American Freethought Podcast

Original release January 28, 2015. Encore release November 13, 2018. Encore release August 6, 2017. The Supreme Court will finally hear arguments on two issues: whether states have the right to ban gay marriage, and whether states must recognize out-of-state gay marriages under the full faith and credit clause of the Constitution. We'll know by the end of June which way this goes. In the meantime, count on conservative politicians at the state and local level to try to make life difficult for gay couples (and secular folk, for that matter) to get married. Several counties in Florida are already refusing to conduct courthouse ceremonies, lest they be forced to marry gays. And Republican lawmakers in Oklahoma have introduced bills to abolish courthouse ceremonies altogether, fire clerks who issue marriage certificates to gays, impeach judges who rule in favor of gay marriage, and even make it against the law to challenge these things in court! Plus: Christians on the warpath! Mike Huckabee (who half-joki

Original release January 11, 2015. Encore release November 12, 2018. Encore release August 5, 2017. We look at last week's attack on the French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo, which left 17 dead (not including the perpetrators). How much is Islam to blame for these and related occurrences? We also look at the overwhelming worldwide reaction AGAINST such violence, despite Charlie Hebdo's long history of incendiary humor. Some of the reaction has been equivocal, unfortunately, including the Catholic League's Bill Donohue (the Eye of Sauron himself!) calling the cartoonists little more than pornographers and tutting about "the necessity of restraint on the part of artists." Who decides what constitutes restraint? Does Donohue imagine that ANY open criticism of the Prophet will satisfy the extremists? Plus: Seventh Day Adventist pastor Ryan Bell just spent the last year living as an atheist, and now he has declared he IS an atheist. Was this a legitimate year of introspection, or just a way to buffer a d

Original release December 23, 2014. Encore release November 11, 2018. Encore release August 4, 2017. Blowhard Bill O'Reilly has declared victory in the War on Christmas. But who's been fighting this war? Christians cry foul whenever Jews or atheists or Pastafarians or (gasp!) Satanists want equal time at the county courthouse, but they forget that the sole reason these groups want attention is to prevent the Christians from monopolizing the public sphere. If only all parties could agree that government property is neutral territory (i.e. no religious displays of any kind), this whole problem would go away. But since it won't... Satanists will have a holiday display in Detroit, but there won't be a Nativity because no Christian group is willing to commit to the daily grind of installing/uninstalling a display for three days. You snooze, you lose. And in Florida, a Satanist group has been denied permission to install an "offensive" display in the state capitol. Finally, although it's late notice, Symmetr

Original release December 13, 2014. Encore release November 10, 2018. Encore release August 3, 2017. We interview Bill Reel, practicing Mormon, defender of the faith, and host of the Mormon Discussion Podcast. We discuss his conversion to Mormonism as a teen, and how he squares the latest scientific and historical revelations with his Mormon beliefs. For more visit MormonDiscussionPodcast.org. Plus: Former porn star Asia Carrera (born Jessica Steinhauser, now Asia Lemmon) had her new driver's license photo taken while wearing a colander to show her devotion to the Flying Spaghetti Monster. Ms. Lemmon was touched by many a noodly appendage back in the day.

Original release  November 25, 2014. Encore release November 9, 2018. Encore release August 2, 2017. It's time once again to celebrate the non-existent War on Christmas. For those heathens who enjoy celebrating the holidays, here are our recommendations for gifts for nonbelievers. Even if you don't like our suggestions, you can buy whatever you want at Amazon.com through American Freethought using this link. David's Recommendations: EvolveFish.com - You're sure to find something on this site that will tickle the fancy of any nonbeliever. The Unbelievers DVD - It's Planes, Trains and Automobiles with Richard Dawkins and Lawrence Krauss as they travel across the globe, speaking publicly about the importance of science and reason in the modern world. Think Like a Freak by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner - The authors of Freakonomics return, taking us inside their thought process and teaching us all to think a bit more productively, more creatively, more rationally—to think, that is, like a Freak. Tic

Original release November 9, 2014. Encore release November 8, 2018. Encore release August 1, 2017. The Republican victories in the 2014 midterms are bad news not just for church-state separation, but also for reason-based policies on climate change and a host of other issues. Meanwhile... A self-proclaimed Satanist has damaged the controversial Ten Commandments monument on the grounds of the Oklahoma capitol. We recommend legal means in removing such monuments, not vandalism. Voters in Alabama have overwhelmingly approved an amendment that will ban application of "foreign law" (like, oh, say, Sharia law) in Alabama courts and prohibit the state from giving full faith and credit to out-of-state acts (like, oh, say, gay marriage) that conflict with Alabama law. Look for this one to be declared unconstitutional after much waste of attorney hours and taxpayer funds. The US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit has upheld gay marriage bans in Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee. This is in stark contra

Original release October 26, 2014. Encore release November 7, 2018. Encore release July 31, 2017. Signature Healthcare, a Louisville-based company that runs dozens of nursing homes, has taken religion in the workplace to a whole new level. "Spirituality" is one of their three core competencies. They even have a Vice President of Spirituality! Plus: Hobby Lobby president Steve Green, basking in the glow of his recent Supreme Court victory, has announced plans to build an $800 million Bible Museum just two blocks off the National Mall in Washington, DC. There are a lot of Republican bad candidates for political office in the 2014 midterms, but Texas Lt. Governor candidate Dan Patrick might just take the cake. Mother Jones has a great exposé on him. Patrick is almost certain to win. Congratulations, Texas! Finally, Pat Robertson (bless his withered, addled heart) is at it again. This time he's warning people not to go to Kenya lest they get AIDS from the towels there.

Original release October 12, 2014. Encore release November 6, 2018. Encore release July 30, 2017. Ben Affleck's cable-TV clash with Bill Maher and Sam Harris over liberalism and its (lack of) cricitism of Islam overlaps with Reza Aslan's recent criticisms of Maher and Harris. Is Islam a religion of peace hijacked by a handful of extremists, or does the orthodox core of Islam inconveniently overlap with the violent policies enacted by the likes of ISIS and al-Qaeda? Watch the sparks fly here. Also, check out this and this... and this... oh, and this, then see which side is closer to the truth. Plus: SCOTUS declines to hear numerous appeals from states seeking to overturn federal court rulings against same-sex marriage bans. Is this a signal from the Court that marriage equality has won, or is this a strategic pause awaiting the right opportunity for a conservative masterstroke? Meanwhile, SCOTUS hears a ridiculous (but hilarious) case involving the religious infringement ramifications of state prison ba

Original release September 28, 2014. Encore release November 5, 2018. Encore release July 29, 2017. We discuss Sam Harris's new book Waking Up: A Guide to Spirituality Without Religion Waking Up is available September 9, 2014 in hardcover, for Kindle, and as an audiobook. For more about Sam Harris visit SamHarris.org.

Original release September 13, 2014. Encore release November 4, 2018. Encore release July 28, 2017. We interview comedian Ian Harris, whose new special Critical & Thinking is available now on iTunes and video-on-demand (check your local availability). As you'll hear, Harris is one of us, a skeptic and atheist whose humor tackles such topics as religion, the paranormal, astrology, pop-mysticism and alternative medicine. You can befriend him at facebook.com/comediocre. Plus: Our DragonCon wrap-up. We mourn the passing of physicist, philosopher, author and skeptic Victor Stenger (1935-2014).

Original release September 6, 2014. Encore release November 3, 2018. Encore release July 27, 2017. David couldn't make it this year, so Allison jumps in to take up the slack! In this live version of the podcast we discuss recent Supreme Court decisions, take a look at Satanism, and share some really (really, really) bad Biblical puns. The song at the top of the show is "Modest Proposal" by the legendary composer/performer Mose Allison. (Photo courtesy of Dan Barber.) Thanks again to Derek Colundano for organizing the Skeptrack. And thanks to Mark Ditsler and Company of Abrupt Media for providing stellar audiovisual infrastructure.

Original release August 23, 2014. Encore release November 2, 2018. Encore release July 26, 2017. Ken Ham's Ark Encounter continues to grasp for Kentucky taxpayer dollars, despite being a religious operation that promises to discriminate in its hiring policies. The Supreme Court has put marriage equality on hold in Virginia. Presumably they'll hear this and other cases in the fall, and with a little luck SCOTUS will rule on behalf of rights and freedom in the spring. Plus: Strap on the lightning rods--David goes to church! We have feedback! Mostly good, but at least one listener thinks we waste too much time on personal, non-freethoughty stuff. And for those interested in our discussion last time on Secular and Humanist Celebrants, here are some more organizations that endorse nonreligious celebrants: American Ethical Union - leaders and officiants in Ethical Societies. International Institute for Secular Humanistic Judaism - rabbis and leaders. Announcements: Check out American Freethought Live! 1

Original release August 8, 2014. Encore release November 1, 2018. Encore release July 25, 2017. We interview Rachael Berman, Grassroots and Celebrant Program Coordinator for the American Humanist Association (AHA). AHA's Humanist Celebrant program is coordinated by the Humanist Society, an adjunct of AHA. We discuss the difficulty nonbelievers have had when it comes to finding someone to officate at weddings, funerals, baby naming ceremonies, etc. They're usually faced with the choice of finding a random judge or county clerk, or of enduring a wedding infused with prayer and religious bromides. A number of organizations, including the Center For Inquiry and the AHA are challenging religion's monopoly on private weddings. There is still the occasional bump in the road: CFI recently won an appeal in Indiana against a state law that privileged SOME religions over others, and over secular groups. And in Georgia, a Humanist Celebrant encountered difficulty when a judge balked at her credentials. And for what

Original release July 18, 2014. Encore release October 31, 2018. Encore release July 24, 2017. We interview the Reverend Barry Lynn, Executive Director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State. We discuss his (what shouldn't be) controversial position as a Christian minister who advocates for secular government and freedom of all religious--or non-religious--expression. For more about Barry and Americans United visit au.org. Plus: We discuss freethought pioneer Ethan Allen (yes, that Ethan Allen), as well as 19th century freethought publisher Charles Chilton Moore.

Encore release October 30, 2018. Encore release July 23, 2017. A recent Pew Research poll shows that Americans express a (perhaps not so) surprising unhappiness at the prospect of an immediate family member marrying an atheist. Plus: The Secular Coalition of America has fired executive director Edwina Rogers, after just two years of service. Rogers has served under a cloud of controversy since her original appointment because of her previous years of service to Republican causes. Nonetheless, SCA has made great strides during Rogers' tenure. Let's hope they can find a suitable replacement soon. John and Allison go with Pastafarian-themed "prestige" car license plates. Will anyone notice? Will anyone care?

Original release June 15, 2014. Encore release October 29, 2018. Encore release July 22, 2017. Congressman Louie "Don't Cast Aspersions on My Asparagus" Gohmert has a long history of saying ridiculous things. His latest blatherment occurred during the recent Judiciary Committee hearing on "The State of Religious Liberty in the United States," in which we wasted precious time nitpicking the flavor of Barry Lynn's Christianity. Rev. Lynn is both an ordained minister and head of Americans United for Separation of Church and State. Apparently Gohmert a) doesn't like that a supposed Christian like Lynn should be advocating for religious freedom and b) doesn't think that Lynn is an authentic Christian if he doesn't believe exactly as Gohmert does.  Of course, Lynn's personal religious beliefs are largely immaterial (or should be) when it comes to support of the Constitution. Also: In Valent v Board of Review, a New Jersey court has ruled that a hospital's policy of allowing only religion-based objections to

Original release May 29, 2014. Encore release October 28, 2018. Encore release July 21, 2017. American Atheists mull their next move after the court turns down their lawsuit to declare religion-based tax exemption unconstitutional. See AA v Shulman. Plus: The son (and grandson!) of snake-handling preachers who died handling snakes has SURVIVED being bitten by a snake. Now THAT'S news. A family in Pakistan stoned their daughter IN FRONT OF A COURTHOUSE and are expressing no remorse. Finally, if you’re in Atlanta June 21-22, check out the Atlanta Coalition of Reason’s Summer Solstice Launch Weekend!

Original release May 15, 2014. Encore release October 27, 2018. Encore release July 20, 2017. We interview Linda Stephens, co-plaintiff (along with Susan Galloway) in the recent Supreme Court case Greece v. Galloway, in which the court ruled that prayer--even sectarian, predominantly Christian prayer--before city council meetings does not violate the Constitution. Several secular groups have already launched compaigns in response, and at least one Satanist has offered to provide the invocation at a city council meeting in Florida. Plus: More bad news for separation of church and state. The Massachussetts Supreme Judicial Court has ruled that "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance at public schools does not violate the Constitution. Alabama Supreme Court Justice Roy "10 Commandments" Moore believes the Constitution is only for Christians anyway. Finally, if you're in Atlanta June 21-22, check out the Atlanta Coalition of Reason's Summer Solstice Launch Weekend!

Original release May 3, 2014. Encore release October 26, 2018. Encore release July 19, 2017. Whoohoo! It's taken nearly seven years, but we finally crossed the 200 mark. For this special episode, we interview biblical scholar Bart D. Ehrman, whose latest book is How Jesus Became God: The Exaltation of a Jewish Preacher from Galilee (available in hardcover, in audio, and for Kindle). For more about Bart and his work visit bartdehrman.com. Plus: We discuss Damon Linker's puzzling essay "Why atheism doesn't have the upper hand over religion," which asserts that atheism is incapable of explaining altruism in human beings. Huh. John recommends Jennifer Michael Hecht's Doubt: A History (available in paperback, in audio and for Kindle), an interesting look at how questioning minds have overturned orthodoxy and challenged the reigning paradigms, from ancient Greece and China to the 21st century.

Original release April 18, 2014. Encore release October 25, 2018. Encore release July 18, 2017. We look at the controversy in some Christian circles regarding the recent "blood moon" lunar eclipse. Is it a sign of the End Times? (Probably not.) Plus: Parents in Oviedo, Florida claim a public school teacher stopped their kindergartener from praying before lunch. Is this a legitimate beef, or just a cheap publicity stunt engineered by a father who just happens to work for a Christian book publisher who just happens to be publishing a book (by a Fox News personality, no less) about how put-upon Christians are in the U S of A nowadays. Louisiana lawmakers are advancing a bill that would declare the Holy Bible as the official state book. Really. Check out Chuck Hall's new book Playing Chess with Pigeons, a collection of refutations of common religious attacks against nonbelievers. Announcements: Atlanta SkeptiCamp is May 2-4, 2014! For more visit atlantaskeptics.com/skepticamp Atlanta Coalition of Reaso