American Freethought Podcast

Original release March 1, 2014. Encore release October 22, 2018. Encore release July 15, 2017. We look at the recent rash of legislation (either proposed or actually passed) in several states that try to protect anti-gay discrimination under the banner of religious freedom. Briefly, these broadly-worded bills require the state to show that there is a compelling state interest and no practical alternative when infringing on the religious freedom of citizens. That's all fine and dandy, but what it's really sets out to do is allow discrimination against homosexuals, among other things. Arizona Governor Jan Brewer just vetoed one such bill, arguing (correctly, but much to her chagrin, we are sure) that she could not find "one example in Arizona where a business owner’s religious liberty has been violated." Plus: (Another) snake-handling preacher dies handling a snake. Herbert and Catherine Schiable have just been sentenced to no more than seven years in prison for allowing their infant son to die of pneum