
► http://www.atheist-community.org (The Atheist Community of Austin) ► Check out Dan's other channel @ https://www.youtube.com/objectivelydan
NOTES
TruthWanted is the official channel of Truth Wanted. "Truth Wanted" is a trademark of the ACA.
Copyright © 2018 Atheist Community of Austin. All rights reserved.
Call the show every Thursday 7:00-8:30pm Central: 1-512-686-0279
► Don't like commercials? Become a Patron and enjoy ad-free content: https://www.patreon.com/secularsexuality
► Join the conversation on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/221414371842261/
WHAT IS THE SECULAR SEXUALITY?
Secular Sexuality is a weekly call-in show live from Austin, Texas every Thursday at 7pm CT. We talk about sex from a secular perspective. Sex and sexuality are natural to all living creatures, but religion takes this and twists it into something awful and to be ashamed of.
Acceptance, education, and fun is what we strive for. We lay the intersection of sex and religion (and occasionally ourselves) bare, openly and honestly. We discuss a wide range of topics each week, removing the shame and reclaiming what has been natural to us all along. Secular Sexuality is produced by the Atheist Community of Austin.
The Atheist Community of Austin is organized as a nonprofit educational corporation to develop and support the atheist community, to provide opportunities for socializing and friendship, to promote secular viewpoints, to encourage positive atheist culture, to defend the first amendment principle of state-church separation, to oppose discrimination against atheists and to work with other organizations in pursuit of common goals.
We define atheism as the lack of belief in gods. This definition also encompasses what most people call agnosticism.
VISIT THE ACA'S OFFICIAL WEB SITES
► http://www.atheist-community.org (The Atheist Community of Austin)
NOTES
Secular Sexuality was created by sex coach Dr. Darrel Ray, author of “Sex & God”. He is a founder and active contributor the Secular Therapist Project and the Recovering From Religion Foundation.
"Secular Sexuality" is a trademark of the ACA.
The views and opinions expressed by hosts, guests, or callers are their own and not necessarily representative of the Atheist Community of Austin.
Copyright © 2018 Atheist Community of Austin. All rights reserved.
On Today's Show: Ralph Drollinger, Capitol Ministries, pastor heading up the White House bible study groupSeparation of church and state[The Guardian] Movie "The Chosen One" - Trump chosen by god (NOT!)[Daily Beast] Catholic church oversaw school for deaf/mute children. Groomed them for sex acts. Why are there still Catholics?!!Episcopal Church, similar story in another article[Mail] German Catholic priest loses position for comments about homosexuals. Turns out it was because he said sympathetic things, not condemning them.Sabarimala (Hindu) temple now open to women of all ages ("of menstruating age"). Protestors (esp. men) blocking women from entering the temple.[Denis has a question] What was god's plan if Adam and Eve had not eaten the forbidden fruit? Genesis 1:28Geometric population growth anyone?Catholic church acknowledging #MeToo movement, apologizes for abusesWisconsin chaplain program for police officersPalate cleanser: Wiccans on the rise![SHIT INTERNET APOLOGISTS SAY!] Christian pastor defends Kavanaugh: "According to the bible, 'no scream, no rape'" Deuteronomy 22:23-24Matthew 18:16
NOTE: Due to a technical error, this episode was recorded with the wrong microphone. We apologize for the reduce audio quality.
Premiere episode of Truth Wanted with Objectively Dan and the Genetically Modified Skeptic
Talk Heathen Episode 02.41 with Eric Murphy and Jamie Boone
0:05:48 Jeremy: Lexington, KY: Atheist: Atheist Looking for a Good Community 0:17:50 Kate: Ontario, Canada: Polytheist: Do You Have the Tools to Determine Truths? 0:44:00 Arielle: CA: Atheist: Wasted Resources on Religion 0:56:50 Mick: Hollywood, CA: Atheist: Living a Double Life 1:11:13 Dominic: UT: Atheist: How to Discuss Philosophical Concept
The Atheist Experience is a weekly Internet television show based in Austin, Texas geared toward a non-atheist audience. Every week we field live calls from atheists and believers alike- you never know what you're going to get! Sometimes it can get quite feisty indeed! You don't want to miss it.
The Atheist Experience is produced by the Atheist Community of Austin. The Atheist Community of Austin is organized as a nonprofit educational corporation to develop and support the atheist community, to provide opportunities for socializing and friendship, to promote secular viewpoints, to encourage positive atheist culture, to defend the first amendment principle of state-church separation, to oppose discrimination against atheists and to work with other organizations in pursuit of common goals.
WHAT IS THE SECULAR SEXUALITY?
Secular Sexuality is a weekly call-in show live from Austin, Texas every Thursday at 7pm CT. We talk about sex from a secular perspective. Sex and sexuality are natural to all living creatures, but religion takes this and twists it into something awful and to be ashamed of.
Acceptance, education, and fun is what we strive for. We lay the intersection of sex and religion (and occasionally ourselves) bare, openly and honestly. We discuss a wide range of topics each week, removing the shame and reclaiming what has been natural to us all along.
Secular Sexuality is produced by the Atheist Community of Austin.
Streamed live on September 23, 2018 Hosts: Eric Murphy and Jamie Boone
0:04:31 Muhammed: Middle East: 2nd time caller: Theist: The Unnecessary Kalām Cosmological Argument 0:34:30 Jonathan: AZ: 4th time caller: Theist: Does Nature Require a Cause? Or Just Wanting to Invent a God 1:17:21 David: Charleston, SC: Theist: Imagine a Being into Existence - The Ontological Magic! 1:23:31 Zhang: Phoenix, AZ: Theist: Criticism does not equate to Bigotry
The Atheist Experience is a weekly Internet television show based in Austin, Texas geared toward a non-atheist audience. Every week we field live calls from atheists and believers alike- you never know what you're going to get! Sometimes it can get quite feisty indeed! You don't want to miss it.
The Atheist Experience is produced by the Atheist Community of Austin. The Atheist Community of Austin is organized as a nonprofit educational corporation to develop and support the atheist community, to provide opportunities for socializing and friendship, to promote secular viewpoints, to encourage positive atheist culture, to defend the first amendment principle of state-church separation, to oppose discrimination against atheists and to work with other organizations in pursuit of common goals.
The Godless Bitches podcast was created by Beth Presswood to focus on feminist issues from a secular perspective and to help increase the presence of women's voices in the secular community. It is a media production of the Atheist Community of Austin and features regular contributions from Jen Peeples, Tracie Harris, Clare Wuellner and others.
Sources: Voter Guides: Secular Values Voters, “2016 Presidential Voter Guides.” http://www.secularvaluesvoter.org
Texas Freedom Network, “2016 SBOE General Election Voter Guide.” http://tfn.org/2016-sboe-general-elec...
Oklahoma Ballot Question SQ 790: Josh Mcbee, “SQ 790: Buckling church to state in the Bible belt.” Accessed October 26, 2016. https://nondoc.com/2016/10/21/sq-790-...
National Congressional Candidates: Kimberly Winston, “Nine candidates pioneer ‘political humanism’ in Arizona.” Accessed November 1, 2016. http://religionnews.com/2016/08/25/ni...
Presidential Candidate’s Views: Brad Marshall, “No Shit.” Accessed August 2, 2016. https://wikileaks.com/dnc-emails/emai...
“Jill Stein on Principles & Values.” On the Issues. July 6, 2015. Accessed August 3, 2016. http://www.ontheissues.org/2016/Jill_...
“Gary Johnson’s Stances on Social Issues.” ISideWith.com. March 10, 2016. Accessed August 3, 2016. https://www.isidewith.com/candidate-g...
Pema Levy, “Trump Praised Saudi Arabia's Shariah Law for Making It Easy for Men to Get Divorced.” Accessed October 26, 2016. http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2...
Media: David Brody, “Exclusive: Michele Bachmann: 'God Raised Up' Trump to Be GOP Nominee.” Accessed October 27, 2016. http://www1.cbn.com/thebrodyfile/arch...
American Pastors Network, “Stand in the Gap Today 10/11/16.” Accessed October 16, 2016. http://americanpastorsnetwork.net/201...
New Ticker: Pew Research Center, “Evangelicals Rally to Trump, Religious ‘Nones’ Back Clinton.” Accessed July 19, 2016. http://www.pewforum.org/2016/07/13/ev...
Penny Edgell, Douglass Hartmann, Evan Stewart, & Joseph Gerteis, “Atheists and Other Cultural Outsiders: Moral Boundaries and the Non-Religious in the United States.” Accessed September 15, 2016. http://sf.oxfordjournals.org/content/...
Lauren Markoe, “More ‘nones’ than you think, but many won’t show up on Election Day.” Accessed October 7, 2016. http://religionnews.com/2016/09/22/no...
Christopher Ingraham, “Why Atheist & Agnostics Don’t Believe in Voting.” Accessed October 26, 2016. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/w...
Don Byrd, “Poll Sees Decline in Number of Americans Who Prioritize Candidates’ Religious Beliefs.” Accessed October 22, 2016. http://bjconline.org/poll-sees-declin...
The Southern Poverty Law Center Brands Atheists “Anti-Muslim Extremists,” Bill Maher chats atheism with President Obama, 11 secular candidates won, and Donald J. Trump will be our next president… Those are the headlines for the week of Saturday, November 12, 2016.
Sources:
Southern Poverty Law Center Brands Atheist Critics “Anti-Muslim Extremists”:
Southern Poverty Law Center, “A Journalist's Manual: Field Guide to Anti-Muslim Extremists.” Accessed November 10, 2016. https://www.splcenter.org/20161025/journalists-manual-field-guide-anti-muslim-extremists
Stoyan Zaimov, “Atheists Outraged by SPLC Branding Atheist Critics of Radical Islam 'Anti-Muslim Extremists.'” Accessed November 10, 2016. http://www.christianpost.com/news/atheists-outraged-splc-branding-atheist-critics-radical-islam-anti-muslim-extremists-171163/
Stoyan Zaimov, “Atheists Start Petition Against SPLC Branding Atheist Critics of Radical Islam 'Anti-Muslim Extremists.'” Accessed November 10, 2016. http://www.christianpost.com/news/atheists-start-petition-against-splc-branding-atheist-critics-radical-islam-anti-muslim-extremists-171200/
President Obama Interviewed by Bill Maher:
Michael Stone, “Obama Talks Atheism With Bill Maher.” Accessed November 10, 2016. http://www.patheos.com/blogs/progressivesecularhumanist/2016/11/obama-talks-atheism-with-bill-maher/?ref_widget=trending&ref_blog=danthropology&ref_post=president-obama-discusses-atheism-with-bill-maher
Oklahoma Ballot Measure 790:
Heather Clark, “Oklahoma Voters Reject Proposal to Allow Ten Commandments at State Capitol.” Accessed November 10, 2016. http://christiannews.net/2016/11/09/oklahoma-voters-reject-proposal-to-allow-ten-commandments-at-state-capitol/
Conclusion:
Cullen Murphy, Are We Rome?: The Fall of an Empire & the Fate of America (New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2007), pp. 203-206.
News Ticker:
Radio New Zealand, “Secular education case heads to Human Rights Tribunal.” Accessed October 24, 2016. http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/315728/secular-education-case-heads-to-human-rights-tribunal
Daniel Reed, “Study links poor understanding of the physical world to religious & paranormal beliefs.” Accessed October 25, 2016. http://www.psypost.org/2016/10/study-links-poor-understanding-physical-world-religious-paranormal-beliefs-45293
Thomas D. Williams, “Atheists Fight to Remove ‘God’ From AA Program.” Accessed October 28, 2016. http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2016/10/25/atheists-fight-god-taken-aa-program/
Tim Peacock, “Christians in Lincoln, NE Shut Down Atheist Billboard.” Accessed October 27, 2016. http://www.peacock-panache.com/2016/10/christians-lincoln-atheist-billboard-25367.html
Hemant Mehta, “Nebraska Atheist Billboard Promoting “The Good Life Without God” Comes Down Following Complaints.” Accessed October 27, 2016. http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2016/10/19/nebraska-atheist-billboard-promoting-the-good-life-without-god-comes-down-following-complaints/
Poland’s Anti-Abortion Initiative:
BBC, “Poland abortion: Parliament rejects near-total ban.” Accessed October 13, 2016. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-...
Anti-Blasphemy in the Digital Age:
Joelle Fiss, “Anti-blasphemy in the digital age: When hardliners take over.” Accessed October 13, 2016. https://www.brookings.edu/research/an...
New Atheists Set to Work with Reform Minded Muslims:
Robyn Blumner, “Newsletter September 21, 2016.” Accessed October 12, 2016. http://us8.campaign-archive2.com/?u=d...
Peter Boghossian, James Lindsay, & Phil Torres, “How to Fight Extremism with Atheism.” Accessed October 12, 2016. http://time.com/4484681/new-atheism-j...
Freedom From Religion Foundation National Convention:
FFRF, “FFRF Pittsburgh convention unveils major surprise opening night.” Accessed October 6, 2016. https://ffrf.org/news/news-releases/i...
News Ticker:
Ray Sanchez, “Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore suspended over same-sex marriage order.” Accessed October 12, 2016. http://www.cnn.com/2016/09/30/politic...
Ekathimerini.com, “State, Church make peace after row on religion classes.” Chttp://www.ekathimerini.com/212591/ar...
Hemant Mehta, “Texas County Leaders Reject Atheist Banner on Courthouse Lawn (But the Nativity Scene Can Stay)” Accessed October 6, 2016. http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendly...
Jennifer Fenn Lefferts, “Public grants can be used for church renovations, judge rules.” Accessed October 12, 2016. https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/reg...
China issues new regulations on religion, a suspect is arrested in the murder of a Bangladeshi blogger, the Supreme delays oral arguments in an important church state case, a Texas Republican attacks his opponent for being an atheist, and we cover the 2016 election in a special report. Those are the headlines for the week of Saturday October 29th 2016.
Sources: China’s New Regulations on Religion:
Matthew Bell, “China's atheist leaders issue some striking new rules on religion.” Accessed October 26, 2016. http://weku.fm/post/chinas-atheist-le...
Arrest of Islamic Militant in Blogger’s Murder: Tekendra Parmar, “Police Arrest ‘Islamic Militant’ for the Killing of Bangladeshi Atheist Blogger Nazimuddin Samad.” Accessed October 26, 2016. http://time.com/4534504/bangladesh-at...
Trinity Lutheran Church v. Pauley: Juliet Ellperin & Robert Barnes, “Is the Supreme Court counting on getting a ninth justice in January?” Accessed October 26, 2016. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/p...
Don Byrd, “Report: Trinity Scheduling Delay Indicates the Supreme Court Awaits a 9th Justice.” Accessed October 26, 2016. http://bjconline.org/trinity-scheduli...
Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty, “Trinity Lutheran Church v. Pauley : Government money should not fund churches.” Accessed October 26, 2016. http://bjconline.org/TrinityLutheran/
Republican Attack on Atheist Candidate for Texas State House: Michael Stone, “Texas Democrat Attacked For Being An Atheist.” Accessed October 27, 2016. http://www.patheos.com/blogs/progress...
News Ticker: Steve Benen, “Alabama’s Roy Moore, suspended, doesn’t want to leave.” Accessed October 25, 2016. http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-sh... Hazel Torres, “Atheist-Led Canadian Church Dispenses With Bible, Replaces Lord's Prayer With Secular Invocation.” Accessed October 25, 2016. http://www.christiantoday.com/article... Stephen Magagnini, “Atheists celebrate 15th annual Freethought Day in Sacramento.” Accessed October 25, 2016. http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/arti... Patrick Lang'at, “Atheists to petition House to remove 'God' from national anthem.” Accessed October 23, 2016. http://www.nation.co.ke/news/Atheists... Elizabeth Roberts, “Sweden opens first cemetery free of religious symbols.” Accessed October 25, 2016. http://www.cnn.com/2016/10/21/europe/...
Clinton failed to energize secular voters, Trump makes troubling cabinet appointments, an Indonesian governor faces charges of blasphemy, New Zealand atheists march to celebrate our ancestors, and I interview John S about We Agnostics, Atheists, & Freethinkers International AA Convention. Those are the headlines for the week of Saturday, December 10th, 2016.
Sources: Secular Turn-out for Clinton Down: Mark Brockway, David Campbell, & Geoffrey Layman, “Secular voters didn’t turn out for Clinton the way white evangelicals did for Trump.” Accessed November 25, 2016. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/m... Trump Taps Anti-Secularists for Cabinet Positions: Deidre Fulton, “Trump Nominates ‘True Enemy’ of Public Schools for Education Secretary.“ Accessed December 1, 2016. http://churchandstate.org.uk/2016/11/... Stephanie Mencimer, “Mike Pence's Voucher Program in Indiana Was a Windfall for Religious Schools.” Accessed December 2, 2016. http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2... Rob Boston, “Jeff Sessions Is No Fan Of Separation Of Church And State.” Accessed December 1, 2016. https://www.au.org/blogs/wall-of-sepa... The Intellectualists, “Trump’s New Policy Adviser Said: There Is “Nothing More Christian” Than Cutting Food Stamps.” Accessed December 7, 2016. http://theintellectualist.co/trumps-n... Indonesian Blasphemy Case: John McBeth, “Blasphemy probe rocks Indonesia’s secular foundations.” Accessed November 29, 2016. http://www.thenational.ae/world/south... Kate Lamb, “Jakarta's Christian governor to face blasphemy trial over Islam insult claim.” Accessed December 3, 2016. https://www.theguardian.com/world/201... WAAFT AA Convention: We Agnostics, Atheists, & Freethinkers in AA: waaft.org New Zealand Atheist Pride March: Shawn McAvinue, “Atheist Pride march, rain, hail or shine.” Accessed November 29, 2016. https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/at... Roger Grauwmeijer & Bruce Mahalski, “Photos of the Atheist Pride March in Dunedin.” Accessed November 29, 2016. http://www.vice.com/en_nz/read/photos... News Ticker: Ekathimerini, “Archbishop Ieronymos against separation of Church & state.” Accessed November 29, 2016. http://www.ekathimerini.com/213628/ar... Gregory Tomlin, “Atheist group loses hometown radio station to 24-hour Christmas music.” Accessed November 28, 2016. http://christianexaminer.com/article/... Heather Clark, “Atheist Activist Group Objects to Weekly Bible Study at Wisconsin State Capitol.” Accessed November 29, 2016. http://christiannews.net/2016/11/18/a... Anita Cates, “Jack T. Chick, Cartoonist Whose Tracts Preached Salvation, Dies at 92.” http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/27/art... BBC. “US atheist sues after Kentucky refuses 'IM GOD' number plate.” Accessed December 2, 2016. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-cana... Colin Perkel, “Minister asks to be defrocked over treatment of atheist colleague.” Accessed November 29, 2016. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/n... Bob Allen, “Controversial religion clause stripped from defense policy bill.” Accessed December 2, 2016. https://baptistnews.com/article/contr...
Sources: Jordanian Atheist Writer Murdered: Suleiman Al-Khalidi, “Jordanian writer shot dead outside court before trial over cartoon.” Accessed September 30, 2016. http://www.reuters.com/article/us-jor... Bethan McKerman & Agencies, “Alleged killer who shot atheist Jordanian writer identified.” Accessed September 30, 2016. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/wor... Ishaan Tharoor, “Arab TV host cheers secular writer’s assassination on television.” Accessed September 29, 2016. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/w... NSS Calls on British Government to Outlaw Caste Discrimination: National Secular Society, “NSS accuses Government of showing contempt for Parliament and UK’s international obligations on caste discrimination.” Accessed September 10, 2016. http://www.secularism.org.uk/news/201... National Secular Society, “Calls for Government to outlaw caste discrimination after tribunal rules in favour of victim kept in “domestic servitude.” Accessed September 10, 2016. http://www.secularism.org.uk/news/201... The Fundamentalizing of IDF: David Zoldan, “The Ever-diminishing Dissonance of Being a Religious Soldier in Israel's Secular Army.” Accessed September 5, 2016. http://www.haaretz.com/jewish/books/.... Poll on Morality of Enhancing Body: Michael Lipka, “The religious divide on views of technologies that would ‘enhance’ human beings.” Accessed September 15, 2016. http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/... Ticker: Peter Montgomery, “Mexico’s Religious Conservatives Seek Anti-LGBT Constitutional Amendment, LGBT Activists Defend Secular Government; Cash From Qatar Funds ‘Traditional’ Family Activism Worldwide; Global LGBT Recap.” Accessed September 8, 2016. http://religiondispatches.org/mexicos... Penny Edgell, Douglass Hartmann, Evan Stewart, & Joseph Gerteis, “Atheists and Other Cultural Outsiders: Moral Boundaries and the Non-Religious in the United States.” Accessed September 15, 2016. http://sf.oxfordjournals.org/content/... Frances Beroset, “Retired general Martin Dempsey emphasizes importance of religion in developing moral values.” Accessed September 13, 2006. http://www.dukechronicle.com/article/... Garrett Mitchell, “Lawsuit accuses Arizona charter schools of teaching history with religious slant.” Accessed September 29, 2016. http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/l... Matt Payton, “Record numbers leave Church of Denmark after atheist adverts.” Accessed September 29, 2016. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/wor...
Hello and welcome to the lowdown. Mother Theresa is canonized, John Kasich wonders what the hell is wrong with Daniel Radcliffe, Evangelicals seek to amend the Mexican constitution, and the National Secular Society celebrates its 150th anniversary. Those are the headlines for the week of Saturday September 17th 2016.
Sources:
Mother Theresa Cannonized:
Christopher Hitchens, “Mommie Dearest: The pope beatifies Mother Teresa, a fanatic, a fundamentalist, & a fraud.” Accessed September 12, 2016. http://www.slate.com/articles/news_an...
UdeMnouvelles, “Mother Teresa: Anything but a saint.” Accessed September 14, 2016. http://nouvelles.umontreal.ca/en/arti...
John Kasich Comments on Radcliff’s Atheism:
David Silverman, “A Challenge to Governor John Kasich.” Accessed September 8, 2016. http://www.atheistvoter.org/20160906_...
Proposed Amendment to Mexican Constitution:
Peter Montgomery, “Mexico’s Religious Conservatives Seek Anti-LGBT Constitutional Amendment, LGBT Activists Defend Secular Government; Cash From Qatar Funds ‘Traditional’ Family Activism Worldwide; Global LGBT Recap.” Accessed September 8, 2016. http://religiondispatches.org/mexicos...
National Secular Society Celebrates 150th Anniversary:
National Secular Society, “Secularism 2016 Conference: Secularism ‘on the frontline of the most important issue of our time.’” Accessed September 8, 2016. http://www.secularism.org.uk/news/201...
News Ticker:
Kevin Rothrock, “To Satirical to Release on Bail.” Accessed September 8, 2016. https://themoscowtimes.com/articles/p...
People’s Daily Morning Star, “Iraqi Trade Unionists Call for Secular State & End to Privatisations.” Accessed September 8, 2016. http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/a-...
Jessilyn Justice, “United Church of Canada Takes Bold Stance Against Liberal Agenda, Defrocks Atheist Minister.” Accessed September 15, 2016. http://www.charismanews.com/world/598...
Michael Friedson, “Latest Round of Secular vs. Religious in Israel Goes to Secular.” Accessed September 9, 2016. http://www.themedialine.org/mideast-d...
Harsha Prabhu, “Thousands March Against the Murder of Freethinkers in India.” Accessed September 8, 2016. http://www.echo.net.au/2016/09/march-...
The ACA strives to promote positive atheist culture. In this special report we take a look at their collaboration with the Texas Ramp Project which aims to provide wheelchair access to low income and elderly folks.
Sources:
Texas Ramp Project: texasramps.org Atheist Community of Austin: atheist-community.org
France overturns burkini ban, Russia’s new and questionable education minister, Argentinian secular activists struggle to separate church and state, new Religious Landscape survey sheds light on why "Nones" leave religion, and we debut an events calendar! Those are the headlines for the week of Saturday September 3rd, 2016.
Sources:
French High Court Overturns Burkini Ban:
BBC, “France burkini: Highest court suspends ban.” Accessed August 31, 2016. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-...
Christine Ockrent, “A bathing suit tests France’s secular identity.” Accessed September 1, 2016. https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinio...
Russia’s New Minister of Education:
Anna Plotnikova, “Russia's New Education Minister Gives Stalin a Nod.” Accessed September 2, 2016. http://www.voanews.com/a/russia-educa...
Tom Balmforth, “Critics Of Russia's New Education Minister See Threat To Secular Values.” Accessed September 2, 2016. http://www.rferl.org/content/russia-e...
Argentine Separation of Church and State Battle:
Santiago Del Carril, “Row over use of religious symbols in City reignites.” Accessed September 2, 2016. http://www.buenosairesherald.com/arti...
Pew Research Center: Why Nones Left Religion:
Michael Lipka, “Why America’s ‘nones’ left relgion behind.” Accessed August 31, 2016. http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/...
News Ticker:
Anugrah Kumar, “Baptist Children’s Home Refuses $28,000 Donation Given in ‘Honor’ of Atheist Group.” Accessed August 30, 2016. http://www.christianpost.com/news/bap...
Kate Perelman, “North Carolina Law Allowing Magistrates To Avoid Officiating Marriages For Same-Sex Couples Facing Challenges In Federal Court.” Accessed September 2, 2016. http://www.protectthyneighbor.org/pos...
Diana Chandler, “Atheists block city grant to National Baptists.” Accessed September 1, 2016. http://www.brnow.org/News/August-2016...
David Weissman, “Dillsburg Non-Believers Group Sues State House.” Accessed August 30, 2016. http://www.yorkdispatch.com/story/new...
This week Secular Coalition of America grades the candidates, Atheists and protestants are interested in similar qualities when searching for a new community of like-minded individuals, California Democratic Senator Ricardo Lara fight to end religious exemptions from anti-discrimination laws, and I explain the process by which we select certain stories. Thanks for watching!
Sources:
Secular Coalition for America Voter Guide:
Secular Values Voter, “2016 Presidential Voter Guides.” Accessed August 24, 2016. http://www.secularvaluesvoter.org/get... Move to Lift Anti-Discrimination Exemptions from California’s
Religious Schools:
David Greene & Ben Adler, “Latest Religious Liberty Battle: Church-Affiliated Colleges & LGBT Students.” Accessed August 25, 2016. http://www.npr.org/2016/08/23/4910247...
Pew Polling Data:
Pew Research Center, “The Search for a New Congregation.” Accessed August 25, 2016. http://www.pewforum.org/2016/08/23/1-...
News Ticker:
Lynn Horsley, “Atheists sue over use of tax dollars relating to KC Baptist convention.” Accessed August 8, 2016. http://www.kansascity.com/news/politi...
Hemant Mehta, “Arkansas is One Step Closer to Putting an Illegal Ten Commandments Monument on Capitol Grounds.” Accessed August 24, 2016. http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendly...
Ian Dunt, “The atheist parent guidebook: Campaigners give advice on combating religion in schools.“ Accessed August 18, 2016. http://www.politics.co.uk/news/2016/0...
Fred Lucas, “Texas Judge Victorious Over Atheist Group in Prayer Dispute.” Accessed August 24, 2016. http://dailysignal.com/2016/08/16/tex...
Bhavya Dore, “In Germany, secular ‘confirmation’ thrives again.” Accessed August 8, 2016. http://religionnews.com/2016/07/22/in...
Atheist Lowdown covers the end of the mini-convention with George Hrab, Dave Rubin, Paul Provenza, Kelly Carlin, Lawrence Krauss, John de Lancie, author Chris Johnson, Bengali activist Bonya Ahmed, and my interview with James Randi.
This week Turkey continues to experience turmoil, with its' secular future unclear, Hassidic schools in New York agree to comply with state sanctioned secular education rules, Scopes Monkey trial town to erect Clarence Darrow statue, and we catch a glimpse of the NonCon'16 in Canada, eh!
Sources:
Turkish Union Report on Islamification of Schools:
CumHuriyet Gazetesi, “Eğitim-Sen'den önemli rapor: Kız çocuklarının okullaşma oranı düşüyor.” Accessed August 11, 2016. http://www.cumhuriyet.com.tr/haber/eg...
Hassidic Schools to Improve Secular Education:
Shai Landesman, US hassidic schools agree to improve secular education.“ Accessed August 9, 2016. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/New...
Clarence Darrow Statue:
Travis Loller, “In 'Scopes monkey trial' home, an evolution debate rages on.” Accessed August 10, 2016. http://www.sfchronicle.com/news/scien...
News Ticker:
Stuart Winer & Marissa Newman, “Knesset rolls back Haredi secular studies requirement.” Accessed August 6, 2016. http://www.timesofisrael.com/knesset-...
Americans United for Separation of Church & State, “Americans United Settles Lawsuit Over New Jersey Atheist’s Custom License Plate.” Accessed August 17, 2016. http://au.org/media/press-releases/am...
Al Jazeera, “France cancels 'burkini pool day' over outrage.” Accessed August 11, 2016. http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/08...
Stacey Barchenger & Holly Meyer, “Tennessee Sheriff to Pay $41k to Atheist Group.” Access August 17, 2016. http://www.tennessean.com/story/news/...
Our coverage of the start of the Mini-Convention after the Reason Rally with Sunday Assembly and interview of Russell Glasser.
Welcome to the lowdown. Near the end of the 2016 Reason Rally American Atheists President David Silverman spoke of the need to identify as an atheist, Representative Tulsi Gabbard spoke of our inclusive Constitution, and I chatted with musician Shelley Segal.
The rally concluded with Bill Nye the Science Guy, freethought philanthropist Todd Stieffel, and powerful performance by the Wu Tang Clan. On the way out we were accosted by a group of Christians, what a wonderful ending to great day!
Stay tuned for our next episode which looks at the mini-convention the day after the main rally. There were celebrities, panels, films, workshops and a rousing entertainment by Sunday Assembly.
Sources:
Mythicist Milwaukee, “Reason Rally 2016 Full Event Local Recording.” Accessed June 22, 2016. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mQVn...
Welcome to our coverage of the evening portion of the 2016 Reason Rally. Magician and comedian Penn Jillette sang some songs and told the heart wrenching and courageous story of singing contestant Carolina Pena. Civil Rights activist Maryam Namazie gave a stirring speech about the struggles atheists face in the rest of the world. I also spoke with Road to Reason host Scott Maddox about why he came to the rally. Anthony Pinn, a professor and author, later reminded the crowd that the rally is a celebration. Actor Annabelle Gurwitch introduced Lt Coln. Tom Gray who related the struggles of being an atheist in the military.
Mexican diplomat Andres Roemer passionately spoke of the global interconnect society and international language of science. The crowd grew and the excitement built as the day went on.
From creative signs and t-shirts to lively discussions Rally goers expressed themselves in a wide variety of ways. The flying spaghetti monster was on hand to take pictures. And even I couldn't help but get caught up in the excitement and sense of community. That is it for this episode. In the next installment we take a look at the conclusion of the main rally with David Silverman, Bill Maher, Bill Nye the Science Guy, and exclusive chats with Aron Ra and Shelley Segal. Thanks for watching.
Sources:
Mythicist Milwaukee, “Reason Rally 2016 Full Event Local Recording.” Accessed June 22, 2016. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mQVn...
BDEngler. “Several early copies of The Age of Reason” Accessed on June 21, 2016. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...
Library of Congress Collection. “Thomas Paine.”
Mythicist Milwaukee, “Reason Rally 2016 Full Event Local Recording.” Accessed June 22, 2016. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mQVn...
Richard Dawkins video courtesy of The Reason Rally Coalition.
In this episode we dive into the morning events of the Reason Rally. Paul Provenza emcee'd a line-up with the Gay Men's Chorus of Washington, Lyz Lidell, JT Eberhard, Victor Harris, Robyn Blumner, Dave Grosso, and comedian Ricky Gervais. We take a look at the extent and nature of the anti-rally protesters including creationist Ray Comfort. We also feature an interview with Thinking Atheist podcaster Seth Andrews.
Sources:
American Humanists. “@LKrauss1 is good without a God! #humanism #ReasonRally.” Accessed June 21, 2016. https://twitter.com/americnhumanist/s...
Lorraine Caballero. “Reason Rally 2016: Arrest threats did not stop Christians from attending atheist event.” Accessed July 1, 2016. http://www.christiandaily.com/article...
Mythicist Milwaukee, “Reason Rally 2016 Full Event Local Recording.” Accessed June 22, 2016. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mQVn...
Tyler O’neil, “13 Crazy Photos from the Atheist 'Reason Rally' in Washington, D.C.” Accessed June 22, 2016. https://pjmedia.com/trending/2016/06/...
Skeptictok, “Evangelist Alan goes full on Old Testament prophet at 2016 Reason Rally.” Accessed June 20, 2016. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUpLH...
Ricky Gervais video courtesy of The Reason Rally Coalition.
The first episode in our 8 part series on the 2016 Reason Rally. We travel to Washington learning about the pre-rally coverage, how the event was marketed, the purpose and attendence of the advocacy days, and what to we have in store in future shows.
This year's rally aimed to show support for the secular viewpoint, advocate that reason and scientific evidence should be the basis for government decisions, and show the political clout of the secular and atheist community. The lowdown crew traveled to D.C. in the first of an eight part series on the rally. Check it out."
The Reason Rally was sponsored by a coalition of secular groups including American Atheists, American Humanist Association, and Center for Inquiry. Kelly Damerow and David Silverman spearheaded a leadership group from all walks of life and many different interests all coming together for common causes.
We arrived in America's capitol on Friday afternoon, third of June, a day ahead of the rally, before most, but behind the ardent activist who made their voices known lobbying to congress.
June 2nd and 3rd were advocacy days in which 275 participants met with legislators on Capitol Hill to lobby in support of evidence-based sex education programs and the REYHA Act introduced by Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ). They advocated for federally funded sex education that should be comprehensive, not based on abstinence-only, an approach that, the organizers feel, has been proven to be ineffective.
Friday night saw Baba Brinkman’s Rap Guide to Evolution, a performance exactly as the name suggests. The pre-rally days also included a secular bus tour, a Robert Ingersoll walking tour, and a VIP Dinner were the attendees could mingle with their favorite secular celebrities.”
In the next episode we jump straight into the Rally. I’ll interview the Thinking Atheist Seth Andrews, we take a look at some crazy religious anti-rally protestors, Victor Harris waxes poetical about Christian oppression, and Comedian Ricky Gervais thinks ignorance is a pain in the ass.
Sources:
Fox News, “Americans Without Religion Lobby for Political Influence.” Accessed June 17, 2016. http://video.foxnews.com/v/4927893511...
Reason Rally Coalition. Reason Rally Pitch Videos. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtnm...
Ruby Mellen, “Thousands of atheists gather in DC for 'Reason Rally.’” Accessed June 2, 2016. http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/02/politic...
This week the DNC was hacked by the Russians, and we learned that Democratic officials were planning on smearing Sanders as an atheist. Kentucky's tea party gov is trying to roll back agreements to protect the state's children from religious indoctrination. Good news is that Greece may be incorporating Church/State separation into its constitution.
Sources:
DNC Discussion to Smear Bernie Sanders as Atheist: Brad Marshall, “No Shit.” Accessed August 2, 2016. https://wikileaks.com/dnc-emails/emai...
Five Charged in Secular Blogger Murder:
Hindustan Times, “Five Militants Charged for Secular Bangladesh Blogger’s Murder.” Accessed August 4, 2016. http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-n...
Kentucky Oversight of Religious Indoctrination of Children:
Josh James, “Foster Case Settlement Doesn't Sit Well With Bevin Administration. Accessed August 3, 2016. http://wuky.org/post/foster-case-sett...
Greece Seeks to Reform Constitution:
Reuters Staff, “Greece eyes constitution overhaul, more space between Orthodox Church and state.” Accessed August 9, 2016. http://blogs.reuters.com/faithworld/2...
News Ticker:
Antonia Blumberg, “These Are The Religious Accommodations Available At The Rio Olympics.” Accessed August 6, 2016. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/t... Elizabeth Rawlins, “Organization wants Christian Flag removed from Bryan County Courthouse.” Accessed August 2, 2016. http://www.wtoc.com/story/32491079/or... Court house News Service, “Atheist Puerto Rican Cop Passes 1st-Circuit Hurdle.” Accessed August 8, 2016. http://www.courthousenews.com/2016/07... Mark Hodges, “Atheist wants military chaplains punished for wearing uniforms to a chaplains’ event.” Accessed August 2, 2016. https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/ath... Adam Boult, “Atheists annoyed by pranksters listing ‘Jedi’ as their religion for census.” Accessed August 2, 2016. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/...
This week we have Donald Trump cozying up to evangelicals, a failed coup in Turkey, Nice terror attack, and the Nones in Australia set to become the largest "religious" affiliated group.
Sources:
Coup in Turkey:
Anne Barker, “Turkey coup attempt reveals division over desire for secular or Islamist rule.“ Accessed July 20, 2016. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-07-18...
The Young Turks, "Breaking: Turkish Military Attempted Coup to Overthrow Government." Accessed July 21, 2016. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zeNO3...
Australian Religious Affiliation in Census:
Brian Morris, “Talking Point: Red Letter Day for Secular Australians.” Accessed July 19, 2016. http://www.themercury.com.au/news/opi...
News Ticker:
Aftab Ali,“Westminster University achieves national first by hiring first-ever paid secular adviser for staff and students.”Accessed July 19, 2016. http://www.independent.co.uk/student/...
Katie Landoll, “Group says judge refused to perform secular marriage.“ Accessed July 19, 2016. http://www.opposingviews.com/i/religi...
Pew Research Center, “Evangelicals Rally to Trump, Religious ‘Nones’ Back Clinton.” Accessed July 19, 2016. http://www.pewforum.org/2016/07/13/ev...
Atheists in Kenya, “AIK Society Has Been Officially Suspended!” Accessed July 19, 2016. https://atheistsinkenya.com/2016/06/1...
Janan Bsoul, “New Isreali Bill Would Allow Every - Even the Seular - to no work on Shabbat.“ Accessed July 19, 2016. http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/bu...
Times of Malta, “Bill decriminalising vilification of religion approved: 'A sad day for Malta' - Archbishop.”Accessed July 19, 2016. http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/...
Our first on location report on the protest of the National Day of Prayer and promotion of the National Day of Reason.
Sources:
For more on Governor Abbot’s address at the May 2nd Prayer Breakfast visit: http://gov.texas.gov/news/press-relea...
Richard Wackrow, “National Day of Prayer, National Day of Reason.“ Accessed May 7, 2016. http://missoulian.com/news/opinion/co...
Associated Press, “Court dismisses suit over National Day of Prayer.” Accessed May 6, 2016. http://web.archive.org/web/2011041607...
Russian President Putin is attempting to resurrect Imperial days of church/state love, many Ten Commandment monuments have a strange history, Republicans try to give folks a reason to deny rights, and the Secular Student Alliance had a conference.
Sources:
Symphonia: No Separation of Church and State in Russia:
Andrey Shirin, “Russia: The Other Christian Nation: A cozy relationship between church and state has lasting implications.” Accessed July 13, 2016. http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2...
First Amendment Defense Act Hearing:
Oversight & Reform, “Religious Liberty and H.R. 2802, The First Amendment Defense Act (FADA) Part I.” Accessed July 13, 2016. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgGl6...
Oversight & Reform, “Religious Liberty and H.R. 2802, the First Amendment Defense Act (FADA).” Accessed July 14, 2016. https://oversight.house.gov/hearing/r...
Republican National Committee Platform:
Jeremy W. Peters, “Emerging Republican Platform Goes Far to the Right.” Accessed July 13, 2016. http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/13/us/...
News Ticker:
Jennifer Fenn Lefferts, “Suit challenges use of Community Preservation Act funds for churches.” Accessed July 13, 2016. https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/reg...
Ed Zuckerman, “Atheist billboard removed, Pastor faces porn charges, Israel visa fraud case.” Accessed July 13, 2016. http://www.talkmedianews.com/rip-n-re...
Seth Kaplan & Naftuli Moster, “Why Do Jewish Leaders Keep Ignoring Ultra-Orthodox Education Crisis?” Accessed July 13, 2016. http://forward.com/opinion/341055/why...
Paul Bond, “God's Not Dead 2' Billboard Nixed at GOP Convention After Being Called ‘Incendiary.” Accessed July 14, 2016. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news...
This week's episode covers the recent attacks in Bangladesh and Turkey, Donald Trump's promises to evangelicals, a message from the U.N. to the U.K., and the boondoggle that is the Ark Encounter.
Sources:
Bangladesh and Turkey Terror Attacks:
Behlül Özkan, “ISIS Is at War With Its ‘Other’ — Turkey’s Secular Democracy.” Accessed July 5, 2016. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/behlal-...
Donald Trump’s Promises to Evangelicals:
John Ward, “Transcript: Donald Trump’s closed-door meeting with evangelical leaders.” Accessed July 6, 2016. https://www.yahoo.com/news/transcript... United Nations Recommendations to the United Kingdom:
Committee on the Rights of the Child, “Concluding observations on the fifth periodic report of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. “ Accessed July 6, 2016. http://www.secularism.org.uk/uploads/...
National Secular Society, “UN children’s rights Committee calls on UK to abolish compulsory worship in schools.” Access July 6, 2016. http://www.secularism.org.uk/news/201...
Ken Ham’s Ark Encounter Opens:
Carol Costello, “Kentucky's magnificent, controversial ark.” Accessed June 29, 2016. http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/21/opinion...
Tracey Moody, “Scenes from Ark Encounter’s Opening Day (Outside the Ark).” Accessed July 7, 2016. http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendly...
Courier Journal, “The controversial Ark Encounter previews Tuesday.” Accessed July 7, 2016. http://www.courier-journal.com/videos...
News Ticker:
Meaghan Wallace, “Berkeley County School Board suspends prayer at meetings.” Accessed July 5, 2016. http://www.live5news.com/story/323399...
Nathan Jeffay, “Driven to suicide: Chasidic mum who became secular.” Accessed July 5, 2016. http://www.thejc.com/news/israel-news...
Colin Perkel, “Atheist minister defends her views at United Church 'inquisition.” Accessed July 5, 2016. http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/atheist-...
Travis Gettys, “Atheist author explains how Christianity conquered Europe like Starbucks monopolized coffee.” July 6,, 2016. https://www.rawstory.com/2016/06/athe...
Atheists of Puerto Rico: https://ateistaspr.org/